Posts by popcorn

47

How Will They Keep JW Youths In?

by minimus in

jw
friends

is it possible for today's youths to remain in the religion?.

popcorn_eater

48 hours later his parents pulled him out of band. 7 out of 8 JW kids have been pulled out of band in the past 2 weeks. These kids love my class.

Ugh that is so frustrating. Keep trying to inspire these kids if you get more of them. I bet even the short time they spend in your class will be a shining memory for them to maybe one day help them out.

I have great hope that my own "young one" will drift away from the JW's.

I just wanted to chime in with more of an observation/question about JW strategy toward young people -- it seems like the WT does very little to retain kids, other than trying to baptize them early. What I mean is, there is no sunday school or bible study just with kids; there is no youth group. there are no "lock ins" or any other sanctioned activities. Kids are treated from the beginning as little adults. They sit through the same meetings, read the same materials, get spanked if they act like KIDS during meetings... There are special publications for them, a few, but by and large they are not treated differently from adults. Not coming from a JW background I can tell you I find this very odd.

Not that I want to give this organization any suggestions, but it would seem to me that more youth fun activities and age-appropriate and interactive teaching would go a long way. I'm glad they don't do this but it has always struck me as a little weird. Why don't they?

36

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-13-2012 WT Study (URGENCY)

by blondie in

jw
friends

maintain your sense of.

how can we maintain our sense.

urgent now than ever?.

popcorn_eater

This article was particularly terrible. As in full of manipulative language and same boring themes over and over.

The main points of the article seem to have been --

1. The END IS SOON! it even dares to point out that the people prior to 1914 also felt this sense of urgency but that they should definitely not regret giving up all the things they really wanted in life for the end that has not come. They should look around them and feel happy for what they have now! YUCK

2. We JW's are super special, way more special than everyone else.

3. The things you value and want in life mean nothing. You live to serve US. (BORG)

4. In case you forgot, the END IS SOON!

5. Oh yeah, and people who believe in evolution only believe in it because it gives them an out to live an easy, wicked, carefree life of no accountability, because it is inconceivable that a non-JW could live by a code of morals or be a good person or find a life of NOT daily fearing god's wrath at armageddon to be rewarding.

6. Lastly, those stupid "so called Christians" believe God will love you no matter what. Fools! Unconditional love is evil and wrong.

GAG ME!!!

39

Did U Ever "Stumble" Anyone? Were U Ever "Stumbled: By Another?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the reason many jws forgo things is because they are afraid of "stumbling" a brother or sister.

just in case---they make it a point to not do or say something that could cause a person to leave "the truth".. i knew of some witnesses that were always "stumbled" by this or that.. so silly..

popcorn_eater

If anyone cares about the outsider perspective, I just wanted to chime in and say that the "stumbling" concept is really kind of weird, definitely comes off as cult-ey. It's another one of those words they've misappropriated and given their own bizarre internal meaning.

Aside from the creeps I get from hearing about getting "stumbled," I also wanted to say that it strikes me as odd that for all the supposed morality and bible-based conscience and constant spiritual education they profess to practice, they have ZERO trust in each other as JWs. And the org has ZERO trust in its members. The idea of being stumbled implies that the person being stumbled is unable to remain strong in conviction and chalk up the stumble-er's actions to misbehavior, or craziness, or whatever. If you are in constant danger of being stumbled, you are in a constant state of infantile helplessness. And don't let us get started on the men, who might get stumbled and become aroused if a sister wears a skirt above the knee or too bright of colors. They cannot help themselves; they are like little boys - right? Well, no, but that's what that type of rule says. It's kind of like how there are so many rules about EVERYTHING. Rules are made to control people you can't trust to make good decisions. Dating, marriage, what you wear, who you are friends with, what information you access -- if JW's are such good, Bible-minded and united people, why do all these rules have to exist?

One of the biggest fears they have is for their members to come to trust themselves. If you trust and believe in yourself, the rules, the "stumbling" or even the concept of BEING stumbled, falls away.

I like to think if I were in the borg I would recognize these things; but I know i will never really understand what it is like to be in.

15

I made a fake Study WT article about goats

by popcorn_eater in

jw
friends

i hope people think this is funny and not offensive.

creating it amused me for a few days.. .

popcorn_eater

I hope people think this is funny and not offensive. Creating it amused me for a few days.

4

Adopting a teen or adult after he/she has been shunned?

by popcorn_eater in

anyone have any experience with this?.

i was brainstorming the other day about what could be in our future.

my young teen jw stepdaughter's mom and her new husband are extremely zealous jw.

popcorn_eater

Anyone have any experience with this?

I was brainstorming the other day about what could be in our future. My young teen JW stepdaughter's mom and her new husband are extremely zealous JW. We have every hope and are seeing (maybe optimistically) early indications of her at some point giving up the religion. If she does this and is DA'ed or DF'ed for that reason, I'm sure her mother would shun her. She is baptized and lives in a high pressure JW home.

If this happens, would I be in a position to legally adopt her and become her mother? Even if she is an older teen or adult?

24

When you really think about it, the WTS. indoctrinates people to be the organization's own sales Representatives.

by thetrueone in

isn't this the case, when one reflects upon the whole scope of how the wts.

publishing organization conducts and operates itself ?.

the way they are to dress.

popcorn_eater

If you are in "personal ministry" does not not release you from any continuing obligation to and invovlement with the organization? Why count hours and turn them in? if it's just you as a person? Gack.

I wanted to add that the tactics used by witnesses are very similar to sales tactics you might learn in a workplace. For example:

Don't just push a product. You have to make the person feel that they NEED the product by asking them questions directed to get them to admit that something you are promoting is something they are missing, and then mention your product. (Probing questions at the doors)

Obtain leads, then work the leads. (Return visit equals lead.)

Use fear tactics to make the person feel that if he does not buy what you are selling, there could be negative consequences to himself and his family (i.e. Insurance products)

Don't present yourself as a salesman, but rather as someone who wants to help. Offer some service, also build rapport by chatting about common interests, before starting in on your pitch.

Don't explain the full committment (fees, lenght of contract, negative factors) until the person is already biting.

20

Love & Living up to Dedication = Serving Abroad & Not Going to University (July 15, 2012 WT)

by pirata in

looks like there's a new series, "they offered themselves willingly".

here's how it opens:.

a young brother in italy was under pressure.

popcorn_eater

Further, talk to your Christian parents and the congregation elders about your desire

Here they are telling young ones not to talk to their non-christian parents. How much respect is that showing for them? You realize they have gone way off track when they are not teaching good bible morals, there is no stipulation in the bible when it advises to 'honor your mother and father'. Regardless of whether a child's parent is a JW or not, most still have their children's best interest at heart and can provide sensible advice, no doubt a reason why they wouldn't want them talking to them.

As a non-christian parent I can't agree more. I caught this too. They know that a non-christian parent would stop this in a second, or at least provide some RATIONAL pros and cons to doing this type of thing. A non-believer is basically nothing to them. Plus, going abroad can be a great experience for a young person. But not necessarily doing it this way. I can tell you right now that (especially thanks to websites like this) I will be doing everything I can to make sure she knows ALL of her alternatives in life after high school.

51

My Dream Has Come True latest tower last page

by therevealer in

jw
friends

"my dream has come true" i have a bullshite story in the latest watchtower..

popcorn_eater

She shoulda told her boss about the Troof about her charity work and how she goes around neighborhoods teaching people that himself, his family and billions more will be slaughtered by JayEdgarHoover in the big A if they don't join her cult. Then Lets see if da Boss man will give her time off. I think he would give her time off Permanently (Your Fiiirrrred) and thinking he hired a total Wack Job!.

Love how the boss just accepts that witnessing is the same as charity work (i.e. actually helping people). How many hours of time do JW's waste in helping people who DO NOT WANT THEIR HELP when they could put time and effort into helping the hungry, building homes, coming up with ideas to solve problems, mentoring parentless children, etc etc etc. Equating it with charity work is so awful.

35

Was everyone surprised by how nice worldly people can be?

by Inisc in

jw
friends

i, like most born ins grew up being taught that everyone who was not a jw was inherently wicked, that they were dishonest, unloving, selfish, bad parents who don't care about their children, and also sad empty people with no direction in life.. as i grew older i started to see that this wasn't always true with every one, that what i was taught wasn't equating with what i was seeing.. by high school i could see that my friends at school, (yes worldly friends eek!

) we're actually decent people with morals, they may have engaged in a little fornication here and there but not promiscuously, and they were good honest people, with goals and parents that cared for them.. but after high school i was phsycologicaly bullied into ceasing contact with my friends altogether, leaving me with little contact with outside world, and the cult mentality had more room to grow, not fully, but enough to unconsciously not fully trust 'worldly' people.. however, once i'd left the org and began to meet people again, i was amazed at actually how good, honest, loving, kind, and caring many people can be!

who love their spouses and children and try their very best to be good parents and partners.

popcorn_eater

My stepdaughter who is still in has had this experience, fortunately. One of my first memories of her was when we took her to the movies, around age 10, and she left her purse when we left our seats. A teenage girl called out to her and handed it to her. She said she was surprised the girl would give it to her instead of stealing it. I still vividly remember that moment and how much it surprised me. That was before I learned much about JW's.

Something that also sticks out at me is how we were discussing morality one day and how all JWs are very good, moral people (her opinion). I asked her if she thinks Daddy and I are moral people, kind of jokingly. She said no, kind of on auto pilot, then backtracked after seeing my reaction.

These are both the result of indoctrination against the "worldlies." I think both of these events kind of got filed away upstairs.

Something more recently in a more positive direction -- she was phone witnessing and after hanging up with a man who had told them he was a "born again Christian," the other people (adults) in the group started making fun of the man and talking about how wrong he was and how stupid. She spoke up and said to them, supposedly, "we are judging him for something we don't even understand. Stop making fun of him." That was a very brave thing to do, and I told her so. She told me that she has realized that JW's as a whole are very judgemental. Well, I've been trying to gently drive this home for a couple of years but that just goes to show that a person has to come to realizations on their own, or it won't mean anything to them.

17

Are Jehovah's Witnesses A Cult? A WT Apologist Says No

by Bangalore in

are jehovah's witnesses a cult?.

http://www.witnessoftruth.com/articles/questions/are-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cult.html.

bangalore.

popcorn_eater

From the article in question:

Word of advice, if you don't want to talk with us, say so plainly, there is no need to play hide and seek. We are commissioned to deliver a message, if you do not want to hear it, all that must be said is, "No Thank You" and close your door if you wish. When Mormons or other religious preachers knock on my door, I either talk with them or simply say "I'm a Jehovah's Witness, no thanks." I do not feel I have to hide or avoid people in my own home.

Jesus, what an asshat. Thanks for advising me pompously on how to handle unwanted intruders at my front door. "We are commissioned to deliver a message." Ugh that makes me so angry.

I guess I don't have any constructive comments but it's hard to say something constructive after reading that.

popcorn_eater

Posts by popcorn_eater