Things I presently believe the WTS got right:
- condition of the dead (they are dead/no immortal soul)
- no hell fire
- no trinity
- Muddy
this question is for atheists and believers.
what teachings do you think the watchtower got right and why?
do you still think they are right about the trinity?
Things I presently believe the WTS got right:
- condition of the dead (they are dead/no immortal soul)
- no hell fire
- no trinity
- Muddy
so elder x came over the other day to convince me about why jehovah's witnesses have 1914 correct.
i wrote about this some time ago, but the elder never returned.
he caught me off-guard, and unprepared.. he went through the reasoning book (p95), and pointed out all the reaons (day for a year, daniel, 360 days, 2520 ...).
Am enjoying all this talk about muddy waters.... oh wait... y'all weren't talking about me...
can someone explain to me the purpose of printing 3 different versions of the watchtower.
in my day there was one.
who are they meant for..
The "simplified" edition is ALSO for college graduates and university-level-speaking people (who speak too "abstractedly") as EXAMPLES for how to talk more conversationally. Because of course anybody with higher education can't speak normally or conversationally.... I forget which latest magazine had a "quote" about this.
with the holidays amongsts us how did you feel the first time you celebrated the holidays?
the first time i felt like i was in north korea trying to slip pass the secret police.
how weird a wonderful family holiday and i was acting like i just stole the mona lisa..
I'm still trying to figure out the holiday thing. I can finally *almost* get to thinking that birthdays aren't so evil.... (especially knowing that the bible character, Job, had children who celebrated their birthdays! Job, chapter 1, verse something...)
So I'm not at that point yet... only had my "blinkers" fall off about a year ago. And yes, I've read and researched almost everybook that's been recommended here and on other sites, lol.
why was there no official arrangement before 1952 to disfellowship people?
was there a different procedure with a different name?
was no one committing disfellowshipping offenses?
I hope someone can post a link or photo of the January 8, 1947 Awake.... there's an article titled, "Are You Also Excommunicated?"
I have a jpg of the article, but don't know how to post it...
Some gems from this *jewel* of an older publication:
"... excommunication, as a punishment... finds no support in these scriptures. In fact, it is altogether foreign to Bible teachings..."
"... papal excommunication is not without pagan influence..."
"... as the pretensions of the Hierarchy increased, the weapon of excommunication became the instrument by which the clergy attained a combination of ecclesiastical power and secular tyranny that finds no parallel in history..."
I hope someone can find this and post it somehow.
when you were active jws did you ever give to charities?
anyone else you know in the cong.
as for me, i do give on occasion and when i am able to.
*gasp*
Giving to charities?? As in worldy charities run by worldy people for worldly problems??
My goodness, NO! Never, never, never. After all, the *only* thing people need is WT literature! Why would/should they need or require anything else??
The "preaching" work (knocking on empty homes) is the most important work that could ever be done on the earth today. Why waste time, money, energy, etc. on such frivolous things like trying to help people in a physical way? Why try to feed or shelter people who are going to be killed off soon (any day now!) anyway?
there is a lovely site where one may light a candle for a moment of silence.. http://www.gratefulness.org/candles.
i set up a group, where they may all flicker together, if you like.. http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=oompa.
(we love and miss you, oompa.).
our friend, oompa, has passed away.
just recieved the news a couple of hours ago, and have almost no details.
it happened today or yesterday, he took his own life.
and i am finding the adjustment to the real world far more difficult than i ever imagined...i f...it has been about five years since i totally woke up to the fraudulant nwt and then all my other doubts i had carried for years were proved true as well.
but almost all of my few friends are exjw or slack jw's and i feel so isolated...my sons friends are mostly exjw too but not their gf's and they have way more normal friends .
how have you done at replacing lifelong friends and family?
I can't help but wonder if his death will shock them into realizing the truth about this "religion".... wouldn't that be something if his ultimate sacrifice from so much pain could be the thing to make them wake the f*ck up.
But then they'd have to live with that pain and knowledge.... you know what, it's just totally f'd up in every way. :(
well part 5 was just put up on youtube!
this is the third 45 minute segment of the 3+ hour meeting.
topics covered include:.
I've been following your posts and story both here but mainly on jwstruggle.
I so admire what you've done and accomplished. I am also amazed by how long this JC lasted and how the "brothers" listened to you for so long. I'm so happy you got to make so many points! Hopefully something you've said will get through to them, or others who will happen upon your posts or site or youtube video.
Am wondering if they listened to you for so long because of their respect for you. It seems like some of them must have known you for years and because you were an elder, this gives you the extra "status" for them to hear you out for so long. To me, this shows they appreciate your qualities as a person, as an educated voice, as a compassionate and intelligent conscience-minded individual.
I wish they would have been able to answer more of your questions and observations, but of course this is impossible for them. All you get is the party line, and evasions and accusations.
They see your friend (your accuser) not as an enemy to you who would bring destruction and devastion upon you (in the form of their pharisaical edicts and judgments) but as a friend who only shows "concern".
You spoke so carefully, not letting them trap you. Good on you!! I felt like cheering at so many parts. I wanted to be in the room with you so I could show them, shake them, make them SEEEEEE!!! -- (but I would have messed up the whole thing, lol...!) You're dealing with dogma, indoctrination, fear.... imposed and imbedded in them through an organization of men. They can't see that "man has dominated man to his injury" and that they should NOT BE "putting their trust in men, to whom no salvation belongs...!!"
JWs use these scriptures and can't even see what it means. There's no getting through this blindness, unless they begin forming their own doubts and questions.
And so many JWs are sincere, they really believe they're serving God the way he wants to be worshipped and served... and you acknowledged that and said you respected that... but yes, what if they're being misled?? What if their leaders (the GB) are imperfect men?? These men claim to have special insight from God.... but.... ha. If that were so, why so many changes in teachings, why so many destroyed families, why so many cover-ups, why such double standards, why why why.....
Also loved the point you made about Christianity and their good works and their printing and distribution of Bibles.... they're taking care of the poor and widowed and orphans.... And how typical and cold-hearted was the elder's response (not surprising)..... that spiritual food is the most important, blah blah blah. You used the Bible and insisted they look at the bible.... loved it. Loved you showing them the scripture in James. And then their weak, lame reply that each individual person is free to do that at any time. Bah! If this were so, why is it not more encouraged??? We're supposed to knock on (mostly empty) houses and be involved in busy-work while stepping over homeless people and walking around people pushing shopping carts of bottles.... And meanwhile we fill out our time-slips and literature placement slips (has anybody noticed how there's NO MENTION on these slips for BIBLES placed??? There's only spaces for the society's books, brochures, RV's, studies....)
Oh yes, there are serious problems in the org. These elders must know this!! I hope they wake up....