Posts by The Searcher

50

If "the Truth" is the truth, why are witnesses so scared of research?

by stuckinarut2 in

it is an often asked question i know, but it perplexes me.. if witnesses are so convinced that they have "the truth", why is the act of researching information from external sources so taboo?

didn't the bible itself tell people to "use their powers of reason" and also praised ones like the boreans for researching things they were told??.

seriously, if there is no doubt about the organization being "god's channel" on earth, and it alone having the "truth", surely researching would only enhance such 'facts'?.

The Searcher

km 9/07 p. 3 Question Box - "Does "the faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?—Matt. 24:45,47. No, it does not."

The implications of this directive has flown over many/most J.W.'s heads - accept the org's reasonings without question or discussion.

If the Vatican issued such a decree, J.W.'s would be jumping for joy at being able to show Catholics what 1 John 4:1 commands Christians to do - "TEST the inspired expressions, to see if they originate with GOD."

I rest my case!

19

Has your name or reputation been maligned by the Witness gossip-mill?

by stuckinarut2 in

as we all know, witnesses routinely share in gossiping, slandering or maligning the name and reputation of those who are "spiritually weak" or ones who "fade" or "stop associating".. they feel it is ok to speak badly of such ones who "have left jehovah's organization".. of course, some of the worst perpetrators of this are elders and their wives, who insidiously plant negative stories in the minds of all they interact with in the congregation.

they may never have actual facts, but since when do facts matter to witnesses?

however through such conduct they manage to separate people from one another, or cause rifts amongst former friends.. this sort of conduct is plainly inappropriate.. but what scriptures could be used if the opportunity arose to confront such ones about the way they have behaved?.

The Searcher

I have been unilaterally "executed" by my J.W. siblings and accused of "starting my own religion". I know that they are also sharing their sick-minded thinking with others who know me. Why? Because I shared media facts with them about the org sending representatives to OSCE conventions, and gave them information about its finances and multi-million dollar real estate deals!

Do I care? Oh, of course - I'm breaking my heart night and day thinking about the loss of the loving people who now shun me! :) :) As long as they keep showing love to concealed paedophiles in their cult - that's the important thing.

Paranoia will reach fever pitch amongst the J.W. zealots as the adverse news stories increase. Excellent! (Mr. Burn's impersonation)

40

Wife is Awake

by freemindfade in

following the news of stuckinarut2, over the past few months my wife has completely mentally woken up.

i've been meaning to post but haven't had the time.

i saw stuckins post and i figured i'd add my news too.

The Searcher

More great news! Well done Freemindfade - you must be really proud of her.

58

baptised nearly 51 years

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

been reading this site for awhile now.

i have had a long and often tragic life as a jw.

my story is so long because i'm pretty old :) i feel sad i've been locked in fear and guilt for my entire life.

The Searcher

A very loving and sincere welcome Phoebe.

Your traumas are/have been shared by many here. One of the biggest and most worrying fears is, "What if this really is God's organization, and I'm turning my back on the truth?"

May I help you to allay those fears and kill them stone dead?

Examine thirteen teachings of the alleged and self-appointed "faithful slave" which I'll P.M. you, and if you can scripturally refute any of them, please let me know and I'll honestly admit that I wrongly accused them.

These anti-scriptural and perverse teachings should reassure you that this "slave" is evil, and it's certainly not working for any organization of God!

24

Scriptures rarely mentioned

by dothemath in

a couple of examples of scriptures hardly ever quoted is 1 tim.

2:12- "i do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence".

or verse 11- "let a woman learn in silence with full submissiveness.".

The Searcher

@ James Mixon: Thanks for highlighting Ezekiel 23:20.

Once again, the WTBTS changes the meaning of a Hebrew/Greek word to suit their agenda. (whatever that is!)

(Ezekiel 23:20) "....whose male members are like those of a donkey and whose genitals are like those of a horse." (RNWT)

The Hebrew word is זִרְמָה and is transliterated zirmah - meaning, "issue of seminal discharge" - not 'genitals.'

27

"Don't listen to apostates!!"

by Schnufti in

next time a jw says that to me, i will ask him to read the following from "what does the bible really teach":.

watchtower itself uses this illustration.

so why is it that they throw apostates out of the congregation?.

The Searcher

If you asked a J.W. if God or Jesus would give them a bad example to follow, they'd immediately say "No!"

Ask them to consider Job 1:7-12, Job 2:2-6, and Matthew 4:3-10 where God and Jesus both had discussions with the arch apostate, Satan.

When they try to reason on this "apparent" anomaly, remind them that Jesus was always willing to talk about the scriptures - especially with the apostate Pharisees, (offspring of vipers & of Satan himself) in order to either teach them or to highlight their poisonous teachings and practices. (John 3:1-21; Matthew 3:1-12; Matthew 8:13-59) At Mark 5:7-13, Jesus even spoke to apostate demons!

He never shunned anyone during his ministry.

63

Life is changing for me: no pioneering, got a job!

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

a month ago i decided to register in this board.

i had decided to step down pioneering but was frightened about the consequences.

i had finished my university degree some months before (despite disaproval from brothers in my congregation) and i had to choose: continue pioneering and working in jobs with no future or starting a career, working full-time.. i was thinking to postpone the decisiton but... i was fed up with preaching.

The Searcher

Absolutely brilliant Skepsis.

You have a P.M.

45

Are there any doctrines which all Christian religions follow.

by jwfacts in

i cannot think of a single doctrine that is so clearly laid out in the bible that every christian sect teaches the same point.

are there any doctrine where there is total consensus amongst all christian religions, including jehovah's witnesses?.

The Searcher

BTLC - I don't think you can say "all" Christian religions. Christadelphians don't accept the trinity dogma and they are accepted as "Christians" by other denominations. There are others, such as Oneness Pentecostals.

22

For those that read the bible, does the true message of scripture still come through in NWT?

by NikL in

jw
friends

my active and in jw wife is up for reading bible together.

thing is she wants to use nwt.. i have problems with that translation as you my imagine.. just wondering if you thought the true message of the bible will shine through the deliberate tampering of the nwt?.

i know many people here don't like or want to read the bible and think it's rubbish anyway, so if that's you, you can save your comments :-).

The Searcher

As Vanderhoven 7 said - use whichever translation she's comfortable with, because no Bible translation is perfect. Good tip to try - use an online Hebrew/Greek concordance (such as Blue Letter Bible) in order to "enhance" your study.

Your wife's eyes may be opened to how seriously corrupted the NWT is as it tries to push the org's doctrines.

11

Cutbacks

by pepperheart in

what other cut backs do you think will be coming or might be coming these next few years for the borg ?.

The Searcher

Since financial reports are not announced for Regional Conventions, the org could create a win-win situation by making them 2-day rallies rather than 3 days.

The org would make considerable savings (on a worldwide scale!) and not only would millions of J.W.'s save a significant amount of cash on fuel/travelling/accommodation costs, most would heave a great sigh of relief at not having to travel on a Friday with all its stresses, and forfeit a day's income into the bargain. (increased donations?)

Everyone (in the org) would come out a winner!

The sheeple would definitely be joyful at such a change and agree wholeheartedly that it "makes sense."