Posts by UnshackleTheChains

32

What is having the biggest impact on the watchtower Bible and tract society?

by UnshackleTheChains in

hi all.. this is a reasonable question and would love to know what you think is having the biggest impact on watchtower.

there is a plethora of websites talking negatively of watchtower.

there are the never ending court cases regarding child abuse allegations.

UnshackleTheChains

Hi all. Really interesting view points.

Personally, I think the age of the internet is having the most impact. I recall back in 1995 (when having doubts...But couldn't put my finger on it) seeing an apostate book in a Christian book shop. I remember thinking will I buy it, but then feeling incredibly guilty for even thinking of buying it and walked straight out of the shop.

Got my first PC in 2000 and it was only when my marriage was hitting the rocks, along with my spirituality in 2002 that I slowly began looking at website forums such as this one. It felt great knowing I wasn't the only one with niggling doubts. I recall seeing on one forum a title called the watchtower society's most burned book. It was the book ' crisis of conscience' which I managed to read twice within a week.

The internet opened up a Pandora's box. Information at your fingertips. I have no doubt most JWs read or view things about the society given the huge amount of information available.

80

ARC Live Streaming site ?

by Gayle in

jw
friends

what is the exact live streaming site for the arc today in sydney?

i hope someone or more here will be watching and giving info/quips throughout the case.

also, will someone here or elsewhere be able to 'save' a video of this (all or part).

UnshackleTheChains

Just watched the hearing. Absolutely no empathy shown towards victims of child abuse who initially received no justice from the organisation and therefore feel so traumatized that they later decide to dissacociate.

Justice McLennan and Angus Stewart pressed spinks and O'Brien on this and they both say that the person (victim) has shunned the congregation????

No empathy

No understanding

No consideration in taking into account the trauma caused to the victim or background as to why they chose to dissacociate.

Justice McLennan rightly stated that this policy is very cruel to the victim given what they have been through.

This hearing exposes the heartless nature of the Watchtower Society and what individuals will now know what to expect if they try to leave 'officially'.

This policy is NEVER discussed when new recruits are studying to become witnesses.

It will continue to be a CAPTIVE high control religion.

32

What is having the biggest impact on the watchtower Bible and tract society?

by UnshackleTheChains in

hi all.. this is a reasonable question and would love to know what you think is having the biggest impact on watchtower.

there is a plethora of websites talking negatively of watchtower.

there are the never ending court cases regarding child abuse allegations.

UnshackleTheChains

Hi all.

This is a reasonable question and would love to know what you think is having the biggest impact on Watchtower.

There is so much going on right now. There is a plethora of websites talking negatively of watchtower. There are the never ending court cases regarding child abuse allegations. Australian Royal Commission (no need to explain). The charity comissions (UK) investigation into the organisations safeguarding policy, The blood issue. The Society's cruel shunning policy. The many YouTube channels highlighting Watchtowers MANY wrongs.

So back to my original question. What is having the biggest impact on the Watchtower Bible and Tract SOCIETY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

144

RC 2017

by wifibandit in

due to last years success, i will post everything related to the 2017 regional convention in this thread.. to start us off.... thanks to exjw reddit user ich3b we have advance notice of the theme (this is not a joke!).

the theme for the 2017 regional convention is: "don’t give up!” .

as always, if you have access to confidential materials you would like to leak but need to protect your identity, pm me or email me: wifibandit1 (at) gmail.

UnshackleTheChains

Its hard not to Give up!

The GB's rigid controlling policies and 'their' continuous changing teachings cause its members to doubt the credibility of the Organisation..

20

Does the Watchtower Bible Society own stocks. Nad are those stock related to military business?

by CitizenofEarth in

hello.. i am a young 18 year old danish guy, who is a baptized jw.

since one year ago i have been maturing gradually and asking questions about many things, not only about jw stuff(which has caused some problems.

but nothing i couldnt handle with a bit of social skill).

UnshackleTheChains

Hi, COE, you might find this link interesting

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5759998393057280/stocks-shares-wtb-ts

28

When you were an active WT door knocker... How did you knock?

by LoisLane looking for Superman in

jw
friends

on the door frame, on the door, door knocker, bell.. loud, very loud, regular, soft... gentle... or just pretended and never knocked at all?

we just had a city worker come a knocking on our front door and my responce after she left was, she should go down to the local kingdom haul and give lessons.

her knock was so loud, she could raise the dead.

UnshackleTheChains

I remember working with a timid little old sister. I would give the doors my usual 123 knock, but when it came to her, she would very gently tap the door with the back of her hand just once with her gloves on. A pin dropping would have been louder. I got the impression she was hoping no one came to the door!

65

My Introduction - An ex-elder's story of waking up later in life.

by doubtfull1799 in

background:.

my parents got the “truth” while i was in primary school.

i was baptised at 14. i loved school and was extremely studious.

UnshackleTheChains

What an amazing story doubtful1799. Welcome to the forum.

You clearly see what so many of us see about the organisation. It's as if they make things up as they go along such as the appointment of Jesus belongings as you pointed out.

I am in the same boat as you re fade. You are best not to allow the corporation heads (GB) the power over your life and ruin your family relationships. This religion is exactly as Angus Stewart (ARC) described - 'a captive religion' that uses a cruel shunning policy to prevent people from leaving.

I must say though, at least the elders in your hall sound somewhat fair to you. Personally I think a lot of elder bodies are afraid to rock the boat as can cause a lot of disruption within the congregation especially if you have family attending.

I wish you and your family all the very best

UTC

22

Here is your typical Kingdom Hall of Jehovah'w Witnesses attendance!

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

.

kingdom hall south dakota live stream.....i found this video on youtube.com.

it reminds me of my old kingdom hall where hardly anyone is sitting in the front rows and doesn't seem like they have a large membership.most kingdom halls sit around 200 people at the most and seem to have a hard time filling the seats.. my old congregation had around 45 members when i left 4 years ago.we always seemed to have a hard time meeting the monthly expenses.some months,i was told that some elders would contribute extra money so the congregation would not be in the negative for the month.. how many members did your congregation have while you were still attending and did meet its expenses for the month?.

UnshackleTheChains

Is this the middle row in your present or old KH!

53

Are the J.W's reaching a "Tipping point"?

by karter in

jw
friends

i haven't been to a meeting in 15 years but my mother and sister are hard as j.w's.

the brothers they are appointing elders are at best suspect like one guy from my old hall made elder,big time drug used before becoming a j.w his talks are all over the place and would have struggled to make m,s years ago but with at least 60 to 70 % of young ones leaving the pool to pick from is at best reduced.. 2 other recent elders both young and zero life experience both on benefits one not well at all falls asleep all the time.. the decent,kind elders mostly older and are decent people with alot of life experience are burning out fast as there are so few of them left like 3 per congro of 100 publishers.. then you have the rich elders who wouldn't ever think of inviting some poor older or mis-fit person out to the expensive placers they go to as they couldn't afford to go so they are above the r&f and the r&f get pissed off with them.

then we have the ones who have "put the kingdom 1st" who are now old worn out and barely getting by from welfare cheque to welfare cheque that are saying "the system should have been over many years ago" it's still here and they are struggling everyday.. then there are the pioneers who have a low payed reduced hour job that seem to think anyone who has anything is totally materialistic and looks down on anyone getting a new car buying a house ect.. along with the child abuse issues,the generation change,access to information the the g.b don't want anyone to know ,not to mention the issues around blood.. is there a tipping point coming????

UnshackleTheChains

Ok. Just to give you my own experience. I view myself as a Christian. I need my faith believe you me. I faded in 2002 for several years, but then returned. I made every effort to do my best, and for several more years did so within the organisation.

However

After time I found myself back in the same rut. Boring dogmatic meetings. How to sell the Watchtower system of beliefs. No freedom to speak about how you view scripture. Fellowship reduced to ' oh hi how are you? How is work etc? No liberal views on scripture allowed in case coming across as questioning the GB.

Knowing the truth about shunning, child abuse scandal, blood issue, the fact we are considered a high control religion (or a captive religion by the ARC for eg) just simply turns my stomach. So much so that I cannot attend meetings.

How many more people feel this way? One can only guess. All of us are affected in various ways. But my breaking point has reached its peak. The Watchtower society is in trouble unless it make some huge and drastic changes.

Watchtower.....YOU MUST CHANGE NOW!

22

Here is your typical Kingdom Hall of Jehovah'w Witnesses attendance!

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

.

kingdom hall south dakota live stream.....i found this video on youtube.com.

it reminds me of my old kingdom hall where hardly anyone is sitting in the front rows and doesn't seem like they have a large membership.most kingdom halls sit around 200 people at the most and seem to have a hard time filling the seats.. my old congregation had around 45 members when i left 4 years ago.we always seemed to have a hard time meeting the monthly expenses.some months,i was told that some elders would contribute extra money so the congregation would not be in the negative for the month.. how many members did your congregation have while you were still attending and did meet its expenses for the month?.

UnshackleTheChains

It's funny how the front seats are empty in a lot of halls. It's the same at our hall. Empty seats middle front. Everyone preferring to sit towards back and sides.