Posts by UnshackleTheChains

32

Beardless Jesus. Why?

by UnshackleTheChains in

beardless jesus in watchtower publications between 1930s and 1960s.

a simple detail 'deliberately' left out.

the question is why?.

UnshackleTheChains

Beardless Jesus in Watchtower publications between 1930s and 1960s.

A simple detail 'deliberately' left out. The question is WHY?

49

How do you categorise the Society - Cult or High control religion

by UnshackleTheChains in

i have often seen many categorise the organisation in different ways.

some say cult, some say high control religion.

cult or high control religion?.

UnshackleTheChains

Lol outlaw...

There was a dude in my hall many years ago with that same greacy smile 😀

49

How do you categorise the Society - Cult or High control religion

by UnshackleTheChains in

i have often seen many categorise the organisation in different ways.

some say cult, some say high control religion.

cult or high control religion?.

It's interesting reading everyone's answers here. From a personal perspective, I think watchtower has done a good job desensitizing their members to the word 'cult'. Perhaps, its articles they have written in which a question might be asked ' are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? and then go on to give reasons backed up by scripture to say why they are wrongly accused of such.

For me, 'High control religion' or as the ARC more recently described the organisation as a 'captive religion' seems to fit more aptly. I often view the organisation this way and use these categories when discussing the organisation.

I do however take the points from many on here why 'cult' can also be applied.

24

"Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

by pale.emperor in

now that im not longer a jw this verse puzzles me.

being born and raised a witness, this verse confirmed to me that jesus was talking about a paradise on earth.

but now that everything the witnesses taught is 99.99% incorrect can somone explain what he was getting at here?

UnshackleTheChains

Heaven and earth both belong to God.....Why shouldn't man live forever on earth also.

I actually believe that Jesus and his anointed ones/holy ones will come back to earth to rule for a thousand years. Not just JWs, but all who acknowledge Jesus as God's chosen King. All the powers of the earth will need to accept God's arrangement. Dan 2:44

30

How to reply when someone asks about your spiritual health

by RodrigoGuerreiro in

first of all, sorry if i cannot correctly express the original expression used in my native language to ask for the "spiritual condition".. a few years ago some member of the family asks my wife directly how is her "spiritual health" (for me it's one of the many strange vocabulary used by jw like "the slave says...").

she was catched by surprise with the direct question and says that everything is ok... and luckily someone call them for lunch.. my question is: do you have any good answers for that question?

you can be ironic/use some humor because the question is a little bit anecdotical .

UnshackleTheChains

One sister visiting our hall asked how I was doing?

I said yeah great thanks...And you?

She replies..Fine thank you

and then those immortal words come spewing out..AND HOWS YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH?

I just looked at her thinking wtf. But my Christian calmness held me back. I breathed in, bit my tongue and said

'yeah fine thank you'.

Arrrrrggghhhhh 😠😣

16

To "A Believer" and other JW's that lurk or participate.

by goingthruthemotions in

you think that coming to this site or other anti-jw sites and showing you support for the org is noble.

knowing how brainwashed you are makes me cringe and disgustes me and i am sure others here on the forum.

becasue your in a cult and can't see it.

UnshackleTheChains

GTTE

Or the other perspective is - those of us who still attend meetings do so only for a number of reasons. The complexities of each person's life is a major factor. If I was a single man and had no family in, I would leave today. The problem is I have a lot of family who are witnesses. I also have a lot of friends in the organisation. My wife has witness friends up visiting on a weekly basis as she is very popular. I also have a belief in God, though I keep my personal beliefs private.Things become really awkward otherwise.

If I DA'd, the repercussions would be traumatic. It would also affect my health which I need to be careful about as would affect me very seriously.

Many on here may find themselves in similiar circumstances.So it's not all black and white for those of us still attending. I personally want to see the organisation reform and change its harmful policies. You can still be an activist whether in or out.

I understand where you are coming from in your op, but hope this explains my perspective.

46

Some apostates are coming across as crazed psychopaths

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

i'm not sure whether or not my view on this is correct so please leave your input.

in recent months i've been viewing youtube videos.

again, it might just be my view but there has been an increased amount of random people grabbing a camera and doing vlogs.

UnshackleTheChains

I binge on you tube videos frequently and have wholeheartedly agree with the OP. Some videos are plain crazy. Speaking to people at carts or outside kingdom halls in an aggressive fashion is completely counter productive imo.

Having a reasonable calm debate with witnesses mentioning facts is productive. Peaceful protests are reasonable. For example, I saw one ex jw on you tube outside an assembly peacefully walk up the other side of the street with a sign pointing to JW facts or the like. No shouting, no aggressiveness, yet so very effective.

As someone stuck in a situation in which I occasionally attend meetings, I still view the members of my Cong as friends. They are ordinary every day people who are 'lead' by a small group of controlling men in the US.

The average witness is generally a sincere God fearing person. It is the Societys policies that need to change.

It is understandable why so many are angry, but to bring about change, people need to see the facts. JW's aren't stupid. They do listen to reason. It is fear that causes cognitive dissonance. Many of us have been there.

Getting the message over in a calm, level headed peaceful manner whether through the media, blogs, peaceful protests etc is by far the most effective way to bring about change IMHO.

49

How do you categorise the Society - Cult or High control religion

by UnshackleTheChains in

i have often seen many categorise the organisation in different ways.

some say cult, some say high control religion.

cult or high control religion?.

UnshackleTheChains

Hi all,

I have often seen many categorise the Organisation in different ways. Some say cult, some say high control religion. Personally, I view the society/ Organisation as a high control religion. To me, a cult is somewhat more sinister.

I have no doubt that the majority of witnesses are normal honest people. It is a large Organisation with very intelligent individuals. Clearly not a crazy cult!

Many honest individuals like myself and many others 'decided' to become JW's. We made an intelligent decision on what we learned, leading us to become members. It was only over time , we woke up to TTATT realising the control, restrictiveness and intrusion into our lives.

For me Control was ALWAYS the issue. CONTROL- CONTROL-CONTROL.

It was this my sister spotted earlier on which prevented her getting baptized and attending meetings. How I wished I had 'her balls' to back off when I had the chance. Sadly, I now have a mother who outright told me that if I dissociated, she would have to remain loyal to Jehovah and shun me.

Clearly, it is a high control religion. A captive religion. Nothing more nothing less.

To me it is a religion led by a few old men. Controlling our lives from the good old US of A. That's it!

So what's your your perspective? Cult or High Control Religion?

40

Not one visit, 8 years in a nursing home, and not one visit!

by Raymudas Martini in

jw
friends

my dad{rip}, was a faithful jw since the year i was born, i'm 60, he died 2 years ago.

his last 12 years were spent in an assisted living/nursing home right in the small town where he spent the last 8 years of being an elder/pioneer.

when he went into the home, one brother would visit him regularly, but after 4 years, that friend moved away, and visitation from the locals ceased, for 8 years!!!!!!!

UnshackleTheChains

Hey, let's be fair, I'm sure the Cong secretary has been keeping in touch by phone to ask for his report!!

5

Documentary on the problem of child abuse within the Organisation.

by UnshackleTheChains in

i just watched the following documentary.

it is absolutely mind boggling the lengths the organisation goes to keep their squeaky clean image, regardless!.

what struck me was the sneakiness of elders in one particular hall hiding files on a pedophile, and the fact that the organisation arrogantly refuses to speak to journalists.

UnshackleTheChains

SBF

You are right. It is harrowing to watch. I agree that child abuse is a problem throughout society. I also agree that the vast majority of witnesses are good sincere people. It's not about them per se. The issue is the way the organisation handled such allegations in the past. It is just mind boggling to day the least eg sitting a child or young female down in front of 3 men with the perpetrator present and being asked intimate questions about their allegations is incredible.

At least the good that comes of all this is that the GB are being ' forced' to bring about change given the scandal worldwide around this issue.