Posts by UnshackleTheChains

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.

19

Stranger asks about your kids mental wellness. ..

by purrpurr in

last night at the meeting there was a suggested presentation about the new mags, which cover the issue of depression in minors.

the jw jumps straight from "hi how are ya" to "how is your kids mental well-being " and of course the hh is more than happy to discuss the inner workings of their child's mind with a stranger whose just knockedmon their door(!).

if it was me i'd be majorly creeper out!.

UnshackleTheChains

Asking the kid question is far too intrusive. If I was asked that question by some stranger on my door, I would be thinking what business is that of yours?

28

55 REASONS JWS WILL NEVER BE REFORMED--Frank Toth

by blondie in

jw
friends

my husband and i had a nice visit with frank toth at grace gough's home.

it was great.

he has written a few things.

UnshackleTheChains

I just had to resurrect this post by Blondie. I find the list useful for reference.

45

What has been your own personal experience of shunning?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i am interested in finding out on a small scale the extent of which shunning has impacted on you personally.. my own experience is that when i faded about 12 years ago.

the woman whose house the book study was held at (and who was virtually a neighbour) walked right past me in my own street.

i remember it so well.

UnshackleTheChains

These experiences confirm for me everything wrong with this religion. The effect and impact this policy has on people is astounding. God help those with low self esteem and those with mental health problems, those especially who are young. I mean for God's sake one poster has experienced shunning since 16!!!!. Life is tough enough. For some, it must feel like being kicked when you are down. Terribly sad. Just wrong

15

Spiritual paradise or proverbial straitjacket?

by UnshackleTheChains in

noas a current or past jehovah's witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in christ as the watchtower society/organisation describes?.

or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the watchtower society / organisation?.

UnshackleTheChains

Smiddy,

I like yourself was a convert as a young man. Back then, I 100% believed it to be a spiritual paradise. Then the nagging doubts set in, I personally gradually found myself feeling very restricted in what could say or do. Eg, not allowing my own conscience to make decisions such as choosing to celebrate my child's birthday.

My spiritual paradise was lost many years ago.

15

Spiritual paradise or proverbial straitjacket?

by UnshackleTheChains in

noas a current or past jehovah's witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in christ as the watchtower society/organisation describes?.

or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the watchtower society / organisation?.

UnshackleTheChains

NoAs a current or past Jehovah's Witness, do you / or did you feel part of a spiritual paradise with full liberty in Christ as the Watchtower society/organisation describes?

or do you / did you feel you were wearing a proverbial straitjacket in the sense you feel / felt restricted and controlled by the Watchtower society / organisation?

52

JW Convention 2017

by Disassociated Lady 2 in

.

UnshackleTheChains

The theme sounds a little bit desperate!