Posts by roybatty

44

Former Elders Please Check IN

by jst2laws in

jw
friends

i noticed quite a few former elders commenting on the thread:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=37801&site=3&page=1

i thought it was amusing that about 20 percent of the bethelites in my department at bethel have left the organization.

Can psychic energy heal?

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

recently i was watching a documentary on this woman who claimed that she could heal people with the power of her mind.

the documentary went into interviewing people about their experiences, and many of them actually had medical signs of improvement that could be documented and shown.

while watching this, i was seeing it as a example of psychic energy healing someone?

roybatty

Positive thinking helps a lot when you are sick

Personally, I don't believe that one can use their mind to physically move obejects, however I do recall hearing on the radio an interesting tidbit. I can't recall the specifics (it was a few years back) but there was a major study as to the effects of positive thinking while someone was sick. One interesting fact they mentioned was regarding a group of older Jewish men they studied (why they chose Jewish guys, I don't know). Anyway, these researchers noticed that just prior to a major Jewish holiday, the number of older Jewish men who died dropped significantly. Then, right after a major Jewish holiday, the number who died jumped way up. The conclusion? That those who were seriously sick were able to prolong their lives with positive thinking. The desire to see their friends and family during the holidays was so strong, that it kept them going. So there is some connection between the mental and physical side in us.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

19

Aren't the elders supposed to visit df'd ones?

by buffy in

jw
friends

maybe someone can answer this.

i thought that elders made it a point to visit df'd ones like 1 a year to see if they've thought about coming back, etc.

don't get me wrong, i'm happy they haven't come to see me.

roybatty

ThiChi,

You're 100% right. I do have to give the elders whom I served with some credit. Though we were a small body (varied from 4 to 6 elders) we'd meet at least one evening a month to specifically call on those in our area who were df'd or inactive. Some of the time we were just unwelcome guests but other times individuals who didn't desire to come back to the "troof" just needed someone to talk to and we'd sit and chat with them. It always bummed me out that we wouldn't/couldn't do more for these individuals then a "once a year visit." Some of them came from really screwed up families and just needed someone to lean on and we'd be there only to "encourage them to come to the meetings." Pisses me off just thinking about it.

19

Aren't the elders supposed to visit df'd ones?

by buffy in

jw
friends

maybe someone can answer this.

i thought that elders made it a point to visit df'd ones like 1 a year to see if they've thought about coming back, etc.

don't get me wrong, i'm happy they haven't come to see me.

roybatty

Actually, elders are suppose to stop and visit on df'd or da'd ones who no longer are "sinning" according to the Society's rules. For example, if you were df'd for immorality and are still living with someone whom you're not married to, the elders will most-likely not be stopping by. On the other hand, if you were df'd for immorality and are not in the above circumstance, the elders will keep a tab on you and probably stop by when they need to get more field service time.

Anyway, these is how I understood the instructions from the Big Cheeses in Crooklyn.

47

Do You Believe Any of "The Truth"?

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for several months, its my first post here.

i am currently an active jw.

i have a very jw family so i have to be careful.

roybatty

Welcome to the board! Thats a really good question. When I left the "truth" a few years ago I disagreed with only a few key teachings (1914, blood, Governing Body & neutrality). But the longer Ive been away, the more "holes" I see in the JW dogma (disfellowshipping, fail predictions, "this generation" and many more). Even on certain beliefs that they are 100% correct on, such as the pagan origins of Halloween, Ive come to this conclusion who are they to dictate what a Christian may or may not celebrate? Over the years they have flip-flopped so many times on several key issues that they have repeatedly shown that they dont have any special insight.

To me it really boils down to this. While a JW might agree with the majority of what the WT is teaching, does he (or she) want to be forced to believe in a certain doctrine that they know is at best- wrong and at worst just a flat-out lie? I, along with many others, have chosen not to live that way.

Just my 2 cents

Mike (aka roybatty)

35

How do ex-JW's actually choose another religion?

by buffy in

jw
friends

ok, here's my question.

how do you go from being a jw to being a whatever (methodist, lutheran, etc.

) i've been invited to go to many churches with friends, but, i have no desire to ever set foot in any church.

roybatty

Hey Buffy,

Ive been DAd for two years now and after taking some time off I decided to start looking for a new church. Im not saying that my method is the right way but I re-examined the Bible, formed my own beliefs (because I figured one can make the Bible say what you want it to) then set out to find a church that respects an individuals right to believe what they want (within in reason of course). I must have gone to a dozen or so churches and finally settled on the Methodist church. My kids and I attend there regularly and are comfortable there. It wasnt so much their teachings (basically theyre all the same) as much as their motto "Open Minds, Open Hearts, Open Doors." Plus they welcomed us warmly. There is no pressure to join the Disciple Making Group or the Sunday School Program but theyre there if you want them. At this particular church they have a female minister (which was weird at first because of my JW training) but she does a fine job. I also like it that the people in the church (both male & female) have a voice on how things should be run. There isnt a group of elders that rule with an iron fist. Instead there are different committees that take care of different tasks and issues are discussed openly on Sundays. Im not sure if Ill officially join this church but for now the one hour sermon that we here on Sunday works for us.

BTW, if you were raised as a JW and had never attended another church youll be amazed how goofy the meetings are.

Just my 2 cents.

Mike aka Roybatty

44

'Prepare for Banning' A HOAX! READ INSIDE

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

my friend called me last night and said that his mother heard a letter read on monday night at her congregation meeting that said that the rank and file should be prepared to be banned, to go underground, and persecution is coming soon, that halls would be taken, and such.

that these things are definitely coming soon.

could this be the spin that the wt is heading towards.....instead of facing the hard issues, make the issues the boogeyman and shut down the halls, giving the elders ultimate power?

roybatty

I can almost see a great mass of people "coming out of the WTBTS into the world"

I'm getting the same feeling. Maybe one can't see it in the annual report but just a feeling in my gut. Though I still many cars at the local Hall, I see less and less cars there on Saturday morning for field service. The little tid bits of information that I receive about JW's in the Chicago-land area reflect the fact that they are/have lost their belief in the WT. More and more seem to be making long term goals that are "worldly", without giving a thought to the "earthly paradise in my life time" belief. Perhaps the WT is sensing the same thing and they want to rally the troops with another "the end is near" cry.

44

'Prepare for Banning' A HOAX! READ INSIDE

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

my friend called me last night and said that his mother heard a letter read on monday night at her congregation meeting that said that the rank and file should be prepared to be banned, to go underground, and persecution is coming soon, that halls would be taken, and such.

that these things are definitely coming soon.

could this be the spin that the wt is heading towards.....instead of facing the hard issues, make the issues the boogeyman and shut down the halls, giving the elders ultimate power?

roybatty

Um...which is easier to control, a group that meets in a central location (aka Kingdom Hall) or a group that is scattered into dozens of smaller groups (meeting at homes)? I can't believe that anyone at bethel would be this stupid.

I imagine that the Society is sending out letters demanding...er....asking that the "brothers and sisters" help cut costs and that new halls won't be built unless they are really needed. Just like most large corporations, the Watchtower is cutting costs and downsizing. They are having problems selling their product so they need to cut costs.

Edited by - roybatty on 25 September 2002 10:35:30

73

The long awaited Dossier on Iraq UK Position

by Celtic in

jw
friends

full copies of the evidence for the case against iraq only published today for the first time are available from number 10 downing street http://www.pm.gov.uk.

http://www.fco.gov.uk.

the ministry of defence http://www.mod.uk.

roybatty

Realist,

The point I was making with mentioning Vietnam & Korea is the fact that when the US has stepped in and won (Korea=win, Vietnam=lose) things turned out very much differntly for the winner or looser. Again, South Korea is a first rate nation, an economic powerhouse with a high standard of living. North Korea is a third-world shit-hole, Vietnam is a third-world shit hole.

Do I believe that the US doesn't also have a selfish reason when helping out other countries. Of course! But these other countries have benefitted much more then the US has in these conflicts. What will the US gain by invading Iraq? They will have neutralized a terrorist nation. The people of Iraq will benefit by having millions of dollars of aid pumped into their nation and a chance to set up a government elected by the people.

73

The long awaited Dossier on Iraq UK Position

by Celtic in

jw
friends

full copies of the evidence for the case against iraq only published today for the first time are available from number 10 downing street http://www.pm.gov.uk.

http://www.fco.gov.uk.

the ministry of defence http://www.mod.uk.

roybatty

russia was attacked after it became obvious that stalin had planned an attack against germany

Um....excuse me, but didn't Germany sign a non-aggression treaty with the Soviets and then turn around and attack them? What evidence do you have that Stalin planned to attack Germany when much of this army wasn't even in a position to defend "Mother Russia."? Why do you think the Germans drove so deep into Soviet territory so quickly?