Posts by problemaddict

54

Planning exit, alternative venues to preach?

by Goodstein in

background:.

i've come to the conclusion that many doctrines of the wts are unscriptural after many years of privately disagreeing with some of them but feeling that the society was "mostly right" and still being used by jehovah.

this turning point has happened in the last year or so.

problemaddict

Hey Goodstein,

Welcome. Isn't it interesting that our situations always feel so incredibly unique, and then you come here and realize it is almost on reset? I still find that incredible. I am fairly new to the board. But I have benefited from some key advise that I will paraphrase. Do not do what you think is reasonable, but act with reason.

Long timers like JWfacts are right. Remember, with years in, free thinking or not, its always self excused. If you come on, the wall goes up. Better to "confide" in him your problem with something indefensible such as blood. Ask questions so he looks into things he may not otherwise. Suggest implications to him. See where it goes. Don't be in a rush.

I understand your desire to teach scripture. I am in a similar boat as you are in that regard. The truth is, it is almost impossible to maintain personal integrity AND be a speaker in a congregation. Why? Because you are a rep for the GB up there. Even if you do a very good job on a part that does not conflict with your newly freed Christian conscience, all glory goes to those that wrote your outline. Feel me?

I have respect for anyone with a well-considered opinion who also respects those who disagree with them.

Your comment above is fantastic. This should be all of our mentality. But even the most liberal of congregations, does not reflect this simple reasonable statement. They all consider the same material. Some halls just look the other way for the sake of reason. Good for them. It is subject to change with any new CO visit, or new elder that roles into town. i'm sure you've seen it.

You are in a better position than most. Plan well, and be patient. If you want to tell others about Jesus and his father, better to first decide what your message is.

147

Weird "new world" artwork from the 2013 calendar

by cedars in

jw
friends

my mother-in-law has a strange obsession with calendars, and orders the society's calendar each year.

this year's calendar is especially weird.

it features images depicting future events - in particular, the society's vision of the new world order.. i've taken the opportunity to scan some of the images for you all to check out.. please note - there are captions for each of the images, but i don't have the english language version of the calendar so i'd rather just quote the scripture used so as not to reveal which country i'm in.. .

problemaddict

Wow could Jesus look any LESS trustworthy in this?

41

Crazy Weird Quotes in 1/15 WT Article - WT Society Opinions-Nothing More

by flipper in

jw
friends

i won't follow a theme on this thread .

i'm just going to supply weird quotes from the current 1/15 wt article " keep drawing close to jehovah " and then you can draw your own takes and conclusions on these insane " opinions " from the wt society.. paragraph 3 : " marketers cleverly convince people that they must have the latest products.

one young man so passionately desired a particular tablet computer that he secretly sold one of his kidneys to buy it.

problemaddict

I hate it when I almost drown because of the size fish I take! (I get it of course, trying to illustrate the "bite off more than we can chew" scenario).

Just bizarre though.

81

Would Elders You Knew Have Ordered Stonings If They Could Have?

by Cold Steel in

for those of you who used to be jws, or who are active, if the society was in charge of the earth, how many people do you think you would have seen stoned during your lifetimes?

i realize some elders can be zealous about their work, but if they'd actually had administrative authority to have kh members stoned to death, how many elders did you know who would have been zealous enough to really order them?.

did you know any elders who would have ordered stonings, even if the condemned people had been willing to repent?.

problemaddict

I don't know guys. People talk alot of crap, but I think one out of a thousand would actually stone someone. Come on.

43

Anyone here who is still a Jehovahs Witness and havent given up yet, Please answer me!

by Vienna Angelika in

jw
friends

i am wanting to connect to current jws who are going through a tough time and are going through a similar time as me.

not any jw haters, just balanced concerned jws who havent quite given up yet..

problemaddict

Vienna you have a PM.

But don't shy away from a public question. You get a ton of different viewpoints and the cafeteria style wha happened mentioned can be pretty cool.

81

Would Elders You Knew Have Ordered Stonings If They Could Have?

by Cold Steel in

for those of you who used to be jws, or who are active, if the society was in charge of the earth, how many people do you think you would have seen stoned during your lifetimes?

i realize some elders can be zealous about their work, but if they'd actually had administrative authority to have kh members stoned to death, how many elders did you know who would have been zealous enough to really order them?.

did you know any elders who would have ordered stonings, even if the condemned people had been willing to repent?.

problemaddict

Are you asking if the elders would have sanctioned murder?

Ummmm......no......no I don't think so.

43

Anyone here who is still a Jehovahs Witness and havent given up yet, Please answer me!

by Vienna Angelika in

jw
friends

i am wanting to connect to current jws who are going through a tough time and are going through a similar time as me.

not any jw haters, just balanced concerned jws who havent quite given up yet..

problemaddict

Vienna,

I am kind of ahalf in half out one myself. I have struggled with the "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" mentality. But I have not been to a meeting ina few months now. Why don't you get more specific as to the tough time you are going through, so those that can relate can comment to you?

Just an FYI, not very many here hate JW's. I was surprised to see that, but it is true. I would say they have a problem being told they are "mentally diseased", and "apostate" because they do not think the same as the 8 memebers of the GB. So you may be surprised.

PM me if you would like a more private conversation. :)

152

How Long has it Been since you Last Attended Meetings and What Caused...

by flipper in

jw
friends

..... you to stop attending ?

injustices ?

disagree with the teachings ?

problemaddict

Wow. Well I guess so far I win for the most recent removal? I am still fading, but I have not been to a meeting or turned in time for 5 months. I have been to a hall since then, but it wasn't for a meeting. Some of my friends know, some don't. There are alot of congregations in my area of southern California.

What sealed it? I honestly don't know. I think I have a problem with the blood doctrine about 7 years ago. Didn't really know what to do with that one. The evidence seems to continue to pile up there. I think I got wise when the in house version of the Watchtower started making all these comparrisons between Moses and the GB. It reminded me of a very specific scripture.......you know the one.

Not shortly after that I had a run in with a Pharisee that led to my removal and my family leaving a hall we had been in for years. The new one is great and very supportive, but I realized when I received my "termination letter" from the human resources dept at the servise desk, that there was much less unique about us that I previously thought.

Once I looked at us as I would any other group, my mind started to work on my faith the way it does on everything else. I lost all desire to "reach out" in the new hall. I gave acouple of parts and the elders could see I was a golden boy and they wanted to quickly make me a servant again. While that was nice of them not to let a very slanderous letter cloud their judgement, my integrity would not let me do that anymore. One day I just stopped going. That day turned into a week, which turned into a month, which turned into almost 6.

Moving halls recently has clouded my "status" from some of my friends, but I am sure it is just matter of time. The elders in my hall have completely left me alone. Not a peep. One guy, who even cussed a little bit to show me he was "ok", I had a kind of frank conversation with. I told him my biggest issue was that you could not disagree with stated teachings, even though they are prone to error and changing, without being disfellowshipped if you don't recant. He honestly didn't have much of a response. That right there kind of froze him up. So I heaven' heard from him.

So far so good. I have my whole life in here, nearly all of my friends and family being held hostage. My wife is ONLY a JW because of her family and she wants some "structure". Our friends have remained our friends, and I hope that continues.

91

What Was Your "Status" Within The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

were you a sought after associate?.

were you often invisible?.

did other witnesses view you as "exemplary"?.

problemaddict

High profile. MS for 9 years. Served overseas. My wife and I were used on assembly parts etc...

Haven't been to a meeting in 5 months now.

38

Jan. 1 WT, Their confession for given incorrect dates for the end.

by jam in

have jehovah,s witnesses given incorrect dates for the end?.

jw,s have had wrong expectations about when the end would.

like jesus' first-century disciples, we have "sometimes" (lol).

problemaddict

THE REAL REASON THIS WAS PRINTED.

It is to disarm the like of you fine people. I can almost bet every elder will ahve a cpy of this in their flock book after the elders meeting suggests it, and they will go the whole "would you rather be part of an organization that can admit when its wrong and doesn't just stay in falsehood, or a religion of Christendom where they stubbornly hold only long held beliefs such as the trinity and hellfire."

This will be disarming to most. They are starting to get wise on some of this, and it is sort of brilliant on their part. We need to foster a response that combats what the purpose of the statement really is.