Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

[Unveiled Artist]

There are millions of Jehovah's Witnesses preaching in the world too Oeste.....and we are small in numbers compared to Christendom's churches, yet we all preach. We see it as a command from Jesus...it isn't optional. Its a serious responsibility because lives are at stake.

The prophet Ezekiel was told....
"Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman to the house of Israel; and when you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them from me. 18 When I say to someone wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him, and you fail to speak in order to warn the wicked one to turn from his wicked course so that he may stay alive, he will die for his error because he is wicked, but I will ask his blood back from you. 19 But if you warn someone wicked and he does not turn back from his wickedness and from his wicked course, he will die for his error, but you will certainly save your own life." (Ezekiel 3:17-19)

All I see are excuses for why the majority of those who identify as Christians today do not preach as Jesus commanded .(Matthew 24:14)

I just Googled "The Great Commission...who is preaching?" with interesting results. Try it.



You already know that I do not consider any of Christendom's churches to be teaching genuine "Christianity" for so many reasons I could fill pages. Having grown up in that poor excuse for Christ's church, I see nothing very "Christian" about its teachings, its conduct or its excuses. I actually see Christendom as the most reprehensible part of Babylon the Great....claiming to represent Christ on earth but not really obeying him in any of the important areas.
Our instruction is to "Get out of her" if we do not want to share in her punishments and sins. (Revelation 18:4)
I believe that we have obeyed that directive.

Their reluctance to preach the Kingdom message and offering excuses for why they don't obey Jesus' command, is only one aspect of their failure IMO. Adopting and celebrating pagan festivals under a thin disguise of "Christian" respectability, when we were warned not to do that. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)....teaching that Jesus shares equal godship with his Father, when Exodus 20:3 tells us we can have no God but Jehovah......Sharing in responsibility for the world's wars where they failed to tell their charges that God does not approve of politically based bloodshed or the indiscriminate use of heinous weapons....conveniently forgetting that we are supposed to 'love our enemies' and pray for them....That is not OK with me.

Teaching people that humans have an immortal soul that will either go to heaven if they have been good, but suffer the flames of hell for all eternity if they are wicked, was never a message preached by Jesus. Nor did he teach that all Christians are going to heaven. What do people expect to do there?

Christendom's friendship with the world is obvious. (James 4:4) Whenever there is a war to be commemorated and the war dead to be honored, despite the fact that these ones may well have killed innocent women and children in that war...where are the clergy? Right there praising them.

Is God praising them? Are nationalism and patriotism compatible with Christianity....or are they in competition? Why are there chaplains in the military? Is it to tell those soldiers to put down their weapons like Jesus told Peter to do? Or is it to salve the troubled consciences of those who somehow know in their hearts that God doesn't sanction the killing of our fellow humans purely for politically selfish reasons? (Isaiah 1:15)

I see nothing to recommend in Christendom's teachings at all. But we will all see soon enough how Jesus sees "Christianity" when he comes to judge this world.....(Matthew 7:21-23)

What does Christianity look like Oeste?

This?

or this...

What about this...?

or this...

What does Christ think that it should look like?

Is this it?

or perhaps this?

How many ways can humans carve up the Master's church...and still have him recognize them as his own?

Do you think that represents christianity as a whole????

 

[Deeje]

Do you think that represents christianity as a whole????

Christendom is a "whole"...despite being fractured into thousands of presentations, it still manages to string a thread of basic core doctrines to make it appear as if they can all claim their Master under different banners. I don't believe that is possible.

There is one truth, not hundreds of versions of it. We all have the same choices to obey the Christ if we claim to be his disciples. You can't do that if you only obey what is convenient and try to brush the rest under the carpet.

At Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus does not accept excuses or trade offs. We will all stand on our own merits before the judge of all of us.

"Doing the will of God" is action...not words.

Its one thing to imagine how we view ourselves...but another entirely to see ourselves as Jesus sees us.

 

[oldbadger]

I have seen how things were handled (actually, not handled) in my own congregation and others. A pedophile who molested his own children, stepchild and step-nephew and who was reported to the elders multiple times, but nothing was ever done. The congregation knew nothing about what had been going on, apparently for years.

Who told you that this JW was a pedophile?
What evidence was there?
Oh, look, I've just spent about 40 minutes answering your every paragraph. I've just scrubbed the lot....... could we please just cut to our own personal truths?
Can you tell us please, were you a victim of any crimes? If so, what crimes? If so, who was the perpetrator? If so, how did this happen? What did you do? What have you done since these events?
If you will tell me EXACTLY what your own personal issues are, then I will tell you mine. I don't care who is lurking beside these posts...... couldn't care less these days.
But you are chucking bricks at 7 million folks' faith, so you go first.
Fair enough?

 

[oldbadger]

I was a JW for 30 years. I am now not a member of any denomination...the JWs pretty much ruined that for me.

How?
Why?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Christendom is a "whole"...despite being fractured into thousands of presentations, it still manages to string a thread of basic core doctrines to make it appear as if they can all claim their Master under different banners. I don't believe that is possible.

There is one truth, not hundreds of versions of it. We all have the same choices to obey the Christ if we claim to be his disciples. You can't do that if you only obey what is convenient and try to brush the rest under the carpet.

At Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus does not accept excuses or trade offs. We will all stand on our own merits before the judge of all of us.

"Doing the will of God" is action...not words.

Its one thing to imagine how we view ourselves...but another entirely to see ourselves as Jesus sees us.

You posted things from The Church rather than address christianity as a whole. While the bible came from the Church other chrisitan denominations, JW included, dont base their views by and from the Church; so, JW isnt isolated in that regard.

So, wouldnt it be more accurate to address denominations separate from the Church as taught by their denominational creeds?

I know you dislike chrisitandom. I dont understand how thats spiritually benefitial to think in those terms, but its generalzing a whole lot of denominations that dont even teach what the Church promotes.

I know many catholics believe what you do about denominations coming from The Church and JW is not christian; but, personaly, I do see JW as christian and LDS, and....

but all of you are divided among yourselves.

But, anyway, not all churches preach catholic doctrine. Like JW, they separatet themselves from The Church and christiondom. As such, wouldnt it be better not to generalize them under The Church when their doctrines, like JW, teach the opposite?

Hence why they split from the Church because, like JW, they feel Catholicism is false.

 

[Deeje]

You posted things from The Church rather than address christianity as a whole.

Don't you see...there is no "Christianity as a whole". Christianity is broken up into many differing factions all teaching their own version of what they believe Christ taught. Since they all differ (they wouldn't be separated into denominations if they didn't) the obvious conclusion is....they can't all be right. But what if they are all wrong because of retaining the erroneous core beliefs that run through all of them? You can't teach what Christ didn't, and then pass it off as "Christianity".

While the bible came from the Church other chrisitan denominations, JW included, dont base their views by and from the Church; so, JW isnt isolated in that regard.

The Bible came from God...let me make that clear. I believe that it was produced in spite of the church, not because of it. Christendom does not base its teachings on the Bible, but on the flawed doctrines of the Catholic Church that they retained after the "divorce".

When the Reformation took place, Protestantism broke with the church of Rome....but the Bible says that the mother has "daughters". IOW the mother church spawned the ones who took her false doctrines with them. All these denominations hold a core of beliefs in common.

Protestants denied the place of Mary as "the mother of God", but accepted the trinity anyway.

They denied the idea of an infallible Pope and eliminated Purgatory but retained the doctrine of an immortal soul and hellfire. They all celebrate the same pagan festivals dressed up to look like innocent "Christian" celebrations. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) They all have more in common than you think.

Can you name me a denomination that does not hold to more than one of those beliefs?

So, wouldnt it be more accurate to address denominations separate from the Church as taught by their denominational creeds?

They are impossible to separate because it would have to include only those who reject Christendom's false doctrines. I can't find any who do....can you? (Luke 6:46)

I know you dislike chrisitandom. I dont understand how thats spiritually benefitial to think in those terms, but its generalzing a whole lot of denominations that dont even teach what the Church promotes.

I dislike what Christendom teaches because their doctrines dishonor the God I worship. I grew up being taught those doctrines and I can tell you now, every one of them is an adoption from paganism, not the Bible.

I know many catholics believe what you do about denominations coming from The Church and JW is not christian; but, personaly, I do see JW as christian and LDS, and....

but all of you are divided among yourselves.

Yes, Christianity was corrupted from within, just as Jesus and the apostles indicated. (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Acts 20:30) Many do not see the corruption because they have been raised to believe the church.....sadly they trust their church and very few have any real knowledge about what the Bible teaches, so they have no way to argue...even the clergy are misled. This is why we need knowledge so that we can identify what does not belong.

But, anyway, not all churches preach catholic doctrine. Like JW, they separatet themselves from The Church and christiondom. As such, wouldnt it be better not to generalize them under The Church when their doctrines, like JW, teach the opposite?

Protestantism retained the core teachings of the mother church...so they are no better. If church doctrine disagrees with the teachings of the Christ....who has to change? I can tell you that Jesus won't. He will be no kinder to Christendom than he was to the Pharisees who did exactly the same thing.
That is how I see it.

 

[RedhorseWoman]

The IBSA, WTBS, and GB have never claimed infallibility. Though we are all anxious to see people get relief from this corrupt system, and for Jehovah’s rule through Jesus to bring the Kingdom benefits. That being said, let’s consider these dates you’ve posted:

JWs resort to this argument whenever their predictions and "truths" are proved to be wrong and false. JWs do claim, however, that their leaders receive "truth" from Jehovah by means of his Holy Spirit. Can both be true? Can JWs claim that they are "mere men" who are not infallible, as well as being the only channel used by Jehovah to impart truth to "his people" and that everything they publish in the literature or present in their talks was given to them by Jehovah by means of Holy Spirit?

JWs want it both ways.

 

[RedhorseWoman]

Don't you see...there is no "Christianity as a whole". Christianity is broken up into many differing factions all teaching their own version of what they believe Christ taught. Since they all differ (they wouldn't be separated into denominations if they didn't) the obvious conclusion is....they can't all be right. But what if they are all wrong because of retaining the erroneous core beliefs that run through all of them? You can't teach what Christ didn't, and then pass it off as "Christianity".



The Bible came from God...let me make that clear. I believe that it was produced in spite of the church, not because of it. Christendom does not base its teachings on the Bible, but on the flawed doctrines of the Catholic Church that they retained after the "divorce".

When the Reformation took place, Protestantism broke with the church of Rome....but the Bible says that the mother has "daughters". IOW the mother church spawned the ones who took her false doctrines with them. All these denominations hold a core of beliefs in common.

Protestants denied the place of Mary as "the mother of God", but accepted the trinity anyway.

They denied the idea of an infallible Pope and eliminated Purgatory but retained the doctrine of an immortal soul and hellfire. They all celebrate the same pagan festivals dressed up to look like innocent "Christian" celebrations. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) They all have more in common than you think.

Can you name me a denomination that does not hold to more than one of those beliefs?



They are impossible to separate because it would have to include only those who reject Christendom's false doctrines. I can't find any who do....can you? (Luke 6:46)



I dislike what Christendom teaches because their doctrines dishonor the God I worship. I grew up being taught those doctrines and I can tell you now, every one of them is an adoption from paganism, not the Bible.



Yes, Christianity was corrupted from within, just as Jesus and the apostles indicated. (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Acts 20:30) Many do not see the corruption because they have been raised to believe the church.....sadly they trust their church and very few have any real knowledge about what the Bible teaches, so they have no way to argue...even the clergy are misled. This is why we need knowledge so that we can identify what does not belong.



Protestantism retained the core teachings of the mother church...so they are no better. If church doctrine disagrees with the teachings of the Christ....who has to change? I can tell you that Jesus won't. He will be no kinder to Christendom than he was to the Pharisees who did exactly the same thing.
That is how I see it.

And JWs broke off from Adventist denominations and retained many of their core doctrines, making JWs no different from any of the others that you so disdain. Additionally, JWs are not unique in their beliefs, despite what they often claim.

 

[RedhorseWoman]

Who told you that this JW was a pedophile?
What evidence was there?
Oh, look, I've just spent about 40 minutes answering your every paragraph. I've just scrubbed the lot....... could we please just cut to our own personal truths?
Can you tell us please, were you a victim of any crimes? If so, what crimes? If so, who was the perpetrator? If so, how did this happen? What did you do? What have you done since these events?
If you will tell me EXACTLY what your own personal issues are, then I will tell you mine. I don't care who is lurking beside these posts...... couldn't care less these days.
But you are chucking bricks at 7 million folks' faith, so you go first.
Fair enough?

Oh, good grief. The man molested his own children, then molested his stepdaughter and her male cousin and possibly others. The elders were informed of his molestations several times, but did nothing. The man always seemed a bit odd and I had an experience with him that made me extremely uncomfortable...and when he was finally convicted and sent to prison years after he molested these children and it was reported in the local paper, I knew exactly why I felt so uncomfortable when I had that interaction with him.

I am not "chucking bricks" at anyone. I am simply stating truths about this organization that need to be told. You seem to be quite upset by hearing these things. Why is that? Do you also believe that members of other religious groups where child molestation has been discovered are "chucking bricks" at those religions when they report what they know? Or do you simply believe that this one religious organization is far superior to every other religious organization on the face of the earth?

JWs will claim that they are better...more honest...more trustworthy...more law abiding than any other group anywhere. They aren't. They are as human and as prone to error and vile actions as any other group despite what they claim. I speak out about what I know, and for that I have been called all sorts of things, from someone who is grossly immoral to a child of Satan. Is that okay in your book? Do you believe that JWs should hurl vile epithets at someone they don't even know, accusing them of all sorts of immoral deeds simply for pointing out the flaws in their organization?

 

[RedhorseWoman]

How?
Why?

How? And why? The "how" is pretty simple. I spent 30 years in a high-control religion where every aspect of life was scrutinized and controlled. I no longer trust any organized religion. I've found out that I am not unique in my feelings. Many former JWs also find it next to impossible to join another organized religion. Some, however, do find a church that meets their spiritual needs, but many cannot.

 

[oldbadger]

Oh, good grief. The man molested his own children, then molested his stepdaughter and her male cousin and possibly others. The elders were informed of his molestations several times, but did nothing. The man always seemed a bit odd and I had an experience with him that made me extremely uncomfortable...and when he was finally convicted and sent to prison years after he molested these children and it was reported in the local paper, I knew exactly why I felt so uncomfortable when I had that interaction with him.

So finally you can tell me about a JW who was convicted. Finally.
And finally I read that all you ever experienced with any JW was an uncomfortable interaction.
You've had it easy, dear member.

I am not "chucking bricks" at anyone. I am simply stating truths about this organization that need to be told.

Your posts are close to 'vexatious allegations', RedHorse Woman, and as long as members here can see that they are then it's up to them to gauge your claims against the characters of 7 million mostly very decent people.

You seem to be quite upset by hearing these things. Why is that?

Please read through your posts, about your 'destroyed this' and your 'ruined that' and you might then see that you are looking in some distorted mirror about yourself if you perceive that it is me who is upset.

Do you also believe that members of other religious groups where child molestation has been discovered are "chucking bricks" at those religions when they report what they know? Or do you simply believe that this one religious organization is far superior to every other religious organization on the face of the earth?

Please don't try to post deceptions about some moral crusade that you are on. You have raged about how wicked JW's are and anybody who wants to has the right to show that your posts are vexatious criticisms. Let me show you later ion this very same post.

JWs will claim that they are better...more honest...more trustworthy...more law abiding than any other group anywhere. They aren't. They are as human and as prone to error and vile actions as any other group despite what they claim.

Never in my life have I ever heard any JW make any such claims.

I speak out about what I know, and for that I have been called all sorts of things, from someone who is grossly immoral to a child of Satan.

Ah......... there we are. You've had bad interactions with JWs and your so vexed that you'll spend all your days screaming about how nasty they are.

Take a tip from me....... Since the relationship wasn't good for you, why not 'turn, look away, shake the dust from your shoes' and walk forwards into a life of contented happiness......;'os you sure don't seem to be either of those things now........ yeah?

Is that okay in your book? Do you believe that JWs should hurl vile epithets at someone they don't even know, accusing them of all sorts of immoral deeds simply for pointing out the flaws in their organization?

This reminds me of acquaintances who have had a bad marriage and spend the rest of their days rubbishing a person who they once loved........ tearing their hair out at any suggestions that the ex-spouse has moved on and is happy.

You write as if you are tearing your hair out over JWs, and doing anything possible to hurt them.

I call that a vexatious mindset.

 

[oldbadger]

How? And why? The "how" is pretty simple. I spent 30 years in a high-control religion where every aspect of life was scrutinized and controlled.

30 years! And you didn't like it? 30 years?
Scrutinised and Controlled? For 30 years?
And you stayed on...... and now, looking back at how you wasted your time, you are angry at them and not yourself?
You could have been doing something else!! You don't live in a country where they execute apostates, nobody was going to hunt you down for leaving....... and you stayed of your own free will......... you might consider redirecting your anger, but only for about 5 minutes, because life is short and it;'s time to move forwards towards a new mindset, new life, happiness. But you wont find any (methinks) whilst your raving against 7 million peaceful people.

I no longer trust any organized religion. I've found out that I am not unique in my feelings. Many former JWs also find it next to impossible to join another organized religion. Some, however, do find a church that meets their spiritual needs, but many cannot.

So don't join any!

Look, I opened my hands to you, asking you for an exchange of life tragedies and abuses suffered individual to both you and myself, and you've not got any, apparently.

I've known anger so hot and raging as any could be, and there has to be a time when one day we can wake up to a new start, totally freed from our raging feelings for ever. Peace. Quiet.

I reckon that you need to let go of all this hatred, because if you don't you'll just burn yourself up, and then you'll be blaming JWs for that as well.

Why do I defend JWs, an outsider with no JW interests, relatives etc associated with them? I'll tell you....... I just happen to know a JW community here in Kent, England, and have learned that they are unusually trustworthy, straight and true. No JW has ever said one thing and done another. They just do 'what it says on the tin', to borrow an advert from the telly. That's what I call integrity, and it doesn't matter whether I believe what they believe, or live as they live........ with them you get what you see and hear from them.

And for you to trash such people because you knew a bad person in their midst is sad. It's sad.

 

[RedhorseWoman]

So finally you can tell me about a JW who was convicted. Finally.
And finally I read that all you ever experienced with any JW was an uncomfortable interaction.
You've had it easy, dear member.

Did you read the testimonies on SilentLambs? There are many more than one who was convicted and/or sued in civil court because the statute of limitations had run out. That one was one I was personally familiar with.

Your posts are close to 'vexatious allegations', RedHorse Woman, and as long as members here can see that they are then it's up to them to gauge your claims against the characters of 7 million mostly very decent people.

I'm sorry that you have somehow twisted my statements about the workings of the JW organization into attacks on individual JWs. I do agree that the majority of individual JWs are decent people. However, the JW organization is basically using those decent people as unpaid slaves for their religious publishing company, and many people have had terrible experiences that have affected their lives for a very long time.

Please read through your posts, about your 'destroyed this' and your 'ruined that' and you might then see that you are looking in some distorted mirror about yourself if you perceive that it is me who is upset.

Destroyed this and ruined that? Please be more specific about where I presumably said these things and what I was referring to.

Please don't try to post deceptions about some moral crusade that you are on. You have raged about how wicked JW's are and anybody who wants to has the right to show that your posts are vexatious criticisms. Let me show you later ion this very same post.

I simply asked you if you would give the same free pass to other religious organizations where it has been discovered that child molestation was hidden for decades. The JWs are no different from any other group, but you seem to believe that they are. Why?

Never in my life have I ever heard any JW make any such claims.

Obviously not. You have stated that you haven't talked to any JWs, and it's doubtful that you have participated in any forums other than this one where these statements have been made. It's pretty hard to see posts where JWs claim these things if you've never interacted with them isn't it?

Ah......... there we are. You've had bad interactions with JWs and your so vexed that you'll spend all your days screaming about how nasty they are.

Nope. I don't "scream" and I try to focus on the organization--not the individuals. And I'm certainly not "vexed." If you were able to get out of a burning building and knew that others were still inside, would you simply walk away, or would you try to warn the others and try to prevent additional people from entering that building?

Take a tip from me....... Since the relationship wasn't good for you, why not 'turn, look away, shake the dust from your shoes' and walk forwards into a life of contented happiness......;'os you sure don't seem to be either of those things now........ yeah?

People who have had the good luck to escape from a high-control religion very often feel that they should try to speak out about their experiences so that others don't get caught up in that organization. JWs would just love it if everyone who left simply accepted the loss of family, friends and sometimes employment and simply shut up and hid.

This reminds me of acquaintances who have had a bad marriage and spend the rest of their days rubbishing a person who they once loved........ tearing their hair out at any suggestions that the ex-spouse has moved on and is happy.

You write as if you are tearing your hair out over JWs, and doing anything possible to hurt them.

I call that a vexatious mindset.

I certainly don't want to hurt individual JWs, but I don't want to simply ignore the damage that this organization has done to so many. Sorry...but I am certainly not "tearing my hair out" nor do I intend to just ignore these people that you claim I am trying to "hurt." Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, as a JW, we were told that our pointing out the negative aspects of other religions was an act of love, and the WTS does not hesitate to point out those failings and neither do individual JWs. Why is it not also an act of love to point out the failings of the JW organization?

 

[RedhorseWoman]

30 years! And you didn't like it? 30 years?
Scrutinised and Controlled? For 30 years?
And you stayed on...... and now, looking back at how you wasted your time, you are angry at them and not yourself?
You could have been doing something else!! You don't live in a country where they execute apostates, nobody was going to hunt you down for leaving....... and you stayed of your own free will......... you might consider redirecting your anger, but only for about 5 minutes, because life is short and it;'s time to move forwards towards a new mindset, new life, happiness. But you wont find any (methinks) whilst your raving against 7 million peaceful people.

LOL You know very little about the JW organization. It takes a very long time to try to undo the indoctrination that is endemic to a high-control religion. When you are brought into something as a child and are taught that leaving that organization will mean your destruction by God and you know nothing else because you've been taught that the "world" is an evil place ruled by Satan, you try to "adjust your thinking" and you blame yourself if you have doubts.

Try checking out sites that talk about cult mind control. Perhaps then you might understand how people can stay in such an organization decades before they can finally get the courage to break free. You are pretty good at judging, aren't you?

So don't join any!

You asked why. I told you.

Look, I opened my hands to you, asking you for an exchange of life tragedies and abuses suffered individual to both you and myself, and you've not got any, apparently.

I do. I just don't care to discuss them.

I've known anger so hot and raging as any could be, and there has to be a time when one day we can wake up to a new start, totally freed from our raging feelings for ever. Peace. Quiet.

No anger...merely the desire to prevent others from getting caught up in something that could ultimately destroy their lives--psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Some organizations are dangerous...or do you think that that is not true?

I reckon that you need to let go of all this hatred, because if you don't you'll just burn yourself up, and then you'll be blaming JWs for that as well.

No hatred. Just feel the need to warn others. And some have already thanked me for doing so.

Why do I defend JWs, an outsider with no JW interests, relatives etc associated with them? I'll tell you....... I just happen to know a JW community here in Kent, England, and have learned that they are unusually trustworthy, straight and true. No JW has ever said one thing and done another. They just do 'what it says on the tin', to borrow an advert from the telly. That's what I call integrity, and it doesn't matter whether I believe what they believe, or live as they live........ with them you get what you see and hear from them.

And for you to trash such people because you knew a bad person in their midst is sad. It's sad.

A JW community? Do you mean a Kingdom Hall where JWs meet? Or are those JWs all living in a community like the Amish? I've never heard of that, but I suppose it could happen.

Individual JWs are generally trustworthy, straight and true. But, just like any other group, some aren't. And unless you have spent time INSIDE the organization, you really have no idea of what it's like.

And remember...I do not intend to "trash" individual JWs, who, by and large, are decent people and who are merely victims of a corporate religious publishing company that is using them and manipulating them. And, if some, like yourself, consider it "trashing" to point out the flaws of their organization, then so be it.

 

[oldbadger]

Did you read the testimonies on SilentLambs? There are many more than one who was convicted and/or sued in civil court because the statute of limitations had run out. That one was one I was personally familiar with.

On........ 30 years of control, and you went on.....

I'm sorry that you have somehow twisted my statements about the workings of the JW organization into attacks on individual JWs. I do agree that the majority of individual JWs are decent people. However, the JW organization is basically using those decent people as unpaid slaves for their religious publishing company, and many people have had terrible experiences that have affected their lives for a very long time.

...and on....

Destroyed this and ruined that? Please be more specific about where I presumably said these things and what I was referring to.

Please...... read your own posts. I'm not doing homework for you this morning.
30 years wasted ............ !
Ruined for any other religion........!

I simply asked you if you would give the same free pass to other religious organizations where it has been discovered that child molestation was hidden for decades. The JWs are no different from any other group, but you seem to believe that they are. Why?

I told you about the community that I have come to know where I live........
....on........

Obviously not. You have stated that you haven't talked to any JWs, and it's doubtful that you have participated in any forums other than this one where these statements have been made. It's pretty hard to see posts where JWs claim these things if you've never interacted with them isn't it?

I have let JWs park on my drive for 30 years, and my wife has given them hospitality for 25.............

Nope. I don't "scream" and I try to focus on the organization--not the individuals. And I'm certainly not "vexed." If you were able to get out of a burning building and knew that others were still inside, would you simply walk away, or would you try to warn the others and try to prevent additional people from entering that building?

So you're not screaming, and you're not vexed......... sure...... right.
30 years!................ of control, and suppression........ and you feel just fine. OK.

People who have had the good luck to escape from a high-control religion very often feel that they should try to speak out about their experiences so that others don't get caught up in that organization. JWs would just love it if everyone who left simply accepted the loss of family, friends and sometimes employment and simply shut up and hid.

Oh dear...........
In my opinion you're just wasting your life in heated anger.
I can think of so many institutions, companies, religions, hostels, Charities (Oxfam!!!), youth centres, sports facilities, schools, hospices, hospitals, Doctors, therapists, public services, police forces....... where bullying, harassment and sexual crimes have been discovered, but you want to destroy the JW faith if you can.........

Vexatious.......... 30 years!

I certainly don't want to hurt individual JWs, but I don't want to simply ignore the damage that this organization has done to so many. Sorry...but I am certainly not "tearing my hair out" nor do I intend to just ignore these people that you claim I am trying to "hurt." Nothing could be further from the truth.

I perceive that your posts are positively scattered in loose ends and bits of rock......

In fact, as a JW, we were told that our pointing out the negative aspects of other religions was an act of love, and the WTS does not hesitate to point out those failings and neither do individual JWs. Why is it not also an act of love to point out the failings of the JW organization?

Yeah...... so for 30 years you rubbished other religions, right? And now you rubbish JWs. So no change there, then.

I reckon that all the time you are tearing down, slashing at, stoning and screaming about ANYTHING then you are wasting your life-hours, minutes, seconds.

I have almost certainly arrested more pedophiles than you...... for sure, and more deceivers, thieves, bashers, breakers and beaters................. but at the same time I can tell you that I have helped to defend so many innocents who were wrongfully arrested and indicted........... and so when I read woolly allegations from agenda driven folks I cannot help but ask questions........ and rip up rubbish, because most of such evidences will end up where they almost certainly belong..... in the rubbish bin.

 

[oldbadger]

LOL You know very little about the JW organization. It takes a very long time to try to undo the indoctrination that is endemic to a high-control religion. When you are brought into something as a child and are taught that leaving that organization will mean your destruction by God and you know nothing else because you've been taught that the "world" is an evil place ruled by Satan, you try to "adjust your thinking" and you blame yourself if you have doubts.

Try checking out sites that talk about cult mind control. Perhaps then you might understand how people can stay in such an organization decades before they can finally get the courage to break free. You are pretty good at judging, aren't you?

This is what ex-husbands and ex-wives tell us after living for decades under suppression.....
Message? Get out!
I don't think you're anywhere near clear yet......
Find Peace....

You asked why. I told you.

I do. I just don't care to discuss them.

No anger...merely the desire to prevent others from getting caught up in something that could ultimately destroy their lives--psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Some organizations are dangerous...or do you think that that is not true?

....and on....

No hatred. Just feel the need to warn others. And some have already thanked me for doing so.

30 years............. held down. Frightened about God's wrath?
And no anger or hatred.
OK.....

A JW community? Do you mean a Kingdom Hall where JWs meet? Or are those JWs all living in a community like the Amish? I've never heard of that, but I suppose it could happen.

Individual JWs are generally trustworthy, straight and true. But, just like any other group, some aren't. And unless you have spent time INSIDE the organization, you really have no idea of what it's like.

And unless you've got rid of your hatred and anger, and walked on into a life of contented peace and quiet....... you've got no idea what it's like.

And remember...I do not intend to "trash" individual JWs, who, by and large, are decent people and who are merely victims of a corporate religious publishing company that is using them and manipulating them. And, if some, like yourself, consider it "trashing" to point out the flaws of their organization, then so be it.

This is like trashing ........ any kind of community....... even a fishing club that won't let ex-members onto its waters, almost!

Do you realise that you have just totally insulted millions of JWs by telling them that they haven't got the brains to know their own hearts and minds, or make their own choices?

Peace.

 

[oldbadger]

@Hockeycowboy..... thankyou for the likey......

It could be worse........ *nodding*
You could be with a film company, or a police force, or a fire service......... whatever, and you'd still be getting disaffected folks screaming at you from across the metaphorical street.

'Them firemen (whatever) ........ all killers!...... yeah........ they just sit drinking tea and let everybody...... burn! And when they actually do go into a burning buildin's they're just looking fer stuff to nick..... yeah..... Yeah...... this just ta warn yer all...... don't be a fireman! (my apologies to fire services anywhere in the world. )

 

[Deeje]

Do you realise that you have just totally insulted millions of JWs by telling them that they haven't got the brains to know their own hearts and minds, or make their own choices?

I just love the way you plough through the rubbish and cut right to the chase OB....the internet is full of these poor pathetic souls who want to blame everyone but themselves for the fact that they are lost.

It has been my personal experience that those who voluntarily decide to become Jehovah's Witnesses, do so knowing what is expected of them from the beginning. But the difference between those who stay, and those who become 'disillusioned' and want to leave, is that one group "joined a religion" because they liked what they heard and wanted to get something out of it for themselves.....the other group actually got to know the God they dedicated their life to and came to unselfishly love him. Their loyalty is not just to an organization but to the God who brought this family together and taught them to behave like decent human beings. The genuine ones do, but like all organizations, we have those who bring reproach on the whole brotherhood. Israel was also full of people who failed to obey their God and brought reproach on his name. One of Jesus' own apostles defected and betrayed him. Its gonna happen....but woe to the one who brings that kind of reproach. Still it is not easy to stumble a faithful person.

Mark 9:40-42...Jesus said "For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward. 42 But whoever stumbles one of these little ones who have faith, it would be better for him if a millstone that is turned by a donkey were put around his neck and he were pitched into the sea."

 

[Jim]

Yes, it is correct. Absolutely. The way I phrased the question in prayer was, "If they have the truth, please send them to me." I do believe, that, for the most part they have the truth in their literature. I don't think you can find it to such an extent anywhere else. But I also think they have major problems. The two for me are, false prophecy and their handling of child molestation. Scripturally how do you tell a false prophet? Those that speak on behalf of Jehovah regarding a matter that doesn't come true. What are you to do then? Stay away from them.

Where are you in this? Have you decided to join?

 

[oldbadger]

I just love the way you plough through the rubbish and cut right to the chase OB....the internet is full of these poor pathetic souls who want to blame everyone but themselves for the fact that they are lost.

It's true......... lost folks.
Although for different reasons, I do believe that the only way to help vexatious destroyers is to confront their claims, because if they can be brought to a standstill in their ranting momentum, then they might stop, think and take stock........ not about their claims but about themselves.

As a one-time nasher-of-teeth I know that to somehow stop, turn round and walk away in peace is the only way to reset our defaults. But that's just my perception.

.............................. like all organizations, we have those who bring reproach on the whole brotherhood. Israel was also full of people who failed to obey their God and brought reproach on his name. One of Jesus' own apostles defected and betrayed him. Its gonna happen....but woe to the one who brings that kind of reproach. Still it is not easy to stumble a faithful person.............................

Ah ha! Of course! I never thought about these examples, so obvious and yet so 'hidden in plain sight'.

How could I miss that?
Detractor: You've got dreadful folks doing bad things in your church (whatever)!
Believer: Possibly, but then of course, Jesus was destroyed by one doing bad things in his........... and yet look at the millions who believe.

Of course! I do admire your patient tenacity, and @Hockeycowboy 's