Wonder??? Why my J.W. friends left this site?

[savagewind]

I'm wondering the same thing, the only time anything is passed is during memorial, and that is just the wine and bread/ crackers or whatever it is called.

Jehovah's Witnesses take great pride in the fact that no plate gets passed at the Kingdom Hall. I do not doubt that all the kingdom halls never pass a plate for collections. I think it is not possible that @jeager106 has a told a true story. Maybe I should be a cop.

 

[Shak34]

Jehovah's Witnesses take great pride in the fact that no plate gets passed at the Kingdom Hall. I do not doubt that all the kingdom halls never pass a plate for collections. I think it is not possible that @jeager106 has a told a true story. Maybe I should be a cop.

Great detective work! That is what the donation box is for.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

They left because the church leaders told them to.
every so often a new one turns up who has not heard the instructions.

To me, it shows an aspect of their weakness and fear of "contamination"

If that was the case, we wouldn't be going from door-to-door, where we come across all kinds of beliefs!

 

[Hockeycowboy]

IIRC, it had to do with interacting with foreigners. You know, people like me.

Beg your pardon? Are you being funny?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Methinks it's quite likely the J.W. leadership discourages internet interaction on
religious sites.
Might cause suspicion among the members.
Believe me there are MANY willing and ready to "tattle tail" on others.
Tattling is encouraged to "help vulnerable brothers and sisters".
The Kingdom Hall I attended as a young man was in an area of mixed race so
blacks and whites sat together and fellow shipped.
Quite nice really.
One black lady opened her purse when the plate was passed and it was obvious she
had a pack of smokes. Not good.
Someone squealed & she got the boot.
No doubt in an effort to "help" her.

".....when the plate was passed"?!?!?!!!!!!

You say you're learning about Jehovah..... Tell me, how does He feel about lying?

 

[Deeje]

But Deeje is not gone. Very tenacious. Determined.

It's called conviction bt. It takes a strong faith (not to mention a strong stomach) to put up with the lies that some people pass off as truth about us on this site. Some are quite obsessed about us and our teachings as we can see. But no one has anything to fear from the truth.

I asked my elders about posting on here because I am somewhat stuck at home at the present, caring for a sick relative, so because I am a spiritually strong person and I have been posting on these kinds of sites for years, they said OK, as long as I was careful.

The original directive we received was to ensure that those studying the Bible with us in countries where our work is banned would not get into trouble, being tracked down by authorities and face possible prison sentences.
Many of our brothers in those countries are in prison for preaching right now. Some still face lengthy court proceedings with trumped up charges and planted evidence. Government corruption is rife in some of these places.

Since it was too difficult to be specific, it was felt that it would be better to just put out a blanket directive.

When God's prophet Ezekiel was sent to his fellow Israelites to give them a warning from him about their conduct, God told him....“Son of man, go in among the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 For you are not being sent to a people who speak an unintelligible language or an unknown tongue, but to the house of Israel. 6 You are not being sent to many peoples speaking an unintelligible language or an unknown tongue, whose words you cannot understand. If I would send you to them, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, for they do not want to listen to me. All those of the house of Israel are hardheaded and hardhearted. 8 Look! I have made your face exactly as hard as their faces and your forehead exactly as hard as their foreheads. 9 I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint." (Ezekiel 3:4-9)

I feel as if Jehovah has given me the same kind of protection. I won't let the opposers get away with their hatchet job. My house is firm and unmovable....built on a solid foundation.
I will defend the truth and expose the lies.

 

[Deeje]

".....when the plate was passed"?!?!?!!!!!!

You say you're learning about Jehovah..... Tell me, how does He feel about lying?

He has been caught out a few times, bending the truth.....I don't honestly think he knows what truth is. Like the media, you don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

[jeager106]

Jehovah's Witnesses take great pride in the fact that no plate gets passed at the Kingdom Hall. I do not doubt that all the kingdom halls never pass a plate for collections. I think it is not possible that @jeager106 has a told a true story. Maybe I should be a cop.

You're right. It was the crackers and grape juice plates.
Been forever since I was in a K.H.
The Society get's it's operating money from various sources not the least of which
is private donations.
If I recall correctly J.W.'s that work at the headquarters, those that set up and print
literature, do so without monetary compensation.
Most all other denominations do pass a basket but I'm not sure.

Savagewind. Weren't you a Witness? Still are? Just associated?

 

[LuisDantas]

Beg your pardon? Are you being funny?

No. I honestly recall it as being explained here in the forum as a decision from higher up that JWs are not supposed to participate of forums with foreigners.

No idea how that applies, if at all, for non-American JWs.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

No. I honestly recall it as being explained here in the forum as a decision from higher up that JWs are not supposed to participate of forums with foreigners.

No idea how that applies, if at all, for non-American JWs.

Lol funny! I've never heard that one! Millions of JWs are not American -- South, Central, or North -- so I don't know how that would work, either . Sad, really, how at times lies become more popular than truth.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It's called conviction bt. ..................

The original directive we received was to ensure that those studying the Bible with us in countries where our work is banned would not get into trouble, being tracked down by authorities and face possible prison sentences.
Many of our brothers in those countries are in prison for preaching right now. Some still face lengthy court proceedings with trumped up charges and planted evidence. Government corruption is rife in some of these places.

Since it was too difficult to be specific, it was felt that it would be better to just put out a blanket directive.

.

I am sure that is indeed what happened... I remember at the time there was a general exodus from this site, and some one showed a copy of the directive.(may be elsewhere)

However it seems a shame that those working in countries, like in Europe where JW's are not persecuted, and where the major religious discussions take place on the Web, should not be allowed to interact with others in this way.

All our faiths are tested repeatedly by interactions with others, which to me seems a positive thing. After all that is what JW's do themselves, when the preach to members of other faiths or other Christians... Those who are not tested in the fire of reason are the weaker for it.

 

[Deeje]

I am sure that is indeed what happened... I remember at the time there was a general exodus from this site, and some one showed a copy of the directive.(may be elsewhere)

However it seems a shame that those working in countries, like in Europe where JW's are not persecuted, and where the major religious discussions take place on the Web, should not be allowed to interact with others in this way.

Our website is visited by thousands of people from all over the world every day. People prefer to get their information via the internet these days but nothing beats being able to ask a question face to face and to see the answer from the Bible or to hear the other side of a story.

Internet debate sites are not for the faint-hearted so sensitive folk should keep their distance IMO.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Our website is visited by thousands of people from all over the world every day. People prefer to get their information via the internet these days but nothing beats being able to ask a question face to face and to see the answer from the Bible or to hear the other side of a story.

Internet debate sites are not for the faint-hearted so sensitive folk should keep their distance IMO.

Are you equating Faint hearted with lack of faith?
I am visited at least twice a year by Jw's and I am happy to discuss anything they care to bring up. However one of the pair always seems to be somewhat the junior partner, with far less knowledge. Unfortunately the protection of this partner, often take precedence over a frank discussion of more difficult aspects of the Bible.
I am a very liberal Anglican, so there are often wide differences in our understanding about what passages might mean. If such questions are avoided, or statements not followed through with deeper understanding, the whole exercise would seem unlikely to be productive.
I am sure some have muttered warding prayers when they left.

 

[Agondonter]

There were few Jehovah's Witnesses that posted here and I made e-buddies with them.
Many in my mom's family are J.W.'s and I am open minded to most ALL religious views.
I don't "get it" why they left here.
Any ideas please?

Sure. They get sick and tired of the sophistry.

 

[savagewind]

You're right. It was the crackers and grape juice plates

.Not grape juice and not crackers. They use real unadulterated wine and real unleavened bread.

Been forever since I was in a K.H.

I understand.

The Society get's it's operating money from various sources not the least of which
is private donations.

There is rumor going around that Prince has left them loads of money.

If I recall correctly J.W.'s that work at the headquarters, those that set up and print
literature, do so without monetary compensation.

They get a stipend but it seems to me it isn't quite enough to buy new clothes, shoes and quality toiletries. It is certainly not enough to save anything. I have heard that the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses does not offer its working members any retirement benefit or severance pay. So when a member is let go because of down-sizing he or she gets nothing.

Most all other denominations do pass a basket but I'm not sure.

Some do, but I have been in only one other Christian church in many years.
I do not remember if a plate was passed. I do remember the lessons there were not much different than the JW sermons.

Savagewind. Weren't you a Witness? Still are? Just associated?

I was faithful as a baptized member to the society for approximately twenty years. They say a person who leaves them leaves Jehovah. That is not true in my case.

 

[savagewind]

It takes a strong faith (not to mention a strong stomach) to put up with the lies that some people pass off as truth about us on this site. Some are quite obsessed about us and our teachings as we can see.

But no one has anything to fear from the truth.

The Truth being what the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses teach and are alerting others to believe in.

I think that humankind is not sophisticated enough to discern correctly what being led by a certain tenet will result in. I shall risk going public with the opinion that countries which make it against the law to follow the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses are fearing Jehovah MORE than countries which allow the making of human idols which JWs have made of their governing body and their elders and the Bible.

The problem is how to get rid of the idols without getting rid of the Bible and the people.

I should think that you @Deeje should have heard from Jesus by now to STOP calling arguments against the tenets of JWs as lies. Questions can never be lies. Can they?

 

[savagewind]

I haven't told any lies, but @Deeje lies about people who have left the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.
To leave a human organization DOES NOT mean to leave Jehovah.

 

[Thanda]

Any truth that is threatened by critical thought and rational inquiry isn't much of a truth at all. Anyone confident in their beliefs should gleefully welcome critique, scrutiny, and challenge.

Agree to a point. But human beings are as much intuitive beings as they are analytical, rational and "intellectual". As such sometimes a person first understands a truth on an intuitive.emotional/spiritual level before they understand it from an intellectual level.

As an example I first met my wife during a speed dating activity. In those twenty seconds I spoke to her I was left with the overwhelming feeling that she was a great lady and that I would love to marry her. But she was involved with someone at the time and it was years before we had a chance to be together. Had you asked me at the time to prove intellectually and rationally that she was a good person and would make a good wife I would probably have given an unsatisfactory answer. However when I got to know her the reasons for the feeling I had became manifest and I am now in a position to rationally and intellectually explain to someone why I say she is a good person.

So an inability to withstand "critical thought and rational inquiry" isn't a sure fire way of establishing the absence of truth.

 

[savagewind]

But she was involved with someone at the time

I don't understand, and since this is a forum where everyone's business is also my business, can you please explain how being involved with someone and speed dating can be reconciled?
I am a terribly curious person. I will even watch a show that I don't like just to see the end of it. I am married and my excessive curiosity has never allowed me to check out a free dating site, even though I hear the little devil inside say I can.

 

[Thanda]

I don't understand, and since this is a forum where everyone's business is also my business, can you please explain how being involved with someone and speed dating can be reconciled?
I am a terribly curious person. I will even watch a show that I don't like just to see the end of it. I am married and my excessive curiosity has never allowed me to check out a free dating site, even though I hear the little devil inside say I can.

Hahaha, it was a church activity. She is a member of the church and she was at the conference where the activity was held ergo she participated.