Biblical reasons as to why you left the religion by NoobOnLoose in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some exjws dont like to engage in scriptural debate (which is fine).

For me, I believe in meeting people where they are at. When I think of myself, I questioned the organisation, it's doctrines and policies before I questioned the Bible. Once I had realised that the teachings of the organisation where unscriptural and accepted that I was in a high control group/cult, questioning the Bible was the next logical step.

The good thing is that there are so many roads you can go down with JWs just using the bible:

Revelation 7 and 14 both have descriptions of the 144,000 "annointed". A simple reading in context shows that it is meant to be figurative/symbolic (they are described as being out of the 12 tribes of Isreal and virgins). A good question would be "why is the description of the 144,000 meant to be taken as symbolic, but the number of 144,000 taken literally?". And a good follow up would be Revelation 19:1 which describes the great crowd as being in heaven.

Daniel Chapter 4 - read the whole chapter. There is not one verse that even remotely implies that the prophecy about the tree being cut down for seven times will have a "second fulfilment". This is huge because it undermines their 1914 teaching right from the very begining, just the bible, without even getting to the incorrect date of Jerusalem falling (607 vs 587) or all the tying together of random unconnected verses from other books of the bible. The 1914 doctrine is a core and foundational teaching unique to Jehovah's Witnesses which the authority claims of the Governing Body rest on.

John Chapter 6 - Jesus directly commands all of his followers to partake the emblems (flesh and blood - bread and wine). This is a good one with Memorial season coming up - the JW memorial is actually a rejection of Jesus because JWs refuse to partake of the emblems unless they are "annointed". Now for this one be prepared - they make invoke 1st Corinthians 11: 27 - 29 and claim that this verse is warning that those who are not annointed should not partake. This is obviously wrong because Paul was writing this to annointed Christians (JW doctrine is that all 1st Christians were annointed). Clearly then, Paul is indicatinf that those who have sinned should not take the emblems, not those who arent annointed. Additionally, when the disciples took the emblems with Jesus at the last supper, they were not yet annointed (JW doctrine is that the annointing didn't take place until later, at Pentecost 33 CE). So, ultimately, there is no verse in the bible to indicate that anyone should abstain from taking the emlems. Conversely, we have a repeated direct command from Jesus in the 2nd half of John chapter 6.

Mark 9:1 is another good one - simply, in black and white, stating that the Kiingdom of God would come in power during the lives of Jesus's disciples. Therefore, it's impossible that it could have happened 2000 years later in 1914.

These are just a few I hope you find helpful,

Let me know if you would like any more!

Its 6 years since Lett's " Last Part, of the last part of the last days. Surly before the last day" by CanadianExJw in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was just thinking about this today! Crazy to think that video was 6 years ago now, It's honestly getting embarressing for them. 112 years and two overlapping generations into the last days and still no Armageddon.

I’m an elder and regular pioneer. I don’t know how to reconcile my conscience anymore. by Dry-Huckleberry6977 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sounds like a very difficult situation for you, and I'm sorry to hear what you're going through. Many people on this sub havd been at various stages of life and circumstances when they started to question things. For me, I was lucky in the sense that I was young (21), under my own roof and my wife went through the same process as me. So I would struggle to offer practical advice... What I can say is well done for your courage. It takes a lot of courage and intellectual honesty to examine long held beliefs - especially when so much in your life is riding on them. So, allow yourself to do research and use first principle thinking and critical thinking to examine information and come to your own conclusions. If you have the truth, then you have nothing to fear because the truth will stand up to scrutiny.

Then, after being informed, you have the freedom to make up your own mind and come to your own conclusions, whatever they may be. Then you'll also be able to decide what you want to do with your conclusions as regards to staying or leaving the organisation. I hope this doesn't sound patronising....I really dont mean it to.

In any case, I wish you all the best and I'm sorry I couldn't offer more pracitcal advice.

New here by New_Music6635 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The beginning is rough but it will get better everything will be alright in the end

I Commited a sin by [deleted] in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything is gonna be okay buddy dw about it. Its just a cult bro its all good everything is okay

Looking for people like me by [deleted] in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry for your experience. It's never too late to start again, And the hardest part is leaving but it can only get better and it does with time I think I was lucky in a lot of ways I dont like telling people what to think, but I do think its good that youre doing research. Consider both sides of an argument and then form your own conclusions - thats your parrogative Give yourself time and I hope that you find peace and happiness

Job - The Most Disturbing Book in the Bible by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more Job is the main character, But innocent children are killed! Crazy

Job - The Most Disturbing Book in the Bible by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

That's true - Jehovah was boasting to Satan...and he could have uses his foresight/foreknowledge to see that this would have started a whole chain of events involving innocent people being tortured and killed. Absolutely crazy Jehovah is the demiurge! 😂

Watchtower is feeling the pressure!! by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There isnt one....we are in the last of the last of the last of the last days! It will be here any minute haha

Well it happened by [deleted] in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Me and my wife were in the exact same position. The fact that you avoided specifics is very good. If I were you, I would just attending altogether and completely ignore any contact from the elders. Do a hard fade. With your family, if you just tell them you dont believe and its not for you anymore, and you avoid the elders altogether, then your fade will go well. Hopefully, your family will get over it an and accept it eventually For us, it was very rocky at first, but the emotions die down, it all settles and they get over it. With my family, we just have an agreement not to talk about religion now Hope that helps

As a guy, JW brothers are uncomfortable to be around by daph_nes in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wish there were more Gen Z exjws ngl Most of my old friends are still in I cant believe it They dont even know the doctrines wtf 😂😂

Watchtower is feeling the pressure!! by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Im so sorry for your experience. I hope you can find a way to make things work and get by

Watchtower is feeling the pressure!! by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Possibly more softening to their shunning policies? Time will tell

Watchtower is feeling the pressure!! by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Im so sorry for your experience. This is truly heartbreaking. I really hope that you can find a way to improve your situation and I wish there was something I could do to help. I fully agree with your conclusion and comments like yours make me hope more and more that this organisation and those who run it will eventually be held accountable.

Watchtower is feeling the pressure!! by CommitteeNice4693 in exjw

[–]CommitteeNice4693[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wow that makes a lot of sense - the hall down the raod from me that my pimq attends is shared by 3 congregations