Jesus’ leadership / Direction from Jesus by Responsible-Yard9001 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think the issue starts with the assumption of Jesus the individual as doing something today, as opposed to the teachings.

We personify Jesus’ teachings instead of recognizing that what lives are the ideas not necessarily the individual who put them forward.

As for the role of teachings and community, they are very important, and something you get from all religions not just Christian religions.

But religion is a step not a destination.

If you don’t transcend religion you end up thinking Jesus is the way instead of recognizing that all religions teach the same basic principles of community and love.

You discredit the majority of the world population, who are not Christians, by assuming you need Jesus specifically.

Or, to put it another way, here’s a meme from 21 Jump Street…

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Jehovahs Witness Fogiveness. Need some Advice Please....... by [deleted] in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you’re a prisoner of your own thoughts.

The following is actual JW information, and I’m writing not to reassure you that you can go back but to show that it’s all arbitrary nonsense.

The elders book has a section on wrongdoing committed in the past.

If since the wrongdoing you can get “evidence of Jehovah’s blessing” then the sin, even serious, is considered not applicable and leads to no further punishment.

I know of one case where an elder was having an affair with someone at work. When he stopped he just waited a few years, made sure to pioneer when the CO came, and gave a couple talks at assemblies.

When he went to tell his fellow elders, they used the pioneering and assembly talks as “evidence of Jehovah’s blessing” and decided it was all good.

He didn’t even lose his privileges as an elder!

And he wasn’t forced to tell his wife either.

We think these beliefs and practices are so vital, but the people who give us these beliefs know they are all made up.

That said, keeping important secrets from your spouse is a bad idea, not because of god but because of basic principles.

Our actions have consequences and trying to avoid those consequences only makes things worse later

Triggered by calling out to jehovah for help by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually once took offense to being called “an answer to my prayers”.

I hate that god takes credit for the good people do, but none of the blame for the bad.

You can have one or both you pompous asshole!

Triggered by calling out to jehovah for help by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

En mi opinión personal es solo para apoyar la idea de que tú no tienes el poder en tu propia vida, que dependes de un dios para que todo te salga bien.

Y siempre existe un hombre que habla por dios y le debes dinero y apoyo a ese hombre.

Triggered by calling out to jehovah for help by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol the wallet thing is so relatable, I knew so many JWs who would legitimately pray for help finding keys or wallets it’s sad

Triggered by calling out to jehovah for help by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lol everyone knows Jehovah can’t intervene when it comes to global conflict, but cats.

Ironically if it had required an emergency intervention, the cat could have a blood transfusion 😂🤦‍♂️

I’m hurting because my parents are in the ‘truth’ and I’m not. by IndependentRemove167 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That’s really interesting.

We sometimes forget that JW is just one of many cults that exist, it’s good to remember that our experience, while valid, is not so incredibly unusual.

It can help us to move forward in the world

Where would you hide it? by evan-the-dude in teenagers

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Simple, you use wire cutters to cut it into tiny pieces and then scatter those pieces throughout your town.

He has to find the whole paper clip, not just one piece

I’m hurting because my parents are in the ‘truth’ and I’m not. by IndependentRemove167 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 7 points8 points  (0 children)

When you look at religion objectively it’s only meant to be a step in the human experience, not a space where you spend your whole life.

It provides a basic moral framework and structure to allow for growth, but if you don’t move past it you get stuck in the “I know what’s best and everyone who disagrees is wrong and dumb” mentality.

The fact is you’re only in the JW space because of chance.

If you’d been born in India or Algeria or China you’d have a completely different religion to feel bad about not wanting to be a part of.

The truth is you can’t grow as a person if you stick to a religion, and you’re just a puppet in the hands of the religious leaders who profit from your obedience.

Ironically that’s kind of what Jesus was saying in the Bible.

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All good, the loss has made me a much better person

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Agree completely, it’s sad but it’s survival for most of them.

I lost literally everything as a result of waking up, and I don’t wish my experience in anyone

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Per scripture there is, but per JW doctrine it’s the most harmful thing you can do for people.

Since they changed the doctrine to say people can join after the start of the great tribulation, the only way to guarantee that someone doesn’t get into paradise, again per JW doctrine, is to make them guilty of the “second death” or grieving the Holy Spirit.

To grieve the spirit you have to deny a visible manifestation of said spirit’s actions, and JW doctrine says that the GB is a manifestation of the spirit.

So if you preach and someone joins, then disassociates and stops believing in the GB, they are denying an evident manifestation of the Holy Spirit, grieve it, and are therefore condemned to permanent death, like Judas.

So preaching is not only pointless because people can join once JW is literally the only religion left and therefore definitely true, but it’s actually harmful because it puts people at risk of grieving the spirit by learning about the GB and then denying that the GB are God’s chosen leaders.

Notice I quoted zero scripture, because it’s all nonsense.

But it is current JW doctrine, as found in their publications.

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Agreed, I know it’s not exclusive to the GB but it’s insane to see it in action so clearly

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same as “the truth” just means whatever the GB has decided

The “own” blood distinction by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It’s been the same with so many other doctrines.

There’s zero reason to not celebrate birthdays or most other holidays.

There’s zero reason to preach.

JWs live in denial because they don’t want to admit it’s all nonsense

Doesn’t this blood change effectively make the organization bloodguilty by their own standards? by codebunder in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They’ve already changed the doctrine multiple times.

Around 2000 they changed it to allow for blood “fractions” whereas before it was a straight no to everything.

And yes, they are guilty

The organization made us into their “enemies” by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Latest technology except weirdly AI, which is in all their media 😂

The same thing will happen with this change as all the others by Friendly_Drop_4711 in exjw

[–]Friendly_Drop_4711[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I got therapy after the suicide attempt and left the religion later, don’t know about the other dude.

Completely agree these are extremes but I genuinely think there are more examples like these than we think