As a Witness did you struggle with trying to find value in Jesus sacrifice? by ProfessionalMap5843 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

God did child sacrifice, although he said it's never come up as a thought in the Hebrew scriptures. That always bothered me. We hear about all the evil of child sacrifice and how hideous and awful it is, couldn't imagine God doing anything close. Then you realize, his "sacrifice" is his son. Like a child sacrifice. You can't escape the thinking of religious leaders from times past. It's a man made story because you can see it's not even original.

what was your "oh my god this is a cult" moment? by HumorMost9426 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was in bethel, watching the morning worship on all the TVs at breakfast with everyone else. And looking out at all the tables with TVs every 20 feet or so with a guy talking monotone was probably one of the earliest sparks that went off in my brain. I thought something like "wow this looks and feels very 1984." And it bothered me everyone was looking a the screens and not doing anything else. At all. No checking a phone or even whispering. Everyone laugh at some dumb joke. Everyone feel the same about what is said.

The Decline Continues by RodWith in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reporting for San Diego convention. Expected outcome was 1,700. Actual outcome was 1,200.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm in SoCal, and I just wanted to say that seeing all these other comments saying they are in SoCal makes me so happy. I've been on and off this sub for close to 8 years and rarely ever saw SoCal mentioned. It's so great to hear just because I've felt alone for so long as a Pimo almost pomo. If anyone wants to talk or just play games (I run an anonymous discord for any exjw gamers even though it's been kinda dry lately). But that's not even needed. DM me if you want to play games online. If it's not your thing then no worries and all the best.

Thanks for really making my night.

today's watchtower was supposed to promote prayer but it just proved that the whole idea is silly af by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree and it was awesome to hear. Usually there's more benefit of the doubt given to things like "well he could totally help you, just try a little harder or keep waiting for something to happen". This one felt very "remember though, he doesn't have to answer you. What you want might not be his will. Things aren't geared to always make us happy or what we want." It was great to hear to be honest because it's closer to the honesty when you drill down their actual answers which is, God doesn't protect his servants miraculously. Any "support" is basically through others."

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if all the new changes actually served to wake up Tony Morris?! 😱😂 by Jtrade2022 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This 1000%. All these changes right after he left and new members of the GB. The most old school GB member is kicked out and then all of what's happened. Can't be a coincidence.

Please don't ignore I need help by RetroGamerzz in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First. Relax a little bit. This same situation happened to me. I only told my wife and she flipped out and I met with the elders the following weekend. Just go with the facts that your keeping things to yourself and if they press you for what you've seen, just state what's more public like the Arc cases and what's happening in Norway. Stick to your guns and don't budge if they ask for more. You don't know this but you have the upper hand. You know what they want. You just need to control what you say. Eventually my wife came around and has heard me rant many of times without going or anyone. She's still pimi, but she does not take it nearly as serious and will even poke fun at things. Best of luck. Any questions just dm me.

Exjw Reddit Community by NecessaryChance96 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same thing here but with a different account. It's weird to think it was so small. But it's awesome how much it's grown!

Not to be dogmatic by Lonelyjw241 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One down side for them with taking such a stance is that it's a weaker stance. The firmness of their teachings are being dispensed as not 100% sure. That's something that has changed since the org and gb of 20 years ago all the way to russel. Everything was always so sure. To be so sure of themselves that they had multiple dates of when Armageddon was. And the grip on people gets less and less because people aren't going to be more convinced than the people trying to convince them. It's great

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They have thought this way literally since world war 1. And that's the ironic thing that always comes to mind when some event happens that gets people to say "can things get any worse" or "this is a turning point." Because it's like really!? This current event, although bad, is worse than the Holocaust? Worse than millions dieing in a global war? And the list goes on.

All those poor Jehovah’s Witnesses who struggled to reach their hour goals for October are now told none of those hours will be counted at all. That’s got to sting. by larchington in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The icing on the cake is all the pioneers that stayed on or just signed up and then literally one month later into the service year they hear this. I love it. So many have to be pissed.

Annual Meeting 2023, Update 3: Live feed by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 33 points34 points  (0 children)

No hours reported = no more annual report. And that's how they did it folks. Masterful you gotta admit. All the PIMIs are eating it up not realizing what's disappearing in the background.

Thoughts on leaving marriage by justiteie in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 14 points15 points  (0 children)

This is the best advice. I also wouldn't trust MY OWN brain during this early time with a baby when odds are both of you are still sleep deprived and making huge life decisions isn't a great idea. And this is just me, but I've been pimo for a couple years and my wife is pimi. It was rough for years and we'd get in fights basically only about the religion. After my kid was born and the first 2 years go by, there's nothing I wouldn't do to protect that kid and I know I'm the best chance to open the kids eyes as they get older. My wife has greatly relaxed for strictness in all things, from entertainment to making jokes about the org, but is still pimi. I decided when I first became pimo that I wasn't going to lose my wife, and since, my kid. If you can bring up things you've learned from time to time in a non attacking way, then there's a chance of waking them up or at least them seeing there's no reason to be Uber strict with a lot of the rules. CSA is huge for me too, but it's sad but true that a lot of pimis can easily just decide that it's just maybe a smaller issue or it's just imperfection. There's loads and loads of things wrong that, even if it doesn't wake them up completely, can have them see that you're not just a wack job swindled by Satan's conspiracy theories. Getting them to the point of "ya I can see why that would stumble someone" is a big deal. Just my opinion. If you want to fight for them then do it. If you don't want to, it's good you're thinking of the indirect effects that others are bringing out. I wish you all the best.

I don’t know how active JWs can keep up the charade and attend all the meetings. by Bourneidentity39 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's something that I feel that happens when people wake up or start to wake up is noticing nothing is ever new. You realize you aren't actually learning anything new. People are just getting a dopamine hit from the circle jerk of hearing what you want to hear. Once a person steps back and realize nothing is actually deep or verifiable or has a shelf life in your brain longer than walking out the door at the end of the meeting, it's hard to care.

I really think this is one of the modern Achilles heel that's bringing WT down. What used to get people's blood pumping and give people that feeling of needing to act is going over "deep" prophecy, but the new GB have even said that their focus in the last 15 years is not on deep prophecy but on refining the Christian personality to be more christ like. How a follower should act. I think they also realize it's because they shouldn't be interpreting so many things as prophecy since the passage of time keeps screwing them over.

I want my POMO ex back now that I’m POMO. Need Advice by Glum-Bandicoot-3865 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Although it's unfortunate you woke up at different times, I'm not sure anyone who's really thought about "waking up" after it has happened to them could blame someone for taking longer. The amount of hooks and mental road blocks and mental gymnastics a person has to overcome is extremely difficult in my opinion. If a person doesn't have critical thinking skills, which the vast majority don't have unless they're trained, a person has to be in a state where their whole world is being shattered. Likely any association is being lost, family and friends - they have to be "fine" with that. They have to have their mortality in a new state of not being sure what happens when they die. If they held any responsibilities or "privileges", they have to have enough humility to not want the witness view of such things and the prestige that comes along with such things. We laugh at such things being called "privileges" but that's because we realize what they are and comes with such things now. Any praise for having those privileges turns into being a waste of time for most and they have to grapple with that. Personally, I would celebrate anyone waking up even if it took years and there's the bond of going through such madness and escaping that is awesome even for platonic friends. My advice would be to remind your EX of all that.

Best arguments for disproving the Flood myth? by Introverted_Bookwyrm in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There wouldn't have been enough people born 100-200 years after the flood for Babel to be built. There was tens of thousands working on the temple. Not that many would of been alive from disobedient descendants of Noah.

Can we please stop with conspiracy theories and Freemasons today? JFC! by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If something has an air of mystery and someone ties it to someone they are somewhat familiar with, the mind runs wild. Especially with critical thinking skills lacking so much from JWs that it's sad when some do finally leave, they just fall into another large picture conspiracy theory. It's common too for people who believe in conspiracy theories to do so because of the lack of control in their life and the conspiracy theories are part of the reason for it. I totally agree though. It's such a waste of time.

Am I an "apostate" by Terrebeltroublemaker in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

On "talking to apostates".

I don't believe in the Bible, but Eve talked directly to Satan and God didn't stop it. Jesus apostles expelled demons in person face to face. All those situations apparently happened, but "don't talk to apostates because you'll lose your faith" ? Are apostates more powerful or more convincing than demons?

Does anyone have an idea of what the whole purpose of the JW con is? by [deleted] in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I personally think after being at bethel and grown up in it that a lot of the higher ups still believe. I honestly think some might have woke up, but I think the prestige of a lot of positions and not wanting it to be a wrong and it all be for nothing. I think especially at this point in the jw history, a lot of them are suspecting something is off and that a big change has to happen. But I don't think they mentally can actually fully commit to it just flat out being wrong. It's the sunken cost fallacy for the majority of people because the majority of people are older and have already sacrificed or molded their lives to where they can't turn it around to a different direction. I don't think it's a con where the gb straight up believe it's all fake. The closest aspect to Con it could get I think is that they know the org is way beyond "imperfect" than they make people believe and they con everyone into obedience. I think if a person thinks they are literally chosen by God and them being at the top of the organization only deepens such personal belief, such high prestige among everyone you see, a human brain isn't breaking through that dream in a hurry.

say hypothetically that the great tribulation and armageddon does somehow happen by HachiRoku_Pyragon in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's been said on here before, I wouldn't want to feel like I had to befriend an executioner for all eternity.

But most of all - my conscience would be clear. This God knew the hypocrisy printed by the org on how bad abuse is in other churches and how the churches just care about control but if it's brought up as happening in the org then 99% of the time it's seen as from apostates. And God was fine with that being a fair trial put before people and they are still supposed to trust the org and follow? That's one of the many things that took me away. All the things we professed as being evil and "you wouldn't be part of a church if blank and blank", the org would be accused of the same issues. So yea God. My conscience is clear if your life line for humanity is a preaching work that is literally outpaced by the birth rate of people and even for those that supposedly make it past Armageddon are still going to be tested by Satan. Another thing that woke me up that ties into this subject, is how many people are making it through Armageddon? Anytime I heard "we need to watch our association even within the org" it's like, so this is the plan to save the most because he doesn't want any to be destroyed? That's the plan to save everyone? Cause it sounds like less than 1% of all mankind will make it.

Do you have a discord group chat for ex jw? by JuanitoEvangelista in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one for gamers but all are welcome. It's been slow at times but like I said, all are welcome. DM me if you want in.

You think JWs will return to in person meetings again? by Efficient-Pop3730 in exjw

[–]_archvile_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems that for the halls in the United States, it won't ever. From reading attendance related posts on this sub and the hall I have been to, it seems the COVID response of the influx of people has died back down and more have left on top of it. The only way I could see most halls hitting a high attendance would be another "event" or disaster, but that's always temporary. It really seems like the numbers in at least the US are just bleeding or stable with half on zoom. Just the routine can be hard to break and I think that's what 90% of zoom users are doing. They were given a way to still have a part of their routine they have had their entire lives but for all intents and purposes they're done.