Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Need "40 Billion Pieces of Literature?"

[@jordancannady9242]

I was a very active witness pioneer, elder giving talks. but for years I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was wasting my time.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I had the same feelings jordan.... a HUGE waste of time

[@futureofmoney3527]

Every time you say “that’s a subject for another day”, I feel happy because it means another Surviving Paradise episode is earmarked for production 😁

[@tonywalker5538]

Exactly what I think aswell 😊😊

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks I appreciate that! @@tonywalker5538

[@Deo_on2]

Great job per usual....I always wondered why the Bible was not the primary book for a "bible study" 🤔

[@futureofmoney3527]

And WatchTower Study in the meetings 🤔

[@mattmurdock2868]

Witnesses neither believe in nor use the Bible. The Bible will not support their beliefs. Bible =Word of God. NWT=ever changing word of Watchtower.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Seems a little 'odd' right? Jehovah writes a book, but then needs man's books to explain it??

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Crazy! @@futureofmoney3527

[@pennybeeflower]

Amazing Stacey, when I had my daughter, we practically lived in the library. So opposite from when I was a kid, not allowed to even go to the library. I remember being forbidden to read the Engish assigned reading books. I had to sneak read to pass my English class. Great topic! I remember being little and wanting to be in 'the seevice' because I wanted to kmow what other people knew. Thank you for reminding about what I enjoy too!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love that penny! I love to meet other readers!!

[@CollinZaffke]

Remember friends, at the end of this podcast the beautiful floral arrangements that decorate the stage will be available for a suggested donation. ✌🏼✍🏼

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

Don't forget the stage props from the drama too.

[@yenbbc8840]

i bid 50 Drachmas for the dancing girl

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

@@yenbbc8840 There's a 75 Drachma reserve on the dancing girl. Sorry.

[@yenbbc8840]

@@adamantiumbullet9215 crud! i guess i'm going home with a plant. again!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

LOL @@yenbbc8840

[@suzannedoran9314]

I don't think it's money behind getting rid of old books. I think it's to hide all their false prophecies in them. When I was writing my book I discovered their older books were unattainable so I could not quite from them. Then I discovered KZbin. Thanks for making book two easier!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Yes Suzanne! They definitely want that stuff off the book shelves!

[@Coral-lu5hi]

True! Whatever happened to the revelation book?

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Mothballed several years ago! We have an entire episode on all FIVE Revelation books....a few months back on our channel@@Coral-lu5hi

[@jimobenauf5262]

I was a J-dub for forty years, I think I may have figured out why people rarely took the publications. I would get so nervous when it came to asking for money that it made my breath smell like dog crap. Who knew?!

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

It probably wasn't _your_ breath. The householders could smell the bullshit in the literature.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

LOL, you aren't alione!

[@randyg.7940]

Good morning all. Hello from las vegas!!! Storm was light here. Hope Californian are ok

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love it when someone is surviving in SIN CITY!

[@randyg.7940]

@@survivingparadisepodcast Got here 28 years ago!!!!

[@pennybeeflower]

Right, and oh, so, ironinc Awake!

[@juliehigbee7398]

So glad you are back! Hope you had an amazing time away!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thank you Julie!

[@Digidab]

I also love books and reading !

[@simplifiedlife8607]

Yes, this is why I had no desire to read the Bible as a witness. As a member of the "great crowd of other sheep" (a phrase not found in the Bible) NONE of the Bible was written for me personally! It was like reading someone else's mail.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Yes! And that totally flies in the face of the book itself.....making anyone thinking question the guys in NY!

[@lifting_the_veil]

You took me back to asking for quarters for the mags then using them in the Ms. Pac-Man machine at break 😂 Got away with it for awhile!! Ahhh the good ol’ 80’s.

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

Asteroids and Missile Command for me....

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Yes.....throw in Galaga!!!@@adamantiumbullet9215

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love it! Video game money!!! :)

[@jackijax505]

Let’s rock n roll folks!! 🤜🏻🤛🏻💪🏼🍻

[@cezusbezus]

Rage against the machine said it best “They don’t gotta burn the books they just remove em….”

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love that band and that lyric!

[@96t5wagon]

That was a great episode Stacey. I too, love to read and until having become fully awake, I didn’t connect that reading the propaganda that flows freely from watchtower really isn’t meant to be understood for personal benefit, it’s meant to keep those that don’t realize what WT is doing, it’s meant to keep those in lock step with the nonsense. Thank you for what you do my friend

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks 96! Its true....it captures your 'mind' and holds on tight!

[@xjwfurious]

Dog shit, dog piss and bad breath... What on Earth would we do without the Awake! 🤣

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I can barely get through a day LOL

[@joannaalabaster5916]

I had a lot of laughs at the "Awake" articles you quoted 😂 It really is "wisdom from above" 🤣 2 Tm 3:16,17 JWs like to use it very much when they say to Catholics that they don't need the writings of the church fathers, papal encyclicals, etc. At the same time, they have a lot of additions to the Bible themselves. When I was a "Bible student" for two years, I read the Bible twice, some books even more, and in different translations. That's why (among other things) I didn't become a JW. It puzzles me that on the one hand JWs use this example that the Bible is like a letter from God to everyone, and on the other hand they say it was written for the anointed. This is one of the many inconsistencies in their teaching.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

YES! It's right under their nose and they're missing it.... God writes a perfect book, but needs some old guys to explain it better than he could? It's laughably stupid isn't it?

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

Q: *Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Need "40 Billion Pieces of Literature?"* A: Because it gives JWs bragging rights to fortify their delusion that they are the greatest specks on the planet, along with- We're the only true Christians We're the only ones that understand the Bible jw org is translated into the most languages of any website Jehovah's Witnesses are the most loving people on earth WT is God's Organization We preach exactly the same way the first century Christians did WT is the most progressive organization "X" number of baptisms = we're the truth Our unique and unhinged beliefs = we're right, everyone else is wrong

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

All true!!! It's all they focus on

[@Cherlock13]

Stacey. I love that you crack yourself up. Your laugh is contagious and then I start laughing with you. What a way to start my day. Thank you. I can’t recall you telling us how you woke up. Was it gradual or sudden? You are so relatable. You’re so generous to entertain us weekly. Love it.😊

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thank you Cheryl, I always debate removing me losing it, but it's just organic....even today I can't believe I bought into this stuff! Laughing is the best medicine!

[@pennybeeflower]

I remember reading the bible during the boring talks. I knew even at that time too that maybe things I was reading that maybe the organization would some day realize and catch up to the things that i read in the bible. I knew to keep my mouth closed about the contradictions.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Very interesting Penny.....I would often read it and sit back and say 'wait, is this Jesus dad?'

[@pennybeeflower]

@@survivingparadisepodcast I agree. I saw a clear personality difference with Jesus' Father and the god of the nationof Israel. You might have others already making videos about Ba'al being one and the same god as the jehovah that the catholic monk and the jw, watchtower and their owners made popular.

[@BlackFlagHeathen]

Why do you have to make it so hard for me to not comment not even five minutes into the episode??? Lol. I swear you and I are from the same batch, similar serial numbers, etc. I too am a bookworm! Seems to be a common theme among us neurodivergent folks. Just holding a book in my hands and sniffing it is enough to give me a shot of dopamine. I devoured the entirety of the Redwall series(20+ books) and the Guardians of Ga’hoole series(something like 20 books) throughout elementary and middle school, and so much more. My new apartment building is actually right across the street from the local public library! Libraries are literally one of my top five places in the entire world. They are absolutely amazing and so important, and do so much more than just loan out books. They must be protected and it makes me sad that so many libraries are closing these days. My local library has a repurposed old reference card cabinet that they have converted into a little free library, except for packets of seeds. They have flowers, fruits, vegetables, and so many more. All for free.

[@heatherwillson4862]

We must also be from the same batch! My daughter & I love libraries & books & book stores. We find them very relaxing.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love it! So glad I'm not alone.... good to know I have friends out there!

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

I'm the same as you Stacy- a voracious reader. As a kid my most enjoyable activity was to just hang out in the library or a book store. And, like you, my awakening was propelled along swiftly by reading older WT literature. It made me realize that WT was not, and never has been, "God's Organization". Even if it was, if God was responsible for such absurdities, nonsense and flat-out lies as contained in WT literature, I no longer felt any compelling reason to have anything to do with such a god, if he actually existed. 40 billion pieces of literature = _JWs have no time to read anything else._ It keeps them held captives as slaves to WT.

[@Suzi851]

The JWs are MORE weird than you realize. I know l learnt the hard way.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

YES, same person.....once you read it, lights start coming on ... and you have to take a look, at least some of us do!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

VERY weird.....

[@ronhansen8471]

I have to admit you all have a good imagination. You think JWs only study and read JW literature? Where did you get that information from? JWs study many different subjects and even attend colleges and universities. While reading JW literature prior to 1950 is good for historical information there has been many changes and improvements in bible understanding. (Daniel 12:4) “As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.” We are in the last days per God's timetable. Jehovah's chariot is on the move and his people need to keep up. See Ezekiel chapter 1.

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

@@ronhansen8471 *"While reading JW literature prior to 1950 is good for historical information there has been many changes and improvements in bible understanding."* New light is new lies, Ronnie. Watchtower continually flip flopping, revising and discarding their doctrines is not an 'improvement in Bible understanding', Ron. It's replacing old bullshit with new bullshit. Please explain what "many changes and improvements in bible understanding" have occurred since the 1950s, Ron. Incidentally, your incorrect assessment of older WT literature completely contradicts WT's view of older literature. Are you an apostate? *"We are in the last days per God's timetable"* Where in the Bible is "God's timetable" listed? I've read the Bible many times and have never seen a timetable. Incidentally, are you referring to the "last days" that began in *1799,* according to Watchtower? Or, the "last days" that began in *1914,* according to Watchtower? You see, your Watchtower leaders have declared both dates as unqualifiably correct, indisputable and absolutely true...according to "God's timetable."

[@Hhiller]

You had me laughing out aloud to this one. You never cease to amaze me with points about common topics I hadn’t thought of, but all make so much sense!!!!!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

:) Thank you Heather!!!

[@pennybeeflower]

Wow! I was collecting the old wt books! You're right! I was getting old books from boxes that others had dropped off at the khall (for destruction/recycling [no one recycles their books but get dumped$$$ lost] but I didn't know at the time). That explains why the canada branch office elder-god on the service desk couldn't answer, "why wt is discontinuing publications? How am I going to explain why to my bible studies? ....

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Wow, amazing penny, oh yeah they won't answer it, most don't know

[@naomiwillemsen9836]

1:37 i loved getting new book publications at the convention 😅 just because it was a free new book 😅

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh yes, I would run down to get mine....same reason!

[@TheWriterWalker]

Oh! I feel exactly the same way about books and libraries!

[@pennybeeflower]

Great one Stacey, Thank you. Now the question, who was needing watchtower to keep tweeking what was printed only to have them THROW AWAY ALL THAT MONEY/time/energy/no-pay slave-work AWAY (distroyed literature that was bought and paid for)? I was always baffled by the scripture, we are not 'peddlers of the word of God'.

[@Womanmad1]

Exactly “religion is a racket and a snare” LOL

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Yes! They need a 'new sale'.....if only JWs would truly think about it

[@Vbreychak7212]

Here in Ohio in the 1980's, we were instructed to ask for a quarter at the door. We had to state specifically it was for the printing cost so it didn't look like we were selling them. Then had to turn the quarters over to the elders.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Yep! Same on the west coast!~!

[@marianvantol4989]

Thanks again...😅 I also notice that more and more is being quoted from the Watchtower instead of the Bible.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh yes, the literature is the focal point

[@steveandsherilyn7543]

Great point

[@johnmeyn8802]

I live in Australia a JW at my door told me the bible is perfect.Another time a JW at cart said the Bilble is clear

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh yes, I'm sure.....and yet they've likely never read it

[@beautyRest1]

The article of dog waste was sooooooooo interesting! It really changed my life…surely a “treasure trove”😁😃😆😄😅🤣👍

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

🤣😂

[@pennybeeflower]

Who can afford to have a vacation or time off as a jw following watchtower's best advise. Can jws take time off? Even the assemblies were our holiday!😂 The assemblies were more stressful than everyday life.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

SO TRUE!

[@DY2784]

👋A bunch of amendments to the "Revelation" book... Just couldn't make up clearly what Jehovah was trying to say to the GB... Fuzzy lines?!!!😂😂😂 Slam dunk as always, Stacey! Thanks. ❤👍

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

An ENTIRE insert for that book....who can forget?

[@outbackgearforu]

It helps if you understand that the one Jesus called abba father is not Yahweh

[@Estee.Ar.6869]

Stacey, that was a treasure-trove of a podcast. Thanks for the heads up about NYC. Was the "Blue Bomber" the same as "Crystal Blue Persuasion (1969)" by Tommy James? BTW the magazine subscription was a big MLM scam! The Piñata and UN articles were suspect when I was an active "publisher." Thanks, I always look forward to your podcasts.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I love that song! :) Two very suspect articles!!

[@beautyRest1]

Absolutely great! Thanks for your hard work and presentation!💕

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks Beauty!

[@Vbreychak7212]

I love books. I was a collector until 2008. A house fire destroyed my 3,000+ books. I read like 3 books a week as a kid.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

OMG I'm so sorry for the fire, that is terrible!!

[@christinev1015]

Funny they don’t display Bibles on their carts, seeing it has the life saving message and all.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh the irony, right????

[@scotlandd]

Ah you come from the same era as me. So much truth in your humour. Yes I would buy a dollars worth of books at ten cents each. I loved the colours, so I asked for ten with different colours. Forget the nonsense inside oh my favourite that I have is paradise lost book. All the destruction and ppl falling into deep crevices Thx for the wit my friend.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks my friend, we have to laugh or we will cry.....oh yes, those classic illustrations of death and mayhem, so encouraging LOL

[@markreyes3117]

Every piece of literature is for a future day. Never let the mind astray from jehovah's control.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

There is never a 'now' is there?

[@StanMNdirt]

“The magazine is free of charge but we would accept a ten cent contribution to cover the cost of printing”. “Thank you, we will be sure to put your generous contribution in the contribution box at the Kingdom Hall”. I must have said that 1,000 times in the 70’s never stopping to think that I contributed that same cost when I picked them up at the literature counter. Double dipping and taking kids’ ice cream money to cover the cost of the same magazines. Send in your motorhomes and 401k. This whole decade of the 70’s is critical times. That is in the magazine by the way.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Same Stan! It was a requirement and in every demo!

[@anniesavedbygrace]

I read the JW NWT 4 times cover to cover as a jw child..never learnt a thing. Was left so confused because i couldn't see the doctrines of JW in it. It didn't make sense. I felt like i was obviously so thick i wasn't spiritual enough within the org to understand it. Untill i read the KJV 25 years later and. Lightbulb went on and suddenly understanding Christ was ALIVE and all the rest fell into place.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

That's all it takes Annie, good for you!

[@jackijax505]

Another good one for the “books” .. hahaha. A local needs part in heaven … LMFAO!! Tony Morris’ first miracle was turning wine into whiskey for his memorials 😂😂😂. I’m officially counting your shows as an Ab workout because I laugh so hard 😂. You’re going to have to add a fitness hashtag 🤣🤣. I had the burgundy leather bound nwt with my name & baptism date on it. Cringe. I still have it somewhere in a box 🤪.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

😂😎

[@gladysbarbour1472]

The best gift my mom gave me when I was 8 was a library card. My favorite place to go was THE LIBRARY. I'd come home with an armload of books. I'm 91 .....if I had read some of the early jw books I'd never become a witness. Bologna everywhere in them. I was told by an old elder, "don't read the old stuff, it'll only confuse you because there's been so much new light. Interesting

[@futureofmoney3527]

All religions can’t help themselves: they add their own dogma and doctrine. The JW organization does this to an extreme degree. There’s no Bible study in the meetings, it’s WatchTower study. I was rebuked and told that I was disobeying Jehovah for feeling closer to god in nature than in a Kingdom Hall. The organization is the alpha and the omega. I could literally not believe in Jehovah, but as long as I am PIMO, I’m a good little JW. That’s better than actually believing in Jehovah but doing so outside the organization. It’s all meaningless and nonsense.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

So true! Please take care of yourself in there....it's difficult to navigate, but glad you're doing it!

[@dawnbehatin1224]

Stacy..... I want a real personal hour talking about YOUR life now. I'd like to know how you're doing and what your life is post-cult. ❤

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh wow, thanks Dawn...I'll have to work on that...would that really be interesting??

[@angelac2228]

I used to wonder why there were so many books. It just seemed confusing.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Especially when we are told we only need one: the Bible ;)

[@BadViking1]

I have missed you when you were on holidays It’s the ideal break being away from technology

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

THANK YOU!!! missed everyone too!

[@rdhawk929]

Good day Sir! I was just mentioning to someone about the destruction of literature in the 80's and asking the brother at the counter if I could obtain a copy of one book, I don't remember which publication it was, but he flat out refused, and when I later asked another brother why, he told me it contained apostate info. .Like you, I wondered how it could be acceptable for years and suddenly be poison. Looking back now, maybe due to Franz fallout? YEP. It's all man-made.

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

*"he told me it contained apostate info."* It always amazes me when JWs say this. None of them stop to realize that, if they really believe this, how can they possibly trust ANYTHING Watchtower prints?

[@rdhawk929]

@@adamantiumbullet9215 Exactly!

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh the irony!!! Many of us around for the Franz exit remember how they started getting rid of books that he wrote

[@smy74]

Thank You for bringing out the borgs incompetence. Maybe the example should have read, when we take a 💩 and dogs have bad breath. 😂

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

They make it so easy SMY!

[@StanMNdirt]

We know from the 1971 Awake that one of the GB in NYC stepped in dog shit. One of the many gems of wisdom that makes it such excellent reading material. 😂

[@simplifiedlife8607]

Reading the Bible and delving into meanings of the original Hebrew and Greek words has made me realize that its theme is universal salvation, not Eternal torment or complete annihilation. Also that God created evil, but for a purpose that will result in the ultimate benefit of every human who has ever lived, including unborn babies. I now understand the entire Bible, including the troubling OT sections much better. Whether you believe that the Bible is the word of God is an entirely different matter, just saying that as Stacey has so eloquently expressed it, read the Bible...no need for the ever changing and ridiculous WT literature.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Always glad to agree, thanks simplified!

[@universeworld1782]

Do you remember the Awake about Cow farts? And methane? And Hot House gas!😂 Not to mention pigs!😮

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

YES!! An all time classic!!!

[@martineeggeman2057]

Please do a video on the origin or meaning of the name ´jehovah’ (god worshipped by freemasons and first angel of the kabbale). Taze Russell was a freemason of 33rd lodge.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks Martine, it's been on the list! We do have a past episode on his 'character' if interested

[@martineeggeman2057]

Love your vidéos! Regards from Montréal.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thank you!!@@martineeggeman2057

[@naomiwillemsen9836]

50:03 going around the real message there: don’t take a dog, you can walk in field service If you have a healthy breath, people in field service will be more open to what you are saying

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I like the way you think LOL

[@naomiwillemsen9836]

@@survivingparadisepodcast 🤣🤣🤣

[@hustonmices3976]

You only need to read Russell’s macabre 6 volume nonsense to feel sheepish and ever being part of this cult

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

A true treasure....LOL

[@TheWriterWalker]

No, he did NOT say "Chuck Russell." 😂

[@naomiwillemsen9836]

44:29 I could never get what they were writing. Considered myself not being smart... Then discovering I have an IQ of 117 and have now a Bachelors in Engineering (too lazy for Masters)

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

WOW, I love that Naomi, you're a success story!!

[@naomiwillemsen9836]

@@survivingparadisepodcast ❤❤

[@BadViking1]

Has anyone seen the video of Geoffrey Jackson pulling out an ancient book And told us that it was his wife’s favourite book and it got her in the so called Truth? Here they are telling us not to read these books But it’s ok for him

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh yes, I've watched it twice!

[@keitharagon3466]

Hey Stacy, another killer show by you I look forward to Monday in the morning I get up have my coffee and listen to your show but about the watchtower and awake magazines back in 1972. I'd like to surf so I told my mama I would Pioneer if I could quit school I got my car I used to go out and place the magazines for a quarter apiece and the books for a dollar, they were supposed to be only a quarter I would take some money after I got about five or six bucks. Wish I could do quick I for some reason people like the way I looked I dress really nice out there ghost show my car up with gas I have money left for food and surf and then change my clothes back into my door the door clothes then go home and tell my mom I had a great day out in service. I did that for two years then like a horny teenager. I got married at 18 what a disaster that was but like you say, I'll save that for another day love to hear of your shows with brotherly. Love, Keith.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

LOL, I can't love this enough Keith! I love that you out scammed the scammers! Thanks for listening!

[@grapevinez6026]

In the light of the recent talk about pets, I'm thinking that Awake magazine may have been intended to subliminally put witnesses off having pets- in particular dogs that require money, time and effort that should go to the piblishing corporation. Ditto children, i.e. enemies of God 😅

[@TheWriterWalker]

Watership Down! Lol. "The rhoo-doo-doo." Wrong spelling, but...

[@MouseQueso]

Do you have, or can you get, copies of the letters calling for the removal of publications fron libraries. Ive argued that it happened before, but some have argued back to me that they only said not to have the in the literature department

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Hi Jonathan, you can find some of these letters, including the lists of publications at this fantastic resource: avoidjw.org/letters/

[@karenmoody2763]

My late mother has an entire library of older looks I'm saving for when we go inside another ice age and burning to stay alive so in a sense they are lifesaving material 😂

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

LOL, I'll be at your campfire!

[@Cherlock13]

PS My favorite publication was the reasoning book. Too bad there are so many falsehoods in there.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

I used it often....and was blown away when it was mothballed

[@pennybeeflower]

I see my last comment was deleted. That means I wrote something that the wt owners don't want me to say.

[@jackijax505]

I see 6 comments from you.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Oh no, who does the deleting?? Not me!

[@pennybeeflower]

@@survivingparadisepodcast of course wt has shares in the social medias. They can pay for their whistleblowers to be sensored. They allow the jw escapees to produce content but I've been silenced for a long time now by my comments being deleted. I know it's not you Stacey.

[@HabitualEcstasy]

So damn good. Thank you.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

thank you so much!!!

[@heatherwillson4862]

My daughter & I also love everything about books, libraries & book stores! Ive always been thankful for that 2nd grade teacher, who filled the classroom w/ books, allowed us to check them out, gave us every Arrow & Scholastic Book Club order form, walked the entire class over a mile each way to the nearest public library, gave us a detailed explanation of how the Dewey Decimal system worked, how to locate books & got us all library cards. Bless her! I read everything I could get my hands on including cereal boxes, lol. As JW's, we THOUGHT we had read the bible. There were all those scriptures to look up. The Theocractic school reading, prep for the Memoral, ect, ect. When I became very depressed & disallusioned in early 20's, I decided to read the bible thru, front to back...like we were told all along to do. Wow! That was eye opening! We had NOT read it. We had been directed from scripture to scripture, just so, to make it appear to give us truth. I found the bible to be shocking & appalling. The most disgusting book Ive ever read. Once you see thru what we were taught, it changes everything the org says into something ENTIRELY different. Its like the new age thing of opening your third eye! Enlightening. And " the truth really will set you free"!

[@karenmoody2763]

Just curious how you feel about god of the bible now?

[@heatherwillson4862]

@@karenmoody2763 Lol, I had 42 yrs in the org & an additional 20+ yrs since, to develope my ideas about god, ect. After reading the bible thru, I knew god was a maniacal, jealous, psychopath. What a child! By the time I left, after being stalked (while married) by a stalker/pedo who was after my daughter, & argueing for 11 yrs w/ the elders to make him stop & do their job, & headquarters got involved...I was thoroughly convinced that JW's had zero to do w/ god. I would rather die than serve an org or a god like that! I am content that I dont know all the answers. I have always been very reality & natural things based. I dont believe in an imaginary god. I believe in the natural circles & laws (like physics & gravity) of life as they are on this planet. I keep an open mind & look for things to check out. I think the bible was written to control the masses & that religions were invented because people couldnt handle the reality of what we experience here & they needed to make up fairy tales to feel better about it. Every culture has a belief & they are quite similar over all, even tho they vary. Its hard to sum it all up for another person to understand. But Im so much happier! So relieved. I dont need a corrupt god or religion to keep me in line. I know how to be a decent human being. Its not true that you will go hog wild if you leave. I believe in personal responsibility to the universe & all who share the planet with me. 🐎🐎🐎🐎

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

YES!!!!! Most JW's never read the Bible....if they did, they would have to sit back and reevaluate a few things LOL! It's filled with appalling stuff!

[@roslynballard727]

You people are talking about the old testament. I admit the old testament can be shocking,but was just showing us how. People acted back then without Christ in their lives. The New testament talks of the love of Jesus Christ. And the ministries of apostle Paul,Peter And the other disciples. These are the best parts of the Bible showing us how God did and can deal with His people. Read the books of we wisdom Psalms,Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. There are many good things of the Bible

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Hi Roslyn, for the record, I agree, there ARE good things in the Bible! I enjoy the Book of James as an example. However, we cannot ignore that it is a book 'from God' and contains heinous crimes and horrible stories as well. It's clear that it was written by men. Just my opinion. Thanks for being here!@@roslynballard727

[@Suzi851]

LISTEN up people. Is Jehovah God Almighty Brahma in Hinduism and was Sarawatis Jehovah's wife known has the Queen of heaven? What went wrong between the relationship of JEHOVAH GOD ALMIGHTY and his wife the Queen of heaven herself? The Bible itself does NOT give any explanation at all. These are the questions you NOW need to ask yourselves.

[@jackijax505]

Maybe they got a “scriptural divorce”. 😂

[@Suzi851]

Funny 🤣 but l need accurate information please thank you

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

*"These are the questions you NOW need to ask yourselves."* Nope. I tend to ask pragmatic questions that keep me firmly rooted in reality. Questions about a fictional ancient Canaanite desert god and his alleged wife do not fit that criteria.

[@Suzi851]

@@adamantiumbullet9215 ok no problem. It's just l like asking those kind of questions cos christainty won't answer them for ya.

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

@@Suzi851 No religion has the answers, Thelma. These are all fictional concepts and characters based on the musings of religious charlatans to dupe the most gullible. _"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."_ -Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[@ronhansen8471]

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses need 40 billion pieces of literature? I question the number 40 billion as I have never read that in print, The JW organization does publish a lot of literature and bibles as they are preach to the world in more than 1000 languages each year plus their own literature. To do that work requires organization and an entrepreneurial effort by each follower of Christ Jesus. No other religious organization on earth is following Matthew 28:19,20. They have tried and failed. Why does Jehovah have a heavenly organization with billions of angels, Serifs and Cherubs?

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

LOL!! Ron, do you even read your own literature? 40 BILLION.....in print: wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502015180

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

you cannot understand that the WT quoted Bible scriptures and those magazines point people to the Bible that is fully equipped.

[@Womanmad1]

Along with 2Timothy 3, 16-17 What does Ecclesiastes 12:12 mean??? You know “beware my son of anything beyond these, the making of many books there is no end and much study is wearisome to the flesh”. Lol!!!!

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

@@Womanmad1 So quoting a Bible text for you and writing it in a paper to send to someone is WRONG for you. well, you have a problem with GOD's word then

[@adamantiumbullet9215]

The churches of Christendom do the same thing as Watchtower does, Mr. DC- they quote scriptures in their literature, then they tell you *their* interpretation of that scripture is correct. I guess that makes all false religion "the Truth" as well.

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

@@adamantiumbullet9215 they do quote it, but they twist it and threw out basic logic and grammar. Wonder why they have to make 1=3, and that the terms I am, me and myself are used for THREE PERSONs?

[@Womanmad1]

Why we have the Bible that’s all we need not awake or watchtower revelation book Bible teach book live forever books etc etc Gods word Bible is fully equipped isn’t it????

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

WHO IS OVER ALL? Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. GOD and FATHER is OVER/ABOVE ALL and that "All" includes the SON so they are NOT EQUAL THE BIBLE teaches that Jesus was MADE As Lord and Christ and as Son (ACTS 2:36, Prov 8, HEB 1:5), CREATED/PRODUCED/INSTALLED (Prov 8) , COME INTO BEING/MADE (Mat 21:42 - egeneto) and GIVEN LIFE by the Father - John 5:26 and it uses TODAY (Heb 1:5), and uses future tenses and is a prophecy in Isa 9:6 (Isa 9:6, - WILL BE) . If you are called MADE AND CREATED AND GIVEN LIFE, and NEVER CALLED in the BIBLE as Creator or Maker , then you are A CREATION. ALL FROM THE BIBLE From the Lord was this (this is referring to the chief cornerstone who is Jesus) , the word WAS is egeneto (made or came into being) - Matthew 21:42 and the exact Greek word used in John 1:3 - MADE, egeneto (came into being) - JESUS WAS MADE/CAME INTO BEING FROM THE FATHER , yes, Jesus was MADE/CREATED!, See also Acts 2:36, Heb 1:5, 1 john 5 Isa 9:6 the word Prince in the Prince of Peace means PATRON ANGEL also Leader. WHO IS the ONE LEADER that we have? Jesus. Now, that same exact Hebrew word was used for Daniel 12:1 which is used for Michael the Archangel. So are you saying there are MANY LEADERS now?

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

But..... can you tell us why they need 40 billion pieces of literature to explain God's book?

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

@@survivingparadisepodcast what SPANs of years are you talking about ? the magazines QUOTE the Bible, and present them in different ways depending on the context and topic

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

@@Mr.DC3.1914 Respectfully, anyone can quote the Bible, ignore context or apply their own interpretation. I strongly suggest reading WT literature of every generation....consider that in that time period what you're reading was said to be life saving TRUTH....as you will see reading ANY generation of JW literature, it is not.....much of it is hilarious, some of it is downright deadly

[@Mr.DC3.1914]

@@survivingparadisepodcast just ur own false twisted opinions

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

@@Mr.DC3.1914 We are happy to consider your proofs otherwise.... we will wait here.... please post.

[@TheDanfisk]

&

[@saveriocartularo]

Lol dog shit and sticky breath serious issues these days lol

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

🤣

[@tonywalker5538]

Love your channel Stacy...yet again my favourite 1hr on KZbin this week 😊 "You'll achieve perfection in time if you give me a Dime...lol I also love the smell of books Look forward to next week 😊

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

Thanks Tony! I appreciate you!

[@julieellis2076]

Omg and I thought I was the only one that liked smelling (especially old) books 🤫 I think it's psychological, I learnt so much off of 2nd hand books. Greek mythology, Christian origins history, gnostic beliefs etc. Eye opening things.

[@survivingparadisepodcast]

@@julieellis2076 No, I'm right there with you! LOVE the small of fresh books! Yes, I did too, so important to read other publications, not just the WT