Posts by Sobeit

20

A practical lesson on shunning.

by strawberry cake in

today i decided to visit a friend of mine who i met when she was my study.

(she has no intentions of making a commitment, but still continues studying with old pioneer 'friends' of mine.

well it just so happens that these 2 sisters were there.

Sobeit

I am old lady who left the organization over 40 years ago and am stunned and saddened to hear of such behavior.

15

8/19/2008 DEAR ABBY

by Sobeit in

don't miss today's dear abby column.

in the latest issue of the new yorker, october 8, 2007, on page 69 is a cartoon of a kingdom hall with a "no soliciting" sign in front of it.. this is the issue with seymour m. hersh's article on iran..

Sobeit

In the latest issue of The New Yorker, October 8, 2007, on page 69 is a cartoon of a Kingdom Hall with a "No Soliciting" sign in front of it.

This is the issue with Seymour M. Hersh's article on Iran.

40

WHA WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR YOU IN JWS

by chuckyy in

hi.. just wondering what it was that first made you realise that jws didnt have the absolute "truth"?

was there a specific event/turning point for you or was it a moment of enlightenment?.

chukky.

Sobeit

When I was16 years old (60 years ago), I could not make sense of the countdown for 1914, or their interpretation of Revelation; but stayed as I felt there much love exhibited in the organization. But 30 years later when asked by a social worker if my "religion" had nursing homes for their elderly, I was stunned to realize what other religions provided and mine had none for my dying mother. By then Knorr was president and need more be said?

Up until the above, was an obedient, observant witness who thought that eventually the doctrine would be clear to me one day and the Watchtower would make sense; but that never happened. And then the treatment of many in the congregation who were experiencing difficulties made me feel that I did not want to be part of such an organization; better off in the world.

25

The Watchtower justification for now allowing CIVILIAN SERVICE.

by jwfacts in

after tens of thousands of young witness men in the prime of their lives have spent years in jails for refusing civilian service in 1996 the watchtower decided such a choice was not unchristian and a matter of choice.

watchtower 1996 may 1 p.20.

what, though, if the state requires a christian for a period of time to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian administration?

Sobeit

This make me heart sick! Many of the young and middle aged men who went to prison in WWII, those that spent time in very high-risk prisons came out still looking over their shoulders for the guards. Even those than were sent to low-risk camps, came out carrying it in their "shoulders".

Then there was cruel rejection by former school mates, relatives and neighbors after being released. Of course, don't forget that most were on parole for a time afterwards and sometimes the draft board would be looking for ways to send them back to prison. One young man was sentenced twice, after he served four years, he was sentenced to another fours years.

I remember a man who went to prison in WWII and was in tears that his son was serving time in a very harsh prison during the Korean Conflict.

WWII was a response against a definite evil; and most definetly a terrible and cruel war. And the public had little sympathy for those that didn't serve.

14

The Case of C.J. Woodowrth and Demon Possession

by RR in

upon request here is the talk by c.j.

woodworth, given in 1913, where he admits to be demon possessed.. seems to me those demons came back, as he was the sole editor of the golden age magazine with all their scientific quackery.

c.j., i have been told was the cousin of norman woodworth, who created the "frank and earnest" radio program in the early 1920s for the wts.

Sobeit

Mention of the use of radio by the Watchtower Society brought back memories of Cleveland in the early 1930s when the Society owned a radio station (I believe it was WHK). When the station was sold, some of the witnesses either stayed with the new owners or got work in other stations. Now wondering if James Woodworth was working for the Society's radio station then.

When the WTBS no longer were on the air, it seems shortly after we were hauling a phonograph player door-to-door with Judge Rutherford's speeches.

BTW: How many cities did the WTBS have stations or broadcast from?

14

The Case of C.J. Woodowrth and Demon Possession

by RR in

upon request here is the talk by c.j.

woodworth, given in 1913, where he admits to be demon possessed.. seems to me those demons came back, as he was the sole editor of the golden age magazine with all their scientific quackery.

c.j., i have been told was the cousin of norman woodworth, who created the "frank and earnest" radio program in the early 1920s for the wts.

Sobeit

James Woodworth's daughter has a fascinating pedigree:

http://worldconnect.rootweb.com

Type in Clayton Woodworth's name.

26

C.J. Woodworth - New historical information

by Lee Elder in

jw
friends

the following information was obtained from skip higgins who is a distant.

relative of c.j.

woodworth.

Sobeit

The daughter of James Woodworth has an interesting pedigree at:

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com

Enter the name of Clayton Woodworth.

18

What kind of personality does the organization attract?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

personality types

what kind of personality does the organization attract?

nice, gullible, under educated, naive?

Sobeit

When I was a child 70 years ago, there was an upper middle-class associated that really were not as active as the average witness is today, but they were more tolerant and kind. Then during the Depression, many of the working class joined. Heard some speak of their experiences in the Catholic Church as a reason. Many of the European born disliked what they saw in religion in the "old country" and now in America.

But today, I agree 100% with the thoughtful comments that have come from expereince and observation. But the second and third generation of J.W.'s have been so indoctrinated that their peripheral vision is nonexistent.

5

Hall Closing in Cleveland, OH, USA Area?

by reagan_oconnor in

my husband called me this afternoon to tell me that he drove by the lakewood congregation (on madison ave.) and it is closed, boarded up!

hurrah!.

i only hope this means that there is waning interest in this area and they don't have a large enough congregation, and not that they're building a larger place elsewhere..

Sobeit

Some Ohio suburban zoning commissions are beginning to look askance at several congregations using one hall? One community is beginning to question expansion and building of churches when the congregation stops being local and begins to be from other communities, but so far they haven't found a legal recourse.

And do the J.W.'s in the trades, still donate their time on the construction of the hall?