slimboyfat

Joined

• started 538 topics
• posted 17,592 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by slimboyfat

• 
  11

  Whatever Happened to the District Overseers? Who Took Over their Responsibilities?

  by Village Idiot in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was in, during the 1970s, i would see circuit overseers twice a year.

  i think there were two occasions when i saw a district overseer give a talk at the hall.

  were eliminated as part of a streamlining process but who the hades has taken on their responsibilities?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  Apparently DOs weren't really necessary, so Watchtower abolished them.

  But I think the Society will suffer from unintended consequences by abolishing district overseers. DOs didn't really do anything much useful in and of themselves. But I do think the position of DO performed one incredibly important function: if offered all circuit overseers the prospect of promotion to an easier and more prestigious role in the organisation. Even if most COs never became DOs, the idea that one day they might was probably a good incentive for many DOs. With the role of DO abolished there is really not much if any scope for COs to get "promoted" in the organisation, I think this will make the position of CO far less attractive and can't be good for morale.
• 
  34

  Are there 'ultra strict' congregations?

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i studied as a young adult, it was in one of those congregations.

  having viewed the religion as a quaint little band of christians it conpletely dumbfounded me when i was told about such rules as 1 - no beards.

  2 - you must wear a suit to meetings and while giving a talk.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  Yeah there are strict and relaxed countries too.
• 
  16

  April 19, 2017 TO ALL CONGREGATIONS Re: Branch Relocation Visitor Centre

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  bra april 19, 2017 to all congregations re: branch relocation visitor centre.

  visitor information sheet.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  "Several exciting activities, many with young children in mind."

  Talk about setting up kids for disappointment.

  Plus, when did "many" become a subset of "several"?

  Is it me or is Watchtower getting dumber?
• 
  16

  April 19, 2017 TO ALL CONGREGATIONS Re: Branch Relocation Visitor Centre

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  bra april 19, 2017 to all congregations re: branch relocation visitor centre.

  visitor information sheet.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  "Has been especially created" - when "special" just isn't special enough I suppose.

  Reminds me of my uncle. His first language isn't English and he puts E in front of every word: we have emeal of echicken and erice we especially cooked for eyou.
• 
  16

  Why Charles Taze Russell was NOT a Freemason

  by ILoveTTATT2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the article is now in english.

  please let me know what you think.. http://verdadtj.com/atalaya/russell-not-a-freemason.php.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  I like that you counter the "proofs" too. i never got round to reading Fritz Springmeyer. Are these really the best arguments he produces in the whole book? Seems pretty thin. I always thought there would be more to it than that, just because of the length of the book.

  As "proof" that he was a Freemason, the following statements are generally made:

  • He used multiple Masonic Symbols in his publications

  • He is buried under a pyramid, which is a Masonic Symbol

  • He is buried on or near a Masonic Temple/Center

  • He gave a speech in which he mentioned he was a Mason

  • The Masons have made a conspiracy to remove his name from the registry because they're ashamed of him.
• 
  8

  BBC 4 Thought for the Day Talks about Russian Ban against JWS. by Rev Dr Giles Frazer - 24 April 2017

  by Da.Furious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just started getting on instant messaging platforms an audio clip having rev dr giles fraser talking about the russian ban on jws.. this is very similar to the post on guardian.

  discussed here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5668600843075584/guardian-russia-persecution-jehovahs-witnesses-begins-all-over-again.

  link to the 3 minute audio clip: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p050zjdq.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  He did an excellent job, linking it to 1933, and pointing out the real issue here is state worship and state extremism not tolerating any sort of rival. JW pedants will be thinking to themselves the blood ban is based on Acts not Leviticus, and anti-military stance based on "no part of the world".

  Slightly amused at Frazer's mispronunciation leading to new word "persecrated". On top of being the thinkingest people on earth JWs are the most persecrated too.
• 
  16

  Why Charles Taze Russell was NOT a Freemason

  by ILoveTTATT2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the article is now in english.

  please let me know what you think.. http://verdadtj.com/atalaya/russell-not-a-freemason.php.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  It reads good to me. A good overview of a subject I've not read very extensively.
• 
  10

  So, how's it feel, Watchtower -- now that the shoe's on the other foot?

  by FatFreek 2005 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  yes, your cult has been banned in russia.

  what surprises me is that this hasn't happened in more countries.

  what surprises me is that civil suits in the u.s. haven't flooded the courts -- violation of civil and human rights because of the cruel act of shunning of disfellowshipped ones, even members of one's own family.. discrimination is a form of cruelty and civil and human rights define such.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  Shunning is a horrendously stone age way of trying to control and influence others but the law will never make it illegal. You can't force people to talk to others.

  I used to think that was a compelling argument. But now I think it misses the point. No law would be drafted to say that shunning another person is illegal. What could conceivably be made illegal is operating an organisation whose policies and documents mandate and regulate shunning. That could technically be made a matter of law, presumably, just as organisations are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, they would not be allowed to formulate and promote and a system that stigmatises former members. So I don't think it's impossible or a ridiculous idea.

  Having said that I don't think it's a good idea to go down the route of banning organisations that employ shunning.

  Removing charitable status on the other hand seems entirely proportionate and would be effective in my view.

  
  
• 
  15

  Russia banning JWs might not have the "persecution effect" this time

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  russia banning the organization might not have the same effect as the earlier ban did decades ago.. more and more people have access to the internet.

  it only takes a few russian jws to start their google search for the first time to discover the truth about their religion.. questions might arise, such as "why is jehovah allowing this to happen?

  consider too, the schism that happened when the romanian jws were cut off from brooklyn.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  After large increases in the 1990s JWs had already begun to decline in Russia and Eastern Europe in recent years. The ban this time won't be a replay of decades past. Many JWs were already apathetic. The ban might push many give up JW association altogether and leave a small core of fanatics.
• 
  167

  Sudden General Election in UK to be held June 8th 2017

  by freddo in

  1. social
  2. current

  theresa may the british p.m. has called for an election.. the house of commons has to vote tomorrow and have a two-thirds majority to agree and the main opposition parties want it to happen too so it looks pretty certain to go ahead..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  slimboyfat

  Where is Sturgeon unpopular? The Daily Mail?

  She is by far the most popular leader in Scotland.

  http://www.scotsman.com/news/how-nicola-sturgeon-and-ruth-davidson-s-approval-ratings-have-changed-1-4417273

  More and more Scots support indepdence. At the start of the last campaign only 30% of Scots supported independence. Now polls put support at around 50% and the campaign hasn't even started yet.