Posts by Shador

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

Shador

See, the thing is, any large growth tends to come from 3rd world places. Desperate people grasping at the (false) hope that paradise, which is coming Soon™, will solve all their problems.

The apathy and bleed-off of the born-ins, along with the gradual death of all the old-timers, is happening in large part in first-world countries (USA, Europe, etc.).

The problem becomes economic. If support from the rich countries dries up, they can't fund their massive printing operation. Boom. Collapse.

They seem to be trying to solve this but putting stuff online. Problem is, folks in grass and mud huts with chickens running in the yard don't have internet and likely never will.

30

New Trend in Dramas?

by breakfast of champions in

so it used to be that all dramas were ot.

period, that was it.. then they started incorporating a "modern day" application of the ot drama where actors in the present day reflected on the story.. then they started using some highly fictionalized nt characters in dramas (never jesus of course).

in the past few years we've been getting more "modern dramas", just about people in the present dealing with their "problems".

Shador

the father turning on the TV to see that the government is "cracking down" on jehovahs witnesses in our "free" country -

To see the governments turn on all organized religious businesses is one JW "prophecy" I would not mind, even if it meant Jar-Hoover was about to wipe me out. I'd slaughter as many dubs as possible just to spit in his almighty eye.

13

wtwr study today

by infernosdante in

was a phrase in the wtwr study today that really bothered me it said,dont tell them what to beleive but ask questions to get the appropriate response.isnt this basically saying dont tell them how they should beleive,instead ask them leading questions till they say what you want them to say?.

Shador

Yea, that's how cults work. One of the "tricks of the trade" - If you ask questions to lead the person to the conclusion you want, they feel like they are the ones who came to the conclusion. That makes it stick much more powerfully. "No, no one TOLD me to believe this. I looked at the evidence and concluded it for myself."

23

Does the borg really produce great readers? How much did you actually read when in?

by likeabird in

jw
friends

i've been reading a lot and learning even more (project deadlines to meet), getting this overwhelming satisfaction and feeling good.. and then i stopped and realised that i never got that feeling when reading borg publications.. i also realized that i have probably read more non-fiction books in the last month than i did during my whole life in the borg.. for all my reading (and i was fully in) i read no more than two wt books cover to cover.

none of my study books were studied cover to cover and wts were usually quickly underlined and rarely properly studied.

magazines were usually flicked through and resolutions to read them cover to cover rarely lasted more than a few weeks.. i did manage to read the bible through once - but that was because i was always afraid someone door to door would ask me if i had, so i figured i should just crack on with it.

Shador

Heh. I read and still read a lot. I've read much WT stuff, but that was because I was forced to. Never really cared for it or let it get to me. But I have read tonnes of non-WT stuff. Mostly SF and Fantasy novels - I have read literally hundreds of books.

14

7 million Jehovah's Witnesses wasting 10 hours every month

by Terry in

what if.... what if jehovah's witnesses spent their 70 million hours on something better than cartoon theology distribution?.

would this world be better served by:.

1.feeding the hungry?.

Shador

Good point, Terry. It could do a world of good.

However, the sad truth of human nature is that not many people are selfless enough to devote all that time to good causes like that. The only reason most witlesses do their "ministry" is because of the cult brainwashing.

28

1914 gone??

by Crazyguy in

now that russell is no longer important do you think this is designed so they can drop 1914??

?.

Shador

Dropping 1914 as a significant date would have to be done very carefully and gradually by the WTBTS. That date has been a cornerstone belief for a long time. To drop it would be as radical a change as dropping the blood ban or the practice of shunning. It would require a complete, ground-up rewrite of their understanding of Daniel and Revelation.

That said, I think they may try to, since it has been so long. The July 15 WT already moved stuff from the past to the future, so we shall see. If they try to rush it, they could end up loosing a lot of people.

444

The music that moves you....

by FlyingHighNow in

once when i was profoundly sad for too many days, my brother in law sent us a mix tape.

he named each song after a person in our family.

this is the one he named heather.

Shador

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqba0IUdiBk

29

why

by therevealer in

jw
friends

if they are going to try to guess what jesus should look like why don't they or haven't they created artwork that they would use to consistently show him as the same guy.

this one is from sept wt.

Shador

Turin shroud

evidence

These two things are not even remotely related. The (in)famous Shroud of Turin has been quite thoroughly debunked. It was radiocarbon dated to medieval times, IIRC.

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