having been out of the loop for a while on here, it dawned on me that the figure of memorial partakers has risen substantially from when i was a jw.. i think i bowed out at around 8500 in 2006.. can anyone briefly explain what the main reasons for this increase are and if it is ever discussed among jw's because if i remember correctly, the figure should be going down, not up.. thanks.. j.
Having been out of the loop for a while on here, it dawned on me that the figure of memorial partakers has risen substantially from when I was a JW.
I think I bowed out at around 8500 in 2006.
Can anyone briefly explain what the main reasons for this increase are and if it is ever discussed among JW's because if I remember correctly, the figure should be going down, not up.
Thanks.
J
i know that the assembly is supposed to get the folks all excited about how close we are to the 'end of this system of things' but when my wife attends a memorial, she says nothing at all after it, even though this is supposed to be the most important night of the year for them..
You always expected some special feeling in those first few years. Nothing happened.
After a while, the procedure is very, very dull and repetative.
I agree with OTWO.
Very few of the extras at the memorial were new to the organisation. In our small hall we always got about 60 more. Around 5 were completely new faces.
there are 23 species of tsetse flies.
diseases transmitted by tsetse flies kill 250,000300,000 people per year.. why create such a thing?.
There are 23 species of tsetse flies. Diseases transmitted by tsetse flies kill 250,000–300,000 people per year.
Why create such a thing?
well, i went along to the memorial with mrs cedars.
it was my first since my "awakening" just less than a year ago.
apparently i made a lot of people happy by being there (even if it was only building up false hopes), the most important of which were my family.
I our old hall they would keep 4 seats at the front clear for the memorial-takers and after the rest of the hall had observed, they would sit there and the brother giving the talk would hand them the plate/wine for it to move along the four of them.
Very silly.
hi guys and gals,.
i've written a new article on what some jehovah's witnesses plan on doing after armageddon strikes.
i am sure you've been around witnesses that have said something like "oh i'm moving into that house after armageddon.".
The entire notion of armaggeddon is simply vile. Sick thoughts for sick minds.
I have heard those comments before. I can only suggest that the comments are made by sub human arseholes who have very little inteligence, emotion or love in their heart.
the doctrine of sin = death.. .
if it is the case that the reason people die is due to the original sin of the man adam (romans 5:12) then why do animals also get sick and die of the same illnesses as humans?
did an animal transgress in a similar manner?.
The doctrine of sin = death.
If it is the case that the reason people die is due to the original sin of the man Adam (Romans 5:12) then why do animals also get sick and die of the same illnesses as humans? Did an animal transgress in a similar manner?
it seems that this has been a tactic that the jw's have used for many years.. i haven't contributed to this board in a wee while but upon my return a month or so ago, i was astounded to read about the article where the society described opposers as 'mentally diseased'.. it's a very basic strategy and one that works.. i myself experienced this with my wife during my more vocal periods of opposition to the society.
for a good while i had a problem with drink.
not a violent problem or anything, just that i drank more.
It seems that this has been a tactic that the JW's have used for many years.
I haven't contributed to this board in a wee while but upon my return a month or so ago, I was astounded to read about the article where the society described opposers as 'mentally diseased'.
It's a very basic strategy and one that works.
I myself experienced this with my wife during my more vocal periods of opposition to the society. For a good while I had a problem with drink. Not a violent problem or anything, just that I drank more. Often if I had been drinking I would raise points about the society which I disagreed with. I'm not talking about a slurring messy rant. Just discussing things in a very frank manner.
Despite my arguments being sound, they were put down to the ramblings of a drunk from my wifes point of view. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating this was. Especially if any points were related to the mental welfare of our kids. It was as if my being more lucid gave my wife an opportunity to dismiss firsthand any objections that I made. Very convenient really. It saved her giving any of my points of view serious consideration.
In my opinion, the society does this all the time. Painting opposers to the religion in an extreemly negative light helps the rank and file JW completely reject any well reasoned or solid argumentation.
Calling people who oppose the religions teaching 'mentally diseased' is staggering really. It makes them sink to a new low. But it works.
Unfortunately, decent people who simply 'don't agree' with their religon are absolutely demonised.
Don't let it stop you speaking out. Even better, do it in a way that makes you irreprehensible.
i believe young children are often capable of much more then we imagine.
these preacher children are surly very talented.
as much as i find them ever so cute, i find it disturbing how their parents use them to further their own religious ambitions.. .
It's vile.
And in the case of JW's, dangerous.
Woudl you take your young child canvassing around households where you don't know who on earth is behind the door. Paedophile, rapist, mentally disturbed etc, etc?
Crazy.
been lurking for a bit, and feel safe enough now to tell my story (condensed).. i'm a third-generation born-in, but my parents were inactive for most of my upbringing.
this means i got the worst of both worlds--no worldly friends (home schooled all but grades 2-3), no witness friends (since we never went to the hall except for memorial), and a generally isolated upbringing in a tiny, tiny town.
needless to say, my emotional, social, and personal growth were stunted.
I had more or less all of the same feelings as yourself.
I would say that I have always been careful not to 'go off the rails' which plays right into the hands of active JW's. It was hard. I battled with heavy drinking. The mental gymnastics that I had endured for around ten years had had it's effect on me and despite the feelings of freedom and relief, the manner in which you are treated by your family and JW friends takes it's toll. I'm positive that I went through a degree of post-traumatic stress disorder after I left the reigion. The mental scars from having their constant negativity drummed into my brain were signifiant. Being emotionally distant and socially detatched from those I cared for also had a very negative effect on me. However, like I say, I saw the benefit to being sensible and not indulging myself too much in bitterness and regret. Although, it was a battle which often I would lose, back in the beginning.
I really enjoyed making friends or reconnecting with friends in the world. It taught me that although there are arseholes everywhere (none moreso than within the JW religion), generally people are not evil, bad or wicked. I used discernment when making worldly friends and after six years of being out of the org, I have a lovely mixture of friends who I care for deeply.
I have enjoyed doing voluntary work for a charity in recent months, which is very rewarding and brings more to the table than my other work which is very mundane, although financially it is very rewarding. It has been nice to be back in the workplace among people and it's super to be involved with people who are genuinely caring individuals. I would never have entertained this as a vocation had I still been a JW. This work has offered a lot of opportunities to me in terms of future work and new friendships.
Occasionally, I am in the company of JW's. Despite relaxing my view on them as individuals, I do find that their manner and general conversation is odd, negative and generally just not my cup of tea. As much as they may be nice individual people, I struggle with the fact that these same people would shun their children or make life and death decisions for their kids (given the chance), based on a notion of faith. Also, the general 'one-upmanship' is a massive factor. It's horrible to be around people who make judgements on appearance.
All the best to you on your journey. Stick in.
J
