it's been at least a couple years since i've posted anything on here, and much longer than that since when i was active.
ten years ago i first came here all in turmoil over my disillusionment of my beliefs.
i've been through lots of ups and downs since then.
Daniel,
Sorry I missed this post at first. As I read your dilemma, I can relate in so many ways. Only you can decide the right course of action. Know that you aren't alone and there are folks here and other places that are more than happy to talk. I saw counseling mentioned several places and that could be a great option if you are both willing to try it.
This cult disgusts me more and more every day.
this was how it was described to me yesterday by a brother who has been there for some 40 years.
"everyone is about gone; the governing body is set to leave within 2 months; the kitchen and laundry personnel are gone and i have to fend for myself now.".
"also the aggravation of 4 to 5 business men in suits with clipboards daily checking out the watchtower properties.
it seems like the watchtower is still encouraging "theocratic warfare".
in the no.1 watchtower of 2016, they (ironically) printed an article on honesty.here is something they said:"lyingwhat is it?
saying something false to someone who is entitledto know the truth.
2015-12-15-boe memorial outline updated.. .are they demanding more money even in the memorial outline?
you decide... page 1 number 4:.
(4) besides attending this meeting, what else must we do to show our appreciation for what christ has done for us?.page 2 under the heading:.
So I don't see this as demanding more money but I do see this whole outline as squarely aimed at those who only just attend the Memorial or inactive JWs. I see the rules of the household along with that scripture as applying more to the only thing more important to the GB than money, control over every aspect of a JW's life.
Oh, thanks for posting this. I'm sure I read it before whoever is giving the talk at my local KH will read it!!! LOL - This must drive Bethel batty!
so when you first found out specific facts about the organisation, how did you feel??.
the un membership.
the way 1914 was calculated from pyramid measurements.
I felt like my world had crashed. I was sick to my stomach, depressed, and scared at first. That turned to anger and a bit of hopelessness as I realized that I was trapped. Angry that I could be shunned by almost my entire social circle and family for simply disagreeing. Angry at the thought that my marriage would be destroyed. And, really angry at myself for being so stupid to fall for it as hard as I did.
don't know if anyone else caught this subtle but malicious photo from the 12/13/15 wt study article.. not sure how to post pictures here, but the photo is on the website's copy of the article, just below paragraph 12:.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20151015/give-us-more-faith/.
note the 3 pictures in sequence tell a "story":.
Someone commented at the meeting I attended and said they were sure the family brought the dog with them. But when I saw that boy's face, I knew the WTS was saying the kid would be losing his pet but that's a sacrifice worth making.
Have you noticed they spend a huge amount of time discussing all the details of these stupid pictures and when they read scriptures, they gloss over them. Well, it is a Watchtower study after all and not a Bible study! Still, they act like those scriptures were sent directly from heaven. Some of the historical pictures have details that are not in the Bible and those commenting say the additional details must be true since they are in the WT.
Crazy cult.
we let the qualified buyers participate in a competitive bidding process and see where the market goes with it, devine told the eagle.. doesn't this logic reflect the same expectation of gambling or buying a lottery ticket?
you don't know if you are going to win big or if you're just going to come out even or lose your $1 investment.. how do they know there's not going to be another market or housing crash the next day and get pennies for their properties?.
how can they honestly say: "...see where the market goes with it" and at the same time condone other for playing lottery tickets or gambling or leaving things to chance like not getting higher education.
I agree with Fink. The most obvious answer to their money problems is that they over extended on their infrastructure anticipating revenues were going to grow yet likely their revenues stayed flat or maybe even declined. If they declined, the reason is likely because members either 1) still show up like me but have purposely closed their wallets (probably a minority) or 2) simply can't afford to give as much or more than they used to because incomes have been stagnant and the average JW according to the Pew study makes less than pretty much any other religion. I really think #2 is hurting them the worse. When you tell people to simplify their lives to do more knocking on doors and to limit the amount of education they seek, you've hurt your revenue base. Growth in wealthier countries is much lower than in developing countries which means you have more people but less money per person. For example, if they thought when they got to 8 million members that each person would contribute an average of $10 per month (just using numbers for example, I have no idea what their model calls for), then you get 80 million per month. Yet, now they are at 8 million but people are only contributing $5 per month because the growth is coming form places where disposable income is less, then you are running at 40 million per month. That's a big hole to deal with. Maybe the numbers aren't that drastic but you get the idea.
Lawsuits hurt obviously but they have money set aside for that and can budget that expense. It's the overall lack of revenues that is the lasting issue. And the GB has admitted they have more going out than coming in. So the solution is to sell assets, cut staff and hunker down while attempting to liquidate as much as you can (ie raiding the local congregations bank accounts for a one time bump).
Oh and there's no way they will lose their tax exempt status in the US. Seriously, ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. The only way would be if the IRS changed their criteria and while religion is waning it certainly is still very powerful and the backlash to removing the tax exempt status from any group would be fought by all. As much as I think NO religion should be exempt from taxes, that's what we are dealing with at least in the US.
will just post the general findings by counsel for the commission (angus stewart) - case specific ones are prior to them.
in short, absolutely damning.. not been through every submission myself yet.
available for download here: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-study/636f01a5-50db-4b59-a35e-a24ae07fb0ad/case-study-29,-july-2015,-sydney.aspx.
https://watchtowerbrooklynrealestate.com/.
its their site.
https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=watchtowerbrooklynrealestate.com.
That property is worth a fortune. They must have gotten professional help with the website design. Looks nice. They are acting as their own broker to maximize $$$$.
To think those properties were either built or renovated with free labor and now will sell for millions is unbelievable. And they won't pay any taxes either to boot.
I need to start a religion.
hello first of all to those that remember me.
i'm doing well, 10 years since my missionary trip to cameroon.
i've met a couple of goals.
ATJ!!!! Just wanted to pop on and say hi...;.
I agree there are many reasons for the apathy within the JW ranks and really they all lead back to lack of leadership. This is definitely not the religion of my youth.
