Posts by Doubting Bro

22

Real Estate Business?

by no-zombie in

i was going over some of the older posts of others and without starting some kind of flame war, i got no idea why people are saying that the society is some kind of real estate business.

of course its making millions of dollars in its real estate sales but this a one time event.

its down sizing by selling the furniture.

The problem with owning buildings and facilities is that it takes cash flow to maintain and operate them. You can't just buy a building and let it sit. It seems the WTS biggest issue is surrounding a lack of donations. Remember they said not too long ago that they spend more than is coming in.

So what if they've decided to change their strategy on making money. Instead of investing in tax free real estate, they invest in other vehicles. We know they are involved in the stock/bond market. We know they go to hedge fund conferences, etc. Why not switch your model to be less reliant on real estate and more on otherwise passive investments. It's riskier but it's liquid and doesn't require cash flow to maintain. You just have to pay the advisers which is much cheaper than running a factory.

Just a thought.

58

Mexico branch......Now closing!!!

by krismalone in

a circuit overseer friend of mine serving in latin america called me today to say hi.

i asked him what's new and he dropped the news that they have received notification that the branch in mexico will be closing!!

this branch also called the central american branch (although located in mexico) oversees all of mexico's 800,000+ publishers plus all 7 countries of central america of over 100,000 publishers.

Doubting Bro

It seems plausible to me. Thanks for sharing the information.

It would be very easy to direct Mexico/Central America from NY. As for the CO rumor, that has been circulating for some time in various forms and I would be shocked if they didn't get those guys off the payroll in the next few years. What I was surprised about was the elimination of the DO position. You could have local elders serve as the COs (either by committee or individually) but you will still need some sort of branch oversight. I could seem them changing the CO position to provide that oversight and speak at assemblies. Or you could also make it a volunteer position like an elder and make them support themselves.

None of the items seem all that unbelievable to me.

55

Quality of newer membership

by Lostandfound in

on a previous post mamacita29 pointed up the low quality of new jw converts.. is the quality falling even more as the society use lower than low meeting, talks, broadcasts etc.. when i was active initially the organisation and standards seemed totally different today.

i have seen hard working intelligent elders fall by death or exhaustion.

the younger generation that came along never really grasped responsibility hence shortage of good elders, never mind the watered down to almost nothing quality of meetings.

Doubting Bro

JW daughter - I totally agree.

I think the big difference today and why there are generally less non-born in converts in the industrialized world is because a quick google search turns up enough information that people avoid getting lured into to this particular cult. But, those same people are likely still vulnerable and may end up somewhere else.

I still think their biggest problem is apathy among members. And the simplifying of materials, videos and reduced meetings is due to the org attempting to find something that will get the members excited again. At the last circuit assembly, the branch rep said in his talk that too many were apathetic and it showed in all their activities. He said that many were simply going through the motions. He's right. And they have no idea what to do about it.

30

Is it morally wrong to put Watchtower behind?

by Darkknight757 in

with our latest and final run in with the elders, the wife and i had a very long talk about what's next in our life.

do we try to help others see the light as it were concerning watchtower or do we just let it go and move on with our life?

we have made it perfectly clear that we will never go back to watchtower and we are finally happy.

Doubting Bro

I agree with cofty - that may be the dumbest most insensitive comment that I've ever had the misfortune of reading. Good grief what is wrong with those idiots??

You don't owe them everything. The fact that you and your wife are in agreement and have made a decision is fantastic. You obviously know all too well how fragile life is, don't waste anymore time and effort on those people or that religion.

24

Elder/MS requirement for marriage talk? (Wedding not in KH)

by respectful_observer in

okay team,.

some family friends who are engaged are getting some flack around the particulars of their wedding ceremony (surprise!

"strain out the gnat, gulp down the camel", and all that).

Doubting Bro

In some states (as an American I always assume you are in the USA), its not as easy to get a license to perform weddings. I know that when I was a Secretary, I helped a MS get a marriage license and I had to write a letter signed by the entire BOE that essentially said that we recognized him as a minister in our local congregation. So, if the BOE is against the wedding, you likely won't get that kind of assistance. Of course, if the person you have in mind is already authorized by the local officials, then not a problem.

You can always find a secular official to do the actual vows then have a religious ceremony if you really want a JW marriage talk.

73

The con is completed - comments from the US branch's LDC chief

by sir82 in

jw
friends

recently attended a special assembly day.. guest speaker was thomas chicky, a member of the us branch committee and the head of the us ldc (which has replaced the rbcs).. the last talk of the day is scheduled for an hour.

it was the usual boring mumbo-jumbo.

he appeared to have blasted through his hour-long outline in just about 45 minutes, so he "treated" us to informal comments on recent developments.. he commented on the new wt complex in fishkill ny.. then he dropped the bomb (well, to anyone with ears and at least 2 functioning synapses).. the following is not a word for quote, but presents the gist of his comments:.

Doubting Bro

That's a really good question, what are they doing with all that cash? I've had a few local folks questioning that as well. Of course, they are saying that we must be getting ready to make a final preaching push or some nonsense. It's amazing how easy it is to rationalize things.

35

Im Going To Approach A Witnessing Cart Today

by pale.emperor in

the city in which i work is flooded with those witnessing carts.

today im going to approach one of them and pretend i dont know what they believe.

gonna try and record it if i can.

Doubting Bro

It's really not a defensible position from a Biblical point of view and I'm pretty sure they know that.

Oh and love the Merry Christmas wish at the end. That made me laugh.

Of course, their rendition will be how they won a debate with an "opposer"

48

Jehovah's Limp Witnesses Pointed Me to JW.org When I Was Willing to Talk

by steve2 in

several months ago i approached a nice young couple who were standing by a jw literature stand in my local community.

they were pleasant and polite but incredibly stilted when it came to answering my "innocent" questions about their beliefs.

this was the occasion of jws featuring the article headlined "is religion dying?".

Doubting Bro

The reality is that the overwhelming number of JWs HATE the "ministry". I was just with some JW "friends" socially when they were talking about a local break spot and the direct quote (from an elder) was: "breaks are the best part of field service". While he said it as a joke, I can bet that most JWs feel the same way.

I never liked it but thought there was something wrong with me. I was out every week but once an elder, I devised a system. We lived in a rural area, so I would get a territory at least 15 minutes away, spend about half hour or 45 minutes driving from door to door, then take a break and make RVs for the rest of the morning. If it was raining, then 100% RVs.

If the WTS were to make an announcement that JWs didn't have to report their time anymore, how many JWs would still go out in service? How many would put in pioneer hours?

I think the community apathy and apathy among JWs as a whole has really diminished any zeal towards the ministry. Now, people simply go out to "get their time in".

10

Wills - A disgruntled father making a final point

by Listener in

an unusual and amusing will was contested in an australian court a few years ago.the deceased man separated from his wife in 1959 and shortly after the wife was baptized as a jw.

in the following years their four children also got baptized.

apparently this enraged the deceased for the remainder of his life, who was himself a catholic.his will included two conditions that his four children were required to fulfill before they would qualify to receive their share of the inheritance.

Doubting Bro

I don't see this as any different from when a JW parent cuts a DF/DA child out of their will and leaves the money to the WTS. Legally, you can leave your money to whoever you wish. Ideally, you'd want to continue your legacy by passing things on to your children. But, obviously the relationship was strained and thus the conditions. Was their being JWs the cause of the strain? Likely but it could have been more him than them. Really difficult to tell. At least he left things to his relatives and not to some huge non-profit organization.

It's a shame that religion is such a divisive influence. Probably the most divisive in human history.

17

Why I DON'T Fear The Future - A Conversation With My JW Mum

by Divergent in

jw
friends

3 questions i hit my jw mum with:.

first question: do you believe that god is love?

third question: do you think a god of love would choose to destroy me for not doing something i cannot do (be a jw) because i am not convinced rather than convince me beyond doubt?

Doubting Bro

But what if God has convinced you that the WTS isn't the truth. By not following His direction, aren't you willingly sinning against Holy Spirit?