Doubting Bro

Joined

• started 10 topics
• posted 2,130 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Doubting Bro

• 
  39

  Hello, I'm new here too!

  by redpilltwice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi everybody, 1st post here.

  20 years jw, elder for 6 years, regular pioneer for 3 years, have always been following the 2012 candace conti abuse case with much interest, especially since the case suddenly disappeared from www.watchtower.com's news section (thanks brother j. r. brown, office of public information, because it led me to "worldly" websites for more info), leading to more and more dissatisfaction , leading to jwfacts, jwsurvey, ad1914, wtdocuments etc., leading to my awakening about 4 months ago, now fading faster and faster to zero meetings and zero field service...and you know what?

  it feels good!.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Welcome and look forward to your contributions!
• 
  91

  Is the Watchtower organisation facing the biggest crisis of its history?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  recent developments make me think they might be.

  the problems they are facing are not just lack of funds but also draining authority, and the two could be a heady and explosive mix.

  one of the best analyses ever written of the watchtower was a book called "trumpet of prophecy" by sociologist james beckford in the 1970s.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Seems to me like the big crises in the past were caused by either internal fighting or failed prophesy. People were passionate enough to make a change and leave in both the 20s & 75-77. This time, what they are facing is much more difficult to deal with. Apathy is their biggest problem. And so far, they haven't come up with a way to deal with it. I really think they are close to if not already topped out but I don't believe we'll see a major decline but rather a slow decline as older ones die off and kids just don't get baptized or leave as soon as they are able. Conversions have slowed down to almost nil in developed countries and I would image as resources dwindle the ability to make converts in 3rd world countries will diminish as well.

  How far they reduce remains to be seen.
• 
  49

  Slightly different approach - JW my tradition

  by closed in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everybody :) i have been visiting this forum for some time.

  i noticed that many can't really free from the past in the org despite many years outside of jw.

  i was awaken with a bang.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  To me, it really boils down to which path has the biggest downside. For some, the pain of staying in is worse than the pain of getting out. For others such as you, the downside of getting out is far more painful than staying in. To each his own. Of course, I still attend for the sake of family which is likely why I don't think its a big deal. I really believe our experiences and bias really color our opinion much more than the facts.

  Welcome to the board and look forward to hearing more from you!
• 
  26

  The Pain of Coming to a Decision

  by daniel-p in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  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.
• 
  46

  Chaos at Brooklyn Bethel 12/2016

  by James Jack in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I feel sorry for some of these folks. Not the jerks, but there are some good sincere people who believe the cult's promise that they were part of a "family" and would be taken care of. Remember, outside of the higher-ups, they are also cult victims whose entire world is crashing down.
• 
  23

  "Theocratic Warfare" still alive and well within Watchtower in 2016!

  by ILoveTTATT2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  And that's why I make up time to keep them away from me and tell them what they want to hear. They don't deserve the truth.
• 
  8

  2015-12-15-BOE-Memorial Outline Updated--Is More Money Being Implied Here Also?

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  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!
• 
  75

  How did you feel when you found out "the truth about the truth"?

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  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.
• 
  63

  "And Your Little Dog Too...." WTS not content with taking kids' ice cream money, now they want them to give up their puppy dogs too.

  by sir82 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  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":.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  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.
• 
  23

  Sales of Watchtower headquarters could total $1.2 billion, real estate pros predict

  by MaybeSo in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  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.