OnTheWayOut

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Posts by OnTheWayOut

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  74

  The Watchtower's Real Crisis

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when discussing the watchtowers financial problems, i've generally been of the opinion that they probably are not in a real financial crisis.

  i've come to believe that money may be something of an issue, but its wrapped up in a much larger problem.

  this came to me this morning when reading about the annual meeting.. i think the society's leadership is just plain out of ideas.

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  OnTheWayOut

  While I am confident it is more about money, there sure is a huge consideration that they don't know what to say anymore. As crazy as some of the Fred Franz stuff was, it certainly was baffling enough to dazzle everyone.

  But they have no talent for contradicting their old doctrine with something that seems like a "brlghter light" understanding.
  
  I think they have some ideas on the shelf about tying Armageddon to the 120 years thing like the days of Noah and shooting for 2034 as a highly speculative date. I think they have considered how to drop 1914, maybe even going with the 20 years error that so many have tried to teach them about that. But they loaded the Governing Body with a bunch of "Yes" men for Ted Jaracz and his crew that aren't really clever enough to make the changes.
  
  I think that over the last 20 years or so, they have occasionally hinted at such things in meetings and gauged the reactions of members and members didn't like it. They then waited too long, got too much locked into their old beliefs.
  
  They probably thought they should just keep "tweaking" the doctrines and selling literature and didn't have the sense to see the slow death of printing. Really, there may not be much of any way to dig out of their hole. Members have been so hitched to the printing corporation that they won't really contribute more money to a streamlined organization.
  
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  72

  What was the biggest thing that convinced you that

  by Ponyo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  .....the truth was not the truth... ?

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  OnTheWayOut

  SO many things!

  
  So true.
  
  I have a few but will mention the top 2.
  
  1. When "this generation" was changed in 1995, I had a hard time accepting that "we" were taught for so long that this was pretty much settled sometime shortly after 1914 and was a rock-solid teaching. When I tried to talk to a fellow elder about it, he was older and saw so many things change so he casually said "Things change."
  It didn't sit well with me, it didn't fit to just accept that the light gets brighter because the light would have been off with the change of understanding. It was studied at the meeting and someone read the answer to the question about it and then, BAM! All was changed like it was no big deal.
  
  2. I saw so much nepotism, protecting of JW families of elders to the degree that it was a double standard. And then I was taught via elders school and letters that elders could be forgiven for things like viewing pornography without even a judicial hearing or loss of privileges. I started noticing more and more double standards and extra privileges among higher ups.
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  27

  At the annual meeting right now . . .

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm at the recorded meeting right now.

  trying to hide my disgust sitting up front listening to geoffrey jackson quibble about the pharisaical minutai of sanctification vs. vindication.

  the audience is thrilled that they now have 'permission' to say god's name can be vindicated.

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  OnTheWayOut

  neat blue dog:
  
  Gerrit Loesch just said that when gog and Magog attack, the new headquarters will be protected 🙄

  So then he DOES think he is "inspired" and not just "spirit-directed." Why is it they can have it both ways when it is convenient?
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  30

  Do not think the end will come?

  by Akid48 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  thats somthing i see thats asked in my kingdom hall if you want to go get more than 2 years in collage.thing in some one asking that to me or etc i cant say any thing or that would show that i dont believe.. i hate when some one askes me that when i try to plan ahead when it comes to what job i want.what job would help me hold my own but no god will give if you put him first.i dont believe in god even when i did i never buyed into that.. it seems you cant get away from the question im only 13 and i get that question theres no getting away from it..

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  OnTheWayOut

  The organization has said all things on all sides of this issue. Throw the pro-college stuff in people's faces.
  
  

  From https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/higher-education-university.php
  During this period, advice was still given about the dangers of university, such as that if “a Christian is considering pursuing additional schooling, he would do well to examine his own motives to make sure that selfish, materialistic interests are not the driving force.” (Awake! 1998 Mar 8 p.21) However, the articles were more balanced, concluding, “such decisions are of a personal nature. Christians ought not to criticize or judge one another on this matter.” (Awake!1998 Mar 8 p.21)
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  86

  JW Rumor: End of the Traveling Overseer

  by Edison Trent in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a friend of mine has contacts to a family with several circuit overseers and special pioneers.

  they have good connections to bethel.. he told me that the latest rumor from bethel states that the cos should be abolished in their present form.

  they have also recently begun to take cos back to bethel.. over the same channel i have already heard of the car fleet program and that the dos should be abolished.. has anyone else already heard of it?

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  OnTheWayOut

  careful, I get what you are saying. It doesn't seem likely they would issue new instructions in Sept. to eliminate part of that instructions in Oct. But "Circuit Overseer" could still exist in another form or the term can easily be replaced on paper by "Regional Overseer."
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  23

  Crisis of conscience

  by Ponyo in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  does anyone know where i can buy coc for under $50?

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  OnTheWayOut

  This whole thing is ridiculous. The author of material has a right to profit and to pass on those profits after s/he dies. But we should recognize a few things. This is a life-changing book that we know good and well, Ray Franz would rather have widely distributed as much as possible than for people to stall it's continued availability over any issues, financial or otherwise.

  IF THEY WOULD JUST PUBLISH THE BOOK, then I would not say any of this. I would say, "Pay them $30 and be done with it." But having said that, they are not coming out with more needed books when a free download is available. People need to read this book. Do what you have to do.
  
  
  
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  7

  Why referring to Watchtower as 'the Borg' is so apt!

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's interesting that when watchtower is referred to as the borg, it immediately brings to mind the scenes where individuals such as captain piccard are held prisoner within a vast collective hive type prison and unable to leave.

  they are then turned into drones.

  in fact here is how wikipedia explains it.. the borg are a fictional alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the star trek franchise.

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  OnTheWayOut

  Is it going to be WORG now?

  Nah, we can stick with BORG. If people don't care that it used to be from Brooklyn, we can say it is a Brainwash ORGanization.
  
  
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  43

  We missed you at the meetings...

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how many times have you heard that trope?.

  i found it more irritating than a dose of farmers on the bum.

  i've even said it when i was a brainwashed jobo drone.

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  OnTheWayOut

  "We missed you at the meetings."
  
  Really? Because we can do lunch tomorrow if you miss me so much.
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  28

  October 2, 2017 BOE US Re: Contributions Received at the 2017 Annual Meeting

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  october 2, 2017 to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territory re: contributions received at the 2017 annual meeting.

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  OnTheWayOut

  The real reason the annual meeting was opened to all members.
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  7

  Why referring to Watchtower as 'the Borg' is so apt!

  by UnshackleTheChains in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's interesting that when watchtower is referred to as the borg, it immediately brings to mind the scenes where individuals such as captain piccard are held prisoner within a vast collective hive type prison and unable to leave.

  they are then turned into drones.

  in fact here is how wikipedia explains it.. the borg are a fictional alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the star trek franchise.

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  OnTheWayOut

  It is only sorry that it is a dated reference that is getting more and more vague as young people come of age (just like SEINFELD references in our conversations).

  Anyway, I definitely find it fitting. It was more fitting when it properly could be short for Brooklyn ORGanization. (I have heard that some Mormons call their former cult the MORG for Mormon ORGanization.)

  Young family members are told that "resistance is futile." Members are assimilated and stop independent thought and individuality of any kind. They are misunderstood by outsiders who think they are harmless until it is too late. Members cease to be concerned with outsiders, knowing that they should only be assimilated or destroyed (by Jehovah in this case).