Posts by respectful

26

Why do witnesses need the title of pioneer to get 30 hours?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

if witnesses believe that we truly are in the end of the end of the last days, and they believe the work they do will really save lives, and most can just make a few adjustments and get 30 hours, why dont they do this more often??

without the title?.

to me if you really care about people you would not wait until you have a special title or badge to wear of look at me im pioneering, you would do the most you can every month and not care about recognition from men.

respectful_observer

I suspect a lot of it comes from the natural desire for humans to be recognized as "successful" by their communities. Society normally does this by easily-observable "markers" of success (in the community, educational achievement, military rank, corporate rank, etc.)

- Being elected by their community to represent their interests (not allowed by JWs)

- an advanced degree, thereby demonstrating their intellectual success (not tolerated by JWs)

- rising through the military ranks (not allowed by JWs)

- rising through the corporate ranks (lowers your "success" within JW community)

- providing well for your family-- nice home, nice cars, nice clothes, etc. (discouraged by JWs)

Almost every normal "marker" of success in society at large is either discouraged or forbidden by JW doctrine. I suspect it causes a lot of JWs to focus too much on the spiritual success markers-- namely titles. I've notices that some brothers/sisters who struggle to succeed in everyday life ways are often the most intent on achieving JW titles...and not letting those around them forget they have them.

46

The huge impact the JWs have out in their door knocking --- May 15, 2013

by RayPublisher in

the may 15, 2013 washtowel has a cute little piece of artwork about what an impact they make out in serve-us.

i thought some captions might help make it clearer!.

.

respectful_observer

Did the guy (really a JW) taking out the trash have to get an official dispensation to sport a day's worth of stubble?

The picture of the sanitation worker may very well have been some stock photo which The Watchtower got permission to use. I can’t see the Brooklyn Pharisees relaxing their “Bible-based standards” one bit for even something as innocuous as a staged photo for any of their publications.

Hmmm...I'm leaning toward it being an actual J-dub rather than a stock photo. After all, when's the last time you saw a garbage man wearing khakis...and I mean BESIDES during your last Bethel tour!

14

College Degree Required

by respectful_observer in

i don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any wt publications anytime soon.... ....................................... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/college-degree-required-by-increasing-number-of-companies.html?hpw&_r=0.

a few excerpts:.

the college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.. like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelors degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.

respectful_observer

I don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any WT publications anytime soon...

......................................

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/college-degree-required-by-increasing-number-of-companies.html?hpw&_r=0

A few excerpts:

The college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.

Like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelor’s degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.

This prerequisite applies to everyone, including the receptionist, paralegals, administrative assistants and file clerks. Even the office “runner” — the in-house courier who, for $10 an hour, ferries documents back and forth between the courthouse and the office — went to a four-year school.

This up-credentialing is pushing the less educated even further down the food chain, and it helps explain why the unemployment rate for workers with no more than a high school diploma is more than twice that for workers with a bachelor’s degree: 8.1 percent versus 3.7 percent.

Some jobs, like those in supply chain management and logistics, have become more technical, and so require more advanced skills today than they did in the past. But more broadly, because so many people are going to college now, those who do not graduate are often assumed to be unambitious or less capable.

In 2012, 39 percent of job postings for secretaries and administrative assistants in the Atlanta metro area requested a bachelor’s degree, up from 28 percent in 2007, according to Burning Glass.

32

Who Is The Biggest Control Freak On The Governing Body, Anthony Morris III, Gets My Vote

by frankiespeakin in

due to lack of any intimacy with these guys it is hard to say for sure, but listening to the talks on the internet i think anthony morris is the biggest with gerrit losch second runner-up.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xml-u6-kkj8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b7drwti-h4.

respectful_observer

I thought that Anthony was very open about his concern over the convincing power of some professor, over the Org.

What does it mean when a J-dub youth who has spend 18+ YEARS going to 5 meetings a week, preparing for those meetings, preparing and delivering talks, going in the ministry, doing personal study, Family Worship, D/C, SAD, CAs, etc. is convinced by a single professor teaching a single 12 week course?

44

When some of the old time JW's time is up i wonder what they think in their private moments.

by karter in

we had an old time jw pass away recently he lived his entire life lie the new system was going to be here tomorrow.. he was a gillard grad and went on to be missionry in west africa.. came back home when wife got pregent(they eventuly had 3 children) ,sold everything pre 75 to see the system out and pioneer then had to work his butt off to rebuild his finances and put a roof over his familys head.. he retired and became a co till his wifes health could no longer alow it.. he got a treminal illness and i wonder in his quiter moments did he think ....".ive lived my entire life for a dream that never came true".

he's only one of many i see,their lives comming to an end and the new system is no closer than it was when they started.. .

karter..

respectful_observer

1 Cor 15:19

"...we are of all men most to be pitied."

18

New Light needs batteries

by Roberta804 in

well i think the borg crossed the line with many of the r&f.

met a young woman at a class i take come to find out she and her husband are recent ex-jws.

they were both born-ins and they felt the printing company is taking too many liberties and that many in the khs are not talking about it... just leaving.

respectful_observer

Roberta804, as a caveat, college isn't explicitly forbidden for those with "privileges". The policy leaves just enough wiggle room to allow congregations to interpret it on a case-by-case basis. There's a branch letter out there somewhere I think, but the gist of it is:

- Are they encouraging others to pursue the same course?

- What is their motive-- money and prestige, or gaining a specific skill?

- Has it/will it impact their theocratic activity (service time/meeting attendance)?

If they trigger any of the above, it's likely you lose your privileges. That being said, I do know several elders/MS/Pioneers whose children (or they themselves are currently in 4-year or master's programs of some type. All depends on your congregation, your CO, and who you know.

14

protestors at assemblies

by Hillary in

is there any protesting done outside the assemblies?

or is it only done at conventions?

i believe some of my relatives have an assembly coming up soon.

respectful_observer

There were protesters every once in a while at the DC in my years growing up, but not at the CA/SAD. Anytime protesters/picketers were there, everyone just avoided them, then laughed at them once safely inside. It definitely reinforced the Org's message that "apostates are mentally diseased."

Someone more qualified than myself can probably give you some explanations around cult/high-control-group reflex reactions, even among those who have doubts about doctrine/rules.

I'm not sure if members' reactions would be different if it was something as simple as a banner hanging nearby that read: www.jehovahs-witness.net (Maybe with a "'The Truth' is Out There..." Hahaha....) That way there's no person that can been seen as "crazy", no clear message that defines an issue you could be "bitter" about, just a website whose URL can be easily remembered.

If I saw that, I'd think "Hmmm...obviously 'apostate', but I wonder what that website is?" As much as humans are naturally defensive when their [faith] community is under attack, they're equally imbued with a natural sense of curiousity.

20

Today's watchtower study... Ugh.

by OneDayillBeFree in

watchtower studies like today's really make me feel anger for this cult.

i mean almost all of them do but this one is one of those articles that takes things too far.. i mean they are condemning the people who are trying to help/save the earth because it's "satan's" world and instead are saying that religious salesmen with magazines are doing way more than the others!like are you f**king kidding me?another reason why i hated this study article is for what some of the young ones did in response to the study.

as one was unwrapping a piece of candy, he decided to throw the wrapper on the ground.

respectful_observer

"it doesn't matter because we're only temporary here and god's gonna fix it anyway." And then the other kid just nodded away in agreement.

Hey, that's the same conversation I hear between all the baby boomer J-dubs that are just now realizing they haven't saved enough (any?) money for retirement!

"Well it's a good thing Armaggedon will be here soon before it becomes an issue for me!" (Righttt....I'm sure Jehovah's planning the date of death of billions of men, women, and children based on how small your 401(k) balance is.)

R_O

37

Notes from "Safeguard Your Conscience" Special Assembly Day

by WinstonSmith in

recently we had the 'privilege' of attending our local special assembly day.

the theme for this year was safeguard your conscience, and you guessed it, they looked up every reference to the word 'conscience' in the bible and then wrote a talk about each one.

it was most definitely a case of "pack your bags, we're going on a guilt trip.".

respectful_observer

Weddings. We do all things for God's glory...[t]hey would of course want to use a Kingdom Hall, because they love and are thankful to Jehovah as the originator of mariage.

Is there anything in print that suggests this strongly that the wedding should be at the KH vs. other locations? Maybe couples would be more likely to use the KH if they were even halfway attractive on the inside. You spend tens of thousands of dollars on dresses, tuxedos, flowers, etc., but you want to hold the event in a boring auditorium with a suspended ceiling, fluorescent lights, tacky chairs, and a mauve-based color scheme that was only slightly fashionable back in 1991. How romantic!

I was once told by someone that you should choose to get married at the KH because it served as an outward sign to everyone in attendance that your courtship remained clean and honorable. Rightttt.....I'm sure that's always the case.

77

Former Elder Michael Johnson Norris WANTED

by Tylinbrando in

.

respectful_observer

http://costaricaneedgreaters.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-nine.html

Photos pulled from Quepos Congregation Blog above. Perp in orange dress shirt.

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Sorry, the blog at costaricaneedgreaters.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.

respectful_observer

Posts by respectful_observer

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