respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  117

  2017 Yearbook released

  by bohm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i saw this on reddit:.

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/5mlgsm/2017_yearbook_of_jehovahs_witnesses/.

  overall the numbers are better than last year (1.8% growth compared to 1.5% last year -- as i predicted ;-) ) with an increase in all major figures including 1300 more congregations (i assume this is not physical kingdom halls?).

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  respectful_observer

  This sounds extremely concerning if correct. I can grasp what "inquiries" consist of, but "plain persecution" has me baffled. Can you provide an example of such "persecution"? I am not being facetious in my request.

  I'm not sure if it's "persecution" per se, but there have been a number in halls in that area whose views and beliefs on partaking are "known" to the elders there. They've consisted of long serving CoBE, regular convention speakers, those who have professed being anointed for decades (even when they were in positions of significance in Bethel), among others. Most have been smart and played the game well because they actually know the rules, so they haven't been DF'd.

  One of them who was DF'd is now one of the key writers on anointedjw.org. I thought I saw his first-hand account of his JC posted here a while back, but maybe not. I can definitely confirm that there are others who agree with their logic, but would never publicly join them. Definitely a known issue in the area, though.
  
  
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  32

  Finally, after almost 3 years, they want to visit with me

  by StarTrekAngel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i ended up going to the meeting yesterday.

  i have been absent for almost 2 months.

  my wife was also absent as long but mostly out of chance.

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  respectful_observer

  It seems to me that if they want a social visit they should invite you to their home - they're the ones that want it, so they should be the ones to have to go to the trouble of preparing the home for guests, handling entertainment, etc. It's not a purely social visit - if it were then mr elder would be fine with hosting - it's because he's doing this as a part of his duties that he's looking for a way to reduce the load on himself by inviting himself to your house.

  My own personal thought is, instead of hosting them at your home at their request (very odd indeed), I would willingly accept their invitation to connect on a social basis but do so at a neutral location like a restaurant.

  I'd respond to them, lettting them know you're looking forward to getting together, but it's too hectic at your place. To "keep it simple" let's just meet at Restaurant Bar & Grill for a nice dinner (and drinks, of course). It will set a reasonable time limit on the conversation, and meeting in a public place will force them to tone down the "cult speak" and any temptation to start asking you personal questions on your spirituality, etc.
  
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  52

  You wake up one morning and see

  by A Believer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the un has banned religion.

  what are you're thoughts?.

  also changes to it seem to be on the way.... http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/trump-vows-israel-vote-161224040133216.html.

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  respectful_observer

  Ha! Highly unlikely. You think Trump voters got wound up over immigration and feared that Obama was going to steal their guns? Try taking their Bibles and see what happens.

  Even if the UN tried, let's face it-- it's the UN. The biggest, most bloated, least effective bureaucratic body on the planet. How many countries blatently ignore UN mandates left and right? The UN banning religion would have as much success as if it tried to ban McDonalds.
  
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  58

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

  by krismalone in

  1. social
  2. current

  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.

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  respectful_observer

  Interesting. If this turns out to be true, I wonder if the circuit overseers will stop rotating to new geographies every few years...thinking of the old "city overseer" role. If that were the case, being a CO would be similar to the role a bishop fills in Catholic Archdiocese. Basically the head elder of 10-20 congregations.
  
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  9

  Black Mirror TV Series

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  if you're looking for something new to watch, i can really recommend this show.

  it's on netflix and there is a new series starting soon.

  don't let "series" put you off - they are only 3 or 6 episodes long.. how to describe it?.

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  respectful_observer

  We've watched every single episode and love it! Reminded us both of an updated Twilight Zone.
  
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  23

  2 questions about Warwick

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have two questions about warwick.

  see the picture included.

  1) at the other side of the lake you see other buildings.

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  respectful_observer

  "That said, I'm still not sure why they bought MORE property. They have a TON of unused land in Wallkill and Patterson."

  I asked a family member who's reasonably high up the Brooklyn (now Warwick) chain that very question.

  His response?:

  First: "Deer-in-the-headlights" look. Could tell it hadn't ever crossed his mind.

  Second: "I'm sure that's just what made the most sense. We don't always have access to all the facts that go into these decisions."
  
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  16

  "Intelligent" Witnesses

  by megaboy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  after reading some experiences, i have found that this organization has had quite a big change in its operations within the last decade.

  back when i was talking to the ocassional witnesses at a local hotspot i remember some of them having respectable intelligence.

  what i want to know though is those who have been aquainted with who they felt were more educated and independent in thinking, how they handled the rapid changes.

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  respectful_observer

  We were just talking about this subject last night as a couple. We'd just found out that a married couple we liked, respected, and classified as of a higher intelligence than the average JW, recently and dramatically "dropped off the grid". Apparently they encountered something regarding the Org's history/practices that gave them pause. No one seems to know anything more because everyone is being told by elders to not ask them their reasons, or listen to them if they reach out to you. Our close friends who gave us this update are "intelligent", but their response is: "we don't want to know; we CAN'T know what it was" (ignorance is bliss).

  As a couple we discussed how, not that every "intelligent" JW is leaving, it's that those that are leaving are the "intelligent" ones and that the remaining intelligent ones are coping by sticking their collective heads in the sand/fingers in their ears. My other half who is not (yet?) in exactly the same place as my mind, expressed quite a bit of concern over what that meant for those of us who are still "in".
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  6

  WT Quote: Is It Wrong to Change Religions?

  by Sanchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is it wrong to change religions?w59 5/15 305-307 (bold mine):.

  chances are you did not choose the religion you profess but you inherited it from your parents.

  comparatively few persons actually make their own choice of a form of worship.

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  respectful_observer

  Awake 1970 April 22, Page 8: (note the irony for witnesses and "New Light")

  Wow. First time I've seen that quote. That would be an interesting one to put on a billboard (albeit a bit too long) near every RC site.
  
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  24

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

  by respectful_observer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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).

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  respectful_observer

  "In our State, anyone designated by the church can perform legal weddings. WTS says that it must be an Elder."

  Any ideas where the WTS says it must be an Elder? WT, QFR, BOE letter or otherwise?
  
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  49

  Do you believe that Jehovah is using the Organization today?

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  any elder has never asked me that question so far but i want to be prepared to answer that question if any of them ask me that question in the future.

  i hope that they will never ask me that question.

  any suggestions on how to answer that question would be very much appreciated.

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  respectful_observer

  Maybe just combine Geoff Jackson's ARC response with the now famous Feb 2017 WT quote (obviously without citing either at first):

  "Exclusively? That's a great question. It would be presumptuous to think that. After all, if the GB is not inspired or infallible, it can err in doctrine and direction of the organization. Do you agree, Br. Inquisition?"

  Only cite your sources after they challenge your response.