Posts by truth_b

51

PIMO elder

by Reservations in

jw
friends

i’m reservations, pimo elder.

i’m in no position to leave the organisation, maybe some people will see that as weak or whatever, but we have to all go down our own path in life.. i would like to be able to wake people up in my congregation, how do you think best to do this?

any ideas?.

truth_b_known

I had to think about this before answering. I have to agree the previous commenters - the only way to pull this off is to do so by being and example. You cannot do this as an elder.

If you are not in a position to leave the organization at this time it is understandable. However, for your own well being I would recommend pulling back as far as you can. For example:

Step down as an elder.
Stop giving any talks.
Stop commenting at the meetings.
Report the minimum amount of time possible.
Live your life as you want without getting disfellowshipped or reproved.
Be happy.
Be happy.
Be happy.

When you are doing only the absolute bare minimum the organization requires while simultaneously demonstrating your happiness those in the congregation will begin to question what is going on. People will notice your happiness and they too will want to experience what you have.

This is where it will get tricky. People will approach you and ask you why you are happy. You cannot bring up anything in regards to what you have stopped doing for the organization. You cannot bring up any thoughts or beliefs on the religion or the organization. Say nothing that can be used against you.

I would consider saying something like - "I am happy because I am content with serving Jehovah and being part of his organization. I really cannot put into words why I am so happy. I guess it can only be experienced and not explained." Then give a big, genuine smile. People will not be listening to what you say at this point. They will only be seeing how happy you are.

This is where those in your congregation will fall into one of two categories - There will be those who judge you as spiritually weak and break ties with you. There will be those who see your happiness, connect the dots, and become PIMO like you or may even go full POMO.

There is a brother I know growing up. He was an elder. I was friends with his sons, all of whom became Ministerial Servants. One day this elder had enough of being "used". Because he was friendly and kind he was constantly being called up all hours of the day and night by members of the congregation who felt the need to confess or ask for help.

This elder stepped down and was pretty much done. His sons did the same. These days they will attend most meetings, assemblies, and conventions, but that is it. They all spend their time being involved in what they want to do. They aren't doing anything that would be grounds for disfellowshipping. If you asked them "Is this the Truth?" they would all look you in the eye and answer "yes," but they sure don't live like Armageddon could be tomorrow.

21

What is the Jehovah’s Witness position on Unions and Labour action?

by hoser in

jw
friends

i remember you weren’t supposed to picket or be involved in labour unrest.

is this still the jw policy?.

truth_b_known

I have a low opinion of AFL-CIO unions in the U.S. I took a job that such a union "represented" the employees. The union did nothing but took $50.00 every 2 weeks from us and used the money to back political candidates we did not support. I created an employee run union to replace it. 100% of the dues went to the efforts to represent the employees. Things turned out for the better almost immediately.

Remember, "right to work" also means "at-will employment". That is a scary thing to be subjected to as a police officer. Be fired at any time without cause is a career ender when it takes 6 months to a year from the time of application to get hired.

24

Why wasn’t O’Donnell charged with receiving stolen goods.

by joe134cd in

firstly i appreciate the work mark o’donnell does for the xjw community.

no doubt this has also been discussed numerous times before.

but with regard to those documents that were illegally stolen in that vice documentary.

truth_b_known

In establishing whether or not a crime has been committed, one fact that must be obtained is "Who is the victim?"

The crime of theft usually reads in the corresponding statute something like: "Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking property with the the intent to keep it without the effective consent of the owner." In such a case we must ask "Who is the owner?" because that would be your victim.

It appears what was taken were files involving congregation disciplinary matters. It would therefor be reasonable to conclude that the owner of the files is the local congregation - a legal corporation. One would have to read the corporate by-laws filed with the State to see who is authorized by the congregation to be in possession of said files. Based on the nature of the files I would imagine there is no mention of such a thing in the corporate by-laws.

We know that any congregation member in good standing is has voting rights. That makes any member in good standing a part of the corporation. I was never an elder, but I was a Ministerial Servant. As such, I was given a key to the Kingdom Hall and the alarm code. I had to pick up literature from the Assembly Hall and deliver it to 3 different Kingdom Halls. So, you can see this all muddies the waters when it comes to who is authorized to possess such documents.

I didn't get the impression the person in question burglarized the Kingdom Hall. It sounds more like this person just walked in and took the documents. It doesn't sound like the local elders found the front door of the Kingdom Hall busted open and the file cabinet pried open as well. It sounds more like an elder was just going through files and noticed some missing.

Either way, on the surface, it does sound like this person committed Theft. The crime of Receiving Stolen Property usually reads in statute that the offender possesses property he knows is stolen or would be reasonable to believe is stolen (e.g. buying a TV from a guy in the back of a van in a dark ally at a ridiculously low price). Whatever the case, it does put the Watchtower in a bind.

6

How Did They Get Micheal Palin To Star in the Daniel drama?😂

by Diogenesister in

.

truth_b_known

"It's..." <queu The Liberty Bell>

17

How would you respond?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

if you tell a jw that he or she is in a cult and they asked you why do you say that?

how would you respond?.

truth_b_known

I echo the sentiment about calling Jehovah's Witnesses a cult. A person has to come to that realization on their own or they will become defensive. Instead I would reference the Three Pillars of Religion/Spiritual Practice.

Faith
Doubt
Dedication to finding the truth

Faith - You must believe in the teachings or doctrine. Belief is not knowing. It is a highly held opinion. "I believe these teachings will lead to salvation or, more importantly, to the end of suffering."

Doubt - This is not skepticism or the endless asking of questions. This is simply accepting that what you believe has not been proven. It is being open minded that you may find evidence that could either prove or disprove your belief. It is not accepting something as truth simply because a book or a religious leader says it is true.

Dedication to finding the truth - Truth requires examination of belief and proof through experience. Truth is eternal and must be experienced. Truth is not an intellectual process, but rather an experiential phenomena.

So, ask -

"Do you have faith in the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses? Do these teachings bring salvation? Have the teaching brought to an end of any sort of dissatisfaction, fear, anxiety, regret, and sorrow in your life?"

The answer to this may be "yes" and may be "no".

"Do you have any doubts in these teachings? Are you allowed to openly doubt these teachings?"

We know the answer to this question, especially the second question, is probably "no".

"Have you diligently examined these teachings? Have you personally experienced the truth of these teaching? Do you accept these teachings because you proved them to be true or do you simply accept them because of something you read or were told?"

We know that in recent years the Watchtower has expressly forbid Jehovah's Witnesses to do their own research and have been told the Watchtower that they will tell Witnesses what to believe.

This line of questions shows that, at most, the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses only has one of the three pillars. In regards to question #3 you could also ask, "Is it not hypocritical that you are told 'Make the Truth your own,' but are also told, 'Do no research and accept only what we say'?"

21

What is the Jehovah’s Witness position on Unions and Labour action?

by hoser in

jw
friends

i remember you weren’t supposed to picket or be involved in labour unrest.

is this still the jw policy?.

truth_b_known

I believe I was marked for this. I remember sitting at an Circuit Assembly program and there was a talk about this. I remember saying to myself, "Hey! That brother is talking about me!"

30

East Pennines A$$emb£y Hall

by punkofnice in

so, my spies tell me that the east pennines a$$emb£y hall is being sold and all proceeds going to jobo hq.

there's a surprise.....not!.

i understand there are other properties too.

truth_b_known

If the 2023 District Convention will once again be online I will have little doubt that the Watchtower is taking the JW religion online. If all Conventions and Assemblies go online the next step will be to take all meetings online. Once that is done there will be a mass sell off of Kingdom Halls.

30

East Pennines A$$emb£y Hall

by punkofnice in

so, my spies tell me that the east pennines a$$emb£y hall is being sold and all proceeds going to jobo hq.

there's a surprise.....not!.

i understand there are other properties too.

truth_b_known

Didn't someone once say "Religion is a snare and a racket."

Racket: An illegal or dishonest scheme to make money.

16

Squandered Life of Jehovah's Witness Youth

by silentbuddha in

08:30 - 15:30 = school.

truth_b_known

Growing up and elders kid made things worse. More sacrifices for dad's spiritual career. Coming home from school on Tuesdays and Thursday meant homework and then studying with mom to prepare to answer at the meetings. So, no time to be a kid on those days. We had to try to answer to make dad look exemplary

Wednesday night after dinner was my one-on-one study with dad. Friday night was preparing doo-to-door presentations for Saturday morning field service. I think Monday night was the only school night I didn't have some "spiritual" activity.

Weekends were a train wreck. Get up early on Saturday to go out in field service. Come home, eat lunch, and now it is time for the family study of Sunday's Watchtower study. It was about 3:00PM before I had time to myself on the weekends. Not too much time. I had to get to bed early so I could get plenty of sleep so I didn't zone off during the meeting.

Sundays were pointless if it was our congregation's turn to have afternoon meetings. Even worse, that meant a full year of Sunday morning field service before the meeting. Either way, Sundays were bad. My dad would be asked to give public talks on Sundays to other congregations. Sometimes they were a good hour's drive away. Those were also the days where it was custom for someone to provide "hospitality" to the guest speaker. That often meant sitting at some stranger's home for the hours after the meeting. Many times it was an elderly couple who would have us over for lunch. That meant hours of staring at the walls while enjoying the refreshing odor of moth balls.

It is no wonder Witness kids grow up resenting the religion and their parents for forcing it on them.

18

If all GB members died at once?

by Jofi_Wofo in

i don't suppose anyone knows for sure, but do we have any kind of hint of what would happen if all of the governing body members died at the same time- such that nobody was left to appoint successors?

in lieu of any solid evidence, i'd also be interested in hearing some speculation based on what we already know about the organizational structure.. it would certainly throw a wrench in either the teaching that the faithful and discreet slave will survive into the great tribulation and/or the implied doctrine that the the gb succession arrangement is justifiable biblically.

let me firmly disclaim any implication that i am encouraging violence or wishing death on the governing body.

truth_b_known

The way things are going now with Jehovah's Witnesses it really wouldn't make a difference. You have a group of people who will live or die at whatever JW Broadcasting tells them to do. Whatever reasoning given for the Governing Body's replacement will be accepted because, if you don't, it means being disfellowshipped.

truth_b_known

Posts by truth_b_known