i was just thinking, did new song books precede periods of jw doctrinal changes?.
the latest songbook ( 2009 ) came out just before the maniacal rebranding of watchtower into jw.'org..
what about previous generations?
The 2009 songbook had an obscene picture on the back or else bad art that could be construed as obscene. They had to change the picture for newer editions.
I suspect the new gray songbook is to rectify this problem altogether.
And I also suspect that David Splane fancies himself a scholar and a composer. Now he has a playground to introduce whatever brainchild or composition he comes up with.
the ad for this site came up here on jwn.
http://www.brooklynsignworks.com/jw/?gclid=cp7ppbzr_tacfy-baqodwocm1a.
i was not aware that these cart signs were being made and sold by essentially a private company or proprietorship.
A JW, who I didn't know, who is running one of these businesses accidentally emailed me. I basically cited the scripture about Jesus throwing about the moneychangers.
recently attended a special assembly day.. guest speaker was thomas chicky, a member of the us branch committee and the head of the us ldc (which has replaced the rbcs).. the last talk of the day is scheduled for an hour.
it was the usual boring mumbo-jumbo.
he appeared to have blasted through his hour-long outline in just about 45 minutes, so he "treated" us to informal comments on recent developments.. he commented on the new wt complex in fishkill ny.. then he dropped the bomb (well, to anyone with ears and at least 2 functioning synapses).. the following is not a word for quote, but presents the gist of his comments:.
Of course, it's a sensible plan to use what they have, rather than build new buildings. It shows there is no real growth in the US, and in English territory, negative growth--tens of thousands have left. Only Spanish is keeping the US numbers afloat.
Could it be they were planning on building all sorts of new Kingdom Halls, but ran out of liquidity to do so? Or was it a drive to find money to take money from more affluent territories to build Kingdom Halls in the less affluent places where there is growth? Are there elements in Watchtower that are diverting funds to offshore accounts for personal benefit? Or is it just a very poorly managed business by people with no experience?
There are more questions than answers. It is an organization with zero transparency. I remember watching part of the broadcast about the LDC where the men talked about "pulling back the curtain". Why have a curtain to begin with? The children of the light do their works in the light.
amazing grace have been around since 1779, how great thou art 1885,holy holy holy 1826, be thou my vision (ireland) 6th century, all creatures of god and king (italy)1225. so you think one day we will hear a kingdumb song playing over the radio.
you would think surely jehovah want the world to be familiar with his hymns.... maybe they have instructed the rf to only sing their songs in the kh, only for special folks..
I think it's part of the sign of the last days... :)
amazing grace have been around since 1779, how great thou art 1885,holy holy holy 1826, be thou my vision (ireland) 6th century, all creatures of god and king (italy)1225. so you think one day we will hear a kingdumb song playing over the radio.
you would think surely jehovah want the world to be familiar with his hymns.... maybe they have instructed the rf to only sing their songs in the kh, only for special folks..
I agree. Sometimes "the friends" had a hard time singing some of the lyrics because they were embarrassing or just bad lyrics, or hard to sing, and there'd definitely be a noticeable drop in volume.
"If your body members you control"
"like bees that were molested"
As for me, usually I just lip synced or sang "so low".
amazing grace have been around since 1779, how great thou art 1885,holy holy holy 1826, be thou my vision (ireland) 6th century, all creatures of god and king (italy)1225. so you think one day we will hear a kingdumb song playing over the radio.
you would think surely jehovah want the world to be familiar with his hymns.... maybe they have instructed the rf to only sing their songs in the kh, only for special folks..
My first songbook was pink. Then we went to the brown one. As I was leaving, there was the new one (unbeknownst to me the one with the pornograhic image).
Most of the music sucked. But the new songbook was very atrocious. They also tinkered and messed up my "favorites".
amazing grace have been around since 1779, how great thou art 1885,holy holy holy 1826, be thou my vision (ireland) 6th century, all creatures of god and king (italy)1225. so you think one day we will hear a kingdumb song playing over the radio.
you would think surely jehovah want the world to be familiar with his hymns.... maybe they have instructed the rf to only sing their songs in the kh, only for special folks..
No, because David Splane is not as good of a composer as he thinks he is.
They should've gotten Prince to do some music while they had a chance.
go to the legal developments menu on jw org.
click on legal developments by region.
you will find several countries listed where the ministry and practice of jws is banned and/or constrained.
As Steven Hassan said, "Cult members naturally feel they know more about what's going on in their group than outsiders do, but in counseling ex-members I find that they often know the least."
i was going to reply to another thread, but thought this might deserve a separate topic.. my observations when i was a still in.. the announcement that jesus christ (the co) is visiting our local kh.. would anyone like to "volunteer" their time, money and accommodation for jesus christ.. all ass lickers of said kh come forward to receive jesus christ.
a concerted effort for all to be out in the ministry that week, along with panicking elders visiting homes of those who have not been at the meetings for at least a week, offering "encouragement" so that the number of attendance is up for the week visit.. the self righteous in the kh who would never speak to you (pioneers included) and look down their noses at you all of a sudden start to speak to you.. during the visit, the elders are on their best behavior, thanking everyone who answers up.
the pioneers are martyring themselves by making cakes and practically washing the feet of the jesus christ.. the attendance does rise, with studies being brought along, to show jesus christ what a good little jw they are.. most indoctrinated jw's practically shoot each other to have a turn on the ministry with jesus christ!.
Ah yes, the green handshakes as well.
we are currently living in a country where at the cinema the national anthem is played before the start of the movie and it is law that you stand.
does anyone know what current jw thinking is on this?
i know there has been various changes over the years.
All this made me stand out at school events and sometimes earned the ire of teachers and students.
When I was a JW, I was taught:
If the national anthem was played first, I could not stand.
If the flag salute came first, I could stand and not salute. If AFTERWARD, they played the national anthem, I could remain standing since I was already.
These rules seem inconsistent and didn't make much sense to me. I couldn't back it up from the Bible. But I complied.
Earlier this year, I attended a college graduation where the national anthem was played. My then girlfriend (then wife) made me cover my heart during the national anthem. Truth be told, after all these years, it felt like an empty ritual and was pretty meaningless to me.
