Posts by Londo111

22

I have a theory related to the cult spectrum

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

translating jwfacts into spanish has made me critically analyze pretty much everything paul has written.

i would say paul is right 90%+ of the time.

some things are just things that are outdated, on other occasions, things are partially right and just need to be tweaked.anyhow... one of the articles is "where else would i go"?since i am an atheist, ideally, for me, the answer would be "become at least agnostic, if not atheist, and lead an evidence-based life".

Londo111

I believe there are some fringe groups that evolve into cults over time, that is, they become increasingly authoritarian so that the BITE model comes into play. It is unlikely Russell started off with the intention of forming a cult (he was anti-organization to start with), but by the end of his life, he was regarded as the Faithful Slave. Then Rutherford took the Bible Students to another level, especially after 1925. Then Knorr/Franz took it to another level, adding shunning, no blood transfusions, ect…

I suppose if Rutherford had not gone in the authoritarian direction, the Watchtower organization would have been a forgotten historical footnote.

A cult demands—you must believe this, you must live up to these demands. It’s hard and requires sacrifice. When people factcheck, they realize the beliefs fall apart and the sacrifice is not worth it. Therefore, information must be controlled. Add to that severe consequences for leaving, like shunning, and that keeps people in, and keeps information damaging to the cult contained.

High demand groups evolve into the BITE model or they don't survive.

BTW…some (but not all) Pentecostal groups border on, if not cross the line into cult territory.

15

Let's talk about Don Adams.

by Ray Frankz in

it's interesting that the person of the president of wtbts has figured lesser and lesser since f. franz era.

i was born in the religion in the 90's and i got to know about russel, rutherford, knorr and franz; but i never knew until a couple of years ago that m. henschel was the president in that time.

the same happens with don adams now, the first wt president from the 'other sheep'.

Londo111

This organization makes good people do horrific things.

15

Let's talk about Don Adams.

by Ray Frankz in

it's interesting that the person of the president of wtbts has figured lesser and lesser since f. franz era.

i was born in the religion in the 90's and i got to know about russel, rutherford, knorr and franz; but i never knew until a couple of years ago that m. henschel was the president in that time.

the same happens with don adams now, the first wt president from the 'other sheep'.

Londo111

The generation alive in 1914 will see Armageddon. Would you believe it?

I find that hard to believe.

Eh, would you believe that the generation is simply the characteristics of the wicked since 1914?

No!

How about a generation that is two overlapping groups?

15

Let's talk about Don Adams.

by Ray Frankz in

it's interesting that the person of the president of wtbts has figured lesser and lesser since f. franz era.

i was born in the religion in the 90's and i got to know about russel, rutherford, knorr and franz; but i never knew until a couple of years ago that m. henschel was the president in that time.

the same happens with don adams now, the first wt president from the 'other sheep'.

Londo111

Whenever the board of directors meet, Don Adams insists on the cone of silence. And while Fred Franz talked to his shoes purportedly, Don Adams likes talking into his shoe. If he flubs something, he has to report to the Governing Body and say, "Sorry about that, Chief!"

BTW...Don Adams stepped down not that long ago. There's a new President of the Pennsylvania corporation.

26

What happened in 1995?

by pale.emperor in

i was born in 1984 so was only 9yo in 1995. i read on various posts on here and on other websites about false expectations about 1975 and 1995. i'm aware of the 1975 failure but what was said in 1995?.

Londo111

I remember thinking the end might come in 1994 because "1914 + 80 = 1994" and the scripture that said, "his years are 70 OR 80".

Then in 1995, "new light" about the generation! I don't know why it didn't wake me up at the time.

83

Russell's Pyramidology Originated In Edinburgh Scotland

by cofty in

the edinburgh city observatory sits atop calton hill at the east end of the city centre adjacent to burn's monument, scotland's national monument modelled on the parthenon, and nelson's monument with the time ball that falls at 1pm every day except sundays.. .

the second astronomer royal of edinburgh was charles piazzi smyth (jan. 1819 - feb. 1900).

smyth was a man of many and varied interests including meteorology, producing weather observations that still form an important part of uk climate records to this day.. building on the work of james taylor, smyth became fascinated by the great pyramid of egypt at giza.

Londo111

To me it’s kind of splitting hairs to say Russell wasn’t buried under the Pyramid, but near it. The most prominent feature of his burial plot is the Pyramid. Although some of his followers are buried there, he was their leader and thus the most important person buried there. Everyone else is forgotten. Without Russell, there would be no Pyramid on the gravesite.

So even though technically he is buried close by, for all intents and purposes, Russell is buried under a Pyramid.

He was for his followers at the time of his death, “the Faithful and Discreet Slave”, the Laodicean Messenger (the seventh and last messenger to the Church). In the 1917 Finished Mystery, it was claimed that William Miller had a prophetic dream about him. He reportedly asked to be dressed in a Roman toga as he died on a train in Pampla, Texas. He was engaged in various shady business ventures and he lied under oath in court to protect his interests.

83

Russell's Pyramidology Originated In Edinburgh Scotland

by cofty in

the edinburgh city observatory sits atop calton hill at the east end of the city centre adjacent to burn's monument, scotland's national monument modelled on the parthenon, and nelson's monument with the time ball that falls at 1pm every day except sundays.. .

the second astronomer royal of edinburgh was charles piazzi smyth (jan. 1819 - feb. 1900).

smyth was a man of many and varied interests including meteorology, producing weather observations that still form an important part of uk climate records to this day.. building on the work of james taylor, smyth became fascinated by the great pyramid of egypt at giza.

Londo111

In searching for information about the "Age to Come", it seems often paired with Adventism, or the movement called Age to Come Adventist. For instance, Joseph Marsh seemed an influential figure in Age to Come, but ultimately seems categorized Adventist. While there may have been a distinction and an independent origin, it really does seem there is allot of overlap to the point where the lines are blurred. It almost seems like one subsumed the other.

18

Gaslighting

by mann377 in

jw
friends

ever heard of it?

i have but never realized the full meaning.

this is the tactic the wtbs uses to control people.

Londo111

We never said 1975. That's what some thought they heard. It's there fault for running ahead and making unwise decisions!

83

Russell's Pyramidology Originated In Edinburgh Scotland

by cofty in

the edinburgh city observatory sits atop calton hill at the east end of the city centre adjacent to burn's monument, scotland's national monument modelled on the parthenon, and nelson's monument with the time ball that falls at 1pm every day except sundays.. .

the second astronomer royal of edinburgh was charles piazzi smyth (jan. 1819 - feb. 1900).

smyth was a man of many and varied interests including meteorology, producing weather observations that still form an important part of uk climate records to this day.. building on the work of james taylor, smyth became fascinated by the great pyramid of egypt at giza.

Londo111

Russell and his Bible Students were plainly part of the fragmented Adventist movement, just as Barbour was, from which he received his chronology.

I'm not sure why this is denied by some. Without Miller, there would be no Barbour as a religious leader, without Barbour, there would be no Russell.

41

Watchtower Doctrines JWs most commonly don't believe

by Diogenesister in

there was a recent thread on another site where posters maintained that many of the *most* long-standing jw's don't believe at least one official watchtower doctrine.

i've even read reports from bethelites saying they've heard bethel overseers say they don't believe some watchtower theology.

this made me think - i believe there are a few official doctrines that are common for many jw's to be either in denial about or simply not really believe ( often one and the same thing).. i'd say these are pretty high in the ranking:.

Londo111

I’m not sure if it is a matter of JWs not believing something as much as they are ignorant about their own beliefs. Much of it goes over their heads. When they are hearing it, it sounds about right, but they wouldn’t be able to explain it. Many times, it’s in one ear and out the other. There’s so much “information”, there’s no time to digest it and really think about the real import.