As a JW, I remember being disturbed by seeing the business that surrounded Internationals, Bethel tours (pilgrimages), and Circuit Leasing. I kept thinking of Jesus overturning the money changers in the Temple and how the average JW was disallowed to network at the Kingdom Hall for non-spiritual activities. The rules didnt apply to the businesses that surrounded 'kingdom' activities.
Londo111
JoinedPosts by Londo111
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Jehovah's Witnesses and Religious Tourism in Africa
by OrphanCrow inabout a month ago, i had started a thread about a video the wts had released of an interview with the minister of tourism for zimbabwe.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/430330002/interview-zimbabwes-minister-tourism-jw-hq.
the video in that thread is no longer online.. the following article highlights the relgious tourism that the jehovah's witnesses have brought to africa.. african govts must prioritise tourism for economic growth: mzembi.
african governments must prioritise tourism development to stimulate economic growth and development on the continent, tourism minister walter mzembi has said.mzembi, who is also united nations world tourism organisation (unwto) chairman of the commission for africa, said tourism had long-term intangible benefits that came with enhancing destinations amid reports that zimbabwes projected 5,1% tourism growth for 2015/16 was ahead of all other economic sectors.. he advocated for the scaling up of religious tourism, telling the audience that jehovahs witnesses who thronged zimbabwe for their first international convention in the country had set a fine example which should be followed by all church organisations.. jehovahs witnesses held their international convention in harare.
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Fading policies and doctrines
by Saltheart Foamfollower infirst a clarification - this is not about policies on faders etc.
it is about how the borg allow policies and doctrines to fade rather than correct them and apologise for mistakes.
here are two examples of what i mean:.
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Londo111
I've been calling it a pocket veto. -
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What will 1914 (DROPPED) mean for you (EX-JW)
by John Aquila inlet's pretend this might happen.
im not asking what it will mean for the jdubs or for the organization, but what will it mean for you---- if one day you wake up and the watchtower drops the 1914 doctrine.. (you know at some point they have to, but probably not our lifetime).
if you are disfellowshipped or disassociated and have been shunned by your parents, by your children, by you spouse or ex-husband/wife, for years or even less, will you call your relatives and ask/tell them;.
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Londo111
If this happened and somehow the Watchtower was "still the truth" in the minds of someone I cared about, there's really no way to reach them... -
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After Death Communications in the JW community
by jack2312 inmy name is jack and i'm looking for after death communications from the jehovah witness community.
an after death communication (or adc) is when a loved one sends a kind of message to this side of life after their death.
it can be a dream or smell (like perfume or roses that would be attached to them in memory) or a feeling of their presence.
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Londo111
If this happens, I doubt any would cite Ecclesiastes 9:5. :)
I had one strange experience, but not anything I would like to share in a public forum.
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Lurker trying to gain clarity
by questioningmyfaith inhello all, i would like to first say that i am basically questioning my faith in god.
i am not negative towards the wt at all.
so honestly i am to concerned with more ad hominem attacks towards the wt because i still love the organization and the people in it.
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Londo111
I would encourage you to read Combatting Cult Mind Control by former Moonie Steven Hassan. The first edition did not mention JWs, so it could not be accused of being "anti-Witness".
I'm not sure if you've read Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz. The book is frank, but kind in tone. In fact, I would not classify it as anti-JW because Ray did not hate JWs. There are some subtleties and nuances to these issues that I feel might be missing.
Personally, I do not hate Jehovah's Witnesses...that is, the individuals. Many, perhaps, all the way up to the top, are doing the best they can given their circumstances. That doesn't mean it is a healthy environment.
Whether theist or not, overcoming lingering indoctrination takes time. Some of this indoctrination can be in the form of rationalization of the beliefs and practices of the organization. Many people that come from similar high-control groups face this issue.
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Just had a former elder friend tell me, “This Overlapping generation is crap.
by John Aquila inlast night i ran into a former elder friend, he is in his late 70s.
he asked how i was doing and i asked how he was doing.
then out of the blue he tells me; .
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Londo111
It seems his mind is opened a little, if just a crack.
Maybe it's time to talk to him about 607...
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JWs on the defensive on FS in the UK right from the introduction.
by Xanthippe inmy daughter's friend from university had jws call on her this morning.
they started off by asking her if she knew any witnesses.
then they said you may have heard things about us but it's not the way it sounds!.
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Londo111
Good point. The Watchtower is the master of spin...they'd make the most corrupt politician blush. -
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Is it really that great being one of the Governing Body Members?
by John Aquila inmovie stars travel to, or buy their own private beaches, they get invited to fun parties, and are able to buy not one, but several fast sport cars like jay leno.
they can buy their own planes and helicopters and fly them like harrison ford.
(how much fun would that be?
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Londo111
As has been said, it's relative.
How does the average JW live? Not just in the US, but worldwide. Increases are mainly from third world countries or immigrants. Compared to that demographic, the GB live in luxury. Even more the middle class JW, the GB are in a bubble and don't experience the pressures, nor can they relate.
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"Fair Use" copyright ruling
by OrphanCrow inthe decision to allow fair use of copyrighted material could have an impact on the wts' attempts to use copyright laws to pull content that is critical of them.it is ironic that this ruling was made in response to one of prince's songs.. (this article was posted on exjwreddit)demand that mother remove home video from youtube backfires.
a music companys demand that youtube take down a 29-second home video of two children dancing to a song by prince backfired monday when a federal appeals court used the case to make it harder for copyright-holders to act against brief, non-commercial uses of their material.recording companies, motion picture studios and other copyright owners issue numerous takedown notices each day, targeting everything from home videos to campaign ads that include segments of songs or newscasts.
when a copyright-holder tells a website like youtube that one of its postings violates the holders exclusive rights to license the material, federal law requires that the posting be removed immediately.but the ninth u.s. circuit court of appeals in san francisco said the copyright-holder must first consider whether such a video amounts to fair use of the work, making it eligible to be legally posted.
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Londo111
That's really good news! -
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Instructions from the Old Elder's Book
by John Aquila inlast night i was looking over the notes on my old elders book and one of the instructors told us to write this down.
"when you want to get the friends to believe and obey anything, just keep saying it over and over and over and eventually they will believe it and follow whatever they are being told.
when i went back to school, i learned this quote in one of my world history classes..
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Londo111
It's a truism. Repetition and emphasis. Reminders. These become mental habits that seem stronger than hypnotism.