Posts by HereIam60

70

Did the Fred Franz style of writing cease after he died?

by SydBarrett in

jw
friends

i was completely out by 1991 and 1989 would have been the last time i had to attend regularly.

that over the top franz writing style was still there in the 1980's although i've heard he wasn't actually doing much writing by then.

but his style was definitely picked up and imitated for many years beyond its wacky, outlandish peak of the the 50's - 70's.

HereIam60

One major change in the writing is the de-emphasus on the annointed. The two destinies, limited heaveny group , and unlimited earthy group, are still taught, but in the old school articles much was said about the responsibility of the remaining (then decreasing) number of annointed ones to carry out the preaching comission, and how essential it was for the other sheep to do good to 'Christ Brothers' by assisting them in this work. These ideas are still in effect but seldom directly stated. The term "the annointed remnant", once used constantly, seems to have gone totally out of use.

As the number of people claiming to be annointed rose unexpectedly, the Governing Body introduced the idea that some of those professing this were mentally unstable (calling their own claims into question)...and when they declared that they, and they alone made up " the faithful and discreet slave" it was essentially a dismissal of the rest.

At the last annual meeting they seemed to embrace the idea that the number has gone up..."Why how could you think the numbers would go down...the scriptures say that the chosen ones would be gathered from the four corners of the earth before the end...so we should not be surprised...nor is an apology needed for not getting it quite right before...

13

Does the GB Desire to be Worshipped?

by Sea Breeze in

how did i miss this after studying the rev.

book 3 times:.

obeying christ’s kingdom rule, they (the great crowd) hope to inherit its blessings here on earth.

HereIam60

Psychos want sychophants.

12

Too Much Video ?

by HereIam60 in

does anyone feel the same way?

i am not anti-video, just feeling overload.

since the jw organization started video production there has been such a flood of it that no one can, or possibly even wants to keep up with it all: some thoughts and questions i"ve had -.

HereIam60

Antony Mous

Online I do often play them at 2x speed!

70

Did the Fred Franz style of writing cease after he died?

by SydBarrett in

jw
friends

i was completely out by 1991 and 1989 would have been the last time i had to attend regularly.

that over the top franz writing style was still there in the 1980's although i've heard he wasn't actually doing much writing by then.

but his style was definitely picked up and imitated for many years beyond its wacky, outlandish peak of the the 50's - 70's.

HereIam60

I think it's likely that when Franz passed away he left behind a lot of yet unpublished material that continued to be used for several years.

Thereafter, and especially after the formation of the Writing Commitee, the style and viewpoints became incionsistent. We'd go through a period of kinder, Christ-centered articles "View everyone as a potential brother or sister. Do not be judgemental..." followed by hardline prophecy aricles on locusts and hailstones.

Later the 'simplification' or as some put it "dumbing down" began and the studies tend to be more generic and repetitive.There is no consistent tone to much of anything now.

31

Curious? How many members of this group feel we are living in the "End Times"?

by Balaamsass2 in

i like to take a peek at the kids over on reddit every week or so.. this thread caught my eye:" curious….

do any ex jw or pimo, still believe the world is ending.

i see people who have never been witnesses think that the world will end soon and they say things like “jesus is coming soon”….

HereIam60

When I was newly in, it was easy to be carried along by the zeal and urgency of others, and believe the end was "imminent" as they used to say. But that was 40 years ago. We were supposed to be withdrawing from, yet warning the world Now even the Governing Body has made long range plans and projects that tie them into it.

The sgn that Jesus gave of "his presence and the conclusion of the system of things" has been visibly fufilled worldwide to a degree. The first World War may have seemed a major fufillment at the time, but now 1914, biblically chonological or not, is so far in the past that it doesn't seem that significant. Long time Witnesses cling to it because it's what they've heard all their lives.

There always have been threats and dangers to life. So I don't know. I guess if and when 'the end', mine personally, or the world's, comes, I'll know it. In the meantime history seems to have been a continuous line of both progress and crisis..

15

The Big Secret

by finishedmystery in

when the gb brought a formal end to all the type/antitypes in so many ways it could be said that they brought the religion to an end.

the other sheep/anointed teaching that leads to a two class religion was originally based on two antitypes--the jehu/jehonadab relationship and something about the cities of refuge.

in that 2014 annual meeting talk david splane even specifically stated that the cities of refuge has no antitype.

HereIam60

My own thought has been that the Governing Body are so focused on running things organizationally that they spend little time on any real spiritual study and reflection. They seem at times confused about their own doctrines and history and didn't want to be bothered with sorting it out, so in an attempt to simplify, they discarded an interperetation they never fully understood in the first place..

12

Too Much Video ?

by HereIam60 in

does anyone feel the same way?

i am not anti-video, just feeling overload.

since the jw organization started video production there has been such a flood of it that no one can, or possibly even wants to keep up with it all: some thoughts and questions i"ve had -.

HereIam60

Does anyone feel the same way? I am not anti-video, just feeling overload. Since the JW organization started video production there has been such a flood of it that no one can, or possibly even wants to keep up with it all: Some thoughts and questions I"ve had -

I seldom get through the monthly broadcast without becoming drowsy and rarely finish watching it. The GB Updates are posted online, then re-played at the meetings.

Do Witness children even like the Caleb and Sophia videos? They've been around long enough now that if they aged chronologically they"d be in thir teens.

At our meetings every video played is still applauded, evidently to show how appreciative everyone is. I can see this happening at an Assembly or Convention where they're being seen for the first time but this seems like just habit. The congregation we share the hall with does not do this.

The Ramapo video production facility project, if it really ever does proceed still puzzles me. With video already being produced in various parts of the world, the only reason I can see for one centalized location is so they can more closely supervise content. It's been said it could only be really just a Real Estate investment but it still seems an odd location. It's also been speculated that it could be the platform for a paid subscription streaming service, but would there really be major interest in that, even among Witnesses, who are used to receiving it "free"?

How effective really is the current " Enjoy Life Forever" study publication? It was supposed to be revolutionary in its use of, again, video. Interactive and conversation driven. I do think a few of them are well done, but there are too many. One of the introductory lessons contains an overlong one on William Tyndale. Several of them seem just in to get the student conditioned to listening to Governing Body members speak. Also with 60 some lessons -admittedly brief- it's still one of the longest study programs we've used. I would imagine many students "drop out" before getting that far...

88

What does the Catholic church think of JW?

by Halcon in

on a trip to rome a few years ago i asked my friend (who is roman and jw) what the catholic faith thinks of jw.

he simply stated that jw is tolerated by the church but that really not much thought is given to them.

is there an official stance on jw by the catholics?

HereIam60

In error doctrinally...thereafter wide variety of thoughts...saveable....damned....crazy...

16

Is anyone watching The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu?

by Biahi in

after finishing season 6, episode 5, it occurred to me that, if the jws were right, (they’re not), the “new system” would end up being very much like this.

picture the commanders as the elders.. it’s a riveting series.

i wanted to see it, because i read the book when it first came out.

HereIam60

Sea Breeze

I do not think any people are "all alike" but I have some thoughts re your question. I have an old schoolmate I've vaguely kept in touch with on social media, because at a difficult time in my life he unexpectedly reached out to me so I've always wished him well. He is, or portrays himself as a rather militant atheist, posting a lot on religious hypocrisy, contradictions in the Bible, believes in science above all and appears to think all religious belief should be wiped out. I also sense in him though feelings of loss and anger at himself, so try to send occasional positive non-religious thoughts. He frequently complains of being lonely, not being able to find a woman friend or companion. I think his approach to others may be so intense it frightens them off...so I think perhaps some atheists, feeling unable to rest their hope on anything because they fear it will lead to disappointment and sadness, somehow resent seeing feelings of hope and assurance, religiously based, in others and so, want to fight or push against it...

Coincidentally I had to "be" an atheist in a ministry demonstration at the Hall last night. Did not believe in God because of religious scandal, suffering in the world, and that when he 'died' and was resucitated during an operation there had been no 'afterlife -near death experience. Brother set up return visit by saying Jesus condemned religious hypocrisy, the Bible speaks of the dead being non concious and there is a wicked ruler of the workd at present...

34

Bible Study Approaching Its End

by Fallen_Winter in

jw
friends

i have been engaging in bible study with my bible study conductor for the past two years.

i am on lesson 48 of enjoy life forever book and it is only a matter of time before i complete lesson 60 which is the final lesson.

my bible study conductor informed me today that once i complete lesson 60, i won’t be receiving any more studies as i have been given all of the information that i need to make a decision.

HereIam60

Take what you have learnef, and through prayer and faith, continue to build your own relationship with Jehovah and Jesus. Even if the study ends I have a feeling your "conductor" will be back occasionally, especially if she doesn't start another. You would not be prevented from attending the meetings if that's what you want. Much there would depend on the general atmosphere at that particular hall. As you said some might "distance" themselves, but there could also be some who would be welcoming. You really are not dependent upon one single person.