it has been extensively reported on the forum that there has been a marked increase in effort over the past two years by the governing body of jehovah's witnesses to encourage an increase in monetary donations.
this has also been accompanied by the stripping of financial capital from the local congregations.
as has also been reported on this forum, this has in all probability been done to facilitate the financing of the vast new hq building project as well as the financing of the shift from a publishing company to becoming an internet based charismatic multimedia company which produces lame pixar/disney animation knock offs while simultaneously parading the governing body's ever expanding waistlines, blingy accoutrements and stupid grins.. meanwhile the financials of the organization remains as murky as ever.
What about the fact that WT hides behind not just one corporation but multiple legal entities?
They move money and assets around to protect it from insurance claims and prying eyes. Even in the UK where the charity commission financials are a matter of public record it is hard to get a true picture of things so trying to do the same for the tens of US corps let alone offshore entities is nigh on impossible surely.
so we had brother losch visiting our special assembly day which was weird in itself.
he's not a very good speaker and seemed like he was in dire need of a nap or something.. anyways just a few observations from the assembly program.
theme: imitate their faith.
Interesting regarding costs. I assume this is a JW assembly hall. I don't know what the US costs are but $24,000 sounds like a crazy amount. What was the attendance?
One small point - the SAD no longer exists. You get two x one day CA now.
is this true?
has anyone heard of it?
saw it on my facebook.. "jan. 6 bethel update 108 elderly bethelites getting the boot.. brooklyn, ny.
is this true?
has anyone heard of it?
saw it on my facebook.. "jan. 6 bethel update 108 elderly bethelites getting the boot.. brooklyn, ny.
with change looming large on the horizon what will those people do who make a wt/career of shunning should it become just a 'conscience issue'.
Playing devils advocate here....
What relationship does shunning have with tax? You can try and promote shunning as a human rights issue but you can't force someone to talk to another person. There are clear rules around how a disfellowshipped person should be treated and it's made clear in the questions reviewed before baptism. You join the club knowing the terms of membership.
Of course it can be argued that shunning produces a framework of mental coercion to ensure compliance but equally no one is physically prevented from leaving. No one physically forces you to go to the meetings. Jehovah's Witnesses are by no means the only religious organisation that have shunning. There are loads of other organisations that have charitable status with far more extreme views. If you tried to tax the JWs for having some practices that are not the most liberal and inclusive in the world then it's going to have massive implications.
I think it's a hard enough job to try and question the charitable status of Jehovah's Witnesses on high profile questions like charitable works and child abuse policies. Imagine the field day WT lawyers would have fighting restrictions based on shunning.
Punk is absolutely right - until not shunning brings in more money that shunning then it's use as a control tool fair outweighs anything else.
hi everybody, 1st post here.
20 years jw, elder for 6 years, regular pioneer for 3 years, have always been following the 2012 candace conti abuse case with much interest, especially since the case suddenly disappeared from www.watchtower.com's news section (thanks brother j. r. brown, office of public information, because it led me to "worldly" websites for more info), leading to more and more dissatisfaction , leading to jwfacts, jwsurvey, ad1914, wtdocuments etc., leading to my awakening about 4 months ago, now fading faster and faster to zero meetings and zero field service...and you know what?
it feels good!.
recent developments make me think they might be.
the problems they are facing are not just lack of funds but also draining authority, and the two could be a heady and explosive mix.
one of the best analyses ever written of the watchtower was a book called "trumpet of prophecy" by sociologist james beckford in the 1970s.
The respect for the organisation and it's leaders is diminishing.
I hear regular negative comments about GB members like Lett and Morris. The new song last night literally had many laughing and doing joke chorus girl moves.
The veil has been lifted on these morons.
is it just me or is this just really bad double talk?.
9.372 moreover, the suggested finding has no connection with preventing or responding to child sexual abuse and, furthermore, appears not to appreciate the difference between disassociation and inactivity.
as was explained, if someone decides to no longer associate with jehovahs witnesses that is a personal decision and no disciplinary action is taken against that person.
Whilst the WTS is more than happy to twist definitions and use semantics to wriggle away from criticisms they hate it when the same tactic is used against them.
As has been pointed out, fading away into inactivity might be permitted in as much as the elders leaving you alone is concerned but be under no illusion - you remain a baptised Witness in their eyes. If there is good reason to use that against you or your family who remain "in" then they will do so.
Writing a letter arguing semantics will have zero effect when they catch you celebrating Christmas 5 years down the line.
have you got a cow that you could sell for the gb they really really need the money
