Posts by konceptual99

20

WT Article - David Versus Goliath—Did It Really Happen?

by ttdtt in

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-no5-2016-september/david-versus-goliath-real/.

the article ends with this:.

there is no real basis for doubting the truthfulness of this historical account.

Who are the "Inactive"?

by thereishope in

this was my starting point in this journey of rediscovery, and i've made great strides, but here i am again asking the same question.

all this talk re the rc and the shunning of the inactive ones.

there is no announcement made obviously about "shun sister so-and-so, as she is inactive.

konceptual99

I think you have to be a little pragmatic the link between inactive and shunning.

As has been pointed out "inactive" is a procedural term related to field service. If you don't turn in a report for 6 consecutive months you are inactive. In itself, it has nothing to do with meeting attendance. You can never go to a meeting but be active just by turning in a report each month.

As has also been pointed out, if this is also linked to not being present at the meetings and other aspects of Witness life then the longer this carries on then the less notice the elders will take. That is not to say they will take no notice if it becomes apparent you are engaging in activities like sexual activity outside of marriage, celebration of Christmas, birthdays ans so on. The less association you have and the longer you have been away from the meetings then the more chance there is they will park a matter until such time as you make some kind of return to the congregation.

In reality there is a mental association about being inactive and irregular or non meeting attendance and given they typically go hand in hand then that's not surprising. Therefore the combination of no FS and meeting activity is often what Witness will mean when they consider someone "inactive".

To be frank, if you have stopped going in FS and stopped meeting attendance then I don't think it is reasonable to conclude that lack of contact from people in the congregation or awkward moments out and about where people avoid you is deliberate shunning. In their mind, you have taken yourself away and people don't know what to say and how to say it. They don't know your reasons. Of course, rumour and gossip abound. People may be making assumptions but in terms of people making a positive decision to shun you then not everyone has the time and inclination to give it active thought - they could just be embarrassed at what to do and say when they spy you down the aisle in the supermarket after not seeing you for six months at the meetings. Stupid I know, but remember where you were before you woke up.

In my experience of observing "affirmative action shunning" of inactive and non-attending ones to date, it would tend to be either by over zealous ones who have heard some rumour about the actions or attitude of an inactive person or by family. Some families and individuals are super self righteous and avoid contact with a family member no longer attending meetings regardless of the lifestyle of the person.

More likely there will be active shunning when the person is doing something like living with someone else. To date I have noted this as most likely when self righteous family members take it on themselves to avoid contact.

The current talk doing the rounds at the RC about shunning inactive ones known to be engaging in wrongdoing repeats older WT policy. The reason it sounds new is because the WTS has not said anything much about it for a while. I suspect as well there is a fear that it's only a relative minor that are shunning inactive wrongdoers and they are seeing more people take a fading strategy thereby helping family members avoid the issues associated with DF/DA.

So for the purposes of the talk, the definition of inactive is used in the broad rather than procedural sense and reminds the faithful that those who have slipped away and doing what they want can't avoid the net of shunning. How many sheeples actually consider this when thinking of whom they might need to shun now and don't now end up actively shunning those who have simply got on with their lives outside of the org is a completely different matter.

46

A question .....

by Landy in

hi guys - new poster here.

i was brought up a jw in the uk and stopped going not long after i was married.

that was 20 years ago so i'm not really up to date with the current doctrinal flip flops or the new youtube obsessed gb.. came across this site while googling the name of a local elder who's just been convicted of possesion of a pc full of unpleasant pics of kids.. so, my question.

konceptual99

I missed this thread first time round but in my efforts to try and understand where Kate is coming from on another thread I have come across it.

Having read the thread I have no axe to grind with Landy. It seems to me that he is simply asking the question without prejudice and I see no harm in being challenged once in a while.

I guess I would probably fit the bill in terms of the sort of behaviour that Landy is questioning. I have come a long way but still tied to a modicum of Witness activity. It's not simple but it's good to think about some of the points he has raised and reflect on what I am allowing to happen through my behaviour.

13

Oi Admin

by Landy in

is it possible to tweak the software to allow a sensible way of quoting another user's post?.

when you're using a tablet or phone it's almost impossible to copy and paste - especially when your fingers are as fat and clumsy as mine.. okpleasethankewe :).

konceptual99

I love you Kate but sometimes I really struggle to understand your point...

135

I've been found out!

by pale.emperor in

well, thats it folks.. my identity on here has been rumbled and reported to the elders.

someone, somehow, has figured out that im a member of this site and - rather than speak to me - has promptly reported me to the elders.

i just feel sad for my daughter.

konceptual99

This might have the effect of stopping a JC but the horse has bolted, not least in as much as the OP has apparently sent a DA letter. IMHO the OP needs to forget the elders and concentrate on his wife and child. They will be hurt and possibly be feeling betrayed by what has happened and seeing what the OP has written (if that is the case). That makes them highly susceptible to influence from the BoE and non-supportive family members. If the OP so desires then I would recommend concentrating on minimising that damage.

25

Germany in charge of all treasury for Europe

by sp74bb in

jw
friends

according to our sources, germany bethel will take in charge all treasuries for all europe starting sept 1st.. each bethel will deliver the funds as a donation to german legal entity.. gold ages for ibsa and other entities in eu are over :).

konceptual99

Long term planning at Beooklyn worse than atBHS (failed UK retailer) if consolidation a prospects and decline of printing why plan a Chelmsford? How this is sold to loyal dubs will be interesting or will mention ofChelmsford vanish from any future talks, printing, videos etc?

Not really... there is still a need for distribution and administration facilities. The bonus for the WTS is that loyal dubs in the UK have been donating to a project on the understanding it's a big build. So they have the funds in for a large development but only spending a portion of it. Sounds like excellent business to me.

45

Do JW beliefs deserve respect?

by azor in

what say you?

.

konceptual99

So how should I treat my wife? How should I treat my in-laws? They are all in the same place I was until I woke up.

Should I be sneering at them? Ridiculing them for still believing the tripe that the WT peddles?

As far as I can tell the logic and reasoning that underpins critical thinking can be presented logically and reasonably without being unnecessarily confrontational. I see no reason to allow lack of respect for JW doctrine to translate into spite towards the person.

50

Sometimes I feel like I Should Believe something...

by freemamaof3 in

has anyone else felt like they should believe something after leaving wt?

i am an agnostic atheist and its so so hard for me to believe in a god or higher power.

it just doesn't make sense.

konceptual99

There's plenty to believe in. I've learnt you don't need to base it around fairytales, bad science or superstition.

61

Did others experience this on the ministry or among JWs generally?

by slimboyfat in

sometimes it's hard to know if our own experience of jws was typical and what features were peculiar to our own area or the individual jws we knew personally.

i was wondering if others experienced this among jws:.

a few times on the ministry, when we were working wealthy areas with large houses, some brothers and sisters would make the comment that they look forward to taking ownership of one of these big houses after armageddon, when the worldly people have vacated them.

konceptual99

We have lots of affluent territories in our area (south east UK) and I have heard it time after time after time over the years.

61

Did others experience this on the ministry or among JWs generally?

by slimboyfat in

sometimes it's hard to know if our own experience of jws was typical and what features were peculiar to our own area or the individual jws we knew personally.

i was wondering if others experienced this among jws:.

a few times on the ministry, when we were working wealthy areas with large houses, some brothers and sisters would make the comment that they look forward to taking ownership of one of these big houses after armageddon, when the worldly people have vacated them.

konceptual99

You must either be deaf, irregular on the ministry or never worked affluent areas hippy :-)