Posts by konceptual99

29

How will many JW's react ?

by Phizzy in

i did not believe i would see the demise of the wt in my lifetime, and maybe i will not, they may be able to ride out their present problems.. but how do you think this will affect the average, loyal, believing jw ?.

usually most things just wash over them, if there is a slight niggle, they use their well-worn way of explaining things to themselves as in "the end is near" or "jehovah knows best" etc etc.

but the huge sea-change in corporate policy that we see unfolding, all construction work stopped, except warwick and maybe their biggest project, chelmsford u.k. huge bethel layoffs, and the lifestyle of the remaining staff reduced to virtual slavery, more bethel closures, spiritual food reduced for the public as well as the r&f, and all of this being the opposite of what they have claimed was evidence of jehovah's blessing ???.

konceptual99

Well I keep seeing more and more of this construction halt on pro-JW sites. Someone even said there will be another letter speaking about that after the annual meeting. We shall wait and see. I seriously doubt they will announce such set back to all JWs.

Perhaps. I think much depends on how the AGM announcements re the meeting and magazines shift the conversation. I've already expressed my thoughts that perhaps this has been calculated to divert attention away from the bad news. They couldn't announce bethel cuts 2 days before the AGM could they...?

I suspect that they will have to address the cutbacks at some point. The way not to is to re-engage with lots of projects quickly and make it clear progression is happening.

By JWTalk standards, there's a fair amount of less than positive comment. Either there are several fifth column posters or there are a number of people that don't like what they are seeing.

35

Watchtower Society: something terribly going on - scenarios

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.

and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.

and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.

konceptual99

James, on top of what tim3l0rd and DOC have said, along with the comments from former accounts servants (which I can echo), I think there is a genuine lack of enthusiasm to donate amongst many. There is no driver, no payoff. Sure, money contributes to publications, buildings, equipment and so on but that only tugs on the heartstrings of the minority. The bleatings of the GB for more cash does not elicit enough of an emotional response in enough people. It might make some feel guilty and pop a bit in now and again but for many looking at a plush building simply is not worth it compared to what they can do with the cash themselves.

64

E-Mail, Just recived. About Bethell adjustments.

by DwainBowman in

i just read an email from a friend, and she shared some very interesting emails from her friends about information on changes now happening at the bethels around the world.

here is the email: .

---------------------------------thanks sally, jesus is directing the org and all decisions and instructions to us may not seem practical from now on, neither will we understand the reasonings behind many of the changes that the organization makes.

konceptual99

I have been told that they are considering closing and selling the canada branch and the UK branch and moving printing back to wallkill and the German Branch.
Also compared sending home all the bethel volunteers to Gideon sending home his troops until he only had 300 left.

Whilst the second sentence is more than believable, I am having some difficulties believing they are considering closing both the CA and UK branches. Whilst it might be one of those "nothing is too extreme to be on the table" type out there suggestions, I would be inclined to not give too much credence to this as a serious proposition right now. Given we can't even get a straight story on what is happening at Temple Farm, the fate of the entire Bethel is right out these in speculation, rumour and out and out cuckoo land right now.

35

Watchtower Society: something terribly going on - scenarios

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.

and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.

and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.

konceptual99

My gut feel is that somehow they have simply let the pace of change get the better of them and failed to count the cost properly.

I suspect that have estimated that costs on projects could be covered but then had one or more variables change such as:

- increased costs of projects through repeated works, unexpected employment of contractors etc.

- recognition that income from property sales will not come in quickly enough to ensure suitable cash flow

- concerns over the real income to be realised through donations in perpetuity

- ring-fencing of funds in expectation of legal obligations (e.g. pedo payouts)

- cash flow simply not meeting demands

- some kind of issue with investments.

I don't think anyone is under some illusion that the WTS is about to collapse financially but I've not seen anything like this before. I just wonder if the pace of change over the past few years has simply brought some chickens home to roost.

12

Are You A Thinker And A Lurker?

by konceptual99 in

jw
friends

if you are a lurker then you are probably a thinker.

you will already be wondering about a number of aspects of jw doctrine and how they stack up against reason, logic and modern scientific evidence.

if so, then i appeal to you to meditate and reason on one implication arising from the latest news that the next publication will be a simplified version of an already simplified book.

konceptual99

Hi Kate,

Thanks for the feedback. I don't mean to come across as frustrated, as least not in the way I think you mean. I was just taking hold of an opportunity presented at the time of the leak of the AGM letter to make a direct appeal on the basis that once again the GB mark progress through yet further dumbing down of the "troof", safe in the knowledge that the masses will lap it up.

I am for the moment trapped in but I am so glad that I have worked things out and am now longer torn in the quandary of cognitive dissonance, trying to square the circle over and over again. I feel mentally free and was only able to start to feel that way once I stopped thinking that the circle could be squared and that I HAD to do so.

No one can wake someone else up. IHMO those that are questioning should be presented with as many of glaring inconsistencies, lies, deceptive reasonings and fallacies promulgated by the WTS leadership as possible. They need an overwhelming weight of evidence and reasoning in order to break the mental hold we have all experienced.

I accept my post is fairly direct but I don't think it is harsh. I really doubt that on it's own it will make a significant difference one way or the other but I do hope that it might present someone with another chink in the armour.

51

Britain Branch Construction - UPDATE

by The Searcher in

definitely something going in the london bethel.. i thought i'd ask them again (and record it again) what the situation was regarding the new britain branch construction work.. i got the same sister (debbie) and here is how the conversation went: .

me: i've been told that construction of the new branch has been stopped - is this true?.

debbie: no, it has not ceased, it's carrying on as normal - can i ask where you're calling from?.

konceptual99

Carrying on as normal can mean several things. It may mean zero change. The work there is not as advanced as Warwick so it's possible that building plans are changing but ground works and preparatory works are still continuing. It may be a lie (theocratic warfare).

The truth will out soon.

5

The Great Leap err Sideways

by Slidin Fast in

one of the most disturbing aspects of the recent cut backs is the big brother communist undemocratic aspect to it..

in china in the fifties untold millions died of starvation when on a whim the great leap forward made the economy do a u turn.

anyone who objected even slightly was in big deep trouble.

konceptual99

Aren't the WTS lucky that they don't have to follow the same HR policies that are enforced in law for commercial companies that downsize. No consultation. No severance pay. No discussion.

It's amazing that the WTS still has the balls to bang on about their policies and standards of practice being not just equal to secular requirements but going above and beyond.

91

Anthony Morris III: Jehovah Blesses Obedience

by wifibandit in

http://tv.jw.org/#video/vodprogramsevents/pub-jwbmw_201509_1_video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf9j7qs7bvm.

obey.

konceptual99

I've just listened to this broadcast. I don't normally bother but recent events and some comments sparked my curiosity.

Right from the start this is clearly lining up the expectation about response to the news of lay-offs.

He points out that the disciples were to be "focused on prayer and the ministry".

He talks about "decisions being made" by the 1st C "GB" and then blessings coming. He talks about those obeying the decrees being blessed and there being an increase.

He talks about not having a dogmatic approach (!) and why they do not translate the word "dogmata" as dogma but as "decrees".

There is nothing to this broadcast but lining up the Bethel family and the wider audience to accept the "decrees" and do nothing but obey.

113

World Wide Construction comes to a Shuddering Halt - Jehovah's Blessing has Evidently been Suspended!

by Slidin Fast in

the chelmsford project in the uk has already come to a halt and every one has been sent home.

the bethel family in london is to be cut by several hundred.

my impression is that most ambitious youngster in the org dream of being involved with the building program.

konceptual99

Good point Steve. Perhaps the powers that be have realised that the actual conversion rate of the trollies is so small they have no way of growing a new subscriber base from it.

The more I think about the implications of losing charity status I wonder if there is something in this behind some of the behaviour. Maybe not a key driver but perhaps someone has done a risk assessment on the implications.

9

Results of the UK Cash Grab are in. The Accounts are Published. The Profit is Big.

by Slidin Fast in

the charities commission website in the uk by law shows the accounts of all uk registered charites.

this link is to the watch tower bible and tract society of great britain..

http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/showcharity/registerofcharities/charitywithpartb.aspx?registeredcharitynumber=1077961&subsidiarynumber=0.

konceptual99

I think in principle the rough figures presented are sound. So they got a net three months operating costs in a grab back (approx) and then some kind of rolling income for ever more from donations. Up front investment and operating costs on Temple Farm must be pretty large. Looking at the amount they send overseas it does not actually look like they have a load of cash to spend on TF and they cannot realise the assets in Mill Hill as they need them.

What better plan than to chuck 50% of the family out now and sell the properties early to keep the build rolling.

If the same is true in the US then the cash may really and truly not be there to splash. Don't forget as well that there is a big development in SA as well and they cannot support the build locally, they need outside financial help.

As slidin' says, it needs much more of an expert eye.