Posts by konceptual99

41

48% Capacity at Kingdom Halls - A post on reddit

by berrygerry in

there was a letter read this week, followed by a talk about all the changes that are coming in the next couple of months regarding merging congregations in the area (va/md/dc) - the letter said that the kh's in the area are only being filled to 48% capacity.

this was music to my ears as i have noticed the decline in attendance in all the neighboring congregations.

they will sell some kingdom halls and merge some congregations.

konceptual99

The long and the short of it is that whatever happens any person who is experiencing cognitive dissonance about their beliefs and reality will simply shift the facts to suit their belief. Logic and reason are exactly what is missing.

When your eyes are open to it you can see that it's been happening for over 100 years. For example, the idea was essentially that 1914 was going to see the faithful raptured. When this and subsequent expectations on the system ending in a few short years have proved false then the logic changes so that Jehovah is simply allowing as many as possible to come to know him.

The fact that this means countless births of children into suffering is not a logical inconsistency. The fact that countless people are being born that will never hear the "lifesaving" message is not a logical inconsistency.

It's was bullshit 100 years ago and it's still bullshit now.

50

A JW explains Blood Fractions

by OrphanCrow in

i was looking around from some information on the wt's stance concerning the use of stem cells, and i came across this article on a defending jehovah's witnesses blog.. rather than informing the reader all that much about stem cells, the author diverts the conversation into a discussion of "blood fractions" (*note: the term "blood fractions" appears to be another one of those wt bloodspeak terms coined by the wt.

"blood components" or "blood products" are the terms used more frequently by the medical world.

"fractions" implies tiny amounts).

konceptual99

I remember a big thing going round the local congregations back in the 80s where we were told not to buy mushrooms because the fertiliser contained a blood by-product.

To be fair, in the late 70s, early 80s when I was growing up the blood doctrine made sense because it was pretty black and white. As medical technology advanced that's where the grey areas came in and all this hand wringing about what is acceptable, what isn't acceptable etc started.

It then got exacerbated by things like cell salvage, not least as you had congregations (Chichester local to me for example) buying machines for the local hospital and then some Witnesses saying it would be against their conscience to use one.

You had congregation elders essentially determining what would be right or wrong and therefore steering people to a choice that suited an increasingly watered down front to the medical profession. It's no wonder that most dubs just tick all the boxes and reason that if they can't be DF'ed for it then it's OK. Zero critical thinking.

50

A JW explains Blood Fractions

by OrphanCrow in

i was looking around from some information on the wt's stance concerning the use of stem cells, and i came across this article on a defending jehovah's witnesses blog.. rather than informing the reader all that much about stem cells, the author diverts the conversation into a discussion of "blood fractions" (*note: the term "blood fractions" appears to be another one of those wt bloodspeak terms coined by the wt.

"blood components" or "blood products" are the terms used more frequently by the medical world.

"fractions" implies tiny amounts).

konceptual99

mental gymnastics

Unfortunately gymnastics implies skill, dexterity and artistry. Trying to make this whole thing logical is is actually more like a game of Twister on a board covered in turds.

It's nothing more than blind obedience to whatever the current "thinking" of the GB is.

3

JW.ORG Child Sexual Abuse Resources

by konceptual99 in

here's the wts bolting the stable door.... https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/help-community/safeguarding-children-sexual-abuse/.

konceptual99

Here's the WTS bolting the stable door...

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/help-community/safeguarding-children-sexual-abuse/

56

Southern California USA Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses On High Alert

by JW GoneBad in

circuit overseers, elders, ministerial servants, pioneers and rank & file are stressed out over an ex-jw (kevin) who has visited nearly 20 congregations (orange county) and has high-jacked the opening prayers and done some effective witnessing before he is escorted to the back door.

and everything is caught on video!.

kevin is also visiting numerous jw cart locations from the los angeles area to orange county and giving a most effective wiitness at each location and they're all on video.

konceptual99

You'll never know if someone has the guts to visit jwfacts or fact-check ARC at the privacy of their homes. Witnesses don't care if most people reject their kingdom message, they just go on, repeating lies that come directly from their GB. With all respect, why then should activists who tell the truth quit just because others don't see enough benefits compared to the costs?

You're right - individuals can do what they want and if someone feels that they want to interrupt a meeting then that's their prerogative just so long as they are peaceful about it.

My personal view is that if you are going to try and approach Witnesses directly then the best way is through the carts. That's where Witnesses expect to talk to members of the public and you are free to use any approach you like to introduce alternative reasoning points.

I think Kevin's cart work in reverse witnessing was far more potentially productive than starting a prayer in the hall and being out of there in 60 seconds.

Either way I would agree that his manner comes across quite well and he did make make smile.

I didn't mean to say that Derek O'Hare is nuts, just that I know people who know him and have experienced his activities and they think he is nuts - in other words, his actions have simply overwhelmed the valid points he has. His personal story is pretty tragic and he has every right to feel aggrieved - probably why that translates into the direct activism but I think his is the example that proves the point.

56

Southern California USA Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses On High Alert

by JW GoneBad in

circuit overseers, elders, ministerial servants, pioneers and rank & file are stressed out over an ex-jw (kevin) who has visited nearly 20 congregations (orange county) and has high-jacked the opening prayers and done some effective witnessing before he is escorted to the back door.

and everything is caught on video!.

kevin is also visiting numerous jw cart locations from the los angeles area to orange county and giving a most effective wiitness at each location and they're all on video.

konceptual99

Overall I agree that the cost/benefit of potentially waking someone up compared to simply reinforcing views about bitter and twisted apostates simply makes these actions not worth the effort. However, I did watch a few of his hall antics and some did make me smile a little but ultimately I can't see them having much of a positive effect.

The guy in Kent, Derek O'Hare was similar and got himself banned for his constant interruptions. I know several people that know him and experienced his work first hand and they all think he is simply nuts.

28

Jehovah's Witnesses target Manchester after terrorist attack

by jwleaks in

the location is outside the arndale centre, manchester, after it was evacuated.

.

konceptual99

That of course is very true.

51

Did you ever have a discussion with an apostate that helped your journey out.

by jwfacts in

there seems to be a number of different ways that apostates try to get jehovah's witnesses realise they do not have the truth, ranging from subtle comments to aggressive attacks.

do you have any that looking back helped you finally leave.

some of the methods include:.

konceptual99

I didn't have any specific face to face discussions with anyone but I would say that there several people did "speak" to me through three routes.

One was Ray Franz through CoC and ISOCF. These were critical books in helping me develop the freedom of thought to question the GB and organisation.

The second was jwfacts.com. This was and remains the most important and comprehensive source of unbiased and well researched material on JW teachings and history. It provides a wealth of content that presents the truth about the truth. I cannot thank Paul enough for putting in the hard work it must take to collate and maintain this resource.

The third is this site. This is where I have been able to discuss my changing thoughts, have open debate and receive support in coming to terms with my loss of faith and realisation that the truth is anything but that.

Since then I have found other routes for conversation such as FB and reddit but the above three are by far and away the most important virtual ways of having conversations with those already awake.

28

Jehovah's Witnesses target Manchester after terrorist attack

by jwleaks in

the location is outside the arndale centre, manchester, after it was evacuated.

.

konceptual99

Because the title of the post and the image implies that JWs were pro-actively targeting the attack venue to take advantage of people's shock and grief.

The reality is that, whilst the location is close to the attack site, it's a shopping centre where Witnesses regularly set up their cart and for them to be there during the day is not unusual. Of course they would be hoping to use the tragic events to feed a conversation but there is no evidence to support any kind of assertions that the Witnesses were descending mob handed into the area to exploit the situation or similar, something that this picture has been used to try and imply in various threads I have seen here and elsewhere.

To be fair, some on the JW side of the fence have also been quick to create pro JW propaganda from the image as well.

The truth is that this is one cart in an area you would find it most days of the week and the Witnesses manning it would only have had the opportunity to evacuate from the nearest bench with their coffees and smartphones.

28

Jehovah's Witnesses target Manchester after terrorist attack

by jwleaks in

the location is outside the arndale centre, manchester, after it was evacuated.

.

konceptual99

It's real. It's from Sky News

http://news.sky.com/story/manchester-arndale-centre-evacuated-after-security-alert-10889787