Spiral

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Posts by Spiral

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  30

  Legal concerns about: "picnics"

  by Darth FayDehr in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "congregation picnic"2.

  "congregation gathering"3.

  "spontaneous gathering of jws”.

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  Spiral

  All they think about is themselves, and what could potentially happen that could hurt them legally. Especially since they've let the CSA cases get way out of hand.

  Whoever heard of a church-like organization who wouldn't even organize the smallest activity for their members? Most churches have all sorts of activities, that is part of the reason people like to belong.

  But the JWs can't even have a little event without getting all in a twist about what could happen and who is responsible - not just legally but even according to their own arcane and ridiculous rules.

  And don't even get me started about how ridiculous it is to try to plan a JW wedding. I observed the planning of one (from the way outside fringe, of course) recently, and by the time all the rules and requirements were met the event wasn't even worth having.

  It is interesting to me that an organization that is so invested in throwing blame around at the slightest pretext can't even provide a "service" (like a church picnic, for heaven's sake) that should be an integral part of their mission statement.

  When I was growing up (60s and 70s) we had congregation picnics all the time. Now, it's like "don't even think about it".
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  22

  this weeks video on older ones stepping down

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what i caught was how they were baffled by having to be in "the world".

  then any and all help came from friends offering money, food, apartments, jobs.

  can't anyone see how they people are used up and then discarded?.

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  Spiral

  LHG, you are correct, no one should have to answer to anyone else about how they make a living. Except.... in the congregation, where everyone's business is open for discussion. I know a couple of situations where from the stage poverty was preached, but on the side plans were made to make money, and children went to college.

  One I know even refuses to help out elderly parents who spent their life "in the truth", because it's stressful and takes too much time and effort.

  In the real world, this type of hypocrisy is easily spotted and ignored (or denounced). But for many JWs, they still take the poverty message seriously, even when their leaders have provided for themselves.

  But - there's no helping someone who can't see this for themselves.
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  22

  this weeks video on older ones stepping down

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what i caught was how they were baffled by having to be in "the world".

  then any and all help came from friends offering money, food, apartments, jobs.

  can't anyone see how they people are used up and then discarded?.

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  Spiral

  @john.prestor, I really don't know what goes on in the brains of some JWs. Sometimes you can see that they understand they'll be poor because they have "pursued spiritual goals" to their detriment. It seems that they know Armageddon isn't happening BUT because they've invested so much into this religion, they continue down the path to their personal destruction. Some are like tobyjones' grandfather, secretly working and even learning new professions later in life to provide for themselves, but not being honest about it to other JWs. I might add, they don't share their money either, even with elderly JW relatives. Others I know just have their heads in the sand and say "the brothers know what's best, and we shouldn't question it".

  As for the tone of the videos (and the few WT articles I've been around in the last year or so) the tone is so juvenile and/or patronizing it makes you want to stick a fork in your eye. I can't believe adults sit and watch this stuff and aren't outright insulted. I am, for them, when I have to hear it. I go to the back of the house and close the door.
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  10

  what are the craziest or most daming watchtowers ever printed?

  by Tobyjones262 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so what is your favorite crazy or most damning watchtower?

  i can think of a few but one i went out and bought the bound vol for was the 1984 the generation that will not pass away.

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  Spiral

  Hi Tobyjones, I did the same thing! Found the bound volume online. Saving it in my closet.
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  6

  Daily Text - 1/30/19

  by Jidders in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the love of the greater number will grow cold.​—matt.

  24:12. i read the daily text today, thoughts on a scripture that does seem to be somewhat fulfilled with the increase in atheism and alternative religions?

  it had definitely been going on back then but is it a general assumption?.

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  Spiral

  The love of the greater number will grow cold. —Matt. 24:12

  And what, specifically, does that mean? Love for God, a person's fellow man, family, art, or.....? And how much is a "greater number"? 55%, 70%, 90%? These kind of scriptures are vague, and can mean anything, just like that fortune you get in a fortune cookie.
  

  But beware allowing the JWs convincing you that it's a dire prediction for the future, and that you have to do anything about it.
  
  
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  22

  this weeks video on older ones stepping down

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what i caught was how they were baffled by having to be in "the world".

  then any and all help came from friends offering money, food, apartments, jobs.

  can't anyone see how they people are used up and then discarded?.

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  Spiral

  @john.prestor, I was also listening in while my Mom and a friend listened to a video just this week. So slow in presentation it seemed to be aimed at a preschooler.... anyway, the whole theme was Jehovah will support you even if you tell your boss you can't work Sundays, meeting nights, etc., etc.

  They just love to encourage people to stay poor, don't they?

  I can't understand why more aren't annoyed by those fancy digs in NY, while they are living in public housing or older trailer homes out in the real world. I've seen some real poverty here in the last few years, it's sad because it was so unnecessary.
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  22

  this weeks video on older ones stepping down

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what i caught was how they were baffled by having to be in "the world".

  then any and all help came from friends offering money, food, apartments, jobs.

  can't anyone see how they people are used up and then discarded?.

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  Spiral

  The other thing that stands out to me about these videos, and some of the depictions in the magazines, is the assumption that there are people in the congregations who have money and time to help elderly people. That disregards the reality of working people today, and of JWs in particular.
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  49

  The King of the North has now entered into the 'land of decoration' (the Spiritual Estate of Jehovah's People) - Annual Meeting

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the final part of the october, 2018 annual meeting has now been released of jw org tv.the following includes a transcript of mark sanderson's speech for those that don't want to listen to the broadcast.. we have long held that the land of decoration is the "spiritual estate of jehovah's people"... now brothers what can we say about all these events that have taken place (referring to recent events in russia) in such a short period of time?

  well, truly, if you're a student of the history of god's organization, you can say these events are unprecedented in our history.

  we've never seen a country or a territory with 175,000 witnesses of jehovah go under ban.

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  Spiral

  This kind of mumbo jumbo prophetic interpretation gibberish always made my head hurt. I have such a hard time understanding why anyone falls for it.
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  11

  Article: D.C. Attorney general proposes making clergy ‘mandated reporters’ of abuse

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-attorney-general-proposes-making-clergy-mandated-reporters-of-abuse/2019/01/23/2a8f8f72-1f35-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html?utm_term=.1c7f810d688b.

  d.c. attorney general proposes making clergy ‘mandated reporters’ of abuse.

  by fenit nirappil and.

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  Spiral

  @DellaStreet, I am wondering the same thing. I also think a lot of elders do not understand they can have personal liability. Those who do will try hard not to "see" anything if they think they could be held responsible.
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  49

  Anti vaccines

  by blisterfeet in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i personally feel that vaccinations are beneficial.

  there has been a modern movement that vaccinations are more harmful than beneficial to which i disagree.

  what is your stance as an ex jw on vaccinating your children?

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  Spiral

  Everyone is vaccinated in my family. As far as I know, all the JWs I know have vaccinated their children.