Spiral

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Posts by Spiral

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  1

  Medium article mentioning the JW

  by thetruelie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i was reading medium and came across this article, even though the mention is short, i'm wondering how many blogs are posting stuff about the jw.

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  https://medium.com/@abram.oxford/how-much-has-adams-bite-cost-us-7e50ba5e164c.

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  Spiral

  This is an interesting way of explaining the whole idea of inherited sin. I don't think people in general (all religions) ever question the basic idea that, in their view, every human problem devolves around humanity having to pay (over and over again) for Adam and Eve eating a piece of fruit.
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  It doesn’t make Sense

  by HappyBlessedFree in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so my husband and i had a long conversation last night about why i no longer believe.

  this is our 10th conversation about all the same things which we have been talking about for the last four months.. he says “you have let yourself be deceived”.

  i try my best to show him my sincerity in my motives.

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  Spiral

  Because he doesn't really want to. And (sorry, don't mean to be offensive) it might be easier to hide behind you, his wife that doesn't want to go. He is "Eve shaming" you.

  I think you should read the article (and share it with him) that thetruelie just posted (look a few posts down in the feed) from an online publication called "Medium". I've always wondered why people buy into that original sin/now we need a sacrifice/meanwhile we all live in shame kind of thinking. This article asks the same question.

  But it's a powerful bit a programming that generations of humans have lived by.
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  Holy Spirit - Present or Gone in the Congregations?

  by BourneIdentity in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was doing some reminiscing and remember the days back in the late 80s and early 90s where i truly could say the meetings were so encouraging and that i felt the holy spirit present and operating on all of us.

  today when i attend, there is nothing of the sort.

  is it because jehovah has withheld it?

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  Spiral

  I believe it was all just group think or group hysteria, whichever was at work with the particular congregational group.

  Growing up, we went to two congregations that were like going to a funeral every meeting. We were then transferred to a different congregation that had a great vibe - but that was a reflection of the people themselves.

  I've personally been to business meetings that had a great vibe and been more productive than any WT study I've ever attended.

  And of course, we've all been to meetings at work that were so boring you lost your will to live.

  It's all about the group. I don't believe in God or that "he" has ever had anything to do with it. Look at the International Conventions - those that are "privileged and chosen" (UGH) to go are so happy. Frequently, they've never traveled much before so it is a big, happy event for them, especially because they were "approved" to go. But that doesn't mean there's a supernatural spiritual force at work.
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  Jws don't really have "communities" or "functions" like churches do?

  by nowawake14 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've noticed how this religion is kind of narrow.

  all they ever do is preach, study the watchtower, or their meeting or convention.

  no other organized functions that i know of.

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  Spiral

  Truthlover, I haven't seen any real "get-togethers" in years in any of the congregations I've been around.

  We were in one congregation around 2000 that did parties including dancing and skits. A new CO came in and put an end to ALL of it. Boom! Worldly! Bad! Stop the fun NOW!

  Where I am now, someone will host a pot luck occasionally, but they are drab, solemn affairs. Not even any ball playing for the kids. (That might spark a "competitive spirit" - bad!)

  The only other time the congregation gets together is either after a funeral, a wedding, or an anniversary party. The anniversary parties are probably the next thing to get stopped.

  But again, these are so boring most JWs don't even want to go. The people who do go comment on how things aren't like they used to be.

  I saw an ex-JW the other day (kinda POMI still) who even commented on this, and how boring meetings were, especially for the children. It was like she knew she should go back, but couldn't face going to the boring meetings.

  I think this is a big part of the shrinkage being experienced in the US. In some places, where individual JWs have some money, there are groups that do things (including going on cruises together), but as mentioned, you'd have to be in their clique and have the money. For the more humble JWs, there's not much real socializing left.
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  22

  Meanwhile...in Argentina

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.criba.com.ar/en/works/116-asociacion-de-los-testigos-de-jehova.

  project detail.

  type: special projects.

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  Spiral

  Yep, sounds like an escape plan to me. If it's not needed, it will be worth a lot of money or be a great source of income (because it will be built professionally, and be appropriate for its location).
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  Brief Encounter

  by snugglebunny in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the witnesses knocked on my door yesterday.

  a married couple, 70's probably, and introduced themselves by giving their first names and stating that they were jehovah's witnesses.. it's 5+ years since we left our old address and moved a few hundred yards away.

  no-one visited us back then.

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  Spiral

  "Do you mind if I don't?"

  I love it. Do you mind if I use that if they ever come to my door?
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  108

  New Upcoming Changes - No More Publisher Record Cards & Reporting Hours

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  publisher record cards and reporting hours will be going away.

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  coming soon.. made this post 4 years ago, it happened - https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/24020002/kingdom-consolidation-sales-coming-reliable-source.

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  Spiral

  I don't think they would eliminate reporting of field service as we know it (which we all, including them, know is pretty worthless) unless there was a real reason to do so, such as some sort of legal issue. (Wait -- they have many legal issues....) If they have to eliminate it as we know it, I'm sure they'll spin something in its place to keep everyone in line.

  Having everyone report online should be pretty easy to launch for them at this point. It might be useful to change the reporting parameters as well, that could cover the shrinking numbers without being too obvious and appear to be an adjustment that accommodates the cart work. (I personally don't trust their numbers, it could be the bOrg is much smaller now than we all know.) It also might make the consolidation of congregations easier, and they might think fading in that situation would be a little harder for people to do.
  

  On the other hand - those of us who have moved around in the last few years might be harder to trace, and can disappear entirely, not a bad thing.

  Sadly, I know more than one pioneer sister who would lose their only real status in the congregation if that title was eliminated.

  I know if this happens they'll spin this as an urgent adjustment for the time of the end. (Bahhh!) There is so little real change in the bOrg that any change is exciting to the R&F.
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  16

  "Leave it in jehovahs hands"...except .....

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when you feel your copyright has been violated and you have to hire a high priced legal firm with dedicated funds!.

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  Spiral

  Go Kevin!

  Must be something to it, or they wouldn't be so concerned.
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  16

  Small Field Service Groups, Method of Control?

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  okay, so our congregation announced that saturdays they would be switching to small fs groups.

  i found that odd because our kh is central to the territory and easy for most to get to.

  through talking with others i found out that this is a branch wide directive that has little to do with convenience for the bros and sisters.

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  Spiral

  Reading this, I can remember this being the directive from time to time. People would then start doing their own thing, or meet up with the person they wanted to go out with after the meeting for service. It never seemed to last for long. When I was "in" I always tried to have a side arrangement with someone, because otherwise you were paired with sister who had emotional problems or was just plain hard to get along with (and shouldn't have been going door to door anyway).

  Rogue, I also wondered if the powers that be think this could be an effective way for the elders to control a larger congregation (in areas where they've sold halls and combined congregations). In a large group it's harder to know what individuals are up to. Perhaps they think enforcing this small service group arrangement will help them continue to police the sheep (in the absence of any better idea).
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  35

  Should I do this?

  by CivilServant79 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi there this is my first post as i’m not sure what to do.

  my family (both sides) are well known in our circuit and very dedicated to the truth.

  but we’re relatively normal people and i love them all so much.

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  Spiral

  Hi CS79, you are on the right track. Welcome to your new life! If your immediate family are no longer JWs, that's a huge advantage already. I get that you don't want to lose uncles or cousins, but only time will tell how strong that bond is. YOU need to think of yourself first.

  And speaking of thinking, please don't trash yourself (in a totally JW cult way) by describing your current or future life as immoral. You said "I'm not leading an immoral life at this point." Wait - it's your life, don't judge what you do by the bOrg's standards. That will really mess with your head. If you work at deleting the damaging cult programming, you will be so much better off!

  Some good advice you already got on this site:

  john.prestor I get it, he's your uncle and you want to trust the guy. And I'm not saying you shouldn't trust him. But if he's an elder and the elders want to meet up he's acting on their behalf unless you know otherwise. I wouldn't do it, but I get why you might.

  Be careful, and don't be manipulated into explaining anything. You don't owe anyone an explanation about why you believe what you believe.

  Giordano Did you see the movie The Godfather or any gangster movie where one side wanted to put out a hit on someone? When they could........... they recruited that victim's close friend or a cooperating family member to set them up. I know this is a bit of a stretch but it's a good way to remember to be on your guard if a 'friend' wants to meet with you.

  I actually think Giordano's on to something. Be careful, and don't meet with anyone if you don't want to.

  Stan livedeath "my family (both sides) are well known in our circuit and very dedicated to the truth. "

  nope--it aint the truth. its merely a high control scam masquerading as a religion.

  if any one man elder wants to visit--and starts asking nosey questions--just say you had a very bad experience as a child with an elder--but you cant do anything about it because of the " 2 witness " rule........you wont see him again--for dust.

  I think Stan's on to something too... this would definitely put an elder off balance, these days.

  Big picture message is that it's your life, go live it the way you want! You don't owe any more precious time to anyone in the bOrg.