Posts by gingerbread

17

If the rumor is true, and there is a new bible will it be distributed at the AGM?

by hoser in

total speculation of course, but if they are good marketers every attendee will leave the event with a shiny new new world translation.

gingerbread

There may be a new 'version' of the NWT announced. This isn't new - it's happened a couple of times since the 1950's.

I feel this new 'everyone is invited' annual meeting is meant to give the impression that the Org. is transparent with it's activities.

Two major topics that I'm expecting:

1. Get ready for intense persecution from governments (negative court rulings) and apostates (who make up lies and are trying to deceive).

2. The world wide work is greater than it ever has been in the history of the Org. "We need assistance" with donations and skilled labor.

ginger

14

Overheard at the coffee shop...

by Jim_TX in

jw
friends

here's a bit of a story for you... .

on the weekends, i go to a local restaurant/coffee shop and spend some time there reading, studying, taking notes, etc.

i also get a light breakfast with my 6 to 10 cups of coffee.

gingerbread

I worked with a man who used to get really cranky in December. He knew I was a Witness - I was vocal about it back in those days.

One day just before Christmas he says to me "By god, next year I'm gonna become a 'jehovah witness' like you! My wife spends all my bonus money every Christmas on her damn lazy kids. Going to your Hall would turn me into a millionaire."

Little did he know....

ginger

46

Faders shunned now?

by Sammy Jenkis in

hi all so my family had their c.a.

last weekend and my mother dropped this one on me, she'll now be treating me as a df'd person per info she received from a talk at the assembly.

apparently a fader should be treated as "bad association" given the fact they up and left the holy "truth" to splash around in vomit.. .

gingerbread

The Org has always had 'faders' in the congregations. But I think things have changed about the attitude toward these ones.

Years ago a person could come and go to meetings, make the memorial, etc and still be invited to 'get togethers' and homes. I've seen a real change. Since our 'fading' ( the past two years ), the idea of self policing within the congregation is spread throughout the articles and talks - and most poignantly in demonstrations.

It's a double edge sword - for the org., the congregation and for families.

The org. is actively asking for increased donations. Losing the folks that are not regular means loss of potential income. The pressure is on the elders to keep the congregation 'clean' of divisive influences. The elders are very aware that when the circuit overseer comes for a visit, he will checking 'the numbers'. And families are fearful of the impending destruction that 'is upon us'. Many a freaking out because their children and grandchildren are 'leaving the truth'.

ginger

11

How many Bible Students were preaching in 1919?

by Emery in

doing some additonal research on the 1919 appointment.

they claim to be the only ones preaching at that time and i find it hard to believe that a few thousand russelites out weighed the global preaching work of christendom.

especially considering that what they were preaching from door to door at that time was false prophecy and now 95% abandoned.

gingerbread

When J.F. Rutherford took the helm, he changed the preaching activity to being obligatory for all members.

He started the JW tradition of recording hours spent and literature placements made on weekly time reports.

ginger

97

Did Jesus really exist?

by slimboyfat in

i had been wondering over the past few years whether there really was a historical jesus at all, until a few months ago when i read bart ehrman's latest book "did jesus exist?

" initially i was persuaded by his argument that the nt contains multiple sources that testify to jesus' existence.

but more recently i have been reading the christ myth position of richard carrier and his responses to ehrman.

gingerbread

I've been interested in this same question.

My understanding about religious characters and traditions have changed considerably over the summer after reading Joseph Campbell. Stories and persons that we may hold as Biblical are shared with many other cultures.

Stories exist about a divine son or daughter of the creator of the universe being born to a human being centuries before the birth of Christ - in cultures from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

These same stories (or myths) contain many similarities to the life of Jesus : virgin births, 12 close associates, no bones broken at death, resurrection or return to 'heaven' three days after death, walking on water....

Some of these stories date back over a thousand years before the 1st century.

ginger

31

Isn't the new light exciting???

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

well, for some jw's the gb new light is very very exciting.

in fact its the most exciting thing that has happened in a very long time.

this is what a long time jw told me.

gingerbread

I remind myself that I too used to be an active Jehovah's Witness who LOVED the new light, new adjustments, new reminders, new articles, new books, new videos, new brochures, new website, new assembly & convention programs, new preaching campaigns, new meeting schedule changes, new building projects, newly baptized ones, new studies, new circuit overseer.......

And then I started to THINK and the erosion began.

ginger

62

What kind of scandal would cause most JW to leave the "truth"?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

gingerbread

Individuals leave the organization because of a series of events that affects them on a personal level.

The Org. is a high control group that attempts to restrict the information shared with the faithful. It demands loyalty and obedience. It forbids personal research.

While some argue that JW's continue to grow worldwide (based on published numbers), the reality is that many who are publishers are active primarily on paper reports.

The real danger is internal atrophy. The indicators of this decline are service hours, meeting attendance, meeting participation, financial support and reaching out for 'theocratic' privileges and responsibilities.

ginger

60

I can't take this crap anymore. It's time to get pro-active!

by BONEZZ in

ive been around this board for quite awhile.

it has helped immensely.

lately i just read everyone elses experiences and try and forget the whole nightmare...but i cant.

gingerbread

BONEZZ -

Don't waste your breath, my friend.

It's your kid. I really don't care how you deal with her.

You're right. You win.

I wave the white flag.

Movin' on....

ginger

62

Discussion w/ Wife: I Welcome Your Suggestions

by breakfast of champions in

so these last few wts have definitely eroded my wife's faith in the org.

she is definitely seeing the bs, and i even overheard her talking openly about it to a family member.

good for her!.

gingerbread

The two examples that your wife refers to - refusal to perform military duty and regular involvement in field service - are interesting because they require similar responses by the baptized Jehovah's Witness.

Both examples require action based on beliefs imbedded in WT doctrine. The belief system imposes these rules upon the individual. The individual risks discomfort, social stigma, persecution, imprisonment and even death. The risks are glorified through constant reinforcement in the WT publications and talks.

Your wife (like most other JW's) holds the examples of persons who sacrificed their own lives (figuratively or actually) in this way as prime examples of faith.

I suspect that she gets emotional just thinking about these examples. Perhaps she is trying to reduce her cognitive dissonance right now.

Maybe she is questioning how someone could risk their own life for a belief system / doctrine that continues to change...

Using facts and figures may not help right now. It's her feelings and emotions that are churning.

ginger

25

How do I get them to stop houding me?

by lostinthought in

jw
friends

i stopped attending all meetings this summer.

i prefer not to be dfed or to da myself.

i just want to be inactive.

gingerbread

You can't stop them.

But you can control how you react.

You can show up at a Sunday meeting about once a month for a while - and deal with the 'encouraging' comments and questions. That will keep you on the 'o.k.' list for a while. Turn in a time slip with an hour or two. Skip the next month.

Don't answer the door or phone. Don't return messages. Don't argue or try to prove a point. Don't make excuses.

NEVER indicate that you are having doubts about the 'truth' or 'new light'. It will just open up a can of worms.

Fade slow and smart.

AnnOMaly

If you visit the Hall or see anyone from the Hall just smile, be pleasant and polite. Show them that you're happy.

They can't argue with NO. They can't communicate with you - if you ignore them.

This method is working for us!

ginger