kaik

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Posts by kaik

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  48

  Massive Plunge in Number of New JW Congregations from 1990 to 2014

  by steve2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in a separate thread on the very latest figures for the current world wide annual report of jws, discussion turned to how "we'll know decline has really set in.

  one of the posters said: .

  the figure that interests me most is the number of congregations.

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  kaik

  cha ching

  My aunt and uncle were JW since 1950's and my mom joined after 1968. I do not remember that neither had problems with the communist regime for being JW. My aunt and uncle were also well off within the limits of the political and economic system. There was a difference between countries in Eastern block in the term of freedom and economic performance and between decades (brutal oppressive 1950's to liberal 1960's and stagnant 1970's). In the 1960's when communist regime started to disintegrate in Czechoslovakia, JWs even had assemblies and School of Gilead outside Prague, but everything reversed after Soviet invasion. Hungary was the freest country there between 1970-1990 and most of the publications originated there. I knew a guy who used to bring literature from Hungary and they translated into Czech or Slovak language and printed publication underground (however, communist regime knew about it and put blind eye).

  After the collapse of the communist regime in 1989 I had requested files the regime had on my family, and to my surprise, they did not care about my JW mom. However, they had file on my dad who was victim of purges in 1968 and never was JW. I also seen a file on elderette snitching everyone in KH to state police. Her name with address, DOB, and names she reported was all recorded in that file. I was surprised, but my mom said she suspected and many knew about it.
  

  If you never lived under Communist rule, you will never understand how this life was. After people experienced relative freedom in 1966-1968 and subsequent hostile Soviet occupation, society experienced significant deterioration. People lacked hope that something could change. Many joined WT because they believed that only mighty Jehovah can smash Soviet empire. I knew one elder who could not wait to see Red Army to be destroyed at Armageddon and repeated it all the time. Of course there were also shortage, but I associate them with the late 1980' when centrally planned economy collapsed, versus in 1970's when we pretty much had everything (we had car, cottage, all household appliances, and yearly vacations somewhere on the beach).
  
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  19

  Too Much Discontent in the Congregation Part 3

  by Simon Templar in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  now, 80-85 years later, we are still here.

  if i was to do the counsel with a brother who had this much experience, i would have just thanked him for doing the talk, and marked him good on the point.

  this is a good way to get money though.

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  kaik

  I feel the same is happening with my mom. She is 79, and she been waiting 40+ years. People who brought her into the "Truth" were much older relatives who are already dead. My aunt used to joke about my JW aunt that she was promising her the new paradise since 1950's. My mom feel disappointed and betrayed as well. These people never expected to grow old and die, to see two biological generation to be born and age, and no sight of the big "A" on sight. I remember when I went to my first year to school as 6-7 year old when my JW aunt told me that I do not have to worry about it, because in New World, there won't be a need for school duties, and we all be taught by Jesus during the millennial reign. That was in the 70's. It is horrible that millions of people living had died, never set a foot into Earthly paradise or had their life ruined for apocalyptic cult.
  
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  52

  1914—The Turning Point in History - Really?

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  1914the turning point in history.

  30 from the human standpoint, the world troubles and global wars foretold in the bible were far from the thinking of the pre-1914 world.

  german statesman konrad adenauer said: thoughts and pictures come to my mind, .

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  kaik

  WT overblown the importance of WWI. WWII had far bigger impact than WWI. While there were political and cultural changes from the Great War (disintegration of Austria-Hungary, collapse of German and Russian monarchies, and women could vote in USA), the effect from the war disappeared during the Roaring Twenties. French III. Republic survived until 1940. Countries that were part of Austria-Hungary did not change internally. They still had capitalistic Gilded Age economy, the judicial system established in 1852 lasted till 1950's-1960, and so on. The ethnic and economic structure of Europe changed little during the Great War. However, WWII totally uprooted European and East Asian economic and political structures with massive population transfers (Germans, Poles, Russians). It also established socially aware states. With all these changes Russell and Rutherford failed to predict WWII. Even USA was transformed by WWII. A few Americans prior 1941 envisioned USA involved in any alliance (last alliance with France ended in December 1800); but after 1945 USA became an active player on global scene. For US-based religious denomination like WT, it missed a lot on this prediction.
  
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  20

  Are the horrendous killings in Paris part of a religious practice?

  by clarity in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  islam is a religion of war, not a religion of peace .

  seems there are many religions who do not tolerate other groups.

  this statement "islam is a religion of war, not a religion of peace" reminded me of what was said at a watchtower convention in 2013 ....using a chilling example of how they condone dis fellowshipping & the soul killing practice of shunning!

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  kaik

  Islam seems to be hanging on to the dark ages tightest.

  Judaism and Christianity went through reformation and secularization of beliefs. While there are extremists on the fringe of the religion, mainstream is fairly secular and religiously indifferent. Islam never went through reformation and is actually stuck in early medieval thinking. After Islam conquered all centers of learning and culture from Spain to Persia, it was unable to come up with own significant contribution in last 800 years. All their education went down the drain once Mongols exterminated population of Baghdad in 13th century and they are unable to move their society forward.
  
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  kaik

  WireRider, you are clueless. This is board for ex-JW, not board to proselyte ex-JWs for your religion. Considering that entire my family are trapped in WT cult, this is reason for me to be on here. And again, I do not care about Christian religion, I do not believe it, and I do not want to be proselyte to your faith. However, you are free to believe whatever you feel like to, and I am not stopping you or preventing you. Nonetheless, I will fight your accusation that I am JW or somehow anti-Christian. I just do not care about it, so I you should learn to respect it that some people do not share your beliefs.

  Saintbertholdt, either Christians accept entire Bible or only NT. It seem they cherry pick whatever they feel to believe. What does not fall into their reasoning, they say the OT is void and invalid. For Jews NT is just pile of BS, which does not have whatsoever validity in the eyes of their beliefs.

  nicolaou, and your point is? I stated that I AM NOT JEW just to married one,so for me the Jewish system of beliefs does not apply. Of course it is based on myths and Jews do not deny it. Besides, Jews have one of the highest level of atheism among any demographic group on this planet. Do you hate them too?
  

  DarioKehl, obviously in your primitive, antisemitic, imbecilic remark you do not know that what Jews do not write God, god, but g-d. It just is my respect to way the Jews refer their Diety. Nothing more, nothing less. Learn to live with it.
  
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  kaik

  just shut up WireRider. I am far off from WT of 2015 and I left that organization 22 years ago. Everyone who is on this board for a long time and encountered my posts knows that I am the most sympathetic to Judaism due my marriage to Orthodox Jew. I absolutely do not care about your Christian nonsense, I do not believe in NT as holy book, and I will oppose you proselyte me for your faith. Try as an ordain minister -you claimed- to talk your Christian BS with any well educated rabbi, and you will lose because Christian beliefs do not have solid foundation based on the Bible they stole from Jews.

  The issue with you Christians is very simple. Believe whatever you want, but keep your faith to yourself. I have not seen any Jew attempting to convert outsiders to their religion. In 18 years of my marriage, not single Jew demanded me to proselyte to their faith. It is obvious that you do not understand anything about ex-JW board, and you have no clue that majority of us who came from WT are not interested joining another crazy Christian religion.
  
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  kaik

  Very very untrue, The Bible does not teach hate, control, brainwashing, and a world owned by a few humans - lying about God for personal control and cash. I find the comparison offensive.

  Of course it does. It is a book of full hate, misogyny, homophobia, endorsing slavery, war, persecutions of others.
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  kaik

  Christianity follows false prophets from its foundation. It is core teaching is violation of Covenant G-d made with Jews.
  
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  29

  Why do most Christians churches have masonic and/or pagan symbols?

  by kabwell in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  has anyone looked at the local churches in their area and seen pagan and freemason symbols both inside and outside.

  i am not a jw but at least they don't seem to follow this trend.

  why do "christians" wear a symbol of torture and death ?

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  kaik

  I do collect watchtower books etc for their historical interest. I have a library of many thousands of books on religion, history, politics, ufos, conspiracy and bibles. I have bibles worth thousands of dollars each.

  And you are trolling on this ex-JW forum for answer that can be find any publication related to history of pagan, Christian, and masonic symbols?

  But I do see the jws as well as other cults closer to the teachings in the NT then most of the protestant and catholic sects..

  How so? Because WT said it? JWs are not even Christians per see, they do not partake, have communion, or pray to Jesus. Jesus is mediator only for 144,000 from which majority had died 100 years ago and pertains it to couple thousands "chosen" one. JW are saved by association to WT cult, not through Jesus sacrifice.
  
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  37

  A question about fading....

  by Tornintwo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i understand that many on this forum are undertaking a slow fade, over months, years even.. can i ask what is the benefit of that instead of a fast fade?.

  as i understand it, the elders only have to deal judicially with people who are still active witnesses, known in the community as witnesses, having contact and influence with witnesses etc.

  so surely the sooner you stop attending meetings the better.

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  kaik

  I faded on the spot. Just decided I do not want to go to KH and I do not believe WT is the channel of God's communication. I just could not take it anymore. Everyone is in different personal setting, so there is no universal good or bad answer on quick or slow fading. I was single, was living on my own, financially secured, so I could care less what anyone else thought.