I remember in 1990 were were doing food bank for Romania. We were asked to create a food basket and put selected items there (flour, sugar, condensed milk, oil, etc.). I am sure some sister slipped there a bag of candy or chocolate. This was the ONLY time when we were asked to provide charity. When floods in 1997 and 2002 devastated Czech Republic, the JW got nothing, or I have not heard of any charitable work. As per KH to help a specific individual? We had active elder and publisher and became homeless (his family kicked him out and he shun them after they break with JW) so he came to KH with help where to live. They were able to find some place to live. But I do not think JW in my KH ever received any kind of help.
Posts by kaik
-
67Anyone recall a time when your congregation came to the aid of a Brother or sister in need??
by jam ini'm not talking about a individual, but a congregation as a whole.. i'm talking about a brother or sister that really hit hard times.. have there ever been an occasion where the brothers (elders).
decided to dip into the kh funds and help one in need????.
example, brother loose his job, get evicted, family of four or.
-
-
-
24
They are more focussed on the EVENT or ACTIVITY, rather than the substance of the information presented
by stuckinarut2 inhave you noticed how the org, and individuals are more concerned about the actual event such as the international conventions, rather than the content of the program?.
i often shake my figurative head (ok, literal one too!
), as i see the all the hype being generated by the act of attending, and think that most are not actually interested in the stuff that will be presented, but are more concerned about simply being there or getting there..... and, they are more focussed on the activity of a campaign, such as a tract work, or invitation hand out, rather than the actual content of the material.. .
-
-
kaik
I was in Praha Strahov 1991, which is the largest statium in Europe where more than 100,000 people were present. Believe or not, I felt strong sense of spirituality there and robust ethusiasm. For the first time in 40 Czechoslovak JWs were legal and could gather in mass. It was amazing. Just the feeling of it that we existed behind the Iron Curtian. However, I do not remember anything from the program, it was also not discussed before or after. The place was brutally hot and I could not stay sit as my lower body was cramping. Elders were constantly chekcing what we do, why we do not clap as much lauder as did Polish sector, and why JW took their jackets off. I was told to leave if I did not put my tie on. I Was equestioned why I brought English guys into our sector and what we were debating. And gossips and rolling eyes on some of the talks. After that were did not debate anyting from the program, at least what I am not aware.
-
17
New Light: I hear all the time as the Armageddon gets closer the light get's brighter
by goingthruthemotions innew light: i hear all the time as the armageddon gets closer the light get's brighter.
where in the bible is this supported.
all i could fined is in.
-
-
kaik
I am alergic on this phase and no amount of benadryl would fix that. My sibling who isloyal to the publishing house use this phase all the time when confronted with constantly changing and evolving doctrine. JWs do not care what is written in Bible, nor what WT used to publish 25-35-75 years ago, but they must accept momentary explanation given by the Borg.
-
15
The City of Nazareth, and interesting find.
by Crazyguy ini was watching a video on youtube about chistianity and its founding and it came to my attention that the city of nazareth did not even excist when jesus was said to be alive.
it was'nt really anything accept a cemetary until about 200 ad.
so just like the city of goshen were the israelites were said to be from when they left egypt during the exodus, looks like another major flaw in the bible..
-
-
kaik
BackseatDevil. Jesus supposed to live in the 1st century where both Egypt and Judea were part of the Roman Empire. Citizens of the empire could and did traveled all over the Roman world which would include Judea and Egypt. We do not know where Jeuss in Egypt ended. Alexandria had huge Jewish population and was probably the largest Jewish city in the Ancient world at that time. Jews and Christians from 100Ad onward regularly traveled to Levant. I do not see how would Egyptians - who were not more independent country- oppose and kill some refugee from Judea.
-
28
Has The WTS Reached Its Kobayashi Maru Moment?
by metatron inhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/kobayashi_maru.
they observe decline.
they cut back most everywhere.
-
-
kaik
I do not think WT is going anywhere in our lifetime. They will never run out of suckers who are foolish enough to be a member of organization having 140 years of failed records and incosistent doctrines. There are people who wants this world to be destroyed for personal problem and hope that God will do that in their lifetime. There are people who are desperate, lonely, sometimes crazy, and weak that they will stay in this organization regardless what WT has printed. They have Bible, yet they think that God is communicationg with GB. They are happy with selective cherry picking text in their WT and Awake and their service to God is distributing man made publications. Due failed 1914 nonsense, WT had reached saturation point in the countries that had JW presence in the past 100 years. Their hopes are within 3rd world countries that are unaware of the failed prophecies and changed doctrine. The old timers do not know anything else than stick with the KH until they die. 20 year later when most of the people die off they will get younger generations that are not associated with the past fiascos.
-
24
They are more focussed on the EVENT or ACTIVITY, rather than the substance of the information presented
by stuckinarut2 inhave you noticed how the org, and individuals are more concerned about the actual event such as the international conventions, rather than the content of the program?.
i often shake my figurative head (ok, literal one too!
), as i see the all the hype being generated by the act of attending, and think that most are not actually interested in the stuff that will be presented, but are more concerned about simply being there or getting there..... and, they are more focussed on the activity of a campaign, such as a tract work, or invitation hand out, rather than the actual content of the material.. .
-
-
kaik
Large assemblies were drag. I really do not remember anything from them. As for the JWs I think the biggest social issue was to judge others. How much someone clapped, stayed on the same place, what they wear, talks like can you belief she/he is still in the "Truth"? And do not try question anyone in KH about hte program.
-
29
Taking care of aging parents
by skeeter1 ini hear that a recent talk was about taking care of one's aging parents.
i agree.
generally, kids should take care of aging parents.
-
-
kaik
Excellent points here. I think the issue with the elderly care is unspoken burden upon Western society because we never have to take care of so many elderly today as had before. Century ago, average lifespan was 46 and only a few people made it to 65-70. Today, millions of people reach age that was unthinkable before the Industrial Revolution. Society is not yet capable to cope with such influx of aging when many people have one or two children. Additionally 1/3 of all caregivers dies before the person they care of. This make care very difficult. I tried to secure financial well being of my mother and her husband. I paid their house off and they do not have to worry about the mortgage. They are still independent and healthy. However, sometimes it is not possible to take care of elderly. I have seen some horrors even in my family where we had relatives living to 85-95-100 and it was not physically possible to care for them anymore.
Problem many JWs face that they were never mentally, financially, and socially prepared for aging and death. They believed for decades that they will never die and will experience paradise in their lifetime. On top of it, they destroyed their social and family bond in the name of the cult and cared more about field service than taking care of their children and grandchildren. Now on wheelchair and one foot in cremation chamber need someone to take care of them. We had elderly sister that was very active publisher. She outlived both of her children, husband, but never made time to know her grandchildren. She was just busy with preaching door to door. How you expcet them to take care of granny that they never knew.
Unfortunatelly the issue with elderly care is not only problem for JW, but it is world problem. And it will get worse.
-
27
What if you were a JW during WWII? Would you give in to Hitler and fight?
by Brother Mike inso i pose this question to everyone.
if you were a jw and lived in germany in wwii, how would you deal with the harsh cruelity of hitler?
would you join his side so you may have a chance to live (meaning you'd serve in the miliatry and be on the front line) or would you keep on serving god and be executed?
-
-
kaik
Clambake, I heard that before 20 years ago. Some JWs after the war faced retribution tribunal for collaborating with the Nazis in Czechoslovakia. JWs defended themselves in the name of the strict neutrality and pacifism. JWs were employed in the camp as barbers and Germans were not afraid having their throats cuts with a razor. I knew JWs who were both in German camps and Stalin gulags. Under communism there was fallout between two groups of JWs, one that wanted suffer martyrdom and other that was for pragmatic appoach with the Czechoslovak government. This second view won, where JWs were tolerated since 1960's onward in underground and let state police read through their publications. Some JWs believed that their oppressors will be turned into the truth and what I heard it indeed happened. There are publications on that subject betwen 1965-1989 life behind the Iron Curtian. It is also possible to request from Department of Justice files that both nazies and commies had on JWs and who was collaborating.
-
111
CONGREGATION FLEECING RESULTS?
by The Searcher inhow much did your congregation and its bank account get taken for?
share your horror story!.
-
-
kaik
insidetheKH, still I stand by statement that my parents's KH was asked for money in the amount of 30000 CZK which was confirmed by both my parents and my sibling. As a Czech I probably know more JW there than you who was visting around. I grew up in it when it was still communism and they were illegal. I wonder if your visit was as overseer, so why do you patrolling apostate website? I am sure Z. or S. (last names abbr) would not be happy with it. They got people DFs for much less. I heard the same complains about dwindling donations last year. Both my parents are retired on very small Czech pension, yet my mom puts money into the fund every week. They do not care much about changed flip flopping doctrines and unfullfilled 1975-1989-1994 prophecies, but they feel upset when they are aksed for more money when they struggle to make end needs. I can again talk to them and my very extended family who are 3-4 generations of JWs about this specific case. In all these years, they were NEVER asked for money until last fall. When we build KH in my hometown, we donated money for it. I did EVERY week for several years, and I was looking for a day when it would be done. Today my JW family feels that the requests for money are unjust.
If the WT feels financial needs, they can sell their closed branch office in Prague on Bryksova street if they need money so much. Not to mention all the illegal stuff the elders in Bryskova got involved, from running brothel to money laundering which got couple DFs after Brooklyn visit, but not before until Police of the Czech Republic started the investigation. And this was not only branch property in Prague. They had couple other properties in central and western Bohemia.
BTW, I wonder how is possible for foreigner JW to patrol Czech KHs without prior approval. We had foreigner crazy lady from Australia with Mme Pompadour hairdo who decided to settle in my hometown (if you know her, you will know my hometown) and do field service. Of course, she did not speak local language and elders kept distance from her because she came on her own until she suffered a mental breakdown. The second foreigner visit ever I remember was really charming, super nice guy from Birmingham. I also spent a time with him in Strahov during large assembly there in 1991. When I was traveling all over the world in the 1990's before my departure from KH, I never was welcomed nor talked by local KH members even when I walked into KH. I do not think it had changed, and Czechs are not overly friendly people and I doubt they will share personal information with you. You were either someone from branch or you do not know all the sh.t that goes behind the scene.
-
111
CONGREGATION FLEECING RESULTS?
by The Searcher inhow much did your congregation and its bank account get taken for?
share your horror story!.
-
-
kaik
insidetheKH. I left JW world 20 years ago. My parents, siblings, cousins are still in the orgnanization from Prague to Ostrava some of them for 50+ and more years. I could put names of people who were my elders, and I could also name my DO and CO. You certainly know them. However, I was told by my own parents two weeks ago, that their KH was asked donating money -which they do not have- in the sum of 30000 crowns. I heard the same complaing last summer. I do not live in CZ anymore, but I go there every year or so. I do not think my parents neither my siblings would make that thing up. I can also go into the Czech JW and exJW forum and ask around.
BTW you know that branch in Prague is closed for couple years and Czech Republic is served from Slovakia. I know people who moved there to work from the branch office. When I will be in Czech Republic this summer, I will ask my relatives again. I am a faders, not dfs or da, so I could in theory talk to my cousins who are elders, but I do not want. They never where nice people as far I remember as a kid.