Posts by mizpah

25

What Was Your Biggest Gripe About The Elders???

by minimus in

jw
friends

after reading some of the pain that you've gone through, in many cases, the elders weren't there at all for you.

i'm wondering what your biggest complaint about the elders is.

What Happened in 1995?

by missylissy in

i was just reading this post http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/61878/1.ashx.

they were talking about what they felt about what happened in 1995. but, i dont know what happened in 1995.. .

what did happen?.

It's hard for people who weren't in the organization to realize just how much emphasis the Watchtower put on "this generation" explanation. It was used for years to illustrate just how short the remaining time was and why we needed to increase our preaching to others. Combined with its forecast for 1975, many of us made great changes in our lives. My wife and I, for example, sold our house and moved our family to a rural area in the south where "the need was great." We had four small children. I gave up a very good job with good benefits. There were many other Jehovah's Witnesses that did the same thing. All this was based on what the Watchtower clearly taught at the time.

For the Society to make this change so casually about "this generation" in 1995 betrayed the trust that many had in the Watchtower Society. Fortunately, we left the organization in 1983 when we heard about the events at Bethel and the dismissal of Ray Franz and other faithful members. The announcement in 1995 only convinced us all the more of the deception and deceit of the Watchtower Society and its leaders.

12

Japan's statistics - surprising results

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

this years world wide report was unremarkable, except for a few things.

britain had a net lost of 2,900 publishers, although the average was down by 500.. .

canada had minimal increase and lost 5 congregations.

mizpah

Interesting material... However interpreted....the growth in the organization has slowed. It's a far cry from the time the Watchtower Society boasted about being the "fastest growing religion in the world." I suspect if economic times worsen, the Watchtower Society will realize rapid growth again. The "doom and gloom" message attracts people who have financial and emotional reverses in their lives.

Like any other organization, the growth usually comes in its "youth." But the Watchtower Society is starting to show its age now. Criticism is wide spread thanks to the inter-net and other bad publicity. And its methods of preaching are becoming antiquated in the more modern countries of the world.

24

Elders misusing donations for "the Worldwide Work" in Oz

by ozziepost in

the december issue of "kingdom ministry" for australia carries this announcement:.

"as a reminder to the brothers handling the congregation accounts, donations placed in the boxes for the worldwide work are to be remitted monthly and should not be used for payment on a kingdom hall property loan or for any other congregation expense.".

fancy that!

mizpah

It seems that all this expansion in the building of Kingdom Halls and Bethel properties have become a financial burden to the members. For years JWs criticized other Christian organizations for doing the same. Then, in the 1950s they did an "about face" and proclaimed that these building projects were evidence of "God's blessings" upon the organization. Now, they are finding it like a millstone around their necks.

The early church had the right idea. Meetings in people's houses. No Bethels or factories. No central organization.

47

1995 "generation change", what were your early thoughts and what was said ?

by run dont walk in

i had been long gone by 1995, had i still been in , this would of definitely sent me packing, when the magazines came out in i believe nov 1995, what was your first or early reactions.

what was said from the platform and by the watchtower about this ?.

could someone please post the articles ??????

mizpah

My wife and I left the organization in 1983. But my last discussions with active JWs (family members and friends) were about "this generation." I told them that the Society would have to make a change soon since the generation of 1914 was passing away. I even kidded some of them that the Society might one day say that there was a woman in Paducah who was 105...so that generation has not passed away. They were adamant, though, that the Society would never change its view on this matter. I have often wondered if any of them remember our discussions.

It's encouraging to know that for some this was the "last straw." I'm convinced that there will be other changes that will cause some to leave the organization. This has been the history of the Watchtower Society. "New light" causes some to question the entire belief system of the Society.

10

Why JW's don't have a relationship with God

by hooberus in

(even "anointed" jws do not accept that the man jesus christ is mediating for them in heaven, but instead believe that he is an angel, no longer a man.

) here is the thread on jesus christ still being a human.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/61530/1.ashx.

mizpah

You really seem to be saying that unless one believes in the trinity doctrine, one can not have a good relationship with God. I think many unitarian Christians would strongly disagree.

As you know discussions about the trinity have been going on for centuries among Christian believers. Many of those that reject the doctrine still have strong faith in God and in Christ. Let God be the judge in these matters.

The final judgment seems to be based upon one's "deeds" not doctrine.

59

Circuit overseer "rips them a new one"

by Mulan in

jw
friends

my jw buddy just called me with some "fun" news.

they had the co last week, and of course dave and i were part of the elder's meeting agenda.

my friend has just had a conversation with one of the elders, who told her about it because it involved her.

mizpah

Mulan:

The elders must have been in a quandry since spying on brothers has been an established procedure for years now. What a surprise it must have been to get a "dressing down" by the C.O. Perhaps, the C.O. has new information about handling such matters now. With the law suits bringing public attention to these sensitive areas, the Society may not want to appear to be an oppressive organization.

Whatever the case, it is refreshing to read that a representative of the Watchtower had the courage to condemn these practices.

5

separation church and state being eroded

by peacefulpete in

being at work i will be brief.

recently i was reading in free thought that churches have recently funded and are in the process of funding the building of new churches and recreation areas that attract young people to their faith under the new faith based initiative of president bush.

they do this by claiming multiuse of these facilities.

mizpah

peacefulpete:

Nothing would surprise me any longer when it comes it comes to the Watchtower Society. It passed itself off as a "cultural organization" in Mexico for years. True, it never received government money. But it did demonstrate how willing it is to compromise if it is to the benefit of the Society.

But your father is probably right. The one reason it might not accept government money is to avoid having government interference. It has remained a financially secret organization in the U.S. And it would want to remain so.....

Bush's popularity seems to be waning. Perhaps the influence of the religious right will diminish with a new administration. What do you think?

36

WWW WT Funds at Work

by blondie in

new york daily news - http://www.nydailynews.com

to watch towers rise .

by hugh son.

mizpah

I guess the Watchtower Society has never cultivated a "good neighbor policy" in Brooklyn. The fight between the other residents of that area in Brooklyn and the Watchtower is of long standing. Not only has the Watchtower ignored the historical preservation of the old buildings, but it has, like the conglomerate it is, swallowed up other buildings and crowded out the older residents without regard to their needs and wants. It's quite hard to justify when the Watchtower professes to be a
"Christian organization."

10

Why JW's don't have a relationship with God

by hooberus in

(even "anointed" jws do not accept that the man jesus christ is mediating for them in heaven, but instead believe that he is an angel, no longer a man.

) here is the thread on jesus christ still being a human.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/61530/1.ashx.

mizpah

hooberus:

It makes me nervous when a person focuses in on one or two doctines and on the basis of that makes a judgment about a person's relationship with God. I thought all of us left that behind when we left the organization. I really don't think God is going to judge us on the basis of doctrine. Rather, I think God will judge us on the basis of how we treat one another and on our charitable works toward all.

Jesus used the the good Samaritan as the illustration of a good neighbor. As far as the Jews were concerned, the Samaritans were heretics and apostates of the worst kind. The Levite and Priest had the doctrinal "truth." But they lacked love and compassion.

It is up to God alone to make judgment. We have to be careful in this area. Jesus has the best counsel: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2