So if I were to bring this scenario up to a jw who likes to brag how the kh's don't ask for money like evil Christendom does, what would the jw response be?
Hall Build Plans and tithing (is this common?)
by Burger Time 26 Replies latest jw friends
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VoidEater
carla: The honest answer is that of course the JWs ask for money, in a variety of ways - suggesting funds are needed, reminding congregations and assemblies that bills are coming due, exhorting those that can to do good works of giving. The difference would be that it is not a "requirement" to give. They just guilt and pressure you to give, and informally may treat you poorly if you don't.
Personally, all the Halls I've attended have been pretty mellow about money - leaving things on the "suggestive" side. But I've been in upper middle class Halls where people tend to have spare that they're willing to part with, and I have attended in years. I've heard some aggressive "suggestions" at District Assemblies, though. Sometimes "pleading", but sometimes "attacking" the brothers for not being generous enough to God's organization.
The last congregation I attended regularly built a new Hall. This was before the WTS got into the contracting business themselves. We relied on a lot of local professional talent that volunteered their time. My Elder dad was on some sort of committee to get the work done and there was often talk about getting the necessary donations for materials especially. A couple of the others on the committee (an Elder and a MS) were highly aggressive about pinning folks down to specific amounts, and it felt kinda funny to me, extracting donations, "they can afford more", that kind of thing. But this didn't seem to boil out to the general congregation, it was handled privately, hitting individuals up. Public comments from the platform were in the vein of, "As you know, brothers, we're getting down to the wire and are looking for that little extra that you might be able to offer."
Of course they ask. Some just don't hear because it's often asked in a polite way. Others are just in denial.
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observador
Rejoice!
You're being shafted by a loving arrangement from the organization, with all the blessings of compassionate Christians overseers.
Praise be to Jah! -
worldtraveller
When you leave the org., do you get your shares in the corporation back? I think not-You people out there have to understand that this is a giant land development corporation. You are being brainwashed into believing that your salvation is through real estate holdings. The few that benefit from tax free money are laughing at you.
The question I have is why do you continue to donate hard earned income to make someone else wealthy while many of you haven't got a pot to pee in? Give your heads a shake!
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worldtraveller
One more thing I forgot to mention. If the end is really just days away, why would the corp. be so interested in building more assets? Because they know it's a bunch of bs, and scaring the flock from time to time makes good business sense. It's a shakedown people. The homeless deserve more that these real estate weasles.!!
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changeling
Last time I saw this done was in the early 70's. So, no, I don't think it's common, but yes, it does occur.
Of course, JW's would never call it "tithing"!
changeling
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Burger Time
Oh I know they wouldn't call it tithing, but it's plainly obvious this is a form tithing. If you agree to pay a certain amount to a religious institution it is the same as tithing (without the 10% rule). I know my brother is viewing it this way, which is interesting since he always (mostly apathetically) tries to spin the positive on everything the WTS does. Oh and Blondie according to my brother this is not anonymous.
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BurnTheShips
Hall Building plans:
And Jehober said unto the Governing Body, The end of all free time is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will bore them on Sundays with the Watchtower Study.
Make thee a Kingdom Hall of gopher wood; one room shalt thou make in the back of the hall, and shalt use it to "encourage" the weak among you.
And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the hall shall be an hundred cubits, the breadth of fifty cubits, and the height of it ten cubits.
No windows shalt thou make to the Hall, that the damned's minds within its walls shall not stray, and a platform shalt thou place at one end, for the chastising of my Unholy Congregation; and the door of the hall shalt thou set in the side thereof; with a litterature counter and cramped bathroom facilities shalt thou provision it.
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of Witnoids upon the earth, to annoy all flesh upon the Field Circus, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall groan.
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the Hall, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. If though touchest thyself behind the litterature counter I shall convoke a Judicial Comittee against thee.
And take thou unto thee of all spiritual food that is given, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. And they shall tire of it, and I shall be well pleased.
Thus did the Governing Body; according to all that Jehober commanded them, so did they just so.
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blondie
Then they are going against everything I have seen in congregations in this area and others. Elders write their own rules and wait to see if someone complains (especially to the CO). If I were in the congregation, I'd have dropped a tactful word or two in the right ear. Shame on them. I wonder if the congregations in their circuit are doing the same thing or not.
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sir82
BTS,
You forgot to include the footnote as found in the reference edition:
* Certain manuscripts (LXX, BS, WTF, STFU) add the following: "and thou shalt ensure that the color scheme is as garish as thou knowest how to make, ensuring that a costly remodeling project shalt be considered necessary within the span of a time, times, and half a time."