District Convention ruminations

by sir82 37 Replies latest jw friends

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  WTWizard

  A good thing to be wrong about the dates? Try telling that to people that sold out ahead of 1975, thinking they could pio-sneer and live off their credit cards, only to find that the balloon came due in 1976. And worst was that the Washtowel Slaveholdery did not admit their error, but blamed the publishers for serving with a date (that they planted in their minds) in mind. This is like putting a visible finish line in a race, telling those who cross it that the real finish line is yet a ways in the future, and then blaming them for running with that finish line in view.

  I would assume that, with the new "generation", that the number of partakers would matter more than ever. Before, when it was "those who saw 1914" or "those sharing wicked characteristics", the number could reach zero and stay there for decades and still not be a definitive sign of the end. Now, that it is "the remnant of the anointed", if that number ever reaches zero, the "generation" will have all passed away. Hence, the fact that it is climbing almost 10% is a sure sign that there could yet be several decades--especially if even one of the partakers is relatively young and in good health. If it implodes and the remaining members are all in their 90s and up (and in poor health), that would have meant that they are almost all gone and the "generation" wouldn't last much longer. I think whoever wrote up that needs to go back to first grade math class.
• 

  sir82

  Oh, forgot to mention...

  One of the most surreal talks was on Sunday morning. They had a synposium on "The Things That Must Shortly Take Place". It was a rehash of the JW convoluted ideas regarding the "near" future: UN destroying religion, the battle of Armageddon, the 1000 years, etc.

  One of the many parts was titled something like "The Lion and the Lamb Will Lie Down together" (don't have my notes with me today).

  It was about 10 minutes liong, and dealt exclusively with the 2 or 3 prophecies the Bible contains about animals and man living in harmony. Just the scriptures from Isaiah, nothing else (not that lack of Biblical support ever stopped them from promoting some off the wall idea).

  Anyways, they trotted out 2 JW "sisters" for an interview. I'm thinking "WTF? What is there to interview people about, in a talk about the future harmony of man & animals?"

  The first interviewee was a girl who looked to be about 9 or 10, but spoke like a 5 year old (maybe it was nerves). The speaker asked her about "what animals she looked forward to playing with in the new system?" In her childlike voice, she mumbled something about lions and bears and I don't know what else.

  The other one interviewed was a woman around 50 or so. She was apparently "well know as a dog lover" by her friends, and proceeded to gush about how she looked forward to the time when no one would be "afraid of dogs" like many people are now.

  It was positively weird - probably the biggest WTF moment of the whole DC, even more so than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir JW Disembodied Voices Choir singing that new song about "making Jehovah's heart glad" as an epilogue to the drama.
• 

  undercover

  Holy cultthink, Batman!

  I hadn't heard about that. They actually interviewed people who were looking forward to playing with animals in the new system?? And thousands of people sat there and bought into this shit??

  Wow...just wow.
• 

  insearchoftruth

  Wow...just wow.

  I am just sitting here shaking my head.........I can see a very young child thinking this was kind of neat.....but an adult, give me a break.....
• 

  drew sagan

  Thanks so much, excellent info and commentary. I like to keep up to date on their latest nonsense!

  - Drew, of the "waiting expectantly" class
• 

  gubberningbody

  These people argue as if thelackof evidence PROVES the NEED TO BUILD YOUR FAITH IN THE BORG AND HOLD FAST!
• 

  steve2

  Sir82, many thanks. You write clearly and well, with nice droll humor. Your observations are wonderfully spot-on, especially the DC's high frequency use of Orwellian double-speak. It's a shame that the conventioners as a whole unquestioningly sit through this sort of drivel. On the other hand, I suspect from your comments (e.g., the reduced attendance on friday compared with Sunday) that we ought not imagine that conventioners are actively lapping it all up. Thanks again for your report!
• 

  doinmypart

  My sister told me about the interviews re. animals in the new system. One interviewee was a child, spoke about wanting some wild animal as a pet. The other interviewee was a middle aged woman, looked forward to not having fear of snakes and petting one in the new system. My sister was surprised, she thought the interviews were rather silly.

  She also mentioned a resolution was read on Sunday. Did anyone else catch this.
• 

  purplesofa

  Just saying hey to doinmypart!
• 

  sir82

  Yeah, they didn't call it a "resolution", I think they called it a "proclamation" or something like that.

  The senile old CO who had the part read the thing in a monotone...it took about 5 or 6 minutes all together. It just went on and on and on. I have no idea what it said. Something about God's kingdom, maybe? Anyway at the end, with scarcely a pause to indicate he had finished reading, the speaker said "let all those in attendance who agree say aye".

  A half-hearted mumble, that might have passed for "aye", was heard. I think most people couldn't tell that he had stopped reading the proclamation.

  My wife looked at me and, rolling her eyes, asked "how is anybody supposed to remember all that, to say 'aye' to it?"

  The reading of the proclamation had all the emotion and vigor of a hostage reciting the list of demands a terrorist gave him to read in front of a video recorder.