JW: Lower requirements

by larc 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  Room 215

  Larc I couldn't agree more. In fact, it's been almost a year since I posted the thread: JWs: They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To.

  Jack2: One reason JWs today are ``softer'' is what Barbara Grizzuti described as ``Visions of Glory." The JWs of the 40s and 50s were energized by the turbulence and nuclear fears of the Cold War and the plausibility of the teaching about the ``generation"" that witnessed the events of 1914 being around for the Big A. They were absolutely sold on the notion that it would happen ``any day now.''

  The passage of time has shattered that perception and shaken the confidence of many, if not most JWs, although they are loathe to admit it. Have you noticed how seldom JWs currently recite the mantra of 607 BCE + 2,520 years + no zero year = 1914? I understand the latest release of a manual to replace the Ogainzed book at the current series of assemblies deletes previous references to their chronology; clearly the latter has become an albatross for them. But like the proverbial man who has hold of the ears of a dog, they're in a quandary as to whether to let go and get bitten or continue to hang on in hopes that some solution, presently unforeseeable, will rescue them from the dilemma.
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  Farkel

  larc,

  : Well, folk, I think the Witnesses are getting soft. What do you think?

  Yep. You forgot to mention the new "codger clause." They can now keep more codgers on their regular publisher lists because if a codger can get only fifteen minutes of field service in, s/he can stay regular, at least "regular" as in publisher, that is.

  Even thirty years ago when I was in, they allowed codgers to use the phone for field service, and I remember the old folks dutifully pulling out their phone books and randomly calling people so they could get that one precious hour and be viewed as in good standing in the Congregation. I'm sure Jesus was thrilled at Watchtower Policy.

  When I was in, all Circuit assemblies started Friday evening and ended Sunday evening. Now they are only one partial day, I hear. What a bunch of woosies!

  I used to hear dubs bragging that their religion was the "hardest religion in the world" to live. They BRAGGED about that as if it was significant.

  So much for the "kindly yoke" Jesus held out, huh?

  Farkel
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  Olympiad

  Have you noticed how seldom JWs currently recite the mantra of 607 BCE + 2,520 years + no zero year = 1914? I understand the latest release of a manual to replace the Ogainzed book at the current series of assemblies deletes previous references to their chronology; clearly the latter has become an albatross for them.

  Room 215 - What is the name of the publication to which you refer?
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  City Fan

  My dad sometimes talks about the old 'International' Assemblies they used to go to in the sixties.

  One such was at Wembley stadium. It lasted 7 days, started at 8:30am and went on into the late evening. My dad said some speakers could talk for 2 hours, droning on and on without an outline.

  He says it rained that much that by the end of the week the conditions were more like the Somme in WW1.

  There were very few amenities for young children back then. I was 2 years old at the time and ended up with food poisoning. I spent the following week on a drip in a children's hospital back in Manchester. I'm just glad I was too young to remember.

  It's good to know Jehovah provided so well for his people back then.
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  gumby

  Since were talking about assemblies;

  What about the wonderful meals they no longer have? The delicious Hogies, burrito's, cheese danishes. Now we have to go out to eat. I remember back when those who went out to eat were viewed as disrespectful of Jehovah's arrangement to not eat the food the FDS had wanted us to eat. They weren't SUPPORTING the arrangement. They weren't staying and enjoying the good association while eating. They were BAD.

  Can you say....."Salmanilla" boys and girls.

  No wonder all the brothers were lined up to the shitter a half hour after eating that crap.
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  worf

  I remember these things you guys are talking about. My family had 6 children during the 60's and I remember my parents would get us up at 4 AM to make the trip to Yankee Stadium for those 7 day assemblies that lasted from morning until night.And you had to get there early enough to get a seat under the canopy or you would burn up during the day from sitting out in the sun. Of course most of the people in the "good" seats fell asleep anyway even snoring.

  I also remember the cafeteria which was set up across the street and where bros and sis' labored over preparing the physical food while missing the 'spiritual food'. And at the end of the assembly these same ones were applauded for all the work they did even though they missed most of the program. I always found that to be kind of interesting. Oh well, maybe a good number of them today now make up the 'apostate class'. :)

  How about the long lines to purchase food tickets and then the long lines to use the food tickets to buy the food.

  I also remember when field service time had to be posted on a bulletin board for all to see.

  What a waste all of this bullsh*t was.

  Worf
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  bad_associashun

  on the subject of assemblies- it was in a recent mag, jws are planning international conv in 2003- only 'chosen ones' are to be invited, a couple of brothers 'in good standing' from each kh- the gov body, of course, decided who these are
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  Gopher

  When growing up in the late 1960's, our ministry school/service meeting meeting was held on a Friday night. That was, I suppose, to provide momentum for the publishers to be enthusiastic about going out in service on Saturday morning...

  It seems that attendance at these Friday meetings dipped during the 70's, as people wanted their Friday nights to start their weekend, and these meetings got moved back to Thursday night (or Tuesday if you shared a hall with another congregation).

  Also another simplification -- we've never had to study that ponderous "Babylon the Great has fallen" book since the 1960's.
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  Gopher

  bad-associashun

  That special selection you mentioned for certain international conventions -- it's been that way since 1984, when the Watchtower Society accepted a select few delegates (recommended by their congregation's service committee) to attend the first international conventions in Poland.

  Then as I remember, every 5 years they "bring home" the missionaries from their foreign assignments, and the last time this happened was 1998. So my guess is that the missionaries will come home for the summer 2003 conventions, and everyone in the audience will be in awe of how wonderful they are!
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  Room 215

  Olympiad:

  Check the recent thread: ``New WT Books Highlights"" for your answer.

  Regards, 215