the scripture quotes aside, i was always told that we don't celebrate birthdays because that is a celebration of the self, which has no place in jehovah's organization.
then why celebrate anniversaries?
anniversary celebrations are about the joining of two selves, isn't that twice as selfish?.
I know witness couples who have had very large, very expensive anniversary parties complete with giant photos of the couple, speeches about the couples wonderfulness, dancing, gifts, the whole shebang. Mostly they are older couples the husband a much adored elder, the wife would win the stepford wife of the year award, children (if any) are at bethel or pioneering.... you know the type.
But birthdays? Noooo that's glorifying the individual, whereas anniversaries glorify Team Jehovah!
it might just be me imagining things.. i hear things from my jw spies.. from all that's being said, it seems to me that the rank and file(tm), are either waking up to the scam and fading/leaving.
they are going full on 'cult mode' and acting like 'spiritual police'.. is it just me and my imagination?
have others noticed this?.
I think this kind of polarization is not only happening but inevitable. Witnesses have always spouted a kind of "go hard or go home" rhetoric, but it was always just tough talk by most who had no intention of going hard or going home.
Now, with the relentless hard sell on the GT and loyalty to the GB it will become harder and harder to be a "luke warm" witness. I suspect.
watching the news from the past few nights, i have come to the conclusion that the only convention that's crazier and more out of touch with reality than a jw convention is a us political convention.the strange-o show that is going on right now in cleveland, oh makes watching a bunker video look more sober and realistic by comparison.i have made the effort to do my civic duties as a voter, but these conventions require a devotion that is fanatical..
"...these conventions require a devotion that is fanatical."
The JW conventions are intended to whip up fanatical devotion to the borg also, the difference is that whilst at the convention JWs show their fanaticism on the inside then go home and shun the crap out of any who are not as fanatical as them. I'd guess that most that go these political conventions are fanatical whilst there, then, go home and are normal people again.
Either way aren't all conventions intended to do the same thing - whip people into a frenzy of blind devotion however they go about it?
race is asserting itself as a problematic issue united states once more.
i always thought jws had a relatively good track record on race.
they preach a world without prejudice after all.
Wow. Interesting read. Many JWs I know are extremely and insultingly condascending towards non-white people.
For instance, in a neighbouring territory there were many african refugees that were targeted by the JWs and studies were started. At the CAs the sisters would take the children and "look after them" for the day and actually refer to the babies as chocolate babies! Not kidding, it was painful to witness the level of patronizing white condascension that occurred.
In my cong there was a Japanese sister that moved in who didn't speak much english and the Japanese/geisha girl stereotyping language that came from the brothers was just embarrassing for them and her.
Yeah, there are different types of racism, and JWs qualify.
this site is such a great and valuable resource and simon is to be commended for running it for so long.
when i first came i was in such a bad state and really needed support and friendship.
so many posters commented on my threads and showed genuine care some are real life friends, some are facebook friends, some i talk to on the phone and some are forum friends.. i have just realised though that everyone online is not your friend.
Ahh Kate, how is it possible you do not see just how well liked and popular you have been on this forum?
Don't be blind to what you achieved here, all in a relatively short space of time.
For many posters here you "had them at hello."
And with all the challenges and limitations internet communication comes with you did make internet "friends" and you did get internet "support" - probably more than most get on here. There are posters of the male variety that have actually been way more gentle with you than they are to other posters -just my observation.
Oh, and BTW I'm pretty sure this place is a business not a charity.
To quote John Mayer "there's no such thing as the real world, just some lie you've got to rise above."
if you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing about jws would you do it?
and what would you choose to say to yourself?
do you think you could have convinced yourself not to get baptised if you chose the right thing to say?
I used to think that if I could go back in time and bitch-slap some sense into myself before getting baptised.
Now I think I would bitch-slap the bitch that sucked me into it instead.
the organization never ceases to amaze.you've got to see this video for yourself so i won't say much about it.
i wonder if this practice has been endorsed and sanctioned by the governing body and if we will see more of it in the future.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbuxbx1ktci.
looks like chelmsford is going ahead after all.
here is the text of a letter to be read out this week:.
to all congregations in britain and irelandre: branch relocation project updatedear brothers:we rejoice to inform you that in june of this year, the governing body gave approval for thebritain branch to relocate to new facilities that will be constructed just south of chelmsford.
Q: If they are encouraging the brothers and sisters to sell their houses and belongings and downsize why do GB need big fancy ass branches, won't they be the branches be the first on the list when the police start storming into the houses of JWs hauling them off to prison. Surely, the government would cut off the head of the serpent (ie the Branch) first?
as the title says--i'm out of here for good.. the site is full of atheists, communists, 7th day adventists, creationists, believers, deceivers, receivers, football supporters,.
dodgy types, cantleave---and assorted wankers.. so no place for me--because i'm none of the above so dont fit in.
so--this is goodbye forever my friends--its been almost average knowing you.
What is it with the exit announcements. Personally, I don't take this site too seriously and am surprised when others do. It's just a hangout, people come, people go, people will talk shit for a while then go back to their lives, bit like friday night at the pub and nobody should take friday night beers and pizza talk too seriously. I was hurt by WT because I took it too seriously and mistook it for a family when it was actually a business, somehow I feel this place is the same - it's someone's business. We are all free to stay or go .
i recently started working on a project in manhattan- in a very nice neighborhood.
just want to share a few observations on the cart witnesses in this area.. this is an area flush with dinero.
so every respectable non profit is out there hustling for donations.
They're probably sitting there praying no apostate (or anyone for that matter) spots them and starts asking embarrassing questions.
