Posts by sparrowdown

65

Withdrawing community support in the congs

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

i've noticed in the past 10 years that the social support that used to be available in the congs, a shoulder to cry on, elders to help with family/marriage issues these seem to have been purposely withdrawn.

counsel is even heard from the platform that the elders are not there to help people with their problems.. so first in the 80s-90s they take away the congregation get to getters and social events and now they seem to be going one step further in taking away the emotional support for people too.. this will take away an aspect that i'm sure was keeping alot of people in the borg, the community support.

if that's not there and its just about meetings and ministry how many will start to get their emotional support elsewhere?.

sparrowdown

I think emotional support that translated into practical support was always a bit of an illlusion. It was there but only to people considered to be of their sort. Cliques have helped each other but screw everyone else. Who is deemed worthy of the elder's "help" seems to be an arbitrary process based on connections, popularity and brownie points for the ones doing the "helping."

They were basically a "keep warm and well fed" religion but I don't even think they bother with that hollow sentiment anymore. I hope this coldness bites them on the bum one day with people walking away but if people are getting their cold and prickly fake love from JWborgcasting now that may just be enough for them.

4

JW covering child abuse in UK

by Alex Bogdanov in

jw
friends

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/25/jehovahs-witnesses-accused-of-silencing-victims-of-child-abuse-uk.

a year ago the government found that jws from manchester were involved in a child abuse, but the local congregation did everything to hide it and be in the way of the police investigation.

this situation is getting worse now.

sparrowdown

Still, it must be very comforting to victims to know that if someone was to ask a JW cart person too many questions they have no probs calling the police and crying harrasment with no "scriptural investigation" required.

So we know they know how to call police on some things with no concern for Jehovahs name they're just very selective about what they report

37

2018 Courage Convention video invitation

by Listener in

the video invitation for the 2018 convention is just creepy.

i thought it was some parody at first as it seems 'dark'.it begins with a young man being pushed whilst standing at his locker and the voice over says that 'in critical times we need courage more than ever'.

next, comes a clip of a male putting his hand on the shoulder of a female worker, the look she gives him would be enough to give him nightmares for the next year.

sparrowdown

Is schoolboys bumping into one another (oh the horror) and male coworkwers touching female coworkers on the back (gasp) so terrible and prevalent to be a thing now? Not only a thing but a sign you need a JW convention just to help you cope with it all.

10

News from Australia: Tasmania Anglicans to sell property for redress

by AndersonsInfo in

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/tas-anglicans-to-sell-property-for-redress/news-story/f56eb0caabc16212229c3b0d6d940e3c.

tas anglicans to sell property for redress.

survivors of child sexual abuse in tasmania will get a payout after the anglican diocese announced the sale of more than 120 churches, halls and houses.. kaitlyn offer - australian associated press april 22, 2018 2:30pm.

sparrowdown

I can't see WT opting in to the redress scheme.

11

JW Persecution in Murmansk, Refugees hit Finland

by Slidin Fast in

jw
friends

you know, disagreeing and with and hating all the cultish beliefs and practices that mark out jwdom doesn;t make it ok to treat them like russia is doing.

this is one time i find myself defending these largely goodhearted but misled people.

if only the gb members and their squad had stayed around to face what they are expecting their followers to face.. https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/life-and-public/2018/04/fsb-starts-detaining-jehovahs-whiteness-kola-dozens-flee-finland.

sparrowdown

I don't understand why they would still have some administrative center for organizing meetings when it is now against the law to do so. Why not just read a state approved bible in private if you must, pray in private if you must. What about not putting yourself at risk and not breaking the law. Surley not flouting laws is a reasonable option to staying safe? They obviously have no faith in their jerk god "Jehovah's" ability to understand their circumstances.

There is even the bible principle of "a time to speak and a time to keep silent." This is craziness there is no way I would put myself at risk for this stinking cult or its propoganda ever again.

43

KH hall 4 sale just whose waters are supposed to be drying up again?!

by nowwhat? in

avon lake ohio.

while new mega church being built right down the street!.

sparrowdown

The GB could frame this rollback as going into their "interior rooms until the denunciation passes over." When or if they re-emerge who knows what JW Borg will eventually look like.

33

Do you miss that initial "high" ??

by stuckinarut2 in

do you remember the first time you found out "the truth about the truth"?.

yes, it was confronting, shocking and life altering.

yes it was hard to deal with.. but, along with that, many have said that they experienced a sense of thrill, euphoria, or joy when realising the facts about the religion that held us captive mentally and physically for so long.. it was liberating to learn some of the controversial teachings etc.

sparrowdown

It was exciting and terrifying researching the WT but for me that "high" hasn't left off it's just turned into a high for researching and learning in general. There is soooo much to explore and learn I get so excited when I discover a new topic or sideroad to go down.

42

Famous last words spoken by every jdub at one time or another

by nowwhat? in

"oh i'm not going to worry about it, armageddon will be here by then!".

-including me.

sparrowdown

"That's another one for the resurrestion." When someone dies.

15

How did ancients know entire Earth was covered by water?

by Bad_Wolf in

entire world used to be covered by water.

i am not talking about the 'great flood', but on earth's formation itself.

the bible talks about earth being only water and then god making dry land appear.

sparrowdown

How did the bible writers know the earth was, as the article suggests, covered in water first?

Luck? Their timing was a bit off and no mention by the bible writers of the asteroid bombardment that came after that either.

Quite interesting question none the less

20

My old congregation Auckland New Zealand

by karter in

jw
friends

in 1991 we build a 250 seat hall and had 125 publishers so about 175 in attendance and filing fast.. just spoke to someone from my old congregation they now have 50 to 60 publishers and 100 in attendance on a good day.. very few pioneers.. seems this is happening everywhere.. karter..

sparrowdown

I think this is a common scenario in many halls and WT must know it too and yet they really don't appear that concerned about it to me - not enough to affect meaningful reform anyway.

I have given some thought for a while now and agree that if they dropped the hardline hobnail booted big brother routine for a softer "don't worry be happy" approach they would experience a renaissance of sorts but I also reckon it would be short lived as people got the taste of freedom they would drift away for good just as they are are now. The big difference being they would be free to come and go as they please without social repercussions - as it should be.