Posts by sparrowdown

21

Sometimes I think the WT is mocking the masses

by NikL in

jw
friends

as in today's study.... 18 to lie is to say something untruthful.

(as in millions now living will never die, this generation will by no means pass away, allegations of pedophile abuse of children in congregations is apostate lies) however, jehovah wants his people to go beyond not telling outright lies.

he urged the ancient israelites: “you should be holy, because i, jehovah your god, am holy.” then he gave examples of being holy.

sparrowdown

Yes considering the WT's track record such lessons on honesty from them are real "am I taking crazy pills" moments. I suppose it's possible they're so delusional they are incapable of and hearing themselves.

My questions about this article and the broadcast which said the same things is what are they really saying and just who are they directing the counsel at?

Are they saying they know that there are members who are lying? If so, lying about what?

Are they talking to closet faders/apostates?

Just what is the subtext of this lesson on lying?

Is it just to instill more fear, blame and shame in the minds of the congregants?

Or, is it misdirection/deflection they know people are calling them liars so they come back with "you're the liar" ?

32

A brother repeated a "rumor" from the platform last night.

by NikL in

jw
friends

i seem to remember many talks and articles in the past about repeating rumors.last night before going into the book study the conductor said something to the effect, "i heard a rumor and i don't know if it's true but the rumor is that in the future we will be using only;y videos at the door.".

anyone else heard this "rumor"?.

and whats up with repeating rumors from the platform?

sparrowdown

Can't say it would surprise me if they went to videos only at the door and at the meeting.

I don't think the GB trust the elders or the publishers to say the "right" thing anymore.

11

Close, Critical Analysis of "Should Others Make Decisions for Us"

by cognisonance in

should others make decisions for us?.

) we should not give someone else the responsibility to make decisions for us.

rather, we should personally learn what is right in god’s eyes and choose to do it.. how might we give in to the danger of letting others choose for us?

sparrowdown

Jws ability to filter out irony is stunning.

Seems to me that whenever they go on about this "each one responsible for his own decision" doublespeak it's because in a typical WT roundabout fashion they are saying what not to say.

Stuff like "I can't take blood because the WT says so" or "I didn't call the police because the elders discouraged it."

They want you to say "this is my decision not to...(fill in the blank).

62

What have been some of the funniest local needs talks that you have heard?

by DaPriest in

i remember once in berlin south germany there was a local needs part for the men only, and how they should use the toilet.

in all seriousness for ten minutes a retarded nigerian was going on about how men need to sit down when using the toilet.

no mention of anything else.. it transpired that some little kraut boy from an "interested" family would aim for the side of the toilet and leave a great big puddle for others to clean up.

sparrowdown

First off I'd like to say I don't think any particular nationality has the monopoly on the silliness of local needs talks nor has nationality got anything to do with it- just sayin.

Anyway......

We had a local needs about not leaving big-ass meeting bags in the aisle because a mic-runner tripped over one during a fast paced WT study lol.

No local needs about safeguarding your children against predators though.

Well at least they got their priorities right.

22

Does the Jehovah's Witnesses religoius cult create people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder ?

by Finkelstein in

the american psychiatry association lists nine symptoms – if someone ticks five of these, they could have narcissistic personality disorder.

the nine points of narcissism.

has a grandiose sense of self-importance.. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.. believes that he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people.. requires excessive admiration.. has a sense of entitlement.. is inter-personally exploitative (takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).. lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.. .

sparrowdown

Good point STA.

Conversely, sometimes being surrounded or raised by narcissists can make you determined not to become one.

39

Trinity...cross...Does it matter?

by NikL in

jw
friends

i've been thinking about this for a while.. did jesus diee on a cross?

does it really matter?

it doesn't change anything that i can see.. is god a trinity?

sparrowdown

I do not believe trinity, cross matters the way WT say it does. These issues were just a form of brand distinction for them. But, nor do I think the trinity matters in regards to "faith" either.

22

Does the Jehovah's Witnesses religoius cult create people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder ?

by Finkelstein in

the american psychiatry association lists nine symptoms – if someone ticks five of these, they could have narcissistic personality disorder.

the nine points of narcissism.

has a grandiose sense of self-importance.. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.. believes that he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people.. requires excessive admiration.. has a sense of entitlement.. is inter-personally exploitative (takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).. lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.. .

sparrowdown

We've had this kind of question posted here before and my answer is still the same I believe cults create narcissists. Especially born-ins they have no memory of what it's like to be "normal."

The good news is I believe being in a cult it is a type of learned narcissim which means it can be unlearned but it would mean identifying the narcissistic traits and dealing with them.

41

Witnesses really hate it when you appear to leave.

by schnell in

i have a certain customer, whom we will call sally.

i know sally only by face and only through work.

i am a truck driver on a local dedicated route, and i often deliver to her work.

sparrowdown

It's just the silly game they play where they think they can send you thought waves of guilt and shame by their mere presence plus a dirty look in case you are in doubt about your status as something gross that needs to be scraped off the bottom of their shoe.

Just have a big smile and a loud "top of the mornin to ya Miss Sally. Nice weather we're havin. You have yourself a great day now. Gotta run, see you next time."

That will really piss her off or it will break the ice either way win win.

53

Skinned and Thrown About.....

by Tech49 in

this is a little long, but stick with me.. if you recall, when the building work was in full swing at the new lakefront villa (warwick), wt was having workers come and they would put them up for a year, or more, while they were providing "volunteer services".

with that, and the impending need for hundreds and hundreds of new khs in the usa territory, the congregations were abuzz with the need for "continued construction volunteers".

recently, as many of you know, wt headquarters has sent pretty much everyone home, and is no longer needing workers at the new warwick site, as the building is mostly complete, with the dedication coming up later this year.

sparrowdown

There were a few couples in my cong that did similar for the chance to be career witnesses. Two of the couples are back in town now dejected crying the "end of an era" the other are still in Equador last I heard on their own ticket looking for english speaking people to witness to - how ironic.

On a side note I ran into one of the couples in town one day and they told me all about their experience and why they were back.

After reading about closures and lay offs I decided to throw this question out there

"so what about the branch (the branch where they were) will they sell it?" and the husband who had been letting the wife do the talking up until this point immediately spoke up and said

"of course they will they're not sentimental"

I then said

"well they are not sentimental about their own people why would they be sentimental about some buildings."

He said "true , true."

I went away thinking hmmm interesting.

21

Why do trolls do what they do?

by Londo111 in

jw
friends

i truly don't understand the mindset of a troll.

i know it's been explained, but i still don't get it.

it is hard to distinguish between a troll and a jw apologist at times because the reactions are very similar.

sparrowdown

My gaug is if the poster keeps going round and round sucking time and energy, being given answers, and still keeps it going in a futile loop of neverending bullshit reponses masked as "but what about" questions then they're probably doing so for purposes other than genuine curiousity.