Posts by sparrowdown

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.

32

Are the 8 superstar Popes planning a purge?

by Sour Grapes in

jw
friends

there are over 8 million jdubs and i would venture a guess that at least 20% to 30% are pimo.

in my opinion, the kingdom hauls are only half full for two reasons....many have left but the majority are pimo and any little excuse will keep them home and they will report their token ghost hours in service.

all it takes to stay home is being tired, too much school homework or i will go next week, no doubt many have taken part-time jobs and the fear of working the second shift and the guilt of missing meetings is gone.

sparrowdown

I don't think the hurdles need to be as dramatic as minimum mandatory service time etc just for them to keep doing what they do best by keeping up with the ever-present social pressure from the big brother borgcasts to obey with things like officially signing away rights to personal privacy/sovereignty, co operate with KH sell-offs regardless of any hardship involved and a continuation of the general and obvious indifference and lack of consideration for individual JWs and families will sort the lukewarm and cooling from the diehard loyalists.

12

Song: The Life Of A Pioneer

by pale.emperor in

jw
friends

it struck me today how the lyrics to kingdom song 81 "the life of a pioneer" sound almost like a slave song from a plantation or something.

what's also sad is, if you read, you'll notice that they sound not only like slaves, but slaves that are admittedly tired and worn out yet grateful to serve their governing body overseers master to prove their devotion to him.. very sad indeed..

at the start of the day, with the sun yet to rise,.

sparrowdown

How bout a song bout ...

The Death of a Pioneer.

Used up, burned out and broke...

60

Nephew’s JW Fiancée Begins Conversion to Judaism Due to Passover Date

by Rabbi Midge in

it’s been a while since i posted, but for those who remember, i came on here to get some information about jehovah’s witnesses because i have a nephew who was getting engaged to a girl who was a jehovah’s witness and, along with some other sites, i was recommended this one.. since then we’ve been busy with passover and jehovah’s witnesses have had something they call the memorial of christ’s death (i believe i have that right).

this clashing of the two observances apparently did more for this girl than anything else i ever saw in our months of conversations with her.. respectfully, jews do not proselytize.

these are people who, of their own desire, “join the tribe” after some years of study and practice--something this girl has just begun to do.

sparrowdown

For what it's worth and if you're still reading replies.

I 'm glad to hear your nephew's JW is waking up to her religion that is always a good thing. If she converts to Judaism now that's her business. Her words to her family about the expected shunning are brave even if wishful thinking because as a witness she would know exactly what the consequences of her actions will be from her friends and family, if, her family are active JWs that is. She will need support when that shit hits the fan.

Oh and btw if it works out your nephew dodged a JW bullet for sure.

50

You Know You're Starting To Wake Up When...

by pale.emperor in

you start listening to music deemed "unsuitable for christians".

you pretend to knock on the doors.

you explain a jw teaching to someone and realize how ridiculous it sounds.

sparrowdown

When the thought of going to the KH makes you want to sceam noooooooooo!

When you realise that engaging in JW chit chat makes you feel dumber.

When listening to talks makes you want to scream shut up shut up shut up.

27

Do any of the JWs go out door to door with a territory any more?

by Spiral in

i actually had a neighbor ask me that the other day (she knows i'm an "ex" jw) and i didn't really know the answer.

i know there's a bit of cart witnessing going on (small town) and a lot of driving around to return visits.. but are they actually doing territory, not-at-homes, all of that?

the neighbor said that eight years ago, when she bought her house, the jws were by "all the time".

sparrowdown

If they are going D2D anymore it must be invisibly because they have been MIA where I live for about 2yrs now.

31

Jehovah Misses Me

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

made the mistake of opening the front door today...i was expecting someone to service our central heating...oh dear, it was a sister instead :(.

she tells me jehovah misses me.

it seems god only sees me if i go to the meetings.

sparrowdown

"Jehovah misses you." So lame.

So the brothers and sisters don't miss you only Jehovah. Gee so comforting.

10

I think I was terribly wrong...

by sinboi in

i have once commented under the topic "are you better off as a worldly person or a jw?

i am a born-in but left nearly a year ago at age 16. i would say when i was a jw and was still fully convinced that it is the truth, i was happier.

i have a hope then.

sparrowdown

Yes, you really dodged a bullet finding ttatt so young.The "what now" question is just a natural progression after finding out your sole purpose in life is not to please "Jehovah."

The real question though is what is your purpose? Finding that thing that makes you happy and gives you a reason to get up in the morning. You have plenty of time to explore.

25

Cart witnessing at the Toyota Grand Prix

by Dagney in

jw
friends

picture 185,000 people on the streets attending the biggest event in long beach.

there is a main downtown street which is the only way into the grand prix.

it’s chaos because it is not private property that can be contained; these are working boulevards with cars and people vying to get where they want to go.

sparrowdown

It's just about being seen.

28

2018-Message From Watchtower Informant!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

from one of our informants inside the watchtower.

(same person whosent us videos from the legal dept., accounting dept., pioneer school,and so forth.

) atlantis told him that he is walking on a razors edge,to be extremely careful.his email message:1. watch tower has no right to demand you to sign a consent form.

sparrowdown

It's more who will they share the info with and who else could have access to it. Personal information sharing is valuable to all sorts of groups it's big business these days.

The personal dirt/stuff would be useful to their lawyers and legal department if a member or former member turns whistle blower, makes allegations and embarks on some course of legal action as an individual or as a class action.