Posts by darkspilver

9

JW website speaks with forked-tongue!

by The Fall Guy in

i put this under the "scandal" section because it is both a scandal how the wtbts can flaunt its evil hypocrisy and an even bigger scandal that the u.n. and governments in general turn a blind eye to the treatment inflicted on anyone who questions or challenges the org's teachings and practices.

"the right to change religions is supported by the universal declaration of human rights, which the united nations has called “the foundation of international human rights law.”......of course, these rights carry with them the obligation to respect the rights of others both to maintain their beliefs and to reject ideas that they disagree with.

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/change-religion/.

darkspilver

The Fall Guy: A considerable amount of new forum members and lurking J.W.'s who haven't officially signed up will not have seen that discussion.

And of course even you've only been a forum member here for four months..... that's which is why I linked to the fairly in depth and interesting discussion that Alexandra James had put a lot of time and effort into producing.

Especially as I know you appreciate the benefit we can get from re-reading those forum posts and perhaps using them to expand on the thoughts and principles that they contain in our own discussions on 'current' threads.

The Fall Guy: It's good to see different perspectives on certain topics - past and present - and also to highlight them as you have done. I reckon that most newbies are like me and have not researched historical posts here, unless cited or quoted by others. To use an old org mantra - "repetition for emphasis" - I think it would be beneficial for such ones to read some of those posts which you previously listed, as well as some other ones.

9

JW website speaks with forked-tongue!

by The Fall Guy in

i put this under the "scandal" section because it is both a scandal how the wtbts can flaunt its evil hypocrisy and an even bigger scandal that the u.n. and governments in general turn a blind eye to the treatment inflicted on anyone who questions or challenges the org's teachings and practices.

"the right to change religions is supported by the universal declaration of human rights, which the united nations has called “the foundation of international human rights law.”......of course, these rights carry with them the obligation to respect the rights of others both to maintain their beliefs and to reject ideas that they disagree with.

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/change-religion/.

darkspilver

Check out this discussion about that page on JWorg:

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/281010002/jehovahs-witnesses-recognize-that-people-have-right-change-religions-just-their-religion

64

Why is there such a 'high turnover' within the Jehovahs Witnesses?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i happened to come across a time article in 2008. it was basically talking about the high turnover in american faiths.

it mentioned the jdubs and highlighted the following point.. an even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny jehovah's witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.

that means that two-thirds of the people who told pew they were raised jehovah's witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.

darkspilver

That means that two-thirds of the people who told Pew they were raised Jehovah's Witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.

Was that a necessarily 'bad' thing though from the JWs point-of-view?

The problem is that those who are 'born-in' become JWs by 'default' having made no real decision and are more likely to be 'weak' members.

Whereas those who have converted have made a specific decision to join and are therefore more likely to be 'stronger' members.

Of course the problem the JWs DO have. now. Is the lack of converts combined with born-ins leaving.

46

This week's "Give Us Your Money" meeting item.

by freddo in

jw
friends

if you went to it, (or go later this week) how was it handled?

just the video or some commentary too?.

i have heard of a few negative comments from some that attended - one jw even openly said to me "not very encouraging, all they go on about is money lately" and another (a serving elder, no less) said "someone's got to pay for all those lawsuits".

darkspilver

punkofnice: Wait until you see the Jan 18 washtowel. Guilt tripping for money.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6196387802775552/january-2018-watchtower

10

Anyone remember LP album circa 68 with Awake on back cover?

by cabasilas in

jw
friends

i have a memory of some rock artist of the 60s placing a pic of herself and some guy in bed and her reading an awake magazine on the back cover.

it could have been "is time running out for mankind" or something like that.

anyone remember?

darkspilver

ShirleyW: was Maria Muldaur ever a Dub?

Why don't you ask her..... she'll be at Sam's Burger Joint in San Antonio, Texas - TONIGHT!!

http://www.samsburgerjoint.com

http://mariamuldaur.com/shows.shtml

2

A question from across the pond

by stillin in

jw
friends

my wife and i visited england a couple of years ago.

did a bunch of castle tours and cathedrals, etc.

lots of beautiful architecture over there.

darkspilver

stillin: At the butcher shop I saw blood sausages for the first time. Although we didn't get them, I have wondered since whether it is a common thing to have blood bangers and chips or whatever.

In Britain it is called 'black pudding'.

Traditionally it is one of the items that makes up the fried 'English Full Breakfast' particularly when eaten out.

Therefore, as a breakfast item, it is common in hotels throughout Britain (from the very expensive/posh to the cheap) and builders cafes / greasy spoons (cheap fried food cafes) throughout the UK.

Otherwise it's popularity is fairly regional - from the Midlands up into Scotland.

With the advent of most people buying their meat at supermarkets, the 'traditional' butchers that do remain will often offer a whole range of items: black pudding, trotters, tail (oxtail), tongue and tripe (cow's stomach, mostly northern England).

34

Nicolas King: JW celebrity and example of hypocrisy

by neat blue dog in

nicolas king frequently sings with the watchtower chorus and had a supporting role in the dvd released at the 2014 convention.

(he's on the bottom row, second from the right.).

but he also is a jazz singer, traveling constantly performing at concerts, casinos, charity events, even a brief appearance on the tonight show.

darkspilver

passwordprotected: He's not gay, is he?

why are you asking then?

46

This week's "Give Us Your Money" meeting item.

by freddo in

jw
friends

if you went to it, (or go later this week) how was it handled?

just the video or some commentary too?.

i have heard of a few negative comments from some that attended - one jw even openly said to me "not very encouraging, all they go on about is money lately" and another (a serving elder, no less) said "someone's got to pay for all those lawsuits".

darkspilver

wifibandit: The US tax system runs Jan. 1 - Dec. 31

yeah, weird: rather than running from April 6 - April 5

46

This week's "Give Us Your Money" meeting item.

by freddo in

jw
friends

if you went to it, (or go later this week) how was it handled?

just the video or some commentary too?.

i have heard of a few negative comments from some that attended - one jw even openly said to me "not very encouraging, all they go on about is money lately" and another (a serving elder, no less) said "someone's got to pay for all those lawsuits".

darkspilver

carla: Haven't they historically begged for money in late Oct- November? maybe more subtle, but I do remember Nov. seemed to be the time they would have articles about giving blah, blah, blah....

Yes, they publish an article in the WT around that time, along with a BOX detailing all the ways the R&F can donate

FYI below is a list of the magazines it has been in from the last 15 years - along with the associated article titles:

Watchtower November 2017: “The Generous Person Will Be Blessed”
Watchtower November 2016: "The Work Is Great"
Watchtower November 15, 2015: Show Appreciation for Jehovah’s Generosity
Watchtower December 15, 2014: Jehovah Richly Blesses a Willing Spirit
Watchtower November 15, 2013: How We Can Help to Meet the Needs of Others
Watchtower November 15, 2012: Their Surplus Offset a Deficiency
Watchtower November 15, 2011: Do You Find Joy in "the Privilege of Kindly Giving"?
Watchtower November 15, 2010: 'Let Us Present Jehovah's Offering'
Watchtower November 15, 2009: Cheerful Giving From the Heart
Watchtower November 15, 2008: Serving God With “One Heart and Soul"
Watchtower November 1, 2007: "The Silver Is Mine, and the Gold Is Mine"
Watchtower November 1, 2006: Unitedly Building to Praise God
Watchtower November 1, 2005: Contributions That Warm God's Heart
Watchtower November 1, 2004: Do You Know the Happiness That Comes From Giving?
Watchtower November 1, 2003: Cultivate a Giving Spirit

20

Signing Away Your Hard Earned Cash

by Disassociated Lady 2 in

reading the meeting workbook study for this week to see what my family will be reading at their meeting, once again they are asking for members for generous gifts not only from money they earn but also part of any investments they may have and making future arrangements for them to inherit after death through their wills.

take a look at the lower part of the page on this link, its awful!

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20151115/donations-worldwide-work/.

darkspilver

Betheliesalot: I was surprised to see one of their bullet points was a Rewards Program!

Why not?- there's a lot of unused 'loyalty points' about....

Canadians hoarding $16B worth of unused loyalty points

CBC News, Thursday, May 25, 2017
Many signing up for multiple rewards programs but not using them to full advantage
Canadians are signing up for an average of 12 loyalty programs, but they're not actively using them all and reaping the rewards, says a new study.
We all love free stuff, so it's no surprise that Canadians are pledging allegiance to a growing number of loyalty programs. However, many of us are not bothering to cash in on our rewards.
A new report from Bond Brand Loyalty estimates that collectors are sitting on a whopping $16 billion worth of unused rewards points — that works out to a value of $629 per collector.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loyalty-program-rewards-1.4129867