Posts by Balaamsass2

8

For the Disillusioned

by no-zombie in

a problem for all who come to realize that our faith is just another manmade religion, is that we start questioning everything we've previously believed.

where ultimately its possible to spiral down past believing in the bible, to the point of questioning god's actual existence.however while some may be happy to think of themselves now as atheists or agnostics (which i doubt that most really are, as living with the full mental and emotional consequences of being one is a lot harder than most understand), i don't think it is necessary to abandon being a spiritual person.

while others might like the idea of drifting into a modern animistic philosophy (which rather conveniently excludes personal accountability), the keeping of the core teachings of jesus has historically proven to give many people a balanced and practical moral code to live by.but what is meant by the term: 'the core teachings of jesus'?interestingly many thinkers from the enlightenment period of the late 1700s, had similar a question.

Balaamsass2

After 68 years of life, and being a JW for over 50 years, I have had to accept that I do not have to know everything.

I believe "god" has bigger things on his mind than me. Most modern religions are based on Abraham, a bronze-age goat herder. A guy who claimed a lot of things "god" told him secretly without any 3rd party verification, like he had to sacrifice his son for starters. Anyone doing that now would/should be hospitalized for mental illness.

Being a parent, and grandparent, and then seeing the first Hubble deep field photos (countless galaxies and solar systems), had a deep impact on my beliefs. I wish only good things for my family, I have never knowingly allowed them to be harmed, however, I do not/can not protect them from every bad experience.

Watchtower and most Bronze Age religions painted "God" as a petty mean mean-spirited entity... the same one ISIS radicals worship. Acceptance of these things has been freeing. My 2 cents.

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/universe-uncovered/hubble-deep-fields/

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

Balaamsass2

It's all about the bucks $$$$$$$$. When I was at Bethel they knew what a Bethelite cost in allowance, daily food intake, and even electricity ( no window AC units for young Bethelites because of kilowatt costs). They would buy a machine if a machine cost less than x number of Bethelites.

So what changes would improve the bottom line?? $$$

1. Fewer lawsuits and government investigations. Get out of the Cop business. Limit liabilities. Have publishers report all crimes to authorities. Keep the window-washing elders out of the loop. Kinder treatment of under 18 "minors". Less physical abuse. Less baptism pressure. Kinder judicial treatment. More hands-off and distance on the blood issue and "apostasy" issues.

2. Increase publisher comfort at meetings to improve attendance, (and traffic past the donation box). Loosen attire "rules" Slacks for women—sport coats for speakers. Knorr insisted on "business attire". Business attire has changed over the years. Look at how women dress around the world now in business and politics.

3. Additional income generation. Tithing-lite? internet "use fees" to offset provider costs? I pay Microsoft $7 a month for software and the Times $4 a month for my newspaper.

4. Additional roles in the hall for women. Accounts? Talk schedules? Shepherding calls-light for the elderly and infirm? (it would generate income -donations and improve self-worth).

11

Remember the old governing body ...pics! R.I.P.

by Witness 007 in

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Balaamsass2

lol, Syd. Ewart Chitty bang bang...I still can't forget that gem. His scrawny old body in his itty bitty thong. Enough to burn a hole into your eyes. Gaggggg !!!

11

Remember the old governing body ...pics! R.I.P.

by Witness 007 in

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Balaamsass2

Yes, the photos do trigger memories.

Missing. Ray Franz - A very sincere guy who always asked questions about; "the friends outside", preaching effectiveness, blood fractions, and Bethel butchering practices. A hospitable human who had small spaghetti dinners in his apartment with rank-and-file Bethelites.

E. Chiity, who hung out on the Squib building roof in a throng working on his suntan. Asking passing Bethel boys to rub suntan oil on his butt. lol. :) (I declined).

"Cranky ass" Jaracz. Booming orders.... unless he was asking for money. He never returned Mom's 5 figure loan.

Dan Sydlick. Another cranky ass. Neighbor and table head. Always asking questions, and puzzled when he got an unvarnished reply. lol.

27

Disfellowshiping only began in 1952!! Before this Witnesses were immoral!

by Witness 007 in

many witnesses lived together in sin or had many wives before 1952 during the rutherford era, this was frowned apoun but no one was disfellowshiped unless they did something major like critisize rutherford!

then in watch.

may 15 1944 and finally watch 1/3 1952, disfellowshiping was invented.

Balaamsass2

I had JW family in San Francisco during the 1930s. They told me some outrageous stuff was going on openly....even by Circuit Overseers and Pioneers.

43

Fading is better then completely leaving...comments?

by Witness 007 in

i got the internet in my house and realised it's all lies....but as a pioneer/ministerial servant i chose to fade.

see i had family and friends who were fully strict witnesses.

so i played the poor lost soul brother who is not sure what's happening.

Balaamsass2

enough,...... "so I am wondering if it is more difficult to leave/fade if you are a high hour publisher vs low hour, MS or elder vs rank and file..." ANY drastic change attracts attention...unless you move Halls or location.

Link Dislike Like

43

Fading is better then completely leaving...comments?

by Witness 007 in

i got the internet in my house and realised it's all lies....but as a pioneer/ministerial servant i chose to fade.

see i had family and friends who were fully strict witnesses.

so i played the poor lost soul brother who is not sure what's happening.

Balaamsass2

I am glad we moved halls and faded. 75% of JW family and locals do shun or "avoid" us, but it makes our everyday lives easier. It made it possible to get some old friends and family out of the borg. It was also easier to care for elderly relatives.

31

Is The GB Paranoid? And Should They Be?

by NotFormer in

the gb seems to have a bunker mentality, that they are special, and that the world is out to get them, so they tend to keep within their tightly controlled, protective environment.

bottlegate proved that there is some danger outside of the rarified atmosphere of their echo chamber; you never know when a camera might be trained on you, or that someone might recognise you as being something more than plain old "joe citizen".

further, tm3's new address was quickly found and distributed, and (as i understand it) someone drove to his gated community to tell the security guard that tm3's "ass is grass".

Balaamsass2

Rutherford and Knorr were "preppers".

Many of GB 1.0 in the 70s went out in service alone in NYC. I remember seeing GB Brother Ganges (sp) doing magazine work ALONE in the subway station in the late 70s. Many GB 1.0 members had "traveling companions" for trips to their local NYC congregations in the 70s and 80s. Prudent, but not paranoid behavior IMO.

I traveled into the fringes of Bed-Sty, a high crime low-income area of Government housing with a WT corporate member/GB "helper" weekly while at Bethel. GB member Ray Franz regularly went in service in a similar area with his Haitian Congregation. Another GB member (Sydlick) had a huge Golden Gloves ex-champ travel with him and his wife to meetings....

"....about 15 million Americans are actively prepping right now. In terms of percentage of households, we are at or about to cross 10% of all households. And just a few years ago, that was 2% or 3%." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preppers-60-minutes-2022-11-06/

The new Headquarters buildings remind me of a fortified Cult compound. I imagine process servers and Marshals have some difficulty serving papers. :)

11

Gestapo Tactics - the Wayne Rogers story

by Lee Elder in

http://ajwrb.org/experiences/gestapo-tactics-the-wayne-rogers-story.

gestapo tactics the wayne rogers storyposted on july 27, 2014 by lee elderfreedom of thought is a right that many people take for granted.

there are many people who believe they have freedom of thought, but are mistaken.

Balaamsass2

Bringing this back up. This story was #1 on my JW Google news scan today. Is the victim a group member? Any updates?

31

Is The GB Paranoid? And Should They Be?

by NotFormer in

the gb seems to have a bunker mentality, that they are special, and that the world is out to get them, so they tend to keep within their tightly controlled, protective environment.

bottlegate proved that there is some danger outside of the rarified atmosphere of their echo chamber; you never know when a camera might be trained on you, or that someone might recognise you as being something more than plain old "joe citizen".

further, tm3's new address was quickly found and distributed, and (as i understand it) someone drove to his gated community to tell the security guard that tm3's "ass is grass".