first time posting.
i've lurked for about 2 years.
30+yr convert.
Welcome Red! Good to have you with us. It just goes to show that apart from the thousands of people who've signed up to JWN there are a large number of lurkers who for different reasons don't comment, at least until they find something that really strikes a chord with them.
Fantastic observation btw. Very interesting.
i never was a jw (i make this point in - almost - every post) but having been brought up ('raised' for our us cousins) in a non-conformist fundy sect with 'rapture' aspirations, it wasn't that different.. i still have extended family members in it, or in that mindset, but we rarely discuss religion.
in particular, my sister and bil lost their son (my nephew) some years ago when he was just 13. their comfort is that he is in a 'better place' and i don't want to challenge that to them.. i keep up with all things jw here in this forum and maintain my academic interest and these are just my thoughts as an outsider, for what they are worth.. ime, those people who have heard of jws tend to lump them in with mormons and other crazies and have no knowledge or interest in them - other than to warn neighbours when they are about.. where i live should be prime 'witnessing' territory but they rarely come round, even in the recent leafletting campaign.
they are not as effective as the people who regularly call with the latest menus from the local curry/chinese/kebab houses.. on the occasions when jws have called, despite invitations to come in and have a cup of tea, etc., none has ever wanted to engage in conversation, far less progress to an invitation to a kh meeting or start a bible study (and i always present myself as an 'imterested householder').. my conversations with people in general and friends in the real world lead me to conclude that few people have heard of jws, those that have regard them as a minor irrevelant nuisance and that there is no interest in their message or beliefs.. a few months ago i did a 'drive-past' of the million pound seafront property in bangor, north wales that wt recently bought for use as a 'translation office' (ha ha!).
As someone who lives in a locality not too far from you Joe I can totally confirm your evaluation of the impact JWS have in this area. The town I live in has approx 0.5% wintesses out of the local population. Shortly before I left around 3 months ago I noticed a massive increase in the time spent in the 'field' by the congregation as a whole, partially down to the August campaign. My mother has taken to going out two or three times a week from once a week ever since the campaign finished. In any case since my departure I can honestly say I've only seen them knocking on doors once or twice and I work in town a lot.
My wife and I have both said how little we see of them since we no longer attend. The most visible sign is the cart every morning in the town centre. I have to agree that we can now see how little impact they really have in the real world and it's been a real eye opener for us.
this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.
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Wow! How bloody manipulative. I wonder how many are under the illusion that this was 'encouraging'? As many have mentioned you have to be in an abusive relationship to put up with this kind of bs and play it off as loving!
So glad I got my family out if this crazy!
Oh an btw in the turds defense he was probably thinking of the God of the Hebrew scriptures as we all know it couldn't be the god of the NT 😉
i saw this exact headline on jw-archive.org and couldn't find no other info about it.
anyone know anything?.
possible hoax ha ha.. .
Thanks for that bobcat. The hypocrisy just keeps on coming!
i posted here a week ago some disturbing news for congregations being consolidated in britain.
my goodness that was nothing !
a letter was read today from bethel addressed to all congregations in britain that can only be described as the biggest news for years.the main points:.
Splash - I discussed this with my wife this morning. Just earlier this year we had our CA moved within 40 mins of home instead of the usual 2 hr trip, apparently to save us costs. Fuel is heavily taxed in the UK and add that to accommodation costs it makes for an expensive weekend. Anyway low and behold the new venue which was touted as recently refurbished was in fact still a dump (it had been used previously over the years) and congregations in this area have again be assigned to travel the 2 hrs to the previous location, which is owned by the society funny enough lol.
i posted here a week ago some disturbing news for congregations being consolidated in britain.
my goodness that was nothing !
a letter was read today from bethel addressed to all congregations in britain that can only be described as the biggest news for years.the main points:.
Here we have 4 KH's in a 15 mile radius. Fairly rural territory. Some months before we stopped going, I'd say a good 6 months ago, my local hall and another were in the process of consolidating and building a new hall to share. The other hall has already been sold and have since been using the one local to me. I wonder if their plans will be put on hold to find another location to include the other 2 halls as well?!
It's unbelievable how obviously their asking for money. It's not even subtle anymore and neither is it spaced apart by any length of time. It seems like there's a constant barrage of requests for this or arrangements for that which need funding.
Lucky for me and my family I stopped giving a long time ago and to be honest never really contributed more than a 5er at assemblies lol.
calling all tos, tng, ds9, voyager, or enterprise fans, what's your favorite serries and why?
and what's your favorite episode and why?.
(too many choices on netflix for me to decide which to watch right now).
Got a agree with you there Simon. Jean - Luke all the way :D
Q always made for an interesting episode.
I did enjoy voyager but that was always for the hot female factor ie 7of9!
with the recent case of the watchtower hierarchy defying the court to either produce documents relating to child sex abuse claims within their organisation, and also refusing to produce a governing member to appear in court to answer questions , not only shows their arrogance and defiance of the law , they also show their contempt of the judicial system of the usa .. arent they supposed to be obeying the bible injunction ?
" pay back ceasers things to ceaser ?".
"when you are hailed before the courts , i will put words in your mouth ?".
Couldn't agree more! I sometimes daydream about the day that I see my families faces when the whole thing unravels. I guess only time will tell but in the meantime we'll just have to be patient.
for fans of older pc games:.
http://glenster1.webs.com/freepcpinballmodsforlo.htm.
it includes carmageddon 1 and 2.. http://www.carmageddon.com/.
If we're going to go proper old school, has anyone had the pleasure of playing Commander Keen?
I remember when I was about 9 or 10 my brother and I built our very first computer from scratch and were obsessed with this game.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29811206.
i wonder if this is put in force, whether the wtbs will comply or view this as more persecution?!
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Totally agree Phizzy. As a parent I just wish they'd get their head out of the sand and tackle this problem once and for all in religious organisations. It frustrates me to see so many innocent children robbed of their dignity
