Incognito

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Posts by Incognito

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  99

  Jehovah's Witnesses - Once Again the Fastest Growing Faith in the U.S.

  by davidl7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  according to the latest statistics published by the ncc in its yearbook of american and canadian churches, the jehovah's witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%.

  this is, i believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the witnesses had the highest growth rate.

  roman catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed.

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  Incognito

  1) Where does the NCC obtain their information? The link states: Ranked 20th in size, the Jehovah’s Witnesses denomination reported a 4.37 percent gain in membership, with 1,162,686 members total. So the WT reports the growth rate which is not verified by the NCC?

  2) Is the same growth calculation criteria used throughout all reporting denominations?

  3) What does the WT use as an indicator of growth? Baptisms, Field Service reports (15 minutes reported once every three months), number of seats filled on average, number of seats filled at the memorial?

  4) Are walk-aways, DF'd, DA'd, deaths subtracted from the growth figures?

  5) Are the figures accurate or are they doctored to bring prominence to the report?

  It's interesting that JWs were included within the groups named following this statement: But a few church bodies, regarded as cults by some Christians, continue to increase in size.
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  30

  Is that podium thing unique to JW's? Do they build them?

  by InterestedOne in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering about that half-table/half-podium thing that jw's use on the platform.

  is that unique to jw's & do they build them, like shakers had their own furniture?.

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  Incognito

  Actually, the proper use of the word Podium refers to a raised platform that is stood upon. A Lectern is a slanted book support.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectern

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podium

  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lectern?show=0&t=1297834156

  I think some dictionaries recognize that the incorrect term has been commonly used and have included a link to Lectern within the Podium definition, as shown here: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/podium

  I recall hearing (unconfirmed) that the two/three tier style of lectern commonly seen in KHs are either built at Bethel (and I assume sold to the Cong) or are built by a brother in business to make such items.
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  26

  "All generalizations are false, including this one."

  by Mr. Falcon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the above mark twain quote made me think about some of the comments i heard this weekend during the watchtower study.

  several commentors alluded to the seeming ignorance of "wordly" people as regards bible knowledge.

  comments such as "people who go to churches don't know the bible like we do, so they may go to church and afterwards say that was a very good sermon.

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  Incognito

  I first read this post a few hours ago.

  Mr. Falcon said:

  ... the manner in which people in "Christendom" worship God by "flailing their arms around." I'm not sure what this meant exactly or what sect they were referring to, but the audience thought it was a hoot and yukked it up.

  I didn't know what it meant either, and then I was doing something else and it hit me. Hand and arm movements - in the Sign of the Cross.
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  14

  Scammer Targeting Me. Iam Not Surprised

  by Scott77 in

  1. social
  2. current

  here is a message i got today from a scammer.

  he/she didnot send it to me through jwn pm but to my private email address.

  sigh.

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  Incognito

  Scott77

  These types of messages usually get broadcast to hundreds, maybe thousands of email addresses at one time. I doubt that they're targetting you specifically. I often get similar emails and usually ignor and delete them.

  I presently use 'Gmail' as my main email service. Although Gmail is very good at removing spam, there is an occasional one that slips through.

  You're right to not confirm your email address as your address will probably be further targetted by additional spammers.

  When I go to a questionable web site that I need to provide an email address to gain access or receive something, I usually give my hotmail address which is not my main address. My hotmail account gets numerous 'Spam' messages every day as a result.

  Although there is a service to filter out spam for anyone running an email server http://www.mailroute.net this is not for individuals relying on their ISP or a web based email account.
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  31

  Six-Screens web site overhaul????

  by Prov1320 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is it possible rick took our advice and changed the face of his web site?

  satanic looking home page, bad web-scripting... all gone!!!.

  although i haven't checked the content of the site in all the pages, i must say "kudos to rick" for taking some constructive criticism!.

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  Incognito

  Much improved Home Page and easier to navigate without the 'noise'.

  Way to go Rick!

  Ultimately, any web site is intended to draw a target audience to provide information, assistance, direction or entertainment to that audience.

  Using the participants of this Board as a representation of the SS site's target audience, much of the feedback about the site's atmosphere was negative and it seemed to be turning people away and effecting the credibility of the information presented on it. To remain relevant, changes needed to be made regardless of how the site's owner may have felt about or favored the site's original composition and layout. I'm glad that Rick recognized this and stepped-up to make some needed changes.
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  149

  Johnny the mysterious bethelite .. Six Screens conference call tonight Sat.Jan 15, 2011

  by koolaid-man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  announcement........ http://sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/upcoming.html.

  we are all anticipating the return of the active bethelite ,johnny, who was hiding in a closet talking to us from the world headquarters of jehovah's witnesses.

  link to jan.1,2011 call.... http://www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/conferencecall-1-1-11.html .

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  Incognito

  Rick,

  The recorder was off but some were still on the call and had over an hour conversation with him.

  You have previously permitted the 'post call' to proceed with the recorder on. Why not this time?
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  22

  Is A 'Moderate' Opinion of the Governing Body Possible?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  radical circumstances push people into extreme frames of mind.. it seems to me that, for some time now, the governing body of jehovah's witnesses has been surrounded by increasingly more difficult circumstances and hardships.

  they have cut magazines, literature, sold off real estate, dumped long term bethelites, dumped paid subscriptions, railed against facebook, condemned college attendance, and begun to sell off branch offices.. a moderate, reasonable viewpoint of these changes is easy to come up with: the rank and file are broke, burned-out and dispirited.

  furthermore, the increasing depth of these changes would push any reasonable person to conclude that the organization is in quiet decline - far from any realization of heavenly intervention.. the above would logically push a reasonable person towards the conclusion that the 130 year doomsaying history of the watchtower society is a pious fraud at best.

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  Incognito

  JWs on the whole seem to think everything is either Black or White, right or wrong.

  In reality, few things are 100% right or 100% wrong.

  JWs cling to any example of the WT being correct on any matter as broad proof that it MUST BE God's organization and is being directed by Jehovah.

  I think that many JWs have invested so much of their lives in the religion, it's virtually impossible for them to even entertain the idea that it isn't what they were lead to believe.

  Many JWs often look to others as having 'special' insider knowledge and insight.

  A family member indicated that her cong had a visiting speaker from Bethel and he said: Armageddon is so close and that we wouldn't need to wait much longer (I think she mentioned no more than 5 years). She stated that 'he knew' and that her cong was privileged that he had provided them with this special info. I think it is now more than 5 years since this occurred and if we were to bring it up, I'm certain that she wouldn't recall the statement ever being made.

  A recent conversation with a JW acquaintance revealed that instructions recently given from the KH platform are that 'although we may not understand the reasons, if the Faithfull Slave instructs us to do something, DO NOT ANALYSE OR QUESTION but to carry it out, whatever it is without hesitation'.

  My immediate thoughts went to 'Kool-Aid' cults.

  Although this JW guy seemed all proud to be informed of this new found information, I expressed the silliness of the statement and my disgust in the expectation of not using our brains and reasoning abilities as God had intended and instructed. Although this same guy would be the first to criticize any other group or religion for making a similar statement, the WT is not held to the same standard.
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  9

  How to find someone

  by peacefulpete in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  what suggestions can you offer as to how to find a girl i knew as a child.

  i know she married at least twice and do not know any name other than her maiden name.

  she was in wisconsin about 20 years ago but can't say since.

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  Incognito

  You might try www.classmates.com .
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  113

  High Profile Case: Seeking Reinstatement

  by headisspinning in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  but our situation is very difficult and quite high profile.... i was raised as a jw and my mother was very strict and abusive.

  i got baptized at age 14.. my mother actually called on my (present) husband's mom in service.

  she was on the initial call resulting in his mom coming in the truth and him being raised in it from about age 8 or 9.. despite a very abusive step-father, he followed his mom's lead and came into the truth.

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  Incognito

  While she was on this site, she was treated with more love and respect then she'll ever receive at the Kingdom Hall and I think that will leave a very strong impression.

  I wish her well but I predict that at every meeting she attends from now on, she will have moments thinking of what she learned on this site. Since she specifically mentioned the 'conscience class' she'll begin to wonder who in her congregation is attending but going through the motions and doesn't actually believe.

  She'll try to forget what she learned and may be able to disregard it for a time, but she'll be back.

  You can't unlearn what you already know and you can't put toothpaste back into the tube.
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  113

  High Profile Case: Seeking Reinstatement

  by headisspinning in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  but our situation is very difficult and quite high profile.... i was raised as a jw and my mother was very strict and abusive.

  i got baptized at age 14.. my mother actually called on my (present) husband's mom in service.

  she was on the initial call resulting in his mom coming in the truth and him being raised in it from about age 8 or 9.. despite a very abusive step-father, he followed his mom's lead and came into the truth.

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  Incognito

  Apostate is anyone who leaves their former religion.-- That include the founder of the jw's, Russell.

  That includes Jesus, the greatest Apostate that ever lived.