Posts by Incognito

When you say WT had to report their net worth of $1.6B, that was only 1 corporation, I don't recall which, I think maybe WTBTS of NY. I recall the Christian Cong of JW was an additional $500M.

Other WT corporations such as WTBTS of Pennsylvania were not named in the action so those values were not reported.

15

Jehovah's Witnesses always assume that I'm an inactive JW because I couldn't follow their rules

by Not_Culty in

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In an indoctrinated JW's mind, there can never be anything wrong with the religion or organization. As such, they can only speculate and accept the reason you are not attending is, there is something wrong with you or that you are too touchy and easily stumbled.

11

Question regarding WT policy of divorce in the Philippines

by joe134cd in

i was told the other day by a philippino work colleague, that to obtain a legal divorce in the philippines is so drawn out and expensive, that it can put it beyond the reach of most people.

most don’t even bother getting one.

so my question is what is the situation with jw who are in reality separated /divorced but in practical terms can’t legally finalise it..

Incognito

Even when there has been a legal divorce, JWs consider the couple to continue remaining married.

In the JW religion, the only valid reason for divorce is adultery. Unless one spouse has committed adultery, neither can pursue a romantic relationship with another person.

39

New releases at annual meeting??

by _Morpheus in

this has been mentioned in passing but it seems to deserve its own thread.. this year at the rc, no releases.

instead they wait to drop them at the annual meeting which isnt a even simulcast event.

what is their thinking?

Incognito

Maybe the AGM release announcement is a trial balloon.

Did the AGM attendees actually receive a new release or was a new publication only announced?

Similar to Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Google etc do for all new product announcements, WT could impliment an annual event to announce new publications and 'Nu Light', broadcast world wide at one time.

As mentioned, RCs take place over numerous months, resulting in some JWs (and XJWs) obtaining info and publications well in advance of JWs in other areas. A worldwide announcement could reduce suspicion that information some possess in advance of others, was not issued by WT but was 'made-up' by 'Apostates' in particular.

11

When is a church not a church?

by Lost in the fog in

the watchtower and jehovah's witnesses go out of their way to insist that they are not a church like the false ones of christendom.

so why don't they file an irs tax return?

because, according to guidestar they are exempt, since they are a church.

Incognito

For property tax exemption, it is often worded as 'place of worship'. This would then include not only 'Kingdom Hall' and 'Assembly Hall' but also synagogue, temple, mosque etc..

WT take additional advantage as they claim printing and administration facilities, warehouse and parking space, housing complexes and individual homes used for Bethel workers and visitors, and other non-worship uses, are also included in the exemption, only because they are owned by a religious organization.

I had previously seen Brooklyn newspaper articles refer to growing public dissatisfaction expressed to city hall regarding WT's tax exemption on the high number of local properties which resulted in area residents paying a disproportionate share of property taxes. I suspect WT were well aware of this and that may have influenced the decision to sell off Brooklyn properties and relocate to rural upstate locations.

Buying the contaminated property might be considered by WT as a means to offset lost property tax revenue complaints as that property might not have otherwise been cleaned-up without local government involvement and expense.

23

Funeral/Memorial at the Kingdom Hall ... Would you go?

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

let's say an aunt or uncle dies.

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let's say you barely knew them.. let's say their memorial service was held at the kingdom hall.. let's say if you attend, you have to deal with shunning from family and jws, and you are forced listen to them present their paradise promotional materials, and the dead person's "earthly hope™", and let's face it ... the heeby-jeebies of having to be in a kingdom hall again.. would you put yourself through it?

Incognito

Attendance is not necessarily for your benefit nor for the benefit to the deceased but is more a means to show your respect for the person and to offer support and condolence to the deceased's immediate surviving family.

If that person's family are all JWs who will shun me, then I will not attend and accept being treated in that manner but I may send them a card to acknowledge their loss. If the person's family does not shun or if there are 'worldly' family members, I may then decide to attend to show support to those people.

A funeral/memorial service of any religious denomination will usually contain information I and many other attendees may not necessarily agree with. I consider that presentation is not really for my benefit as a non-family attendee but is usually intended to comfort the person's immediate family, so they will feel that God has received their loved one in heaven or wherever they wish to believe he/she is going. During the service, I generally reflect on the positive interactions I've had with the person while living.

If there are personal stories about the deceased, I will listen to those as they are often funny and reflect on the person's personality. I may offer a comment to the officiant on enjoying that part of the service.

The funeral service itself usually affords minimal personal interaction while a pre-or-post service visitation typically will allow more interaction with the family.

24

Naked JW's day in court

by Moster in

jw
friends

the latest from the 'tea' drinkers in canada.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/police-were-monsters-who-would-kill-them-details-emerge-in-alberta-naked-kidnapping/ar-aaab1wh?li=aaggfp5&ocid=calheader.

i can hear them chanting now.

Incognito

If it was one person, I'd be thinking it was mental illness. A whole family is really weird...

Possibly, Folie à deux (Madness of two), but variations can affect more than two including whole families.

Wiki Link - Folie à deux

18

I'm considering putting off my leaving

by paradiseseeker in

jw
friends

i just wanted to share with you the thoughts that i've had lately.. my plan was to get a job, become independent and then leaving the org throughout this year 2018. i'm going to achieve the first step in a matter of weeks, the second one soon afterwards but maybe i will wait a little longer for the last one.. one year ago a friend of mine was reinstated.

we weren't very close friends back then, although we got along well.

but, since no many jws in my town want to hang out with him (because of his being a former disfellowshipped), we started to talk and go out more often and in a matter of half a year we've become very close friends, like brothers.

Incognito

I don't want to leave him alone now.

If you left the org, would you be leaving him or would HE leave you? Would he consider your feelings?

You do understand, a relationship with a JW is usually made conditional by the JW, not necessarily by the one that leaves?

If it were the other way around so you were recently reinstated but he wants to leave, would you abandon him just because he no longer wants to be a JW?

That means that I will probably wait until... summer 2019

Or maybe 2020 or 2025 or ...

There will never be an ideal time. Something will often arise to cause a person to doubt, reconsider and postpone.

44

Study Watchtower confirms shunning spiritually weak. How nice!

by Isambard Crater in

it really hurt to hear brothers and sisters commenting about this at the meeting yesterday.. "as in solomon’s case, one of the greatest threats to spirituality is friendship with those who do not understand or respect jehovah’s standards.

some may be associated with the congregation but may be spiritually weak.

others could be relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or schoolmates who are not worshippers of jehovah.

Incognito

During a circuit assembly now prob 20 years ago, an elder giving a part said that he and his family only associate with those that are stronger in the truth than they are. He was promoting that everyone in attendance adopt a similar attitude.

My thought at the time was this elder should be happy not everyone has that same attitude otherwise, no one would associate with his family since they are weaker in comparison to the JWs they hang-out with.