Posts by Athanasius

59

$1.2 billion coming, still 12 properties to go

by the girl next door in

but still, they ask for more at every opportunity.

send in that ice cream money kids!.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/12/4/sales-watchtower-headquarters-and-two-other-jehovah%e2%80%99s-witnesses-properties-could.

Athanasius

Since the Watchtower corporation refuses to make their financial records public, it's impossible to know where they stand financially.

I'd love to see their Balance Sheet. This is more valuable in determining a corporation's financial status than their Profit and Loss statement.

Until some Bethel insider defects with the Watchtower's financial records, we can only guess at what is happening inside the Watchtower Vatican.

However, something to keep in mind about the Watchtower, is that it has always had a captive audience for its products. Watchtower prints 8 million copies of a book or Bible and they know that most will be sold. Of course things worked better for them when they could set a fixed contribution price. That way they always made a profit on each sale. Maybe this income source is drying up. After the fixed price for Watchtower literature was dropped, maybe the JWs are donating less for the literature or not at all.

Regarding the $12,000 or more per day for use of Assembly Halls, are they really able to squeeze the JWs for the full amount?

155

Survey: How long were you in the cult vs what year you were baptized

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

hi people,.

i want as much data as possible on the effect of the internet on the time captured by the cult.. please answer the three following questions about yourself or about someone you know (for example, if your parents or grandparents were jw's and left).

1) were you raised as a jw, or did you convert?.

Athanasius

1. Born in. My mother converted to JWism before I was born, my father was not religious.

2. 1955 Baptised age 9.

3. 1984 woke up and left the JWs the same year.

29 years from baptism to exit.

Internet played no role in my awakening. Reading Crisis Of Conscience caused me to examine JWism and escape the Organizx.

34

Hypothetical question. There is no more guns on our streets, would the crime rate go down?

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

it would eliminate drive by's (gangs).

bank robbery.

( handing the bank teller a note, this is stick up without a gun).

Athanasius

ilovettatt2 posted two tables of interesting statistics of gun violence. What is notable is that the countries with little gun violence are basically homogeneous societies, unlike the US which is heterogeneous. Moreover, the US has perhaps as many as 12 million persons in the country illegally. We have people here from all over the world, who come from different political structures, different cultures, and different belief systems. People don't change over night. It takes time and education, education that problems are solved through the ballot box and not by the gun. None of the other developed countries listed in the table have these particular problems in such great numbers as the US.

It should also be noted that the US has taken in, legally and illegally, large numbers of persons from the countries that are listed as nations with high rates of gun violence. These people need time to adapt to their new country and learn that political problems are solved through the ballot box and not by gun violence. So to be fair one must compare the US with a nation that has a similar population mix.

It would also be interesting to see the statistics for France, which is surprisingly not listed in ilovettatt's tables.

Stricter gun laws are merely a band aid on the problem. Though it won't solve the problem overnight, education and better access to mental health facilities are the way to a permanent solution.

25

converting to catholic

by SloppyMcFloppy in

hello i was wondering if any ex jw have converted to catholic?

i have been tossing the idea around a bit and wondering if it was woth it from personal experience?

thoughts?

Athanasius

Hi SloppyMcfloppy,

Seven years after leaving the JWs I was confirmed in the Anglican Church (Catholic lite). Anglican services are similar to the RC Church, but we have a married clergy. However, since you're planning to marry a Roman Catholic, the RC Church may be a better choice for you.

194

For the Supporters of Those Who Love Jehovah

by lovesjehovah in

jw
friends

i am jehovah's witness, despite some of the questionable teachings, crimes, and other outlandish behaviors of specific people affiliated with the religion.

i know that my relationship with jehovah is not influenced by any outside factors.

i do not condone any crime.

Athanasius

Rather lengthy, but interesting thread. However, LJ most likely is a fringe JW wannabe. He likes JWism cafeteria style, and being on the fringe of the religion,can accept what doctrines and rules he likes, and disregard those he dislikes.

If he is truthful in what he posts about himself, then visiting this forum may help him to learn what real JWism is about. Then he canmake an educated decision regarding full association with the JWs.

10

Preach or Tithe- Publishers choice

by All for show in

jw
friends

my siblings and i have been talking about the money woes.

we have thrown around the idea for them to keep the preaching/pioneer arrangement to keep some busy.

to increase cash flow they can institute a new tithing arrangement.

Athanasius

Maybe the GB could devise a Watchtower version of selling indulgences. Or instead of reproving anddisfellowshipping, have the repentant JW pay a fine, the amount based on the seriousness of the sin.

49

Who would you vote for Today?

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

d. trump or h. clinton and why.. i would vote for gun slinging trump..

Athanasius

10

"Attn Lurkers- Terror, fear and your future- How terror groups and JW.org use similar tactics

by stuckinamovement in

jw
friends

we have nothing to fear but fear itself is a famous line uttered by franklin delano roosevelt during one of the usas most uncertain and scary time periods during the height of ww2..

fear can immobilize a person, make them afraid to help others in times of critical need.

fearfulness can change a persons personality forcing them to act in ways that they wouldnt otherwise.

Athanasius

Actually FDR's "We have nothing to fear but fear itself," quote was from his first inaugural speech of March 4, 1933, o six years before the start of World War II. FDR was trying to reassure the American people who were in the depths of the Great Depression.

9

Question about the Anointed. At one time they invited Anointed ones to Bethel for a special meeting.

by James Mixon in

what was the purpose for those meetings?

?

Athanasius

Perhaps this is what the OP had in mind. Back about 1973 when the Watchtower was preparing the 1975 Yearbook, they did consult with many old time JWs in the U.S. A., many who were "anointed," regarding their experiences in the early part of the 20th century. A friend's grandmother got a letter from the Watchtower asking her to relate her experiences as a JW. However, the Watchtower requested that she only relate positive experiences, and leave out anything negative.

The 1975 Yearbook of JWs had a detailed history of U.S. JWs from Russell's time to 1974. Because it included many personal experiences, the 75 YB is a more objective history of JWism in the U.S. than the Proclaimers Book. Still is leaves much to be desired if one wants a truly factual history of the JWs.

35

No Kingdom Halls would definitely work!

by John Aquila in

last night we were invited to a get-together with quite a few heavies attendingelders and regular pioneers.

there was beer and later some music.

everyone got relaxed and let down their guard and starting talking all kinds of non-theocratic stuff that you only discuss after a few beers.

Athanasius

Though I'm a bit skeptical about the OP's experience, when alcohol flows I've even seen COs do stupid things. But if it was a small group of JWs who actually trusted each other, it's possible that they would be more open in their discussion.

Of course in this situationif someone tattled, the others could excuse themselves by claiming they didn't realize that they had drunk so much, and blame it on the booze.