Posts by Athanasius

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.

45

It's official - JWs have least common sense of any religious group in US

by slimboyfat in

some fascinating results in the latest pew research.

(how did i miss this before?

) including that jws rely on their religion the most of any group to tell right from wrong and rely on common sense the least.

Athanasius

Hi SBF,

I've completed a 150 pages of the biography I'm writing on Rutherford. Finished his early life up to 1918. Not many people are aware of Rutherford's political career before joining the Bible Students. He ran for political office as a Democrat and once came within 100 votes of securing the Democratic nomination for State Legislator.

Though not successful in politics, Rutherford turned to religion, and JWs are still paying for Rutherford's

45

It's official - JWs have least common sense of any religious group in US

by slimboyfat in

some fascinating results in the latest pew research.

(how did i miss this before?

) including that jws rely on their religion the most of any group to tell right from wrong and rely on common sense the least.

Athanasius

One surprise was the political party affiliation of the JWs. In 2014 7% were Republicans or leaning in that direction, while over twice as many JWs or 18% were Democrats. However, reading further in the report reveals another interesting trend.

When asked about the size of government, 50% of the JWs favored bigger government, while 32% were for smaller government.

No doubt the Bethel lay-offs have contributed to their leftward political shift and the desire for more government among the JWs. But isn't it how they quickly turn to Satan's organization for assistance, rather than wait on Jehovah.

4

CLAM Instructions - They are irresponsibly stupid

by Listener in

there will be three presentations during the new christian life & ministry meeting.

they will be presented by two people and the gb has made specific instructions as to who can be involved in these presentations.

in all 3 presentations the same explicit instruction is given which is as follows -.

Athanasius

It also appears that a brother can't use a sister from the congregation in his presentation, unless she is a member of his family. That is also

5

An apple doesn't fall far from the tree

by WireRider in

http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com/decisions/ctrdivorce.html - the founder of the wt/jw and a reflection about his views of himself and life and the religion he built.

his legacy is alive and well, even today.. "while professing at all times to be guided by the word of god the undisputed evidence is that he would sulk for weeks at a time and not speak to his wife, and would resort to the pen to have any communications with her; instead of approaching her personally to try to secure reconciliation of their differences and praying with her as a godly man would have done, he went about among her associates and told them she was under the hypnotic influence of satan in the form of her sister, who was his father's second wife.

" a little bent.. i remember reading an article that had photo copies of a local area news paper that included the facts, from court, that she filed for divorce due to cruelty, an in part because russell would lock himself self in a bedroom with the 14 year old "house girl" that cleaned.

Athanasius

Regarding Rose Ball, she was born in 1869 (same year as Joe Rutherford), and was 20 years old when she first came to live with the Russells in 1889. Nor was she an orphan, as both her parents were alive in 1897 when she married Ernest Henninges.

Russell sent theto couple to Australia, where In 1908 Rose and her husband defected and formed the New Covenant Publishing Company and the New Covenant Fellowship. Henninges died in 1939 and Rose passed in 1950.

16

"You Became So Beloved to Us"

by wifibandit in

pixel and wifibandit present, in its original form, gmb_e.mp4 "you became so beloved to us".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odfdkl8lwpk.

Athanasius

Funny how they try to compare the CO to the apostle Paul. Paul worked at tent making and supported himself and was not a burden on the congregation. The CO expects to be supported by the congregation by "green handshakes" plus he gives the congregation his expense account for reimbursement.

28

Ray Franz and You.

by John Aquila in

if ray franz would have kept his mouth shut and not disfellowshipped, and remained part of the governing body how many of us ex-jw would still be trapped in the cult?.

would we have come this far?.

Athanasius

When I first read Ray's book Crisis of Conscience, I already had serious doubt about the Org. It was the spring of 1984, Watchtower Vatican II was over, and the purges were in full swing. Reading COC was liberating, and That fall I resigned as an elder and quickly faded.

However, If Ray Franz had not been DFd, and kept his mouth shut about the Org, my exit would have been delayed a year or two. I probably would have stayed in a little longer, hoping for reform. But there is no way that I would have stayed in with the doctrinal changes and the oppressive atmosphere that developed after Ray's removal from the GB.

31

Crisis of Consience market price (we are in a bull market)

by NewYork44M in

jw
friends

i was considering getting another copy of one of ray's books and was shocked about the market value.

is ray's book worth $1,000?

perhaps, but it is a bit shocking.

Athanasius

Back in the 1980s when COC first came out, our local public library had three copies available. But within 6 months they had all been lost. Rumor had it that the JWs were swiping copies from the library and destroying them. The library purchased two more copies of COC, that also disappeared. Back then you could get a hardcover copy for $10, so whoever was stealing them wasn't doing it for profe.

If the JWs are buying up copies of COC and destroying them, it would help make the book rare and inflate the price for second hand copies.

27

To My Generation: Jehovah's Witnesses of the Vietnam War Era

by Hold Me-Thrill Me in

jw
friends

to my generation: jehovah's witnesses of the vietnam war era .

if you were a young brother in the late 60's you then remember the burden of the draft and the prospect of going to jail for refusing on religious grounds to be called up.

in those days we were taught that to do community service was conscientiously the same as joining the military and so we were told to refuse such exemptions.

Athanasius

During the Vietnam war the Watchtower considered Alternate Service to be a compromise. Therefore, JWs had to refuse it and go to prison. In order to avoid the cost of sending JWs to prison, some judges merely sentenced the JW to perform community service rather than prison. I knew several JWs who ended up working in hospitals for two years as part of their sentence.

However, during World War II some JWs did serve in the military as medics. My non-JW dad said there were a couple of JWs in his outfit who were medics. But the Watchtower is noted for constantly changing the rules. So now Alternate Service is acceptable for JWs.

Like many other young JW men of that era, I pioneered and got married.

Also remember the 6 month Bible Study program. However, most JW study conductors in our congregation ignored the rule and continued studying with persons who never converted. After all it was easy time. Better than knocking on doors.

Unlike many JWs, I didn't get excited about 1975, felt it was going to be a bust, which it was.

By 1984 I'd had enough and resigned as an elder and