Diogenesister, my last contact with Bethelites, they joked that they had a betting pool as to how long a unmarried "sister" at Bethel would last as unmarried, it turned out it was six months.
Posts by blondie
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24BadAss Bethelites, did they really peak in the 1960's?
by was a new boy inin the 70's a bethel elder told me that every morning in the 60's the paint and scaffold crew, (which was located on the 5th floor of building 4) would go up to the roof and walk around the perimeter on top of the ledge, which i doubt was more than 12" wide.
then they'd go render sacred service to jehovah..
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the name Jehovah: magical?
by enoughisenough indidn't know the best subject area to put this question under....i was listening to a discussion on youtube the other day while working, so not getting every point ....part of what was talked about was the word jehovah, ( not being the most accurate translation of yhwh ) was however pushed by illuminati /secret societies for its use in magic.
(as i informed, i wasn't getting the whole conversion as i also had attention elsewhere and some of the conversation was hard to follow.
) so i am wondering if anyone on here has more information on the subject they care to share.
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blondie
As recently as November 2021 study edition p. 23-24, the WTS share this experience, "Consider the experience of a sister named Vero, who lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Vero, her unbelieving husband, and their 15-year-old daughter had to flee their village when it was attacked by a militia group. Along the way, the family came to a roadblock where the militia detained them and threatened to execute them. When Vero began to cry, her daughter tried to calm
her by praying out loud and by repeatedly using Jehovah’s name in her prayer. When she finished, the commander of the militia group asked, “Young girl, who taught you to pray?” She replied, “My mother did, using the pattern that is found at Matthew 6:9-13.” The commander said, “Young girl, go with your parents in peace, and may Jehovah your God protect you!”" -
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Will the GB Eventually "observe" Tithing?
by Sea Breeze infound this on fb from the recent losch talk.
time for a new business model?.
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blondie
In the past, the WTS used to have an article in the November issue of the study WT. The last time I can find was November 2017 p. 18-19. I don't know if they dropped this without saying anything about it. It was called charitable planning (retirement plans, estates, outright donations, conditional donation arrangement (donor can ask for it back), etc. It was timed for November, so jws would be encouraged to give in time for claiming for tax purposes that year. Some form of charitable giving, a brochure entitled Charitable Planning to Benefit Kingdom Service Worldwide has been prepared in English and Spanish. (I will put the link to that: https://donate.jw.org/ui/E/donate-home.html#/donate ) which is listed as discontinued in the Watchtower Online Library.
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New meeting format
by ExBethelitenowPIMA injust watched november broadcast very different order to the leaked agm .
be good if someone did a deep dive on the difference and why the changes?
i didn’t time the items but it should be easy to see if edited?.
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blondie
DOC
PIMO friends tell me that their Cong just asked all Pubs to complete a written form that commits them to a monthly contribution.
Do they have to put their name on it, or is this like when they ask for people to submit it without their name on it to see how much possible funds to use for Watchtower building projects, or local projects? If they have to put their name on it, it is not voluntary, it is making agreement to give that much money, maybe monthly. Then if name required, it would be tithing as I see it. I guess charging the congregation $8.50 per publisher is not generating enough funds for WTS expenses. And the WTS uses its normal pressure tactics, to GIVE MORE, like the DO MORE tactic. As long as jws can give anonymously, they will give what they want, if tithing starts, I wonder how that will go over?
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Missing WT's on JW Org
by joey jojo inwhen i browse jw org, the following years of watchtower magazines are missing from the drop-down menu:.
1987 - 1990.
1997-1998.. i dont want to install any libraries from jw org because of spyware concerns.. are these years included in the downloadable libraries?.
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blondie
Makes me wonder why those volumes left out?
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Israel vs Hamas
by Riley inwe might have russians involved in the middle east and are attacking israel.. wait.. i thought the watchtower and tract society was the central figures in the end times.
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not that i believe in any of this nonsense but any news in jw world about how the evangelical narrative might be playing out closer than the wts stupidity.
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blondie
Jesus in anyone's bible said this about being able to pinpoint his return:
Matthew 24:44 (RNWT) On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.
In W05 10/1 p. 21, the WTS says this (remember 1975 and how the WTS said different then?)"Regarding events that would occur during the time of the end and that would lead up to his coming to execute judgment, Jesus gave this warning: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.” (Matthew 24:42, 43) So Jesus likened his coming to the arrival of a thief—unexpected."
This disturbed me pre 1975, why the WTS was focusing on 1975 as the date when Armageddon was most likely to come, and privately kept my doubts to myself. Now the song is different after 1975 did not come at their suggested time. Many jws were disappointed too, to the point of the WTS numbers showed 2% worldwide decrease in publishers. I had one jw tell me that, Jesus said Christians would not know the day, but they would know the "year."! Not in print in any WT publications, but was an idea repeated informally to ease some jws concern. This is why not to believe WTS interpretations of scriptures.
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TODAY is my 56th anniversary of GOING TO PRISON as a Jehovah's Witness Conscientious Objector
by Terry inwhat happened to jehovah’s witness young men and why did it happen?______in the 1960s men of draft age were called upon to either serve in the military (during the vietnam war) or to comply with the alternate service option: serving in a hospital or community in need.. non-jehovah’s witnesses were faced with only one refusal: military service.jw boys and young men were instructed (in private) to refuse the alternate civilian service as well.
the superior authorities had made this exemption for people of conscience.the law was clear on this.
if we worked in a hospital community we would be free to go about our witnessing ministry - if we double-refused: we would languish in prison.a no-brainer to them.
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blondie
Thanks for sharing your experience, Terry. Many jws and ex-jws did not live in that period, like we did. The days of a draft in the US, was eliminated with the set up of a volunteer army. The WTS has been very hypocritical in the case of how it handled similar issues in Mexico and Malawi.https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/malawi-mexico-oath-allegiance.php
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Thought on “0 hours” reporting
by FFGhost inso everyone knows the “big news” of this past weekend, no more reporting of hours, placements, return visits, etc.
beginning november 1, jws just tick a box indicating whether they “shared in any form of the ministry during the month”.. so there was a brief comment by a redditor that seems like a brief joke “throwaway comment” but after thinking about it….why not?.
the idea is, what is “any form of the ministry”?
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blondie
Anony Mous, that is an accurate of how pioneers and others would "count" time. I felt uncomfortable doing that as well as another woman, so we would go together just us 2. I was even counseled once, for not going with the group though the elders knew this was going on, and even suggested that this procedure be followed, wow! As to being demoted for being fat, that was decided mostly behind the scenes, and was not officially required by the WTS, they would just come up with another more plausible reason. That happened to 2 elders I knew. Though the man (brother) living at the assembly hall to oversee immediate needs or provide security, was 5'6 and weighed about 230 pounds, he was not removed. This is how the WTS does a dance around, they focus on that because someone is overweight does not mean they are a "glutton" which is the term used in the bible W08 9/15 p. 23 "Gluttony is a mental attitude, one marked by greedy or excessive indulgence. Thus, it is determined, not by someone’s size, but by his attitude toward food. A person may be of normal size, or even be thin, and yet be a glutton. On the other hand, in some cases being overweight is the result of an ailment, or hereditary factors may contribute to obesity. A key issue is whether a person, whatever his or her weight, is excessively greedy as regards eating.—also
W04 11/1 p. 31
Part of article: "For example, obesity may be a sign of gluttony, but that is not always the case. One’s being overweight may be the result of an ailment. Hereditary factors may also contribute to obesity. We should also keep in mind that obesity is a physical condition, while gluttony is a mental attitude. Obesity is defined as “a condition characterized by excessive bodily fat,” whereas gluttony is “greedy or excessive indulgence.” Thus, gluttony is not determined by someone’s size but by his attitude toward food. A person may be of normal size or may even be thin and yet be a glutton. Furthermore, what is viewed as the ideal weight or shape varies considerably from place to place.
What are signs of gluttony? A glutton routinely shows a lack of restraint, even gorging himself on food to the point of feeling very uncomfortable or becoming sick. His lack of self-control indicates that he has no real concern about the reproach he brings upon Jehovah and the good reputation of His people. (1 Corinthians 10:31) On the other hand, a person who overeats on a few occasions would not automatically be viewed as a “greedy person.” (Ephesians 5:5) Nevertheless, in the spirit of Galatians 6:1, such a Christian might need help. Paul states: “Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness.”"
Just reporting, not supporting
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Women in JW Ministry
by NotFormer inwomen make up the main population of the kingdom halls, and the pool of young males willing to step up to "serve" is drying up.
what is the likelihood of "new light" on jw women in ministry roles formerly held only by males?.
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blondie
This is it, if there are not enough qualified men (baptized and in good standing), the elders can have a woman do certain tasks. Such as audit the congregation's financial info, required by the WTS. In one case the COBOE was put in charge of this task, but his accountant wife did the work and he signed off on the report.
I was in a small congregation where there was only one elder, no MS, and no other baptized men. A sister, moderated a book study (did not ask auxiliary questions, just those in the publication. Paragraphs were read by sisters in rotation at the study, or by one sister if not all good readers, she handled the magazines/books handout for the congregation. The sound system was minimal, also a sister handling. But these were not considered 'appointments' and as soon as a brother qualified, he would take over (being trained by the sister unofficially. If there was a judicial situation, the circuit overseer would select 2 other elders from nearby congregations to make up the committee of 3 or he would make up one of the 3. For many years, there were few qualified men and some congregations were all women. So I am paraphrasing how to handle that per the WTS. Unbaptized men were not to be used though.
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Noah + new understanding
by dothemath inso they mentioned noah couldn’t have preached to all the population back before the flood.
do you think they might start using common sense regarding not being able to get every animal type on the ark from the whole world?.
maybe the poor sloth from south america didn’t have to crawl all the way?
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blondie
What does the WTS say about today and reaching everyone? *** w00 1/15 p. 13 par. 17 "Keep on the Watch" ***
Fifth, we see a global preaching work being accomplished, which Jesus said would take place just before the end of this system. Jesus stated: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) Today, that prophecy is in the course of fulfillment on an unprecedented scale. True, untouched territories still exist, and it may be that in Jehovah’s due time, a large door leading to greater activity will open. (1 Corinthians 16:9) Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23. (When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, you will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives.)