LHG, I agree with all those points. "some ‘worldly’ person’s nice house could be theirs after Armageddon." I would speak up respectfully. Of course, they avoided me and I was glad, I did not want to be in a "car group" with them. I would mention that none of us are guaranteed a place in "paradise," that we have to be faithful to the end, and our faithfulness is not determined by saying we are one of Jehovah's witnesses, spend time in preaching, and then do things in secret, thinking we are safe because the elders don't know what we are doing. Supposedly, we have learned that god sees all things and knows what we think, our heart condition" I was not part of the in group for sure.

18

Verdict on the 2025 convention

by gavindlt in

final thoughts after 15 hours of the 2025 assembly.

after dedicating 15 hours to the 2025 assembly, i walked away with a heavy sense of spiritual emptiness.

the only part that managed to stir anything within me was a single video on day one titled “what does jesus see in you?”—a piece with sentimental appeal, but still surface-level at best.. .

blondie

HiddiesWife, do you any links to that? I'd like to be able to share with others who need more proof. I don't doubt it, I wonder if they did that with the child sexual abuse WT cases in court.

26

SDAs Campaigning in my Area

by NotFormer in

not even as active as the jws (whom i have not seen for around a year now), nevertheless i get an occasional leaflet or other publication in my letterbox that seems to be seventh day adventist in origin.. the booklet i received the other day was entitled "national sunday law".

i also had received this book years ago when i had some dealings with the sdas.. from reddit: "national sunday law involves a conspiracy theory which alleges that the united states government is on the verge of enacting a national blue law that would make sunday a day of rest and worship.

the theory depends on the idea that the pope is the antichrist and the mark of the beast is worshipped on sunday.

blondie

The period of the Second Great Awakening, saw some of these religions begin and others had off shoots of established religions. Mormons (LDS), Millerites, Second and Seventh Day Adventists. Baptist, Anglican, and others categorized as are millenarian restorationists Christian groups.

26

SDAs Campaigning in my Area

by NotFormer in

not even as active as the jws (whom i have not seen for around a year now), nevertheless i get an occasional leaflet or other publication in my letterbox that seems to be seventh day adventist in origin.. the booklet i received the other day was entitled "national sunday law".

i also had received this book years ago when i had some dealings with the sdas.. from reddit: "national sunday law involves a conspiracy theory which alleges that the united states government is on the verge of enacting a national blue law that would make sunday a day of rest and worship.

the theory depends on the idea that the pope is the antichrist and the mark of the beast is worshipped on sunday.

blondie

WingCommander, my family were Bible Students when Russell was living. They had the Studies in the Scriptures in their library. I read them all, and it was cuckoo land; but then a lot of religions started in that time period that were cuckoo land.

33

The Governing Body is Restructuring the Org.and encouranging young ones to REACH OUT!

by liam in

the governing body just doesn't let up on encouraging the young children to reach out to do free labor for the organization.

so another generation of young people with ruined lives.

another generation of young people that will get old and wake up in their 50s to realize they were in a religious doomsday cult.. and they are getting rid of some old workers that ran the branches of the organization, and giving them different assignments or maybe they are just sending them home, who knows.

blondie

LHG, the WTS does this to soothe their conscience. "You are correct that the “WTS passes the buck to..nebulous congregation(s) out there”… What the hell do they care?"

75

Why do they want to kill all the White People?

by liam in

the hatred against whites is escalating to an unprecedented degree.

in south africa, they are calling for complete genocide of white people.

for some reason they are targeting all the white farmers.. i’m so glad trump noticed.

blondie

https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-trumps-evidence-videos-do-not-show-genocide/a-72642309

Fact check: Trump's South Africa 'genocide' claim is wrong

Claim: Claim: "These are the -- these are burial sites right here," Trump said (White House videominute 24:25), while describing a footage during a meeting with Ramaphosa at the White House on May 21. "Each one of those white things you see is a cross. And there's approximately a thousand of them. They're all white farmers, the family of white farmers," added Trump.

Fact check by Deutsche Welle: DW Fact check: False Trump's claim was already circulating on social media before Ramaphosa's state visit to the US. On May 12, a user on X explained that every cross stands for a murdered white farmer in South Africa. The video posthas been viewed almost 55 million times at the time of publishing. A reverse image search shows that the footage used by Trump with the white crosses on the side of the road was already shared on social media in 2020 and 2023. These are not, as Trump claims, the gravesites of more than a thousand murdered farmers. Instead, the scenes show a protest near the South African city of Newcastle on September 5, 2020. The protest was triggered by the murder of married couple Glen and Vida Rafferty on their farm in August 2020.

By Astrid Prange De Oliveira

DW

3 days ago

18

Verdict on the 2025 convention

by gavindlt in

final thoughts after 15 hours of the 2025 assembly.

after dedicating 15 hours to the 2025 assembly, i walked away with a heavy sense of spiritual emptiness.

the only part that managed to stir anything within me was a single video on day one titled “what does jesus see in you?”—a piece with sentimental appeal, but still surface-level at best.. .

blondie

Quotes from WT about loyalty to organization: https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/trust-governing-body.php An example: During the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak to us personally. He will likely provide direction through his appointed representatives. That will hardly be the time to second-guess the direction or to view it with skepticism, Watchtower 2022 Feb pp.2-7

To obey is better than a sacrifice.—1 Sam. 15:22.

If organizational changes test your loyalty, what should you do? Fully support the organizational changes. During their travels in the wilderness, the Kohathites carried the ark of the covenant before all the people. (Num. 3:29, 31; 10:33; Josh. 3:2-4) What a privilege! However, things changed for them when the Israelites settled in the Promised Land. The Ark no longer needed to be moved regularly. So the Kohathites were assigned other duties. (1 Chron. 6:31-33; 26:1, 24) There is no record that the Kohathites complained or demanded a more prominent role because of their rich heritage. What lesson can we learn? Wholeheartedly support changes that Jehovah’s organization makes, including any that affect your assignment. Find joy in whatever assignment you are given. Remember that your assignment does not reflect your worth as a person. Jehovah values your obedience far more than any assignment. w22.11 23 ¶10-11

35

Reddit thread on convention video urging cutting off contact with Faders

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

i just read this.

don’t know if anybody here has seen the video.. the intended result of this is to obviously scare ‘faders’ out of the shadows.

now, they are being threatened with loss of association with their loved ones and friends.

blondie

Social rejection, reminds me of the "marking" concept where the elders would give a talk (old service meeting) without naming names about a behavior if seen practiced (dating non-jw), jws can avoid social contact with them. There has been a change recently, that only individuals can mark another individual, not an indirect one by the elders in a meeting. "

Questions From Readers (WT August 2024) p.7

Is the marking described at 2 Thessalonians 3:14 an action taken by the congregation or by individual Christians?

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, saying: “If anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked.” Previously, we said that this was direction to the elders. If someone continued to ignore Bible principles in spite of repeated counsel, the elders might give a warning talk to the congregation. Thereafter, individual publishers would not socialize with the marked one.

However, an adjustment is needed. Paul’s counsel evidently refers to an action that individual Christians should take under certain circumstances. So there is no need for the elders to give a warning talk. Why the change? Consider Paul’s counsel in its context.

Paul noted that some in that congregation were “walking disorderly.” They were disregarding inspired counsel. During a previous visit, he gave this order: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.” Yet, some were still refusing to work to support themselves, although able to do so. Also, they were meddling in the affairs of others. How were Christians to treat such disorderly ones?—2Thess. 3:6, 10-14.

“Keep this one marked,” said Paul. The Greek word suggests taking special notice of this person. Paul addressed this directive to the whole congregation, not just the elders. (2 Thess. 1:1, 3:6) So individual Christians who might have noticed a fellow Christian disobeying inspired counsel would choose to “stop associating with” the disorderly one.

Did this mean that the person was treated as someone who was removed from the congregation? No, for Paul added: “Continue admonishing him as a brother.” So individual Christians would still associate with the marked one at meetings and in the ministry, but they would choose not to associate with him for social occasions or recreation. Why? “That he may become ashamed,” said Paul. As a result of the marking, the disorderly Christian might become ashamed of his conduct and change his ways.—2 Thess. 3:14, 15.

How might Christians today apply this counsel? First, we would want to make sure that the conduct in question is actually “disorderly,” as Paul described. He was not talking about those who differ from us in matters of conscience or personal preference. And he did not mean those who simply have hurt our feelings. Rather, Paul had in mind specifically those who deliberately chose to disobey clear, God-given counsel.

Today, if we notice a fellow Christian who shows such a disobedient spirit, we will make a personal decision not to associate with him for social occasions or recreation. Since this is a personal decision, we would not discuss it with others outside of our immediate family. And we would still associate with that individual at our meetings and in our ministry. When he corrects his course, we would then resume normal association.

blondie

Posts by blondie

Jehovah's Witnesses, Their Position, The Facts

Questions From Readers (WT August 2024) p.7

Is the marking described at 2 Thessalonians 3:14 an action taken by the congregation or by individual Christians?