take a good look at the feb. 22 '05 awake magazine.
it's entitled "the role of mothers.
as educators".
Frenchbabyface-
If they do street work in your area, you could get one that way. Or just walk into a KH where you are not known, browse around the lit counter, act like a stranger interested in the magazines - then just request that issue if it is there.
Jeff
in alphabetical order:.
australia, austria, belgium, britain, canada, czech, denmark, finland, greece, hongkong, hugary, italy, japan, the netherlands, norway, portugal, puerto rico, romania, slovakia, sweden, switzerland, usa.
last year it was seven and now twentytwo countries with zero or negative growth.. remember when japan was growing by double digits each year?.
If you were contacted or your children by JWs wouldn't you do research on the internet?
I think this is the point, Confused. You hit it on the head!
Even for those of us who just 'knew' something was wrong in the organization, but couldn't pinpoint it, the internet was the answer. A few searches and mouse-clicks later we find all sorts of information. True, we may have been dubious for a while, but with time we began to investigate and prove these things.
And - viola - I and Mrs Jeff are out. So are many others.
Absolutely - if any religion ever came to my door - the first thing I would do is look up what I could find on the internet. I don't see how the organization can battle it successfully. The more they demonize it - the more appealling it will seem. And those on the outside don't care how much the organization demonizes it.
Thank the Lord for the internet!
Just my opinion
Jeff
one of the more amusing aspects of pretense maintenance in this "spiritual paradise" concerns comments made in the.
meetings.
they often give publishers the opportunity to project an image of what they would like others to think of them.
Meeting comments are often political. You can always tell when one is 'bucking to be an elder', by the 'depth' of his comments. Usually accompanied by a faithful wife starting to pioneer out of the blue.
Stage two is that the body of elders will 'highlight' him during the Co's visit - reading paragraphs at the book study from the platform, giving the instruction talk that week, called on seven times to comment at the Watchtower study that week.
Stage three is that he becomes the 'assistant' to all the elders needs. Invited to go along on 'shepherding' calls, always ready to 'fill-in' for the book study, ect.
The whole thing makes me sick!
Just my opinion
Jeff
this week's question is:.
if you were marooned on a desert island, what drink would you die for?.
1. shiraz.
Ozzie-
Just bot a bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz - never had it before - wifey said it was 'horrible' - I liked it ok - is THIS the shiraz to which you refer?
Not bad - but i like a chardoney (sp) better
Jeff
it's on witness world.com .
lol!
one of the fine brothers quickly told them it was because of the (gasp!
It can't be true. It says the Society joined the UN! How could anyone believe that?!! There must be apostates at the UN. Does the Society know about this? Why don't they get the letter removed?
This shows how close the end is, when the "beast" is persecuting Jehovah's people with lies like this. The apostates are trying to destroy our reputation by saying we compromised our neutrality with the "disgusting thing".
First of all - why would there be anyone at the UN interested in defaming the witness community?
Second - what does the writer think - that the Society controls the internet, and can command that anything offensive (whether true or false) be removed?
Third - the UN is a powerful organization. It could wield great power in slowing the work of JW's if it wanted to. Why would it bother with such an effort to scandalize?
Forth - the UN does not consider itself the 'disgusting thing'. From their perspective, organizations that become NGO's are honorable organizations that support the UN's efforts to meet it's objectives.
Fifth - How does this show that the end is near? To me it just shows that the WTBTS got caught in another lie and deception. Perhaps the writer need to read the history of the organization. Of course he would have to look outside the organizational literature for a 'real' history, and God forbid he ever does that!
Just my opinion
Jeff
i recently separated from my jw wife and filed for divorce.
(i am not a jw.
) my wife told someone at the kh and soon afterwards my son told me that she received a sheparding call.
GT-
While 'shepherding calls' would properly be used to correct and aid the sheep in staying in the flock - they are largely abused. Most notably they are a front for elders to uncover 'wrongdoing' and 'sin', and to begin the process of making sure the 'flock is protected' from spiritual 'leaven'.
She is probably wise to be cautious about them calling at a time that must have her somewhat vunerable.
Sorry to hear about your marital difficulties.
Jeff
well the news is getting around within the congregations about the awake!
going to a monthly beginning 2006.. some reactions from active jws:.
one sister actually dances a jig.
My best guess as to the 'real' reason for going to monthly Awake?
FINANCIAL!
In recent years they have made 2 significant changes in the magazine distribution process.
1- The end of mailed-subscriptions
2- Reducing Awake to monthly
In addition, recent years have seen a notable decline in the number of heavy books released. More brochures, ect. But less of the bound books. And the books have moved to perfect-bound style instead of the case-bound variety of previous years. All cost reducing efforts.
The change of subscriptions took the cost out of the hands of Brooklyn and into the hands of the individual to get these magazines distributed. The elimination of one issue of Awake per month represents a virtual 25% reduction in the cost of publishing magazines. Probably even more than that, since with this change will come the inevitable reduction of staff at the printing facilities. Even though this is 'volunteer' labor, there is still cost involved in housing, medical, ect to keep these boys at Bethel.
I think we see the financial wheels starting to squeek a little bit here.
Just my opinion
Jeff
i have not been a member of this forum long, but i am so glad to have stumbled upon it.
i have read a lot of your experiences and some have made me laugh, and some have made me cry, but for each and everyone i read, it spurs me on to put forward my own.
sorry if it is a bit long.
Pensive -
Welcome to the forum. You have captured the essence of the witness mind-control. I cannot relate to your experience precisely, as I have nothing in my past to compare. But I feel for you indeed.
My wife (and best friend) and I spent all our lives as witnesses. We left a little over a year back, after becoming convinced that the 'truth' does not dwell with any one group exclusively. Wifey and I have always been 'on the same page' - both during our decades as witnesses, and since leaving them. To me, that oneness of unity with your mate is crucial in this life.
I cannot advise, but some times it is better to 'cut your losses'. On the other hand - can he be made to see the need to look at the witness religion from a different angle?
I would recommend two books for you to read and pass on to him if possible;
Crisis of Conscience - Raymond Franz
In Search of Christian Freedom - Raymond Franz
Mr Franz was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's witnesses, and a full time witness for 45 years before leaving due to conscience. Many witnesses have been helped out of the organization by his kind words and clarity of understanding about the culture of JW's.
Jeff
well the news is getting around within the congregations about the awake!
going to a monthly beginning 2006.. some reactions from active jws:.
one sister actually dances a jig.
I have thought for a while now that the reason for 2 issues of both magazines was part of the mind control efforts of the Borg. There just is not much time left for the busy witness to read or think about anything else. It is also a great guilt-inducing method. If you find time to read let's say - the newspaper, but didn't read the latest magazines - great guilt would overcome you at times.
I seriously wonder here, if this change will allow some to think. But I suppose the org will make sure they fill the void somehow. Heaven forbid that a witness might find time to read the classics, as mentioned!
On the other hand - many witnesses don't actually read the Awake anyway. I know I rarely did!
Just my opinion
Jeff
has anyone else had to hide their xmas tree because their jw relatives can't pick up a phone?
i literally had to have my hubby distract them so i could shove the damn thing in a closet!!
everyone at some point in their lives has a movie moment, unfortunately for me, mine had to be a 3 stooges movie!!!!!
Curlygirl-
That is soooo funny! My wife thought we would do the tree thing this year - she bot a little 3 foot artificial. We put it in an area where it would not be seen from the road, ect. The local witnesses are shunning us, so she thought we would not have to worry.
I think she was worried though - I got up the morning after Christmas and the whole thing had been put away like there never was one there!
Funny how we keep dodging bullets from the organization after leaving isn't it? We do not care if they expell us - but we wish to keep intact family relations, so we are still playing their games.
Jeff
