slimboyfat

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Posts by slimboyfat

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  32

  Stagnation of JWs in Britain

  by darkspilver in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is an 'off-topic' continuation of this discussion.

  steve2: in britain, growth of publishers is slowing down, if not stagnating.

  darkspilver: .

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  slimboyfat

  Baptisms have fallen sharply in Britain over the last couple of decades.

  I seriously doubt there will be another year of positive growth in Britain. But I also doubt whether they'll continue publishing the figures in any case.
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  43

  Independent Catalonia

  by mikeflood in

  1. social
  2. current

  it's a deja vu from matthew..."for nation shall rise against nation.....".

  it seem that periods of instability occur around the world periodically.

  since the arab spring to brexit and trumpism people want change.

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  slimboyfat

  They should have allowed the Catalonian people a democratic vote on their future. What happened to the right to self determination?

  If Spain remains a unitary state now, it comes on the back of violence, confiscated ballots, intimidation, political arrests. That is surely unsustainable. If it is maintained by force then it's a darker Europe and a darker world.
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  43

  Independent Catalonia

  by mikeflood in

  1. social
  2. current

  it's a deja vu from matthew..."for nation shall rise against nation.....".

  it seem that periods of instability occur around the world periodically.

  since the arab spring to brexit and trumpism people want change.

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  slimboyfat

  An independent Catalunya would never be admitted to the EU - who would they trade with, Cuba?

  It’s a disgrace that Spain has not been expelled or at least censured by the EU for their actions: assaulting voters, confiscating ballots, arresting political opponents. People should think very carefully before giving this a free pass just because they think that the people seeking sovereignty are “idiots”. Who knows when the state may think you’re an “idiot” for seeking some democratic goal.
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  26

  Some more background information on Geoffrey Jackson

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  born in 1955 jacko was baptized at 13 years of age in 1968.his life story, printed in the august 2015 watchtower doesn't state the year in which he married, it's fairly general when talking about it.

  hmmm, i wonder why?i've come across a recording of an interview with jacko at a hall dedication in another part of the us in 2009 which provides some further information.he married his first wife, jenny, in 1974 at the grand old age of 19. no wonder they didn't want to print it in the watchtower.unfortunately his first wife, jenny, was diagnosed with cancer in 1999.in 2003 jacko was sent a letter from the gb stating he was being transferred to hq and his wife would be given appropriate work.

  he initially didn't know why they were being called to hq as he felt they were being very productive in their fijian paradise, he states that they brought 75 people into the truth.

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  slimboyfat

  Where is this talk is it online?
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  26

  Some more background information on Geoffrey Jackson

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  born in 1955 jacko was baptized at 13 years of age in 1968.his life story, printed in the august 2015 watchtower doesn't state the year in which he married, it's fairly general when talking about it.

  hmmm, i wonder why?i've come across a recording of an interview with jacko at a hall dedication in another part of the us in 2009 which provides some further information.he married his first wife, jenny, in 1974 at the grand old age of 19. no wonder they didn't want to print it in the watchtower.unfortunately his first wife, jenny, was diagnosed with cancer in 1999.in 2003 jacko was sent a letter from the gb stating he was being transferred to hq and his wife would be given appropriate work.

  he initially didn't know why they were being called to hq as he felt they were being very productive in their fijian paradise, he states that they brought 75 people into the truth.

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  slimboyfat

  Loraini looks older than 34 in this picture. I'd say mid 40s.

  https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ws20150815/let-many-islands-rejoice/
  
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  40

  Faced with the reality of mortality

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  how have you all coped with facing the reality of our mortality?.

  most of us were raised to firmly believe we would never get old or die... so here we are now having to face the reality that are getting older... we are going to die.. sometimes it really pisses me off that we were never helped to comprehend this most basic of facts.

  we were given a utopian dream as a "fact", and hence never taught how to face our inevitable futures.... thoughts?.

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  slimboyfat

  It's strange but I think I have better grounds for believing consciousness will continue now, than I did when I was a believing JW.

  Like I have said elsewhere (to general derision and lack of engagement) if existence is comprised purely of material substances and forces, then we are immortal in a sense. The sense being that, if such properties comprise who we are in toto, then the extension or recapitulation of who we are is merely a technical question that will be solved one day. If there is a God then he could already solve it if he wishes. If there is no God then intelligent life will progress to the point where it meets the challenge itself. Either way we face immortality. If materialism is incorrect then that opens up yet more possibilities. But all lead back to immortality.

  I understand that death may be the permanent end of consciousness. I don't honestly know how that could be the logical outcome. But I must acknowledge that since my understanding and knowledge are limited, it is possible there is a scenario which I cannot understand or do not have enough knowledge to apprehend.

  Conversely the alternative to mortality is also a bit frightening, What does the universe or God have in store for us?
  
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  27

  Asking for help with wife

  by Are you serious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hello everyone, my wife wants nothing to do with my awakening.

  every time i try explaining something she tells me she doesn't want to hear it.

  i believe she's afraid of learning something she's not ready for.

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  slimboyfat

  Maybe aak: “have you ever thought that life outside the JWs might be better?” And listen to the answer.
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  28

  252 Congregations have closed in Germany since 2015

  by LevelThePlayingField in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is a video from down with the tower.

  it's excellent.

  enjoy.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0lvvy2qurm.

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  slimboyfat

  Japan has lost hundreds of congregations. Has there ever been an explanation for that?
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  38

  Is There Any Thing That Would Make A JW SERIOUSLY Question Their Religion?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i realize that jehovah’s witnesses have been dumbed down for long time now.

  .

  still, i think there must be something that would make them really question their beliefs, even their life.. i think that if witnesses were told they could take blood or that disfellowshipping was unloving, they might stop and take a hard look at everything they have sacrificed their lives for.. i know the organization has muddled these subjects before but the i think even die hard witnesses might start to second guess the governing body..

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  slimboyfat

  In my experience the main thing that will make JWs reconsider their beliefs is a personal injustice. I have not really experienced any injustice. Well nothing major. Which is probably why I haven’t left.

  But I’ve always been a curious person. So the idea that apostate information was “no go” was never a flyer for me. If it’s the truth then it’s the truth and it can withstand criticism. The idea that there is some information you shouldn’t access just seemed like such nonsense.

  But most JWs display an astonishing lack of curiosity about their own religion. It always amazes me. I can’t figure out what is going on psychologically when intelligent JWs refuse to consider counter arguments. Is it overconfidence? Is it fear? I can’t understand it.
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  13

  A wave of momentum!

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it certainly has to be one of the most exciting times to live in as an awake ex witness!.

  the wave of momentum we are part of as thousands awaken from the hold of the society is a joy to be a part of.

  the internet helps us to see that we are not alone.

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  slimboyfat

  I've been reading this and other online websites, blogs, channels (you name it) since 2000. There has always been a steady flow of JWs out of the organisation. In Scotland there was flurry of exits around 8 years ago. (iCeltic, PasswordProtected, Ninja, HoboKen, and other anonymous members, including many who haven't posted in a long time) I don't think this site in particular is more active now than in the past. Many prominent former JWs have outgrown the community and moved on: in particular AlanF, Narkissos, LitteToe Leolaia and so on. Some have passed on too including Mouthy and Farkel and many more from a pre-Internet generation of leavers.

  What has changed dramatically in the last couple of years is the Watchtower organisation itself. It seems the steady drip of leavers has finally caught up with them. Plus JW children are not getting baptised in the same numbers. That combined with their abysmal results from preaching means they are definitely at a turning point. The financial woes on top of everything else are what might cause a sudden collapse, rather than a gentle demise, as some other religions have enjoyed.

  Youtube, Facebook and Reddit are also relatively recent developments that I've begun to take an interest in. In total the online ex-JW community probably is much larger and doesn't rely on old style forums so much.

  Having viewed developments for so long, I had adopted the common wisdom that things will never change at Watchtower and collapse is not a realistic outcome. The developments of the last couple of years have concivned me otherwise. The organisation has already undergone dramatic changes. What's more these changes do not seem strategic or planned. They are short term measures in response to real financial and organisational difficulties. And in that context it's not unreasonable to wonder whether the measures Watchtower has taken will be enough to avert a serious organisational disintegration of some sort.

  So yes I think it is appropriate to talk about a wave of momentum at the moment.