My condolences Mulan. I will keep you in my prayers.
TheListener
JoinedPosts by TheListener
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135
My Dad died this evening
by Mulan ini thought i would let you know that my dad, passed away a little while ago, tonight, january 23. they called me at 6pm to tell me.
he had been failing rapidly for the past month, and had completely lost his hearing and was totally blind.
the dementia was extreme too, and he still knew me on thursday, but didn't wake up to know me in the following days.
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18
How the "Preaching Work" Will End
by metatron inif contributions to the watchtower keep falling and expenses rising, then:.
1) they will finally end the awake magazine completely.
( good riddance).
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TheListener
If I read Metatron's post correctly the preaching work would still be occurring, thus the friends would still have their busy work to do.
In fact, by using the Bible at doors with the tracts they can make an answer to their detractors.
Keeping the WT as an internal publication also helps because they could eventually cut out the KM altogether and wrap it into the WT magazine.
neat forecast.
I would like to add that I expect an increase in assemblies or conventions. I believe those are the real money generators.
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Many Questions
by urstruly inhi i'm new to this forum.
i've looked at other websites to and i see all this about the jw's, now i'm not one, i was raised a jw but made my own decision and my parents respected that.
i've read so many horror stories, but my life wasn't like that at all, as a matter of fact, when they first knocked on our door and my mother accepted a study our life changed for ever, it was for the best in many ways.
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TheListener
Welcome urstruly. You have strong opinions and aren't afraid to share them. I like that. We need that here.
I'll be honest, though, your post showed a true lack of knowledge regarding the effects of disfellowshipping and being considered disassociated. These are truly heartwrenching situations.
The comment you made about being free -
What does being free to you all mean? Being able to swear and live inmoral life?
Why does being free have to boil down to immorality and swearing? A witness can do those things if they choose to. Being free is about the mind. Being free is the ability you and I and so many others have to read and post on a site such as this without repurcussions from friends and family.
If you truly knew how devastating it is to lose your entire family and social network with a simple announcement at the beginning of the Service Meeting I don't think you would have been so strong in your judgment of some here. Yes, even though you issued a 'who am I to judge' disclaimer that is exactly what you were doing.
Perhaps you should ask some here who were born into witness families how much choice they really had about which religion to become. Common you say? Most parents expect their children to become the same religion they are you say? I agree. Therefore, when one gets disfellowshipped/disassociated for not agreeing with some doctrine or disassociated because of some disapproved action like joining the YMCA they are entitled to be frustrated and angry over their situation. A situation that they didn't really have much choice in. Nevertheless, they lose contact with loved ones and friends. When new converts are made in the field ministry, at which point is the doctrine of disfellowshipping discussed in depth? When is it explained that being expelled from the congregation means a complete and total cutting off? Where is it explained that you will have to meet with 3 elders forming a committee and be judged by them as repentant or not?
You see it is easy to dismiss many here as angry bitter people who should just move on. But, that is simplistic. We are doing an educational work. Our educational work is every bit as important as the Society's educational work. They are trying to save souls; so are we.
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41
What will be the next big 'new light'?
by yaddayadda init's been a while since the watchtower overlords made any serious doctrinal changes.
wts 'new light' seems to be somewhat cyclical, around every ten years or so.
it's been just over 10 years since the 1995 'this generation' change.
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TheListener
I believe they will keep taking on an "us vs. them attitude". In the face of low percentages both in growth and service time they will hunker down and become a more and more closed group.
Expect talks to get even stronger about witnesses having worldly association. After school activities - academic or sports and college included. They will begin to stress more witness association. While clamping down on actual parties and celebrations they'll encourge small get togethers by bookstudy groups. This way they seem to be encouraging upbuilding association while they're actually controlling the flock and watching them with the bookstudy overseer and his assistant.
Yes, they do all these things now but they will ramp up. The Society's only response to systemic problems has been to control things tighter. Expect this trend to continue.
IMHO
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TheListener
They appear to catalog many religious publications for research purposes. It acts much like a library.
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8
Wife feeling guilty over blood issue
by buffalosrfree inwell here we go again, i was in the hospital awhile back and wife found out that they give me two units of blood, and now .
for wome reason she is feeling guilty about it.
why she is feeling guilty i don't know she tried to explain it saying she is .
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TheListener
Perhaps you can explain to her that she needn't confess to the elders. The sin should be between you and Jesus. Or you, her and Jesus. You never know maybe she'll listen.
Good luck and I'm glad you took the blood and saved your life.
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TheListener
Is anyone a member? If so, please please pm me.
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21
So I've got this penny...
by AlmostAtheist inso i've got this penny.... it's a 1947d, a wheat back, like this one:.
i'm looking at it and wondering where it's been.
in 1947, you could get five pieces of candy for a penny.
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TheListener
never mind.
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48
Generation Change
by slugga ini left the org slightly before the change in the "generation that was alive in 1914" thing was announced and wondered, what were peoples in the congregations reactions after this was announced and did it you notice people falling away because of it?
has it had a damaging effect?
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TheListener
Even before the magazines were received by the local cong. there was excitement about new information that they contained.
Once everyone had their copy and read it, there wasn't a lot of discussion.
Frankly, not everyone (and by that I mean most) understood exactly what was being said. It wasn't until the WT study actually happened that most got the point.
Excited at new news but not stumbled by bumbling prophecy.
I know of one or two that left as a direct result.
I didn't bat an eye.
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TheListener
Welcome Flag. Congratulations on no mo more meetings.
Do you feel like you must be busy during meeting times? Or can you just watch tv and rest? Do you have family that still attend? How are they handling it?
Good luck