TheListener

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Posts by TheListener

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  20

  I just stumbled across this rabbit hole!

  by kairos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wow!.

  some of the comments i read were hard to stomach.. https://www.facebook.com/myministryideaz?fref=photo.

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  TheListener

  20% off, blowout sale, discount prices. The syrup they pour on the more sales they make.
  
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  18

  A coming out story to my mother.

  by JennyBoo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so i actually came out to my mother a few days ago.

  told her how i really felt about being a jw (jehovah's witness) and how i wasn't straight.

  i wasn't surprised by the disapproving response i got because really, i wasn't expecting any more.

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  TheListener

  Good for you JennyBoo. I'm happy for you. Telling your mom because it was something you needed to do for yourself is really mature. I hope you have a happy and fulfilling life.
  
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  16

  The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

  by TheListener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

  it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

  that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

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  TheListener

  Blackfalcon98 you give me hope for my own family members.
  
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  44

  It's Over Johnny....The Demise of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by ctrwtf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think i've mentioned before that from time to time my commute on the bqe takes me past the old factory buildings and the soon to be former headquarters building.

  i was struck the other day with how shabby they've become.

  even 25 columbia heights, still currently occupied, its facade is filthy.

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  TheListener

  If they invest the capital that was generated with building sales and raiding the local KHs they should be set financially for a long time.
  
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  31

  the Witch of Endor

  by Magnum in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  1sa 28:3-25 (nwt - not revised version).

  7 finally saul said to his servants: seek for me a woman who is a mistress of spirit mediumship, and i will go to her and consult her.

  then his servants said to him: look!

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  TheListener

  I think someone on this board did some research, which I can't find, that says the bible says it's wrong to communicate with the dead but it doesn't say it's impossible. Anyone else remember that?

  What about the transfiguration?
  
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  16

  The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

  by TheListener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

  it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

  that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

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  TheListener

  Vidiot I've thought about your post and think you are correct. They are giving the appearance of freedom to the outside world and allowing a small token amount of self expression while actually remaining as controlling and restrictive as ever.

  Sort of like when I was a dub I would tell anyone who said I was in a cult that they were completely wrong. One of the reasons I used was that I could read any material or watch any program I chose too. I reasoned that people in cults have restrictions on those things. But at the same time I would never have read or watched anything that wasn't approved by the society! I was fooling myself and looked foolish doing it.
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  16

  The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

  by TheListener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

  it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

  that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

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  TheListener

  The newer and younger members of the organization really believe that many of us that used to be witnesses make a lot of stuff up about the older rules or that their area is somehow different from where we were witnesses. They can't grasp that the rules really were different and many things that seem acceptable now were definitely looked down upon.

  I remember asking someone to turn a radio station off because it was playing a christian song. The song wasn't even offensive to my dub beliefs but because it was worldly and religious I knew that listening to it wasn't something that would make Jehovah happy.

  I do think that mainstreaming will have consequences. I think some of the odder more restrictive rules and regulations will have to disappear. I think things like thanksgiving, mothers and fathers day and birthdays will slowly become acceptable but not promoted. They want the new ones to remain dubs but the new ones also want to feel connected to the world around them. I guess we could blame it on the internet and mobile technology.
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  16

  The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

  by TheListener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

  it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

  that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

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  TheListener

  Even my family who have been dubs for decades are hesitant to remember the old rules. I've taken the opportunity once in awhile when they show me something on the web or I see them using a tablet to prepare for the meetings to mention how much has changed.

  The response? A blank expression followed by something like 'what do you mean?' I actually have to explain to older long time dub family members that used to look down on people bringing scripture printouts to the hall how much things have changed. Then they say something like 'I guess so.'

  I find it frustrating.

  I really do think the GB 2.0 didn't plan all off this in advance but were given a heads up by COs that it was going to be impossible to stamp out electronics so they decided to embrace it and thus try to control it and ride a wave of increased emotionally attachment by digitally connected dubs who can embrace technology without the guilt we used to have.

  I think it's a two edge sword. Less electronic guilt may cause or allow some dubs to stumble upon interesting information from the internet.
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  16

  The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

  by TheListener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

  it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

  that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

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  TheListener

  Old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it. It was a point of pride.

  I think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses. That may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be". They don't and can't see it that way.

  I don't think the GB 2.0 planned it this way, I think it happened naturally and they are doing their best to keep up with it.

  That's why we see some videos where things are happening that older witnesses can't understand. A good example of the disconnect is congregation picnics. Many here will remember the large congregation picnics that were somewhat a regular feature of dub life. That is, until the GB virtually banned them. Now when a larger group gets together everyone is careful to state that the group isn't too big (which translates to 'we only invited those we like')and that there will be plenty of spiritual men there to make sure nothing gets out of hand.

  It's my guess that most of the old guard at Bethel and many of the COs are not happy with many of these trends. But, they know they are walking on egg shells and are willing to allow some self expression in order to retain money donating members.

  
  
  
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  21

  JUST WONDERIN BOUT THE G.B..... again.

  by brandnew in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up, i never ever even saw these guys faces, or even knew their names.

  all of a sudden they're on my computer screen, tv, and on every other magazine coming out of the watchtower machine.

  why all the glamour now?

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  TheListener

  I think the modern witness, unlike the old school witnesses of years past, really want to be mainstream. They want their leaders to be out front and visible. I believe it makes them feel or at least appear to others to be less cult like.