any news how things are at bethel just now?
been thinking, strange they have gb members giving speeches when they look so depressed.
but maeby there is not many others too choose from.
HIDDLESWIFE:
Wow, is it REALLY true that they have ‘guards with guns and other ammo’??
If this is really true (I’m not calling you a liar or anything but sometimes things are just speculation), it means they live in an armed fortress.
What about them criticizing other people with guns for self-defense, etc.?????
any news about how going back to kingdom halls and door to door ministry going right now?
are there many people at meetings and meetings before going out in service as congregation?.
JOEY JOJO:
Yes, you are correct that a lot have woken up to the fact that the Covid pandemic did not bring about the End they’d hoped for.
From what I’ve heard, a lot of older Witnesses are very disappointed over this!.. They were expecting to be in the ‘new system’ by now.
any news about how going back to kingdom halls and door to door ministry going right now?
are there many people at meetings and meetings before going out in service as congregation?.
FOOLEDNOMORE:
I am sure there are many instances like that. I wouldn’t tolerate it and the camera would remain OFF.. I also think it’s absurd to expect people to get all dressed up just to be in their own living room.
What everybody forgets is that when JWs went to meetings at the hall - when they came home and closed the door they had privacy. It was up to THEM to decide who to invite over and see inside their home. With Zoom - people with their camera on have to think about what can be seen by uninvited strangers looking into their home. Who needs aggravation and unwanted commentary???Mind you, these people have nothing to ‘hide’.. No Christmas decorations, etc.
To me it’s just the principle of the thing. It is an invasion of privacy. It’s easier to just leave the camera off, in my opinion. My friends who turned their camera off have peace of mind.
Just thinking about all this makes me happy I’m not in the religion anymore.
any news about how going back to kingdom halls and door to door ministry going right now?
are there many people at meetings and meetings before going out in service as congregation?.
This is what I hear from the few JWs I keep in contact with:
Even though they are supposedly back to in-person meetings, two of these people attend on Zoom because they are older and have health issues.. But, they keep their camera OFF.. I had heard of problems people faced who had their cameras on. There were criticisms about their appearance/dress plus unwelcome questions about something seen on their walls!.. Imagine the nerve? This would be enough to make me switch off my camera too!.. Unfortunately, it seems to me Zoom opened up another area of problems: no privacy and no boundaries.
During the pandemic they thought they should be able to reach John Q Publisher 24/7. Imagine? They thought since people were ‘home’ during the pandemic that they should be available around the clock for intrusive and unwanted conversations and meetings on Zoom!
The religion really does push people out the door whether they know it or even care!
if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.
estephan.
GODLYMAN:
Nobody ELSE has to prove anything.
The burden of proof would be on you or whoever else would make any such divine claims!
as 1975 was approaching, many witnesses sold their property.
do you know about specific cases that are willing to share their experience of doing so?.
RIVERGANG:
Getting back on topic to the 1975 thing: what do you think must’ve happened in congregations after 1975 came and went without a whisper?
What happened with people who sold everything and were broke but still decided to stay in the JW religion? You can rest assured there was lots of ‘sponging’ going on there. I remember hearing from my study conductors about a particular family there looking for $ who kept on targeting an affluent family there. Personally, I don’t know why this family just didn’t say ‘No’.
As far as pioneers: I made the same observation you did but I never gave them anything. Nope. Not after how I got criticized for my full time job. So, I wasn’t ‘spiritual’ for working full time??.. Go ask somebody else for handouts then.
what are some of the red flags that should alert people to the fact that jehovah's witnesses are a high control and damaging religion?.
one that comes to mind is.
1. one cannot leave jehovah's witnesses with one's reputation intact.
CARLA:
Everything you said is true. I will add something else. I was not raised a JW, so at least I have pleasant memories from childhood with the Holidays and other normal things that people do.
But, when I got involved with the Witnesses years later, they wanted me to stop associating with my family and relatives. They also wanted me to get rid of ‘worldly’ friends. They said I would get ‘better’ friends there. Not true.. I made conditional acquaintances as far as I was concerned! The religion also tried (in vain) to get me to quit my full time job. I would not be retired if I had listened to these people!!!
I am sure your husband will not admit to you that there are many ‘needy’ in the religion because they fell for pressure to not get careers or plan for retirement because ‘Armageddon’ was coming to save them. Problem is they reached retirement age first.
as 1975 was approaching, many witnesses sold their property.
do you know about specific cases that are willing to share their experience of doing so?.
ROAD TO NOWHERE:
I also couldn’t stand any of the bragging there and holding up certain people as ‘examples’ we should follow.
While I understand what you said about these business men, my pet peeve was pioneers being held up as examples. I wasn’t about to follow the example of people who lived on the edge.
As far as the CO bragging and having his meals paid for by other people: I never really cared for circuit overseers. To me all they did was parrot the party line and push pioneering. They had a general negative attitude towards people like me who had a full time job.
So, when they would ask who was going to host or feed the CO, I always felt they had to be joking.. This guy could go eat at a fast food place and order a No. 9 with fries for all I cared!
as 1975 was approaching, many witnesses sold their property.
do you know about specific cases that are willing to share their experience of doing so?.
WANNAEXIT:
I wonder if most of the ones who made remarks about ‘weak Christians’ were living a comfortable life and made no sacrifices.
I imagine people who sold everything and then had to start over would be too preoccupied and stressed out with trying to make a living to be bothered criticizing anybody. But, you never know. I wasn’t in the religion at the time. But, I dealt with the 1995 Generation teaching. I planned my ‘Fade’ when I heard this nonsense.
The people who lived through and stayed after 1975 - if they were older they probably passed away. Anybody younger who stayed is at retirement age now. They had all the time in the world to make a living and plan for retirement so let’s hope they did. I imagine this was a major life lesson learned.
I’m not totally comparing the 1995 Generation teaching to the 1975 thing because that didn’t involve people selling their homes, etc. and living off the proceeds til the money ran out!.. But, what I am saying is that the religion lost all credibility as far as I was concerned and that’s basically why I left. I’m not interested in anybody’s opinion who thought I was a ‘weak’ Christian for that and not succumbing to pressure to quit my job years earlier.. I wouldn’t be retired if I listened to these people.
matthew 19:21. jesus said to him, “if you will to be perfect, go away, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.”.
jw family tanzania - bukombe kingdom hall.
nothing like attending your local kingdom hall in africa with dirt floors, tarps as a roof, brutal heat with no air-conditioning, and small wooden benches to sit on after a hard days work.. does the society help this congregation in africa with a suitable kingdom hall that would have the local members more comfortable with these unbearable conditions?.
RULES & REGULATIONS:
Yes, they got rid of ‘old timers’ and are probably not done cutting corners, etc. I am sure many are asking that same question about this expensive new project. I wonder if it will be used for a purpose other than what was said?
I don’t think they truly believe the ‘End’ is right around the corner.
