Posts by sir82

9

14 kids from the same old congregation

by StephaneLaliberte in

this week, while talking with some old friends, i realized that there were at least 14 kids from a congregation in which i grew up that all left the jws.

that is, 30 to 35 years ago, there were at least 14 kids going to the hall that were of the same “generation” (5 to 13 years old).

in the last 30 years, they have all left “the truth”.

sir82

I am part of the 1975 generation and those born in that year are approaching 40.
If we assume they had to be 10 to understand any of 1975, they would be approaching 50.

2019 - 1975 = 44, 2019 - 1965 = 54.

Those guys are halfway through their 40s & 50s. Time stands still for no man

(I am an "age of understanding" dude; even though I was just a little kid, I clearly remember the 1975 hype, both from the "literature" and the talks).

Oh, and back on topic - as outlined in the OP, most of the kids I grew up with attending the KH are no longer JWs - I'd say probably 75% are long gone.

81

Ted Jaracz - the Cardinal Ratzinger of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

theodore ("ted") jaracz1925-2010.

about 7:30, june 9, 2010, theodore ("ted") jaracz, one of the members of the governing body ruling over jehovah's witnesses, died.

previously, on may 19, 2009, he had had a serious stroke, but recently seemed to have made a big recovery, giving some assembly talks.

sir82

It is unclear whether the law firm of Bochetto and Lentz will present physical documentation to substantiate
the allegations against Jaracz.

If they do, it would be earth-shattering to many GB-worshipping JWs, most of whom still remember Jaracz.

Not that "earth-shattering" would cause them to leave, of course ("where else would we go?"), but it would certainly exacerbate the apathy and malaise permeating many if not most congregations.

25

The One Per Cent (1%) - Is it a Phenomenon of Nature itself? Is it Fair? Is it our enemy?

by Terry in

jw
friends

open discussion.

the rich and powerful vs the struggling poor.. the 1% we all hear about.... is it fair that a tiny minority has more and wins more often than the rest of us?____.

(let's make a survey).

sir82

The Rich and Powerful VS the struggling poor.
The 1% we all hear about...

Your opening statement is about the economic "1%" - the wealthiest.

The rest of your post is about the intellectual "1%" - the smartest.

I don't see why there is necessarily a correlation between the two.

A whole hell of a lot of the "wealthiest" 1% inherited their wealth and are as dumb as gravel.

A whole hell of a lot of the "smartest" 1% have never had the opportunity, or the inclination, to turn that intelligence into massive wealth.

Seems like you are conflating two different groups. The overlap of the Venn diagram, I suspect, is quite small.

19

Zalkin Law Firm flooded with calls from ex-JWs

by Roger Kirkpatrick in

jw
friends

yesterday, i posted a question for a friend in texas as to whom he should contact to report sexual abuse from the 1960s by a jw pioneer/elder who is now deceased.

(incidentally, there are plenty of people who are still alive and in the organization who were very aware of the circumstances and who can be summoned to give testimony regarding these accusations.

) so, my friend called the zalkin law firm.

sir82

To the lackey hired by the WTS to monitor this site who is reading this right now:

Hey, could you let us know the expressions on the faces of the WT legal dept. when you tell them this? We'd love to hear about it.

17

What is the financial situation for a couple who live and work at Walkill?

by rickroll in

i have a married cousin who has moved to work at the walkill farm.

what is the financial situation of someone like this?

i would assume they do not build social security or medicare.

sir82

The GB members and their wives get the most privileged treatment

The "GB Helpers" get the same deal, pretty much. Basically anyone who shows up on JW Broadcasting in a regular role is a "Bethel rock star".

17

What is the financial situation for a couple who live and work at Walkill?

by rickroll in

i have a married cousin who has moved to work at the walkill farm.

what is the financial situation of someone like this?

i would assume they do not build social security or medicare.

sir82

As Crazyguy wrote, it could be that he has just accepted a temporary assignment of a few weeks or months. If so, then his only compensation is room & board for the time he is there.

17

What is the financial situation for a couple who live and work at Walkill?

by rickroll in

i have a married cousin who has moved to work at the walkill farm.

what is the financial situation of someone like this?

i would assume they do not build social security or medicare.

sir82

Is he a full-time Bethelite?

If so, he would have signed an agreement to join the "special order of full time servants" (don't recall the exact name). It's basically a "vow of poverty", such as monks & nuns sign.

They will get a small stipend (a few hundred dollars per month at most), but also have all their food, clothing, shelter, and medical expenses covered.

Neither Bethel nor he will contribute to Social Security nor Medicare while he is in the "special order".

The only way he can "get ahead on finances" is if he has wealthy & sympathetic friends or relatives who give him substantial "gifts". Some Bethelites make out like bandits, but most are wholly dependent on Bethel for survival.

If they leave or are kicked out, in general, they are on their own and will have to rebuild their lives.

Some long-term (20+ years of service) Bethelites who are "reassigned" (kicked out) might get reassigned as "special pioneers", who get a slightly larger stipend & still have their medical expenses covered, but are on their own for food & shelter.

17

BLONDIE’S FIRST THOUGHTS REVIEW 8-18-19 (JUNE 2019)(PAGES 8-13)(OVERTURN REASONING)

by blondie in

jw
friends

blondie’s first thoughts review 8-18-19 (june 2019)(pages 8-13)(overturn reasoning).

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2019441?q=overturn&p=sen.

excellent general website: www.jwfacts.com .

sir82

The Awake masthead for decades, until 1995:

This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the
generation that saw the events of 1914 pass away.

(Bolding mine)

So...let's apply this Watchtower article's reasoning.

Did God really say that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not pass away before Armageddon?

Evidently not.

That statement that appeared in every Awake magazine for decades was false.

So who lied - God or the Watchtower Organization?

If it was God, why should we worship him?

If it was the organization, why should we trust them? What other words have they put in "the Creator's" mouth that are, or will be, demonstrably false?

34

"Armageddon is imminent!"

by nowwhat? in

remember top shelf tony da turd broadcasting that world wide 2 years ago at the end of the convention?

well 2 years later do we see the slightest hint of the nation's declaring peace and security or going after religion?

so how was it imminent?

sir82

It's closer than the inside of your eyelid!

Don't buy any green bananas!

We're in the last seconds of the last days!

<Yawn>...same crap I've been hearing for the past 50+ years.

22

Simple Thought Experiment with a stunning premise!

by Terry in

thought experimenttake the classic definitions of "god" and deconstruct it layer by layer by asking achingly simple questions.ready?

set?

go!_____god is (fill in the blank with the usual definitions).

sir82

"It's a mystery"

The preferred refuge of theists, when confronted with logic, for thousands of years.