I agree with Blondie. I have read the Bible Teach book and have noticed a simplification in its reasonings. The illustrations used in the book are very generic, some not even making much sense. Especially the illustration about the counterfeit money and how it pertains to the search for the "true" religion. I felt insulted by reading such a childish and inaccurate illustration about such an important issue. Not to mention that their illustration didn't take into account the fact that "true" religion might not exist.
The new study routine is to first use the require brochure, then this publication and then hopefully baptism. They are trying their best to make this process as simple and as basic as possible. Will it work? More than likely, no. When you are baptized you become a Jehovah's Witness, not simply a believer as was done in Bible times.
Remember that many people get baptized when they have become zealous for what they are "learning". The majority of JW's get baptized during a period of such excitement. These new study publications help in getting people baptized quicker, before the novelty wears off and they start to find out about some of the society's stranger less known teachings.
drew sagan
JoinedPosts by drew sagan
-
31
Switch "Knowledge" to "Bible Teach" - Why?
by Inquisitor incan anyone tell me (or link me up if this has already been asked) why the january kingdom ministry instructs publishers to gradually wean studies of the "knowledge" book and to start with this new release "what does the bible teach"?.
what are they trying to hide?.
it didn't seem like there was much to be embarrassed about in the knowledge book.. inq
-
-
drew sagan
-
13
150+/200 New Congregations in US are Spanish
by daniel-p ini have a friend who speaks spanish and likes to go to their meetings once in a while.
she was visiting a nearby congregation who was having their co's visit and he mentioned that out of 200 congregations that were formed in the states last year, 150+ of them were spanish!!
this, of course, was mentioned in light of how fast the spanish are growing, but all i could think about was that if the spanish consists of so much of the growth in the us, then the english congregations must really be doing horribly in order to break that 0% growth!
-
-
drew sagan
To comment on the idea that the numbers are "fudged". I really don't think they are changed by any of the higer ups. We all know that the data they recieve from the field (especially the monthly service reports) are inaccurate, especially since we know of many (possibly ourselves included?) that have reported time that dosen't exist. Are the numbers changed from that point? I really don't think so and here is why:
Remember that the brothers located in various braches all across the globe report these numbers into Brooklyn. I think that if the numbers where changed, it would cause an alarm with these brothers in particuliar. Besides the fact that they have printed their reports even when they look bad (1976? even this years didn't look very good). I don't think they have the ability to fudge the numbers. Of course we all know the numbers are fudged before they get to Brooklyn anyway. -
8
Does the new "Bible Teach" book mention the "Faithful and Discreet Slave?"
by truthseeker indoes anyone know if this new publication teaches the "faithful and discreet slave doctrine" and if so, does it pertain only to jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
drew sagan
I think this is a better look for the "Bible Teach" book.
more cartoons @ http://thedailytower.blogspot.com
-
27
do you think the end is near?
by drew sagan ini will say that the "evidence" for a drastic change in mankinds history (end of the world, the great day of god the almighty, what ever you want to call it) seems likely when doing a survey of where mankind is a the current point in time.
nuclear weapons, wars, technology, globalization, and ecological destruction all seem to point towards a place that mankind has never been before.
mankind is unquestionably in a position differant from any point in human history.
-
-
drew sagan
I guess my point in the most basic form is that there is no doubt that mankind as we know it has found itself in a place it has never been before as regards to technology and population. Religions like the JW's play on this fact as "proof" that we are in the end times. I see how the 20th century is differant from all time periods before it, but who are we to say what the future will hold. Getting over excited about things we just don't know causes us not to se the bigger picture of things. At least that's how I feel about it.
-
27
do you think the end is near?
by drew sagan ini will say that the "evidence" for a drastic change in mankinds history (end of the world, the great day of god the almighty, what ever you want to call it) seems likely when doing a survey of where mankind is a the current point in time.
nuclear weapons, wars, technology, globalization, and ecological destruction all seem to point towards a place that mankind has never been before.
mankind is unquestionably in a position differant from any point in human history.
-
-
drew sagan
I will say that the "evidence" for a drastic change in mankinds history (end of the world, the great day of God the Almighty, what ever you want to call it) seems likely when doing a survey of where mankind is a the current point in time. Nuclear weapons, wars, technology, globalization, and ecological destruction all seem to point towards a place that mankind has never been before. Mankind is unquestionably in a position differant from any point in human history. The technology of this world is so far superior of anything that has been done before, and most of it has been invented in the last 100 years!
BUT REMEMBER THIS IMPORTANT POINT:
We have no idea where mankind is headed. As much as we want to speculate about the future, we really can't know anything about it. Personally I feel that mankind has taken it's final step into its final change before something big happens, but how long with the current things last? Even if we want to use WWI and 1914 as a starting point (just as an example, I'm not pushing JWism here!) we are shortly coming up on 100 years from then! Think about this, what's the differance in your mind between mankinds history between 1283 C.E and 1552 C.E.? Not much at all, many of us wouldn't even give this time peroid an examination (i just made up the numbers just so you know). Anyway, that was a time peroid of over 269 years. Think of all the people that lived and died during that time, all of the things that happened. Much more than we could ever record in books or on computers, but that peroid of time has come and gone, very quickly.
It just makes me think about how so many people think they are going to be the ones that expierance something beyond the human expierance. The truth of the matter is though that we don't know if anything is going to happen in 2006 or 2275. 2275 seems so far away, but is it? Not really.
We really don't know how long mankind will continue to go on. As I said, I feel that mankind has taken a step in the 20th century that has never been taken before, and it may be the beginning of something that is bigger than anybody has ever seen. But even if it is, how can we be the judge of how long it will last? We just don't know.
I know that was long, sorry. What do you guys think? -
16
Does the average JW feel the "end is near"?
by Bumble Bee inmy hubby recently had a discussion with his older brother.
my brother in law told him he wants to reach out to become a ms. he's going to cut down on his work schedule, go out in service more, spend more time with his son etc.
he's in his mid forties, has always been regular at meetings and fs, but never aspired to reach out before.
-
-
drew sagan
Of course most ALL witnesses feel that the end is near. But the ones that REALLY think that it is near stock up on theocratic activity. The others are doing enough to "get by".
-
64
To Those Who Still Go To Meetings, Do You Sense Anything Different?
by minimus inare people excited by anything in the organization?
are they tired?
mostly missing?
-
-
drew sagan
I have seen the same things that are being described in my congregation.
Think about it. The people on this board are from various locations, many in the states but there are those from other areas. WE ALL SEE THE SAME THINGS! Think about what is going on.
-lackluster comments
-drop in field service participation
-lack of support with other "theocratic" activities
-the number of baptized is shrinking
-more and more "personal" problems between members
-lack of excitement for the organization
These are just some of the things that many of us have seen.
For some reason the Watchtower had a really good swing through the 90's and into the first part of this decade, but it seems that now everything is slowing down some. I think there are some reasons for this.
-information on the internet about the witnesses
-information in the Watchtower, Awake, and other publications is getting really repetitive and boaring. People are getting tired of the same things over and over again.
Think about the LONG conventions that the Society used to have. Full day long programs where you broke for dinner and then came back! The last assembly was begging people to attend ALL THREE DAYS of their conventions! What a shift in the thinking of the members. The Watchtower has gone from members taking off entire weeks to attend programs to now beggin for people to stay a few days on the weekend.
I think the general mindset of most witnesses is that as long as they keep up with a "thocratic" routine they will be saved in Gods war. Those who get excited about the "truth" are shrinking, at least from what I can see where I live. -
19
Quotes from "Clothe Yoursleves With The New Personality" Assembly
by Inquisitor in"i use my time wisely by not spending it with my worldly friends..." and so you chose to spend it with people who devised rules that shut up their female members (with the exception of elders' wives who are skilled manipulators of men and power), ban moustaches and beards (for men too) and frown on higher education.
wise indeed!.
"we cannot find such joy (construction of new kingdom halls) in the jobs that we do in the world..." never had a fat paycheck waved in your face, have you?.
-
-
drew sagan
It's good to know I wasn't the only one who sat through that painful asselmby. They might as well have called the last talk of the first day "College, how God will not forgive you if you go"
-
43
Disturbing paragraph in Dec 15, 2005 Watchtower
by yaddayadda inin the 2nd study article, page 29, paragraph 17.
"a similar shocking end will come to the symbolic harlot who has the name "babylon the grat.
" the harlot represents the false religions of satan's world, which have their origin in the ancient city of babylon.
-
-
drew sagan
I allways found it amazing that the Watchtower and Awake allways talk about how much mankind is in need of Gods kingdom to usher in true peace and destory all badness. But all the people suffering now are not JW's, and so would die before God gives mankind the relif?
-
-
-
drew sagan
IBM has some great deals on certified used laptops right on their website. My company just bought some. They have alot more features than most laptops because they are made more for business use. The prices start around $550 or so, the ones my company bought where around $700. You also can take out a protection plan. I think they are a great deal. Personally I feel that IBM makes some of the most solid machines. There computers seem to outlast anything else I have ever owned. They are built for business and not consumers, I think that makes a big differance.