Former pioneer and ministerial servant. The story of how I came into the JWs was told three different times at the local special assembly program (twice by myself and once by the man who studied with me).
Wasn't in long enough to go any farther, thank god.
drew sagan
JoinedPosts by drew sagan
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poll/ survey on what you "were" (rank in your hall)
by burningbridges ini wasjust really curious to see what the average of everyone's "history" is here, and also how many "higer ups" we have that have abandoned the ways.
so what were you, an elder?
a pioneer?
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drew sagan
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Another Newbie.
by kcmike ini wanted to drop in and introduce myself.
my name is mike and i am from the kansas city area.
i have been reading threw this board for a little bit and i couldn't wait to join.
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drew sagan
Listen to jgnat, she knows what she's talking about!
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Potential Changes at Bethel...
by TheListener ini posted this on another thread but it really got me thinking about how the wts could really do this:.
the wts needs to stop spending so much cash.. they have real estate but once sold and the proceeds used it offers no more value.. they need to simplify, simplify, simplify (and isn't that the mantra they recite each time they make an organizational change?).
they could: push more and more printing to the individual publishers in order to cut down on printing costs (this may only apply to developed countries but it still would result in significant savings).
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drew sagan
There were no "minimum requirements".
They had to at least buy enough for themselves and their family. Since all JWs went into the field ministry they had to at least buy a few extras in most cases.
The bottom line was that there was a cost associated with receiving the magazines. If you have on million people on earth who must by a certain book because it is necessary for your weekly worship that is one million+ books sold, garunteed! -
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Daniel-P's Bethel Papers
by daniel-p inentry and exit papers: http://www.mediafire.com/?exrr1amq2st.
bethel life: http://www.mediafire.com/?itdnv159cxa.
info for the wallkill bethel family: http://www.mediafire.com/?b22smj2nbmt.
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drew sagan
thanks!
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Potential Changes at Bethel...
by TheListener ini posted this on another thread but it really got me thinking about how the wts could really do this:.
the wts needs to stop spending so much cash.. they have real estate but once sold and the proceeds used it offers no more value.. they need to simplify, simplify, simplify (and isn't that the mantra they recite each time they make an organizational change?).
they could: push more and more printing to the individual publishers in order to cut down on printing costs (this may only apply to developed countries but it still would result in significant savings).
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drew sagan
Drew might be right... maybe. Another thread suggests that they may now be doind just that. But, Scientology tried this (heavy money-grubbing from their members) and pretty much broke the backs of their basic rank & file. You can no longer get a straight answer on their true membership numbers.
I just don't think that the WTS has at all tapped the full potential of what their members could donate to the organization. Of course it would take a few years, but they could slowly change the members entire mindset on giving.
Think about it. For all those years they sold the literature there was a definite price on every single book, even if they were not sold! This basically was a form of tithing. JWs were required to purchase a set quantity of a product, plus encouraged to hand over a bit more. It always kept the org with plenty of extra.
Now that this arrangement is gone it is no surprise to see that they have to cut back on what they print. They are no longer getting a set price for each item. I think eventually they will find a way to change that. Maybe a 'suggested donation' on every item. You don't have to give, but you probably should ;^) -
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Potential Changes at Bethel...
by TheListener ini posted this on another thread but it really got me thinking about how the wts could really do this:.
the wts needs to stop spending so much cash.. they have real estate but once sold and the proceeds used it offers no more value.. they need to simplify, simplify, simplify (and isn't that the mantra they recite each time they make an organizational change?).
they could: push more and more printing to the individual publishers in order to cut down on printing costs (this may only apply to developed countries but it still would result in significant savings).
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drew sagan
That is just stupid. Printing Watchtowers at home, yeah right!
All they need is to break their taboo of asking for money and start getting people to fork it over. JWs are very cheap! They give so little $$$ to the movement because they have been trained to think that asking for money is a bad thing. Once the WTS gets beyond their stupid ideas on money people will start to give what they need to. IF the WTS has made it this far without really asking for all that much money, imagine what they could get if they started to push. They probably could pull in over a billion dollars in a year if they really pushed hard enough. -
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Unique but accurate observation about KHs from a "woldly" person
by Lady Zombie ini was out this weekend with a group of my "worldly" friends.
the majority of them don't know that i'd been a witness in the past, nor did they know that my family still is.. i'm not sure how we got on the subject of religions, but one guy asked, "what's the name of those people who don't have windows in their churches?".
several guesses were thrown out including amish and mennonites but he shook his head.
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drew sagan
I actually have seen a KH with windows. My old hall had windows in the back of the hall, and another KH nearby actually has windows going down one side in the main area.
I think it mainly has to do with lowering the cost of the building as well as a design mechanism that helps lower distractions. -
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The CO asked for more contributions
by outofthebox init looks like the wt is running out of money fast.
few weeks ago we had the co visit and he told us in the ms and elders meeting that he had never seen a letter from the gb like this one, but then he went ahead and read it.
the letter basically said: "the contributions are down and there is more people in the congregation.
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drew sagan
I believe that what hurts them the most is the taboo they have created around asking for money.
They should have never given up on selling the literature. Rather, they should have simply factored the taxes into the price of the books. By not asking a certain amount for the books (and demanding at the literature counter) they have allowed people to think they are getting something for nothing. Even worse for them is the fact that this model is now the 'standard'. Young JWs who never sold the magazines find it strange to think of a time when they were for sale. If the WTS actually did require the literature be paid for it would rock the foundation of the taboo they have created.
So overall, I think they are way to sensitive on the issue of donations. They have created an atmosphere in which people view giving almost as something dirty.
I think eventually we are going to see something like 'suggested donations' for literature or something like that. -
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HANCOCK
by betty boop invery, very good.
charlize theron and jason bateman are great, but of course the gorgeous and talented lol will smith takes the cake.
what an amazing actor he's evolved into!
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drew sagan
All the critics are saying this is a big stinker, just thought I would throw that out there ;)
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Does it Bother You that It's An American Cult?
by OnTheWayOut inespecially if you are not american, but anyone.. justhuman mentioned it being an american cult in his latest thread.. (by the way, go there and support him, he can use it.).
does it disturb you europeans, africans, ozzies, etc.
that the jw cult.
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drew sagan
The JW movement began during a time when the atmosphere here is America was very promising for a new religion to sprout up.
Likewise, I highly doubt that such a movement could ever be started today using the same premises. It just would not be possible. America is no longer a place from which such groups could begin to thrive, at least not in the way the JWs began.
The WTS began by taking the general populations respect for the Bible and using that as a tool to create a divine narrative which interlinked modern people and God's plan. Most people today (especially in America) are a lot less interested in such ideas. Most are interested in forming some sort of generic, non-denominational perception of spirituality that is not in line with such dogmatic ideals. Even those who practice a certain form of belief are more likely to say that their religion is not the only way to God. People are just less dogmatic in general. Sure there are certain pockets of our society that are very rigid and dogmatic, but I believe those to be in the minority.
Back to your original point, it does strike me as odd how very American the JWs really are. They embody many common American ideals in much of what they do.
One thing that always struck me as a little weird was thinking about small groups of people in third world countries studying books that spoke of people in America who were chosen by God. It just seems like it would be absurd to believe such things from that perspective.