Posts by penny2

22

Death of a generation

by onacruse in

terry's thread http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/127651/1.ashx got me to thinking about this.. one of the characteristics of the wts is to "weather the storm" of a major disappointment, and, as evidenced by the last two major cycles, count on the death (as much in a literal sense as a figurative one) of the generation of jws that went through that debacle...and thence to recommence with the eschatological emphasis as if nothing had happened.. the post-1925 period is perhaps even more exemplative of this than the post-1914 period, because a good many bible students, grasping at every straw to salvage their belief system, swallowed the chronological recalculations and jubilee-cycle antitype interpretations, which extended 1914 to 1925. but 1925 was the last straw for most of them.

it initiated a major revolt among the rank-and-file (and especially the elders...the leaders of "that generation") which haunted the wts for the next 20 years, and a chronological review of the watchtower articles and books during the entire rutherford period shows a preoccupation with vilifying those who dared to remind of that debacle.. with the 50s came a major expansion in the wts, and a consequent dilution of that disillusioned group.

those that were still alive, and who were still jws, had by that time invested so much of their lives into that way of life that...well, how could they find the muster to dump off 40 years of life energy and say, finally, "well, i was wrong, wasn't i?

penny2

I think they're doing a really good job at the moment of striking fear into the hearts of those still attending. I'm not sure what's going on, but I can tell, with the atmosphere in the family. Even with the young nieces and nephews. It's scary - and I can't do a thing about it. I've had one conversation with a family member (an elder) and have been told that if I go any further, I'll be regarded as an apostate.

With older ones in denial about 1975, the younger ones have no chance. They won't investigate because they don't even realise there is something to investigate.

penny2

37

New here so this may be long...

by mandalion in

i wasn't born in the truth.

my parents started studying when i was five.

we started living all the principals completely when i was nine.

penny2

Hi mandalion, welcome to JWD!

Great to read your post. I too spent many hours reading here (once I finally plucked up the courage to look at so-called "apostate" sites). It took me a bit longer to register and start posting but I haven't looked back since.

penny2

22

2 day assembly

by thebiggestlie in

uggggh.... this is assembly weekend for me.... it's a funny feeling being in a hall with 800 brainwashed people feeling like your the only one who doesn't buy into the "truth"...,

penny2

There's always the option of getting sick at the last minute...

43

New and SAD...

by The Dreamer in

hello all...i've been searching for some sort of comfort in my situation.

i found a story written by "iamfreenow" aka marion.

i found some comfort to know that i am not alone in my challenging of my faith.

penny2

(((Mals)))

So sorry you are going through this. The practice of disfellowshipping is cruel and heartless and achieves exactly what it's supposed to - it keeps people tied to the organisation. You could keep going to meetings, get reinstated and then fade, simply so that you can associate with your family again. Many have done that successfully, including some posters on JWD.

On the other hand, you could get counselling to help you through this situation (I would strongly recommend that). You could also try contacting your mum - maybe she is willing to bend the rules and have some association.

If you have a friend, neighbour or workmate you can confide in, tell them what you are going through. It's nothing for you to be ashamed of. Other people would be horrified to learn what the WTS does to its members.

Mals, we look forward to hearing more from you.

penny2

67

Where are Gumby and Mary?

by UnConfused in

just saying i have noticed them not around the last few days.

.

penny2

That's sad! We'd much rather have Gumby back here with his great sense of humour. I guess he thinks it's too much of a conflict right now and he needs to focus.

44

Going door to door to recruit members doesn't work

by JH in

when you look at all the hours they do going door to door world wide and then you look at how many hours preaching it takes to bring just 1 person to their organization, it's not efficient.. my mom goes to a baptist church now, and i was surprised to know that 500 go to that meeting on sundays and they don't go door to door to go get these people.. there might be 80 witnesses at my hall and going door to door doesn't make much of a difference.

maybe it's even counter productive since people don't like being pested at home..

penny2

About 15 years ago I attended a 'special meeting' - it was held in a stadium and there must have been about 5,000 JWs in attendance. A speaker from Bethel described how the door to door method of preaching had become ineffective and 'new' methods of witnessing were to be tried (in shopping centres, at the beach, etc).

For a while after that, everytime you went shopping, you'd see JWs sitting on benches trying to start up 'casual' conversations with unsuspecting shoppers who sat down next to them.

28

Do JWs know who the king of the north is?

by cultswatter in

i think they used to believe that germany was the kng of the north.

what is their official take on that.

btw does the rev grand climax book talk about that ?.

penny2

From April 22, 1966 AWAKE!

"However, the facts of history in fulfillment of this reliable Bible prophecy identify primarily today the Soviet Union as the final "king of the north" and primarily the opposing Anglo-American combine as the last "king of the south." Yes, the prophecy touches our lives!"

penny2

17

Stealing the publisher's card - how beneficial? how successful?

by Inquisitor in

gee... the title almost sounds like a wts publication doesn't it?

anyway, i remember how some of you guys talk of (and actually do) making your publisher cards magically disappear.

two questions:.

penny2

At some stage the cards must go into a "Don't remember that person" section. I attended a meeting about 2 years after I stopped turning in a FS report. There was a part on the CO's assessment of the congregation and the speaker said, "It was pleasing to see there are no inactive publishers in the congregation." I felt very happy about that comment because it meant my "card" was no longer being counted in any category (you are classed as "inactive" if you haven't reported for 6 consecutive months).

The funny part was, in general conversation the elders were still treating me like I was a fully fledged JW. Even after I stopped going to meetings (5 - 6 years ago), I've never been harrassed and if I happen to meet JWs now, they are quite friendly. I don't go out of my way to meet them though.

penny2

4

one of my clients/good friend just told me she has incurrable cancer...

by orbison11 in

via email.

about half an hour ago,,it has gone into her bones,,,incurrable,,,now what,,,,she is one of the people i was going to spend time with this year,,,i had decided i would come out of hidding.

she has a beautiful show stopping black fluffy pomeranian, she would bring to shop every time she had appointment, i have pics in my shop photo books of maggie her dog,,,,we adored our dogs.

penny2

(((Wendy))) Sorry about your friend. 55 is too young. Hope you can still spend some time with her - she will need support.

penny2

3

It is working fine so far

by hambeak in

hi folks as i have posted before i started a new job for better money and it is doing great.. i am so busy now i can't think of the time and my old customers from my former location ( here ) it has been great.

one of my senior ladies brought me so much in the way of goodies we both just had to laugh.

jake is upset as i will bring him there later.

penny2

Sounds like it's a good move you made, Hambeak.

Love

penny2