Posts by Doubting Bro

7

Another WORKMAN'S COMP question - URGENT, but not scary

by GentlyFeral in

jw
friends

jgnat and everybody, thanks for your advice and help!i discovered that it's fairly common for california lawyers to take workman's comp cases on contingency.i've emailed several local lawyers, explaining my situation in some detail.

i intend to set up consultations asap.. however, that claims adjuster alerted someone who works with disability management in hr.

she (the hr lady) wants to set a time and date to discuss "the resolution of your claim" which "would allow you to control your medical treatment.

Doubting Bro

Gently Feral,

I've read your first post on the subject and now this one. I would say that because you mentioned a non-industrial (or non-work related) injury, albeit by error, the claims adjustor should do exactly what they did. WC is a huge fraud area for the insurance industry (I work in the industry) and is subject to a fair amount of abuse. Not saying that you're trying to abuse it, just that's what automatically comes to the adjustor's mind.

I agree with exjdub, you need to lawyer up immediately. The settlement amount went down as soon as you said non-industrial. I don't live or transact business in CA, so I can't make any plaintiff lawyer recommendations.

I also agree with Jean. Many HR managers do try to be fair and helpful. Its not in their best interest from a company morale standpoint to treat people who have been injuried on the job poorly, especially in a tight labor market.

93

Society's claim of Matt. 24:14 being fulfilled - What it could really mean

by Jourles in

i've had this thought for quite a while and wonder if fits with the recent talk about the wts claiming that matt.

24:14 has been fulfilled.

my thought was this --- in the wake of the recent cutbacks at bethel, scaling back of literature, and other cost cutting measures, could the wts be preparing the r&f for the complete or massive reduction of literature that would normally be placed with "householders?

Doubting Bro

Just a thought, but maybe the plan is to discontinue the yearly service reports. Just report the number who are baptized. The average JW also notices how low the increases have been over the last 10 years and it is discouraging to them. By saying that the preaching work is over, they will have no need to report all those figures, and the decreases will be masked. Actually, they could then start just counting the baptized and show an larger increase. They could spin it that JWs will never stop talking about Jehovah (using Jerimiah as an example of how the good news is like a fire), so the increase could said to be coming from the "informal" work.

That's probably not what they're thinking, but it is fun to speculate.

17

Never did they say, "These are the words of Jehovah"

by xjwms in

jw
friends

remember that awake march 22, 1993 on page 4.......in the left side of the page.

they mentioned that in the eagerness...suggesting dates....they did'nt presume to originate predictions 'in the name of jehovah.. notice: they did'nt say " these are the words of jehovah".

its that they decided all by themselves.. .

Doubting Bro

That's just their lame response to the false prophet charge. Its true the never used that particular phrase in connection with a particular prophesy, however, they have stated numerous times they are God's channel of communication on earth today. So, they don't need to say that phrase to make the r&f think that the prophesies are indeed directly from Jehovah. Its understood.

93

Society's claim of Matt. 24:14 being fulfilled - What it could really mean

by Jourles in

i've had this thought for quite a while and wonder if fits with the recent talk about the wts claiming that matt.

24:14 has been fulfilled.

my thought was this --- in the wake of the recent cutbacks at bethel, scaling back of literature, and other cost cutting measures, could the wts be preparing the r&f for the complete or massive reduction of literature that would normally be placed with "householders?

Doubting Bro

I think this was a trial balloon as well. Nothing official but because it was said by a Bethel speaker who indicated he was going off the prepared material (outline), many locations are simply not going to hear the statement. I don't believe for one second that this Bethel speaker did not have permission to make that statement. No way he would take that sort of liberty without approval from above.

Also interesting was the admission that the FDS is actually the Governing Body and not all the annointed as was previously taught. Again, this may have been a slip, because everyone knows that while not the official teaching, its certainly the practice.

I know they are trying desperately to raise the numbers and the Big A threat is always useful. Obviously, if they scaled back the preaching work, it would be a move to save money. The big problem I see is what activity would they use in place of "preaching" to keep the r&f busy and distracted from the fact they are being used? The solution would be to 1) clear out all old literature with special campaigns, 2) go to tract only work. The tracts are cheap, and can usually be "placed" easily.

I just can't see them making life any EASIER for the average JW. That would be far too kind.

29

Dog Owners: Is your pet a Killer?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

one of my dobermans today, dragged a tarp off a pile of wood we had covered.

sure enough there was a large pink nose sticking out of the pile.

he went in and dragged out an oppossum which must have weighed fifteen pounds.

Doubting Bro

Restrangled,

Are you sure the possum was dead?? They are pretty good at faking and I've personally touched one who I swore was dead after one of my childhood dogs went after it. I took the dog away and went back with a shovel to bury it and it was gone! You may want to check your trash, just in case. Of course, the possum could easily get out of the bag and is probably having a field day in your trash!

Otherwise, just the nature of the beast. I did have a dog that killed a neighbor's baby pig, a few cats and various other things. The last straw was when it killed my mom's cat. We got rid of it.

67

The serious conversation with the wife about the cult

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

if you needed my background, this thread will tell it-.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121888/1.ashx.

my wife recently asked me about not commenting at a wt study.. our discussion was the topic of this thread-.

Doubting Bro

OTWO,

I'm not sure your conversation could have gone any better. You are an inspiration to me! It sounds as if at a minimum (which is awesome) your marriage is going to be just fine and theres at least a possibility that she'll come to the same conclusion that you have.

13

History Channel on Cults...

by james_woods in

did anybody else get to watch that two-hour presentation last night on history channel on dangerous cults?

an excellent program, imho.. i thought it was a real eye-opener on several fronts.. first, they made the particular point of the general similarity of many cults: commonality included such things as the disturbed self-appointed messianic visionary founder (i.e.

jim jones, applegate, charlie manson, david koresh, the pseudo-mormon polygamy guy, and such), the die-hard belief in an apocylptic prophecy, the manipulation of the followers by thought control (brainwashing) techniques, sexual control or manipulation of the followers, monetary exploitation of the followers, the desire to make the followers look ridiculous to normal persons, the tendency to create communes and to isolate the followers from society, the belief that certain of the cult activities are in fact in fulfillment of eschatological prophecy and are thus "helping" to bring about the collapse of society, .

Doubting Bro

Does anyone know if/when they're going to replay it? I need to tivo it or watch it WITH my wife.

184

UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

oh.... how the saga goes on!!

i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!

ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!

Doubting Bro

Its almost unbelievable that grown men would act in such a way. I agree that you really should press charges. If it was a group of teenagers who made restitution (replacing poor Frosty and washing your house, car and maybe mowing your lawn for the next year) I'd be willing to forgive and forget. However, your talking about a group of 3 men who know better. They really need to be taught a lesson.

I think the comparisons to the KKK are a bit much. The burning crosses on lawns was a signal to the person that if they didn't move, they would be killed. And, given the KKKs history of lynching folks (at least in the South), that threat was one that could be taken seriously. I think the situation is a bit different here. Was it religiously motivated? Sure and that sort of action should not be tolerated and needs to be punished. The hate crime statues are pretty broad, but vandalism and trespassing are probably sufficient enough to make the point that this is unacceptable behavior.

I also think the idea of going to the local papers and TV station is a good one.

57

Its Time To Post!

by lurker in

jw
friends

hello all: i have been lurking around this site for over two years.

due to a recent post of someone claiming to be an elder (which has been removed) i have been motivated to post.

i have been around this site for well over two years and have read most of your posts carefully.

Doubting Bro

Lurker,

Welcome to the board. I know exactly how you feel. This board has been a huge source of comfort for me, just interacting with those who have been in a similar situation. Look forward to your comments!

40

hey expioneers and exelders what goes on during......

by 5go in

the co visit during those meetings you guys go to.

Doubting Bro

My experience is that the meeting including the elders/ms was a generic outline from the Society (I posted notes on my most recent and hopefully last meeting). Usually its a lot of talk about procedural stuff and not much that would help you or anyone else from a spiritual prospective.

The meeting with the CO & just the elders deals with the local issues. It involves the CO chewing you out for various infractions of WTS rules or procedures or a lack of production numbers (similar to a business visit from your regional VP). If there's an addition to be made to the flock book, its ususally read here and you have to write it in yourself (so the WTS can deny ever giving you that instruction). Finally, there's the all important discussion of who is being "recommended". Unless you do a lot of prep work on the front end and put the brother in question in front of the congregation a few times during the week, there is the predictable push back from the CO. He'll ask a bunch of meaningless questions and look at his publisher card. Everyone in the room has to say something nice about the brother in question. If there no objections, the CO puts his stamp of approval and on it goes.

The total meeting is supposed to last 2 hours but I've been in some that lasted until after midnight. Then, its up early to impress the CO with Sat service.

Overall, boring stuff with very little value and a bad way to spend a Friday night.