Posts by Doubting Bro

17

Inside, she knows what my fade involves

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

while my wife acts "normal" in daily conversation, she avoids questioning me .

about what i view on the internet.

she occasionally asks what i am up to, and .

Doubting Bro

OTWO,

She just wants to have her husband
and her false hopes.

You are dead on and I'm assuming this news must thrill you. She has chosen you over the organization! You know I've been following your story very closely and find it very encouraging that you can fade without losing your wife. That gives me hope that it can happen for me as well.

There is no other explaination to going from a gung-ho elder to inactive and not going to meetings in what, less than a year? I recently had a conversation with my father (a JW elder) about why I stepped down. Its been a few months but I haven't mentioned it to anyone in my family because I really don't consider it a big deal. I told him that it was too much and he agreed that its almost impossible to maintain the schedule that is expected of elders. Apparently, there is a person in his congregation who was a long time elder and when he stepped down, he took the same road as you did. Never comes to the meetings anymore and when questioned, says he was burnt-out. Somehow, my father buys that (on the surface), but deep down, he must know that this brother no longer believes. I'm convienced this is the case and often wonder if he's a poster or lurker here. And, I think deep down, my dad realizes that I don't believe either.

But, because no one wants anything to change, we all ignore the elephant sitting in the room. Eventually, it must be dealt with but I think your plan of not pushing too hard is the smartest one to follow. Good luck!!

10

Strange announcement about "donations" at the S.A.D.

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

at a recent s.a.d.

i attended, something caught my attention during the accounts report about how to make donations by check.

in the past, they have always instructed persons who want to donate by check to make that check payable to watchtower (if i recall, they even told you to capitalize the t).

Doubting Bro

At a recent S.A.D. I attended, something caught my attention during the accounts report about how to make donations by check. In the past, they have always instructed persons who want to donate by check to make that check payable to WatchTower (if I recall, they even told you to capitalize the T). However, this time, the instruction was to make the check payable to Jehovah's Witnesses. Maybe, I'm just imagining things, but this seems like a change to me. Of course, any and all changes with the WTS are motivated by money.

So, here's my theory. I think there will be a change, maybe next year or no later than 2009, to the way literature is obtained and distributed. I think that the WBTS will be reorganized into a for-profit entity and all literature will be charged for and the local congregations will be responsible to paying any sales taxes and filling out the proper forms. The presses will be moved from upstate NY to Mexico for North America and maybe Africa for Europe. The CCJW will be responsible for the content of the material while the WBTS will be responsible for the printing and sale of the material. Because the for-profit and non-religious nature of the WBTS will open up liability, the only materials distributed door to door (as agents of the WBTS) will be tracts that are distributed without charge and in the name of the CCJW.

I know none of these are new ideas, but I think we're begining to see the plan put into action. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into a simple plea for cash!

42

Aus Bethel 06 Annual Report - INCREDIBLE 50% DECREASE in donations

by jwfacts in

i just purchased the 2006 annual report for the australian watchtower bible and tract society.

below are the highlights.

most incredible is that donations dropped by almost 50%, from 15 million dollars to only 10 million dollars.

Doubting Bro

True, it could be a timing issue. I did notice that the difference between contributions and total income for 04 & 05 was around 1m each year but then nose-dived to 300k this year. I wonder what happened?

42

Aus Bethel 06 Annual Report - INCREDIBLE 50% DECREASE in donations

by jwfacts in

i just purchased the 2006 annual report for the australian watchtower bible and tract society.

below are the highlights.

most incredible is that donations dropped by almost 50%, from 15 million dollars to only 10 million dollars.

Doubting Bro

Interesting information. I wish the US would make ALL tax exempt corps report this data. In looking at some of the numbers, it seems the drop in contributions of 33% (5/15 is the formula to calculate the % of decrease) caught them off guard.

06 - Total income of 10.9m with expenses running 14.2m

05 - Total income of 16.4m with expenses running 15.7m

04 - Total income of 14.3m with expenses running 13.7m

I'd be interested in seeing how much was sent to Brooklyn. That could give an indication as to how the total corporation is doing. I notice a pattern with them leaving around 600k in surplus in 04 & 05. However, this year, while the expenses dropped 1.5m it still wasn't enough. You would think that Brooklyn would have said to cut their contribution so as to not show such a huge deficit. But, perhaps they aren't in a position to do that and need every dime. That's exactly what Brooklyn does to the individual circuits. You have to donate a set amount no what you receive in contributions and that amount is very "generous".

Another thing I find interesting is that 30m in assets is only throwing off 300k in interest income (which I'm assuming is the difference between the contributions and the total income). That's an awesome 1% return!! That tells me that much of the assets are tied up in physical plant stuff and not much in cash or investments.

Edited to add - Brooklyn will run this corp dry before they starting showing real problems in their books. Also, I wonder if a big lawsuit is coming down the pike in Aus and they are trying to move out assets?? Remember, this is a big business and that's how you do it in the corporate world.

45

Update Regarding How The May 1 QFR Is "Playing" In The Congregations

by Justitia Themis in

i have been emailing with a sister in my congregation regarding the qfr.

i told her i wasn't discussing it with most jws, because i didn't want to hear any of their "new light" garbage.

i told her this isn't new light; this just means that what we paraded out in 1935 as "new light" was wrong.. she sheepishly (no pun intended) agreed.

Doubting Bro

I haven't heard anyone mention it. I really think its fairly big news yet it seems to have gone over everyone's head (at least here).

41

Don't read this!! As I am really P....off at the WT and have to vent

by RedPill2006 in

today i have realized (once more) how the watchtower shit cult has ruined my life!

today i am really pissed off at them...... i'm writing this hoping that two groups of people read this.

either some watchtower people that monitor this site or people that think to join this crap!.

Doubting Bro

Vent away Redpill!! I can relate to your feelings. But just remember, you can't change the past but you CAN change what happens in the future. Venting here is a great first step to breaking away (even if it is just mentally due to family considerations). I have vowed to never allow myself to be controled by others who claim to have "special insight".

I understand you are still an elder and know its especially hard for you now that you understand what the WTS really is. In your own time, you'll come to the point where it is more painful to "serve" than to step aside. For me, not being an elder (I guess I was lucky and only wasted about 10 years of doing that) was a huge weight off my shoulders.

The board is great but venting to someone in person is even better. I am lucky to have met some really nice folks who I hope to see in person one day as well as finding out a close friend also looks at the board. I'm sure one of the fests would be great and I really hope to be present one day!

10

Blood transfusions, lying, and God's laws - an epiphany

by sir82 in

we all know about "theocratic war strategy" - it's not really lying, if the person you are speaking "isn't entitled to know the truth".

but, it suddenly struck me - this definition of lying, unique to jws (lying is not merely telling a known untruth, but telling such to one who doesn't deserve the truth) helps them justify the blood doctrine.

well, consider the extreme example cited in the old wts bold enough to actually name & describe "theocratic war strategy" - a country where jws are under ban.

Doubting Bro

Scully, well put!

Make no mistake: JWs are the WTS's most common target for Theocratic War Strategy. The average JW - as far as the WTS is concerned - is not entitled to know the truth.

I think that's the part that hurts the most. Waking up to the fact that what the WTS has done and said rises above just being misguided or mistaken. Its outright lying in some cases and manipulation in many other instances. It is a systemic problem and will be their ultimate undoing.

I never really understood why when people left they went through a period of anger. I now feel that same anger. Its the feeling of being taken advantage and lied to by the people you trusted the most in the world. I now feel the same distain for the GB as they feel for the rank & file.

28

Percentage of JW's that are undercover?

by flipper in

jw
friends

what do you think?

it seems like a lot are there so they won't lose family and friends - are in good standing but don't actually believe.

Doubting Bro

I think 75% is way too high. In my little mind and from various conversations with folks over the years, I break it down this way:

10% - Serious doubts or completely don't believe any more and are only keeping up appearances for family (I'm in this group)

40% - Don't believe every word is gospel but generally believe the organization is being used by Jehovah and he will sort things out in his due time.

30% - Haven't a clue what they believe, but have been "in the truth" for so long or were raised in that this is the only life they know. These folks couldn't engage in a doctrinal discussion because they really don't know what the WT teaches. They like being JWs but can't explain way and are there

20% - Believe every word as gospel.

64

Any current Good Standing JW, posting here?

by NotaNess in

i was wondering if there are any current regular posters here that are still active , but are mentally inactive and don't believe all the bull anymore, and are just going through the motions to keep their life with friends and family together.. i realize this might be a posting that will probably get 0 replies, but.......

Doubting Bro

Welcome NotaNess and Whimsy,

I'm also in that same leaky boat. I go to the meetings for my wife. I'd like to totally fade but haven't "mustered up the boldness" to do so.

This board has been more help than I could ever express.

78

Report on Todays special talk

by stillajwexelder in

ok - so special talk today - you can feel safe in a troubled world.

15 minutes devoted to to how bad things are.

iraq and usa were headlined and 1914 was mentioned > 20 times.

Doubting Bro

That reminds me. They played up the scripture (I think the Luke account) where Jesus presence would be similiar to the days of Noah. The Bible account doesn't mention anything about it being the same amount of years, just peoples attitude. But, the speaker mentioned how Noah preached for 120 years. Again, not sure if that was in the outline directly or whether the speaker was just adding some information. My ears peaked up because I thought there was going to be a strong implication that 120 years could be a target date. But, he never made anything close to that sort of committment. I still think the WTS is nothing without a date and they are going to have to do something prior to 2014. I've been of the opinion for a while that there will be a date set of 2034, mainly out of despiration.

OTWO, I'd much rather be stuffed in a creaky wooden box filled with wild animals than to sit through the meetings!!!