Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  80

  Missionaries to vacate all missionary homes

  by seenitall in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  latest news from a source (missionary in foreign land):.

  no more missionary homes anywhere in the world.. all missionaries presently in missionary homes must vacate.

  must get housing on your own / from the locals.. circuit and district overseers have moved into many of these former missionary homes.. reasons: liability, cost savings, real estate to be sold or used for other purposes.. needless to say, many of these longtime servants are very unsettled.

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  Doubting Bro

  Not surprising, given that they aren't using Gilead to train missionaries anymore. I think many of the countries in which the WTS has missionaries aren't adding to the bottom line and in fact may be losing money. So, why continue to build infrastructure in countries where you have no chance of turning a profit?

  I don't see them making any radical doctrinal changes, simplying continuing in the long line of cost saving measures that they've been doing for the past several years. If you can't increase revenues, you need to reduce expenses. They have tons of money but are likely too heavy into big real estate and need to get more liquid which is why they're selling Brooklyn. It costs a lot to keep the buildings maintained and the lights on.

  They aren't going out of business anytime soon but I believe they have moved past their peak and will likely slowly shrink over the next decades. However, I'm sure there will be a WTS or JWs around when I die.
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  62

  The Lawsuit Landslide: Irwin Zalkin representing ELEVEN child abuse victims against Watchtower

  by cedars in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  many of you will be interested to know that irwin zalkin now has 11 lawsuits against watchtower at various stages.. these can be summarized as follows.... j.l.

  shocked by the lack of action, the victims mother immediately left the congregation with her son.

  by this stage campos was a known predator with complaints having been made to the elders at linda vista spanish, playa pacifica spanish and the watchtower dating back to 1982.elizabeth mcfarland ohio a former ministerial servant named scott silvasy sexually molested elizabeth when she was a child through her early teens.

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  Doubting Bro

  Yeah, the flood gates will open up if Conti is upheld. Even if it's overturned on appeal, I believe some of these cases could be sucessful especially if the perp was an elder/ms at the time of the abuse.
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  293

  AGM 5 OCTOBER 2013 (UNOFFICIAL RUMORS)

  by WatchTower87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  - 23 day to go .. annual meeting unofficial rumors.

  - new bible.

  - new nwt (revision).

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  Doubting Bro

  TOH - I'm a little dense this AM. What would be the big deal over moving the flood to a localized event? I realized even when I was a true believer that Noah's flood a) couldn't have been earthwide but didn't need to be if there really were a small population of humans on the earth centered in one spot and b) there's no way every single species could have essentially evolved in that short a period of time to get the diversity we see today.

  I always thought it was written from the perspective of Moses and that he had no idea how large the earth was and didn't really need to know at that time.

  But, if they change the timing on the flood would that really change any of their other prophetic timing issues. ie - 607 which is the big date since that is directly tied to 1914.

  In the past, the US didn't have a branch, they were run directly by worldwide HQ. As you noted, they created a US branch I believe at the same time they did the corporate reorg so around 2000.

  Really curious what you mean if you don't mind.
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  30

  Did a householder at the door ever cause you doubts

  by perfect1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  recently on a saturday morning there was a knock on my door.

  two ladies asked me if i was familiar with the jws.

  i said: yes unfortunatley.

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  Doubting Bro

  Never, I would debate and go in circles with the best of them. I always thought I won as well!!

  No, a friend talked to me about the UN thing and upon researching found out it was true. Soon came on here and learned a ton more and finally woke up.

  I do feel like an idiot for arguing with folks when I was dead wrong.
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  88

  If the big change at the AGM meeting is dropping the literal 144,000...

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the best conjecture seems to be that the gb are going to drop the literal 144,000 teaching, especially in view of the december watchtower that pointedly does not mention the 144,000 number.

  if they are dropping the literal 144,000 number, but still claim that only a small number are anointed, and can partake, and that only a few are left on earth, then it is fair to ask what has really changed?

  they are simply clearing up the embarrassing situation that there were obviously more than 144,000 "anointed" believers from 36 ad until now, and that the number of partakers has been increasing in recent years.

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  Doubting Bro

  SBF - I agree with the premise of your OP. They only change things when they get enough pressure and they have no choice. I think they will drop the 144k literal teaching but not sure if they are going to do it now. That seems like one of those changes they would just slip through via a QFR or slip into the middle of a WT study.

  I don't think that would have much impact on the average witness.
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  25

  Yet More Annual Meeting Speculation. . .

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so, yes, there will be a "new bible" released at this annual meeting.

  worst kept secret ever.. however, the new bible will no longer be called the "new world translation".

  again, this is pure speculation, but it would kind of make sense since the term "new world" is very mason-y, old-time jw-y, and doesn't appear in the bible anyway.. what they would call it, i couldn't even guess..

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  Doubting Bro

  I will buy a new translation or at least a revision of the NWT. I know we've been talking about it here for awhile and in JW land, that's the rumor as well. Add to that the inability to order a new bible from Bethel with no explaination and it seems this makes sense.

  I really don't believe they will make any doctrinal changes this time. But, it will be interesting to see what sort of revisions are being made to the NWT or its replacement. It's worded so awfully in many places that it can be just as hard to read or understand as the KJV.
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  10

  Clinging to the Congregation means life or death! Animal Kingdom Video!

  by AuntConnie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this video online that demonstrates just how dangerous it is to drift away from the organization and stay away from the weekly kingdom hall gatherings.. .

  a mother gray whale and her calf get separated from the pod (jehovahs organization and weekly meetings) and this makes them vulnerable to attack because they dont have loving companions for protection.. .

  the mother whale took her baby on a long journey, only to see it die.

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  Doubting Bro

  I've been missing you Aunt Connie! You certainly are a character. What's your speculation on the new light to be presented at the annual meeting? I'm sure your disappointed that they've opened it up to everyone, even those slackers who doze off at the meetings and never give parts!
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  32

  Blondie"s comments you will not hear at the )(_!%_@)!# WT Study (WITH YOU)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the conclusion of the system of things.. matt.

  17 the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun ***.

  that jesus inspection took place in 1918.. paragraph 7: [4] from 1910 to 1914, the.

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  Doubting Bro

  I liked how they reinforced their new rapture doctrine. At the meeting yesterday, I looked up the rapture on my phone to make sure what I understood was in fact what other churches teach. Apparently there are all types of rapture teachings but can be categorized in 3 ways. Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation and Post Tribulation. Of course, the mid-tribulation is the least favorite theory and therefore the one the WTS has adopted.

  I couldn't find a list of all the other denominations that also believe in the mid-tribulation rapture but I'm going to keep looking. I'm not sure what to make of this change. Are they trying to bring themselves more in line with the hard core evangelicals? I mean, they're already pretty hard core on most issues, just some doctrinal stuff is a bit different.

  I'm not certain what they are up to, likely just changing things for the sake of change. I just find it a little strange. Maybe they can declare the Great Tribulation has already started? I'm breaking my own rule about attempting to apply logic when dealing with WTS doctrine!!!
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  31

  Justitia passes bar!!!

  by crmsicl in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  yay...my awesome friend justitia just found out last night she passed the bar exam.

  regardless of how you may feel about her you gotta admit that is an accomplishment..

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  Doubting Bro

  Great news
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  293

  AGM 5 OCTOBER 2013 (UNOFFICIAL RUMORS)

  by WatchTower87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  - 23 day to go .. annual meeting unofficial rumors.

  - new bible.

  - new nwt (revision).

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  Doubting Bro

  I think its just an additional fund raiser for the WTS. Invite everyone, float out rumors so that everyone will be excited, put contribution boxes all around and bingo, you just raised several million. Bethel monitors, you guys sure do know how to raise some cash!