Posts by Doubting Bro

i haven't been going for a while and i'm still getting them.. in a way it was oddly encouraging to see all the crap i used to have to deal with that i don't have to deal with any more..

I just broke out in a cold sweat thinking about time as an elder. You guys accurately described the mundane torture! Funny, 2 elders met with me not long ago to attempt to guilt me into coming back on the BOE. Mind you, I miss tons of meetings, rarely in service, no commenting, just a bump on a log who looks like he's in a bad mood all the time because I am at the meetings.

The meeting lasted for over an hour. I kept them at bay until they finally asked "don't you miss it?" I laughed, reminded them of some of the things you guys listed and said, "not really". They just shook their heads in agreement and ended the meeting. I think they both secretly are jealous that I'm not stuck working so hard for the publishing company.

61

SEC Football - 2009 Version

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

just watching a few more lane kiffin interviews.

the dude is going to work wonders for the vols this year.

(knoxville native here, although i got out before any permanent damage was done... lol).

Doubting Bro

I think the Rebels will win the West and play FL for the SEC championship. Remember, Ole Miss was the only team to beat the Gators last year and they did it in Gainsville. They lost a few linemen but have most of their team coming back.

The Rebs schedule lines up for them pretty well with the Tide & Tigers both coming to Oxford.

By the way, I do get annoyed at the superiority complex that SEC fans have but I certainly can't argue with the results.

And, both Ohio State and Oklahoma should be banned from BCS championship games.

49

Something Big Is Happening To the WT Mag.

by metatron in

jw
friends

i looked over the aug. 1 public watchtower and noticed the same changes i observed previously.. plainly put, it appears that they have simply run out of things to say and so are just filling up printing space!.

they devote 4 full pages to a bible reading schedule that could have been easily condensed into a couple sentences.

they have the same large graphics and typeset that eats up printing area.

Doubting Bro

I agree that they are going to combine the public WT & Awake. It's obviously part of a plan to reduce the amount of literature produced since the profitablility must not be there. They couldn't do it all at once because they must have felt it would be too hard for JWs to deal with. Seems silly, its just a magazine!

My prediction is that no later than 1-1-11 there will be only 1 mag offered to the public. My guess is that they will make further "adjustments" and end up only offering tracts at the initial calls in the not too distant future.

Berean, I've also thought that they may push tithing but that could have a backlash effect. They've railed against it so long that it may be a hard sell. It would certainly put those who go but don't make donations in a tough position. I would have a difficult time giving a dime to the WTS.

41

Number of memorial partakers given in July 2009 KM

by Mickey mouse in

for the uk it was 275 (that they're willing to declare anyway).

i don't know how that compares with last year.. how about in your country?.

Doubting Bro

There is no mention of either memorial attenders or partakers in the US version of the July KM. I have it in front of me right now and the "highlights" talk about an increase in bible studies (probably just family studies) and that Turks & Caicos had peaks - no real numbers.

I do remember they announced the number of memorial attenders for the US and I want to say it was a letter read at the service meeting. It all just runs together.

Why would they publish UK numbers and not US numbers?? We all know that the only "real" annointed are Americans

11

Watchtower negotiates with Town of Ramapo over taxes

by lrkr in

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090615/news03/906150341/1019.

enjoy guys!

front page, above the fold this morning..

Doubting Bro

Here's what I really don't understand about this deal. I'm sure they'll reach some sort of agreement with Ramapo but I think the real question is why on earth do they want that property? We know they're pulling out of Brooklyn but with the reduction in force over the past few years, the rumor that the Canadian branch is going to pick up more printing assignments (BTW - the name badges and most of the forms I've recently seen all say "printed in Canada".) and the large facility at Patterson, why are they buying this land?

The only thing I can think is that they see it as a good investment. But, if they turn it into Wallkill or Patterson - who would want to buy it?

25

2009 Drama - Kudos to Bethel. Sorry.

by Open mind in

my overall impression of this year's modern-day prodigal son drama was that it was one of the best i've ever seen.

"best" if the goal is to try to convince young jws to stay in the org.. the amount of cheesiness was at an all-time low, imo.

there were a few exceptions, but i got the impression that bethel is getting pretty good intel from the field and incorporating it into the program.

Doubting Bro

OM

I agree that they used a lot of lines that many JW kids (and even older ones like me who grew up in it) would use. Like, "they've been saying the end is coming my WHOLE life" and some thing about playing the elders, etc.

Obviously the whole senario about the "prodigal son" deciding to go to work outside the family business and having the ultimate result being a huge auto accident where they almost lost their life was unrealistic. BTW, I know when I was a JW "youth" - there were lots of parties with alcohol flowing, going to clubs, concerts, etc. Being a JW had no bearing on any of it nor the sometimes terrible consequences of drinking & driving.

They also made a big deal of being a part time JW. The thing is, it is my belief that the majority of the JW kids today are just that and its been that way for awhile now. That's why so many kids leave. Putting a guilt trip on them may work for a few and even then it won't last more than a month but they are merely addressing the symptoms not the disease. For the WTS, the disease is the terrible retention rate of those who have grown up in it. Losing members that they don't have to indoctrinate or convert is just bad business for any religion. Kids and adults leave for a variety of well discussed reasons. Bottom line, for many the WTS doesn't offer them something good enough to stay. If it did, they wouldn't have the problems they have.

Also - that song at the end was probably supposed to be moving. I saw several folks (including me) stiffling back the laughter. Others had that WTF look and then about a thousand or so decided it was time to hit the hallways! That was a serious error in propaganda 101 and I'll bet it discounted what was a moving scene at the end with the prodigal son running to his crying parents arms.

21

I need a good excuse

by rockmehardplace in

jw
friends

i am thinking of stepping down from my position in the congregation.

this is the first big step to my fade from the jw world.

i talked to my wife about it and she told me that she thought it was best i did because there is no reason to do something if your heart is not wanting to do that.

Doubting Bro

rock,

I used a combination of need to take care of my family and burnout. I really stressed the scriptural obligation to look after my family first and they didn't argue with me too much. They froze my resignation for about 2 weeks and asked me to reconsider. They finally sent it in but the COBOE was sure that the branch wouldn't accept it. 3 weeks later, a form letter came back confirming my no longer "serving".

It doesn't sound like you have kids and if your wife's health is fine, then you probably can't go with the family route. You can always use depression. You can say that in your current, depressed state, that you feel that you can not be encouraging to the brothers and thus your conscience won't allow you to continue serving in your present capacity.

You could also say that you are burned out and that you really need a break from the weighty responsibility of being an elder.

Obviously, getting into doctrinal issues, saying that you no longer wish to enforce WTS rules, etc isn't a viable option unless you plan on fireworks.

If I remember correctly, you really didn't need to get super specific as to why you want to step aside. Of course, if you are reappointed, then you have to get specific as to why you wanted out in the first place.

PM me if you'd like. I can send you what I sent in.