Posts by Doubting Bro

39

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-06-10 WT Study (YOUNG PEOPLE) TEST PLEASE FORGIVE ME

by blondie in

jw
friends

young people strengthen your desire to serve jehovah.

what invitation was extended to children in the christian congregation?

serve god or the wts?.

Doubting Bro

paragraph 13 went over like a lead balloon at the meeting I attended yesterday. Many of the elders and ms are college graduates. In particular, there is a MS there who JUST gradutated with honors after attending on a full scholarship. Everytime I look at him, I feel a sense of pride that he decided to take care of himself and not listen to those who would have told him to turn it down.

Only 1 person commented on the paragraph and it had to do with something that happened 20 years ago. No discussion, just moved on. My wife later said that "Cherie" was crazy to turn down the scholarship and that she knew I wanted our kids to go to college and said the elder conducting was definately going to send his teenaged kids to college! I pointed out that he may lose his eldership based on what I had been told about a CO visit a year or so ago. I still don't know if that's a hard and fast rule about reviewing privleges but I sense it depends on the body. Her response "no way, that doesn't make any sense". Exactly, unless you're in a controlling cult.

The point about "Cherie's" participation in sports was also not unnoticed. Since when is it OK for JW kids to participate in organized sports?? I thought only the "spiritually weak" did that? Does this mean it's now ok?

26

What's Next For The Watchtower Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

any predictions?.

Doubting Bro

Beth Sarim - First, welcome!

OTWO & Tuesday were just throwing predictions out there! I'm actually suprised they haven't reduced the DCs to 2 days already. Remember they used to be what 7 days? I'm old enough to remember the 4 day, then the shift to 3.5 days and finally to the current 3 day. I agree with OTWO that they will move to a 2 day DC sometime shortly under the theory that they can get a similar donation amount but reduce their expenses. I guarantee that NO ONE will complain about it either. The Friday attendance is usually 20-25% lower than the Sunday peak so it really makes sense. I theorize that the reason they haven't done this sooner is they get such great deals on the various venues that are used around the country that the costs savings isn't enough. Of course, in some cases (such as in the NYC area), they're using the existing assembly halls for DCs (albeit smaller gatherings). If that trend continues, they may not reduce it to 2 days since they will want to make sure the buildings are being utilized as much as possible.

Whatever the case, it will come down to money. That is the number one concern of the organization from my point of view.

101

All I can say about thr finale of "Lost" is...

by changeling in

jw
friends

wtf???!!!.

they are all fucking dead!.

Doubting Bro

The show was never "about" the island. Figuring out "what it all means" never was the point.

Right which is why I was very frustrated after watching the ending last night. I spent the last 6 years trying to figure out the island. I do think the island was some sort of mystic porthole to the great beyond and that when Des pulled the cork, he opened the "gates of hell". Smokey wanted to destroy everything not because he was pure evil but because he couldn't accept his fate. Yet, the cork getting pulled allowed Smokey to actually regain his human side. Richard as well. I thought it was interesting when Miles pulled out the gray hair that Richard was so excited that he could age and now actually wanted to live!!

hemplover - thanks for posting that blog. Very interesting take.

I would have been happier since I'm more a "man of science" as opposed to a "man of faith" with an explaination of exactly what the island was, why it was there, and what purpose Whitmore wanted it for. But, the character story of redemption leaves you with a good feeling and I guess I'm ok with that.

BTW - I thought the sideways reality being limbo was actually a great stroke. We saw the island at the bottom of the ocean at the beginning of this season which started the sideways reality. All the passenger's desires in this reality were met although not perfectly. This limbo allowed the characters go come to grips with what happened each in their own time.

29

Now a college graduate!!!

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

Doubting Bro

Thanks again everyone!

mentallyfree31 - You can do it!! I took most of my classes online and while it actually seemed like a little more work than going to class, it was good. The online (or even some online) route is 1) cheaper, 2) easier to schedule, and 3) can be done a bit faster. The downside is 1) you have to be an independent learner, 2) if you get stuck it can be tough to get an explaination and 3) none of the social aspect which means no networking.

For me, it made sense and I have plenty of networking in my chosen field since I've been in the industry for 20 years so I wasn't concerned about that. If you want, send me a PM and I'll give you the information on the university I went to. I'm still a little worried someone could figure me out so I'd rather not post that on the board.

29

Now a college graduate!!!

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

Doubting Bro

Thanks guys! Gayle - You have every reason to be very proud of your kids! Good job. Jefft - Business Administration OTWO - You Tube is blocked at work, so I'll have to check out the video later! awildflower - I've got a decent job that I enjoy, so from a career perspective nothing really changes except that I'm now on a level playing field for the first time. Previously, I was one of the few folks in my position that didn't have a degree. I was always a bit self conscious because of that. I did it mainly for personal reasons. OM - LOL - yeah for some reason I didn't bother attempting to get credit for reading the Awake or participating in the Ministry School! out4good3 - congratulations to you! That's how I did it. Keep up the good work.

29

Now a college graduate!!!

by Doubting Bro in

jw
friends

wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

Doubting Bro

Wanted to let everyone know that I've finally graduated college with a Bachelors degree! Ended up earning magna cum laude.

It's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment. I still kick myself for listening to the WTS when I was a kid and forsaking "higher education". But, rather than just complain about it, I did something about it. Those who were never JWs can't really understand what a passive agressive statement against the WTS going back to school really is. So not only did I gain additional knowledge and critical thinking skills, I also get to flip off the WTS at the same time! It's a win-win.

10

PROFILE OF MY CONGREGATION

by onemore in

jw
friends

it was mentioned in another thread that gb is struggling with the lack of zeal from many active jws.

i thought of the real attitude and behavior of the active jws in my congo.

this is what i really really see..... profile of my congregation and people close to me: married couples from their mid 30s to early 40s planning to and having children, saving for retirement and going back to college.

Doubting Bro

It pretty similar here. Former elders outnumber current elders and the pipeline of MS is pretty poor. The WTS is well aware of this issue but they believe the solution is to beat the flock. That just leads to more apathy.

I think the WTS will die by a thousand cuts rather than go out in a big bang.

57

Is the GB setting up to dump 1914?

by karter in

jw
friends

with the "generation change" and them changing it all the time it would make sence to dump it all togeather.. lets face it ,it can be disproved easly.. they dumped 1975 in a heart beat .. this would buy them all the time they wanted as they would just find another date to start the generation from ie: "the u.n year of peace and sercurty'',1986 i belive or whatever else they could think of.. they could sell it to the r&f as easly as they sold 1975,then dumped it when it did'nt happen .. anyone questioning them would be told they are running ahead of jehovah or lacking faith in his earthly org that feeds us food at the proper time .. what do you think?.

karter..

Doubting Bro

Prior to the latest generation teaching, I was inclined to think they were looking at putting 1914 on the backburner. Maybe Adventist style where they believe the last days started in 1844 (or whatever) but again the problem is the appointment in 1919. They can't drop that because they will lose the designation of "God's Organization".

But now that they've changed to the crazy Jesus meant two very long, overlapping generations by saying "this generation" I think they are fully intent on keeping the 1914 date.

They will eventually need to drop it or make it mean something a little different but may opinion is that we're at least 20 years away from that. A new "generation" of GB members will be left to make those changes.

I think it's actually pretty funny watching the twists and turns of "logic" to attempt to patch up the crazy prophesy legacy of Freddie.

71

Try again...DC 2010 Discourse 48

by JWFreak in

jw
friends

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ghnjmmoymjw/dctalk48.pdf.

just uploaded page 2...not 1 or 3 as they are of no interest.. this talk is only given by gb members or branch committee members.

enjoy.

Doubting Bro

Sir82 hits the nail on the head. This is an issue the WTS has been struggling with since the 1995 generation teaching really took the steam out of the movement. The realization that the end may not come in the person's lifetime had a subtle but noticable effect.

So, the issue for the WTS is that they will need to either: 1) accept the lower level of zeal and be happy with just coasting along, slowing losing more and more influence or 2) try to find some way to reignite the fuse. They're obviously trying #2 and think that this rejuggling of the generation teaching will generate enough speculation to capture some of that pre-75 fire.

But, the old timers who remember 75 aren't going "all in" again. The 40ish folks (unfortunately I'm now included in that group) that grew up "in the truth" and are still around have long since realized that the end can't be predicted and are more concerned with raising families and saving for retirement than willing to go "all in". The younger folks in the internet generation (which of course overlapps with the horse and buggy generation according to the WTS's new definition) are not sticking around either.

If the WTS were smart, they would tweak the business model to become more of a mainstream type religion ala LDS. If they dropped shunning, made blood a conscious matter and encouraged community service instead of FS (still keeping missionaries and local pioneers), I'm convinced that they would make more money. They could keep the entire doctrinal structure including the whole 1914 mess and likely stem the losses and retain more members in developed countries which means more donations.

I wonder how long its going to take them to come to this conclusion?

71

Try again...DC 2010 Discourse 48

by JWFreak in

jw
friends

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ghnjmmoymjw/dctalk48.pdf.

just uploaded page 2...not 1 or 3 as they are of no interest.. this talk is only given by gb members or branch committee members.

enjoy.

Doubting Bro

I hate to be a bother but I can't access any of these links because my company blocks all file sharing sites. Is there any chance someone who has downloaded the outline could e-mail it to me? Send me a PM and I'll send over my e-mail address.

Thanks