Posts by sparky1

36

A JW experience

by Saintbertholdt in

this is a quick experience i have recently had and i have two questions at the end.. a couple of weeks ago, the dogs were barking at the gate on saturday morning and wouldn't you know it, it was some witnesses.

there was a father with his lovely wife and their young daughter.

the father did all the talking as mother and daughter just dutifully smiled and watched.

sparky1

"Am I as dumb as a tree stump? I don't think it would be PRESUMPTUOUS to make that statement.................."

15

The Kingdom Message

by truth doubter in

regarding the unique preaching of the kingdom by wt (new creation, heavenly kings, priests and judges, restoration of paradise on earth etc.).

the scriptures seem to back up wts interpretation.

so, although there are a million reasons to become inactive, how can our conscience allow us not to become active in the work described at matt.

sparky1

I wouldn't get too worried about doing the preaching work anymore. Find an unbound copy of The Watchtower from January 1, 1989. It contains the following quote: "He (Paul) was also laying a foundation for a work (the preaching work) that would be completed in our 20th century." - pg 12 paragraph 8. By their own words, you are off the hook!

30

JW related collective nouns

by Simon in

english is a great language, especially when it comes to collective nouns.

a "murder" of crows is just fantastic as is a "mob" of meerkats.

a "colony" of ants, a "pride" of lions.

sparky1

An amalgamation of assholes.

A band of Bupkes.

A federation of fools.

A formation of ferblunjit.

A gaggle of Goyim.

A lot of luftmensh.

A nest of nebbishes.

A passel of putzes.

A society of Schmucks.

35

lf the paradise earth is real would you want to live there?

by atomant in

l know l would.anyone that says no is kidding themselves.just imagine going up to the hole of a cobra and patting it on the head like a pet.or running like a deer through the woods.who knows we might grows wings and be able to fly as well.food for thought.

sparky1

Sure I'd love to live there! As long as I could have my own personal 'watchpanda' that would keep Jehovah's Witnesses off my property.

46

Dan Sydlik

by done4good in

jw
friends

morning warship - he was the only restraint and i'm not saying that lightly.

i know there are a dozen others here who were in bethel back in the early 2000's who know what i'm talking about.

he actually kept me thinking this was jehovah's org because of his sincerity as if the holy spirit was operating in him.

sparky1

Not to hijack this thread, but George Gangas has been mentioned. I was assigned to Murray Hill congregation and George Gangas also attended that congregation. He had 2 'girlfriends' that also attended here. Two older single sisters that he always sat with and he would sit in between them. I can't recall if the women were fleshly sisters or not. At any rate, during the songs, they would take turns rubbing each others back or putting their arms around each other and singing to each other. (George and the women that is.) They were all single and had a grand old time. Yet if a young brother, that was a nobody, did that with two young single sisters he would have to face a judicial committee for sure.As far as his views as a member of the Governing Body (tm) is concerned, I never had a real, deep conversation with him so I have no idea what he thought.

31

"Ones"

by Joe Grundy in

(i never was a dub).. this is something which has intrigued me for a while.

i don't know whether it's dub-speak, or us-speak.. it's the use of the word 'ones' as in 'interested ones', 'worldly ones', 'disfellowshipped ones' and so on and so on.. in the 'normal world' we would probably use the word 'people'.. thoughts?.

sparky1

It seems to me that Jehovah's Witnesses use of language always labels and categorizes people. Loaded, polarizing language such as:

FAITHFUL vs Unfaithful

SHEEP vs Goat

BELIEVER vs Unbeliever

ACTIVE vs Inactive

SPIRITUAL vs Mentally Diseased

Along with titles such as: Governing Body, Anointed, Other Sheep, Elder, Ministerial Servant, Circuit Overseer, Pioneer etc., etc., etc. it helps the average Jehovah's Witness see whom they should 'demonize' as the 'other' and whom they can recognize as one of their own, worthy of fellowship. By using the term 'ones' they can seem to be speaking about an individual when in reality they are 'classifying' GROUPS of people as in the example of 'worldly ones'. Jehovah's Witnesses must keep up an 'us verses them' mentality at all costs. One of their basic tenants is that Jehovah is going to wipe out BILLIONS of humans at Armageddon, including babies, children and those who have never heard of Jehovah's Witnesses. Joseph Stalin is reported to have said: "One death is a tragedy, one million is a statistic." As long as Jehovah's Witnesses can look at the 'other' as a group and not as individual human beings, they can keep up the mental gymnastics required to stay faithful to their religion (which in their mind is the only 'truth' and thereby automatically sets them in opposition to anyone that does not wear the same 'labels' that they do).

46

Dan Sydlik

by done4good in

jw
friends

morning warship - he was the only restraint and i'm not saying that lightly.

i know there are a dozen others here who were in bethel back in the early 2000's who know what i'm talking about.

he actually kept me thinking this was jehovah's org because of his sincerity as if the holy spirit was operating in him.

sparky1

I have 2 anecdotal stories about Dan Sydlik that I heard through some Bethel Elders when I was at The Farm in the mid '70's. Apparently, he and a few other members wanted to break up the established 'power brokered' order of things. Most notably was the 'unholy trinity' of Nathan Knorr, Max Larsen and George Couch.

1. Once Dan Sydlik and some Bethelites were playing basketball during lunch. It was getting close to 1:00 pm and the afternoon work bell would soon ring. Max Larsen walked by the court and said: 'break it up boys, it's time to go back to work!' to which Dan Sydlik reportedly said: 'Let the boys have some fun and finish our game. It won't disrupt the whole factory if we're a few minutes late'. Max Larsen didn't like being put in his place.

2. George Couch was used to having his OWN way as Home Servant. As many of you will recall, he ruled with an 'iron fist' and in my opinion he was an arrogant asshole. He and I butted heads even before I became a Bethelite! At any rate, on his inspection trips to Watchtower Farms, he would stop by the slaughterhouse and LOAD UP on every conceivable cut of meat for Knorr, Larsen and himself. Any Bethelite can tell you that at that time you had to requisition meat and PAY for it out of your own pocket. Not the mighty 'unholy trinity'. No requisition was necessary and no limit on the amount and quality cut of the meats! Well Sydlik and the reformers put an end to Couch's shenanigans and now the 'unholy trinity' had to requisition their meat just like any other Bethelite.

Lots of power struggles with the 'expanded' Governing Body(tm) and I think that you will find that no moderates or real reformers will every be appointed to the Governing Body(tm) again. Only 'true believers' and 'company men' will RULE Jehovah's Witnesses from now on.

71

Sophie gives even more than ice cream money to the WT

by OrphanCrow in

sparky1

Interesting isn't it OrphanCrow ..................other religions want their children to turn their attention to Jesus (supposedly a living being worthy of worship) without any mention of money. Watchtower wants their children to turn their attention to some inanimate buildings and send them money to perpetuate the ruse.

71