the seniors in our family were scammed by watchtower, for over 7 figures.
an interesting read today to give some insight.. one of the most egregious con-artists is watchtower bible and tract society the “legal” entity for jehovah’s witnesses.
many retired jehovah’s witnesses have been targeted over the years to “loan” money for various “special projects” to further the “preaching work”, only to find they are never to be repaid.
Inheritances are Biblical. Should one expect? It's up to the individual on that.
My mom also was so proud to be able to loan to a project that she could never get back when she really needed it. At least my brother and I were in a position to take care of her. Yes it was her wish, but it was elder abuse in my book. She also thought she'd have a swiss chalet and pet panda.
They are quite keen and active in the wills and trust games.
https://youtu.be/ocufvpm3t04?si=75zmussxknhlsrs7.
the first watchtower for 2025 is out, and immediately, articles 4 and 5 drew my attention.
these will be studied near the memorial season, a time the witnesses prepare for their yearly commemoration of jesus’ death, i will be returning on this articles near at the time.
It seems to be a uniquely WT thing, AFAIK. I've been around mainstream Christianity for nearly 50 years and have never heard of this ransom thing*, apart from when I see it being referred to here. Is there an actual verse (or more) they point to that uses that term? Perhaps they've translated a term differently than the way other translations do. Like they do with "grace", for example.
Exactly my thoughts. The "universal sovereignty 'issue'" and the whole ransom, perfect man vs perfect man scale thing is uniquely JW, AFAIK.
I was at a JW memorial at the KH several weeks ago. All of the family except the sister of the deceased were not JW. The children of the deceased were raised JW, but left years ago so their kids have no ties to the religion. As the brother so earnestly shared the perfect man and scale story, I could tell it was not as impressive to the hearers as the brother intended. That's the thing. JW's think they have this special knowledge/message/secret sauce and are so excited about it. It doesn't land like they think it should.
It's more stuff they came up with to fill the literature they were producing constantly for 100+ years.
realistically, between now and 2034, what do you think watchtower will change or reform to appear more mainstream?
what business opportunities do you see watchtower getting involved in?.
my predictions are as follows: .
I think they will do whatever it takes to keep the corporation going.
As the donation base recedes, dying off of the old timers, more descendants leaving and few new converts, they will look to business/real estate investments to keep it alive. They have plenty of those and have very savvy business people actually running the corporation.
As a religion, they will make it easier for people to be counted on the rosters. The message won't change much, it doesn't have to. They've had basically the same message for decades with just tweaks for the lasting the decades, lol. They could go mainstream but for what purpose? People could go anywhere for that and not have to deal with the baggage of the WT. .02
never miss a marketing opportunity—even at a funeral.
funerals aren’t the first place you’d expect marketing.
but jehovah’s witnesses know how to turn every moment into an opportunity to share their message.. during funerals, they weave in their teachings of hope and resurrection, offering comfort and, at the same time, presenting their beliefs to attendees who may not be part of the faith.
I went to one two weeks ago.
Oy...that song...the JW's couldn't even sing that song. Worse song ever.
he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.
generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..
^^^And foreskins apparently.
he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.
generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..
I remember a million years ago when I was a sweet virginal 21 yo. I went to dinner at a gf’s house who was recently married to a worldly wise older bro, we all had double dated a bit. He took me aside and looked me square in the eye and said out of the blue “it’s nobody’s business what you do in the bedroom. As long as both of you are in agreement it is just between you two and nobody else.” I remember thinking…okaaaaay. Thanks.
Words to live by IMHO.
he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.
a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.
generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..
I finally figured out years ago people create the god they serve and want you to serve.
God cares about what we do with our weeines and coochies because I care about it. God doesn't care because I don't care.
God loves everybody because I love everybody. God loves only a select group because I like being in the select group that god loves...it makes me more special than everybody else who has every lived.
God hates LGBT because I hate LGBT. God loves LGBT because I love it.
I was told last week that "Jehovah loves you even though you don't go to meetings." Gee thanks bro. Glad you got the info! I just heard it's a serious sin to leave the organization.
Everybody makes it up as they go along.
but what they don't say he left started and ran a real estate company and a global real estate consulting firm and apparently after making a fortune come back to bethel a few years ago.
how in the hell could a non lifer now be anointed and appointed to be a gb member.
sure can't be for his spiritual qualifications!.
I've been thinking about this appointment.
The GB today is not what it was as is this corporation is not what it was. It is a multi billion dollar international real estate corporation. The GB was looked to for "spiritual guidance and prophecy" BARF, I know, but it was.
The faithful don't really need that anymore I think. People are leaving for all sorts of reasons. The faithful just do their thing, grateful for beards and pantsuits.
I watched a few minutes of either Sanderson or Jackson...I get those two mixed up, but whomever was doing this introduction. He looked like a bloated, contented j-a$$, who could not be more pleased with himself landing in such a comfy for-life job. They/he doesn't have to come up with any life shattering new light...they just need to keep people tuning in and sending in the donations. I have felt for years the GB are the figureheads and much much smarter business men are driving the van. So bring on the music videos and dramas/movie productions! Anything to keep people donating and engaged.
So Jedele sounds like a good candidate with the new direction of the corporation.
i was listening to a lunchtime call in radio show about jws and the personal experiences of being disfellowshiped, and a former elder called in saying he was disfellowshiped for asking about jws and their involvement in the un in the 1990s ,and he just said look it up.. thinking that it was a made up lie ,so i looked it up and it was true even a letter confirming it from the un itself and that led me here and to jwfacts and further research into the history and teachings of jw and walked out the door about 5 years ago.
.
I'm a born in second generation, my parents were baptized in 1938. For the most part I just accepted it as it was my life, and the congregations I was in had lots of teens and gatherings, and we had a lot of freedom.
In around 1978 I started a long term relationship with a non JW, UCLA grad. I stood on my JW soapbox, made him study and come to meetings. We continued to discuss everything. One day on the way to his house, I remember the time and the place, it just came to me, "it's all bulls**t." The crazy prophecies, the out of context quotes rules were made on, the dates...oy the dates... I kept driving and convinced myself the "brotherhood" was special even tho...
I stayed because of family and friends. The 1995 generation change was the final straw. I knew it was all made up from FF and prior dogma. The summer of 2000 I was at the meeting and just felt I didn't belong there. I felt like I was on the outside observing the comments and discussion, and knew it was my last meeting and it was.
I used to pray and thank J I was raised in the "truth" because I never would have believed it if introduced to it. It's been a complicated journey but never regretted leaving.
a change to their doctrine came from jackson.
this isn't a transcript of his whole speech but i thought i would try and get some of his main speech in writing.. at around 1hr26 minutes he starts talking about some dangerous thinking in feeling there is some wiggle room in regards to the schedule for the gt.
but you see, we need to be careful about what we are thinking about the number of anointed ones left on earth.
IMHO, sunk cost fallacy, as well as being in a long time community from what I observe. No reason to change unless you feel the need you have to.
Also, the paradise is a big carrot and stroooong desire. We look at them and want to say "it's not happening!" They feel like they are almost there...
