Posts by Dagney

135

Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat in

say it ain’t so!

.

in one sense it’s a no brainer because the figures just don’t add up any more.. in another (negative) sense it’s a no brainer because it’s been fundamental to jws since year dot and might undermine the whole thing?

Dagney

If Rev. 7:4 is to be taken literally, why not verses 5,6,7,8?

I think also this change can happen, with the "we just don't know" or some sort of word soup.

Like most here half my family are JW's. I'm in communication with them regularly, my sibling is up in years and has serious health issues. I think he knows the questionable issues. He's been in that secret international group that discuss all these subjects for decades. That being said, he's got his eyes on the prize during this difficult time.

The other relatives are traveling all over in groups and having a great time. I think it will be discussed in private circles, but they are content with their way of life and have no need to change it. .02

135

Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat in

say it ain’t so!

.

in one sense it’s a no brainer because the figures just don’t add up any more.. in another (negative) sense it’s a no brainer because it’s been fundamental to jws since year dot and might undermine the whole thing?

Dagney

The math never worked.

Estimated 1st century Christians to about 320AD = 7,000,000

Estimated martyrs during that time = 2,000,000 (due to heavy persecution)

Add the faithful to death in the following 1500 years the estimate is many millions more.

I read Foxe's Book of Martyrs when I left JW. The persecution was cruel and horrendous, nothing like what the JW "faithful slave" has gone through. (My favorite martyr, Perpetua, sniff) Boiling oil thrown on then, skinned alive, fed to wild animals... I knew for sure the JW interpretation of the little flock was BS.

Just do the math with any adjustments to the estimated numbers...the math does not support the JW dogma. And at some point they were going to have to down play the number.

This is just my take on the whole thing.

PS. My brother, elder, kept track on spread sheets the numbers reported in the annual report. There were some years I think in the 70's that the WT did not report the partaking numbers. He knew something was up.

15

A Jehovah's Witness family's excellent Letter of Resignation trending on exjw Reddit today

by Balaamsass2 in

i got an email notice today on this excellent letter of resignation from a german family that is trending on reddit.

i thought i would share it here if anyone is so inclined to write one.

for those with pimi jw family and jw business connections, it may not be wise to share such a letter, but i imagine it must be very freeing to send such a letter.

Dagney

Funny thing is nobody ever asked me directly why I left.. It’s as if they didn’t want to really know.

👋🏻LHG - same, agreed. 🥂

15

A Jehovah's Witness family's excellent Letter of Resignation trending on exjw Reddit today

by Balaamsass2 in

i got an email notice today on this excellent letter of resignation from a german family that is trending on reddit.

i thought i would share it here if anyone is so inclined to write one.

for those with pimi jw family and jw business connections, it may not be wise to share such a letter, but i imagine it must be very freeing to send such a letter.

Dagney

Very good letter. I really like this also. I'm going to try and remember it.

We do not believe that a symbol is more sacred to God than what it stands for. Consequently, blood is not more sacred than the lives of our children. In emergency situations, we therefore follow Jesus' example of mercy (Matt. 12:7-12).

In the beginning I sort of "dreamed" about a letter I would write to my former friends, explaining my departure. In the end nobody gave a s**t, silly me!

16

Begging for accomodations

by road to nowhere in

jw
friends

local announcement has even pimis amused.

wanting rooms for some event or refugees-not clear.

private room with private bath.

Dagney

3rdgen - I remember the “Rooming Work” well! It seems nuts now, but we sure did it, and people open their houses!!!😬

We stayed also in rooms through the Rooming Department when I was a kid. Both in Vancouver Canada and SF.

72

Reddit thread about Bethel Reducing Headcount

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

apparently, the downsizing is still happening and from what i read those let go are over 50!.

sad because these people expected to be lifers.

now they have to make their way in the world at an advanced age with no education or desirable skill!..

Dagney

I'm sure many on here have listened through the years to the anguish of those older folks in full time service, DO's, CO's, SP's, missionaries etc. who have been sent home or assigned to a congregation with a meager stipend to live out their years. The receiving congregations were to attend to the needs and make up the shortfall of funds, provide living quarters etc. Talk about swinging without a net...no SS was paid into a fund for them for all their years of service.

There was talk years ago of creating a type of retirement home here on the west coast where these folks could live with dignity. Of course, there would be no income from such a caring provision, so that didn't happen. They discovered what a diamond mine they had with real estate and the stock market.

Of course, everybody thought they would be eating grapes from their own vine and petting a panda by now.

I have a faithful relative facing end of life most likely. I heard he mentioned in retrospect that there was so much he didn't do in his life...but looking forward to the "perfect life Jehovah promised". How they can maintain such faith in a ridiculous promise is so sad.

I hope these ones being let go can grab some enjoyment and freedom with the years they have left. Quit giving loyalty to a corporation that doesn't give a f**k about them.

LHG - thanks for posting this. I don't go to Reddit often and it's good to hear about trouble at HQ. xx

72

Reddit thread about Bethel Reducing Headcount

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

apparently, the downsizing is still happening and from what i read those let go are over 50!.

sad because these people expected to be lifers.

now they have to make their way in the world at an advanced age with no education or desirable skill!..

Dagney

The multi million dollar “spiritual paradise” 🤢corporation has less fellow feeling and empathy for their employees than a secular company has. 😡

They go to great lengths to protect every inch of their assets and income stream.

I really hate this corporation.

72

The Watchtower's Depiction of 'paradise'..

by Ron.W. in

perhaps we could post the pictures the wt have presented in their literature that depict their version of paradise here for comment/discussion:.

from: spirits of the dead—can they help you or harm you?

do they really exist?.

Dagney

(The guy in the first picture looks like Br. Benson.)

95

Are you glad you got the Covid Vaccine? Did it help?

by liam in

i didn’t get the covid vaccine, but i admit, i was scared as shit i made the wrong decision because there was so much confusion out there.

practically all my family and most of my friends took the vaccine because everyone was depending on those in charge to speak the truth.

now a lot of them are sick, and they can't figure out why.

Dagney

I was raised without vaccinations and I got everything, including the bad measles. (Parents old school JW.)

I got two Covid vaccinations, no regrets. I never got Covid, but I don't think it's because of the vaccinations. I think it is just me.

I'm pretty sensitive to the vaccinations, I get sick for about 20-24 hours. I am working up to getting the shingles vaccine because my doctor told me I will probably get pretty ill. But I think it's important to get, for me.

75

Would you be able to survive a three day Assembly?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the last assembly i attended was over 10 years ago.

the monotone speakers, boring talks, uncomfortable seats, long prayers and nodding off after the lunch break did me in.

i survived the morning sessions, but the afternoon sessions were brutal.

Dagney

...Assistant Cafeteria Servant to Nickolas Kovalak

Ahhh...Uncle Nick!!! He was our CO, (prob lots of people's CO) for a good long while in Long Beach. He was better than most, avuncular...kind of sweet.

Pretty brutal schedule for your dad and you guys. I don't remember much about the convention for some reason. But I do remember things about the hotel and the room.