Posts by Dagney

10

Your First Christmas Tree, Christmas Lights, Other Christmas Decoration/Custom

by NotFormer in

jw
friends

as someone who never grew up in the shadow of the wt, i love reading accounts of people who began to wake up and think that the wt wasn't all that it represents itself to be*.

and especially when they see that the things that they were told to avoid were harmless at worst, and quite often fun.

christmas is a prime example.

Dagney

I remember so many times standing on my soapbox trying to reason with a coworker or non JW BF about the commercial aspect of the gift giving and season. They would patiently look a me and nod their heads, and say but "it's about family and friends getting together!." I didn't get it. Although, I loved the lights and sparkle and even being out and about in the holiday rush.

Fast forward a few decades and I am now out of JW. Fortunately I had relatives who were not JW's so we would have a "winter gift exchange" after the holidays that was every bit as festive as the holidays. I remember I was out at a shopping center with my list, and I started to cry. I finally got it. Yes it is commercial, but it is also about thinking of others...taking the time...what would they like/use/need. I finally finally got it.

I am holiday "lite" only because I live alone and don't have tons of time to put up/take down/store. I have collected things through the past 20 years or so that I enjoy putting up, and I just bought a 5 ft skinny pop up tree with lights for my little tiny desert place.

I always tell my coworkers "don't get me anything let's just go to dinner." But they like giving just like I really like giving. Yep, I finally get it.

22

Memory hole, international conspiracy, and the JW international network

by slimboyfat in

can anyone else who was around 15 to 20 years ago remember an odd story about jw missionaries being stopped at the swiss/italian border with american bonds worth billions of dollars in their possession?

because i can find little to no information about it anywhere online, yet at the time i am sure i recall it being reported by different mainstream news sources, including the bbc.

why do some news stories seem to disappear from the internet altogether?

Dagney

The JW church has grown through aggressive proselytism/marketing and resisted schisms through hierarchically directed aggressive shunning, this has resulted in the demographics you seem to be lauding.

Exactly my belief. I call it "Avon" marketing. I don't like Avon. But if a coworker brings we a catalog, I look through it and would always buy a mascara or lipstick or whatever even though I don't really need it. Same with the active proselytizing for all those years, and especially 70's, 80's and 90's. There is no way the current activity, dying/exiting of millions, and attendance support any growth whatsoever. D2D is not what it used to be, and the privileged can stand by their carts for hours with 0 results. Parking lots half full and regional attendance a fraction of what they were...do the math.

WBTS have lied all along about their numbers, ask any secretary who reported numbers. They will obfuscate anyone and anything for the preservation of the corporation. They know they what the future holds, and investments will go along way to keep the corporation alive.

19

New here

by AdamCzarnobay in

jw
friends

i left the organization in 2017.. was in several congregations in the north west of england.

i just wanted to say thank you to all of you that have posted on here over the years, it really helped me to see the truth about the organization.

i lurked here for many years under an anonymous login and then finally plucked up the courage to write my disassociation letter.. adam.

Dagney

Welcome! It's interesting what triggers our intuition about things.

Congratulations on your journey to freedom and enjoy!

19

Convention attendance

by joe134cd in

just heard from a pimi cousin who recently attended a convention, and remarked about the low attendance.

peak was about 500. i remember that circuit, in years past, had attendances of 1000+.

it's been over a decade now since i last attended a jw convention.

Dagney

Reading about the low attendance "happifies" me. lol

39

I've done it: Christmas Lights Outside

by StephaneLaliberte in

lets see if that causes a problem.

i've been inactive for a very long time now (like 10+ years), so, i don't expect to hear anything from it, but my parents are worried i'll get df.

lets see what happens.

Dagney

You know what Bob Dylan says, "you gotta serve somebody." lol

If you like lights, why not have lights, or cactus or rose bushes or neon signs. That is when you are doing what you were meant to do...be yourself.

At least it's not being a slave to a real estate corporation disguised as a religion. That ship has sailed and has no relevancy whatsoever to anything or anybody.

47

Leaked Annual Meeting Video: "Expect Sudden Changes" Jeffrey Jackson

by raymond frantz in

jw
friends

https://youtu.be/uxqqyrrffow?si=wo0jotyvjg76oljk.

well that's sort of related to the next talk on our program brother jeffrey jackson will discuss the theme don't be surprised by sudden changes, brother jeff you have our.

attention well i'm sure we all agree with this fact in recent years there have been a lot of changes even since the last annual meeting there have been many changes some of them perhaps are a little surprising or may seem to be sudden but you know brothers and sisters when we look back on how these changes have come we can see that jehovah has gradually prepared us for each of these adjustments and changes let's review some of the recent changes we've had what changes have we seen with regard to our understand understanding of bible teachings at the 2021 annual meeting we received an adjusted understanding of john 529 it was explained that the resurrection of judgment will not be a judgment of condemnation rather it will be more like a period of probation the unrighteous mentioned at acts 24:15 will have an opportunity to gain everlasting life but their names will not be written wr in the book of life at the time of their resurrection to have their names eventually written in that book these ones will need to respond positively to the great educational work that will take place during the thousand-year reign then at the annual meeting in 2023 we gained enhanced insight into what we do know and what we don't know concerning jehovah's judgments we learned that the door of opportunity for people to take a stand for the kingdom does not shut when the great tribulation starts with the destruction of false religion at that time perhaps some will be like the egyptians in moses day who took a last minute stand and joined the exodus of god's people at the same annual meeting we adjusted our views with regard to jehovah's judgments of those who died in the flood and those who were destroyed in sodom and gomorrah also at that annual meeting an adjustment was made regarding the reporting of our time and activity in our preaching work instead of focusing on reports we try to make good use of every opportunity to witness then we receive the 2024 governing body update number two in that update we saw the need to adjust how we interact with those who have committed serious sins and have been removed from the congregation what other major adjustments have we recently seen in our preaching work the emphasis now is on studing bible studies and making disciples not on distributing literature to that end the focus is on studying meaningful conversations not just on using memorized presentations were you surprised by these adjustments perhaps so but as we look back we see how one adjustment in understanding gradually helped us with the next adjustment isn't it true that gradually jehovah has prepared us and when we look back on it we see how logical this training has been to refine our understanding but events in the world likewise have changed it's true sometimes in the world you have sudden changes for example the pandemic but often times change in the world is gradual isn't it true with regard to the view of morality homosexuality abortion even what's acceptable and not acceptable with regard to conduct all of that has happened gradually in the world and it's not until you look back and see how different the world is today with regard to those matters that we see that there have been a lot of changes but this can be dangerous because as things gradually change we may get used to gradual change and forget that there are some sudden changes about to occur uh let's take our bibles please and if you turn with me to the book of luke chap 21 now this is an example of sudden change in luke chap 21 uh notice there in verse 34 the words of our lord jesus are recorded and he said in verse 34 but pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with oving and heavy drinking and anxieties of life and suddenly suddenly that they be instantly instantly upon you it's interesting to note that jesus had already said that this day he was referring to would occur at a time that we don't think is likely so what lesson do we learn from what jesus said it's a warning isn't it that we can't just sit back and think well things are gradually going to develop we know which way it's going and maybe it's not going to happen yet you know got a little bit more wiggle room there with regard to the schedule but you see that's dangerous thinking now what we're going to do is consider two examples of areas where perhaps we could be a little guilty with regard to that for example our view as with regard to the number of anointed ones remaining on the earth now for many years what did we think we thought well that number would go down and down and down and down now i don't know about you but me i you when that report came out just how many how many partakers and and what were we thinking we probably you maybe we didn't say it but we were thinking you know the number will go down down down down and there'll be just a couple of old guys in a wheelchair who will get their reward well i'm exaggerating but that was sort of the feeling wasn't it but now what have we seen in recent years those numbers have gone up and up and not only that younger brothers have been appointed on the governing body now i know what you're all thinking two new ones how old are they we know you're not googling now but you will be but you see we need to be careful about what we're thinking with regard to the number of anointed ones left on earth you see 19 years ago i was appointed on the governing body even i thought i was too young now they tell me i'm not so young anymore but do we see the point what does the bible actually tell us with regard to this well it doesn't say the number would just dwindle down to just having a few uh older ones left no the great crowd of other sheep will be judged on the basis of how they deal with

Dagney

hirsute Bro Jackson’s

LOLOLOL. Good one!

39

I've done it: Christmas Lights Outside

by StephaneLaliberte in

lets see if that causes a problem.

i've been inactive for a very long time now (like 10+ years), so, i don't expect to hear anything from it, but my parents are worried i'll get df.

lets see what happens.

Dagney

Enjoy the lights and music and sparkle of the season Stephane! It's a time to be playful and celebrate each other before the start of a new year.

"The world" got this one right. LOL

20

10/31 New York Times, "They’re Giving Scammers All Their Money. The Kids Can’t Stop Them." Has Watchtower scammed your family?

by Balaamsass2 in

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.

Dagney

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.

75

WATCHTOWER JAN 2025: WHY IS THE WATCHTOWER OBSESSED WITH THE RANSOM?

by raymond frantz in

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.

Dagney

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.

31

Where do you see the Organization in the next 10 years?

by ukpimo in

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: .

Dagney

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