Posts by Dagney

29

Beards vs. Shunning announcements

by slimboyfat in

during lett’s announcement that beards are now allowed he elaborated at some length how brothers ought to feel and react to the change in policy.

he warned brothers not to resent not being able to grow beards earlier if they had wished to do so.

he also warned brothers who supported the old policy not to allow themselves to wonder what the point of doing so was now that it has changed.

Dagney

the things that have really got them talking are the changes in dress and grooming. The othe stuff goes by with hardly a word .

Exactly the intention IMHO. Give them something shiny and distract them from everything else going on. And really, in the big picture of what this corporation is and does, the grooming is small beans for them if they can keep the flock engaged. The bone might keep most loyal through the cognitive dissonance that I "think" some must be feeling at some point.

It is a social community, and it works for most. Now it is just easier. My brother is an elder and has struggled off an on with his communication with me through the years. He's older now and told me yesterday a serious illness has returned. I have been dreading the circus that surrounded our mother's JW memorial when that time comes. Just awful. Nobody is DF, but it was strained all the time. Now it will be less so, which I welcome.

My hatred for the corporation has not lessened one bit. Loosening these rules makes them no less a cult as they pull the strings on the R & F and they comply.

194

GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

you heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!

the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.

summary: .

Dagney

I also think this is a shiny thing for the R&F as other bigger changes are coming. Pants and ties and beards mean nothing in the big picture really to a multi million $$ corporation. Keeps the flock grateful for this little bone that makes it easier for them to be in the club.

This corporation is in real estate as stated on one of their tax filings. Rebranding to protect their assets I see would be its goal, at some point. It already started with JWdotorg. Which was really brilliant IMHO. These simple freebies to the followers keeps them distracted.

I was talking with an exJW, this all must be a head scratcher for thinkers. But it makes it all easier for them to stick with it through the cognitive dissonance some must feel.

194

GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

you heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!

the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.

summary: .

Dagney

Oh if I could be a fly on the wall...

A JW relative let me know today they watched the update video and lots of changes coming.

Thanks

194

GB Update #2, March 2024: Women allowed to wear pants, no ties/coats required if not giving a talk, & now able to greet DF ones in the KH!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

you heard me correct, this is not a joke, and it is not april fools day!

the asl portion of the governing body updated #2 (march 2024) has been released a bit early and someone caught it.

summary: .

Dagney

Every single decision they make is about money...continued revenue stream and keeping it.

The old guard cared what the followers looked like. New guard needs to keep the money coming so they can keep their jobs and real estate.

Also they want to play down the cult appearance as the court cases mount.

24

What have I been doing for the last few years?

by Lee Marsh in

jw
friends

i used to be here a lot.

every single day almost.

and then i wasn't.. well let's start with a before.

Dagney

Hi Lee - what a wonderful list of accomplishments. I always appreciated your guidance and input on the board.

I've read through some of the resurrected threads and love seeing the names and comments from years gone by. I, like many when we were brave enough to dive deep into the discussions back then, am so very grateful for this board. I have friends to this day from those days.

Life for me since leaving has been complicated, but all in all good. After hearing most of your life you were not going to graduate high school/won't live past your 20's/30's/40's/50's in this "system"(TM), I am mere months away from retirement. I am sooo ready.

Thank you again Lee for sharing.

22

Oh boy: 1,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses reach out to Super Bowl fans in Las Vegas

by Tahoe in

https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/02/09/1000-jehovahs-witnesses-reach-out-super-bowl-fans-las-vegas/ .

1000 lit-up carts at 50 strategic locations near the stadium and on the strip.

.

Dagney

My city hosts the Long Beach Grand Prix with 190K in attendance. I didn't go last year but the year before the JW carts were everywhere. They were literally in the middle of the walkway into the entrance, on the corners where thousands of people are waiting for lights to cross a boulevard. The carts in the walkway made the crowds split to go around them. It really was the stupidest thing.

Nobody wants to talk to them when they are trying to get into attend an event. Nobody talks to them anyway.

They are only relevant in their own mind.

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

Dagney

I've hung on to some, including my original Paradise book from the 50's. But, I'm working on downsizing to a tiny home for retirement, and they are not going to make the cut eventually.

Lots of memories though.

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

Dagney

OMG the Reasoning book.

I looked behind my desk at work and there it is. Haven't touched it in decades, but did use it to preach the message at one time. Actually converted two from work, one now out, not sure of the other.

I opened it and in the back it says "6/14/1985, San Diego." In the bin it goes.

27

Governing Body's failed doctrines blamed on Jehovah's gradual revealment

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh9w8zmgli0.

( starts at the 21:00 minute mark ) governing body member jeffrey winder reveals the real reason for the failed doctrines throughout the watchtower's 150 year history.

he claims that the governing body are neither inspired or infallible.. the governing body do not need to apologize for getting doctrines wrong.. the governing body ''do their best with what they have and what they understand at the time.''.

Dagney

The Governing Body do not need to apologize for getting doctrines wrong.
The Governing Body ''DO THEIR BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE AND WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME.''

I think anybody in having to suffer a JC should work these quotes into their defense. Not always applicable, but I would sure the heck use it.

48

Even with recent changes it’s a struggle to get people to attend

by hoser in

jw
friends

the kingdom hall is still empty.

even with amalgamation of 2 congregations.

the elders are handling the microphones and there was only one comment from zoom at the watchtower.

Dagney

I love to read this.

I don't believe the WT is going anywhere, but it is dwindling and facing mega lawsuits and travails. Good.

Like many here I have family in, and they aren't going anywhere...so far. They get all starry eyed talking about the congregation and Jah. Their community is good for them, and for their small world. They don't understand my leaving and I don't understand their ignorance of the deeds of the corporation and mishandling of scripture.