Posts by OnTheWayOut

47

"Make a list of people you want to meet in the New System!" (New September Watchtower)

by FusionTheism in

watchtower september 2015 study edition, "stand firm in the faith," paragraphs 16 and 17:.

following jesus example, we must read the bible daily, study it, and meditate on what we learn.

along with general bible study, dig into topics about which you may have questions.. you can imitate jesus by meditating on the wonderful promises jehovah has made to you.

OnTheWayOut

Christopher Hitchens
Charles Darwin
Jimi Hendrix
Freddy Mercury
Marilyn Monroe
James Dean

25

Fornicate and keep quiet, is it possible for a Governing Body member?

by John Aquila in

do you think any of the members of the governing body have at one time in their lives committed an immoral sex act but never confessed?

remember leo greenlees.

fornication, adultery or something else?

OnTheWayOut

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I have no doubt that someone on the Governing Body has committed the deed and not 'fessed up. He may not have been on the GB yet, but someone has done it.

Hoser on page 1: They could confess to the other members of the gb and keep their position too. They have evidence of jehovahs backing

Exactly true. They would not want to let the members know about any problems in the ivory tower and would sweep it under the rug.

25

It Is Official, Just as Predicted on this Site... Local Cong Donates all Monies on Deposit with You Know Who!

by RichardHaley in

my local cong just donated all money (4k +) on deposit with you know who to, you know who.

"since the society forgave all kingdom hall loans the boe felt it only appropriate to forgive the society of our loan to them.

" is exactly how it was presented to the r&f.

Yes, let the elders pay it if they want to. Seems a little overreaching for a congregation that typically doesn't raise so much because it isn't needed. They take the 4k and then will get mad when each 500 is a little short.

The worst that can happen is that they dissolve the congregation and remove the elders. If I were still in, I would have loved to have been removed. Driving to the next Kingdom Hall isn't going to help donations. They have only the power given to them.

Edited to add:
I always thought the "Funds on loan to Watchtower" was a bad idea.

17

The real issue is long term solvency.

by joe134cd in

ok every one raves on at how miserable and tight wt is, while they are literally swimming in money and assets.

although this may be true this isn't the real issue or the problem to begin with.

the problem is having a long term survivable business plan.

OnTheWayOut

The problem is having a long term survivable business plan. This perfectly explains their behaviour and this is where all the cash is been put to ensure long term solvency. What other business wouldn't do the same thing. So think before you open your mouth.

Whose problem? Watchtower's problem. Then they should be honest and say why they need the money. "We've added some of our financial strategy cost projections to what we say it costs us to run this assembly hall that we own and pay no tax on, so if 40 or 50 dollars a head sounds high, that is why. We have pedophile lawsuits to pay for. We've taken all the cash from all the congregations because it takes money to make money and we want to make more because we anticipate donations will be down."

My problem is this multi-million dollar printing corporation representing God for my loved ones. And now that print is nearly dead, they won't just go away, but come up with more ways to manipulate people.

I am not sure what problem to which you are referring, but their behaviour is not perfectly explained to my JW loved ones. I am thinking before I open my mouth.

23

need clarification: i told my wife the type and anti-type abolishment made the FDS a parable and not factual. boy did this piss her off

by goingthruthemotions in

let's just say i sometimes don't know how to keep my trap shut.

i really need to learn to keep well enough alone when she attacks me.

keep in mind i never start the fights about the borg.

OnTheWayOut

Those were very good questions:

1. if we're living in the end times, why is the org still building and asking for money?
2. why is the anointed number keep going up?
3. i told her the abolishment of the type and anti-type made the FDS a parable and not actual. she than asked who is the FDS...i told her that we are all the FDS. this pissed her off
4. i asked her why don't we hear news about all the pedophile cases.

Especially number 3.

6

"Foot in the Door", or "Apathy with a Cart"?

by stuckinarut2 in

we have all noticed this and commented in other threads.... but isn't it interesting that in times past, witnesses earned a reputation of being so determined to share "the kingdom message" that they would put their foot in the door at a house to keep the conversation going!.

now, the apathy and lack of effort in service; particularly with the literature carts shows the complete opposite!

yet...the end is supposed to be even closer right?

OnTheWayOut

I was looking for a word the other day to describe what the owner of a Jeep Wrangler 4x4, an owner who likes to take on muddy trails, thinks of Jeep selling a small SUV, the Renegade, that's made to look like a Wrangler on the inside. The word was PURIST: a person who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules or structures, especially in language or style. A synonym could be "stickler."

I was reading Renegade reviews and they described Jeep enthusiasts who did not like the vehicle because it wasn't what they wanted. All I could think was that those people could keep buying Wranglers and not worry about the people who buy the other vehicles with that Jeep brand name.

Okay, application time. It is possible that we are a wee bit on the side of purists when it comes to the recruiting work of Jehovah's Witnesses. Similar to military units and college fraternity members having gone through initiation that included some kind of hazing, many purists in those same units think the initiations and hazings should continue the same as they used to be, but new people in a different society frown on it. Could we want JW's to suffer for their hours? Could we say "I did it the hard way, they should too." ?

I am aware that there is a group of purists who would say that it's not jealousy over today's JW having it easier, but it's the power of conviction that JW's should have if they want to spread their word. And that conviction would make them be like the "foot-in-the-door" Witnesses.

But other than the fact that I want things to be tough on them so that they will dread the recruiting and young ones will often leave the religion that is so tough, I am glad they aren't really bothering people so much. I guess I am not a purist on this, but have mixed feelings.

After seeing the Scientology documentary, GOING CLEAR, I realized that Watchtower is reaching a similar point as the Scientologists. Weak members are becoming a liability instead of a source of profit. Watchtower, like Scientology, is rich in properties and could benefit from losing members that are not so hardcore, then sell Assembly Halls and Kingdom Halls. Literature is definitely becoming a liability, so they probably prefer the members sitting/standing around and sipping their coffee and gossiping instead of actually "placing" that literature.

10

Blame the imperfect people not the organization?

by Ghiagirl in

i met with a good family friend of mine who is a jw but will still hang out with me...apparently after this last time trying to encourage me.

lol.

but i shared a fraction of how i feel about the organization not to disrespect his beliefs, he just went off on the usual well it's an organization run by imperfect men and you can let the people affect you and need to remember it's the right religion and we need to put all that aside.

OnTheWayOut

remember it's the right religion and we need to put all that aside.

...my mom said this isn't you! You have always been sorry and wanted to do the right things and come back! She was certain that deep down I know what's right and that basically my husband is the one brainwashing me.

I have been right there. My JW wife is so sure it's the right religion because of the trinity and the cross and neutrality and being so much higher in morals than the world. (I know that's not true, but that's what she knows.) That's a hard suit of armor to penetrate.

My JW mother is so sure I was stumbled and want to go back one day. No matter how I state that is not so, she doesn't hear it.

I wish I had some great answers for you. For a long-haul help, read Steve Hassan's books to see how you might help dangerous mind-control cult members to slowly see through the lies. I am still working on it.

27

How Some Climb Up So Quickly?!!

by Sofia Lose in

our current co has not been in the org all that long, less than 10 years, and already quite a respected overseer.

i know of a few married couples in the spanish congs that are doing everything right, you know, with the theocratic schooling, the pioneering, etc., and... nothing!.

how do some seem to reach certain posts so damn quick, while others cannot make it?!

OnTheWayOut

It is so hard to say which of the typical factors applied in a particular situation.

One can be born into a connected JW-family.
One can donate money at just the right times to be noticed for it. (Green handshakes)
One can take the C.O. out to dinner all the time.
One can manage to get a son into Bethel and gain prominence.
One can play politics every time the C.O. visits and volunteer to be the elder with the assignments nobody wants.

But it could be less obvious.
A JW couple could be very "smooth" when talking to the C.O, the D.O., other important people. They could be the "in" crowd because of their donations and their personalities combined.
An elder could brag how he bought a minivan for "service." Certainly, he keeps the car clean and is available every Saturday and most Sundays to use it.
One can talk JW all the time instead of sports and entertainment. They can have stories about how some point at a convention made a difference in their life, and tell the story regularly. Or they can be over-the-top with their support of points from the organization- college is bad, internet forums are bad, the world is bad.
Not just proper dress and grooming, but sharp dress well inside of the boundaries of loose fitting and proper length can really help, at both casual and meeting times. Even the attractiveness of a JW man and/or his wife can make a difference. And of course, the kids being regular publishers, getting baptized young, staying out of trouble- all important.

36

Looking for ideas.

by Driving Force in

i received an email from one of the elder in the local congregation.

i am not dfed so there is not a problem there, i am just an aggressive fader.. one of the last things i said to this elder before i stopped all activities was that i do not agree with the borg taking all the assets from the congregations.. here is what the elder said in the email:.

"i recently saw something while looking through the jw broadcasting for the month of may and i though about you.

OnTheWayOut

You've already received answers here about hurting your fade with answers.

What makes any of us think that a well-placed comment to an elder "might make him think about things and help him to wake up" ? Sure, it could happen. My experience is that several well-placed comments over a long period of time only serves to slightly soften my JW-loved-ones a bit- enough to allow my fade.

As much as you could help him, you already stated your objection and he already runs back to the statements from his leaders. I mentioned something about this arrangement to my JW mother and she is of the opinion that they lovingly ended mortgages and rely more on Jehovah to get the money where it's needed with this arrangement.

24

How many years will pass before the world recognizes we were right?

by John Aquila in

its inevitable that at some point in time, people will look back and see that the exjw community was right about the watchtower organization and the bible..

i have some friends who are catholic, protestant, and some who dont associate with any religion but believe jesus will come in their lifetime.

we are such a small minority compared to christians that we are viewed as ignorant when it comes to religious matters.

OnTheWayOut

The "world" of Christianity is getting closer and closer to realizing that SCIENCE is right and that all religion is wrong. There will be a tipping point in the distant future where that solidifies into something important. Tipping points don't necessarily remove the minority who were "wrong." Watchtower and it's former members will continue to be insignificant to the "world."

I do understand what I think you are asking. It's something like "When will Christianity realize that Jehovah's Witnesses are a dangerous high-control group and not a part of mainstream Christianity?" All Christian sects are strange and far from the truth of science, in my opinion. It doesn't really matter how many from a strange belief system out of line with science realize that Jehovah's Witnesses are too strange for the title of "mainstream." The importance will be when the scales are in favor of science instead of religion.