Posts by OnTheWayOut

37

A question about fading....

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

i understand that many on this forum are undertaking a slow fade, over months, years even.. can i ask what is the benefit of that instead of a fast fade?.

as i understand it, the elders only have to deal judicially with people who are still active witnesses, known in the community as witnesses, having contact and influence with witnesses etc.

so surely the sooner you stop attending meetings the better.

OnTheWayOut

Can I ask what is the benefit of that instead of a fast fade?

It is not automatic that the fast fade is better, but I do wish more people would consider it. There are many who can probably just walk away today and never go back with no real problems.

If family is not your issue, consider the instant fade. Just don't deal with the elders at all. If someone has no reason to deal with any JW's if they left, that would be even easier to choose instantly fading.

Some with family issues feel they need to keep going and slowly fade. But make sure you actually "fade." Set goals to attend one less meeting in the next couple of months than you did in the last couple of months. Many are able to entirely stop meetings eventually. Others maintain family by going to the memorial only. Many many can get entirely out of field recruiting either by becoming inactive or by turning in 1-hour slips from a point onward.

29

Do You Think Any Of The Governing Body Are Contemplating Suicide? Over This Rather Rude Financial Reality?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

faithful and always so very discrete in many things but when it comes to the lord's money not so good.. i think as it begins to register in their minds as to what a terrible job they have done as ceos of a large corporation leading it into this condition that thoughts of suicide come from.

not to mention the shame at being a public spetical to the world by the rc.

all these things and more are creeping through their denial as they are forced to face reality.

OnTheWayOut

These guys aren't lighting cigars with $100 bills or buying mansions on Key West. They all came up the ranks as pioneers. They have it good now, but not extravagant. I am sure they are not really blaming themselves.

As for the Australian RC and the pedophile issue, I am sure they feel that there's a bunch of bitter members and agents of Satan involved.

183

JWs have more good points than bad

by lsw1961 in

1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).

2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.

this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.

OnTheWayOut

Although it has been covered, I will pile on with my take on the opening post:

1) Many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic)

I could say that too, but real help transforming can come from better sources. In my case, while I stopped drinking (with almost no falling off the wagon) for Jehovah, I was also hindered from getting the counseling I needed to deal with root issues (suicide attempt) because I was led to believe that Jehovah loved me and brought me to the help I needed. I could have been much further along if I didn't get sidetracked by the cult. Go to real help. Any bullshit religious crap can transform your life the way JW's do. Maybe you could become a monk on a mountain and move a mound of dirt with a teaspoon all day to learn humility and dignity, but learning that Jehovah has a purpose for you to enrich a publishing company is garbage.

2) Equal monthly pay to all members of the Bethel community regardless of whether they are BC members or sweepers. This is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world. But JWs have successfully done it in all their Offices throughout the world for over a century. This is no insignificant accomplishment as this has the potential to solve virtually all the problems of the world.

Equal pay- yeah- slave wages. Even accepting that, what about how they lead the Bethel "Family" members to believe they can stay there after they give the best years of their lives, then boot them out after they didn't save up for retirement? Such an unloving arrangement.

3) The way they start their day with discussing a spiritual thoughts (Daily Text) puts the members in a good and positive frame of mind empowering them to deal with the challenges of the day ahead. They way they are being trained to talk to objection-raisers and conversation-stoppers gives them good speech mannerism in all avenues of life.

You are free to start your own day any way you like. As for the rest, it is just reinforcing how you can slave for making a giant printing company richer.

4) Numerous legal victories in favor of freedom of expression and beliefs have helped even non-JWs also.

This doesn't make up for the freedoms they take away from members. You will not have a beard, tattoo, pants for women at the Hall, you will not talk to your grandma or granddaughter that left the organization or suffer losing your family, you will not celebrate or share the cake of celebrants of birthdays/holidays, don't vote, YADDA YADDA YADDA.

5) They effectively invited the attention of the world into the thinking that evolution theory is just a theory believed out of convenience rather than conviction [if it were a principle, all scientists would have unanimously accepted it) and restored many biblical truths which Christendom had obscured (prominent among them is the superiority of Father —at a time when the son was viewed as more prominent than the Father, it was JWs who turned the attention of the world to the normal that The Father is highest of all and son is second in power. Such restorations have the potential to make adherents responsible-minded and good citizens! To accomplish such extra-ordinary things on a global scale, extra-ordinary courage is required.

They lie about the facts and make members ignorant of the facts and misrepresent science. I won't bother with the religious crap in #5.

But people choose to become JWs knowing very well about the above policy!

Bull-frigging-crap. Born-in's don't choose such. Even recruits are not told all. Sure, it's buried deep in the doctrine somewhere, but if someone asks- "He chose to have his family shun him" or "They are evil now."

When I found certain things confusing, I brought to the attention of the higher-ups who, in turn, told me to wait for Jehovah.

Men who want to advance stop questioning. Why should "the truth" from God be confusing and why should you have to wait on Jehovah to understand how "this generation" was apparently an overlapping generation that started at 1914?

In your case, you are not enjoying your lives even after coming out of JWs as you are still worrying about what JWs are doing and attacking them relentlessly ...

They are still lying to my loved ones and trying to tell them that I am mentally diseased. So I keep up with the chariot somewhat. Also, I am way happier doing this than going to the cult indoctrination sessions so that I would only say that there are more good things than bad about being a JW.

29

My fade might well start today.

by StarTrekAngel in

many here whom have read my previous posts know more or less my situation.

wife is not hardcore but we still bump heads from time to time.

if it wasn't for this cult, and while it was not an issue, we had an almost perfect marriage.

OnTheWayOut

There is much good in your update. I won't rain too much on your parade. It works out similarly for me with my JW spouse, but we don't have kids. Do lots of research for their sake and test limits on how much anti-cult freedom you can give them- birthdays, holidays, sports, music, school dances, etc.

Good luck.

27

Samuel Herd's statement about donations and Cialdini's social proof

by slimboyfat in

samuel herd made a statement a few weeks ago about halting construction work, laying off bethel workers and reducing printing output: severe cutbacks all round.

he said, like the head of a household, the gb has to make sure the organisation is living within its means.

but he added a very careful phrase, something like: "be assured brothers these measures have not been taken as a result of any lack of financial support on your part.

OnTheWayOut

I stated this on another thread, that this is very much like "1984." My new mantra will by my take on Watchtower's money statements:

"There is a money problem, but there is no money problem, there is no expansion but there is expansion, and no matter what else you take from this- send more money and everything is fine....and forget that we already took all your previous money."

It goes too far. I actually picture the two brothers in the Eddie Murphy movie, TRADING PLACES. The GB members place a bet with each other whether they can take all the money and ask for more yet, but still keep all the members believing that everything is fine.

41

You contemptible worms aren't giving us enough! GIVE US MORE! Service meeting part December 21, 2015

by sir82 in

jw
friends

from the october 19 letter to the body of elders:.

to all bodies of eldersre: service meeting part for week of december 21, 2015dear brothers:the service meeting for the week of december 21, 2015, includes a ten-minute part entitledshow appreciation for jehovahs generosity.

this is to be a talk based on the november15, 2015, watchtower, pages 14-15. sometime during this part, the video a gift in hand to jehovahshould be played for the congregation.

OnTheWayOut

Punk, that's awfully advanced thinking for the members to do- "Give just your time and effort and Jehovah will make sure that 'HIS' organization is blessed with money from 'this wicked system of things.'"

21

Restructuring Bethel

by LaFrancia in

an announcement to all congregation in italy :.

the project of a new bethel in italy was allocated .

the number of temporary special pioneers will be reduced significantly.

OnTheWayOut

This is very much like "1984." Winston Smith rewrites past newspaper articles, so that the historical record always supports the party line. Then Winston is expected to believe the same new story even though he was part of changing the past truth into a present lie.

Here, members have already been forced to give up their congregation money for the sake of building projects. They are told all at once that they have given generously and the money isn't keeping up with the expansion and that building projects (expansion) will not take place in many instances, and that only areas where there is more donation money will get Kingdom Halls. So right there, almost literally in one breath, they are told... "There is a money problem, but there is no money problem, there is no expansion but there is expansion, and no matter what else you take from this- send more money and everything is fine....and forget that we already took all your previous money."

41

You contemptible worms aren't giving us enough! GIVE US MORE! Service meeting part December 21, 2015

by sir82 in

jw
friends

from the october 19 letter to the body of elders:.

to all bodies of eldersre: service meeting part for week of december 21, 2015dear brothers:the service meeting for the week of december 21, 2015, includes a ten-minute part entitledshow appreciation for jehovahs generosity.

this is to be a talk based on the november15, 2015, watchtower, pages 14-15. sometime during this part, the video a gift in hand to jehovahshould be played for the congregation.

OnTheWayOut

I agree with d4g. They are going too far with money problems. It shows a lack of God's blessings and something is wrong.

.....or it is an example of Watchtower trying to be just like the God that George Carlin describes:

"He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money!”

41

You contemptible worms aren't giving us enough! GIVE US MORE! Service meeting part December 21, 2015

by sir82 in

jw
friends

from the october 19 letter to the body of elders:.

to all bodies of eldersre: service meeting part for week of december 21, 2015dear brothers:the service meeting for the week of december 21, 2015, includes a ten-minute part entitledshow appreciation for jehovahs generosity.

this is to be a talk based on the november15, 2015, watchtower, pages 14-15. sometime during this part, the video a gift in hand to jehovahshould be played for the congregation.

OnTheWayOut

This stuff just won't work. A bump in donations for the "Christmas season" will just mean less money in January. Increases from congregations mean reductions in profit as assemblies.

Uneducated people can only earn so much

51

One Year Later - A Thank You to Tony Morris.

by cappytan in

jw
friends

dear anthony morris, iii:.

i wanted to send you a note of "thanks" on this special day.. why is this day special, you may ask?

one year ago today, you, tony, woke me up to the fact that the governing body could not have jehovah's blessing or direction.. last year, on november 8th & 9th, 2014, the united states branch visit was broadcast to over 1,000,000 jehovah's witnesses across the country.. as i sat at the kingdom hall listening to the "historic occasion," i was ignoring certain doubts that had surfaced in the few months prior.

OnTheWayOut

Thanks Tony, for helping me gain a brother in Cappytan.