Posts by NanaR

43

Reasons for change in meetings and book study

by JWRESEARCH in

there were already a few topics and posts about the motifs behind the changes, but i think we can unite them all in just one topic.. for a start i will say thar the letter that is going to be read next weekend, says that gb wants to reduce the burden (quotes acts 15:28), and adds that in many countries the gas (petroleum) is at a very high cost for some families.

then it makes a suggestion to use the same day for study at home with family.. of course that the text of hebrew 10:25 is not quoted!

- if we are more close to the end it should be taken the opposite measure!.

NanaR

Well, one nice thing about bookstudies in private homes was that they were usually reasonably close to the homes of people who went to them. So the gas cost for getting to the bookstudy would not be enormous.

I go with liability of having people in private homes as well as CONTROL -- no room for people to have real discussions and becomes actual friends and share information. It could also be that they want to cram more congregations into existing KHs and this will give them leave to do that.

Also, reducing the study to 25 minutes probably means that they won't read the paragraphs, and they certainly won't have much time for discussion.

Thank you, JWR, and I for one believe everyone deserves their privacy (especially here).

Ruth

140

huge announcement after the Watchtower study on the 27 of April?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

there will be a huge announcement after the watchtower study on the 27 of april.. for what it's worth, this was just sent to me anonymously.. randy.

www.freeminds.org.

.

NanaR

Keep in mind that the Watchtower study edition that is used on Sunday is only for "publishers", they don't distribute it to the public.

So maybe they don't have a genuine "public" meeting anymore?

It's all very confusing...

Ruth

140

huge announcement after the Watchtower study on the 27 of April?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

there will be a huge announcement after the watchtower study on the 27 of april.. for what it's worth, this was just sent to me anonymously.. randy.

www.freeminds.org.

.

NanaR

I can see that this might make it possible for more congregations to use a Kingdom Hall. The congregation where I used to attend had about half of the congregation bookstudies meeting at the Kingdom Hall rather than in a private home. Also, this way the congregation can control what kind of comments get tolerated at the bookstudy.

Perhaps a shortage of elders could factor into it as well?

Very interesting.

Welcome, JWR.

Ruth

3

If (a very big if) I were Catholic, I would be very proud...

by Alpaca in

jw
friends

i am not one to cut religion any slack, but after the pope's appeal to heal the wounds of catholic youths who were victims of abuse by catholic priests, i could not help but compare his appeal with the pathetic, cowardly stance the gb has taken with the r&f in the borg.. this is notwithstanding blondie's post about the pope's complicity in the abuse cover-up.. the difference is that the borg leadership refuses to realize that they are fallible.

they cling to the view that they are somehow above reproach, taint, and fault.

they are truly pathetic.. just my take on things.. cheers to all,.

NanaR

Alex:

Thank you for this comment.

I am Catholic, and I am very proud of the Pope for taking this action. To look abuse victims in the eye and talk to them at length requires a depth of character that is admirable. I have no doubt that the Pope will continue to do everything within his power to bring healing and closure to the victims and to protect current and future generations.

I know that, on the surface, the Catholic hierarchial structure and the Watchtower structure appear to be very similar. But the resemblance is truly only superficial, and the resemblance exists because the Watchtower copied the RCC structure (obviously, since the Watchtower is less than 200 years old). The Watchtower resembles the Catholic Church about as much as a movie set resembles a real town.

Pax,

Ruth

34

Going to the Prom not allowed as a JW

by odie67 in

i didnt go to my prom because it was not allowed.

i didnt even bother to ask.

i don't regret it alot, but it would be nice to have a picture or two for memory sake.

NanaR

I went to my Prom in 1970, and so did the other Witness who graduated at the same time.

I was never allowed to go to other dances, but my mother made my Prom dress. My Dad was (at the time) the Theocratic Ministry School servant. At one time or another, he held every position in the congregation. He helped build the first Kingdom Hall in our town. My prom "date" was a pioneer a few years older than me. I had to get permission from the school for him to take me. I had a secret crush on him, but we were just friends. We stopped by the congregation servant's house for photos. The congregation servant was one of my Dad's best friends. In fact, we stopped at at least a half dozen Witness houses to show off our finery before we went to the dance.

I had a good time!

However, I have never been to a Class Reunion because my husband (who I didn't meet until 1973) said it was wrong to go. If I live long enough for there to be another one, I'm going!

Pax,

Ruth

34

Do you like yourslef?

by R.Crusoe in

jw
friends

i find this question another i hate to think of!!.

i view myself through others which is a reality of zilch so it is bad karma for me to consider it!.

maybe its circumstantial of many life events but i'll bet exjws feel the power of the above dynamic as a negative force for humanitarian ectics and personal self worth!

NanaR

Grace,

Don't you know you're supposed to "love your neighbor as yourself"?

You need to love yourself first! And yes, like yourself too.

I love you ;-)

Ruth

34

Do you like yourslef?

by R.Crusoe in

jw
friends

i find this question another i hate to think of!!.

i view myself through others which is a reality of zilch so it is bad karma for me to consider it!.

maybe its circumstantial of many life events but i'll bet exjws feel the power of the above dynamic as a negative force for humanitarian ectics and personal self worth!

NanaR

Yep!

49

State A Simple Opinion About JWD Members

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

we share a common past but have travelled many different roads to find each other here.

our outlooks and perceptions of reality are varied and often fascinating.

most of us are encouraging, funny, helpful and kind while others are still wrapped in bitterness and hatred or suffering from despair and privation.

NanaR

Some JWDers are like prisoners who have been released but for whatever reason spend their time looking back through the prison windows from the other direction.

And some are still, unfortunately, IN the prison.

Some stand ready to help the released prisoners move on to a new life.

Ruth

7

JW relative still speaking to us - now feeling that warm Christian love...

by besty in

the background is that we have been df'd for apostasy and are mostly being shunned.

the grandparents are all still speaking to us, some other relatives (on my side) are shunning us.. so only recently one of these grandparents gets a visit from two elders who inform them their relationship with us is a cause for talk amongst the congregation and it is viewed that they are in danger of becoming a sharer in our wicked works.

perleeese.

NanaR

Besty:

I am bookmarking this for later reference. My grandson is presently in the custody of his Witness grandparents, and I fear this kind of thing happening to them (they have been very nice to me and I visit regularly).

The elders' action in this case is deplorable.

The Lord will hold them accountable for their actions.

Pax,

Ruth

47

praying before a meal

by megaflower in

i have stopped.

it brings up too many memorys of having some elder pray for the cong before we partook of any food.

it just seemd like a big production, all would gather around and bow heads in silence while some senior male gave thanks- no more- no thanks

NanaR

Yes, I always pray before a meal. I pray out loud if the situation allows it, or I pray silently if circumstance dictates. But my prayers bear little resemblence to the ones I prayed as a JW.

When the Catholic folk that I know get together, someone will start the prayer, and at the end all will pray together the usual blessing before a meal. Frequently, we are all holding hands until the end, when we all make the sign of the Cross together.

At one point in the Mass, the priest says: "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God", and the congregation responds all together "It is right to give Him thanks and praise."

I agree.

Pax,

Ruth