The economy here in the US is actually very good. All of the key indicators(inflation rate, unemployment figures, gdp, etc. etc...) bear that out. But that doesn't mean some sectors of the economy and the individuals who work in them are not experiencing tough times. For instance, who wants to work in Detroit for one of the Big Three auto makers? Yea, those jobs pay great, but they are slowly going away. We are transforming from a manufacturing to a services-based economy in this country, and some still having a tough time adjusting to it.
owenfieldreams
JoinedPosts by owenfieldreams
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14
Economy?
by Outaservice inhas the supposely slowed down economy affected you or do you find yourself having all the money you need and your job holding up well?
do you own or rent?.
if you needed a new car .
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Reasons behind disfellowshipping over 'worldly divorce'
by needproof inhi guys and girls, .
something came to me whilst i was cleaning this morning.
i was thinking about the jw tradition of disfellowshipping those who seek a 'worldly divorce' .
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owenfieldreams
I know from personal experience that you cannot be df'ed strictly for obtaining a legal divorce without scriptural grounds. about the worst that will happen is the person will receive strong counsel against it and may be the target of a "marking" talk from the platform, and will lose all privileges in the cong. Other than that, there's not much the elders can do to you. Besides, as many of these divorces that are happening now in the org, their numbers would really start to plummet if they started expelling people just for doing this or separating without proper scriptural grounds.
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2008 Changes to the Watchtowers
by Inquisitor ini don't know if someone else has already posted about this.
i tried looking a page or two back in this section, but didn't find any thread on this news.
if someone has, pls add the link in this thread.. no, the watchtowers aren't gonna be monthly like the awake, but apparently the w mags will be designed in this way:.
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owenfieldreams
funny how they want to basically divide the the key instrument of disseminating wt dogma into two branches--one for the public and another for the r/f members. Mmmm...
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If You've Faded, Do You Still Consider Yourself a Dub?
by brunnhilde ini've been thinking about this a lot, because i've chosen to fade and i would never refer to myself as a jdub, but i've read postings from others who do.
i would have written a letter a year ago but i've got older parents who are upset enough about me just not attending.
on another thread someone is also leaving and they were advised to tell the jc to do whatever, to not acknowledge that they have any authority.
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owenfieldreams
One time, Ronald Reagan supposedly said of the democrat party, of which he was a member at one time," I didn't leave the party, IT left ME." I can somewhat compare that feeling to my decision to fade from the org. I don't think my core beliefs or values have ever changed, concerning God almighty or the bible. All of the constant moving of the goal posts as related to the time/generation of the end, the constant flip-flopping on doctrinal issues, the whole blood transfusion conundrum, the hard turn to the right by Jaracz and his lieutenants and other policy wonks in brooklyn who are really the ones who took control of this organization about ten years ago, the watering down, dummying down of the theocratic ministry school and hour requirements to inflate statistics--all of this describes what I think is a totally different org than what even existed 25-30 years ago, to some extent. It is not the same org and it is being ran by totally different people now.
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Jehovah's Witnesses to operate in Israel - scareeee
by Dogpatch ina-g backs jehovah's witnesses' demand for equal rights.
by matthew wagner.
the attorney-general's emphasis on the democratic character of the state as opposed to its jewish character has opened the way for missionary groups such as jehovah's witnesses to operate in israel, according to former justice minister yaakov neeman.
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owenfieldreams
no disrespect intended, Randy, but the fact is JW' s have had a 'presence', albeit small, in Israel for many years. so i am not sure I understand your point. please clarify....
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"Help--I'm a JW, in an unhappy marriage, and I want OUT...."
by owenfieldreams inhow many times have we all seen this scenario?
if you are like me, you lost count a long time ago.
my advice to any such person would be--get a legal divorce.
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owenfieldreams
how many times have we all seen this scenario? if you are like me, you lost count a long time ago. my advice to any such person would be--get a legal divorce. you cannot be df'ed for it. As a matter of fact, if you are willing to bid your time, you can even eventually return to "good standing" with the elders and the org. this is one area where the wtbts is starting to liberalize and become more mainstream.....
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I feel bad about being a part of this...
by sibboleth inseveral years ago, approx 1995, i was a newbie elder - age 29 and was just doing the "yes man" duties around the hall.
there was the overbearing po who was the "king" of the congo and whatever he said was gospel... if he didn't like you - you were history... needless to say - i kissed his butt and moved up the ladder quite easily.
we had another newbie elder - in his late 40's - and he was a smart man.
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owenfieldreams
Every congregation that I ever associated with, you always had at least one on the elder body that was just like the example given. my dad was actually an able, humble, experienced elder when we moved into a new congregation, and the PO, feeling threatened by a man that got more respect from the cong members than he ever did, immediately began 'knifing him in the back' in talking with other elders, undermining him in every way possible, and was so jealous of the power and hypnotic sway that he had over the cong for so many years now slipping through his fingers--it was truly amazing to see such political pettiness and powergrabbing take place in what they claim is "God's chosen organization."
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What's the BIG deal with Bethel?
by onlycurious ini was at my jw's friends house a few days ago and she had a jar on her counter that had "trip to bethel" written on it.. there was some chump change inside.
i never asked.
is bethel kind of like mecca?.
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owenfieldreams
When I was there in the late eighties, the monthly stipend was $80.00. From what I understand, it has gone up since then.
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What's the BIG deal with Bethel?
by onlycurious ini was at my jw's friends house a few days ago and she had a jar on her counter that had "trip to bethel" written on it.. there was some chump change inside.
i never asked.
is bethel kind of like mecca?.
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owenfieldreams
having 'served' at bethel during the late eighties, i can attest to the fact that there definitely is a class or "caste" system there. heck, you're not even considered a real part of the 'family' until you've been there at least five years, that was one of the first things that was beat into my head once i arrived. also, almost everything is done on a seniority basis--whenever a 'room bid' would come up, someone with more seniority than you could 'take away' your room without any challenge or recourse. Even though its true the 'heavyweights' and their wives didn't draw any official salary or benefits, they do get lots of gifts and money, private junkets to exotic places disguised as "assembly parts and talks", and the best seats at gilead graduation, invites to special occasions like the annual meeting, etc. etc. About the only benefit that I DID see that most all bethelites did receive was the attention that you got from people in your congregation.
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Divorce fighting
by DaCheech ini have a question for anyone interested in debating this:.
when a married couple wants to separate, why is it relevant in court on the reasons for it?.
if the hubsband is caught cheating, how does telling the court make a diffrence?.
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owenfieldreams
unfortunately, in today's litigious society, marriages aren't worth the paper they are written on. if you legally marry, you are putting yourself at risk, financially and otherwise, especially if you are the main breadwinner. It shouldn't be that way, but that IS the way it is.