Posts by eyeslice

the wearing of face masks and social distancing.. many countries such as australia, new zealand, the uk and usa either have things under control or have vaccinated a large portion of the population.

therefore, given the very passive nature of the 'cart witnessing', i can't see why this hasn't be re-started.

eyeslice

We are nearly 18 months into this pandemic and lot has been learned and our behaviour modified to make things safer for us, e.g. the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

Many countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK and USA either have things under control or have vaccinated a large portion of the population. Therefore, given the very passive nature of the 'cart witnessing', I can't see why this hasn't be re-started. After all, the witnesses could just stand to one side with face masks on and keep 2 metres from any punters.

There does seem to be a huge reluctance do anything but scribble a few letters.

10

Double Speak from last night's CLAM

by eyeslice in

now that there are no meetings to physically attend, i am in a position where i listen in to my wife's zoom calls.

i thought some of the ideas in last week's clam were a bit strange, for instance they harped on about being 'friendly' to non-jws but not to become 'friends' with them.

the poignant question being put to the audience; 'what is the difference between being friendly to an unbeliever and being his friend?'.

eyeslice

Now that there are no meetings to physically attend, I am in a position where I listen in to my wife's Zoom calls.

I thought some of the ideas in last week's CLAM were a bit strange, for instance they harped on about being 'friendly' to non-JWs but not to become 'friends' with them. The poignant question being put to the audience; 'What is the difference between being friendly to an unbeliever and being his friend?'

The same strange message cropped up again in this week's Living as Christians section. First, there was a children's animated cartoon featuring Sophia. In it a new girl from India, dark-skinned and therefore obviously different, joins the apparently all white school. All the kids in Sophia's class, none of who seem even to know where India is, give this new girl a hard, apart from, of course, Sophia who takes her under wing. The title of this section 'Become Jehovah's Friend – Love Your Neighbour'. The question being put to the audience 'How did Sophia show love to Priya (the Indian girl)?' Notice, not 'How did Sophia become friends with Priya?'

Next there was the whiteboard animation; 'What's a real friend?', after which the audience was asked 'Where can you find a good friend?', the answer obviously being only in the congregation with those who worship Jehovah.

So there you have it. Sophia herself may not be nasty to the new Indian girl but in the end they can never be friends. After all the new girl is probably a Hindu so certainly not a worshipper of Jehovah, besides which she is probably going to die at Armageddon so not really worth investing too much emotionally in.

21

Are the Dubs going back to the KH again? (Covid-19)

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

any takers?

eyeslice

They have started pencilling in dates for one day assemblies in early 2022. I guess these could easily be postponed if they feel there is still too much risk, especially if they are at JW owned assembly halls where you think there wouldn't be a cancellation fee (though I would certainly think the congregations are still being called on to fund maintenance costs)..

21

'Theocratic Careers' and the Covid Pandemic

by eyeslice in

the watchtower has always banged on about not pursuing worldly careers and that best career was 'theocratic service.

but now i am wondering what line they will take.

let's have look at the options;.

eyeslice

The Watchtower has always banged on about not pursuing worldly careers and that best career was 'theocratic service. But now I am wondering what line they will take. Let's have look at the options;

Missionary Service
Not sure if any are being trained at the moment or which countries they can be sent to. Surely, this is not an option in these Covid times.
Bethel Service
My guess is that there are less than 15,000 worldwide in Bethel service now, so a pretty limited option at the best of times. As far as I can make out Bethels are pretty much locked down at the minute, though I would concede there will be some turnover at the slave-labour level, i.e. the 19 to 26 year olds donkey workers.
Serving Where the need is Great
I would guess this is pretty much off the table now. So many countries are in locked down and therefore getting into them would be extremely difficult. Even moving in your home country could be tricky but though not impossible.
Construction Work
Has this been stopped? My guess would they don't really want to get a bunch of people together who could possibly spread Covid. That would be pretty bad press - 300 people at a quick build infected with Covid.
Foreign Language Groups and Congregations
Don't even think about it - we are told these are their way out. Apparently, they don't produce results and the majority of the foreign targets speak the local language far better than you could ever get to speaking theirs.

That leaves the old cookie - pioneer service. So, there you have it - your career could be writing letters to people you don't even know, that wouldn't be read, simply tossed in the bin.

Sounds a great career move to me.

8

Covid Virus and serving where the need is greater

by eyeslice in

i get the impression that many of those serving where 'the need is greater' have had to return to their home countries due to the current covid pandemic.. just over a year back the society was pushing people to go to places like india; not the easiest places to get to grips with at the best of times.

now i see that the covid pandemic is pretty much out of control in india.

it seems to me that 'needs greaters' were the watchtowers way of getting missionaries on the cheap.

eyeslice

I get the impression that many of those serving where 'the need is greater' have had to return to their home countries due to the current Covid pandemic.

Just over a year back the society was pushing people to go to places like India; not the easiest places to get to grips with at the best of times. Now I see that the Covid pandemic is pretty much out of control in India.

It seems to me that 'needs greaters' were the Watchtowers way of getting missionaries on the cheap. You have to make your own way there at your expense then cover your own housing and medical costs. I would be pretty surprised if any financial assistance has been offered to those struggling to get home due to the pandemic.

6

7/2021 WT Highlights

by neat blue dog in

.. darn, the beard trope is back.

bible student has beard, then shaves when coming in the truth.. .

it's also kinda weird that this jw met what looks like his biological brother in the door to door work.

eyeslice

That's not a beard - see my avatar or here's some proper beards.

20

Big Cull of Foreign Language Groups and Congregations

by eyeslice in

i overheard mrs eyeslice listening to '2021 governing body update 3' yesterday.

apparently, they have started ditching foreign language groups and congregations as these weren't exactly roping anyone in.

of course there is a positive spin on all this - '4,000 plus elders freed up to serve in local language congregations' and of course there has been immensely positive feedback from various branches about the benefits of this.. i suspect though there will be an awful lot of elders who were serving as king pins in these congregations who are going to have their noses put out by going back to local language congregations where they will barely be used.

eyeslice

I overheard Mrs Eyeslice listening to '2021 Governing Body Update 3' yesterday. Apparently, they have started ditching foreign language groups and congregations as these weren't exactly roping anyone in. Of course there is a positive spin on all this - '4,000 plus elders freed up to serve in local language congregations' and of course there has been immensely positive feedback from various branches about the benefits of this.

I suspect though there will be an awful lot of elders who were serving as king pins in these congregations who are going to have their noses put out by going back to local language congregations where they will barely be used. Also, there won't be the opportunity to share 'experiences' at assemblies from the work these do - the sort of 'we have been studying Chinese for 5 years now and recently we met a lonely student from China who has take the truth back to 10 million people back home in China'.

All of this cut back of course because of Jehovah's rich blessings being poured out.

31

My Very First Thread Criticizing the WTS....................

by Judge Dread in

a couple of posts by hamsterbait motivated me to post this.. the elimination of the book study: it was the only place where those who were shy, or anxious, about commenting would comment.

it was small, intimate and we had a lot of fun.

remember the "f" word?

eyeslice

Totally agree - there is no fun left in this organisation.

At least at the old 'book study' there was the chance for a cup of tea and a cake and a good chin wag. Now everything is so structured and controlled. Special Assembly days have no atmosphere compared to the days when we had 3 day circuit assemblies with a cooked lunch, and food prepared on site. It was great fun preparing the food, washing up, etc, I was able to miss most of the actual sessions.

Nearly every social activity is frowned on now. Again, I remember organising concerts where we used to have everything from stand-up comicals to 'rock' groups and sisters singing opera. I am sure that they were really cheesy and amateurish but great fun!