A name change could be a practical decision. They haven't done a good job of promoting their current name on the Internet. If you Google Jehovah's Witnesses, you will find a lot of critical information. It's so bad for them they might find it easier to start over. If they use good SEO practices, they could do a much better job of promoting themselves while overwhelming critical voices.
Posts by DT
-
283News from Mother ship
by jefferywhat in1. bethel in ny suspect high level apostate, cant identify it but know its there.
2. major organizational changes about to start rolling out, one is changes to the "service committee" and titles, po to be done away with, thats all i know for now.
was told that if you are the sort of person that cant handle changes, you wont stay in the org for long.
-
-
-
1
Book Study - The effect on elderly ones who have it in their home?
by jambon1 ini personally know one very lovely sister who has the group in her home & loves it.
not only for her spirituality but because she gets some company & a bit help.
she is housebound & her health is failing.
-
-
DT
Many may not notice it among all the rejoicing and celebrating, but many will be saddened by this change. As a Jehovah's Witness you are supposed to avoid worldly association, but most of the dubs are too busy or self righteous to make good friends. The formal meetings are too cold and impersonal and now the book study will be gone. I'm sure this will cause many to wonder if they really belong to a loving brotherhood.
-
23
Wild Speculations About Future Watchtower Changes
by DT inhere are some of my predictions.
i would enjoy hearing yours.. 1. the new merged meeting will eventually be shortened, perhaps to an hour and a half.. 2. more changes about the generation and 1914. they will talk about 1914 less and possibly drop it or change it when people.
stop paying much attention to it.
-
-
DT
Here are some of my predictions. I would enjoy hearing yours.
1. The new merged meeting will eventually be shortened, perhaps to an hour and a half.
2. More changes about the generation and 1914. They will talk about 1914 less and possibly drop it or change it when people
stop paying much attention to it. They may eventually decide the generation is the anointed since the first century, rather than
the anointed since 19143.A further weakening of the blood policy. They probably won't get rid of it, but will wait until technical advances make
blood transfusions rare or unnecessary.4. They will eventually change their shunning policy. They may continue to push shunning while quietly making
it a conscience matter to avoid possible legal complications.5. They will lose millions more in pedophilia lawsuits. They will only apologise or reform their practices if they decide it
is in their best interests to do so.6. They will train their members on how to respond to the common apostate objections that they hear in the ministry, at work or during
unauthorised use of the Internet.I may add more later. Now it is your turn.
-
-
-
DT
I guess it means that 2/3 or more of the governing body agreed on something, probably after debating about it for many years. Time will tell if this is part of big plan or if it just a confused compromise between people with different agendas.
-
72
Emotional Reactions to the Loss of the Book Study
by DT ini think the loss of the book study will hit some like a death of a friend.
it will mark the end of an era.
it will forever change the religion of jehovah's witnesses and i believe the change is completely irreversible.. of course, most witnesses will be delighted by this.
-
-
DT
But back in the early 70s, when we were awaiting the Great Tribulation, the Book Study was held as
THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING!
We were told that it was through the book study arrangement our lives would be saved!
Honestly, we were educated to believe that the elder in charge of our book study would become the
representative of the Society for our group and through angelic direction he would look out for us and guide us through the dark night of Jehovah's anger against mankind.
Following his spirit guided direction we would survive into the New World.
Whatever he said it was Jehovah's word to us. If he told us to go right, we should go right. If he told us to go left, we should go left. If he told us to hide, we should hide.
The book study conductor believed he was in charge or rather the spiritual caretaker of his book study members.I think a lot of dubs will wonder why they bothered with the book study for so many years. It never served its purpose in helping them through the great tribulation. Hopefully, some will think about this and the new understanding of the generation and realise the WTS has no basis for claiming that Armageddon is coming soon.
-
72
Emotional Reactions to the Loss of the Book Study
by DT ini think the loss of the book study will hit some like a death of a friend.
it will mark the end of an era.
it will forever change the religion of jehovah's witnesses and i believe the change is completely irreversible.. of course, most witnesses will be delighted by this.
-
-
DT
I think the loss of the book study will hit some like a death of a friend. It will mark the end of an era. It will forever change the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses and I believe the change is completely irreversible.
Of course, most Witnesses will be delighted by this. Their burden is so heavy that one less meeting will be a relief. The problem is that they are losing one of the few good things that religion had to offer. The book studies had the potential of allowing people to get to know each other and enjoy association in a more relaxed atmosphere. This potential wasn't always realised, but at least the possibility was there. I have been in some congregations where the members weren't very friendly and most people ignored me. The formal meetings were unpleasant, but the bookstudy gave me hope that I might start to fit in with at least a few people.
What are you reactions to this? How do you think the dubs will react when the effects of this change sinks in? How about people who have problems making friends and are never invited anywhere? Do you think they might just give up hope of fitting in? Do you think that some will see this as a sign that the great tribulation isn't coming any time soon or if it does that they will have to face it without the support of a small group of close friends?
-
31
Next big announcement: All Circuirt Overseers Sacked!
by slimboyfat inso what is the ending of the congregation book study really all about?
surely the biggest winner in this new arrangement is the circuit overseer.
now he only has to take two meetings during his visit and will only "work" from thursday to sunday.
-
-
DT
This will certainly make changes possible. It would even be possible for a CO to visit two congregations a week with a suitable rearrangement of meeting times. Or I could see COs being expected to do secular work for a day or two a week and get less funding from the Society.
However, my opinion is that the WTS will want to keep the CO arrangement in roughly it's present form. It provides an excellent return on investment. The Society needs COs to maintain control, advocate for building new halls or remodel old ones and "encourage" older publishers to put the society in their wills. The COs are salesmen and having fewer meetings will allow them to make more sales and boost the Society's finances.
I wouldn't be surprised if they start having assistant COs that work under the direction of the CO and make short visits to congregations between CO visits or visit troublespots and difficult judicial committees or help with incidents that could incur liability. They wouldn't have to be paid and could extend the COs power. It would also make it easier to see who are the best salesman that can be promoted to CO.
-
41
Big Announcement could be a Sting against JWD
by OnTheWayOut ini am sure some of you remember speculation in the past that the borg would.
start false letters to smoke out the elders that are passing on the information .
to the evil apostates.. "a big announcement on april 24th" sounds like it could fit the bill.
-
-
DT
They ain't that smart OTWO.
They don't do disinformation campaigns.
Not for apostates anyways. The design their disinformation campaigns for their own members.
-
41
Big Announcement could be a Sting against JWD
by OnTheWayOut ini am sure some of you remember speculation in the past that the borg would.
start false letters to smoke out the elders that are passing on the information .
to the evil apostates.. "a big announcement on april 24th" sounds like it could fit the bill.
-
-
DT
If it is a sting, we need to document and advertise the fact the the WTS knowingly sent out false information. I think it would make them look insecure and dishonest. However, I think there has been enough confirmation that it's probable that the rumors are generally correct. I guess we will find out for sure soon.
-
24
What Have I Missed Since I've Been Away This Past Week???
by minimus incan i have some convention highlights please?
?
-
-
DT
Also I want to still be lazy, DT.
Well, I can respect and sympathise with that. Actually, I was being pretty lazy in my response. You have received a a pretty good summery of what is going on. What is missing is the human drama of people reporting, responding to, and debating unverified rumors and then gradually getting confirmation as the comments and threads proliferate. It was all very entertaining and educational. It might be fun to review the threads, but if you use your imagination you can save a lot of time.