Prov1320

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Posts by Prov1320

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  27

  They Don't Pass a Collection Plate Because.....

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ...it just isn't big enough!.

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  Prov1320

  ONthewayout,

  I worked in the "accounting department" at the conventions, so I can provide some insight into this:

  The disctrict conventions were ALWAYS paid for upfront by the WTS, so there were never any deficits. In fact, all monies collected would go straight to the society. Announcements were only to "encourage expressing our gratitude" for all the hard work the WTS put forth in preparing the convention. Sundays were always a big hit for contributions. And at the end of the day we would simply reconcile the accounts.

  Now, for circuit and special day assemblies, all contributions had to PAY THE SOCIETY BACK! Any deficit was the amount owed back to the society. The people in attendance were responsible for sharing the cost of the weekend. The decifit would be announced to make everyone feel guilty for not contributing. However, it was a false sense of deficit, as most of the contributions would have come in at the end of the session on Sunday anyway. But it does give a big "shock factor" when it is announced, and has led many to believe "how could we have a deficit???" In extreme cases, the deficit would be carried out to the congragation level, where during a service meeting it would be announced how much per person it works out to. Talk about forced contributions! If that's not a direct substitute for a "collections plate", I don't know what is.

  Bottom line, all contributions go to the society, even when the society owns the building they charge a usage fee (this was true in Ontario --- the hall in Norval near Georgetown has been owned and fully paid up for decades.... now the society charges a usage or rental fee for circuit assemblies... imagine that).

  I didn't really think much of it at the time, but now I see the light! lol
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  16

  Generation Change

  by garlic81 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know there was an article on john barr's comments at the annual meeting this year.

  i've posted the reference below.

  i'm wondering if they are thinking of changing the belief back to that some annointed alive in 1914 will be alive when the tribulation starts?

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  Prov1320

  If that's true, it's probably because the GB realized they screwed up with their last explanation of "generations". They left it such that Armageddon could come anytime in the future, perhaps years or decades away. So to correct it and re-introduce the urgency they have to come up with an inane explanation.

  How they can possibly justify biblically that the "generations would overlap" is way beyond me!

  Could you imagine Jesus pointing to a group of people and saying "this generation will not pass without these things happening, blah blah blah", and then winking at his disciples and saying, "in case you think I am referring to this generation as in these people, I'm not. And in case you are thinking it's my anointed ones in the future, I'm not. It's actually the overlapping of multiple generation that I'm referring to. I just have a real f*cked up way of expressing myself to make myself unclear. Am I clear?"

  Sheesh.
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  25

  Do you still want to live forever?

  by paul from cleveland in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you still have the desire to live forever on a paradise earth?.

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  Prov1320

  That also means that if we all lived forever everyone is guaranteed to win the lottery at some point. What would be the fun in that??? lol
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  20

  Camping for conventions

  by EmptyInside in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  outlaw's post about convention food reminded me of my family's experiences camping for the conventions.

  fortunately, they did this before i came along.

  but, it seems the whole congregation stayed at one campground.

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  Prov1320

  Try keeping your clothes from wrinkling! lol

  I remember camping in Montreal in the early 80s for an international convention. It was all about the "experience" for all the witnesses.

  A very important highlight from that trip:

  A friend of mine was the son of an anointed. We were outside after the session and he recognized an old friend among the "apostates" picketing outside. He actually began a conversation and then we were suddenly swarmed by apostates. I remember so very clearly what one of them asked: "Show me where Jesus used the name Jehovah". And my friend couldn't answer. He knew it was mentioned in the WTS bible, but couldn't think of when Jesus would have specifically used the name (that is, without the WTS actually substituting the name). That stuck with me for years and got me thinking. My friend eventually went to university and became a lawyer; his dad got DF'ed for who-knows-what-reason (they must have all woken up).

  I digressed a bit, but I thought I'd share the moment that possibly started my path to exiting the witless.
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  183

  Hubby is Researching 607...

  by cognac in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  would you say that's the beginning of the end?

  hubby's researching if the beginning date can be proven from the bible its starting date is 607. clearly, he won't find the answer.... here's hoping he will see the light... .

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  Prov1320

  As is typical with any witness, they provide "evidence" without any foundation. Scholar, please provide references or sources to your material.

  Your #4 uses circular reasoning, by the way: 1914 is true because it's calculated from 607.... and 607 is true, because otherwise 1914 cannot be derived.
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  38

  Cola at the District Convention

  by lepermessiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  remember some of the garbage served at the district conventions?.

  i was at the dollar store today and noticed they started carrying "shasta" cola.. i started laughing because they used to serve that skunk water at the district conventions when i was a kid.. they always brought in the cheapest, nastiest soda they could buy.. one year we had something called vess cola - that was actually worse than the shasta!

  then, they ran out on sunday and had to buy pepsi from the local distributor - we were all rejoicing!!.

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  Prov1320

  Speaking of fond memories, remember seeing people run for the line-up at lunch time? Some zealous witlesses would leave before the song would end, just to be the first in line. And it was no wonder: if you were at the back of the line you would get half-ass sandwiches... a sub with no meat, just lettuce, a roast beef with only the sauce... And remember seeing the first ones coming through the line and how they would order double the food to have some left over for after the session?

  Ahhh... the memories! lol
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  183

  Hubby is Researching 607...

  by cognac in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  would you say that's the beginning of the end?

  hubby's researching if the beginning date can be proven from the bible its starting date is 607. clearly, he won't find the answer.... here's hoping he will see the light... .

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  Prov1320

  When I told my mom about 607 she told me to look it up in the Jewish encyclopeodia... she was certain that the nation that had actually experienced the historical events would have an accurate account. Well, I looked it up and sure enough, no mention at all of 607. Everything pointed to 587. Oops!
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  38

  Cola at the District Convention

  by lepermessiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  remember some of the garbage served at the district conventions?.

  i was at the dollar store today and noticed they started carrying "shasta" cola.. i started laughing because they used to serve that skunk water at the district conventions when i was a kid.. they always brought in the cheapest, nastiest soda they could buy.. one year we had something called vess cola - that was actually worse than the shasta!

  then, they ran out on sunday and had to buy pepsi from the local distributor - we were all rejoicing!!.

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  Prov1320

  In Ontario, COTT COLA preceeded RC... RC was considered an upgrade! lol I worked at the food stand too and remember it all too well.

  I still remember their stupid slogan: "It's COTT to be good!" (In french it translated to: "if it's cott, it's good" - not exactly what the translaters indended)
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  104

  New Light: Don't hold hands during prayers

  by RR in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  from the watchtower november 15 study edition.. 19 when we are being represented in public prayer, we need to display reverential "fear of god.

  " (1 pet 2:17) there may be a proper time and place for some actions that would be inappropriate at a christian meeting.

  (eccl 3:1) for instance, suppose someone sought to have all in a group link arms or hold hands during prayer.

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  Prov1320

  Next they will probably introduce a new rule that hands are to remain folded over the chest or left hanging down the sides, as to not stumble anyone who thinks that just because you have your hands folded over your crotch you may be actually playing with yourself during the prayer... clearly not appropriate behaviour! lol
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  45

  Who Or What Influenced You The Most To Get Out Of The Religion?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me, i think it was time and the realization of the idiocy of the beliefs and man made doctrines.

  i just couldn't ignore it any longer..

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  Prov1320

  For me it was logic and facts:

  - 1914 didn't make sense

  - 607BC didn't add up... "The bible is right over archeologists' findings" just didn't cut it. WTS says 1914 is right because 607 is right, and 607 is right because 1914 is right. Circular reasoning.

  - prophesies that pointed to 1923 conventions? give me a break!

  - Flood seemed like a big crock. Couldn't get my mind to accept it

  - "This generation" scam. WTS getting it constantly wrong is proof that Jesus didn't even know what he was talking about (my opinion)

  - faithful and discreet slave being taken literally. This, in my opinion, is the biggest scam of them all.

  That was the starting point. Once I began my research so much more surfaced and I was finally convinced this was a lying, controlling cult.