Posts by hybridous

53

Did you think this was it for the Watchtower-(Covid)- Well-They are coming back with even greater ZEAL!

by pistolpete in

so you all probably heard that the awake magazine is back, .

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/?contentlanguagefilter=en&pubfilter=g&yearfilter=.

and one of my jw relatives said they were told by some elders that meetings and field service will resume before the end of the year.. they said this covid virus was a test, like when the romans breached jerusalem and retreated, only to come back later and sack jerusalem.

hybridous

Seriously, though, I really do think that Covid has been a huge boon in helping the Org "manage the decline".

Absolutely! COVID serves a real-life, independently verifiable crisis - relatable to folks both within the religion, and without!

WT didn't have to march out another half-baked prophetic interpretation to sell the brothers and sisters on why WT CORP is taking on water. COVID is a real thing, disrupting all facets of life.

It gives the WT far-reaching cover for explaining the faltering organization. They will, of course, outrun their cover - as we know, the WT ORG's problems have nothing to do with COVID.

I am strongly suspecting another aggressive round of KH/property liquidation. They simply can't pass up the opportunity to glean this capital under cover of the COVID excuse.

53

Did you think this was it for the Watchtower-(Covid)- Well-They are coming back with even greater ZEAL!

by pistolpete in

so you all probably heard that the awake magazine is back, .

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/?contentlanguagefilter=en&pubfilter=g&yearfilter=.

and one of my jw relatives said they were told by some elders that meetings and field service will resume before the end of the year.. they said this covid virus was a test, like when the romans breached jerusalem and retreated, only to come back later and sack jerusalem.

hybridous

a recent CO visit where the direction was to lighten up on asking people to have their cameras on when in a Zoom meeting....

This is a sizeable chuck of JWs content to 'mail-it-in', and WT itself is leaving to door open such - knowing full well what that sizeable chunk is apt to do.

To me, this doesn't signal a zealous resumption of operations. Actually, its quite the opposite.

So very much of the JW life is lateral enforcement of the rules via the circular firing-squad of JW association.

Where does this leverage go when the WT goes internet-heavy (only?!). A couple of assemblies every year won't substitute for KH attendance, but I'm glad that the WT is stupid enough to think it might.

53

Did you think this was it for the Watchtower-(Covid)- Well-They are coming back with even greater ZEAL!

by pistolpete in

so you all probably heard that the awake magazine is back, .

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/?contentlanguagefilter=en&pubfilter=g&yearfilter=.

and one of my jw relatives said they were told by some elders that meetings and field service will resume before the end of the year.. they said this covid virus was a test, like when the romans breached jerusalem and retreated, only to come back later and sack jerusalem.

hybridous

The last 10 to 15 years door to door has been pathetic. No one wants to do it. It’s driving around putting in time gossiping about brother not reaching out and sister got herself an education.

Yes, this dynamic is what's driving my opinion.

The COVID break may serve as an opportunity for WT Corporate, but I think it might've served as a derailing for the 'religion'.

Given the COVID-inspired break from KH attendance and formal field service, did the lack of field service make JWs miss that activity...?

...or perhaps stumble upon the clue of how much more comfortable life is...without it?

So much easier to stand by a literature cart and talk to NOBODY!

Are there really any JWs left who think this 'religion' is worth advertising?

53

Did you think this was it for the Watchtower-(Covid)- Well-They are coming back with even greater ZEAL!

by pistolpete in

so you all probably heard that the awake magazine is back, .

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/?contentlanguagefilter=en&pubfilter=g&yearfilter=.

and one of my jw relatives said they were told by some elders that meetings and field service will resume before the end of the year.. they said this covid virus was a test, like when the romans breached jerusalem and retreated, only to come back later and sack jerusalem.

hybridous

Zeal can soon disappear, when the pointless reality of "Witnessing" by the methods they now use seeps through in the consciousness of a JW.
Covid has brought people face to face with the reality that they must not waste their lives.

This is really poignant.

I would really challenge any notion that the JWs will return their 'normal' + extra zealous D-2-D campaign.

The staying power of any new enthusiasm is rightly questioned. What new message and/or benefits is the WT offering its adherents?

Should the Tower dare to make this move, we just need a modicum of patience to see this thing bottom out worse than before.

COVID reveals to us that the Tower doesn't believe its own nonsense.

27

Will Jehovah’s Witnesses Go Back To Normal Activities?

by minimus in

jw
friends

most every state has a plan to get back to normalcy.

many countries also are ready to get their citizens on the road to recovery.. where does this leave the witnesses?

will they ever go back to house to house ministry?

hybridous

I am expecting a final reaping of Kingdom Hall liquidity.

I don't see how they couldn't seize this Covid opportunity.

JWs will accept any and all pathetic rationalizations from the Tower - especially once the word 'COVID' gets stapled to it.

I figure that once the Covid crisis has served to temporarily satiate the Tower's need for resources, then there will be a cautious and gradual return to "JW normal", sans the D-2-D Ministry, since it is already becoming passe in favor of Cart Work..

40

Will You Still Wear A Mask Even If You Don’t Have To?

by minimus in

jw
friends

it seems that some people just aren’t ready to put those masks aside even if they are fully vaccinated!

some can’t help but think their brains aren’t ready for “normal”..

hybridous

No. This whole thing has devolved into performative theatre...

..where being scared over risks that are orders of magnitude less likely than everyday, accepted risks, are somehow now the highest social virtue...

I am weary from these useless burdens...

21

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

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

any takers?

hybridous

They have to get their abacus out and calculate what will be best- sell the Kingdom Halls or continue to fleece the flock a little at a time.

I agree with OTWO. This Covid situation presents an opportunity for the Tower. I could see another round of KH sell-offs right before resuming in-person meetings. Folks would be so happy for the association, they might hold back the grumbling about being re-assigned to another KH, now 2x as far away...

157

Systemic Racism: What’s Your View? Is it As Pervasive As Some Suggest?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the president of the united states says we have to do something about this.

many politicians and people agree that we are all affected by the scourge of systemic racism.

what’s your view of this?

hybridous

Systemic racism is a circular faith-based argument. You MUST believe that you are a racist or else you are a racist and should be shunned.
That is the argument they’re making, everything and everyone is racist and should be changed. They are literally shunning their family members and friends and coworkers that do not agree.
They have a priest class of rich black wokesters that tell them everything they should do to grovel and pray. They have religious texts in the form of their anti-racist books and they have communion in the form of Twitter. They even have an end of times prophecy where the dates keep changing in the form of global cooling/warming that will destroy the earth.
It’s a Kafkaëske argument or witch trial where you can only be found guilty of witchcraft or get killed proving your innocence. And everything they don’t like is fitted with the white supremacy label, because if you look hard enough you can find fault in everyone’s history.

Yes. Good analysis. The whole POINT is to levy charges that are UN-FALSIFIABLE. It's like the burden of Original Sin. You're always guilty.

Except with Original Sin, at least we're all equally guilty and there is (ostensibly) a redemption at the end...

Accusations of Systemic Racism offer no such way out...

12

Daily text 15.4.21 Unbelievable hypocrisy. Don't be the master of another's faith

by Diogenesister in

youtuber "king of fader's" caught this unbelievable piece of cant from watchtower in thursday's life and ministry 'daily text'.. (based on 2 corinthians 1:24 " not that we lord it over your faith").

"jehovah has not given us authority to make personal decisions for others.

someone who makes needless rules is not protecting his brothers safety - he is trying to become the master of his brothers faith.

hybridous

'Good! I just rented a room at the YMCA for my son's BIRTHDAY PARTY!!'

Are they really this daft?

Or are they mocking JWs to their very faces, as part of the scam?

'Jests Put Thru Daily' they did say. Indeed!

66

Jw spokesman Says door to door preaching not coming back!

by nowwhat? in

https://youtu.be/uaaztatkhkg.

hope link works.

hybridous

Though the door to door work might be left has an option just like before the Virus problem.

Yeah, I could see it remaining a seldom-used option for old-school try-hard JWs. Organizationally, a fizzled campaign to re-start door-to-door might do more damage than leaving it alone as-is.

For that reason, I think leadership would be wary of trying to rally troops that it doesn't have a lot of confidence in.

They are better off sliding focus to cart witnessing and other endeavors, rather than risk a ministry rally where half don't show up and perform, in my estimation...

JWs aren't zealous anymore. The ORG squandered all that energy, plus householders have too much info too easily available. Zealous JWs are going to come across information that makes them uncomfortable. Better to spend 3 hours sitting next to a literature cart, hoping you can make it through without having to seriously speak with anyone. I know I'd opt for that alternative...