Posts by Lost-In-Translation

22

Bethel reductions in Europe

by Lost-In-Translation in

jw
friends

16 years ago

perhaps this has been discussed before, but at the extjforo.com (the spanish ex-witness website) there has been a lot of discussion of the governing body's decision to either close or severely reduce bethel homes in europe - in particular spain.

there was even a letter sent to all congregations in spain explaining the situation.

bethalites are being asked to leave - they are not even getting other assignments.

11 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

Perhaps this has been discussed before, but at the Extjforo.com (the Spanish Ex-Witness website) there has been a lot of discussion of the Governing Body's decision to either close or severely reduce Bethel homes in Europe - in particular Spain. There was even a letter sent to all congregations in Spain explaining the situation. Bethalites are being asked to leave - they are not even getting other assignments. The printing presses that were paid for by the Spanish congregations are being sent to Germany - which is upsetting the Witnesses in Spain since they paid for those presses. Just a few bethalites will remain for administrative reasons.

Most are commenting that since the WTBS is a corporation - they are being adversely affected due to the worldwide recession. The "friends" are not able to give as they did before. Congregations have been running into deficits for the last few months. Seems like money will force the WBTS to make changes that they would not have even thought of during "good times."

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9

My Analysis of the Special Talk

by metatron in

jw
friends

16 years ago

i found the special talk to be a bit more bizarre than usual as it seemed to invent a parallel dimension in which churches freely preach hate and racial division in contrast to "the truth".

deeply fantasy laden yet somehow vague and unfocused.. what i do find significant is a change in emphasis.

in the past, these sort of talks used to drone on about how wonderful the organization is relative to the evil surrounding world.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

When the Public Talks where shortened to 30 minutes one of the instructions the WTBS gave to speakers was that they were to eliminate starting their discourse with a list of negatives. Speakers were not to use the introduction of a talk saying how BAD everything or how bad everyone else is. Of course some older brothers just ignore the instructions and have not adjusted their talk outlines. The WTBS stated that speakers were to emphasize the blessings that the Kingdom would bring and not use the time to list how bad the present system of things are or how bad other religions are.

So it is no surprise that in the Special Talk the outline was carefully wordered not to be overly offensive as in the past. Buy using "should" a lot they are using rhetorical questions so that listeners can make up their own mind and not just be flat out told what to do.

Will a change in technique in delivering a talk really change anything? Of course not. Ultimately, the message is the same - you have become a Jehovah's Witness - if not you will die. Supporting the WTBS Corporation is the only way to salvation. What other US Corporation offers that?

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44

IF THIS IS TRUE IT IS MASSIVE!!!!!!!!

by Hobo Ken in

jw
friends

16 years ago

i was speaking to a family member who is still a jw in very good standing and she told me that last week she was told by an elder of very good repute in my old congregation this:-.

he has been told that any of the current governing body when they die will not be replaced!!!!!!!!!!.

i cannot even begin to take this in!.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

Don't believe it.

1935 was not a cut-off year. The Watchtower article that explained the "new light" that anointed ones are still being selected stated, "Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends." Thus, there will always be anointed available to serve on the Governing Body to lead the organization.

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82

SHOCK! As A Family Of 5 Is DF'd On The Same Night!!!

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

16 years ago

the whole congregation came to a complete and utter shock as a family of 5 was df'd on the same night.... apparently the father was to be df'd for apostacy.

he was given a chance to appeal.

went home to discuss it with family.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

I've heard of many reports first hand of such situations happening. A few years back in the state of Montana they disfellowshipped about 28 people in 3 congregations all at the same time.

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82

SHOCK! As A Family Of 5 Is DF'd On The Same Night!!!

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

16 years ago

the whole congregation came to a complete and utter shock as a family of 5 was df'd on the same night.... apparently the father was to be df'd for apostacy.

he was given a chance to appeal.

went home to discuss it with family.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

Since the WTBS is the sole revealer of 'divine truth' - all Witnesses must accept what is written in their literature. They are required to keep believing even when they have strong doubts. I'm sure the other family members did not want to be forced to treat their father as a disfellowshipped person. Remember, if Witnesses are to survive the 'end' they must be to the Organization since that means loyalty to God. Isn't it fascinating to see how a Corporation could force families to reject their own flesh-and-blood so that they can keep their members active in converting others and donating all their "unrighteous riches."

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94

What Was The Very First Thing That Came Across Your Eyes That Lead You Down The Road To Doubt?

by Yizuman in

jw
friends

16 years ago

any of you remember what was exactly the first thing that crossed your eyeballs to lead you into doubting the wts?.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

1. Child Sexual Abuse Victims - their telling parents of abused children or those who have been sexually abused by another Witness to keep quiet so that the Watchtower does not look bad. They print Watchtower articles stating that truthfulness is important, but they instruct elders to persecute anyone who wants to go to the authorities to prosecute dangerous predators in a congregation. They actually believe that holy spirit is actually strong enough to change an abuser's inner desires to hurt children. The Watchtower Society permiting known abusers to preach door-to-door exposing children to sexual predators. The Scriptures say to remove the "wicked" from amongst them - too bad the Governing Body listens to the Legal Department regarding this instead of the Bible. The fact that they paid victims of sexual abuse and did not bother to acknowledge what happened in an article or letter to the congregations is such a cover up. When I mention what happened to other Witnesses they are shocked. They then ALWAYS say, "Why haven't we heard about this before?"

2. The End is Coming, The End is Coming, The End is Coming - its been almost 2000 years since Jesus left the earth and nothing has changed. They painted the 20th Century as a turning point, but it came and went. Same wars, same atrocities, same regligious hatreds as in past centuries. They have been proclaiming the "END" from the 1800s, 1900s, and now 2000s. Many I grew up with are struggling financially since they were encouraged to put "kingdom interests" first - they never got a good education, can hardly support their families due to low paying jobs, and literally are unhappy with life.

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15

How many anointed can there be?

by Lost-In-Translation in

16 years ago

i've been getting reports from paround the country that there have been multiple people, mostly young like in their 30s or 40s, who partook of the memorial emblems.

one person said that she saw 5 people in her congregation alone.

in my congregation 2 people partook - both of them in their 40s.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

I've been getting reports from paround the country that there have been multiple people, mostly young like in their 30s or 40s, who partook of the Memorial emblems. One person said that she saw 5 people in her congregation alone. In my congregation 2 people partook - both of them in their 40s. One of them stopped being a Witness for many years and just recently came back to the congregation.

It seems like the partakers of the emblems will reach over 10,000 this year. Has anyone else heard of multiple partakers during this past Memorial? Do you think the Governing Body is worried? Is the latest Watchtower study on those who claim to be anointed enough to stop others from viewing them negatively, especially since many of the people partaking are young and have not been Jehovah's Witnesses for many years?

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15

Congo Merge!!! WOW

by tresdecu in

jw
friends

16 years ago

i live in a semi large city.

200,000 + residents.

just found out the other day from a friend that 3 congregations are merging down to 1!

12 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

The same has been happening throughout the USA to ENGLISH congregations. The Service Department at Brooklyn Bethel has been consolidating congregations when possible. Some congregations are so small that it make sense to just combine them. They also analyze where most of the publishers in a particular congregation live. If they notice that the majority who attend a certain congregation do not live in the congregation's territory - they will then close that congregation and ask the publishers to attend the congregation in which territory they live in.

The real growth among Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States is coming from foreign language congregations. In particular the Spanish and Russian languages. In Brooklyn, the English speaking congregations keep dissappearing. English speaking people are not easily drawn into the message that Jehovah's Witnesses bring. The 2% growth in the USA has truly mostly come from foreigners and not English speaking Americans.

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18

Do the JW's actualy think they have the truth?

by iknowall558 in

jw
friends

16 years ago

do the dubs think they have the truth answer:yes.

the jw's honestly think they have the truth but we all know they dont because they have several doctrinal errors.

they dont think about it logicaly, if they had the truth wouldn't god help others become witnesses yes,and that means that the jw numbers would go up but they actualy go down.and not to mention all the ''end of the world dates'' that they have proficied.. .

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

Jehovah's Witnesses truly believe that they have the authentic revealed truth from God.

If you ask them, "Do you really believe that after almost 2,000 Jesus Christ decided to "re-establish" the Christian congregation in the United States during the late 1800s?" They will look at you and say, "What are you talking about?"

Most Witnesses have no clue about their religions history. For most it just IS what it IS. They never think of "Pastor" Russell nor what the Bible Students really believed when they were supposedly choosen in 1919.

The WTBS has been able to use parallels to justify that their corporation, based in the USA, was selected by God to shed truth to the world. There has never been an explanation why God selected the USA and not the Middle East or Europe to "restore pure worship." Or why He selected a group of people who looked to the Giza Pyramid for Bible truth. Or believed that that God would convert black people slowly to white in the new world since the white race was superior. Or that the prophets of old were going to be resurrected before the great tribulation. Let's not even mention all the dates for Armageddon.

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21

WILL THERE EVER BE A JW REVOLUTION?

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

16 years ago

is there a possibility for jw's turning against the gb, perhaps by boycotting the "meetings" and fs?.

in my opinion, i think we could be heading for something to that "effect"..... i have heard several "brothers" in my cong talking about the "need" to adapt to the ever changing world..... .

are they gonna go mainstream and avoid a possible revolt?.

16 years ago

Lost-In-Translation 16 years ago

They are going to stick with their tough rules and regulations. Controlling every aspect of people's lives is the best way to maintain control.

When the Bookstudy meeting arrangement was cancelled did you notice how they kept stating how they were to spend that "free" evening. It was said that the "free" night should be used for personal study or a Family study. Some even went to the point of saying that it would be disobediant to use that night to preach. Can you see the mentality of most Witnesses - they cannot make judgments for themselves. They want the WTBS to dictate all decisions for them so that they can be safe.

The WTBS always puts it interests before anything else. At one Special Day assembly they had a mother and her two children state how they are fine and happy even though their hubsand/father is almost never home due to his multiple assignments for the Society. That just burned me up. They made it really clear to everyone - it's fine for a brother to neglect his family as long as it is in the interests of the Society. It is never appropriate to neglect ones wife and children, but that part on the program made it clear that the WBTS thinks its fine when it benefits them. You can clearly see the mind control going on.

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