More evidence that the decision to stop printing publisher stats in the KM each month is because the news is depressing. Now, they can just cherry pick which item (that shows the greatest increase in whatever category--placements in March of 186-page books on paper that yellows, for instance) to reveal. Of course, this is typical, razor-sharp JW logic: If we don't publish it in our lits, then it isn't true!
Cadellin
JoinedPosts by Cadellin
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40
Proof Jehovah's Witnesses have been declining for nearly 20 years? (At least in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand)
by slimboyfat insee the tables on pages 124 and 125 of this book:.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=mtw90ykkb3gc&oi=fnd&pg=pa117&dq=scientology+jehovah%27s+stark&ots=0-yvd6jk_o&sig=vualoe-l3bxezaqktnbfhpsdj8u#v=onepage&q=scientology%20jehovah's%20stark&f=false.
admittedly these statistics don't measure the same thing official watchtower statistics do (i.e.
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College
by AllTimeJeff ini know i have threatened to do this before, like when i first left.
but i am thinking of going to college.
this time, i feel determined.
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Cadellin
Hey, Jeff, do it! I was 40 when I started university--didn't do the online thing, went bricks and mortar and was absolutely terrified walking into my first class (English 202) which was packed with 19 year olds. They all thought I was the instructor--doesn't matter, it was awesome and now, 4 years later, I'm in grad school, teaching a freshman class at the same time and getting paid for it--now when I walk into the class, I really am the instructor and absolutely love teaching...Follow your passion, and you'll find a way to make it pay.
Sounds hackneyed, but hey--its the total opposite of what the Society tells you to do so it's got to have merit!!!!
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Graph from Dec 15 09 Wt on How to Apportion Your Time to Remain Joyful. Crazy....
by Hopscotch inhere is a scan from the dec 15 09 wt (study ed) with a graph of how a witness should apportion their time to remain joyful.. .
so according to this graph, to remain joyful a witness should spend 3 times as much of his waking hours in 'theocratic activities' as he should in secular work!
hopscotch.
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Cadellin
Well, at least they're allowing JWs HALF their time for purposes other than JW activities...! While I'm blown away by the level of control, I'm also trying to figure out the purpose behind this. Sheep are doing less, obviously. It must be desperate if they're going so far as to tell people to quit their jobs if they can't keep up their 50% of the your breathing time in JW-related activities. This, when unemployment is around 10% and non-educated folks like JWs are having the hardest time...
Oh, I forgot--Jah will get them that $50/hour, 18-hour/week job. I wonder how many JWs use food banks already...I know of 2 in our hall.
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Among the Most Destructive of JW Core Ideas!
by AK - Jeff in'waiting for the real life'.
they exploit the biblical text to mean in essence that jw's 'put off' normal human life until the new world.. i never thought of the damage that does until i began to review my life history.
i have discovered that i am 35 years behind.
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Cadellin
We each create our own reality. When a JW lives his/her life "for the truth" and immerses him/herself in it, then that is reality, that is what is comforting, what is known. It becomes real. The neurological connections in the brain are reinforced by constant propaganda. Okay, so I'm stating the obvious--but the fact is, the cycle of reinforcement is itself rewarding and becomes the purpose, rather than just the mechanism.
Which isn't to say that's the best way to live the 80 or 90 years we're each given. But it makes it a little easier to understand, and as another poster said, when you break out of it and start engaging with life on different terms, not only is, say, walking into your first philosophy class or first "worldly" party frightening, but that much more exhilarating.
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Problems: The Bethel Family and Social Security Tax Exemption
by daniel-p inso i happened to be reading a website about the amish, and i came across this:.
"do the amish pay taxes?
""self-employed amish do not pay social security tax.
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Cadellin
Okay, this is perplexing. I personally know of a case of a couple who were given their pink slip from Patterson, and then one of them got grievously (terminally) ill and, though the Society did pay for a portion (and I don't know what percentage but I suspect not terribly much) of their med expenses after they left, they were specifically instructed by the Society to register for Medicaid as soon as possible.
So wouldn't that be blatant hypocrisy? And we would never expect to see blatant hypocrisy from the WT....
I'd be interested in what Jeff can find.
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Notes From the Annual Meeting - Oct 3, 2009
by daniel-p infrom a little bird... .
interesting portions highlighted.
notes from annual meeting (oct 3, 2009) .
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Cadellin
Thanks for all these interesting comments--The problem with anyone with half-a-brain is that this latest "overlapping" idea has absolutely no connection with ANY definition of "generation". If that's what Jesus meant, why didn't he simply say that???? But, alas, I doubt few JWs will think about it this way.
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Layin' some heavy stuff on ya'
by AK - Jeff inthree days ago i became aware that my daughter was arrested.
again.. here's a little history.
we adopted this child when she was 2 months old.
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Cadellin
Jeff, you and your wife are truly good and noble people. My heart goes out to you and I wish I could help in some way. I'm a parent and I cannot imagine the torture of seeing your daughter deliberately self-destruct. But you are doing the right thing in caring for your grandchildren. I hope you can continue to cope. Blessings to you.
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New here
by goldensky indear all,.
i discovered this site only a couple of weeks ago and i already feel affection for you.. i am a 48-year-old woman and i live in spain, where i was born and raised, so i apologize in advance for my inevitable lack of style and possible grammar mistakes, due to english not being my native tongue.. i grew up in the truth and jehovah and the congregation have filled my whole life.
i've had little contact with the outside world.
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Cadellin
Goldensky: Welcome! You sound like a golden person and your English is simply lovely. Please tell us more about yourself, if and when you're comfortable doing so. What was it that led to your epiphany exactly? You are obviously well educated/well read, as well as emotionally and psychologically centered to come through such a life-changing experience intact. All of us are in different stages, some of us more fragmented than others b/c of the toll that leaving the WT takes on a person, depending on circumstances. At any rate, you are most welcome here and I look forward to reading your posts.
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Young JW sisters in a hurry
by asilentone indid you notice any young jw sisters in the past that did rush to get married too young and to have a baby right away before the end comes?
did you hear any stories of regret?
i was wondering if the watchtower is to blame for?.
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Cadellin
I never wanted to get married young but I knew that if I waited till my mid to late 20's, there would be very very few brothers that were my age and still single--and those that would be, would want someone 18-19. This fact of JW life puts a colossal pressure on young women for a few reasons, the biggest being that your whole social status is tied to your husband being an MS or elder.
I've watched sisters who were married to elders, then widowed, go from being in the hub of social happenings to being on the sidelines. Older, unmarried sisters, for all the vaunting the WT does, occupy the lowest rung socially. Tragic, but true in the WT world.
Oh, I got married in my late 20's and am still married to the most wonderful guy in the world, who is patiently understanding of my fade, though active himself. I got lucky.
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I'm new, let me introduce myself
by no lies please ini've been lurking here for many months.
i served as an elder for many years, and regular pioneer for much longer until recently.
i'm also a mts grad and was used extensively on the circuit and district level.
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Cadellin
Welcome, NLP: I love your name. Having no (believing) wife and kids and no family "in" makes it 100x easier. I went through the same feelings of grief and loss but b/c I have literally ALL my fam plus husband in, I am walking a tightrope. I really like what -- oh dear, who said it, I can't recall -- another poster said about a friend of theirs who simply replied that he'd made an informed decision not to attend for now. Wow, I think I might try that. Thanks for sharing, dear poster who I cannot recall.
Anyway, NLP, welcome welcome and know that you are among friend who have walked over the same hot coals and lived to tell about it! We are interested in your story, especially how you came to your conclusions re the org, if and when you are ready to share.