I don't mean to be skeptical, but is there any way of getting evidence of the Basic Pioneer, 10 hour thing? I mean, it sounds absolutely cuckoo, no offense. If this is true, then this organization has finally passed its nadir, beyond which it is simply unrecognizable, a religion made of low grade plastic construction and no longer even related to the one that I left so many years ago that, illogical and deceptive as it was, at least stood for something.
Cadellin
JoinedPosts by Cadellin
-
40
AGM 2014 - How are faders gonna hide in plain sight anymore?
by tootired2care inso two big changes in the org were announced in the most recent agm.. local needs part is replaced by "how do you know the truth" where all members will tell their experience (oh what fun).
basic pioneer role 10 only hours a month required (see, jehovah lightens our load, therefore he loves only us)!.
it seems like they have really turned up the heat here.
-
-
-
-
-
Cadellin
Wow, what pablum. Can the WT dumb things down any further? The WT is hiding behind their mind-numbing infantile prose to avoid ANY kind of controversial statement regarding submission or headship. It wasn't that long ago when an article like this would have at least a few paragraphs about women's "honorable" position of submission and silence in the congregation and in the home. Does that script about a woman remaining silent even appear in this article? This isn't just watered-down WT dogma, it's cowardly, too. I DON'T agree with the WT's stance on womenly submission, etc. but my point is that in past years, at least the WT was courageous enough to own it. Now it's like "don't ask, don't tell." We know their position on women's roles hasn't changed, but they've just lost the mojo to be honest about it. Pathetic.
-
207
Is the AGM today?
by hamsterbait inanybody going or who can give us the noolite hot from the gb a$$?.
.
.
-
-
Cadellin
Absalom, you rock! You are our hero of the day, son. Keep it coming!!!!
-
33
How Has Turning Athiest/ Agnostic Affected You?
by minimus inmany jws believed in god.
now many here, do not believe in a deity.
how has this affected you in your life?.
-
-
Cadellin
I'm much more tolerant and generous toward my fellow humans as an agnostic than I ever was a God-fearing JW. Weird, huh?
I'm sad that once my parents go, they will be gone, period, and that I will follow. The resurrection was a wonderful hope and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it. I have way more anxiety over our environment, because I know it's up to Homo sapiens to get us out of this mess and, as a species, we're not so great at long-range planning or sacrificing short-term benefits for long-term gains.
I'm able to assess the Bible's guidance and "rules" with a more pragmatic eye and have found that some things really are excellent to apply, like the Golden Rule. Others, by contrast, are nonesense. I still have admiration and respect for aspects of the Bible, particularly the OT stories, about which I believe people should at least have a working knowledge, since they have been a critical influence in Western thought.
-
63
w14 12/15-E Study Edition
by wifibandit inclick "premium download".
.
pdf: http://bayfiles.net/file/1kv2k/uaqn2y/w_e20141215.pdf.
-
-
Cadellin
A quick skim shows the cultic rhetoric hard at work. A couple that stood out were (1) An exaggerated "Us v. Them" delineation, with the entire JW world lumped together as one undifferentiated mass of badness, in contrast to the JW world which is pure, wholesome and beyond questioning; (2) Strong invocation of fear as to the consequences of leaving the group; (3) the implication that there are no alternatives--everything is either this or that, and there's no room for contemplating other possibilities, in any context.
Moreover the study articles all follow EXACTLY the same template: The first few paragraphs outline a challenge or problem, then the middle section looks at a couple of Bible examples, usually at least one from the Hebrew scripts and one from the Greek, then the application is made pointedly to current member behavior, with the last paragraph mentioning something about Wonderful Benefits of Obedience. I mean, there's no straying from the formula, not even a little. And the legitimacy of the application of the Biblical examples to modern day behavior in terms of the actual "lesson" is a reach, in many cases. It's a clear manipulative device to control behavior.
Oh, wait--sounds like a high control religion.
-
45
Lying about Shunning! jw.org conceals the "truth"
by Skinnedsheep inhttp://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/ .
"those who were baptized as jehovahs witnesses but no longer preach to others, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned.
in fact, we reach out to them and try to rekindle their spiritual interest.".
-
-
Cadellin
Of course they are being deliberately deceptive. They are presenting a limited or exceptional example while being silent on the broader, more realistic range of actual situations in which shunning would apply. The example--man with a wife and children--is probably the least hurtful example because of course his wife and minor children aren't going to shun him. In almost every other circumstance, a "former member" (and we know what that means, as has already been pointed out) would be shunned but good by everyone. And being profoundly immoral, as is also implied on JW.Org, is only ONE of many scenarios leading to DFing. This is a case of presenting the most acceptable public face possible while maintaining a very different (hidden) agenda.
The WT's pants are smouldering...
-
31
Hi! I'm new here
by Powermetal4ever inthought i am gonna introduce myself.
i am a girl from a country in europe, and not an english speaking one, so if i am writing strange or something, you know why.
anyway, have been reading here for a while now, the other day i thought it was time to register as a member.
-
-
Cadellin
Welcome, Powermetal! Your English is very good, so no worries there. Yes, it's hard to masquerade but you'll find that many do it for a wide range of legitimate reasons. If you are dependent upon your parents and fear they will kick you out if you are honest about your feelings about this religion, it's understandable why you might want to continue with the charade. Still, it gets harder and harder and it is inevitable that you will either want to be honest or slip up in some way. You want to plan your exit carefully and honorably, especially if you want to maintain communication with your family. Many find that "fading," which is a very slow drifting away, is a good way to go.
You don't say how old you are (and don't divulge anything if it will reveal you) but are you in a position to move out on your own? That will make being honest easier.
-
55
JW.Org Blitz
by Theredeemer ini've noticed, partilcularly on instagram, a advertising blitz for jw.org by the dubs.
primarily its the younger ones 35 and under vs older ones.
i dont know if its just my friends or everyone but they are obsessed with jw.org.
-
-
Cadellin
Just had an interesting convo with my elderly super-zealous parents. The ministry is "completely changing," and it's all about using tablets now. In fact, there are classes being given on how to use a tablet in the ministry (anyone else hear of this?) I think this is locally, like at the local assem hall. So now my parents are trying to decide if they need to buy two iPads or if they can keep using their Samsung Galaxy and just buy one new tablet but all the JW apps seem to be for iPads, etc. etc. Keep in mind that while the parents aren't destitute, they are pensioners on a very limited budget. I see what's happening--publishing paper mags is a huge expense. The WT is in the process of drastically limiting the amount of paper printing it will have to do and shifting the expense of information distribution to the publishers.
Oh, well, this is very exciting for my parents, who have lived their whole lives expecting the big A any day and right now, really don't have a whole lot else in their lives. In a way, I'm glad they are still so zealous as the religion has lent a lot of meaning to their golden years, even if it is illusionary. Okay, now I'm depressed.
-
52
Stagnant JW growth at international convention
by kneehighmiah inso at the international convention 235 were baptized.
the attendance was 34k.
that's resents less than 1% its about .6%.
-
-
Cadellin
It's worth noting, too, that the demographics of those baptized seem to be changing. My teenager went to the Int'l Con in Indianapolis and was shocked by "all the 5-year olds getting baptized" (his words, not mine--I wasn't there.) My teen has no interest in being a JW, just went to make dad happy and is generally indifferent to all of the ins and outs of the religion but this was really troubling to him. He kept saying "They (small children) can't make a decision like that!"
I'm sure there were young children getting dipped when I did but I don't remember that. I remember mostly older teens and adults.
Side note--the other thing that he noticed when he wasn't on his phone or dozing was how all the emphasis/worship is now directed to the organization, and how it seemed like Jehovah and Jesus weren't mentioned that much, or at least, not as much as JW.ORG. Again, this is from someone who really doesn't care one way or the other.
-
62
Roll call of those of us stuck in for our spouse or whos spouse is still in!
by BU2B ini just wanted to get a feel for how many here have awakened to ttatt but are still carrying on some jw activities to pacify them and keep the peace.
also trying to hear from those who have left, but whose spouse has stayed in the wt and in the marriage.. for me it comes down to my own mental anguish.
i am mentally tortured by attending the meetings, yet i feel compelled to because my wife would kill me with her personality if i had her drag 2 small girls by herself there.
-
-
Cadellin
Husband in and a fervent elder. I'm out and my teenager is, too. My husband and I have been able to keep our relationship together, somehow, and I have to say our marriage is stronger now than ever. Basically, the religion is a no-fly zone and we've learned to respect each other's differences. Easy? No, but worth it to stay married to this man, whom I love deeply.