Posts by Cadellin

46

"You will never grow old in this present system of things" -- some campaign tools

by FatFreek 2005 in

i am approaching 76 years old.

i can clearly recall that awake!

statement and similar during the pre-1975 hype -- "staying alive in '75", et al.

Cadellin

And yet, if you raise the failed 1914 generation prophecy, many Witnesses will say "Oh, but we're not serving with a date in mind," or something to that effect. That has become the new response which is simply a slogan designed to turn off their ability to critically analyze failed prophecy. It makes me so angry because, once more, this organization wants it both ways--they want to whip up urgency by saying that we're at the very end of the end times and yet, they want to buffer failure by saying at the same time that they aren't serving with a date in mind.

Well, if dates don't matter, then what's the big deal about taking four years to go to university?

14

More daming evidence against evolution from an expert

by konceptual99 in

don't worry, i'm taking the piss.

it's just another jw.org video promoting one of their own who had the benefit of a university education and medical training before they became a witness and letting him try and debunk years of research with an appeal to emotion about the placenta.

https://tv.jw.org/#en/video/vodintexp/pub-jwbiv_201608_1_video.

Cadellin

It is astonishing that they are still referencing that atrocious turquoise book! After everything that has been written about that embarrassing piece of deception, I am amazed that they would release a video where this doctor extolls it like he does. So, if it is such a great book, why did the Society stop publishing it?

Moreover, this guy is supposed to be a man of science, of critical thinking. What kind of critical thinker would read something like that and just swallow it down without checking it out thoroughly? Admittedly, it would likely be hard to follow through on the references if you could not read English. Still, I can't imagine there aren't resources in Spanish that would enable a Spanish speaker to investigate the false claims in Life-How did it Get Here?

69

All 2016 Convention videos in English and all Talk outlines for download

by Watchtower-Free in

all convention videos in english and all talk outlines for download.

http://avoidjw.org/2016-regional-convention/

Cadellin

First of all, a huge thank you for this! I am horrified at the emotional manipulation. JWs will eat this up and be absolutely terrified at the bunker scene and then swoon at the last one. Of course, everyone would love to be part of that last paradise video, but wow--ach. Have to go.

57

RUSSIA: Jehovah's Witnesses face possible liquidation

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2181.

24 may 2016. russia: jehovah's witnesses face possible liquidation.

by victoria arnold, forum 18. if prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the jehovah's witness headquarters near st petersburg, thousands of local congregations across russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, forum 18 notes.. the jehovah's witnesses' principal body in russia is under threat of dissolution as an "extremist" organisation after the deadline in an official warning from the general prosecutor's office expired on 10 may, forum 18 notes.

Cadellin

If the state determines that such teachings are hate speech and detrimental to the well being of the state it has a right to limit such teachings

Stop and think about this. Do you really want "the state" liquidating groups they consider speaking hate? In particular, a dictatorship like Russia? Seriously? This is chilling; Russia won't stop with JWs. Freedom of belief, of religion and of speech are fundamental human rights that should not be curtailed except under exceptional and extreme circumstances. JWs have not engaged in any activity that meets that standard. That they teach what some may perceive as hurtful or disagreeable ideas or that they practice shunning does NOT mean that it's okay to liquidate them. Who is next? Buddhists? Scientologists? Jews? Gays and lesbians?

I realize that I risk being branded a JW apologist by saying that--nothing could be further from the truth. I have nothing but bitterness for the religion. Instead, I do have a strong belief in inherent human rights that lie beyond the reach of any state.

234

New ANTI-GAY video for Kids on jw.org

by ttdtt in

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/one-man-one-woman-marriage/.

disgusting!.

Cadellin

Little Rock Guy: By that standard, virtually anything that makes me feel bad about myself could be classified as inciting hate. I don't think it helps anyone's case to set the bar that low--and I'm NOT trivializing true hate speech or promoting homophobia by saying that. On the contrary. I do think, however, that we need to move past simplistic definitions of what constitutes hate speech.

ttdtt: How do you know I'm not? Something does not have to be necessarily classified as inciting hate to be disturbing, narrow-minded and simply erroneous, as that new JW video is.

234

New ANTI-GAY video for Kids on jw.org

by ttdtt in

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/one-man-one-woman-marriage/.

disgusting!.

Cadellin

I wouldn't describe this as inciting hate; I do agree with the poster that speculated that the WT lawyers vetted it very carefully. BUT it is disturbing in that it promotes the old fallacy that you can pray the gay away. "People can change!" Yikes.

57

Did you participate in a Drama?

by Hecce in

i am bringing this up because even it was a lot of work, for the majority of the friends this was a rewarding experience.

camaraderie, joking, costumes, props and when the time came the celebrity status of being in the drama.. back in the 50s and 60s, conventions could be as long as 8 days and from about 1966 the dramas became an integral part of the program.

we had one per day and the brothers looked forward to their presentation.

Cadellin

I was a little girl when our congregation put on the drama of the Exodus. The entire congregation was involved--either speaking roles or extras--I mean, everyone. We had a couple of rehearsals a week and it was a HUGE deal. But so much fun--so much camaraderie. I have nothing but happy memories. Everyone had a job, and there was real room for being creative, either in doing the make-up or helping with costumes or the acting or whatever. There was a great sense of belonging.

It makes me sad that that is no longer part of the religion, that it's been replaced by videos. Unfortunately, most people probably wouldn't have the time to put into it now. But we did back then--I wonder how?

33

Disturbing/Puzzling Skit at JW Function Last Night Plus Odd Choice of Music

by Cadellin in

so i attended a fairly large jw gathering last night with my active, elder husband.

it was a good-by party for a former special pioneer couple who have been demoted to reg pios and have now moved to a larger city to find work.

anyway, there was music and skits.

Cadellin

@Sir82 Yeah, I thought the same thing. But the sound system was such that you really couldn't hear much of the words, just the melody. So even if they did change the words, not sure it would've made a difference to anyone in the audience, since you couldn't really tell.

But I asked my husband about it later, since he was involved with the music/present at the rehearsal. It would have been a perfect chance for him to say that she changed the words but he didn't. He just said he asked her if she thought it was appropriate, given the lyrics, and she did so they went with it. Like I said, weird...

33

Disturbing/Puzzling Skit at JW Function Last Night Plus Odd Choice of Music

by Cadellin in

so i attended a fairly large jw gathering last night with my active, elder husband.

it was a good-by party for a former special pioneer couple who have been demoted to reg pios and have now moved to a larger city to find work.

anyway, there was music and skits.

Cadellin

@TheOldHippie Huh? No idea what you're referring to. This post isn't about me. My point is that, well, yeah, it's just hard to figure out and certainly not what you would've seen when I was in, about a decade ago. Inconsistent with a lot of things.

@Gayle I don't know but I would guess not good. First they were kicked out of Brooklyn Bethel in one of the earlier rounds of downsizing, sent here to a depressed little town in the Rust Belt, but hey--at least they have the prestige of being Specials and getting a few $$ per month. Now? Nada. I don't really know them but my husband mentioned they were having a hard time adjusting. No surprise there.

The whole religion is just getting more and more surreal...or maybe it's my perspective as I move further and further away from the whole mess.

33

Disturbing/Puzzling Skit at JW Function Last Night Plus Odd Choice of Music

by Cadellin in

so i attended a fairly large jw gathering last night with my active, elder husband.

it was a good-by party for a former special pioneer couple who have been demoted to reg pios and have now moved to a larger city to find work.

anyway, there was music and skits.

Cadellin

So I attended a fairly large JW gathering last night with my active, elder husband. It was a good-by party for a former Special Pioneer couple who have been demoted to Reg Pios and have now moved to a larger city to find work. Anyway, there was music and skits. One of the skits involved three young kids, maybe about 8 or 9 years old, dressed up as old folks--white hair, canes, etc. They start moaning about how it's been SO LONG...They've been waiting for SO LONG and now they are SO OLD!!! And then one of them pretends to see something in the distance and shouts, "There it is! There's the Paradise! I can see it at last! Oh, thank you, Jehovah!" They all join in with this last chorus. Weird and disturbing, to say the least. I looked around to see if I was the only one who saw the ironic "Truth" being essentially mocked here but--nope. Everyone clapped their heads off!

Second weird occurrence: An elderly sister (with a gorgeous voice) gets up and sings John Lennon's "Imagine." Now, I love the song but it is clearly an atheist anthem--not exactly what you'd expect at a JW function.

I am still trying to figure that one out...