in the beginning of internet the society was worried about the information published exposing its falsehood.
so, i wonder how many people lost the society on account of forums and web sites like this.
.
Without the internet I would never ever have had a copy to read of Franz's Crisis and In Search. Other sites/ forums such as this one exposing the Borg would be imposibble. Never would have the news of the child abuse and other crimes within and cover ups to support the idea that we have a "spiritual paradise" . That info wouldn't exist. And we would feel alone with our doubts and later when fading.
Somewhere said now "In the age of information Ignorance is a choice."
the monsters inc. hierarchy taught its workforce to use scare tactics to achieve its goals.. it took sully & mikey to reveal that love & laughter was far more effective - and beneficial for everyone concerned!.
interesting concept, but it'll never catch on!
.
when one person finally spoke out that she was raped by cosby, no one believed it.
then another person came out and the line started getting drawn in the sand.
you now had two groups of people.
so a friend in a nearby hall told me their co came through, and in a hellish week of long meetings and inquisition overhauled the boe.
only one remains as elder, three were re-appointed as ms, and one, the cobe was deleted entirely.. two new elders were brought in as new secretary and cobe / watchtower conductor, respectively, and introduced to the congregation from the platform on sunday immediately following his second talk.
he reminded everybody of the authority he has and then named the new appointees.
Drastic! naoscillator. Keep in touch with the freind. With tongues wagging it wont be long before more is revealed. Maybe those elders grew some backbone and gave that c.o a hard time. Wt Still preaching that they are not masters. Hopefully they'll get offended, wake up, group up and leave.
But yes it seems more and more c.o's are getting nasty in their comments and actions. But whatever J allows "it's for a good reasons."
Thanks for your post, came at the right time for me.
so, i left about 5 years ago and at that time, the official ruling on number of members was a little over 6 million.
i google jw out of boredom the other day and find they are now claiming 8 million members.
sooooo.... hold on 2 million increase in 5 years?
and money wasn't an issue, what would it be?
Lol. We love fantasies. I woukd wait for their big conventions and hack their sound system every now and then to quote a scripture or thought against something they had just uttered. Perhaps even their videos.
Or send everyone in attentance txts. Can money buy that?
so, i left about 5 years ago and at that time, the official ruling on number of members was a little over 6 million.
i google jw out of boredom the other day and find they are now claiming 8 million members.
sooooo.... hold on 2 million increase in 5 years?
Leaving_quietly Most here realize the vast majority of growth can be attributed to children of JW parents.
True.
In the third world parents who were attracted by the love bombing now their kids ( and they may number up to 5 per couple) are under pressure when their peers get baptized. We had 7 teenagers baptized in the span of two years, 3 this year all born ins and 3 are from one family that now has in total 4 baptized youths.
I spoke to one old timer parent yesterday who has 5 children. Of the boys 1 never joined, the other got disfellowshipped. But his three daughters "are here with us".
So third world still has" growth".
Anyone remember when there was emphasis from wt to build not on sand but on rock foundation. I sat with one of these lower educated youths for baptismal questions and he knew didly squat! The other elders said he had the love for J so let him in. I felt sorry for him. What happened to wt phrase quality and not quantity?
I hope Borg is falling and if gets more recruits, it'll be those who've followed their advice to remain uneducated and thus affect the incoming cash flow.
elder: "i'm not sure i know what you mean by 'diversity.'.
elder: "well, it's not quite like that.
elder: "um.
He was carrying the NWT but NEVER OPENED IT to read a scripture!
Not even at elders meetings is it opened. When discussing issues even the C. O. Just uses his "bible" elder's manual, lazy elders never even look up the few references cited. It's always letter dated this and that... Who can keep up?
1 Peter 3:15 "always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands the reason for the hope in you." Riiiight. Go to our website for your frequently asked questions.
Bible show at least Jesus "quoted" the scriptures to the pharasees and even to the number one apostate.
Expecting any return visits soon? Perhaps he'll never preach by himself again.
Good post as usual Terry, Thanks!
for current and former elders.. when sitting on a judicial committee, was a unanimous vote required in order to df?
if the answer to above is "no", what happened when 2 were for df and one wasn't?
what happened when 1 was for df and 2 werent?.
Even before I got fully awake I didn't feel it proper to public reproof let alone Df. There was always something I could pick on in supporting my arguments mainly due to the cases I couldn't avoid handling were those that were self confessed. That was a plus. I also had the watchtower on determining weakness and wickedness (as if!) then later when I woke up the arguments that only if the person was a practicer. So due to who in the body you have in the j. C. We at times would have to meet again after considering the case for a week.
However, there was one case of a youth who got involved in an immoral act and confessed to the body. But despite all the effort it all went south. The new elder and I voted private reproof. The third elder got worked up and claimed that the person had received prior counsel about association and should be disfellowshipped. Saying if we didnt think so he would include a letter to the branch expressing his view and we were being linient since it was an elders child. Boy was he worked up! We arranged for another meeting.
By next meeting, new elder had been convinced by worked up elder to vote for disfellowshipping. MAJORITY won! That person now years later has never returned.
Found out later that the bully elder had had hard feelings towards this youth prior due to some business venture!
So... There you have it, I hope. Sad but it shouldn't be left to a few humans to decide on such a life destroying judgement.
well another big bad elder here just wanting to say sorry.. i'm sorry that so many were treated like crap, and shown that god's love is not to be found around jehovah's witnesses.
i'm sorry that inadvertently i've likely taught many to judge and as such see that racism permeates every corner of the jw world, else why else would someone be of the world, or even inactive.
i'm sorry i sat in on a jc, and voted to df.
Welcome elderlnewton. I am on my way out too. Handed in my resignation as an elder, stated health because truly it was all tearing me down. Have you noticed when you tried to do good and help others out it was like you're the odd one out till they (elders) didn't want your input.
Those you've helped will remember you and appreciate.
You stated I've always pushed the focus to the bible rather than a watchtower.
Same here am sure many did as elders. Did you notice how many in the audience couldn't compute with that? While others found that to be interesting and refreshing. Your concern must have been felt and you've planted some seeds which in time will sprout.
You protected those you could but it's beyond the ability of one person against the majority who think they are the only ones that have God's mind on the matter. Well done!
Hope you are able to fade gradually.
