Posts by Sapphy

49

The Predictions Thread

by cedars in

jw
friends

i thought it might be interesting and fun to have a "predictions thread", where we set out our predictions for events to unfold concerning the watch tower society (or jehovah's witnesses in general) over the coming years/decades.. it strikes me that so much has happened in the last ten years, most of which has defied expectations.

here's just a few of the developments that i can think of:.

the abolishment of group book studies in favor of a "family worship evening"the creation of a "study edition" watchtowerthe halving of monthly magazine printing commitmentsthe unprecedented closure/merging of branches (16% reduction in branches last year)the menlo park scandal, a body of elders removed for resisting a refurb of their kingdom hallthe lawsuits in victoria, australia - the society taken to court concerning child protection lawscourtroom admissions about the faithful & discreet slave and similarities with the catholic churchincreased hate speech against "mentally diseased" apostatesastonishing lapses of judgment, such as the "selma and steve" study articlethe ditching of gilead as a school for missionariesambitious construction plans for a new world hq (with or without jehovah's blessing!

Sapphy

They will stop publishing the yearly count of the anointed.

They will eventually stop publishing comprehensive stats in favour of meaningless figures i.e. "We are overjoyed to report a 100% increase in publishers for the territory of Lesser Ingutax" (population 2)

The Awake! magazine will become a quarterly journal, as will the public Watchtower.

District conventions will become small enough to hold in circuit assembly halls, and will be reduced to 2 days.

More congregations will share, with excess property to be sold off. (After refurbishment)

105

2012 Convention Releases

by garlic81 in

jw
friends

post 51 of 52. since 3/27/2009.

google_ad_section_start i can't verify the authenticity of this information as i have not personally attended.

however this is what is posted on another site.. friday:.

Sapphy

I doubt there is a revised version of the NWT, this would be a big undertaking & I'm sure we would have heard about it. Also I don't suppose the society wants to have to print and give away 7 million new Bibles all at once.

If there is a revision however I bet they get the word 'organisation' in there somehow.

45

If you were a Witness, when did you realize the Governing Body was apostate?

by matt2414 in

for more than 30 years i believed everything that came from the watchtower society, especially since i lived at bethel for a while and i knew a lot of the gb members, who to me seemed intelligent and personable.

at the beginning, the emphasis was on the bible, the kingdom, jehovah and jesus.

but gradually over time, there would appear an elephant in the room that no one seemed to talk about, such as the change in the understanding of "generation.

Sapphy

In my experience, there ended up being so many elephants in the room, there was no space left for me! I jusr realised my 'wait on Jehovah' mental file outweighed the 'this is the truth file'.

I don't think the society has become more authoritarian though, I think they always were, it's just when you start thinking for yourself the 'we're always right do what we say' attitude increasingly grates. You don't mind it so much when you truely believe they are speaking for God / God's mouthpiece / the expression of the heavenly kingdom on earth etc etc.

45

A JW in an email said I'm a Jezebel and much more. Well, this busy Jezebel needs your input. Thanks.

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

new message from website reader: silvio.

their email address is: and their message is:.

hello mrs anderson.

Sapphy

Feh, anyway the Jezebel class dresses better.

45

A JW in an email said I'm a Jezebel and much more. Well, this busy Jezebel needs your input. Thanks.

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

new message from website reader: silvio.

their email address is: and their message is:.

hello mrs anderson.

Sapphy

It does indeed sound like a rage explosion. Notice he uses your son's shunning of you as a weapon. Likewise he uses racism; 'anglo-saxon' people wrongly (in his opinion) wanting equality for women.

You should be ashamed for not 'staying in your place', not 'waiting on Jehovah' - never mind the other children who would have been abused.

I think sir82 is right, he'll be joining us on here in a few years.

Keep up the good work Barb!

14

What do atheists and agnostics typically do for their funeral services?

by tootired2care in

in contemplating my current beliefs in life right now, it occured to me that my views as an agnostic would probably make for a strange funeral service if my friends and family were to have one.

strange in that most funeral services always have some mention of god, and some religious context with afterlife explanations.

has anyone ever been to a non-religious funeral service for someone who was atheist or agnostic and what was it like?

Sapphy

Agnostic, atheist funerals are usually about the person that died. Usually a friend reads something that the dead friend especially liked. Other friends or family members speak about their favourite memories of the person etc. Just like other funerals but without the 'they're not really dead' bit.

68

8/15/12 WT--Naughty Elder's Wife Teaches Students "The Deep Things of God"

by sd-7 in

page 28, paragraph 13:.

"an improper romantic relationship could develop within the congregation.

daniel and his wife, sarah, were regular pioneers.

Sapphy

Poor 'Sarah', not only does her husband neglect her, palm off the newly baptised ones he can't count his time on and not notice her 'spiritual condition', when she finally finds some pleasure elsewhere she ends up as a true life experience in the WT. 'Daniel' comes across as a major douche - he's probably bursting with righteous pride right now at being used in the magazines.

55

What's your favorite stereotype that is used by the WT?

by Chemical Emotions in

i like the "sudductive woman with long dark hair", for one.

very funny pictures..

Sapphy

Bowls of colourful fruit served at wholesome get-togethers. Bonus points if one of the spiritually strong attendees is wearing national dress of somewhere exotic. Treble points if the exotic national dress wearer is caucasian but is 'learning the language'.

Also, that one guy who has already made it to paradise & managed to take a millenium's supply of red checked shirts with him. Often seen next to 'woman with fruit'.

26

Mexico merger - WT AUG 15, 2012

by St George of England in

in the latest 'study' version of the wt (aug 15, 2012) there is a report on the agm last year.. "balsatar perla interviewed three fellow members of the mexico bethel family regarding the merger of six central american branch offices with the mexico branch.

because of this merger, the bethel family in mexico has become more multicultural and international.

the influx of fellow believers from different lands has resulted in an interchange of encouragement.

Sapphy

Interchange of encouragement my arse.

What will be happening is the refugees/survivors from the branch closures will be insecure, worried about jockying for position in the Mexico branch, missing their families & friends they've had to leave 100's of miles away yet clinging on to a shred of relief that they haven't been made redundant aka 'sent in to the field'. The existing Mexico 'family' will be anxious to ensure these new upstarts know their place and are suitably grateful for the 'loving kindness' extended to them.

16

Is this summation of the JW preaching work fair?

by nicolaou in

.

"if you consistently reject our message you will deserve the death our god brings upon you"..

Sapphy

Sincere JWs preaching for the love of people? Yes there are quite a few. I wasn't one of them, even when I was a true believer I hated 'the service'.

I imagine if the society was to stop mandaory reporting of preaching time, abandon the pioneer hierachy and make it voluntary, numbers spent door knocking would decline by 90% at least.