Posts by freddo

36

Three graphs in connection with the Watch Tower's current financial situation

by slimboyfat in

a number of public statements by the governing body indicate that they are experiencing financial difficulty and they have appealed to jws to donate more money.

public information on the financial situation of the watchtower society is limited.

but what does the information they do publish indicate about their situation?

freddo

I wouldn't trust "their" figures. They only show what will help the gullible donate more.

63

so last night, after thinking "wow those pesky elders have finally left me alone, maybe since i skipped out on their jc invitation back on august 1st they've given up" wrong.. i go to check the mail and there's an envelope at my front door- lo and behold, another letter from from these elders.. why won't they leave me alone already?

i'll attach a picture of the letter.. again, same letter as the first one inviting me to a judicial committee on august 15th - and signed by all three elders.. should i just continue to ignore?

quite frankly i don't give a rats arse i've been enjoying life free from the mind control of the organization, and i just wish they would drop it and let me live life.. like i mentioned before, i am moving to a new home next week, the only reason these elders have my current address ( which happens to be over 100 miles away from the cong ) is because my mother gave it to them, after i gave it to her in confidence to forward me my mail.. so lets just say she won't be getting my new address... i don't have any contact with ones from this congregation (i'm an ex pioneer, so i'm sure if they've gotten word on what i'm doing, i must be satan himself!

freddo

The Elder book has a line in it about going ahead in absentia if a person "repeatedly" fails to show for a J/C. My money is on the fact they will not go ahead until the second time so that they have their backsides covered on the "repeatedly" point should you appeal on that point.

As has been mentioned, the elders would have initially had two of the body "investigate" - i.e. get their ducks in a row as in having two witnesses.

Now you say one witness is "anonymous" - did the elders tell you that or your mother. If your mother said it then you can give it what credence you wish. If the elders said it then that is unusual because you can demand to know who the two witnesses are.

Maybe they have camped outside your house to get "evidence". If so then they have all they need.

A letter denying "any judicial wrongdoing" and demanding to know the sources of any witness against you, copied to your branch office might get them off your back if they don't have two witnesses who will stand up and say they know/heard you admit that you have been having an intimate relationship.

I think you will be DFd soon because it appears they believe they have all they need to do so.

54

Complaining over post dislikes / downvotes

by Simon in

let's be clear: people have the right to like or dislike what they want - that is why the option is there.

as long as they are not doing it in a malicious way to retaliate or game the system, there is no policing the votes.

if you get a down-vote, live with it.

freddo

Isn't Time Bandit (clumsily) trying to be satirical? I hope so because if he isn't then what's he doing here?

@Simon

You've got a lot to manage here with this forum - is there any way you could get assistance from a couple of trusted (and technically capable) posters to run it?

My fear is that one day you'll throw your hands in the air and say it's not worth the hassle any more. Your work here has been so helpful for so many that I'd hate to see it all suffer.

101

Convicted Child Rapist Proselytizing. Is the Community Aware? Is the Community Safe?

by freemindfade in

wow, this is awesome.

this really shows the jw passiveness towards child sex abusers.

there needs to be more of this exposing this!.

freddo

I noticed the guy next to him putting his head in his hands ... and then they scuttle off with their tails between their legs.

21

Appointed men must be exemplary in heeding the warnings given by the faithful slave Governing Body when it comes to higher education.

by oppostate in

.

freddo

What. A. Wanker.

13

Which Scripture "don't judge others customs"?

by Drifting Away in

jw
friends

i am starting to get to the boiling point, to make a long story short, i am getting hounded from alot of family and elder visits.

i sorta put a halt on the elder visits, but the family is starting in on me now.

anyway to get back to topic, what scripture is it that says something to the affect of that do not judge how some celebrate there customs or beliefs or something like that?.

freddo

@drifting ...

If you are getting to boiling point be careful because if you blurt out something honest and hard hitting (but true) then it can be used against you at the mouth of two witnesses - and it can be one person each at separate incidents.

26

Convention

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

gorby is as you know a long time fader.. visited the convention this weekend.. and concluded that samuel herds talk about hope was not so bad at all, it was well balanced.

made some good points.. knowing both sides of the medallion, have to admit he was humble with a focus on hope.. the saturday drama impressed me.

of course, there is a lot to say about the organization, this professional produced movie in a "true story" scenario, gave me the insight that hope is important for suffering people.

freddo

@Jookbeard

I believe so - the big one where everyone in the south of England got assigned. Herd and Malefant (sp?) were the visiting GB and "Helper".

I'm pretty sure they haven't used Twickenham since as it all went "Regional" (smaller and more places) instead of "District" in 2015 and onwards.

30

Exit therapist

by Beachlover in

jw
friends

i am having quite a bit of trouble leaving and fading.

does anyone have recommendations of an exit therapist?

it doesn't matter where they are located, i need to get out physically, mentally, and emotionally.

freddo

Well maybe Jesus exists (or just existed) but religionists - including Constantine - chose what would be in the Bible and other "holy" books.

If someone goes the Jesus route then I recommend reading for yourself and not joining any other church until you've given yourself many years of time to think things through and decide what is important.

"Christianity" can be a useful stepping stone where you can use the Bible to deconstruct JW beliefs and later go on to say to yourself "I don't believe in God and if there is one then I don't believe he takes an interest in mankind or even cares." This means I die and cease to exist and I have to cope with that belief (like billions of others do!) but I can also say to myself "That's the worst case scenario and I may get an afterlife somewhere so that's a bonus.)

In the meantime "do unto others" is not a bad way to live whether it comes from Jesus or not.

12

Post votes rolled up to topics

by Simon in

just an experiment to see if it's useful or not .... the likes and dislikes for posts are now rolled up to the topic so you can see whether a topic is mostly positive or negative (or maybe a battleground?).

with some 'decay' to the votes built in this might evolve into "most vibrant topics" based on more than just the number or recency of replies (ideally all will factor in).. ps: don't worry if some topic totals are wrong right now - i need to run a job to put some of them right..

freddo

Very good! Thank you.

26

Convention

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

gorby is as you know a long time fader.. visited the convention this weekend.. and concluded that samuel herds talk about hope was not so bad at all, it was well balanced.

made some good points.. knowing both sides of the medallion, have to admit he was humble with a focus on hope.. the saturday drama impressed me.

of course, there is a lot to say about the organization, this professional produced movie in a "true story" scenario, gave me the insight that hope is important for suffering people.

freddo

In April I endured the Branch visit and UK broadcast to all KH's by Flodin and Kikot. Everyone including me felt that the only good thing about the visit was Flodin's talk.

Yet as in all things JW I can't quite remember what it was about - just that it sounded "reasonable" - something about Christian personality I think.

I also remember Herd at Twickenham, London 2014 and it was a personable folksy talk that was engaging.

But if I want to derive hope from the Christian message it is not from these high up JW's with their Rolex watches, 1st class flights and entourages. For their lifestyle outweighs the words they use.

No. It is when I hear of selfless deeds of rescue, feeding and medical aid done either in the name of religion, scripture or non-religious humanitarian deeds or in the name of the state such as the ARC that gives me hope.