freddo

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Posts by freddo

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  41

  suicide

  by zeb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  who among us has known a jw who has committed suicide.

  i believe this as a separate subject has not been covered..

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  freddo

  Several.

  Of the following four successful attempts one was was actually in my congregation.

  Four who were "active" baptized publishers at the time of suicide. 1. One brother used a car exhaust; 2. A sister took an overdose of drink and pills. 3. Another brother hanged himself in the garden shed. Each one left teenage or adult kids.

  4. The final one (single - no kids) was early twenties and he locked himself in a walk-in cupboard and overdosed on pills and drink.

  Then there are those on the periphery of JW'ism. (Relatives of JW's or ex JW's or brought up as JW's)

  One jumped from a high bridge, one gassed himself in a kitchen oven.

  Then there are those who you aren't sure whether it was a suicide attempt or being high on a drug/drink cocktail or did they "jump" or "fall" from the balcony or building.

  
  
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  32

  How many are PIMO ??

  by Phizzy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know we cannot answer this, how many are physically in, mentally out (pimo), but i heard an amazing piece of news the other day.. an ex-p.o and ex-elder, a long time regular pioneer, and when i knew him a stalwart believer, went for a drink with another jw who has actually left, but is not df or anything.. in the course of conversation he came out with this bombshell "well, i am actually an atheist now, i just go along to keep my wife happy".. i also heard of a number of youngsters that i know personally who are simply living their life as they want, whilst making sure they don't get df'd for family and social reasons.. if as it seems the pimo's are a huge number, could there be a huge " awakening" where they all realize they are in a huge group, and they all say " eff it, lets call it a day on all the jw s**t ".

  ?.

  wishful thinking, but.....just possible ?.

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  freddo

  In my hall of about 75 "publishers" I know for sure there are four of us PIMO to a large extent (of not believing Armageddy is coming or who literally mock the antics of Lett and some of the directives of the GB).

  I suspect there are at least another three who by their demeanor and actions (inactions) seem somewhat or even largely PIMO/questioning too.

  So a good ten per cent I would say.

  Now I don't go round telling these others that I recommend they come on this forum or read CoC but they all look at Youtube clips of the ARC and share negative news items about child abuse and question overlapping generations.

  I think the number is growing. And the apathy and increased vacations and weekends away by many others is telling too.

  They may not all believe the emperor has no clothes but they certainly believe he is very scantily clad!
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  122

  CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://youtu.be/dpq7j8lkc98.

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  freddo

  Simon said it more succinctly than I might have done.
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  58

  March 2018 Broadcast - When quotes become rumors

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this months broadcast is presented by losche and he discusses the need for trust in the fds.

  the following is transcribed from the 12.30 mark.. satan also has the scheme to spread rumors about our brothers including the faithful slave.

  the method of spreading rumors is not new.

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  freddo

  Thanks listener ...

  From your transcript:

  "So, whom do you trust? You fully trust in Jehovah, Jesus and the Faithful Slave."

  There we have it - the JW trinity.
  
  
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  7

  2 BOE's You might want!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  oclam-2018-april-2-30--answer sheethttps://www.docdroid.net/wxnlpjq/2018-april-2-30-answer-sheet.pdf2018 march announcements and remindershttps://www.docdroid.net/wj5sazm/2018-s-147-18-e-bi-03.pdfpetra!.

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  freddo

  Thank you!

  So soon it will be no more lorries needed at London Bethel it would seem.
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  3

  Synonyms of the word pioneer include discoverer, innovator and architect, but...

  by Isambard Crater in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ... in the j.w's it means to spend 50 or 70 hours each month in wasted time, perhaps stood at a cart that nobody pays attention to..

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  freddo

  Yup, Pioneers used to machete their way through the jungle or run the risk of robbery and physical attack in hostile territories.

  Not in JW land.

  For them it's part-time secular work - then scratch your backside stood next to a bookshelf with wheels, with frequent coffee breaks - then go on a "Bible err ... Borg publication study" with a vulnerable no-hoper or the vulnerable kid of a vulnerable no-hoper.

  Then a bit of sanctimonious halo-polishing being interviewed on the platform at the local KH or Assembly hall and a bit of hob-nobbing with other pio-lemmings and the circuit overseer.

  Add in liberal comments about "keeping your life simple" and other pio-sneering phrases and you have a "Pioneer" jw-style.
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  122

  CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://youtu.be/dpq7j8lkc98.

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  freddo

  Top Marks, I say!

  I have the 4th edition (2008) and I welcome this new one with its foreword and additional content. On the basis that Ray Franz's work is unchanged we can read that and choose what other content to analyse too.

  I never knew about Jon A. Mitchell - secretary to the GB in 1980/1981 - his knowledge of the "lock down" at Brooklyn after Ray Franz left sounds interesting.

  Also Deborah Dykstra's association with the Ray and Cynthia and her account will be interesting too - they must have trusted her and it looks as if all has come through.

  The foreword by David Henke may not interest me but it may well open this up to a wider audience.

  The additions may well help this telling of events of nearly 40 years ago (and of course Ray discussed the "original" generation change in 1995 although he had passed away before being able to write about the "Overlapping" craziness) become more relevant.
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  52

  Funny News From My Old Congragation - Elder Fight!

  by pale.emperor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i haven't stopped laughing since i heard this.

  a pimo in my last congregation told me that an elder has been removed from his elder position.

  apparently he grabbed another elder by the throat, put him up against a wall in the back room and punched him in on the nose... during an elders meeting on thursday evening after the meeting.. the congregation were running round like headless chickens wondering what to do?

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  freddo

  P.E. Don't let a curmudgeonly naysayer drive you away. You are a valuable and trusted member of this forum.
• 
  52

  Funny News From My Old Congragation - Elder Fight!

  by pale.emperor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i haven't stopped laughing since i heard this.

  a pimo in my last congregation told me that an elder has been removed from his elder position.

  apparently he grabbed another elder by the throat, put him up against a wall in the back room and punched him in on the nose... during an elders meeting on thursday evening after the meeting.. the congregation were running round like headless chickens wondering what to do?

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  freddo

  Brilliant news.

  By the way there was some QFR or KM article fairly recently saying DF'd should not be made to sit at the back.

  Edit: Found it ... 2013 - so not too far back. I've edited it for length.

  *** w13 8/15 p. 8 Questions From Readers ***

  There is no reason to be unduly concerned about the seating location of a disfellowshipped person in the Kingdom Hall.

  ... (edited for length)

  When it comes to Kingdom Hall seating arrangements, it would seem reasonable that a disfellowshipped minor could also quietly sit with his parents. Since it is not required that a disfellowshipped person sit at the back of the hall, there should be no objection if a disfellowshipped child sits next to his parents, wherever they are sitting.

  ... (edited for length)

  Whether a disfellowshipped person sits next to a relative or next to any other member of the congregation should not be a cause for concern as long as he behaves properly. Restricting where a person sits could give rise to various problems, depending on the circumstances. If all present, including faithful relatives, are endeavoring to respect Bible principles relating to disfellowshipping, and it is not becoming a cause for stumbling to the brothers, there is no need to make an issue of the seating arrangements of those attending Christian meetings.

  
  
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  122

  CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://youtu.be/dpq7j8lkc98.

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  freddo

  nicolaou wrote "Those scalpers selling CofC for hundreds of dollars have just had the rug pulled from under them. Good."

  I bought mine (paperback fourth edition) for £48.00 in 2015. Worth every penny. I would occasionally look and see the silly prices in the hundreds of dollars it would fetch in the last year or so but never dreamed of selling it.
  

  I am really happy this is finally available at a reasonable price. I do like the idea of anonymously gifting a copy ... I can think of at least two struggling jw's who would benefit - just not sure they'd have the courage to read it though.