Posts by freddo

29

How about prayers being used as a talk?

by NikL in

jw
friends

another thread on here made me think of it.. its a personal peeve of mine.. you bow your head in prayer and the brother says thinks like thank you for the lessons we learned today like bla bla bla and for that wonderful point about yadda yadda yadda.

jehovah we know that etc etc etc therefore we must...well you get the gist.and on and on it goes.

absolutely drives me mad..

freddo

As a "reaching out" eighteen year old in the late 1970's I occasionally ran the sound desk and I had an assistant to put the roving microphones away and make sure the record player needle was lifted on and off carefully so as to not scratch the kingdom songs record while I switched it off and switched on the speaker's microphone for the closing prayer.

We used to time the prayers (and place a non monetary bet with each other as to what the time would be - the closest got bought a pint of beer by the other at the pub afterwards) with the stop watch used for the student talks. The longest was 7 minutes 11 seconds.

I bet 5 minutes 5 seconds and my mate reckoned 5 minutes 20. He was closest and got bought the beer!

20

Taking the Step

by beardfreedom in

jw
friends

first time posting after years of reading, the things i have learned here have gradually helped to open my eyes to the reality of this religion.

though i have been mentally out for some time, lately i have stopped going to meetings and service.

the elders are calling and i have been ignoring them, i am trying to get up the courage to finally break free and never go back.

freddo

Just be careful. Take a bit of time. Discuss on here whether you want to DA or fade away (go inactive).

The best approaches to either are markedly different.

DA? I would write to everyone I know just before the announcement an email about one A4 page long (no longer) with irrefutable back ups to the main reasons for my DA. Or not. It's up to you.

Fade? Keep your gob shut and your head down. Stand your ground but do not say anything other than "I'm going through some personal things right now which I cannot discuss with anyone." REPEAT ad infinitum firmly and politely. Walk away if they are persistent.

Best of luck and welcome!

15

Mark the Date: March,20 2017 Austrailian Royal Commission to Reopen Its JW Child Abuse Inquiry

by Room 215 in

i don't know whether anyone else has posted a thread on this development:.

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-study/10908a67-70c5-4103-94cc-dac096fdb585/case-study-54,-march-2017,-sydney.

freddo

Oh, Fan - bloody - tastic!

I believe a GB member appearing at this hearing is as likely as Sam Herd becoming Queen of England.

O'Brien and Toole, however will be sweating like paedophiles in a prison riot.

52

Memorial 2017

by wifibandit in

instead of making a new thread for every little thing related to memorial 2017, i'm going to try to post here.

.

and to start us off.... cart artwork for 2017 memorial invitations.

freddo

Don't forget this is only the cart signboard.

The invitation will probably have immaculately groomed white Jesus in his Unilever/Persil washed clothes and dust free sandals extending his hand ...

Either that or some blood soaked dying man on a pole writhing in agony ...

Or both.

35

What age were you when you were counted as a publisher?

by OrphanCrow in

the wts has always included minors and adults in the same categories - publisher and baptized.. i am interested in knowing how many minors, approximately, are included in the publisher count.

and, at what age a person started publishing.

what age was the youngest publisher reported?.

freddo

In the late 1960's I can't remember what they called unbaptised publishers. I know there was an "approved associate" stage but I think that was a bit later.

I remember being taught by the Congregation Servant and attempting to use three scripture sermons when I was about 9 years old in 1970.

Baptised at 17.

30

So, how did the 'beard article' go over yesterday at your congregation?

by neat blue dog in

at mine the conductor was somewhat awkward and minimal and there were nervous chuckles from the audience.

two people, including an elder, gave reasonable comments that it's okay as long as it's not extreme styles, etc.

but then another one of the elders commented that nothing has changed and they still aren't proper locally.

freddo

Shiny bright white facade

Image and honour they crave

Rotten filth inside gone bad

Nought but a whitewashed grave

24

Your work is not in vain! Thank You!

by de-opresso-liber in

been lurking since early this year.

there are many of us out there (at least in this area, central u.s.) who are waking up and crossing the line to talk to each other about it.

in our area, several elders, ministerial servants and pioneers are actively and openly sharing info with each other daily.

freddo

Welcome indeed. Very encouraging.

20

JW Facebook puriven garbage

by Lostandfound in

below is an example of the pure cliche driven and meaningless posts by witnesses to witnesses on facebook .

it was truly a blessing from jehovah that your original plans .....didn't work out, because instead our family was able to enjoy a spiritually filled morning with ,spiritual food and spiritual entertainment and singing praises to our glorious god, grand creator and loving heavenly father jehovah was a memorable gift.

he has truly provided a perfect example of christian brotherly love through his son, our savior jesus christ.

freddo

That's got to be in the USA right?

42

Beards

by HowTheBibleWasCreated in

i have a beard.

i spend a month on vacation with no worry from the congregation overseas of course.

i grew a full beard now and with glasses i finally have posted my picture on facebook og me... next to half life 2 cover showing i look like gordan freeman lol.

freddo

@SL

Here (UK) it is the elders decision for each cong. - but of course the "Alpha's" and "Brownnosers" want to be seen to be "progressing" to be the circuit overseer's henchmen at the assembly halls and be seen on the assembly platform so they look up the line to the CO and dance to his merry tune.

His pressure comes from the Branch (where no beards are allowed) and so they, with an eye on the GB looking over their shoulder will decide and tell the CO's what "the policy is".

Here in middle England each cong BoE makes up it's own mind and about 50% allow beards on appointed men on all duties including public talks. I hear that this recent WT has made some BoE swing more to leniency so on this matter an improvement may start to be seen.

Strangely though, on circuit and district (regional) assembly volunteering (attendants etc) and KH construction beards have not been a problem - at least round here.

9

When leaving was due to "Sin" and not Apostasy

by Cat2016 in

it has been 18 years since i decided to leave and fade away, and at that time i was feeling a lot of pressure that i wasn't doing enough, didn't fit in with the folks in my congregation, and was unhappy in my young jw marriage.

needless to say i recklessly went and had an affair that left me pregnant.

i did not know what to do, i panicked and got major anxiety.

freddo

Welcome. We can offer you much non-judgemental support and advice. You can still respect the teachings of Jesus or even continue to believe he is your saviour and that Jehovah is his father without having to ally yourself to any religion or cult.

Personally, as an ex elder who still attends some meetings to keep a relationship with family and a handful of "semi-awake" but attending friends I hate what the drilled in beliefs of the WT a.k.a jwborg do to good people.

Please let us help you on your journey.