freddo

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Posts by freddo

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  69

  Austria Begins Closing Mosques and Deporting Imams

  by cofty in

  1. social
  2. current

  austria, a member of the eu since 1995, is a country of 8.8 million people with a muslim population of around 600,000 mostly turkish immigrants.

  in 2015 it passed an 'islam law' prohibiting foreign funding of religious groups and creating a duty for muslim organisations to have 'a positive fundamental view towards state and society'.. many mosques in austria have continued to receive money from turkish muslim organisations so the new right-wing government have decided to enforce the law.

  seven mosques have been identified for closure and 60 imams are to be either deported or refused visas.

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  freddo

  https://youtu.be/2hOLm_k6eCs
  
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  11

  Jehovah's Angels will protect you out in the ministry. Except from Dogs Pit Bulls

  by Not_Culty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  2018 dog attack .

  https://www.whio.com/news/national/pit-bull-attacks-jehovah-witnesses-front-door-police-say/rlreicdww8bkpzjjepxlhm/.

  2013 dog attack .

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  freddo

  I knew all these sisters - yes - all sisters - all in ministry.

  Couple of dog bites to fingers when putting crap invites through letterboxes.

  Gun drawn on one sister scaring her witless. (We're in UK - reported to Police - turned out to be a replica)

  One knocked down by a car and spent weeks in hospital.

  Two separate car accidents which involved short hospital visits.

  The "Two Big Angels" must have been flying to Spain for a holiday.
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  25

  How to deal with struggling with the doctrines

  by Dval in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is my first post.

  i'm still a jw but am inactive.

  im struggling with the fact that i agree with some of the doctrines (i,e, the stance on the trinity, there is no hell) but i disagree with a lot of things (i,e, men can't have beards, women have to wear skirts).

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  freddo

  Sometimes Dval, what holds us to our religious faith is fear. The conundrum "Where else shall I go (to get everlasting life)?" (misquote of John 6:68)

  And the doctrine of the GB being the Faithful and District Slave (a twisting and misuse of Matt. 24:45-47) also holds people captive.)

  For me realising that you can go direct to Jesus and that Matt. 24:45-47 is a parable and even then is simply a question, was mentally freeing.

  
  The next problem is being physically free - as in a stated belief that the governing body are wrong will likely alienate you from remaining jw family and friends and likely get you disfellowshipped. We can help you through this minefield too.

  
  Many here on this forum are atheist, many agnostic, a few find another church and some keep a personal belief in God, Jesus and personal salvation and cut out the middle man of the leadership of JW's and go direct.

  
  Welcome and ask away!
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  286

  Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Baker Who Refused to Bake Cake for Gay Couple

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  seems like such an obviously correct decision to overturn the previous overreach - it should never have been necessary to go to the supreme court but happened because the rights of the religious were being ignored.. as the fundamental level, no one should be able to compel you to work for them or to provide services that go against your beliefs, and certainly not have the government be able to force you to comply.. if this was allowed there would be so many unreconcilable situations that would clog up courts over nonsense.. i also have little patience for these activists that intentionally look to be offended.

  it really doesn't do their cause any good to go round looking to make trouble for people.

  it's also misguided because it ends up strengthening religious rights over effectively stupid issues.. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/us/politics/supreme-court-sides-with-baker-who-turned-away-gay-couple.html.

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  freddo

  Anecdotally and likely not accurate but Marie Antoinette said "let them eat cake" and look what happened to her.
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  286

  Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Baker Who Refused to Bake Cake for Gay Couple

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  seems like such an obviously correct decision to overturn the previous overreach - it should never have been necessary to go to the supreme court but happened because the rights of the religious were being ignored.. as the fundamental level, no one should be able to compel you to work for them or to provide services that go against your beliefs, and certainly not have the government be able to force you to comply.. if this was allowed there would be so many unreconcilable situations that would clog up courts over nonsense.. i also have little patience for these activists that intentionally look to be offended.

  it really doesn't do their cause any good to go round looking to make trouble for people.

  it's also misguided because it ends up strengthening religious rights over effectively stupid issues.. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/us/politics/supreme-court-sides-with-baker-who-turned-away-gay-couple.html.

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  freddo

  A similar case has been plodding through the courts in Great Britain/UK (specifically Northern Ireland)

  NOW GET THIS - it is still illegal in Northern Ireland for same sex marriage and yet right now the Supreme Court of the UK is hearing this case ...

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43976101

  And if you want to sit through it you can go to the UK supreme court and watch the video record of all four sessions. (Spoiler alert - decision reserved not expected before summer 2018 or even 2019)
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  31

  I Like A Girl From Kingdom Hall Please HELP!!!!!!!!

  by kennylazo1 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  abby has been in my congregation for about 2 years i think.

  when she first came i thought she was very beautiful and i still do.

  shes actually one of the most prettiest darkskins you will ever see.

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  freddo

  Hi Kenny!

  I'm gonna take a guess that you are a mid-late teen and the young sister you are interested in is at least 20. Talking in general terms if "Abby" is doing a demonstration at an assembly then she is likely a pioneer or someone in very "good standing" in the circuit.

  She will quite possibly be looking for no one at the moment but if she is it might be a "spiritual man" to marry and serve as a pioneer with. If she is as pretty as you say then at this moment she will likely enjoy having the attention of men older than you - perhaps her age or even mid to late 20's. They may well be Ministerial Servants.

  The fact that you are 4 years younger than her and newly baptised goes against you because you will be viewed as a spiritual "babe" - especially if you are not pioneering.

  As Londo said - she is not interested. Honestly, you would know.

  I am very old now - in my fifties but I remember at age 18 having an amazing crush on a 17 year old who was a lovely very pretty young girl at the time and who has grown up to be a lovely lady who is married with grandchildren now.

  She was kind and went out with me to the cinema and sports centres two or three times but it was obvious she wasn't attracted to me like I was to her.

  My heart was aching - I literally cried myself to sleep at times such was the intensity of my feelings.

  Soon she found her husband to be who was five or six years older than her and who is a really nice guy - he just was more mature than me as you would expect and she was into him.

  A couple of innocent (I was a believing devout JW at the time) girlfriends later I met my wife to be. I still have fond memories of the girl I had intense feelings for but you will get over it even if it feels like forever now.

  My advice looking back? Put any excess energy into making yourself employable and better educated.

  When you are a bit older you'll find good relationships if you have honest decent intentions not to take advantage of women but to love them and be loved back.
  

  Take your time to really investigate the history of Jehovahs Witnesses and ask questions here; we really want to help.
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  4

  Have No Fear! The Beard is Here! T Shirt

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i was young and i bought a simple shirt saying have no fear.

  my late dad instructed me to return the shirt back to the store!

  i reluctantly did so.

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  freddo

  Imagine a big wide tie with that on it - wear it for a student talk at the KH - whether you have a beard or not!
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  138

  LEAKED: WHQ Accounts: 2016-2020 Budget

  by Fay Dehr in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  leaked: whq accounts: 2016-2020 budget [part 1 of 5] https://youtu.be/g08tw2v3b4s.

  leaked: whq accounts: 2016-2020 budget [part 2 of 5] https://youtu.be/rpceb5v0vbe.

  leaked: whq accounts: 2016-2020 budget [part 3 of 5] https://youtu.be/2xa08ukc_6i.

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  freddo

  Thanks for this - looking at parts 2 through 5 they don't seem to play to the end of their allotted time but "hang".
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  78

  So What Drastic Money Change is Next?

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay, they cheapened the product by getting rid of hardcover books.

  they reduced printing of mags.

  they drastically reduced the number of pieces of printed paper that members would "place" in people's hands in various ways, the biggest one being that they put them on a cart and don't encourage people to take them.they cut d.o.

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  freddo

  I think that they (Slim will hate this ...) will stay self sufficient.

  They will just sell off KH's in a reactionary way depending how the lawsuits stack up. More lawsuits will bring "NEW LIGHT" of one meeting a week at one triplex KH per city or area - each then be shared by 15-20 congregations.

  Let me explain by example.

  Plymouth in the UK - now 8 congregation sharing 3 halls.

  1 hall is a modern 3 hall complex where 5 congs and a Polish group meet - the other three are slightly outlying with one cong per hall.

  By moving those three (selling their KH's of course!) into the 3 hall complex you could have 9 congs and one group. THAT is with two meetings a week!

  NEXT STAGE

  Drop to one per week with a 30 mile radius and this complex could house 20 and have congregations from as far afield as Bodmin, Launceston and Totnes.

  Another super triple hall each in Truro, Torquay and Exeter would mean that Devon and Cornwall would have only 4 jw.borg buildings for 60 odd congregations with journeys largely on 70 mph dual carriageways/motorways.

  In the "west" the borg is so property rich and with so much opportunity to go on line it is unlikely to have big financial woes for a long time to come.
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  21

  JW UK Branch update 2018: "Follow the White Elephant"

  by Fay Dehr in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  https://youtu.be/y5uydq1mwtm.

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  freddo

  That was brilliant! (Loved the "Steptoe and Son" theme tune towards the end - Brits will understand)

  I'm sure we all knew about NO MORE PRINTERY - but the point about 14 accommodation blocks down to 5 shows up what a vanity project it was/is!
  

  I think some of the Peter Bell and GB (esp TPT) stuff was cut for comic effect so I wouldn't take it as gospel.

  Maybe Fay Dehr will tell us more.