Jw facts you make an interesting point however some of the reported publishers may be born ins who have not yet left the organisation but will do in future so the increase due to born ins may be slightly higher than indicated but not by much.
Posts by nugget
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25is jws really growing or only natural increases from kids.?
by mP infirstly yes we all know most jw bornins leave but a quarter give or take continue.
im going to argue that this is the only source of any increase.
those that leave are barely replaced if at all by new recruits in third world countries.
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nugget
Really there is no possibility that the ever changing doctrine of the organisation is the truth. Even if certain elements were true within a few months or years the doctrines will change and todays truth will become tomorrows lie.
Sorry not a snowflakes chance in hell that they teach any truth.
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My 8 year old gets it
by discreetslave inmy 8 year old has recently discovered star trek and loves it.
the other night we watched an episode "return of the archons".
whenever someone spoke differently or questioned, it was recognized that they were not one of them or "of the body".
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nugget
Good for her. It's funny that when you are on the outside it is so clear you wonder how you missed it. Sounds like college would be a good ambition for your little bright spark.
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Tomorrow is a big day for me
by coffee_black ini will be 60 tomorrow.
on the one hand, it's just a number.
on the other hand, it's a big number.... .
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nugget
Happy birthday have a super day you deserve this birthday to be extra special.
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March 2012 Aux Pioneering
by truthlover inso far what is the response to the aux pioneering this year vs last year?.
in our cong - only 10 so far vs 52 last april.
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nugget
The form is only for pioneers whether the 50hr/30hr auxiliary pioneer application or the full 70hr full time service application. You are right that it is ridiculous to make someone fill in a form to commit time on the ministry and then tell them whether they are approved. I have known people who were not approved as regular pioneers who still did 70 plus hours in the service. For regular pioneers they get invited to the pioneer school but auxiliary pioneering gives you no extra status so the form is pointless. People volunteer their time on field service so in theory anyone can do over 30 hours if they wish even if they are not approved for pioneering. The only people not expected to do field service are those under restrictions because of conduct.
It is a way of pressuring people to meet their hour commitment by signing the form the person feels contracturally obliged to complete the number of hours they have signed up for. It also helps with the report to the society so they can put it on the end of year report. So in short it is a statistical and control exercise.
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Foreclosed Identities
by Norcal_Sun inhave been doing some enlightening reading today about what the psychological community dubs as "foreclosed identities.
" this is where you never reach the identity creation phase due to another's (usually your parents) beliefs being forcefully imposed upon you.. this is a very interesting article from a psychologist's point of view.
his example is a highly religious person.
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nugget
It is true that religion can make good people do bad things. I think the idea of a foreclosed identity becomes most identifiable in specific circumstances such as in the practice of shunning where a person has to dismiss their natural affections and pursue a course that is repellant and cruel. In normal circumstances the idea of a parent cutting off all contact with a child merely because of opposing religious views would be seen as extreme. Certainly shunning when seen from the outside is akin to bullying. The religious person sees it as a loving act but in order to maintain the position they often lapse into the language of hate in order to depersonalise the df'd individual. They will also state that the shunning is their own fault and that the witness parents are the real victims here.
However by belonging to a religion a person may not be subsuming their authentic personality since for some the religious paradigm is a good fit. Some oft he values and codes that the religion imposes may be natural for them. In fact some people are attracted to the religion because they feel comfortable within it. People who are troubled by the religion may never be fully subverted by it and may maintain a degree of authenticity in their viewpoints and actions.This is why many born ins do not progress to baptism. For example not all parents shun and not all strongly religious people are intolerant of others. As has been said we are a combination of nature and nurture.
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Phone call from the local JWs this evening...
by Jim_TX ingosh i wish i was better at having religious discussions with jws.
this evening, as i am at home trying to relax, i get a phone call from the local jws who are evidently sitting in their kh dialing out.. i got this man who starts off by asking me if he can ask me a question.
"okaaaaay..." i say slowly.... "do you think..." he starts... and then stops... obviously losing his place in his pre-prepared sermon....
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nugget
Under the circumstances you did a great job. Did they come away from their call feeling smug and self satisfied or slightly rattled and unsettled? In my career as a Witness I only came across half a dozen truly challenging peope and I remember every one. She may not remember all your conversation but it will stick with her for a long time.
I do not remeber every single bland conversation I had it is the unsettling ones that stick with us. At the back of her brain her authentic personality is screaming at her that something is very wrong. The prosac should help with that.
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Will higher gas prices cause a policy change (New Light) re. field service?
by doinmypart inwill higher gas prices bring about some new light regarding field service?.
in the part of the u.s. where i live most of the territories require driving long distances.
some congregation members are unemployed and many are retired/living on limited income.
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nugget
No they will suggest that you dress appropriately to walk longer distances this will have the added benefit of increasing time in the territory. They will cite the example of Andre a ficticious brother in Africa who walked through crocodile infested rivers to get to the territory because he didn't have a car.
I suspect that witnesses already have made a concious decision not to work outer lying parts of the territory as frequently. I haven't seen witnesses working our road for over 18 months.
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When Someone You Love Is Removed As An Elder!
by Bubblegum Apotheosis inlast week we lost a wonderful elder (removed, stepped down is what i will believe) , this man was as real, as you can get.
he loved the sheep,.
his eternal optimism of humanity is a rare quality in the jw religion.
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nugget
When my husband stepped down we were both relieved. Not having to deal with the pressure of being an elder under constant scrutiny and criticised for every petty thing was a release. When he originally spoke to me about stepping down I was concerned because I knew that the congregation would inevitably think badly of him but when it happened we didn't care his health and happiness was more important than futile pursuit of status.
Noone really expressed regret or showed appreciation for all he had done which is a sad indictment of this faith. Even though my husband hung on for a bit hoping that he could make a difference and protect the sheep, he was soon made to realise that not all elders are equal and that a bad elder with influence can accomplish more than a good one with principles.
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Is the WTBTS a Bully?
by Joe Grundy ini am not, and never have been, a jw.
i spent my career (30 years) fighting bullies.
is wtbts and its subsidiaries (not talking about individual jws here) a bullying organisation?.
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nugget
Yes, they control people by giving them work that is pointless and meaningless. They make everyone feel that they are not good enough and must try harder so that members feel guilt over the slightest infraction. When people leave they are shunned and despised and loaded language is used in the magazines to vilify people who no longer believe the official doctrine.
fear of being ostracised keeps the rank and file in line. All techniques of bullies. I felt bullied when elders kept berating me to find out my opinion calling on my home at the weekend to place judgenment on me with my children present. I felt bullied when i was stalked on line and could not express my feelings without fear of retribution. I was called every hour on the day of my JC even though I had made it clear I did not wish to talk to them further.
I felt bullied so therefore I was.