Posts by nugget

30

WTBS taking care of older ones?

by roadrunner027 in

does anyone know if the society/organization is financially taking care of the older ones?.

my husband and i left the org over 10 years ago, we are of the generation where our parents came to the jw's in the 70's, gave up everything they owned, had no college education, and stuck to the usual janitorial/construction jobs so they wouldn't miss any meetings.

this of coarse means they have no retirement money and see nothing wrong with that as the end of the system is soon upon us.

nugget

There are no plans for the society to assist older ones who have got into financial difficulties because they made no provision for their retirement. I think the legal bods thought this might come up and I am sure I saw in the magazines that people should plan for retirement whilst hoping the system ends soon. Oh and don't forget to leave money to the society in your will.

The societies approach has always been to say to those in difficulty "keep warm and well fed."

I suggest where possible your husband is the one who approaches the topic with his mother, otherwise you are the evil one, she needs to know that you both feel the same way and there is no emotional leverage.

If your mum in law is fit it may be worth your husband suggesting that since her circumstances have changed she needs to be more proactive about finding a part time job rather than pioneering. She may genuinely be unaware of the cost of living and the financial strain she is placing on the household. Show her how much you have to pay out each month for amenities etc divide by people in the house and show her how much a meaningful contribution would be. She may be quite shocked to discover how expensive things are. Even Paul supported himself whilst pioneering because he appreciated that he couldn't be a pioneer and a financial burden on others.

I feel for her she was expecting to see a reward for all her hard work and instead she is in dire straights but she is still to a certain extent living in a fantasy world. In your household everyone contributes financially so she needs to be prepared to do so as well if she wishes to remain with you both. Be supportive about assisting with CVs etc but if you are serious you need to be firm.

6

I made an appointment today for a patient who was born in 1914

by doublelife in

that's all.

it just reminded me of the new generation definition the gb invented.

so i guess me and her are of the same generation.

nugget

As soon as the WTBTS uses words such as evidently, or it is generally accepted, my cult detector goes off. Their definition of Generation is completely different to anyone elses.

The 1914 generation is thin on the ground since it was not just people born in 1914 but those who were old enough to recognise the events and significance of them that were once considered the generation. Most people born at the turn of the century are gone it is a fact the longer this goes on the more the society is lacking in credibility. Next they'll say as long as people can remember these ones then the generation symbolically goes on.

6

anybody ever read "crisis of conscience" and then confessed to elder ?

by inbetween in

jw
friends

if so, what happened ?.

does it constitue a reason for a jc ?.

nugget

I read it because my husband asked me to, afterwards he told me the book was on the apostate list and that I would be judged as having read apostate literature. So I didn't confess.

2

Who is the Governing Body?

by God_Delusion in

hi guy's & gal's,.

i've published this article; governing body of jehovah's witnesses.

please let me know if i've missed anything out, as i'm quite sure i have.. .

nugget

I would report how decisions are made as that was quite eye opening. E.g. they check past decisions made by the body and vote on them. Explain also how things are passed by majority voting but even things that receive a majority vote may not be incorporated as changed doctrine if the % is not enough. These points were quite shocking to me as, if God was talking to them why did they have different viewpoints?

Very little attention is paid to what the Bible actually says and it appears the Bible is rarely used. But you would need to provide a quotation from a credible source for that one.

There have also been changes regarding non annointed JWs acting as consultants to the GB I think many of these are now taking the emblems, but Blondie may be able to dig up the old references to this.

3

Ghanean JWs chased out by tribal gods, flees to Canada

by behemot in

jw
friends

strange story:.

http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/201001/36676.php.

nugget

I think any sane person would see this as a poison chalice. He has my sympathy.

7

Puzzling comment on heartquake by a JW in Haiti

by behemot in

jw
friends

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2452707.

edgard metelus, a jehovah's witness, took part in a prayer service in petionville with some 200 faithful, most of whom managed somehow to find presentable sunday clothes amid the chaos.

"we continue to pray for haiti and to thank the heavens, because without prayer there would have been even more victims," he said, as the group raised its voice in praise to god.. "even more victims without prayer"?????

nugget

I think that anything anyone who was caught up in the disaster says needs to be treated with sensitivity. Yes the statement was a bit stupid but bearing in mind his world has for the most part come crashing down around him it would be unkind to subject his comments to too much scrutiny. People are not always rational when they have been through traumatic circumstances so perhaps we should let this one go and hope that all the people in Haiti get the help and support they need to move on from this terrible event.

10

Mill Hill Cong a CHARITY under the umbrella CHARITY the Watchtower???? What the?

by Aussie Oz in

jw
friends

since when did the wbts or any congregations etc become registered charities?

just read the pdf on the 'charity' form the thread on mill hill disfellowshipping an d didn't want to hijack it with this question.. what in the name of god is going on here?????????????????????.

can somebody explain the why?

nugget

Our congregation was always open and honest about the tax benefits and used it in part to encourage people to give via gift aid rather than just put money in the box anonymously. After all whenever there are disasters the WTBTS is there saying donate to worldwide work and we will make sure it gets to where it is needed. We also have articles about homes being rebuilt at NO CHARGE (forget to mention insurance cheques) and experiences at assemblies that paint the society in a charitable light. R&F want to believe the organisation is good and deserving of charitable status so see all these as positive evidence of good works.

What is sad is that there are really no good works organised by the WTBTS, good things happen when individuals are moved to act.

This is why I chose to give to charities who are open and honest about what they do. Any other charity I can go on their web site and see pictures of people out on the ground rendering aid and support. Has anyone seen any pictures from the WTBTS of their organisation doing anything, anything at all.

14

One of our previous members

by mouthy in

is doing this now.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-night-on-the-town-vomit-violence-and-god-1870208.html cg30.c41.mail.ird.yahoo.com compressed/chunked sun jan 17 06:12:05 pst 2010 .

nugget

Good on him. I love a story with a happy ending.

14

One of our previous members

by mouthy in

is doing this now.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-night-on-the-town-vomit-violence-and-god-1870208.html cg30.c41.mail.ird.yahoo.com compressed/chunked sun jan 17 06:12:05 pst 2010 .

nugget

Practical Christianity they have the common sense to know that preaching to the inebriated is pointless but helping them is a better way to get people thinking about God. Good for them.

14

Minors going door-to-door

by doublelife in

jw
friends

i just went to the silentlambs website and there is a link to criminalcheck.com where you can find registered sex offenders by zip code.

so i typed in the zip code of the territory from my old congregation and i was surprised at how many people popped up.

there was three pages of names and on almost all of those names i recognized the street address as one that i went door-to-door on.

nugget

I started out about 7 with the leaflet work saying "everyone is being given this important information this is your personal copy." My mum started one end of the Cul de Sac and I started from the other. Back then I never gave it a second thought. It was perfectly ok at the time to leave kids home alone on Saturday mornings or send junior school children to the local shops on their own. Children were not as protected as they are now. There were probably as many creeps but people were more trusting.

I am surprised that the trend in the organisation has not changed. I would never dream of letting my children out on their own or with another minor with no adult supervision. I have 2 children and have been out on the ministry with them in the past and was expected to take both with me even when they were 7 and 9. This was fine with me but I was aware it could look a little odd having a mob turn up on someones doorstep. I think children are sometimes encouraged to be independant in the ministry for appearances and to allow parents to work with other adults. Both are stupid reasons to put children at risk.

If the society believes the world is getting worse then they really need to rethink the whole ministry premise and give some advice to parents that extends beyond what to wear.