i stumbeled across this site after doing some research about earthquakes and "end times".
i've had a jw comming to my home for quite a while just stopping by, and she finally convinced me to agree to a "bible study".
i was intoxicated at the time i agreed and i figured it would be better to have a set time for her visits rather then her just showing up at random times.
Hello and welcome!
She won't get offended if you tell her to stop coming and studying. Honestly, she'll be sad for about 2 minutes that she lost a study, but then realize that she needs to go dig up another one because her average for the month went down and needs to do more for her leaders...
march "study" edition is available for download at jw(dot)org.
first article "do not deceive yourselves with false reasonings" ... does a good job at blaming the individual witness for losing a sense of urgency ... surely the organization has no culpability for this.. the bible also warns about the danger of deceiving ourselves with false reasoning.'-jas.1:22..
a wrong view of the timing of the divine purpose could lead us to lose sightof the importance of our spiritual activities and become sidetracked with personal interests.. (zech.
Wow! I shouldn't be surprised, but still, WOW! What blashphemy on their part! CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL
CULT CULT CULT CULT!
Welcome to both of the new comers here and to all newcomers on the board as a whole. Seems like quite a few are joining weekly!
just to give you a little background about myself, i was a born-in, i'm in my late 20's now, i faded away a few years ago after researching the history of the wtbs on the internet.
my fade was aided by moving away with my job(i definately feel lucky about that).
eventually, i had discussions with a couple of my closer jw friends about why i no longer believed in the wtbs.
Yup, no more book study during the week as a separate meeting. They combined it with the TMS/SM night and shortened the TMS/SM parts down so you're in and out in 1h:30 minutes... or so... more like 1h:45 mins
here is what it is like to those on the inside of the door:.
the children got up about an hour earlier than normal.
obviously, they are anxious to start opening up the presents under the tree (and most children are not going to want to sleep in on christmas morning).
Even as a newly appointed regular pioneer in my teens, I refused to go out on holidays. Anytime they announced a special holiday FS day and that the pioneers would be needing the support of the congregation, I said to my friend, "not this pioneer!"
per this australian talk, found here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/203281/1/latest-special-talk-in-australia id say we have now seen the future........ ah yes........the governing body is now starting to show their hand, to begin to show their future plans for this false-religion-cult of fear and oppression.
it has been said on here for the last few years now, that with the elimination/combination of the book study at the kingdom halls instead of at homes, the introduction of new rule books (keep yourself in god's love) and the new elder manual that a "tightening of the reigns" was beginning.
and so, just as the members of jwd and the internet have written, so it shall be done by the governing body overlords.
Quite possible Gayle. Right now, if you don't turn in time for 6 months you are "Inactive" if you miss one month you're "Irregular". I could see them changing that to miss one month = "Inactive"; miss 6 months = Disfellowshipped or Disassociated.
Or something crazy like that...
per this australian talk, found here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/203281/1/latest-special-talk-in-australia id say we have now seen the future........ ah yes........the governing body is now starting to show their hand, to begin to show their future plans for this false-religion-cult of fear and oppression.
it has been said on here for the last few years now, that with the elimination/combination of the book study at the kingdom halls instead of at homes, the introduction of new rule books (keep yourself in god's love) and the new elder manual that a "tightening of the reigns" was beginning.
and so, just as the members of jwd and the internet have written, so it shall be done by the governing body overlords.
Well said WC. I've been saying this all along... the grip is tightening around their necks, do more as you're worth less, no FS no meeting attendance = DF'd!
Operation Punish and Enslave© has commenced.
no, i don't mean the visit by oprah.. there was a special talk on sunday relayed to all the aussie congs from sydney.
apparently the speaker had an american accent, but was stationed in a latin american country.
he was really pushing field service and pulled out the old one that: if you do not witness you are not one of jehovah's witnesses.
Soon new light will be brought forth to the masses: Not going out in FS or regularly attending meetings (aka inactive) is a disfellowshipping offense.
i was at a 2 day circuit assembly this weekend and i was surprised at how many times mention was made directly or indirectly reminding those in attendance (1,600) of the need to give $$$.
even in the soliloquies or skits they seemed to work in the need to give $$$.. it made me wonder if the society is having 'cash flow' problems and hence is desparate for cash.
over the years that i've attended conventions and assemblies the need to give $$$ has been subtle (imo), til now.
Well, actually, if the WTS bought during the credit bubble that burst a couple years ago, then that would make sense if their holdings plummeted and they are in crisis mode financially. Of course, that bit of intel would be locked up so tight I doubt our 'insiders' would know.
Or would they? Hmmmmm....
if the society said that umbrellas were indeed pagan, because their origins are, and you would be dfed if you used one do you think the rank and file would obey?
or do you think that would push them over the edge?
i can just see the wealthy witness woman you know, the real pretentious ones not going out when it rains etc..
I didn't know that umbrellas had a pagan history... wow, would be interesting if the WTS busted out a new rule about banning umbrella use. I would start laughing... openly in the meeting if I ever heard that one. That would be craaaaazy.
