respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  33

  Within one minute JW with trolley directs me to JW.org

  by steve2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i live in relatively small seaside community (regional population around 45,000).

  in my ten years here, i've had witnesses call on me perhaps twice (not special visits but during door-to-door).

  whereas they once canvassed door-to-door much more frequently - and in larger size service groups - there is quite a decline in their door-knocking - at least in this region.. with the advent of the "trolley" work, their visibility has increased - but i'd estimate only marginally.

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  respectful_observer

  Is this what witnessing has now come to? If you, as a member of the public, need to approach them first, they won't see you or bother to approach you? And when you do approach them, they will automatically - and unthinkingly - refer you to their website to find out more that they once would have simply told you themselves.

  
  

  Sounds exactly like the behavior I would expect from someone who truly believes God is about to execute 99.9% of human life on Earth at any moment.  Their urgency couldn't be stronger.  
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  109

  Happy at Bethel. Can't believe what I'm seeing.

  by Pubsinger in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  apologies if this has already been posted but i am speechless.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnbmyudrwgs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260#t=72.

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  respectful_observer

  EVERYONE seems to love that song...youtube must have a million similar videos.  

  Just some people trying to have a little fun.  On a side note, the guy in the welder's mask at 2:12 seems to have confused this "Happy" video with a Harlem Shake video.
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  94

  New JW video, song and dance

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the current jws do not cease to amaze.

  here's their latest video on youtube and straight from bethel.. there is a lot of work involved in this.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwou6e5vwbo .

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  respectful_observer

  Countless groups (frats, companies, volunteer groups, etc.) have done their own versions of the "Happy" video.  It's just a bunch of people trying to have some fun in life and I can't fault them for it.  

  Glad to see they can at least be happy and have some fun making the video!  There's probably a lot of other things JWs are expected to do that aren't nearly as much fun.  

  It's not an official video, so I say "good on them" for having a little fun.
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  49

  Elders in Spain Steal Millions from Congregation

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  these men are appointed by holy spirit,.

  here is the source: http://www.economiadigital.es/es/notices/2015/01/la-fiscalia-imputa-una-estafa-de-mas-de-170-millones-de-euros-a-una-congregacion-de-testigos-de-jeho-65161.php.

  basically, if you don't know spanish, it boils down to this: (my personal editorial of what i've read).

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  respectful_observer

  Maybe they didn't steal it, maybe they sent it to the WTS last year with all the other congregations.  
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  49

  Elders in Spain Steal Millions from Congregation

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  these men are appointed by holy spirit,.

  here is the source: http://www.economiadigital.es/es/notices/2015/01/la-fiscalia-imputa-una-estafa-de-mas-de-170-millones-de-euros-a-una-congregacion-de-testigos-de-jeho-65161.php.

  basically, if you don't know spanish, it boils down to this: (my personal editorial of what i've read).

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  respectful_observer

  If my math is right, that would mean the 1,300 members donated an average of 131,000 euros each.

  I'm sure there are some JWs in that area that might be able to contribute that much, but I'm slightly skeptical it's that many.  Although doing the math....there are just over 100,000 JWs in Spain (based on a quick Google search...not invested enough to dig up the yearbook figure), so if this story is true, it looks like the "one per centers" of Spain's JWs got taken.
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  20

  Experienced Attorney's and Paralegals Needed at Bethel!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from (the source) 2015, january 13, boe.. .. .

  .. .. atlantis!.

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  respectful_observer

  No wonder they're needing to consolidate all the cash from the congregations at HQ.  A Bethel lawyer probably gets paid less than $200/month these days, whereas a corporate-level Outside Counsel will easily charge 2-3X that amount AN HOUR.  
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  20

  Experienced Attorney's and Paralegals Needed at Bethel!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from (the source) 2015, january 13, boe.. .. .

  .. .. atlantis!.

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  respectful_observer

  Hahaha!!  They waited, what, two whole weeks after their college bashing session on JW.org TV where they specifically said they would no longer subject any brother or sister to the dangers of the law school environment?  Too funny!

  "Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to legal matters."

  Will this be the standard boilerplate language on every letter requested educated skilled brothers or sisters to donate their time and energy for free to Bethel?

  The standard MS Word template they use probably looks like this:

  "Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to <insert name of skill where education is required here>."

  
  
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  68

  What I Saw & Heard in the Oral Argument Hearing on January 14, 2015

  by ABibleStudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  im not an attorney and i could not record the hearing, so please forgive me if i make mistakes in relating what i remember of the oral argument hearing for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society on january 14, 2015 and the length of this post.. i arrived at the civic center/union plaza in san francisco, ca about 7:30. the area is very nice with a few homeless people sleeping in the park across from the courthouse.

  it took me about 10 minutes to find the clerks office for the court on the first floor, which opened at 8:00.. once the clerks office opened, the two clerks who i talked with were very polite and helpful.

  the arguments for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society were scheduled 5th out of (i think) 8. while i was in the office a cameraman and another person for nbc arrived asking about the hearing for candace contis case.. the courtroom for the 1st appellate court is on the 4th floor and takes up most of that floor.

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  respectful_observer

  Thanks for the first-hand report.

  The good thing about appellate judges is that they typically are very good about educating themselves on the facts of the case.  The short oral arguments are often just the "icing on the cake", so if a particular attorney isn't that strong, hopefully it doesn't affect the judges' final decision too much.

  From my surface-level understanding of the Conti case and its record-setting judgement, it appears to break new ground.  By that simple fact, the chances of it being overturned are that much higher.  Setting legal precedent is always an uphill battle.

  Whether the original judgement is upheld or overturned, this seems to be the highest profile case against the WTS to date.  Because Conti wasn't willing to settle out of court, all the nitty gritty of the Organization's judicial process is out in the open and on the record...with NBC cameras rolling no less.
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  26

  Brooklyn Update – January 10, 2015

  by Sour Grapes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  email sent to me from a friend in new york city..

  brooklyn update january 10, 2015.

  we have spent the last few weeks in training at the montgomery facility (near walkill) there are 6 couples that were trained to go on the road as ldc field representatives of the branch.

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  respectful_observer

  We visited a Hall yesterday – that truly looked like a 1970’s funeral home! 

  Let me guess...floral pattern on the curtains, and mauve and/or teal color scheme?  Oh, and cheap fake flowers on the stage.  Sounds like 90% of KHs I've been in.  I'd love to know who in the RBC/LDC is infatuated with the palette of 1987!!!
  

  On a side note, I've always found Dave Palen (Palin?) to be a pretty nice guy.  I'd heard he was now based in NYC area, but didn't realize he was doing anything outside of the normal CO role.  
  

  In this time of the end Jehovah’s people will be the largest property owners in the world

  Hmmm....Well the Catholic Church is currently only the #2 property owner in the world, after all.  

  http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-biggest-landowners-2011-3#3-pope-benedict-13
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  90

  Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

  currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

  any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

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  respectful_observer

   Yea, maybe in a couple of metro areas in foreign language congregations may be growth, but I wasn't seeing it in English speaking congs.

  
  

  Same here. At the last Circuit Assembly, and the last SAD before that, a grand total of 1 person got baptized at each.  Out of 1,200 in attendance, it doesn't indicate a whole lot of actual growth.  Of course most JWs will interpret building a new KH as a sign of "growth".  Heck, even if they consolidated congregations, to cram as many people as possible into one auditorium, most JWs would somehow interpret that as "growth" and get all excited about it.