If contributions to the WTS are indeed drying up, I would not be surprised to see an increase in the number of letters going out "to all congregations in [your branch territory]"; the letters would "suggest" the congregation decide a fixed (recommended) per publisher amount to send to the WTS for "X" type of expense. Today we do it for expenses for the CO visit, the CO's health/car insurance, etc. What would stop them from doing the same thing for the cost of producing literature, paying the untility bills at the branch, paying the cell phone/page bills for the Bethelites, building the new Warwick facility, bringing the missionaries home for a convention (wait, they already did that one), etc.? They could still claim that there were "no collections taken" at the meeting, but a congregation vote on paying these expense will always pass due to group guilt. That way the congregation on the whole is on the hook for the contribution and the WTS gets all the money it needs.
respectful_observer
JoinedPosts by respectful_observer
-
55
The CO asked for money tonight at the meeting.
by life is to short ini was shocked i do not know why as i have read that the co's were doing this but to hear it with my own ears was unbelievable.
i do not go to the meetings but my husband still does and this week is the co's visit.
i decided that i would listen in to his talk; i swear i have lost some brain cells by doing it but anywho.. he started out by talking about the old story that has been in the wt many times about a little boy who was seven and raised a chicken and gave the money to the society.
-
-
-
26
Question 3 of this weeks Oral Review???
by Comatose in3.. why did jesus say that his disciples would not complete their circuit of preaching "until the son of man arrives"?
(matt.
10:23) [jan. 14, w10 9/15 p. 10 par.
-
-
respectful_observer
And...then said that the new JW.org website will surely play a part in spreading the message earthwide.
www. it IS the WORLDWIDE web after all. See? It's now been preached worldwide. Prophecy fulfilled. (It must be true, it's on the internet!)
-
1
Washington Post 2/25/13: "Losing my Religion"
by respectful_observer insound familiar??.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/advice/forums#!/topic/1361811219-286-914/.
any way this can end well?from a reader: .
-
-
respectful_observer
Sound familiar??
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/advice/forums#!/topic/1361811219-286-914/
Any way this can end well? From a reader:
I was raised in a very conservative Christian family. I attended religious schools all the way through college.
I was a religious person but I started slowly drawing away from it during college, and I have decided that it's simply not for me anymore and a waste of my time.
The problem is my parents. Both have been very involved with the church, teaching Bible studies and classes, and being elders. It is a very important part of their life.
I am in my late 20's, have a steady job and moved out of home several years ago, but I still live all of 10 minutes away from my parents. I have dinner with them from time to time and they expect to see me in church on Sunday mornings. I have tried just not showing and then I get a lecture. I've tried saying I'm going hiking or have other plans and get still get lectures and questions like, "How do you worship God?" I show up right as the service starts and leave immediately after. I don't tithe or participate in any classes or bible study groups.
My parents have noticed me pulling away and my father in particular has become very annoying about it.
I do love my parents and want to continue having a relationship with them, but I'm frankly sick of having to go to church and being lectured about things I couldn't care less about. I wish I could just tell them once and for all that I don't believe in religion, but I'm afraid of their reaction. How do I know they won't disown me or just stop talking to me? How do I know they won't launch a full-scale assault to convert their heathen child? 22 Hours Ago -
18
I ran into an active JW...surprised
by nolongerconfused inso as you all know, i have fully faded...i'm completely out and have not told the elders or da myself...just faded 100%.... so i run into an active jw, different congregation, and as i walk past him i say, "hey so and so, how are you doing?
"....he looks down, doesnt dare look at me in the eyeball and keeps walking...then a split second later he turns around and says, hey man, aren't yuo disfellowshipped?....
i was like wtf?...lol, i said "not that i know of"...i asked him who told him such thing?...he wouldnt tell me who, but he had "heard"...so i just left it at that and told him if he wants to know then to contact my ex-elders.... my thing is, could the elders have df'ed me without me knowing it?...i have not been accused of their so called "apostasy", nor have i received a letter requesting info or to set up a meeting, nor a call...the coordinating elder (formally president/presiding overseer) still texts me all the time saying hi etc...no religious texts or anything like that).
-
-
respectful_observer
I doubt they " officially" disfellowshipped you, but once you stop going they treat you as if you are
I have an aunt, who when referring to those that have been away from meetings for long periods will say: "Well, you know, they're basically apostate!"
"Really, are they going to a different church? Were they speaking against the Org?"
"Well...not that I'm aware of, BUT...."
-
18
I ran into an active JW...surprised
by nolongerconfused inso as you all know, i have fully faded...i'm completely out and have not told the elders or da myself...just faded 100%.... so i run into an active jw, different congregation, and as i walk past him i say, "hey so and so, how are you doing?
"....he looks down, doesnt dare look at me in the eyeball and keeps walking...then a split second later he turns around and says, hey man, aren't yuo disfellowshipped?....
i was like wtf?...lol, i said "not that i know of"...i asked him who told him such thing?...he wouldnt tell me who, but he had "heard"...so i just left it at that and told him if he wants to know then to contact my ex-elders.... my thing is, could the elders have df'ed me without me knowing it?...i have not been accused of their so called "apostasy", nor have i received a letter requesting info or to set up a meeting, nor a call...the coordinating elder (formally president/presiding overseer) still texts me all the time saying hi etc...no religious texts or anything like that).
-
-
respectful_observer
In one of the talks our last CO gave, he commented that we shouldn't have any contact with people who managed to "get around the system" without getting disfellowshipped...
Haha! That reminds me when an elder mentioned that "apostates" had leaked the book online. When I asked what the big deal was, he response was:
"Well it will allow people to 'game the system!'"
"What system?" I asked.
"The judicial process. The book contains very specific directions regarding conducting committees."
I feigned ignorance and replied, "Wow, that sounds a little like someone getting arrested for a crime, but they're not allowed to have a lawyer or even read the text of the law they're being held in violation of."
That response did NOT go over well with him.
-
20
Watchtower fail Two older sisters find dating site on line
by solomon intwo of the older sisters in our hall both widows were looking on line for the jw.org site and were talking at the hall about how they have a jw singles.
meetup site on the jw.org web site.
they obviously were on the wrong site but didn't know the difference.
-
-
respectful_observer
The fact is, after 30 yrs old, there aren't very many available single male JWs. If there is, there's plenty pickings of much younger gals for them.
Actually (at least on the East and West Coasts) there are a fair number of late 20's - early-30's single brothers... of course they're all recently divorced from the J-dub wives they married between 18 and 21. Hope you like step-kids and are ready to deal with the crazy J-dub ex-wife who's still in the same circuit!!
Seriously, the number of "Round 2" J-dub weddings I've been to in the last couple of years is unreal. Do I have to buy them a wedding gift if I got one from their first wedding?? (Just kidding.)
-
12
It Takes a B.A. to Find a Job as a File Clerk
by 00DAD init takes a b.a.
to find a job as a file clerk.
by catherine rampell | new york times wed, feb 20, 2013 10:52 am est.
-
-
respectful_observer
00DAD, here's another thread on this same article:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/246316/1/College-Degree-Required
There seemed to be a spate of college-educated, self-reliant J-dubs coming out of the early/mid-90s to early 2000s when college was suddenly, if briefly viewed as acceptable. (Maybe it was just enough time to train the next generation of dentists, doctors, and lawyers that will volunteer at Bethel? After all the educated baby boomers that came in in the 70s and early 80s are moving toward retirement!)
I wonder what it will all look like in another 10-20 years.
-
26
Why do witnesses need the title of pioneer to get 30 hours?
by BU2B inif witnesses believe that we truly are in the end of the end of the last days, and they believe the work they do will really save lives, and most can just make a few adjustments and get 30 hours, why dont they do this more often??
without the title?.
to me if you really care about people you would not wait until you have a special title or badge to wear of look at me im pioneering, you would do the most you can every month and not care about recognition from men.
-
-
respectful_observer
I suspect a lot of it comes from the natural desire for humans to be recognized as "successful" by their communities. Society normally does this by easily-observable "markers" of success (in the community, educational achievement, military rank, corporate rank, etc.)
- Being elected by their community to represent their interests (not allowed by JWs)
- an advanced degree, thereby demonstrating their intellectual success (not tolerated by JWs)
- rising through the military ranks (not allowed by JWs)
- rising through the corporate ranks (lowers your "success" within JW community)
- providing well for your family-- nice home, nice cars, nice clothes, etc. (discouraged by JWs)
Almost every normal "marker" of success in society at large is either discouraged or forbidden by JW doctrine. I suspect it causes a lot of JWs to focus too much on the spiritual success markers-- namely titles. I've notices that some brothers/sisters who struggle to succeed in everyday life ways are often the most intent on achieving JW titles...and not letting those around them forget they have them.
-
46
The huge impact the JWs have out in their door knocking --- May 15, 2013
by RayPublisher inthe may 15, 2013 washtowel has a cute little piece of artwork about what an impact they make out in serve-us.
i thought some captions might help make it clearer!.
.
-
-
respectful_observer
Did the guy (really a JW) taking out the trash have to get an official dispensation to sport a day's worth of stubble?
The picture of the sanitation worker may very well have been some stock photo which The Watchtower got permission to use. I can’t see the Brooklyn Pharisees relaxing their “Bible-based standards” one bit for even something as innocuous as a staged photo for any of their publications.
Hmmm...I'm leaning toward it being an actual J-dub rather than a stock photo. After all, when's the last time you saw a garbage man wearing khakis...and I mean BESIDES during your last Bethel tour!
-
14
College Degree Required
by respectful_observer ini don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any wt publications anytime soon.... ....................................... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/college-degree-required-by-increasing-number-of-companies.html?hpw&_r=0.
a few excerpts:.
the college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.. like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelors degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.
-
-
respectful_observer
I don't anticipate seeing this article, or its supporting data, referenced in any WT publications anytime soon...
......................................
A few excerpts:
The college degree is becoming the new high school diploma: the new minimum requirement, albeit an expensive one, for getting even the lowest-level job.
Like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelor’s degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills.
This prerequisite applies to everyone, including the receptionist, paralegals, administrative assistants and file clerks. Even the office “runner” — the in-house courier who, for $10 an hour, ferries documents back and forth between the courthouse and the office — went to a four-year school.
This up-credentialing is pushing the less educated even further down the food chain, and it helps explain why the unemployment rate for workers with no more than a high school diploma is more than twice that for workers with a bachelor’s degree: 8.1 percent versus 3.7 percent.
Some jobs, like those in supply chain management and logistics, have become more technical, and so require more advanced skills today than they did in the past. But more broadly, because so many people are going to college now, those who do not graduate are often assumed to be unambitious or less capable.
In 2012, 39 percent of job postings for secretaries and administrative assistants in the Atlanta metro area requested a bachelor’s degree, up from 28 percent in 2007, according to Burning Glass.