Posts by ABibleStudent

6

2015 Predictions

by free2beme in

jw
friends

well, i got none right in 2014. dang it!

maybe i need to be a little more realistic and not predict so much with people dying, ufo sightings and so on.

but got to have fun.

ABibleStudent

I think that at least 2 out of 3 of my 2014 predictions came true: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/262407/what-major-wtbts-change-do-you-predict-2014?page=1.

The WTBTS did start a tithing arrangement with JWs pledging to donate to support Worldwide construction and the WTBTS did increase its internet presences with internet TV and campaigns to direct people to JW.org . I may have been partially right about my prediction that the Watchtower will only print the simplified Watchtower/Awake! as the Watchtower is pressuring JWs to carry Ipads and distribute flyers directing people to visit JW.org instead of passing out literature door to door. Considering how JWs approach people while working propaganda carts, I doubt that JWs distribute many printed magazines anymore.

I think that there will be big changes to the WTBTS in 2015. I predict that the WTBTS will have a drop in publishers for 2015, unless the WTBTS reduces the qualifications for publishers from 10 hours/month to just counting publisher cards in a congregation or just dropping the metric all together.

I do feel that the outcome of the oral arguments for the WTBTS's appeal of the Candace Conti trial judgment, other litigation around the world, and greater exposure to the internet will cause many JWs to doubt the WTBTS and fade away.

I also hope that SOL reform legislation and introducing a bill in Congress in 2015 to revise the tax code for tax-exempt organizations to protect children from sexual abuse may cause more JWs to doubt the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

6

Eye-Opening Survey!

by The Searcher in

my wife said to me me that she'd really like to see a survey carried out on the internet, where active/attending witnesses only, could anonymously reveal that they privately celebrate the memorial and partake of the emblems.. what sort of figures would such a survey throw up?.

any chance of someone organising such a survey during the "memorial season"?.

ABibleStudent

Instead of completing a survey, vote with your wallet! A survey allows a person to vent. Not donating to the WTBTS allows a person to vent, enjoy life more, and may be effect positive change in the WTBTS.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

32

2014 Watchtower Publisher Statistics

by jwfacts in

the 2014 grand totals page has been released onto facebook.. .

.

i have started updating the statistics and graphs at jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php, and will release highlights as i work through it during the rest of the day..

ABibleStudent

I can hardly wait for 2016. I would guess that 7060 hrs/baptism will increase to > 10,000 hrs/baptism in 2015. I base my prediction on the WTBTS's transition to propaganda carts and using tablets, JW.org, the WTBTS's mantra of "Do more, donate more, and be blessed", the appellate court ruling for the judgment against the Watchtower in the Candace Conti case, more lawsuits, and of course more negative media coverage.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

13

User sign-in issues

by Simon in

just a heads-up / status update - i'm still working on the issues so please don't think i've abandoned you if you still can't sign in and i haven't replied to your email.. i will get things sorted out and then we'll have the old gang back together.. thanks again to you all for your patience and perseverance while the teething problems are being ironed out.

ABibleStudent

Thank you for working on the sign-in issues Simon.

I can only sign-in by requesting a password reset. I'm using Windows 7 and Google Chrome. I have tried to sign in using either my user name or email address, neither worked. The verification seems to work good. I have not been able to verify whether the stay signed in option works yet.

Regards,

Robert

54

How do you overcome this JW excuse?

by EdenOne in

during one of those meetings that took place before my jc, one of the elders, who was a good friend of mine back then and used to come up with a few outlandish personal views about some teachings, attempted to counter one of my arguments like this:.

eden - "well, if the truth doesn't change, why is it that what we teach as 'truth' has changed over the years (several examples given)?

how can we dogmatically claim at any given moment that we have 'the truth' if our teachings keep changing?".

ABibleStudent

Hi EdenOne, How about mirroring back what your friend said to you so that he can listen to what he just said, and validating your friend's authentic persona's feelings when he says something that does not show blind obedience to the WTBTS?

What do you think of:

Are you saying that Jehovah has had to correct the coarse of the organization? If Jehovah has to correct the coarse of the organization and the organization says that the GB are imperfect men, then when do JWs know they are serving Jehovah or imperfect men?

In the November 2013 Watchtower Study Edition, the "Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes - What They Mean for us Today", the Watchtower teaches, "All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not." How would you interpret that instruction? What if an elder came up to you pressuring you to do more or donate more to the Watchtower, would you, if it would reduce your family's welfare? Do you feel that Jehovah would want you to support the Watchtower at the expense of your family's welfare?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

102

Should I attend Kingdom Hall meetings to discreetly "preach"?

by CrytoJesus in

jw
friends

christians, should i attend kingdom hall meetings to discreetly "preach" to jws about the real jesus and the lies of the watchtower?.

.

i plan to go undercover and plant seeds into them.. .

ABibleStudent

Hi CrytoJesus, You probably were "love-bombed" and most JWs are very nice people. JWs will usually behave like drones when defending/explaining their beliefs. JWs are indoctrinated to research WTBTS's practices and beliefs by visiting JW.org, and not other internet sources.

Non-WTBTS-approved internet sources are controlled by "Satan" (the opposer) and therefore are unreliable. If you asked, I doubt that any "Spiritual Strong" (i.e., non-thinking) JW would visit much less believe a non-WTBTS website in your presence. For fun ask a JW to compare what www.jw.org writes about cults versus what www.familiesagainstcultteachings.org writes about unsafe groups. Ten to one they will not read the information about unsafe groups in your presence.

If they do read information about unsafe groups in your presence, see if they would watch the following four videos: How Big is the Phenomenon of Undue Influence? (2:01), The BITE Model (Behavior Information Thought Emotion) (5:03), What is the Strategic Interactive Approach? (4:21), Strategic Interactive Approach explained 2003 (1:23:23) . Ten to one they would be running from you after watching the fourth one because of two words. Replace those two words with Mormon, Scientologist, Moonies, or another dangerous cult and they would totally agree with what Steven Hassan says.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

22

Tell me what they are thinking or planning to do.

by LogCon in

this is the situation.. ten years ago two fleshly brothers and their wives, [ all are jw's and one is an elder] defrauded an elderly couple [ she was a jw/ he was friendly]out of the possession of their home and property.

one year after that, they took the life savings of the elderly couple and parked it in an account, without their knowledge.

when the old couple found out what happened, the four co-conspirators refused to return anything.

ABibleStudent

Hi LogCon, If I were the JWs, I would try to shelter my money in off-shore account(s) that the Canadian government could not access, I would have my attorney investigate how seriously the local prosecutor's office pursues fraud cases, and research where and when I should move to another country.

If I were you, I would find out what ties the JWs have in B.C., what motivates the local prosecutor's office, what is the range of potential sentences for this type of fraud, and if convicted where would they serve their time. I would use all of the above information to pressure them to make restitution, as well as inform the police, local news media, and KH of their fraud.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

35

Looks like ABC New York got the okay.

by truthseekeriam in

jw
friends

http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=1&doc_id=2025979&doc_no=a136641.

12/19/2014order filed.

upon due consideration, the media request of applicant abc news to make a video recording of oral argument in the above-referenced appeal is granted.

ABibleStudent

The appellate's (WTBTS's) attorney had previous commitments, so the oral arguments were re-scheduled from Dec. 10, 2014 to Jan. 14, 2015. If the appellate's attorney does not make another request to delay the oral arguments - which wouldn't suprise me -, I plan on attending.

I hope that more people will attend. If you want the address, directions, parking, and/or email information, please visit either APCM or http://www.courts.ca.gov/2969.htm#tab7341. The email information might be useful to determine availability of seating.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

102

Should I attend Kingdom Hall meetings to discreetly "preach"?

by CrytoJesus in

jw
friends

christians, should i attend kingdom hall meetings to discreetly "preach" to jws about the real jesus and the lies of the watchtower?.

.

i plan to go undercover and plant seeds into them.. .

ABibleStudent

CrytoJesus - The Watchtower is a stronghold to JWs. It's an idol. If I can present factual information to them that breaks their trust in the Watchtower or at least plant a seed of doubt then that's making progress.

Hi CrytoJesus, Presenting information/preaching is not the same as asking simple questions that help engage the brain of a JW to critically think for themselves. Learning how to overcome BITE control techniques would be more helpful than preaching to a JW.

Have you researched any information by cult-exit counselors like Steve Hassan's books (i.e., "Combatting Cult Mind Control", "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves", and (his latest book) "Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs"), visited his website at www.freedomofmind.com , and/or watched his FREE videos on his website?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

35

Looks like ABC New York got the okay.

by truthseekeriam in

jw
friends

http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=1&doc_id=2025979&doc_no=a136641.

12/19/2014order filed.

upon due consideration, the media request of applicant abc news to make a video recording of oral argument in the above-referenced appeal is granted.

ABibleStudent

However you dissect it, it is GREAT NEWS!!! At least ABC News (New York) will be in attendance. I hope that they will post an unedited copy of the proceedings on their website or on youtube.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

P.S. - I wonder if the WTBTS will actually make an annoucement in a meeting not to watch the proceedings, because it would draw attention to the fact that the WTBTS did lose a pedophile lawsuit. It would be a Catch-22 situation for the WTBTS.