fresh out of the jw.org website http://www.jw.org/en/news/by-region/world/jehovahs-witnesses-office-consolidation/ .
the society as from september 2012 is closing 20 branches worldwide .the best bit is the last paragraph :.
workers are available to spend more time preachingbecause of the mergers, qualified ministers who had been serving in small branches can now concentrate on preaching the good news.. a witness in africa, who was reassigned to the preaching activity, wrote: "adjusting my lifestyle to suit the new circumstances was a challenge during the first few months.
Twenty?! Wow.
Brings three questions to mind:
- How many does that make total, now, and in which countries?
- Has anybody ever made a timeline of WT property sales?
- Has the Legal Department advised them to do this becasue they anticipate upcoming pedo lawsuit verdicts?
for me it was rather painful.
it was like pressing your nose against the candy store window, knowing that you can look, but you cannot partake.
.
Heartofaboy - "...being a JW in high school really really sucked!"
It did help me grow a thick skin.
there was a recent thread here which covered the subject of the gb claiming to be spirit directed (and not actually inspired by the holy spirit).
by now, most of us are quite aware that this is just a play with words to excuse themselves whenever one of their false doctrines is debunked (by someone using the bible or their own publications).
but when you think of it, spirit-directed is actually more presumptuous than spirit-inspired.. that being said, id really like to draw attention to the fact that the wt continuously claims that the governing body of jehovahs witnesses has never claimed to be inspired by god (through his holy spirit).
Alfred - "The Governing Body has NEVER claimed to be inspired…"
... yet has admitted - under oath in a UK court of law - that they require the R&F to submit to their authority, to even behave as though they are - for all intents and purposes - infallible, and that anyone who doesn't is deserving of death.
Which is perfectly reasonable ().
have you ever read "no blade of grass," "on the beach" or "the satan-bug?
" i have a feeling it wouldn't hurt to reread those old novels.. folks around here argue about gmo foods, for instance, without realizing that one of the main problems with gmo is lack of diversity, dangerous if a disease comes along that kills the main crops of the world.. and people seem to have forgotten that humans could indeed destroy themselves completely, if someone starts a nuclear war.
they always seem to think there could be survivors of an all-out nuclear war.
I've seen a few apocalyptic sci-fi movies, but I've yet to see a cinematic adaptation of Revelations that really grabbed me.
i told some jw friends about the confirmed changes to the understanding of who the fds is.
two brothers that are in appointed positions stated "i thought that was the understanding already".. .
figures.
I'm still fuzzy about why they would call a meeting of missionaries from overseas (and to fly in on their own dime, no less) just to fill them in on this, and felt the need to coach local BOEs to prep their congregations to "accept" the adjustment.
The only explanation I can think of is that many of the partakers out there are held in a measure of esteem wherever they are, but if the GB is marginilizing them to consolidate their own authority, there might be some mavericks out there who won't take it too well and make a kafuffle.
being an adult, i choose not to attend the meetings.
i would prefer my children not attend meetings, however being married to a diehard jw, this is difficult to accomplish.
the kids do not want to attend, as the meetings are boring, as they have often said.
PaintedToeNail - "I read Blondie's overview of today's Watchtower Study, and how we are 37 years into the 1000 year reign, according to WT publications."
Wait, what???
being an adult, i choose not to attend the meetings.
i would prefer my children not attend meetings, however being married to a diehard jw, this is difficult to accomplish.
the kids do not want to attend, as the meetings are boring, as they have often said.
tiki - "This guy needs some courses in child psychology, not to mention common sense."
But wouldn't that be "worldy wisdom"?
things are looking good for me and my campaign.
so we will see..
Left or Right?
Just curious.
i have been trying recently different ways to get fellow witnesses to use their thinking faculties ,one that seems to work is the following :.
"would you believe in the trinity if the governing body told you to ?
because it is not in the bible .
Not overly interested in "waking up" anyone, myself; just occasionally justifying my inactive/faded status to my Mom (through logic and reason) so that she won't feel compelled to shun me.
So far, I've managed pretty well, actually.
for me it was rather painful.
it was like pressing your nose against the candy store window, knowing that you can look, but you cannot partake.
.
I wasn't too socially isolated; my parents allowed me to hang out with non-Witness kids on occasion (just no birthdays or holidays), but by being dutiful, I did miss out on one or two really pretty potential GFs.
I honestly thought I'd be "blessed" if I played fair and followed the rules; never figured out 'til years later that very few JW teenagers were actually like that, or that very few of them were even virgins, FTM, LOL!
More-or-less bought into the argument that one shouldn't start dating until one was old enough and mature enough to marry, and assumed most other JW teens felt that way, too. Funny how most JW parents acknowledge that teenage years are "training" for adulthood, but allow virtually no training for an integral part of adulthood, namely relationships and parenthood.
It's hard for me to be bitter about it, though.
If my life had gone differently, I wouldn't be the father of two stunning daughters (well... not the ones I have, anyway).
