i woke up early in life.
it’s not because i was smarter than my brothers and sisters.
in fact, reflecting back, i actually don’t know why i didn’t embrace the watchtower teachings?
pisolpete - "...they are reminding themselves, that in the New World there will be no more crooked Presidents, no more crooked Politicians, and no more corrupt leaders anywhere in the world..."
...whilst completely missing the fact that in the WTS's vaunted New World, the Org will become said crooked and corrupt politicians and leaders.
i posted this item a few weeks ago (link below) with a compilation of items that could happen as the organization unravels - even though many (including myself) may find it unlikely, improbable or simply too much of a change to believe.. https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5165806634663936/drastic-upcoming-changes-accelerated-pandemic.
as an active pimo though, i came up with the list in the above post simply from the standpoint that very significant changes have been occurring on an ongoing basis and sometimes i think even very active witnesses do not realize it.
a few major items that have been ongoing or were singular events listed below.
What y'all are seeing is a highly specialized organism trying to rapidly evolve (whilst retaining its core characteristics)...
...in order to survive in a drastically changing environment that it increasingly inimical to said survival.
Consider the fossil record for examples. 
the new york post published how hunter biden was involved with many criminal activities.
they showed how big daddy biden was well aware of what was going on.
the post got called out for this “ non story “.
"Why is the press suddenly exposing the Biden family?"
'Cause if it bleeds, it leads.
Doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.
we are nearly 18 months into this pandemic and lot has been learned and our behaviour modified to make things safer for us, e.g.
the wearing of face masks and social distancing.. many countries such as australia, new zealand, the uk and usa either have things under control or have vaccinated a large portion of the population.
therefore, given the very passive nature of the 'cart witnessing', i can't see why this hasn't be re-started.
IMO, all this simply supports the theory the WT leadership has actually been wanting to eliminate the ministry work (as we knew it) almost altogether.
The risk of rank-and-filers having to face more and more child abuse accusations and encountering "apostates" who were articulate and knowledgeable was simply getting too high.
i'm just thinking of examples of jw doublethink.. here's one - jws will tell a bible study or unbaptised publisher that there is no hierarchy within the org.
they typically remark on christendom's hierarchy but then say 'we are all brothers'.
but as a person gets further into the cult, jws will constantly stress the need to obey the governing body.. jw hierarchy .
Doublethink goes all the way up to the top.
They know it's wrong...
...but believe it's true...
...at the same time.
i realize many here think that in-person meetings will return as soon as things are safe with covid.
but many acknowledge it will likely be 2022 or later when this happens.. surprisingly, many pimi jws in our congregation are not shy about saying they are fine with zoom meetings forever and do not want to go back to in-person meetings.
many speculate similar thoughts that are on this site....such as a combination of in-person and zoom meetings.
Really hard to put toothpaste back into the tube.
someone made reference in another post that the awake magazine had ceased publication.
maybe i missed it since i have not been on here as much in the last 6 months.
is this true?
smiddy3 - "Maybe they will combine the two and call it 'The Watchtower and Awake Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom'"
This... actually makes the most sense to me.
i sent a list of statements about current wts teachings to a friend who is being carefully recruited by a seasoned witness.. hi em..... just a quick summary of what all “good” jehovah's witnesses believe...even though some of these things witnesses are not always willing to be transparent about.
this is your crash course.
i have quotations for every item listed if you want or need them.. witnesses believes that:.
Vanderhoven7 - "..Witnesses believe everything on the list but probably would not want to reveal these unique exclusivitic beliefs to the uninitiated at the start..."
Once again, for the newbies, lurkers, and trolls...
...if you have to cheat to defend your beliefs, your beliefs don't deserve to be defended.
the thread about old timers got me thinking about trends i see with the watchtower.
i've changed my opinion about where the organization stands.
when i joined the religion in 1973 it was dynamic, even the small congregation i attended sent out three or four pioneers.
Yeah, like I've said before...
...ol' Freddy kicked the bucket without leaving behind any kind of protege, Jaracz used 9-11 to purge out all the moderates and liberals, and now there's no one left with the creative or narrative chops to properly overhaul the Org's old Cold-War-era cosmology/eschatology for the 21st Century.
All they seem able to do are half-assed software patches, like Splane's whiteboard overlapping explanation.
how many accounts of the bibles use of excesses can you recall ?
i will start off with a favourit of mine.. the inauguration of solomons temple and the sacrifices offered .2chron.7 :4-5 , 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep ?
c,mon.
@ Sea Breeze...
Didn’t Jesus teach almost exclusively using parables and allegories?
