my school was a couple weeks back, and it was interesting to a degree.
to be honest with you, it reminded me of a police crime scene investigation with yellow tape.
what i mean is, in one respect it was business as usual.
From reading these forums I get the impression that the Watchtower is constantly in damage control and is getting closer to a major schism or even collapse. However, the witnesses I know are as indoctrinated as ever.
I'm sure the internet is harming recruitment and if not, it will increasingly do so in the future.
but are membership numbers actually dropping? Is the internet and freedom of information having an effect?
my school was a couple weeks back, and it was interesting to a degree.
to be honest with you, it reminded me of a police crime scene investigation with yellow tape.
what i mean is, in one respect it was business as usual.
Nice post miseryloveselders, really enjoyed reading it and the insight it gave.
I am curious, I assumed the organisation's oppposition to higher educated was a relic from the past. Most of the Watchtower quotes I see on this issue are fairly old so I thought organisation had a more tolerant attitude towards it these days.
The JWs I know all, without exception are very disparaging about higher education which is funny because none of them have one. They seem to think that higher education indoctrinates people against God's word when, in my experience, it simply teaches people how to think for themselves. I suppose that is exactly what the organisation wants to prevent.
i just spent about 45 minutes talking to this nice guy jw that became a jw about 10 years ago at the age 40. had a very interesting talk about wt history/ present truth.
the best part was what the wts lied to him about.
i get the feeling he will look up some of the stuff.
yeah, the love bombing is pretty obvious but you know, I can see how people fall for it. I actually enjoy going to the Kingdom Hall sometimes, everyone is so nice and friendly. They genuinely make you feel special, or at least likeable and valuable, and this must appeal enourmously to anyone in a slightly vulnerable state.
How many converts are people depressed, berieved, unemployed etc?
"the exorcist"voted "the scariest movie of all time" it has been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
however, awake writers from 1980 had their own "scientific" views of the movie and it's sequel.. awake 1980 12/8 p.11 ".....many reports are on file {where?
} of the adverse effects it had on many who saw it.
So the Millions who watched it should have gone mental like these two people???
Don't let independent thoughts cloud your thinking. We have Brothers in Brooklyn who can think for you.
"the exorcist"voted "the scariest movie of all time" it has been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
however, awake writers from 1980 had their own "scientific" views of the movie and it's sequel.. awake 1980 12/8 p.11 ".....many reports are on file {where?
} of the adverse effects it had on many who saw it.
You are right Joey Jo-jo, maybe it is not the movie but the medium of film itself. I say we nuke Hollywood from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.
i just spent about 45 minutes talking to this nice guy jw that became a jw about 10 years ago at the age 40. had a very interesting talk about wt history/ present truth.
the best part was what the wts lied to him about.
i get the feeling he will look up some of the stuff.
I explained to them the molecular genetic evidence for common descent and how dendrochronology confirms carbon dating meaning science does not support the Bible that humans have existed only 6,000 years. They accepted that this is the current scientific understanding. Yet somehow they still stand by the statement that 'science is in harmony with the Bible'.
When they say they'll look into it, I think what they mean to say is 'I'll read another Watchtower to reassure myself and replenish my faith. I'll push this contrary evidence to the back of mind and lock it in the massive vault of dissonant thoughts'
'All evidence is in harmony with the Bible, so the Bible must be right. Any evidence that does not support the Bible is wrong because the bible is right' - Breaking this though loop is almost impossible.
I expect, JunkYard Dog, this is what your JW friend will do.
"the exorcist"voted "the scariest movie of all time" it has been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
however, awake writers from 1980 had their own "scientific" views of the movie and it's sequel.. awake 1980 12/8 p.11 ".....many reports are on file {where?
} of the adverse effects it had on many who saw it.
Who ya gonna call?
'The Jehovah's Witnesses!'
hmm, doesnt work quite as well.
i just spent about 45 minutes talking to this nice guy jw that became a jw about 10 years ago at the age 40. had a very interesting talk about wt history/ present truth.
the best part was what the wts lied to him about.
i get the feeling he will look up some of the stuff.
Could you give examples? What specifically had the WTS lied to him about?
I was talking to some JW family this week and I think I got them to admit (reluctantly) that the Watchtower publications on evolution are dishonest.....I also got them to look up the 607 date which they said they'd do. Hopefully planted a seed but I found even when you show the illogicality of a certain doctrine they still believe it. Belief is a strong motivator with some people.
first time poster here but i've been lurking a while.. i have a question that i was hoping some of the watchtower historians might be able to answer.
if a witness was willing to read some of the organisation's older publications, what books would you get them to read and how do i get these books?.
my family are witnesses and my father is an elder.
on another matter I asked him some questions about who will die at Armageddon a few weeks ago and I can tell it got to him (I asked if certain family members, including myself, deserved to die) because he brought it today with some obviously well rehearsed answers/deflections.
I think I got the upper hand on this one because the murder of 6 billions people is pretty hard to defend no matter which way you spin it.
first time poster here but i've been lurking a while.. i have a question that i was hoping some of the watchtower historians might be able to answer.
if a witness was willing to read some of the organisation's older publications, what books would you get them to read and how do i get these books?.
my family are witnesses and my father is an elder.
No, but I have ordered it. It should be waiting for me when I return home overseas.
I know I have not been taking the right approach with this. My Dad thinks I have been talking to apostates (I think I gave away a little too much a few times on matters of 'new light' and such).
My step mum laughed at one point in genuine good humour. My Dad was going on about how scientists cannot be trusted because they are imperfect, selfish and ego-driven etc. I asked if the same applied to religious leaders and he agreed that it did so I said 'what about the Governing Body?'. didn't get an answer on that one.
In fact I find it so hard to ask him a question, he never answers but jumps around so much on such a wide range of subjects and asks a load of, what he considers, 'stumper' questions back at me. They are normally not stumper questions at all when you are given more than a moment to think about them but before I get a chance he is onto the next 'stumper' question. I find I have to try and really take control of the conversation and pin him down on a particular issue. He doesnt always allow me the chance.
I find myself turning into Jeremy Paxman sometimes repeating the same question (avoiding the temptation to let the conversation get side tracked)
