They can't see it because they don't want to see it. The implications of being wrong are too painful for some. I think ehe WT knows this and they give people just enough self assurance to reason away lingering doubts. "You may have heard negative things about the WT on the internet. Well much of what is on the internet is false and we work hard to bring you truth so ignore the internet and listen to us." My question is, how long can they keep up that battle?
Franklin Massey
JoinedPosts by Franklin Massey
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53
2011 Yearbook - "Tracing All Things with Accuracy"
by pirata in2011 yearbook - "tracing all things with accuracy", p.9-13.
jesus said that the faithful slave would be discreet in giving the domestics "their food at the proper time.
" christ thus indicated that those who dispense this "food" would be conscientious, prudent, and discerning in providing spiritual food for the household of faith.-matt.
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"If this 'system of things' goes on..."
by Franklin Massey ini have been hearing more people saying this now than ever.
especially those in the over-40 crowd.
i just got off the phone with an older jw family member who was reviewing options for golden years living.
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Franklin Massey
I have been hearing more people saying this now than ever. Especially those in the over-40 crowd. I just got off the phone with an older JW family member who was reviewing options for Golden Years living. They have been helping family members older than them transition in to smaller apartments and assisted living places as their health deteriorates late in life. This particular person has a good 15+ years before they would be be at a point where they may have to face that kind of decision. They said, "I need to consider where I would want to live out the rest of my life in case this system goes on." A little later they added, "You know, a lot of these older ones though they would live to see Armageddon. I don't want to put off making arrangements in case it doesn't come before I die."
I don't want to be too optimistic about this. Yes, they still think Armageddon is coming. The thing that interests me is the willing recognition that it may not come in time for them to see it. The person mentioned above was one of those who told me when I was young that I wouldn't have to go to high school, get married, etc., because the end is so close. Fast forward 20-30 years and now this same person is willing to acknowledge that it may not be as soon as they thought.
Some who have been willing to express these types of comments aloud will feel guilty about showing a "lack of urgency" and so they finish the statement off with something like, "But I just can't see how God could let it go on much longer. Things are getting worse every day." Still, they were willing to entertain the idea.
Is this a sign of the weakening of a core JW doctrine; one that has the ability to exercise power over the masses? Judgement Day is a whip that religion has used repeatedly to keep followers in line. If more are willing to admit, at the very least, that Armageddon might not be that close, does the WT begin to lose its grip on the JWs?
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Are you a fader, Df'd, DA'd, or Still In?
by brotherdan ini thought this would be an interesting poll that would show everyone the backgrounds of all of us when we left, if we have.. for myself, i am not df'd, but i am attempting a fade.
i still go to some meetings with the wife to help with kids, but that's it.
no commenting or field service.. what about everyone else?.
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Franklin Massey
Very much in. Appointed man, lots of duties, public talks, the whole nine yards. Being in the Org is the only part of my life that feels like a lie. I'm basically an actor. I've gone through the idea of DA but it would destroy my family and friends and they are more important to me than my personal preference of not being a JW. I'll continue to push through and hopefully loosen the grip that the WT holds on those I love the most. If I can devise an effective fade plan, I will. Its quite hard when you have so many responsibilities in the congregation.
Sincerely, Franklin "Faking My Way Through It" Massey*
Name has been changed to protect the identity of poster
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86
Are you a fader, Df'd, DA'd, or Still In?
by brotherdan ini thought this would be an interesting poll that would show everyone the backgrounds of all of us when we left, if we have.. for myself, i am not df'd, but i am attempting a fade.
i still go to some meetings with the wife to help with kids, but that's it.
no commenting or field service.. what about everyone else?.
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Franklin Massey
Leaving WT, you have a PM.
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Did having a Bethelite travel to your congregation and deliver a talk motivate, encourage, or excite you?
by miseryloveselders ini ask this, because i just got wind that at my hall, we're paying the travel expenses for a bethelite to come and do our memorial talk.
i don't know how much this is going to run us, but i fail to see the practicality of it.
he's not delivering a special memorial outline or anything.
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Franklin Massey
From my experience, most Bethel speakers are no better at engaging and captivating the audience than the average local speaker. We have some fantastic speakers in our circuit and it really shows when, say, at an Assembly, the visiting Bethel speaker puts everyone to sleep while a local brother has the audience's rapt attention. It's a often a title thing. Something to get excited about. Although I appreciate the efforts of any humble brohter who fulfills the assignment to come visit us, expectation usually exceeds reality.
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If Your Husband (wife) is Still In - -
by Had To Go indo you vacillate between caring that he/she is still entrapped in this cult and wanting to show them everything you have learned since your awakening and not wanting to rock the boat and therefore just keeping all this knowledge to yourself?
i wonder if it is normal to go back and forth like i do.
one day i want to tell my husband something i may have read here or on another forum and maybe, just maybe i will pique his interest.
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Franklin Massey
I started out dropping bombs (too much too soon; caused mental blocks and tension) and moved on to sowing seeds (actually working; mate more open minded now). For me it's all about patience. It's a two person tightrope walk and I want to make it to the other side together.
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Discussion involving my Dad & other long timers - Mood is definately different
by Doubting Bro ini've seen several posts relating to the mood among longtime jws here recently.
i thought i would add to that collection and recount a discussion i recently had with my dad and a small group of folks about his age.
quick background on the group:.
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Franklin Massey
I'm having a hard time imagining how a semi-secretive, authoritarian, apocalyptic millennialist high-control group can adapt - that is, change - to survive and accomodate the realities of the information-saturated, technologically forward, WikiLeaks-level-transparency-craving socio-cultural environment of the 21st Century, though.
Amazing.
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2011 Yearbook - "Tracing All Things with Accuracy"
by pirata in2011 yearbook - "tracing all things with accuracy", p.9-13.
jesus said that the faithful slave would be discreet in giving the domestics "their food at the proper time.
" christ thus indicated that those who dispense this "food" would be conscientious, prudent, and discerning in providing spiritual food for the household of faith.-matt.
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Franklin Massey
This is ridiculous! I'm going to rant and I hope I don't regret the passionate tone later...
First, it was really nice of them pick instances of misquotes or potentially inaccurate information in an attempt to market some kind of "Writing Department Gold Standard" to JWs. A Newton story that hinted at a Designer, a Gandhi quote that almost no one would argue with whether it was true or not, and spider silk?! Seriously?! None of these things have any significant bearing on JW doctrine and are low risk admissions. How about discussing changes like 1914, organ donation/blood fractions, water canopy theory, etc? Of course they wouldn't, because they don't want to remind JWs of how drastic some of those changes were (if the avg JW even knew of the old interpretations in the first place!). By featuring "adjustments-lite" they made a low risk, cowardly, self serving move.
Second, this is damage control. Many JWs smell something fishy either in an odd remark in an assembly talk, a hardline statement in the WT, or in ever shifting "New Light." With the unlimited amount information at their fingertips via the internet, big questions can be answered in a few minutes. Claims can be verified in seconds. The Jehovah's Witness Wikipedia entry contains some scandalous accounts that most publishers don't know about. What if a publisher saw these claims and had doubts? Well, the yearbook says Wikipedia isn't trustworthy. For most dubs, that's all they need to go back blissfully to Imagination Land. Same with scientific claims. If a JW watched a nature show that presented compelling information for evolution and then had doubts about the JW version of Creation, the WT, through this yearbook entry will soothe their doubts with their "impressive" (please note sarcasm) library of thousands of books and their access to even larger libraries with all the perfect and accurate and well researched information that you will find in the unadulterated pages of the WT magazine (again, sarcasm).
I'm really upset about this because there are several people close to me who have noted the inaccuracies, inconsistencies, hyprocrasy, and flip-flops over the years. They have that little feeling that something isn't right in one way or another. But they're loyal and they want so badly for the WT to be right. So they'll read this mildly persuasive bit of swill in the yearbook and regress right back to robot mode. Well played, WT. Well played. You know how to control your adherents all too well.
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What would happen if a JW writes a book on evolution?
by Nobleheart ini don't know if that's ever happened: a jw writing a thesis, an article or even a book supporting the theory of evolution.
i know many jw don't have the needed qualifications for the above, but let's assume someone actually did that.
i know there are a few jw.
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Franklin Massey
Great question! I know of some who have done college papers on evolution. Those would never be seen in the general public though. My guess is that the investigation would run deep. Just writing a straightforward paper on evolution may not be grounds for a DF/DA. However, if the Bible or God were called in to question, that would be another story. The writer would be asked about how believing evolution fits with their JW beliefs. The questions would eventually lead to, "Don't you trust the Faithful and Discreet Slave to provide the proper information at the right time?" Tricky.
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Beards vs. Bow Ties: Which is more "immodest" or attention drawing?
by Open mind inif you were on a hiring panel for a new chair of the federal reserve board, would either a neatly trimmed beard or a bow tie even register on your dress and grooming "radar"?.
i'm talking ben bernanke, (current chairman of the fed).
richard abrahamson, secretary/treasurer of the wtb&ts of pennsylvania since 2000. i looked all over and couldn't find a picture of him, but he's famous for his bow ties.
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Franklin Massey
miseryloveselders said, "By the way, there's not a gay bone in my body..."
I could have a lot of fun with that one but I'll exercise restraint and refrain from obscene jesting.