Posts by DesirousOfChange

25

The TWO new things to come this year for J.W Org !

by Phizzy in

while having my first strong black coffee of the day, i was thinking about what may be to come next as the org.

rapidly goes mainstream, and this is what i came up with :.

1) they will introduce for sunday, the after meeting fellowship, a time for just chatting but with the added bonus of coffee and snacks.

DesirousOfChange

Disbanding HLCs?

This makes sense. The HLC in some areas have the reputation of sitting in a JW patient's hospital room "on guard" for the prospect of them making a Hail Mary decision to accept a transfusion. Current policy, though softened if the person states any kind of "repentance", still is seen as a violation of Human Rights in some countries. Said governments are actively taking a stand against the religion of JW's for this violation and putting the WT at risk of losing tax exempt status &/or other benefits of being an authorized religion recognized in that nation.

I expect WT will NOT do a complete 180 turnaround on the doctrine, but will take a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" position in the future. If the HLC is not there, then there are no "witnesses". Family members who complain will be told to STFU and leave to the individual's conscience -- between them and Jehovah.

FOLLOW THE MONEY!

7

What is the Best Way to Reach Out to My JW Brother?

by ApostolicJesus93 in

i am not a jw, nor have i ever been.

i'm an apostolic pentecostal.

i do have an older half-brother who is about 13 years my senior.

DesirousOfChange

The fifth commandment says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).

Nowhere in the Bible does it differentiate if one's father is "in The Troof" or not so. Your brother cannot even apply any defense of "apostasy" or "inactivity" as if your father was a "weak" or former JW. Also, consider Paul's view of those who have no affection for their parents:

2 Timothy 3: 1 But know this, that in the last daysa critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power;b and from these turn away.

BEAT HIM WITH HIS BIBLE

6

Money Is The Answer For Everything - Eccl. 10: 19 (NASB)

by Sea Breeze in

do jehovahs witnesses believe eccl.

10: 19 is literal or is limited in application in some way?

money is the answer for everything - eccl.

DesirousOfChange

Do Jehovahs Witnesses believe Eccl. 10: 19 is literal or is limited in application in some way?

First, let's define the crowd you mean when you use the term "Jehovahs Witnesses". Do you speak of the R&F JW? Or do you speak of the JW hierarchy -- the JW Leadership, ie, GB?

The Leadership, including the GB, DEFINITELY believe money is the answer to everything. At the same time, they "preach" to the flock to "keep the eye simple" and ridicule anyone who "is determined to be rich". Of course, both of those examples are fluid. What is "simple? And what is "rich"?

I believe that the average JW today has a greater concern about financial stability than their peers from decades ago. The JW today DOES NOT count on Armageddon "fixing" all their problems. Instead, the average JW is carrying on in life just like the average "worldly" person. For example, husband & wife both have jobs. Ten or twenty years ago that didn't apply to higher education, but today even many of the average JWs are going to college or at least some kind of higher education (trade school, etc). Lots of the men are in union construction trades and many of the women or in nursing. All the young JW couples that I know of are traveling extensively -- seeing the sites of the US, going on cruises, and even international trips are quite common.

They all have come to realize that "money is the answer for [almost] everything". I added the "almost" because we all know "money doesn't buy happiness". Of course, it's a helluva lot better being rich and unhappy than broke and unhappy!

54

If the org. Is being advised by consultants, is a name change in the works?

by nowwhat? in

let's be honest, there's a stigma to the name jehovah's witness.

if they are going more mainstream.

i imagine the first recommendation was a name change.

DesirousOfChange

…wouldn’t it be a mind-fuck of the highest order if these consultants actually got all their ideas simply from perusing JWD???

I'm sure there are several people here that could have come up with something better than the Overlapping Generation Bullshit. Come on! That should have been a WTF moment for everyone!

Where is Freddy Franz when you need some smoke & mirror magic?

25

JW Expanded Volunteer Activities?

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

i think the gb needs to expand publishers' volunteer activities beyond door knocking.. gb has shifted away from door-knocking to more varied forms of witnessing and no longer counting time for publishers.

my prediction is that the gb will start encouraging jws to participate in broader community volunteer efforts: clean-up drives, food banks, senior citizen support, and other non-proselytizing activities.

this move could help them gain goodwill with government agencies and the public.. expanding volunteer activities could significantly shift how jws are perceived by the wider community.

DesirousOfChange

One other thing for everyone to consider, the GB are here in the US. Even if they were born elsewhere, served elsewhere, they are pretty "Americanized" sitting on their thrones in upstate NY. In the US, a religious organization is not required to ANY of such charitable works. Just being a religion is enough to qualify for tax exemption and there is not an arrangement here for the government or taxpayers to give religions any kind of funding. (In fact, I was astounded when I learned that some governments, ie, Norway do that.)

I don't expect WT to organize some kind of charitable giving (cash nor tangible things like food pantry, etc). I think if it becomes required in other countries to have them maintain their "charity" status, then perhaps they'll grant the local branches to organize something to pass off as "charity", but I still think if would predominantly be for JWs.

44

Thoughts on Likely Upcoming Changes in the Org.

by Phizzy in

i am thinking that the "ten year plan" that some have spoken of is the most likely scenario.

the org.

has to both attract new members and retain as many existing ones as possible.. so i think they will let the recent changes "bed in" for a while, maybe a year ?

DesirousOfChange

How many would truly want to stay if they didn’t have to, though?

I think there are already a lot who stay just for the social network of friends, so I don't think it would change much.

Generally speaking, most congregations of JW's are a good group of people and are a good base of established (yes, we know it's conditional) friends.

21

The Memorial and my thoughts.

by Truth and Justice in

jw
friends

no matter what opinions you may have, the memorial is very important to us.

many are opposed to the way the organization performs the memorial because of restrictive rules as to who should partake.

as jesus said in scripture, "keep doing this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

DesirousOfChange

My perception on the Memorial we attended last night: There were lots of 30-somethings who were taking the lead. The speaker was not one of the old timers that I knew so well. He was a younger guy, with a beard of course, but noticeably lacking good grammar I might add. About 40%-50% were sporting beards. There were quite a few of that crowd (30's/40's) that we knew as peers of our children. Maybe there were more of that group that were NOT there (hard to tell if someone is NOT there that should be). Any of the more senior guys were only doing a prayer or passing of the emblems. There were a lot more in attendance that we did not know than those with whom we were acquainted.

All those old guys that were the shakers-and-movers when I was there....... ARE OLD. And they look old. And fat. I wonder if they are dealing with the fact that they will likely die before the New World saves them. Or maybe they are still deluded and hanging on to the idea that "It's right around the corner"?

25

JW Expanded Volunteer Activities?

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

i think the gb needs to expand publishers' volunteer activities beyond door knocking.. gb has shifted away from door-knocking to more varied forms of witnessing and no longer counting time for publishers.

my prediction is that the gb will start encouraging jws to participate in broader community volunteer efforts: clean-up drives, food banks, senior citizen support, and other non-proselytizing activities.

this move could help them gain goodwill with government agencies and the public.. expanding volunteer activities could significantly shift how jws are perceived by the wider community.

DesirousOfChange

Expanding volunteer activities could significantly shift how JWs are perceived by the wider community. It might also alter the internal culture, offering members new ways to fulfill their spiritual and social needs.

I think that is a brilliant idea!

Remember, it needs to be the giving of time/labor. They will never give up any of their potential CA$H contributions to others. God Needs Your Money! But they could organize volunteers to clean parks, highway litter, assist elderly (esp JW elderly). They might even find a way to get compensated for assisting elderly/infirm members or non-members. (At least here in the US.)

44

Thoughts on Likely Upcoming Changes in the Org.

by Phizzy in

i am thinking that the "ten year plan" that some have spoken of is the most likely scenario.

the org.

has to both attract new members and retain as many existing ones as possible.. so i think they will let the recent changes "bed in" for a while, maybe a year ?

DesirousOfChange

I doubt they have a ten year plan, five year plan, or any plan at all. They just react.

Exactly!

They have no plan. It's the blind leading the blind.

(Wonder when that Holy Spirit direction is supposed to kick in?)

21

The Memorial and my thoughts.

by Truth and Justice in

jw
friends

no matter what opinions you may have, the memorial is very important to us.

many are opposed to the way the organization performs the memorial because of restrictive rules as to who should partake.

as jesus said in scripture, "keep doing this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

DesirousOfChange

"Do you think the org will change it's stance as to only "anointed" ones partaking"

Not a chance. Lots of changes going on right now, but they are mostly superficial. That would be too big of a doctrinal change. JWs will always make the claim that the major doctrines do not change.