Posts by DesirousOfChange

27

Assembly Attendence

by Riley in

i am in western canada.

we use to have our assembly in saskatoon.

our assembly has moved to medicine hat.

Since Covid, for Regional Conventions in our area there has only been one larger venue at a small local sports arena where only had a couple congs were assigned from each of the several circuits in the region. All other congs attended numerous smaller conventions at the local Assm Hall, which seats less than 1600.

Prior to Covid, there were always multiple weekend events at that arena -- at least three, and only foreign language conventions were held at the Assm Hall.

WT is reaping the most they can by keeping the Assm Hall full every weekend and charging $$/publisher for those assigned to attend there.

26

Jehovah's Witnesses - summary critique

by aqwsed12345 in

since 1931, they have called themselves jehovah’s witnesses.

founded in 1879 by charles taze russell (1852-1916).

jw’s publisher is the watchtower bible and tract society, and their publications include "the watchtower" and "awake!

DesirousOfChange

Blah Blah Blah 25 Transparent | Liquid ...

33

Stupid dumb ass changes yet blood and 1914 no change???wtfge???

by Witness 007 in

yeah wow women can finally wear pants and men beards...but 1914 is still a date not accepted since charles russell times and blood fractions are evil!!.

are they crazy!!!

!.

DesirousOfChange

Regarding the Blood Doctrine, WT just needs to practice what they "preach" -- that is, how they SAY they react to anyone who accepts a transfusion to save their life. Their compromise (supposedly) is that if someone who admits (confesses) to accepting a transfusion need only "repent" for doing so in their moment of weakness and their is no JC action.

At least that's what they claimed in the negotiation with (I think it was) Bulgaria.

With the new "kinder, gentler" approach to those who sin (90-day probationary wait time), I would think they would go even easier on the matter. WT has their "tit in the wringer" over their DF/shunning policies and it is putting at financial risk.

They be better to just adopt a "conscience matter" policy towards it all. Disban the HLC, or at least tell them to back off and not to pressure those at risk to refuse a transfusion and leave it between the individual and God.

153

When JW.org drops 607BCE...

by Nathan Natas in

probably everyone else thought of this long ago, but i, being an "independent thunker" thunk of it just a coupla weeks ago.. we all know that since the year zero (on the fredfranzian calendar) the wtb&ts has defied archaeology and insisted that jerusalem was destroyed in 607 bce, even though the physical evidence shows that 587 bce is a more likely date.

in fact, the book "the gentile times reconsidered: have jehovah's witnesses been wrong all along about 607 bce?

" by carl olof jonsson and rud persson made this conversation public.. it is a difference of 20 years.

DesirousOfChange

Reading the above post brought to mind the statement: "You can't make this shit up".

Yet, WT does it all the time.

And WT's defenders/apologists do it at least as well as WT.

I've signed on with "You ain't gonna believe this shit!" crowd.

9

I'll just leave this 'ere

by stan livedeath in

woman who died and 'went to heaven' says she now knows when armageddon will happen (msn.com).

DesirousOfChange

Wellllllll, at least at this point she risks only be wrong one time. WT has too many failed predictions to list.

33

Are the halls of the Kingdom filling up, are they the same as before the pandemic or are they emptying?

by LaFrancia in

i open a new topic, to find out how it's going in your area.

from what i see as a southern european in my constituency the situation is patchy.. the congregation where i am now has 30% old people on zoom but also young couples with almost all their cameras off.

no increase but a slight decrease in the total number of publishers.. circuit assemblies: before covid you couldn't find a free seat if you arrived 10 minutes before the start.

DesirousOfChange

Could the big change be more PIMO JWs who stick around for fellowship and a tribe? Fewer "true believers" ? Will JWs become more like rank-and-file Catholics . . .

I'm convinced there are a lot of JWs as you describe here. There are many who have doubts about the "nearness" of Armageddon which is quite evident by how they are living. There are no JWs making huge sacrifices to pioneer and "save" people. Over 50% of the JW families which whom we are acquainted are taking cruises and international vacations -- quite a few to Europe vs Caribbean locations, which are much less expensive and are "easy" flights (3 hrs vs 8-10 hrs).

It's 10 years ago, but I recall two 40-something JW elders discussing how they were strategizing their 401(k) retirement plans. Clearly not thinking that Armageddon is "very, very near" nor fearing that money will be "thrown into the streets". (I hear that one of them is now "inactive". I don't know if he is a "stumbled believer" or if he has become "awakened" (not to be confused with "woke") of all the JW BS.

One of my longtime closest JW friends is 100% "mentally out" but still is dogmatic about being "physically in" (PIMO) as the best course of action. He thinks JW doctrine is total BS, but that JWs are the best group of people to have as friends and as a "network".

10

First look at JW 2024 Convention

by Newly Enlightened in

warning, mikey rant & adult language!!!.

https://youtu.be/uijtoxthx_y?si=ef0xcgzgizq25jsd.

DesirousOfChange

Sorry, but an hour and a half is just TOO MUCH TIME to waste on JW crap -- or even xJW crap. Surely (don't call me Shirley) it can be summarized in much less time without sacrificing the point being made.

100

The August 2024 Watchtower controversy and potential further changes

by ukpimo in

as an educated guess, the august 2024 watchtower may be delayed because 2 complicated subjects need to be discussed in this issue which haven't yet been approved to be included in the revised shepherding textbook.

perhaps the revised shepherding textbook must be finalised before this watchtower is released publicly.. the 2 subjects may be as follows:.

how to shepherd and appoint brothers based on the removal of the hour requirements, getting to know the brothers instead (does this mean prioritising appointing men who have auxiliary pioneered during the co visit and campaigns or men who are regular pioneers?).

DesirousOfChange

So when you notice Kingdom Halls being sold, are you sure the number of congregations isn’t actually staying the same, or even increasing?

That's definitely the case sometimes when congregations are being forced to move and share another Hall after their Hall is sold. It makes sense to utilize the Hall for 2 or 3 congregations when the travel distance is still reasonable for everyone in all the congregations.

But there are many congregations being "shut down" or "closed" (ie, for low attendance, lack of leadership) and the publishers there are directed to attend a nearby congregation. That has happened with at least 6 congregations that use our assembly hall. Congregation shut down, publishers reassigned to one or more other existing nearby congregations, and the Hall sold (if they were the only congregation using it). It was small congregations with low attendance and probably low contributions (mostly rural areas) that were merged with other nearby congregations.

100

The August 2024 Watchtower controversy and potential further changes

by ukpimo in

as an educated guess, the august 2024 watchtower may be delayed because 2 complicated subjects need to be discussed in this issue which haven't yet been approved to be included in the revised shepherding textbook.

perhaps the revised shepherding textbook must be finalised before this watchtower is released publicly.. the 2 subjects may be as follows:.

how to shepherd and appoint brothers based on the removal of the hour requirements, getting to know the brothers instead (does this mean prioritising appointing men who have auxiliary pioneered during the co visit and campaigns or men who are regular pioneers?).

DesirousOfChange

With all the mergers of congregations in our area, I can't imagine how anyone could keep up with attendance figures.

We attended the Memorial and I did not know 70% of the others attending. Twenty years ago, I knew nearly everyone in the Circuit. The elders with whom I am well acquainted that had been the shakers-n-movers were not involved unless it was a prayer. The speaker was a 30-something who is new to the area as he married a local JW gal. There appeared to be plenty of 30-something guys who had stepped up into leadership positions. (Not sure that 2/3 of young JWs are abandoning the religion here. * ) At least 50% of the men were sporting beards.

( * Hate the new beard policy. Used to be you could see a JW you new on Facebook and if they had a beard then you knew they were inactive or POMO.)

33

Are the halls of the Kingdom filling up, are they the same as before the pandemic or are they emptying?

by LaFrancia in

i open a new topic, to find out how it's going in your area.

from what i see as a southern european in my constituency the situation is patchy.. the congregation where i am now has 30% old people on zoom but also young couples with almost all their cameras off.

no increase but a slight decrease in the total number of publishers.. circuit assemblies: before covid you couldn't find a free seat if you arrived 10 minutes before the start.

DesirousOfChange

I'm surprised so many people are still on "zoom."

I'm not surprised. I know of some JWs who still zoom despite the fact that they could easily attend in person as they have no limitations or disabilities, etc. BUT, Zoom (with their camera off) allows them to simply APPEAR to be in attendance for meetings while in reality, they are paying no attention to the meeting and doing whatever else they need/want to do.