Posts by metatron

14

to Maximus

by anon in

jw
friends

thanks for your most recent e-mail.

will try again later.. briefly, i do disagree on some points (i am not violent though), agree on some others.

some i would prefer to discuss privately for sake of my own conscience.

metatron

All Christian groups preach to a greater or lesser
degree. Simply saying that Witnesses have the 'truth'
because they go door to door is wrong.

A huge amount, maybe most, of the Witness work is
just pretense, phoney, -- bluntly put, a fraud. Witnesses
commonly count hours of time while spending only a
few actual minutes talking to someone - AND THAT often
involves small talk and selling Awake magazines about
mundane subjects vaguely related to anything scriptural.

If you really think that much of a 'ministry' is taking
place, you have to ask 'Why is this witness work so
utterly ineffective?' A CAREFUL ANALYSIS of baptisms
in Western lands will show you that most are kids
or people who knew/are related to Witnesses. Also,
the rate of growth amoung many Protestant groups is
higher than the organization, further telling you
how irrelevant most of this 'ministry' is.

Finally, a true story about early Christians.
Scholars found that some early Christians had odd names
related to garbage or excrement! The reason was that Romans
commonly dumped babies they didn't want in sewers or
trash heaps. Christians came and rescued babies and raised
them as their own (perhaps with a name that suggested their
origin). The Romans thought this was ridiculous, that
parents had a right to determine what children should live
or not.

Obviously, the early Christians showed a lack of regard
for putting in time in the door to door ministry. Think
how many more publishers could be made if they didn't waste
time taking care of someone elses' child. The babies
would just get a resurrection anyway, right?

The Witness 'ministry' at present, is an ugly, selfish
narrow thing, barely a ministry at all. Don't tell me
"we do it for love of neighbor" - you know for most
Witnesses, it's peer pressure - and the fear of being
destroyed at Armageddon.

metatron

23

Mainstreaming and the Greatest Mystery

by metatron in

jw
friends

what is the future of the watchtower society?.

this subject is the greatest mystery of my life.

been in the borg since infancy - my parents and.

metatron

Moxy, better you should be right instead of me.

I think the subject of suicide by Witnesses is being
covered up, just like the child abuse issue.

Talk to Maximus, he knows of two tragedies.

metatron

6

You're Doomed!

by individual in

jw
friends

about 3 years ago we had one of those 'lovely' visits from the co. for his main talk he decided to encourage us out into the field, to do more on the ministry.

i don't know who his motivational instructor was but he might as well of stood in front of us at the hall with a machine gun.

the main point of his talk was "you only do one hour a month?

metatron

Who's doomed? The unfaithful? Really? What is the current
fate of the LOYAL?

In my congregation, we had a very loyal elder - who got
a weird disease no one could identify - he died slowly
and horribly.

Another elder in his late sixties is slowly dying
of yet another weird unidentified disease - wasting away,
etc.

My dear VERY LOYAL and zealous aunt died from cancer
that spread all over (bone, liver. etc.) - in the
same congregation.

If this is how the faithful are blessed by God,
what's the point? Better that more effort should go into
research to find cures - rather than waste money and time
listening to 'doom and gloom' idiot circuit-riders!

metatron

23

Mainstreaming and the Greatest Mystery

by metatron in

jw
friends

what is the future of the watchtower society?.

this subject is the greatest mystery of my life.

been in the borg since infancy - my parents and.

metatron

Copernicus, it's a fair point that society in general
doesn't read like they used to. Yet, I feel the Watchtower
has transcended even the general 'dumbing down' of
the surrounding culture. Beyond reading ability, they
seem almost determined to discourage thinking at all.
I recall a very rare incident where a disfellowshipping
was reversed and an announcement had to be made. The Society's
official representative told the audience not to ask
questions about it or question it! If you're forced to
listen to any talks at the convention, you find yourself
asking "how does anyone buy into this stuff?".
Does anyone ever notice that the obvious requirement
for being a 'faithful and discreet slave' is that you
must be faithful and discreet? - and that if you're
not , you have no scriptural right to authority?

I'll bet that thought will never occur to a single loyal
Witness molestation defender when scandal comes. Duh!

The decline of reading is part of the decline of cultural
literacy that includes the Bible - just another societal
force pushing them towards the mainstream.

Heck, if they got all this holy spirit and Almighty
backing they talk about, how come their reading and
thinking is so pathetic? I guess they just can't fight
those 'worldly trends!

Thanks,
metatron

23

Mainstreaming and the Greatest Mystery

by metatron in

jw
friends

what is the future of the watchtower society?.

this subject is the greatest mystery of my life.

been in the borg since infancy - my parents and.

metatron

What is the future of the Watchtower Society?

This subject is the greatest mystery of my life. I've
been in the Borg since infancy - my parents and
grandparents go 'way back ('came in
the truth' on Studies in the Scriptures?????). I've
studied sociology and history but still can't form
a clear answer to the question:

How does the story end?

Clearly, the Watchtower has come under great pressure
to change - and is being pushed, kicking and screaming,
into conformity with the zeitgeist of the 21st century.
(I recall that Immanuel Velikovsky, of Worlds In
Collision fame, once referred to the "Watchtower
movement" as "rebels against the twentieth century",
which I thought was very astute). Over the long term,
they will not survive except as a pale, worn-out
version of their former selves. This will take place
because of the ALL POWERFUL GENERATIONAL CHANGE!
How so? Consider some history:

The mighty, fear-inspiring, monolithic Soviet Union
fell apart - in particular BECAUSE THE DOMINANT
GENERATION OF 70 - 80 YEAR OLD BOLSHEVIKS DIED!
The country came to be ruled by aging commisars
who let everything quietly rot. Meanwhile, the young
people wanted cars, drugs, jeans, and pop music.

It should have been obvious to the Governing Body
OOOPS! I mean "Politboro"! that the next generation was
lost - and their political culture with it. The
same thing happened in Red China. The old veterans
of "The Long March" died off - young people started
using Mao's Little Red Book to prop up uneven table
legs!

And so, we find the organization suffering a crushing
loss of young people. My wife noticed that everyone she
talks to, near and far in the borg, has a tale of woe
about Witness kids getting DF'd, rebelling, leading
a 'double life' - it's an epidemic the impotent old
men can't deal with. Worse, it WORRIES THEM THAT
THIS IS UNDERMINING THEIR AUTHORITY! The Society
is scared that with so many kids getting into trouble
and being df'd, the whole cruel system of shunning
may break down. Of course, they are worried about
LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PUNISH!

Going to college too, helps to 'crack the tower'.
I gotta laugh about putting the 'genie back into
the bottle' on this one! One rich brother's daughter
is getting a doctorate on musical theory. Of course,
this will make her well-qualified to be in the
Society's orchestra, doing recordings (ha-ha). Another
sister works to gain a professorship - "so
she can pioneer" (!!!ha - ha, again!).

The Borg have only the foggiest notion of how deep the problem
is. How many Witness parents go to the elders/C.O. or call the
Society in tears because of their kids, only to be 'blown off'
with a prayer and general advice to 'read your Bible daily'?!!
The kids have been taught to be hypocrites, why is anyone surprised
about their secret 'double lives'?

Here the subject of pornography tells you SOMETHING POWERFUL
ABOUT THE PATH THE SOCIETY REJECTED. In my day, we had to put forth
great effort - just to get a copy of Playboy! Today, anything
you can imagine is easily and quickly available, for free, on the
internet. Did the Society prepare for this moment with Divine
inspiration by building up a brotherhood with deep, individual
consciences? NO! Instead they booted Ray Franz and his emphasis
on "a law written on hearts" - out the door! Guys like Karl Klein
praised RULES, RULES, RULES. And now they want to disfellowship
brothers who masturbate while looking at the internet! (the latest
rule).

They just don't get it!

Besides the loss of Witness kids, the future is filled with 'wild
cards' - extension of human life span?, a cure for cancer, maybe?,
life on Mars? the end of all genetic defects? Only time will tell,
but for a religion that feeds on negativity, a bright future
doesn't bode well for the Borg.

As to the future of the Borg leadership, the guys I wonder about
are the circuit overseers. These circuit-riding inspector-generals
seem like an anachronism (but this is the Flat Earth Society, isn't
it?). I gotta think that the whole legal system is breathing down
their necks as a liability because they are the critical link
in the chain of hierarchy ( you are the weakest link, goodbye!).
If that wasn't enough, they cost the Society money ---AND how
the heck do the Borg ever get anyone (including WIVES, remember?)
to VOLUNTEER for such an awful job? Fifty years old, maybe no kids
or job skills, living in a trailer trying to force the rules
of a calcified command on publishers drifting away! How can they
do this without going crazy? ---which brings me to the chilling
conclusion:

Suicide. Maximus is absolutely right about being sensitive to this
issue. So many Witnesses are already depressed - what will happen
when scandal and the tidal forces of change hit them , full force,
over the next few years?

I don't know.

Today your Witness relatives may wallow in their unearned superiority.
Tomorrow they may be knocked to the ground.

It is truly an interesting time to be alive
Compassion always,

metatron

5

Why Mainstreaming Will Win Part Two

by metatron in

jw
friends

i have no quarrel with anyone who wishes to hope for the.

society's 'reform', i just want to draw attention to the .

real cause of change by distinguishing reform from mainstreaming.. when someone says 'reform', i think of brave reformers who.

metatron

I have no quarrel with anyone who wishes to hope for the
Society's 'reform', I just want to draw attention to the
real cause of change by distinguishing reform from mainstreaming.
When someone says 'reform', I think of brave reformers who
saved lives or fought slavery and injustice - motivated by
ethics. Making changes to salvage the cash flow and dominance of
an uncaring corporation is another matter.

Look at articles in the media praising JW's for benefiting
humanity because they fought in the courts. These are the
same folks who love artwork depicting the gruesome mass death
of their neighbors (remember the Paradise book for kids?).
Witnesses commonly applaud at conventions when talks describe
the same thing. We enjoy First Amendment rights because of
Watchtower arrogance and cult-like clannishness. Good results,
ugly motives - there's no need for thanks!

Understanding the background of change in the organization would
save countless well-meaning Witnesses from writing letters
disassociating themselves. THEY DON'T CARE AND WON'T BOTHER
READING MORE THAN A PARAGRAPH OR TWO. The same goes for involved
discertations on doctrine. Better you should figure out how to sue
them or get them arrested! THAT GETS ACTION!

As to mainstreaming (or reform), there has been continuous progress
over decades - slow but discernable. Long ago, some influencial
lunatics wanted the organization to use a different calendar
and different names for days of the week!(Thursday is THOR's
day, remember?) This was too much for even Rutherford who blasted
the advocates of such a scheme (may be referred to in Moyle's
letter, indirectly). There was also a feeling that wedding rings
were pagan. This idea failed in particular because Gilead sisters
found themselves nearly molested in public in South/Central
American countries( no ring? you're in fair game in machismo-land)
Needless to say, they grabbed rings and put 'em on.

When necessity arose, the organization blinked and quietly adjusted.
... and so it's been ever since. As to the present, .....

Long before they bury the last Witness publisher (in a Shaker
cemetary?), they're going to run out of volunteers. This problem
has been building for decades. You can discern it in the
requirements for Bethel service or regular pioneering, over
time. They just aren't as zealous as they used to be.
Even with volunteering at assemblies, remember the elaborate
provisions for food service in the fifties? Gone! Then they
had stands with sandwiches - Gone! I remember the 'press gangs'
of brothers who WOULD ROAM THE HALLS trying to FORCE
BROTHERS into volunteering!( inner city conventions in the 70's).

The 'voluntary contribution'
arrangement was a bust - as was the Society's insistence that
Witness families GO OUT IN SERVICE during the convention.
Remember that? Joe Whitebread and kids get a taste of inner city
territory!

The latest KM makes a plea for Bethel applicants. Who knows,
maybe they'll have to guarantee them job training some day soon,
just like the Army!

One of the most stunning developments in the last few years in
Watchtower-land is this: The WATCHTOWER CAN NEITHER EXPLAIN
NOR PUBLICALLY DEFEND ITS DOCTRINES! Think about this!

They can't openly attack the Catholic Church! (it would look
intolerant) Remember cartoons of effeminate priests consorting
with Hitler? GONE!

They can't openly attack the U.N.! They NEED them to fight for
religious freedom around the world.

They can't openly identify government officials as working for
Satan! The Legal Dept. says NO WAY!

They can't even explain the basis of their vaunted authority,
the 'faithful slave'. Why? How do you elaborate on a hundred
year old circular argument?

And a particular favorite of mine,
THEY CAN'T DEFEND THEIR TREATMENT OF WOMEN!!!!!!!
Think about that one - this point hasn't been exploited enough
by you reformers! Women can't hold any position of authority, period!
Sure, they can quote a few quick scriptures about women being
SUBORDINATE (and hope influential 'worldly' people don't notice!).
But they can't explain in detail or elaborate on it - remember when
the Awake suggested that women's brains are smaller, on average?
Shouldn't women be excluded from authority because emotion clouds
their powers of reason??? THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. THEY CAN'T
PUBLICALLY DEFEND IT WITH ANY DEPTH. Mainstreaming strikes again!
Do you think they worry about governments or human rights groups
getting upset about the inferior status of women in the Borg?

Add to this situation the enormous 'dumbing down' of the organization. I dare anyone to compare at random any Watchtower
volume from the sixties to the platitude laden, eight grade reading
level mess that they crank out now. You think computers make things
better. Not if all you do is 'cut and paste'!

The Knowledge book seems like
a watered down attempt at discarding the organization's more
troublesome doctrines - please examine the way it addresses blood,
the Gentile times and holidays for yourself - a sentence here,
a paragraph there, of little importance, quickly forgotten.

It shouldn't be of any surprize to the Brooklyn Junta, that they
are losing some Witnesses suddenly. How could it be otherwise
when the organization is so superficial? Ever hear "Boy, that
was a deep Watchtower study article!" - and cringe?

There is more to say but the hour grows late.
The most interesting aspect of this mainstreaming is what the
future holds.

metatron

31

The CO's visit

by OrangeBlossom in

jw
friends

this past week was the visit of our circuit overseer.

i know what you are thinking so before i post some of his comments that i personally found interesting, i only went to keep peace in the family and not give rise to suspicion about my true feelings.

so with that said, here are some things that grabbed my attention.. 1) his talk thursday nite was about being successful and how the world's view of success is far different than the organizations.

metatron

God, is 'HardNasty' still a CO?

At one point, I think even the Society responded favorably
to written complaints about that guy - and you know what their
standards are! (Elders/COs can do no wrong)

metatron

23

Why Mainstreaming Will Win and Reform Won't

by metatron in

jw
friends

sometimes change takes place over many years, in such a subtle.

and quiet way that those involved may not even discern that a. trend is forming.

as with social security and retirement issues,.

metatron

Sometimes change takes place over many years, in such a subtle
and quiet way that those involved may not even discern that a
trend is forming. As with Social Security and retirement issues,
whole decades may pass by before any mass of people realize that
anything is wrong - or that huge adjustments will be required of
them.

Such a situation prevails with the Watchtower Society. While many
may speculate about 'mainstreaming' or 'reforms', a little
attention to definitions - and long term trends - will clarify
the subject of what the future of the organization will be.

First, reform usually implies some kind of moral or ethical
motivation, that changes are needed to correct past wrongs.
Hopes that the Society will 'reform' are naive since the organization
collectively believes (and is tirelessly taught , as the recent
convention shows) that it is directed by God and need not listen
to any critical input - except, of course, to voice opposition
to it. On a personal level, consider the impossibility of
arguing with a 'born again' that they are wrong. They reply that
since they speak to Jesus/are filled with the holy ghost they
don't need your opinion. Likewise, with the Society, you will
reminded that they are the 'faithful and discreet slave' and
your opinion is rebellious. Pointing out the circular logic
involved will avail you naught - it's deep arrogance either way
and aren't going to succeed.

Some may point out that new committees may inject moral change
but such adjustment is likely to be glacial, minor and quickly
contradicted by some other part of the superficially monolithic
organization. Take a good look at the waffling on college or
multiple personality therapy - the 'rabbi' in Service says this,
but the 'rabbi' in Writing says otherwise. Perhaps the best you
can say is that one committee can let a cat out of a bag while
another tries to put it back in - creating a little freedom in
the process.

Generally, the Society doesn't make changes because they care
about ethics or love or kindness. They change because of NECESSITY!
They change because of cash flow or threatened lawsuits or a
lack of Bethel applicants, etc. This change brought by necessity
brings us to the much speculated subject of

Mainstreaming!
By which I mean that the organization changes into just another
Protestant sect. The average Witness becomes little different
from his Catholic or Baptist neighbors. This avenue of change
will be victorious. How do I know?

Because it's been succeeding for a long time!

What to become a Bethelite? Well, you're coming to stay for 'life'
No, wait, you're coming for at least 4 'full years'. No, wait a
minute, you have to stay for ONE year! You have to be a regular
pioneer for several years,..... one year......you have to be
a good publisher ..... in the 'truth' for many years, NO, BAPTIZED
FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS!!!!!!

Are you getting the idea, here?

Conventions are EIGHT DAYS, no, THREE days long.

The TM school and Service meeting are TWO hours - no, wait
an hour and a half long. The Public talk on Sunday is 60 , no
45 minutes long.

Being an elder means meeting all the scriptural qualifications
to a reasonable degree -- NO, WAIT! You don't have to be
hospitable or free from accusation or reasonable. You also
can remain an elder as long as everyone keeps quiet about
your child molesting and/or adultery.(mainstreamed just like
the Catholics)

Pioneering? You have to put in 100 hours AND we're going to
send you nasty letters about your low magazine placements!
NO, wait, OK, 90 hours and no nasty letters! NO, how about
70 hours (reg. pioneers stats still declining)

And the future?

The Theocratic Ministry School will be 'dumbed-down' with more
reading aloud because brothers don't prepare AND no more Written
Reviews - Do you remember when Written Reviews were collected
and graded? (say mainstream, again).

No doubt many of you will be able to provide countless other
examples of subtle compromise by the borg over time. I'll save
other observations on this for part two.

metatron

81

Nourishment for the Spirit

by Maximus in

jw
friends

my observation is that persons who 1) heal/adjust the most rapidly from their jw experience and 2) seem to have the most joy in life are those who read, read, read, in pursuit of what i call nourishment for the spirit.

i've really enjoy the pithy aphorisms you use here, which suggests you've distilled some wisdom from somewhere.

i'm going to ask your help in this thread.

metatron

I read a lot but here's some pivotal stuff.

"The Dancing WuLi Masters" - got me thinking about
pantheism

"Reversing Human Aging" by Michael Fossel - will we
live to be 500? Don't bother reading the Awake to find out!

"Synchronicity, Science and SoulMaking" by Victor Mansfield
examines reality in a way no other book does.

and
"Guerrilla Investing" by Peter Siris and
"What Works On Wall Street" by O'Shaughnessy
because being spiritual is much easier if you
have a big pile of liquid assets.

metatron

13

April 2001 Service Report for Canada

by comment in

jw
friends

special pioneers (59): 118.2 av.

hrs., 83.3 av.

r.v., 3.0 av.

metatron

(2001 yearbook in hand)
pretty anemic - 2000 average pubs 107,742, peak 111,173

metatron