Posts by ScenicViewer

49

The Predictions Thread

by cedars in

jw
friends

i thought it might be interesting and fun to have a "predictions thread", where we set out our predictions for events to unfold concerning the watch tower society (or jehovah's witnesses in general) over the coming years/decades.. it strikes me that so much has happened in the last ten years, most of which has defied expectations.

here's just a few of the developments that i can think of:.

the abolishment of group book studies in favor of a "family worship evening"the creation of a "study edition" watchtowerthe halving of monthly magazine printing commitmentsthe unprecedented closure/merging of branches (16% reduction in branches last year)the menlo park scandal, a body of elders removed for resisting a refurb of their kingdom hallthe lawsuits in victoria, australia - the society taken to court concerning child protection lawscourtroom admissions about the faithful & discreet slave and similarities with the catholic churchincreased hate speech against "mentally diseased" apostatesastonishing lapses of judgment, such as the "selma and steve" study articlethe ditching of gilead as a school for missionariesambitious construction plans for a new world hq (with or without jehovah's blessing!

ScenicViewer

1- The number of memorial partakers will continue to increase. (I don't think thats been mentioned; apologies if it has.)

At a time when the number should be decreasing, it will become a bigger embarrassment than it is now. The Society has already said it doesn't keep track of the anointed (faithful and discreet slave), so the next logical step would be to do as predicted by Cedars (#7), Jnat, Sapphy, and breakfastof champions, and stop publishing partaker (and other) statistics.

2- Due to eventual decreases in many areas of the organization, the new headquarters being built at Warwick will no longer be needed in 30 years (possibly less), and the property will be sold for a whopping profit. New down-sized facilities will be built in another rural location for next to nothing, leaving Watchtower with a much needed cash flow.

7

I AM. The documentary by Tom Shadyak

by I quit! in

jw
friends

tinker told me about this documentary and i finally got around to watching it.

i thought it was great.

i'm wondering if anyone else has seen it.

ScenicViewer

@ I quit and bob1999,

Thanks for the information and the link!

BTW, that link is to the full documentary, 1hr 17min.

7

I AM. The documentary by Tom Shadyak

by I quit! in

jw
friends

tinker told me about this documentary and i finally got around to watching it.

i thought it was great.

i'm wondering if anyone else has seen it.

ScenicViewer

Can this documentary be found online?

73

GB: "We don't know if Jehovah wants us to build new headquarters, but we're doing it anyway..."

by cedars in

the latest august 15th watchtower study edition features an interesting review of the society's annual meeting.. one comment struck me as evidence that the governing body isn't quite as "discreet" as it claims.. here is what the article said:.

"there are plans to develop a 248-acre (100 ha) property at warwick.

'although we are not yet certain of jehovahs will regarding warwick,' said brother pierce, 'we are proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of jehovahs witnesses there.

ScenicViewer

'Although we are not yet certain of Jehovah’s will regarding Warwick, we are proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses there.'

This is an unusual admission that they are not being led by holy spirit. They never have been, but I can't recall when they have admitted it so plainly. There was a time when the Organization would have insisted the bldg project was 'Jehovah's will, and should be viewed as a sign that He was moving His people forward in these critical last days.'

There was a time when anyone doing this would have been accused of 'running ahead of Jehovah!'

The other remark tells us that they are completely uncertain about the closeness of the great tribulation.

'If the great tribulation interrupts our plans, that will be wonderful, absolutely wonderful!'

50

Elders breaking Confidentiality - I want this thread to be dirtyy

by usualusername in

jw
friends

i was taught at the mts school that no elder has ever broke confidentiality.. .

did my instructors lie to me?.

uun .

ScenicViewer

00DAD said,

"At that point I flat out accused him of lying, [...] I kindly reminded him where the door was..."

I'm sure glad you had the nerve, courage, and presence of mind to call him on that. Too often we let things slide, then later wish we had said something.

This lack of confidentiality in the Organization, but pretending everything is ok, is too much. It's just one more example of Watchtower dishonesty.

50

Elders breaking Confidentiality - I want this thread to be dirtyy

by usualusername in

jw
friends

i was taught at the mts school that no elder has ever broke confidentiality.. .

did my instructors lie to me?.

uun .

ScenicViewer

Did my instructors lie to me?

They sure did.

- I recall one clumsy elder who announced at a meeting for field service that brother So-and-So had been privately reproved for drinking.

- In another instance an elder talked to another elder in another town, who was completely disconnected from the case, about a serious wrong doing by someone he knew. I overheard it too, and I was not an elder.

- One elder told me about a brother who had had sex relations with a woman he was divorced from. (The brother thought that since they were still married in God's eyes it was ok.) The elder telling me this didn't mention names, but he was so specific that I knew exactly who he was talking about; it was someone I knew and liked a lot. I was sickened by the elder's violation of his privacy.

- An elder told me about one sister, by name, that had attempted suicide.

There are other examples where elders have started rumors, without revealing names, to discredit certain individuals in the congregation. I believe it's a method they sometimes use to bring a brother or sister down, but by not giving a name the elder(s) remain blameless.

I can't wait to hear some of the really egregious examples of elders violating confidentiality.

21

Has the Watchtower been sued for defamation?

by biometrics in

does anyone know if the watchtower or individual elders have been successfully sued for defamation follwing a disfellowshipping.

i know some have tried to sue for shunning, and their case had no legal basis.. what is the current platform announcment for a df or da?.

what about court action to recover past donations?.

ScenicViewer

Notjustyet said,

I heard that there was a settlement, enough to put said child throught college, how ironic.

The info is on here somewhere, even the letter fromt he attorney was pasted here.

I believe the thread you are thinking of is here. Notice the posts by Roberta804.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/members/private/219169/1/Important-to-put-in-your-letter-of-DA

35

Could you 'Wake Up Happy' if you were an active Witness, knowing what you know now? (A 2012 Convention invitation)

by ScenicViewer in

a convention invitation.

i came home the other day and found an invitation to the upcoming district convention in my door.

i don't believe these are left in the doors of the general public, so a well-meaning witness must have been thinking of me, even though i have not been to the kh in about 7 years.. the leading question on the front immediately got my attention, and made my jaw drop a bit.. i thought i would ask the forum, .

ScenicViewer

irondork said,

"What Is True Love?"

Oh, this oughtta be good!

Yes it oughtta, and we all know that whatever it is, it will include spin that slants it toward Watchtower doctrine.

35

Could you 'Wake Up Happy' if you were an active Witness, knowing what you know now? (A 2012 Convention invitation)

by ScenicViewer in

a convention invitation.

i came home the other day and found an invitation to the upcoming district convention in my door.

i don't believe these are left in the doors of the general public, so a well-meaning witness must have been thinking of me, even though i have not been to the kh in about 7 years.. the leading question on the front immediately got my attention, and made my jaw drop a bit.. i thought i would ask the forum, .

ScenicViewer

sir82,

I noticed that too. 'Live play' usually means with live actors with their own voices. As far as I know they have been called Dramas, and had pre-recorded voices. Now I wonder if they're taking a new approach.

35

Could you 'Wake Up Happy' if you were an active Witness, knowing what you know now? (A 2012 Convention invitation)

by ScenicViewer in

a convention invitation.

i came home the other day and found an invitation to the upcoming district convention in my door.

i don't believe these are left in the doors of the general public, so a well-meaning witness must have been thinking of me, even though i have not been to the kh in about 7 years.. the leading question on the front immediately got my attention, and made my jaw drop a bit.. i thought i would ask the forum, .

ScenicViewer

LostGeneration,

"...just like to drop nuggets like that in his brain when I have the chance."

Tha't probably a very good idea. Most Witnesses are so closed-minded about their religion that a meaningful discussion is often not possible. Dropping a seed here and there is all one can do much of the time.

(Regarding the toes comment, it appears they went for a different body part this year, and not from Daniel's image. The stomach. See Iamallcool's response. )