if we are in the congregation, do you think our comments or questions actually reach elders or others in the congregation?
do our comments on this board affect witnesses to the point of questioning their faith?
Mr Flip, Your 2 cents is worth more than gold to people whose hearts and souls have been crushed by the WTBT$. You were the first person on the board who reached out to us. Now you and Mrs Flipper are genuine friends. And since then we have met dozens more great ex JWs who I respect more than any we knew when we were "in".
This site is the vehicle that gets the doubters, the brokenhearted, the pissed off, on the road to freedom of mind leading to a whole new and better life.
a whole new watchtower society (governing body 3.0 / simplified society).
i'm not here to attack the governing body, watchtower society, or the jehovah's witnesses (jw) organization.
the bible says there is just "one hope" for christians (ephesians 4:4).
a watcher, "The WTS has many things to offer. Take the things that strengthen YOUR spirituality and disregard the rest."
I can't for the life of me, figure out what WTS offers that strengthens anyones spirituality?
i was thinking about green handshakes, and i knew my wife and i personally would try to slide at least $100 each c.o visit to the c.o.
if we were low on cash, we'd never hand him less than $20.
how many of such handshakes does he receive in a weeks time?
I made a typo I meant to say 20 years. At the rate of $500 per visit per cong 29 years in the circuit work could bring as much as $638,000.
if we are in the congregation, do you think our comments or questions actually reach elders or others in the congregation?
do our comments on this board affect witnesses to the point of questioning their faith?
i was thinking about green handshakes, and i knew my wife and i personally would try to slide at least $100 each c.o visit to the c.o.
if we were low on cash, we'd never hand him less than $20.
how many of such handshakes does he receive in a weeks time?
thedepressedsoul. What you say is noteworthy. Each congregation has at least a few people who are mentally impaired. As many dubs are getting old now they have dementia.
I have relatives who were used to giving LARGE green handshakes to Co's and DO's. When they got old and had spent all of their savings the dementia made them FORGET that they could no longer afford to keep doing it. As you said, they ALWAYS take the money regardless of the financial strain it puts on the donor or their caretakers.
All it takes is for a couple of people per cong to give the co a few hundred $$ and the others to chip in some smaller $$ amounts. Then do the math. There are an average of about 22 congs to a circuit which are visited twice a year. let's say they average $500. in gifts per cong per visit. If they saved all of it at the end of 29 years of "Service" they could retire with $440,000. The smart ones never tell the WTBT$ what they take in on the side.
i received an email from one of the elder in the local congregation.
i am not dfed so there is not a problem there, i am just an aggressive fader.. one of the last things i said to this elder before i stopped all activities was that i do not agree with the borg taking all the assets from the congregations.. here is what the elder said in the email:.
"i recently saw something while looking through the jw broadcasting for the month of may and i though about you.
If you want to continue your fade with the least drama don't reply to his e-mail. E-mails are like phone calls-you are under no obligation to answer them. If you feel you must then keep it as short as possible. Something like:
Brother Shepard,
It was kind of you to think of me. I watched the video you sent.
Thanks, Driving Force
it's hard to know where to put this link to a polish book some of you older members probably read, while our newer members are seeking answers to questions the watchtower vehemently deny's!
do i put this under "jw scandals" or "jw beliefs"?
for decades without the internet many of us did not have access to all the publications written by early watchtower writers because access was hard, only men like raymond franz jr(god rest his brave soul) had the golden key for entering the library of all publications jws made.. can some of the older members remember people who sold their homes and others who bought things in the summer or fall of 1974 knowing they won't be paying for their purchases because jehovah will destroy all the creditors records when he kills them!
Fisherman, Are you saying you are at least 60 years old and made the decisions the Society suggested/demanded at the time and have NO regrets? If so, then so be it. My 96 yo mother has no regrets as well.
However, you imply that my family and I made the decisions and sacrifices we did for the Wrong reasons. How would you know what our reasons were? What were the wrong reasons? BTW, We didn't selfishly buy things we thought we would never have to pay for or run up credit card bills. We made decisions based on love of our creator, our fellow man, and what we thought God was directing us to do through his earthly organization. The organization was wrong and failed it's devotees. Whether they realize it or not doesn't change the facts.
i met this amazing girl about 6years ago at my local congregation.
i was 100% in back then.
about 3years ago i woke up spiritually and kept it undercover till a few months ago.. this girl is still very in (but she doesnt really do the things a reaaal jw should do.
"Is there really no easy way to make things work?" In a word NO!
Would you stay in a relationship with someone who was sill in love with her previous boyfriend? Who would meet with him at least once a week? Who would take your kids to see him and teach them that he is a better father than you? That they should reject what you say if it conflicts with his ideas? Her religion will be the old boyfriend in your marriage and she will not likely ever stop seeing him.
it's hard to know where to put this link to a polish book some of you older members probably read, while our newer members are seeking answers to questions the watchtower vehemently deny's!
do i put this under "jw scandals" or "jw beliefs"?
for decades without the internet many of us did not have access to all the publications written by early watchtower writers because access was hard, only men like raymond franz jr(god rest his brave soul) had the golden key for entering the library of all publications jws made.. can some of the older members remember people who sold their homes and others who bought things in the summer or fall of 1974 knowing they won't be paying for their purchases because jehovah will destroy all the creditors records when he kills them!
Fisherman, How did YOU react to those articles and talks from 1968-1975? Did YOU make decisions that negatively and permanently changed your life?
Did you quit school or graduate early?
Did you pioneer?
Did you get married in your teens?
Did you go to Bethel?
Did you postpone marriage or children?
Did you sell your house to go where the need was great?
Were you a missionary who contracted Malaria and were permanently disabled?
Were you drafted and sent to prison for refusing alternate service?
I was 16 in 1968 and remember the hype like it was yesterday. I did all the things on my list that apply to females in the Borg. My family members did the rest of those things, some are dead now. Do you really think we made these decisions on our OWN???? LOL
You know what I think? I think during the late '60/early 70's you were too young or not even born yet and are talking out your a**. Correct me if I am wrong.
to my generation: jehovah's witnesses of the vietnam war era .
if you were a young brother in the late 60's you then remember the burden of the draft and the prospect of going to jail for refusing on religious grounds to be called up.
in those days we were taught that to do community service was conscientiously the same as joining the military and so we were told to refuse such exemptions.
