Posts by Londo111

20

I don't like "taking the lead"

by I Want to Believe in

some men probably got off on the power/ego trip being a male jw gets you, but i never cared for it.

i'm an introvert, and was an especially awkward one at that haveing been reaised in social isolation, so it was about the strangest feeling in the world when as a newly-baptized teenager (back in the day) i started to pioneer.

i was about as green as you could get in every way but i was told i had to take the lead in the service meetings and the car group.

Londo111

I am not a natural leader either. Nor do I think there should be human "leaders" in a Christian sense.

I can relate to the above experience--I was appointed a Ministerial Servant when I was still a teenager. And I tried to regular pioneer for a time. Sometimes I would conduct book studies when the book study overseer could not, or was called to other book studies to conduct. And, of course, I had to take the lead in field service sometimes. And yet, there were brothers there in their 50's or older…not to mentioned mature sisters. I felt like a fraud and an idiot. I never had a thirst for desire or prominence. I felt that many congregation tasks could be easily done by sisters.

Often, the organization's main qualification is field service hours and a Y chromosome. You could be incompetent in every way, and not scripturally or practically qualify in any way, but if you have those, it's good enough for the hierarchy.

76

Those who still show up at the meetings, How do you manage?.

by Mr Facts in

for those who still show up at the meetings, how do you manage?.

do you still offer comments and how do you actually muster up the boldness to gave talks and still do all of those craps?..

.

Londo111

For me, it boils down to: Acts 21:20-26

If you are in a position in your life to not attend meetings, more power to you. Go in peace. By all means, choose the path in life that makes you happy, but realize that not all will take that path. You might not understand alternate choices, but it doesn't mean those choices have no validity. We all come from a dogmatic organization that has said: Our Way or Death Eternal! Surely, we can be more accomodating than such Rutherfordisms.

41

Perversion of Baptismal Vows

by AlanF in

jw
friends

an appendix in the book contains some 120 questions along with hundreds of scriptural "proof texts" that the proselyte is then expected to study.

12 jesus commanded his followers to baptize new disciples in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit.

the following quotation shows what the proselyte is expected to study just prior to baptism:.

Londo111

Because of this, I have been considering re-baptism...I just haven't thought about the logistics of it yet, such as where or by who.

When I was 15, I had no idea of any of this. I saw my friend baptized and thought that it was "about that time". And because of information control, I believed everything they told me about 1914 and so forth. I didn't understand the subtleties and implications of these vows. I do wish they allowed one to annul their baptism.

76

Those who still show up at the meetings, How do you manage?.

by Mr Facts in

for those who still show up at the meetings, how do you manage?.

do you still offer comments and how do you actually muster up the boldness to gave talks and still do all of those craps?..

.

Londo111

I suspect that if our friends and family were in the Branch Davidians or the People's Temple, most of us would probably do the same. Love is the motivation, and at the end of our lives, these relationships we've had will be our most important possessions. And if the opportunity presents itself to free those who are in chains, we shall do so. We cannot plant seeds of thought from the freedom and comfort of our sofa, sometimes we have to get our feet dirty in the field, and endure conditions which are less than pleasant. We do not know what seed many germinate or where, but if we mentally free just one of our loved ones, then we are truly blessed.

76

Those who still show up at the meetings, How do you manage?.

by Mr Facts in

for those who still show up at the meetings, how do you manage?.

do you still offer comments and how do you actually muster up the boldness to gave talks and still do all of those craps?..

.

Londo111

Because of the Pharisees, all I can do is attend meetings. However, at least, I have a covert purpose in attending. Sometimes I can agree with 70% of what is said, at least, "on paper", and not always in terms of the Society's application of it. The rest I mentally note and try not to roll my eyes. I also observe that by and large, these are sincere people who believe they are doing what is right, but they are horribly mislead and under mind control. I see in the people in attendance the potential of good in what they could be, if only they had the freedom.

When people raise there hands and "thank the Slave" for this or that, sometimes it is too much. They don't realize they are giving praise to Bethel's Golden Calf. Though, I suppose it's better to thank the Calf for such things as 30-hours of door-to-door Treadmilling in March or April, than to thank God, who never willed such a thing.

23

Special Assembly Day of Jehovah's Witnesses

by iamwhoiam in

program 2011 - 2012. theme: 'let god's will take place' - matt.

6:10. morning session.

9:40 music.

Londo111

SAD...very SAD.

18

WOW Scientology rants like Watchtower

by Refriedtruth in

scientology teaches that humans are infected by the souls of dead aliens called thetans.

jehovah's witnesses teach jesus had his second coming invisibly october 5th or 6th 1914. scientologists waterboarded and beat me, says former church official.

the sun-feb 16, 2012... she was waterboarded as part of the cult's twisted bid to control members.

Londo111

Thanks for the info! Good stuff!

20

How BITE applies to non-Witness groups

by Londo111 in

i am trying to compile information of how the bite system applies to groups other than the witnesses.

this will help witnesses consider the bite model in a non-threatening manner, because it applies to the 'other guy' and along the way they will see, hopefully, how it applies to their group.. .

for starters today, i found this link interesting.

Londo111

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/222229/1/WOW-Scientology-rants-like-Watchtower

Including this link for posterity...

7

The gossip card - a tool for control among elders?

by cedars in

i was having a few flashbacks today to my time as a die-hard publisher, both when i was "reaching out" for the transition from servant to elder, and from my time as an elder.

both of those positions bring with them an often unsavoury insight into the habits and methods of elders when it comes to controlling the congregation, particularly those in higher levels of congregational responsibility whose methods aren't always popular or appreciated.. it struck me as inappropriate at the time that the "gossip card" was brandished by certain elders all too readily, especially if it was an unpopular elder who had a bad reputation for making people's lives miserable.

the elder would speak in a sombre tone about the seriousness of people gossiping about him, and how this urgently needed to be brought to an end - with stern words to be meted out to anyone "caught in the act".

Londo111

I have seen this too. Certain elders will wield their power to get 'justice' for themselves.

It is amazing that when a publisher is the target of talk, we are often told to forgive and forget, which is truly the Christian course. However, when an elder is the subject of talk, he can use his position against the individual who talked about him. Why would he not recuse himself being part of rendering judgement? Perhaps if they were truly slandered, he could seek justice and report it, but sit in the judicial committee? This is a conflict of interest!

34

Ridiculous Memorial Invitation!

by PrincessCynic in

has anyone seen this year's memorial invitation?

maybe someone could post a picture.. on the front is a question to the householder, 'how do you view jesus?'.

then it gives multiple choices with accompanying pictues: .

Londo111

At the meeting, the "brother" handing out the tracks ignored me in the distribution. Shunning at its finest!

On the front, Jesus looks so grim and serious. Not friendly or inviting.