Posts by peterstride

29

Bericht 1034

by Sue in

jw
friends

how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

Free literature?

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i haven't been over here for a long time, looks pretty busy.. i am in a discussion on another board about the "donation" arrangement.

the jw's claim "all" literature is free, and nobody id pressured into "donating" for what they take from the hall.. now in my old congregation that wasn't so.

we were reminded all the time about "donations" and making sure we asked for donations in the field service.

While I was still a JW, I often wondered why the WTS didn't help out people in countries that were really poor. I'm sure everyone remembers the experiences of faithfull brothers in Africa, sharing 1 magazine per 10 people, or one book per 10 people...oh...and also walking for 3 hours each way through crocodile infested rivers to get to meetings.

I often wondered (as my older Watchtowers and Awakes were piling up in my closet), why didn't the WTS send them extra magazines so that everyone had one?

Now I realize that the bottom line is money! Since the Africans have no money, they get nothing extra from the WTS.

When the donation arrangement came into effect, I thought it was worldwide. My eyes were opened when I went to visit relatives in a couple of European countries in the early 90s. Guess what? They had to pay for them! They had not heard of the donation arrangement.

The WTS likes to quote the bible, including Jesus words when he said "Pay Ceasar's things to Ceasar...", but in practice, they will jump at any tax loophole to avoid paying taxes.

I wouldn't have as much a problem with it if they were truly helping poorer JWs (such as the ones in Africa)....and thus (in my mind anyways while I was still a JW) completing the above mentioned scripture which continued by saying "...and God's things to God."

Also, I read something recently in the New York Times back in October. It was an article about the state of finances in the borough of Brooklyn. It was a small article towards the back of the paper.

One official was commenting that their tax base seemed to be going down every year because the Watchtower and Tract Society kept buying up buildings in Brooklyn. Those buildings would normally bring in tax revenue (whether they were factories, hotels, or office buildings), but as soon as the WTS bought them, they became tax free. And on top of that, the WTS still expected the city to provide them with services that they were not paying for through taxes, burdening the rest of the tax paying citizens and corporations, and forcing cut backs in service to everyone because of tax revenue shortfalls.

Wow...

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

29

Bericht 1034

by Sue in

jw
friends

how many have read the report 1034 from nazi germany?.

this was hitlers thought that jw's were preaching.

the bible and not giving in to him as the rc's and other .

peterstride

So, if I understand this right...just because Hitler didn't like the JWs, it meant they were the true religion?

How about all the other groups of people that Hitler didn't like? Does that mean that they are all correct also, starting with Judaism since he went after them the hardest???

Hitler was a nut that went after anyone that didn't agree with him. Just like Judge Rutherford who made it clear that he ran the organization and he would eliminate anyone not agreeing 100% with him. Except, in the Judge's case, he couldn't kill them...so he started disfellowshipping people.

Have you read the letter that was sent to Hitler by the WTS shortly before HItler decided to go ahead and ban them anyways? It's a real eye opener.

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

3

Actions I regret

by Free2Bme in

jw
friends

i don't know about you but there are a lot of things i regret doing as a witness that i really would like to apologise to the people concerned.. to my brother flabbycabby who is a newbie to this forum i'd like to say sorry for following the elders advice and telling you you were not welcome over my doorstep.

you were in a terrible state having just being disfellowshipped ,finished with your wife, estranged yourself from your baby son and a few days earlier had taken an overdose in my flat where you were staying as you were homeless.

i had received a visit from the elders.

peterstride

I'm also guilty.

As a faithfull "brainwashed" JW, the organization always came above personal friendships and family.

At the time when someone needed help the most, we would turn our backs on them, justifying it in our mind that they were now baaaaad association.

Our treatment of others, and especially if they were JWs that had fallen away from the "alleged truth", was very very inhumane while we were JWs. Nothing at all like the example set by Jesus.

Actions I'll regret for the rest of my life,

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

17

Any good movies lately?

by Introspection in

has anyone seen some of the movies that's just come out?

evolution and swordfish looks interesting to me.. reviews?.

"it is not so much that you use your mind wrongly--you usually don't use it at all.

peterstride

Hey, I love The Matrix too! I didn't realize they were making two more Matrix movies...and back to back too. Wow!

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

7

WT May 1 & June 15, 2001

by Defender in

jw
friends

the may 1 and june 15, 2001 watchtower issues have reading articles about helping widows through their trials and look after orphans and widows in their tribulation.

both articles contain very healthful counsel, tips and recommendations to the grieving and needy and to those around them on how, and when to offer help and support.. the problem with these articles is not that the average jw or local congregation elders are not doing their part in helping out the needy.

in fact, most individual jws are as compassionate and supportive as the average person.

peterstride

Very well said defender!

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

4

All these years wasted...

by paradix in

it is lamentable to see like the years pass inside an organization that .

he/she goes against what says the bible and leaving everything is so clear.

we have meditated in because one can ignore what you leave from so far .

peterstride

Hi Paradix,

I'm having problems understanding what you're trying to say. I realize that english isn't your first language, but if you could try to say what you said...but using different words and perhaps elaborating a bit more, I'll be able to understand you better.

Love & peace,

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

25

Pentecost 33CE What really happened.

by biblexaminer in

foreword.

and if they were not in the "upper chamber" at pentecost, where were they?

or is it "acts of the apostles"?

peterstride

Hey guys,

I love reading all the research both of you have done and finding out new things about Jesus, Pentecost, etc...things that I would never find in the WTS.

But, just because you guys disagree on various points...is that reason for name calling? Is that reason to say "I'm right and you're wrong"?

Present your story and research. The readers of these posts will read and decide for themselves which is the more likely version of events. End of story.

Love & peace,

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

4

Brain teaser-find 16 bible book names...

by peterstride in

jw
friends

i had a hard time finding all 16 bible names in the following brain teaser...take a look!.

>there are names of sixteen books of the bible mentioned in the paragraph.

see how many you can find.

peterstride

Hi all,

I had a hard time finding all 16 bible names in the following brain teaser...take a look!
----------------------------------------

>There are names of sixteen books of the Bible mentioned in the paragraph
below. See how many you can find. A pastor once found fifteen of the books
in twenty minutes then took two weeks to find the last one! How long will
it take you?

>I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu;
kept people looking so hard for facts . . . and for others it was a
revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books
were not capitalized. But the truth finally struck home to numbers of our
readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating
few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot.
Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually
takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations
when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can
concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now, for there
really are sixteen names of books of the Bible in this paragraph.

----------------------------------------------
Enjoy,

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada

15

I'd like to tell you all my unique story...

by AngelofMuZiC in

my name is joanne, and i'm 19. my earliest memory is of the kingdom hall.

it all started when my mother, who is now 62, was walking down the street and some witnesses stopped her while they were street witnessing.

my mom had a really tough life, and was looking for answers and a solution to her problems.

peterstride

Hi Joanne and welcome to the board!

I can understand what you're going through. I've been through a lot of that myself...sigh.

Peter Stride
Toronto, Canada