philo

Joined

• started 82 topics
• posted 624 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by philo

• 
  23

  What do you like about K Halls?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi folks.

  what do you like about kingdom halls?.

  i am not talking about the software i.e., the people, the pure language, the music, the smell of lavender as the toilet door swings to, or the obedient rustle of bible pages.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Hi Java
  Thanks for the welcome and for your comments. You all seem a friendly bunch -- so far!

  : in the old KH I attended, but they had bars covering the outside

  I wonder if somebody planning such halls didn't envision sitting out Armageddon, among a congregation of JWs (crapping themselves with fear), IN the kingdom hall.

  : I've never been to a KH that radiated a spiritual setting, much less windows pleasing to the eye.

  You could have read my mind there. And this fits in with the low ceilings. When you look up at the ceiling of a cathedral or a church, you have a sense of something beyond the ordinary, beyond yourself. It's similar when you look up into the canopy of very tall trees. You are small, you actually feel your smallness, but you retain your sense of the infinite.

  OK so I'm losing it a bit. But that's how I feel.

  But when I look up at any kingdom hall. Do I sense anything like that, No. Instead I am reminded that God is RIGHT HERE. HE made these ceramic ceiling tiles (10 inches from my nose), HE is speaking through his mouthpiece from the platform -- so don't you even try focussing your eyes beyond the material/organisational things of your surroundings.

  philo
• 
  5

  Why are K halls SMALL???

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why are k halls small?.

  future increase in members they get no money from the rbc.

  i understand all this applies across western europe as well.. * the rbc gets its money from congregation donations within its region and these funds are directed to where the .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Hi TW

  :I do know that all the congregations like to keep their numbers to around 125 or less, provided there are enough elders

  Yes they do like to stay around that number. It seems more than a coincidence that that is the figure they choose, don't you think. When I was a witness, I would have loved to attend a meeting of 300 people rather than the 75 of my allocated congregation -- and I am no party animal, believe me. So is it 'congregations that like to keep to 125(ish) or is it the command that likes to chop up bodies of christians -- as IARC says below -- to keep control? After all, if a congregation needed to be disbanded (as happens) or worse, if one needed disfellowshipping, (which has happened, I have heard) which task would be executed easiest, the small one or the big one?

  Also, if a presiding overseer, or any elder, came from a congregation of 500, would he have more clout/authority than one from a small congregation. I think so. His authority among the local brothers might be the same, but among the COs and DOs he would be a more considerable person -- something like a 'city overseer'. But the difference is crucial: he was not designated such by the WTS! So this scenario is not to Brooklyn's liking I think.

  Thanks for your comments.

  philo
• 
  5

  Why are K halls SMALL???

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why are k halls small?.

  future increase in members they get no money from the rbc.

  i understand all this applies across western europe as well.. * the rbc gets its money from congregation donations within its region and these funds are directed to where the .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Why are K Halls small?
  future increase in members they get no money from the RBC. I understand all this applies across western europe as well.

  * The RBC gets its money from congregation donations within its region and these funds are directed to where the
  Facts to weigh up

  * In the UK, kingdom halls have a seated capacity of about 150-200. The buildings themselves cost about as much in materials as a couple of houses. The Regional Building Committees are quite assertive about how big the hall should be, and they will only lend money from the RBC fund if their criteria are met. If a congregation goes out on a limb and wants a bigger hall to accommodate committee decides 'the need' is. I understand the RBC is not an autonomous body, that the Branch or possibly the District can influence it.

  * It is far cheaper to build one kingdom hall of say 400 capacity in an urban or suburban area than to have two halls seating 200. That's because two 'builds' duplicates the planning and designing stages, and the bigger hall uses much less building materials than the two smaller ones.

  I am giving no opinions yet. What I have said is, I think, uncontroversial.

  So why are kingdom halls so small? Is it really about buildings or is it really about congregations?

  Any takers?
• 
  23

  What do you like about K Halls?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi folks.

  what do you like about kingdom halls?.

  i am not talking about the software i.e., the people, the pure language, the music, the smell of lavender as the toilet door swings to, or the obedient rustle of bible pages.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  As for sisters on the decorating committee.. HuH

  We had a wonderful farce. The elders made a point of gathering sisters opinions on the decorations. But when the decision came down they opted for choice 'No 2'. There were 3 choices from the RBC! These were entire colour schemes for the hall. Oh what a rukus. Give sisters a sniff at decision making and they will get the wrong idea. they will start to think they matter.

  It was pathetic. The elders goofed big time.

  philo
• 
  23

  What do you like about K Halls?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi folks.

  what do you like about kingdom halls?.

  i am not talking about the software i.e., the people, the pure language, the music, the smell of lavender as the toilet door swings to, or the obedient rustle of bible pages.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Hi OE

  When my dad was getting his pilot licence in the states, he told me that all the KHs had their own piano. He said they didn't use them. They were sort of decoration.

  Now that sort of decoration would not go amiss in the UK. There's just too much protestantism over there.

  There's a ton more I can say about KHs -- latrer maybe

  Thanks for your comments

  philo
• 
  20

  "Creator" Book. Is there a reader wh...

  by Thirdson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some of you by choice or by compelling reason will attend the book study to consider the creator book.

  during the study you might want to ask a few questions.

  here are some things to ponder and maybe you can formulate some questions to ask your conductor.. this book is dreadful in its use of quotations.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Thirdson,

  Yup, it would be difficult work. And I would want it to pay off (Iguess you know my approximate agenda). But you have done some reading of 'creator'. I have not (although I have a copy). So lets find AF by all means. But where is he now anyways?

  philo
• 
  20

  "Creator" Book. Is there a reader wh...

  by Thirdson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some of you by choice or by compelling reason will attend the book study to consider the creator book.

  during the study you might want to ask a few questions.

  here are some things to ponder and maybe you can formulate some questions to ask your conductor.. this book is dreadful in its use of quotations.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Hey Thirdson

  Nice work here. Do you think it would be good to have a bibliography for 'creator'. At least making a comprehensive list of authors quoted with titles (if given) alongside would be a big start. With that one could build up a picture of the quality of the material.

  If you think it would be worth the effort (and you have the time) I would help out.

  philo (Guy Fawkes class)
• 
  23

  What do you like about K Halls?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi folks.

  what do you like about kingdom halls?.

  i am not talking about the software i.e., the people, the pure language, the music, the smell of lavender as the toilet door swings to, or the obedient rustle of bible pages.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Hi folks

  What do you like about Kingdom Halls?
  I am not talking about the software i.e., the people, the pure language, the music, the smell of lavender as the toilet door swings to, or the obedient rustle of bible pages. I mean the buildings themselves, designs, locations, furnishings, security etc.
  And what do these things say about the organisation itself?
  To start this off, here's a couple of things about Khalls in the UK.
  They have no windows and very low ceilings
  The non-windows thing is horrible to see from outside. The point however is security. Khalls are always being torched by unhappy shunned family members and unstable people from the local territory who decide they don't like their bible studies any more. Well JWs WILL be persecuted - that's life. No windows combined with low ceilings means that the air gets dead fuggy during meetings unless you buy an air handling system (which can be a disproportionate part of the budget). That's the cost of making enemies by shunning, and of attracting the disaffected members of society in the first place.
  We were told that our hall would be having no windows because it would keep the cost down, and then we would not be tempted to look outside. As the hall was built on an industrial estate next to a cemetery I don’t think this was REALLY the reason. Who would want to look out the windows anyway? The place was dead.
  I wonder if there isn't something religious in it too. The only real light in a kingdom hall comes from the lights, especially from the platform lights (which can cook an egg on the PO's non-stick dome). No light comes from the 'outside world' at all. Many anglican/catholic churches have few or no windows. And those they do have are stained glass picturing saints or biblical impressions. Hence, you can have a little light, but it has to come through the filter of church understanding. More interesting, but it's not so different from the platform lights at the Kingdom hall.

  philo
• 
  1

  Poem 2nd edition 'new light'

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i like this board but the pages are still too small... originally 7 verses, it now amounts to 20 short verses of comment about wt authority.

  it is journalistic at best, but that seems appropriate to the subject - don't you think?

  i can think of a couple of witnesses from my past who would have enjoyed this - only a couple!.

  1. 
• 

  philo

  This format might be more readable!! - Grrrrr

  Philo

  There are little bits of Brooklyn
  In every little land
  Where every nationality
  Pass tracts from hand to hand
  So witnesses work up and down
  The streets from door to door
  Spreading bits of Brooklyn,
  As their fathers did before

  They pound the broken bell-pushes
  The doormats and the paving
  They clatter gate and letterbox
  A warning and a saving
  And scratch s8s and crumpled maps
  To mark their territory
  And call back if they left a mark
  Or a book with anybody

  In every congregation
  There are 'types' and there are 'ones'
  There are suits and there are dresses
  There's lame and blind and dumb
  The talented monologist
  The reader of God's word
  The singer of the kingdom songs
  All love it to be heard

  And everywhere beneath the sun
  They love it to be heard
  And even when the wicked one
  Sends rain they're undeterred
  And though the homes they call on
  Are only houses through the day
  They carry out their righteous work
  Regardless anyway

  In every study group you find
  A dogged rambling one
  Who stretches all material
  On sex and Christendom
  And one who does her pre-study
  Whom no one wants to hear
  And one who makes best use of time
  Dozing in his chair

  With Sunday morning meetings
  From the front there comes a talk
  Propped behind the lectern
  Someone teaches how to walk
  He holds God's word aloft for all
  In leather and golden leaf
  While he reads his notes from Brooklyn
  Kept discreetly underneath

  Families are protected
  From unnatural desires
  The Christian home a haven is
  When vigilance never tires
  Be assured and be restrained
  Even couples newly wed
  For you, little bits of paper
  Have been scattered on the bed

  So discreet they are and careful
  With their dearest closest friends
  They whisper nothing risqué
  Lest their joys one day should end
  In a quiet inner room
  Among the wise and grey of hair
  And they be judged unworthy
  When with little bits compared

  When evil finds their children
  It's tyranny exposed
  A flood of warm repentance
  Will ensure the case is closed
  Because all the hours in service
  And neighbourly apathy
  Would be wiped out in a moment
  By such adverse publicity

  Charged to stay within the law
  They pay their tax and dues
  It sets them clear of worldliness
  Their obedience is their food
  But when it's for the kingdom
  Fraud is praiseworthy indeed
  And they glory in infringing
  The superior decrees

  So they smuggle wads of currency
  'Cross national frontiers
  They traffic in bible books
  For busy pioneers
  Both Caesar's deceivers
  And his loyal subjects true
  They learn to act whichever role
  Brooklyn tells them to

  Do you wonder at the daring?
  Of those cropped Society men?
  That double lives and honour
  Have incorporated them
  But they kneel to a God of truth
  So present, brief, and past
  That the call to ship the paper
  Is the highest call at last

  Still no part of the world they are
  No sharing in it have they known
  No pagan heritage can mar
  No ancient evil seed be sewn
  For they are clean of holidays
  And celebrating birth
  No festive cheer will interfere
  With their ministry on earth

  All can answer questions
  For they duly have been taught
  They hold their hands above their heads
  Like truly Christians ought
  They start by saying, "I believe..."
  But then they fear and doubt
  So they find the numbered paragraph
  And read the answer out

  Every six-month visit
  From the Circuit Overseer
  Brings the nearness of the final day
  For those who know God fear
  Yet as the years rush past
  How those great men younger seem
  And another generation shrugs
  And passes off the scene

  Now the ageing baby-boomers
  Bravely take the bread and wine
  Filling up the places
  Of the evil slave and dine
  They bear a heavy cross for this
  By every name one stands
  But the little bits of paper
  Take each cross to Uncle Sam's

  And the Holy Spirit brings them
  In the blinking of an eye
  And a geo-stationary angel
  Guards them as they fly
  To be received in Brooklyn
  And among the hours compiled
  The bits are kept partitioned in
  The 'Professed Anointed' file

  From time to time one falters
  On the narrow road to joy
  Forgetting that the mind
  Is for his betters to employ
  Restoring him to little thoughts
  Is troublesome and next
  He's shunned for asking questions
  Not written in the text

  In every body of elders
  In every backroom session
  For every kingdom incident
  In every congregation
  There are little bits of Brooklyn
  That are floating in the air
  Where two or more are gathered
  Note: these little ones are there

  Yes, a little piece of Brooklyn
  Reaches every little land
  And these little bits of paper
  Pass each way from hand to hand
  This is what God's purpose is
  For every tribe and tongue
  For Brooklyn's bits of paper
  Are from Him to everyone

  end
• 
  1

  Poem 2nd edition 'new light'

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i like this board but the pages are still too small... originally 7 verses, it now amounts to 20 short verses of comment about wt authority.

  it is journalistic at best, but that seems appropriate to the subject - don't you think?

  i can think of a couple of witnesses from my past who would have enjoyed this - only a couple!.

  1. 
• 

  philo

  Hi Y'all

  I like this board but the pages are still too small..

  Originally 7 verses, it now amounts to 20 short verses of comment about WT authority. It is journalistic at best, but that seems appropriate to the subject - don't you think? I can think of a couple of witnesses from my past who would have enjoyed this - only a couple!

  Phil0

  There are little bits of Brooklyn
  In every little land
  Where every nationality
  Pass tracts from hand to hand
  So witnesses work up and down
  The streets from door to door
  Spreading bits of Brooklyn,
  As their fathers did before

  They pound the broken bell-pushes
  The doormats and the paving
  They clatter gate and letterbox
  A warning and a saving
  And scratch s8s and crumpled maps
  To mark their territory
  And call back if they left a mark
  Or a book with anybody

  In every congregation
  There are ‘types’ and there are ‘ones’
  There are suits and there are dresses
  There’s lame and blind and dumb
  The talented monologist
  The reader of God’s word
  The singer of the kingdom songs
  All love it to be heard

  And everywhere beneath the sun
  They love it to be heard
  And even when the wicked one
  Sends rain they're undeterred
  And though the homes they call on
  Are only houses through the day
  They carry out their righteous work
  Regardless anyway

  In every study group you find
  A dogged rambling one
  Who stretches all material
  On sex and Christendom
  And one who does her pre-study
  Whom no one wants to hear
  And one who makes best use of time
  Dozing in his chair

  With Sunday morning meetings
  From the front there comes a talk
  Propped behind the lectern
  Someone teaches how to walk
  He holds God’s word aloft for all
  In leather and golden leaf
  While he reads his notes from Brooklyn
  Kept discreetly underneath

  Families are protected
  From unnatural desires
  The Christian home a haven is
  When vigilance never tires
  Be assured and be restrained
  Even couples newly wed
  For you, little bits of paper
  Have been scattered on the bed

  So discreet they are and careful
  With their dearest closest friends
  They whisper nothing risqué
  Lest their joys one day should end
  In a quiet inner room
  Among the wise and grey of hair
  And they be judged unworthy
  When with little bits compared

  When evil finds their children
  It's tyranny exposed
  A flood of warm repentance
  Will ensure the case is closed
  Because all the hours in service
  And neighbourly apathy
  Would be wiped out in a moment
  By such adverse publicity

  Charged to stay within the law
  They pay their tax and dues
  It sets them clear of worldliness
  Their obedience is their food
  But when it's for the kingdom
  Fraud is praiseworthy indeed
  And they glory in infringing
  The superior decrees

  So they smuggle wads of currency
  'Cross national frontiers
  They traffic in bible books
  For busy pioneers
  Both Caesar's deceivers
  And his loyal subjects true
  They learn to act whichever role
  Brooklyn tells them to

  Do you wonder at the daring?
  Of those cropped Society men?
  That double lives and honour
  Have incorporated them
  But they kneel to a God of truth
  So present, brief, and past
  That the call to ship the paper
  Is the highest call at last

  Still no part of the world they are
  No sharing in it have they known
  No pagan heritage can mar
  No ancient evil seed be sewn
  For they are clean of holidays
  And celebrating birth
  No festive cheer will interfere
  With their ministry on earth

  All can answer questions
  For they duly have been taught
  They hold their hands above their heads
  Like truly Christians ought
  They start by saying, "I believe…"
  But then they fear and doubt
  So they find the numbered paragraph
  And read the answer out

  Every six-month visit
  From the Circuit Overseer
  Brings the nearness of the final day
  For those who know God fear
  Yet as the years rush past
  How those great men younger seem
  And another generation shrugs
  And passes off the scene

  Now the ageing baby-boomers
  Bravely take the bread and wine
  Filling up the places
  Of the evil slave and dine
  They bear a heavy cross for this
  By every name one stands
  But the little bits of paper
  Take each cross to Uncle Sam's

  And the Holy Spirit brings them
  In the blinking of an eye
  And a geo-stationary angel
  Guards them as they fly
  To be received in Brooklyn
  And among the hours compiled
  The bits are kept partitioned in
  The 'Professed Anointed' file

  From time to time one falters
  On the narrow road to joy
  Forgetting that the mind
  Is for his betters to employ
  Restoring him to little thoughts
  Is troublesome and next
  He's shunned for asking questions
  Not written in the text

  In every body of elders
  In every backroom session
  For every kingdom incident
  In every congregation
  There are little bits of Brooklyn
  That are floating in the air
  Where two or more are gathered
  Note: these little ones are there

  Yes, a little piece of Brooklyn
  Reaches every little land
  And these little bits of paper
  Pass each way from hand to hand
  This is what God's purpose is
  For every tribe and tongue
  For Brooklyn’s bits of paper
  Are from Him to everyone

  End