Posts by UnshackleTheChains

23

JW HLC....a mixed bunch...what has been your experience?

by Lee Elder in

i have had greatly varied experiences with hlc members over the years.

i was never one myself, but i knew several of them personally.

most struck me as being generally decent human beings.

UnshackleTheChains

Just wanted to say a bit more about the HLC guys - the promoters of noblood alternatives.

The HLC are special pioneers. That is the WT class they belong to. The special target of their special ministry is the medical profession. They are engaged in evangelism/promotion of the noblood industry. Their goal is to convert health care professionals, doctors, and health care systems to noblood philosophy.

The WTS has created a cult that operates in behind the religious cult that they present to the world - they operate and support a no blood cult and the HLC members' job is to look for noblood conversions within the medical world.

An HLC guy is a Special Pioneer. The JW "tax dollar" supports the lobbying of medical professionals

I think what Orphan Crow explains really well is that Watchtower has in a proverbial sense let the genie out of the bottle!! Very difficult to get back in.

23

JW HLC....a mixed bunch...what has been your experience?

by Lee Elder in

i have had greatly varied experiences with hlc members over the years.

i was never one myself, but i knew several of them personally.

most struck me as being generally decent human beings.

My daughter had to have a significant operation and was only a year old. Neither my wife or I had any idea of 'ward of court' as it is not exactly publicised by the organisation, and we were both young back then.

My wife was absolutely adamant that our daughter was not to have blood. I kept expressing my concerns to her about it in the weeks up to the operation. In the end she suggested I speak to an elder who was on the HLC. I couldn't believe that she didn't share the same concerns and seemed to have a blind devotion to the blood policy.

I explained what was happening and sought his advice. I was expecting him to encourage me to make a stand on blood etc. To my surprise, he gave me an answer from a common sense approach. He explained to me about ward of court and that the surgeons would be in a position lawfully to administer blood if they felt there was a significant risk.

I was really surprised at his answer and immediately felt a huge weight lifted of me. I told my wife and she 'immediately' accepted what was said...which says something in itself.

I was very grateful for the common sense approach this elder had and for easing my fears at the time.

I wish this same common sense approach could be used across the board regardless of age.

59

What can the leadership at Watchtower do to turn things around?

by UnshackleTheChains in

let's play devils advocate here.. put yourself in the governing body's shoes.

they are well aware of all the issues they are facing.

they know their numbers (they 'do the math' as they say in the us).

UnshackleTheChains

Oh. I forgot to mention in my previous post about the child/adult safeguarding policy. Yeah, they need to get real on that one!!!

8

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Jehovah's Witnesses sell The Towers, a storied Brooklyn Heights hotel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/11/1/jehovahs-witnesses-sell-towers-storied-brooklyn-heights-hotel.

jehovah's witnesses sell the towers, a storied brooklyn heights hotel.

the jehovah's witnesses have sold the towers, a storied brooklyn heights hotel.

UnshackleTheChains

Absolutely Incredible. I just can't get my head around the wealth of this organisation. It's just mind blowing.

As a Catholic, I used to wonder if Jesus Christ would have sat on a tank in world war 2 fighting his disciples of another country. Matthew 26:52

As a Jehovah's Witness , I often wonder if Jesus would be one of those business men making a kill in real estate! Matthew 21:12-13

59

What can the leadership at Watchtower do to turn things around?

by UnshackleTheChains in

let's play devils advocate here.. put yourself in the governing body's shoes.

they are well aware of all the issues they are facing.

they know their numbers (they 'do the math' as they say in the us).

UnshackleTheChains

Loosen restrictions on disfellowshipping, holidays, nonsense of spying on members, and they would be ok. But the huge egos involved in the GB will never allow that to happen

What comes across in many posts is the issue of shunning. This is clearly a policy they need to review. Also, allowing members to use their own conscience on matters of blood, birthdays, holidays etc.

I would also add that they should follow the example of the first century (AND during CT Russell's time) in allowing each congregation greater autonomy.

That way the GB are not being masters over our faith;

That way the holy spirit would be allowed to do the work Jesus employed it for;

That way members can look to Jesus and not the GB for guidance.

That way, each congregation can 'make use of literature' provided by the watchtower as they deem suitable and not conditional.

I wonder which would be easier for the GB - moving mountains or getting rid of their own ego's 🙄

59

What can the leadership at Watchtower do to turn things around?

by UnshackleTheChains in

let's play devils advocate here.. put yourself in the governing body's shoes.

they are well aware of all the issues they are facing.

they know their numbers (they 'do the math' as they say in the us).

UnshackleTheChains

Let's play devils advocate here.

Put yourself in the Governing Body's shoes. They are well aware of all the issues they are facing. They know their numbers (They 'do the math' as they say in the US). They MUST do something (AND SOON) to end all the bad press and the consequential loss in membership.

So what steps do the leadership need to take in order to turn things around before it's too late?.

35

Polish EX-JW Activism compilation video

by WTS Archive in

i'd like to show you a short video i made about exjw activism in poland.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3qdtyxgd8.

i'm one of the people responsible for those information campaigns/protests, so you can ask me anything you like.

there's a lot i didn't show on the video because of the limited time i have for editing, i have tons of footage more.

UnshackleTheChains

Very organised and dignified. 👍

23

Warwick Protest 11-5-2017 - Who's all going?

by Acluetofindtheuser in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64xhcoowr6y.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhuvmvbjk-q.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bejhmfrzl0.

UnshackleTheChains

Fair plays to the organisers. Anything that draws attention to this high control religion is a bonus. I wish them the best 👍

13

A wave of momentum!

by stuckinarut2 in

it certainly has to be one of the most exciting times to live in as an awake ex witness!.

the wave of momentum we are part of as thousands awaken from the hold of the society is a joy to be a part of.

the internet helps us to see that we are not alone.

UnshackleTheChains

Hopefully the momentum will continue 👍

https://youtu.be/2MGJY6UqG10

64

Why is there such a 'high turnover' within the Jehovahs Witnesses?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i happened to come across a time article in 2008. it was basically talking about the high turnover in american faiths.

it mentioned the jdubs and highlighted the following point.. an even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny jehovah's witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.

that means that two-thirds of the people who told pew they were raised jehovah's witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.

UnshackleTheChains

JP1692

Though I find your views thought provoking. Each individual's situation is different. There are so many intracacies woven into each person's life that may be a factor as to why they remain. For example. There are many who have simply faded for decades. Why didn't they write a letter of resignation? Why? We all know the answer to that!

Fear is the biggest factor as to why people don't leave the watchtower Bible and cult society ( to coin a phrase). Fear of being shunned by your own relatives. Also, what about the person's mental health. What if they have depression and are trying to avoid rocking the boat because they just know they cannot take on further stress.

There are so many factors. It is not all black and white. What has worked for you has worked for you....and amen to that. But it doesn't work for all of us. What about our family members who have been inculcated into this religion. My strategy is to fade and do as little as possible. My family clearly see my lack of care as to regards the jdubs. In time my hope is that they wake up.

Note: I have tried 'vainlessly' to wake up my wife. I have spoken to her, left letters for her. She refuses to listen. Just like the allegory of 'the cave' by plato

These are the grey areas. Some of us unfortunately are stuck in Jdub land limbo (in that grey are). We are trying to work our way out without too much collateral damage.