Thanks Atlantis (I remembered you too but didn't mention it, sorry) and darkspilver.
This forum is so informative, love it!
Happy holidays!
hi folks:.
grab these for your archives while the link is still active.
these are in addition to the ones i released a few years back.
Thanks Atlantis (I remembered you too but didn't mention it, sorry) and darkspilver.
This forum is so informative, love it!
Happy holidays!
earlier this week a new post on this forum announced that the 2017 worldwide annual service report was available on jw.org.
wow - that's earlier than the statistics for the 2016 service year which appeared in the 2017 yearbook last january!
good effort, jw organization!
Thank you Steve, I agree with you regarding these "facts" that in fact say nothing because there is no context.
Some people here believe they are not lying because they also didn't lie when the aftermath of the 1975 debacle showed a clear decrease, BUT... there were other people at the top and it was years before CoC came out, a game changer and the start of the danger of being exposed on a more global scale, based on insight info and facts. We now even more live in a completely different era of Google, YouTube, WT watchers, intense apostate activity and growing activism against the WT, a modern day false prophet.
I believe it's difficult for the WT to really lie about the numbers (although I wouldn't be shocked if they did), because I assume there are too many people involved in bringing in the info and numbers from around the world. These individuals spreaded around all the bethels could easily notice fraud regarding their own country and it would be difficult for WT to scan and eliminate all such potential moles, but of course the WT can hide and leave out crucial info that could and probably would discourage the flock and make them doubt the authority and reliability of the GB. Maybe the bethels are corrupt as well and involved in the WT's white washing strategy.
Remarkable to see how certain strategies unfold.
hi folks:.
grab these for your archives while the link is still active.
these are in addition to the ones i released a few years back.
Thx, but before I choose to download, what is it about?
i googled it and pretty much my understanding is the same as what i imagine.
no one really knows, your guess is as good as the next.
interesting thought to consider imo..
Im not Not asking if "what if jesus stepped on a butterfly before we was crucified would the nazis have won the war?"
True, but that's an intriguing thought as well ... wouldn't that be THE butterfly effect?
i googled it and pretty much my understanding is the same as what i imagine.
no one really knows, your guess is as good as the next.
interesting thought to consider imo..
Jayk, I can understand your feelings but I really don't think he considers it a dumb question. Scratchme1010 has his own style and way of telling things and so do we all. It makes this forum what it is... something for everyone and I've come to appreciate all those different members and their flavors...
In general, I feel I can benefit from different viewpoints but when I really disagree with certain comments I just try to step over it and enjoy the comments that add something to my taste or are usefull or just informative. I also like the satire, the biting sarcasm and jokes...
Personally, in a world of so many speculation, personal opinions, "what if's"' (many at this forum) and so little real hard facts, I love his down-to-earth, almost nihilistic approach of things, often with little words.
Because of my ADD, I can get lost in endless thoughts and then leave a topic because of the endless and ongoing speculation... comments like those of scratchme can really help me to get out of that endless loop and get back to the satisfaction of the present nothing, just the sober here and now, not knowing, not caring about not knowing. When he says "Who cares?" I feel it as "If we really can't know for sure, how much should I really care? Will it not frustrate me if I won't find what I am looking for? Or even, why has god or christ not left absolute proof for us if it is really THAT important?". In that way I find his words powerful because they DO make me think about the benefits of so many "what if'"s.
Not trying to be preachy here, sorry for the long post and if I give that impression... just my opinion and an attempt to put things in perspective. I can imagine it means a lot to someone who feels Christian, but this forum has brought me to an agnostic mindset and I feel more peace than ever, accepting that very often.. I don't know.
my (very fake) name is gabriel syme or gabe for short.
i have been lurking in the shadows for many years and i want to give all here a heartfelt thank you for all your indirect support.
this website, as well as youtube, and eventually reddit, were all key in me finally accepting the “truth” being not that at all.
Welcome! I joined this forum two years ago after a fast and succesfull fade. I'm glad you feel safe now and able to post. I also read your very 1st post and by the tone of it, I assume you fully agree and feel comfortable with TTATT and already beyond that first pain and emotional rollercoaster, am I right?
2017 grand totals.
branches of jehovah’s witnesses: 90. .
number of lands reporting: 240. .
Partakers are up again...but not to the degree in the last couple years.
Yes Londo111, but let the reader use discernment!
I truly expect some thrilling return to old light new light that Russell may have been right anyway...
TO HEAVEN WITH ALL TRUE BELIEVERS!!!
The overlapping generation will allow enough time for this trend to unfold...
many people of all denominations are beginning to believe that hell does not exist - but the bible supports the claim that it does.
examine this verse, one under nkjv and the other nwt:.
nkjv - matthew 25:46, "and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.".
My opinion? Hell is death, the eternal sleep.
Even the pope calls it spiritual darkness, the being cut off from gods light and grace so why should a religion that has always used fear for a literal hell as a VERY powerful tool to gain authority and wealth give room for a non-literal interpretation in our modern day society? Because they know it's bullshit!
Also, at this forum much has already been said about religions and how their symbolic presentation of faith and good and evil seems to be directly inspired by movements and seasons of nature, earth and cosmos. Summer and winter, day and night, light and darkness, warmth and cold, birth and death etc.
We can imagine how weather conditions such as rain that made crops grow and frightning thunder and lightning must have triggered ancient people into looking up and believing in higher and powerfull invisible entities/god(s) high in the sky that need to be pleased to live long and prosper.
On the other hand, sink holes, earthquakes and vulcanic activities may have given the impression that below us a violent world of torment, fire and death exists.
This became heaven and hell... embedded in our collective thinking for thousands of years.
I can understand why it will take time to get those tendencies out of our genes and suppress our emotional instincts that allow or even thrive on superstitious fantasies in our minds.
I think we're on the good way to no longer allow man made religious authority fueled by fear , unless science will discover some giant bdsm room deep down below our feet. Sooner or later signals and sounds of tormented people would be discovered by hyper sensitive apparatus don't you think?
You wrote
Many people of all denominations are beginning to believe that Hell does not exist -
True, and there is a reason for it... and btw, not this guy
No, I got myself a tattoo with the following words from a favorite band of mine:
Who can face the knowledge that the truth is not the truth?
Obsolete, absolute.
meanwhile in the netherlands:minister dekker: jehovah's witnesses must review abuse policyin order to protect children better against abuse, the jehovah's witnesses must look back on catholics, according to minister dekker.
but abuse victims think that this approach will not work.. minister sander dekker for legal protection wants the jehovah's witnesses to conduct an independent investigation of sexual abuse within the community, just like the catholic church.
this is stated in a letter he sent this week to the parliamentary committee for justice and security.
This is just a start!. I am the chairman of the Reclaimed Voices foundation and we will certainly be heatd by the minister. In this hearing we will refer to the ARC \reports.
I know it's just a start and references to ARC and Deetman Commission will only help the case. I think it's a privilege to have you on this forum and thank you for all the efforts jochie. I'm also Dutch so a private pm in our mother language is always optional.
Government officials are not trained to see the double speech of the Wachtower society, so there is a task for us here.
So true and double speech it is! Here is a link to the official answer of the Dutch minister Sander Dekker where he reacts to a request of a Commission for Justice and Safety that asks attention for the Trouw articles. Sorry it's in Dutch. I found no available translation but it's as official as it can be!
In that letter it is mentioned that there has been contact between the minister's department and JW board members. These JW officials have claimed that measures have been taken to prevent sexual abuse and that victims are stimulated to report to the police. [bold mine]
As a resigned elder I have experienced first hand that these words are not true in most cases and deliberately leave a misleading impression. The use of the word "stimulated" is so wrong as every informed person knows that the elders were always told not to forbid nor encourage such actions. My experience up to 2015 is that they would not bring it up unless the victim brought it up. Certain details in their policies may have been changed recently, but we all know that many victims already have been damaged by these policies for decades. WT is trying to save face in the very last second of a long history of abuse scandals, but with so many voices being heard the truth will be known through all the personal testimonies of JW abuse victims.
Good luck with your mission and your invitation to also talk to officials of the ministry!