If they are so concerned that "an equalising takes place", maybe it can be suggested that the incredibly wealthy WTS share their $s with the poorer members of the congregations.
I would vote for that resolution
CM
i hope that one of the friends will post the letter soon.
i heard that on 3/27/2017 a letter with new instructions about the accounts at the circuit conventions was released.
the letter seems to adopt many of the corrections that had been suggested here at the forum, among other things during the accounts report they will be no mention of the per capita and the amount due is going to be released only to the elders.
If they are so concerned that "an equalising takes place", maybe it can be suggested that the incredibly wealthy WTS share their $s with the poorer members of the congregations.
I would vote for that resolution
CM
(original version posted 2014).
notice: the following is submitted in full recognition of and with compassion and due respect for those who, due to personal circumstance, feel they are unable to employ this powerful strategy.. ---.
anyone who has awakened to ttatt and has conscientiously left the organization--especially a once-prominent, highly-regarded, studious true-believer from a celebrated multi-generational tribe of jws-- after decades of devout, high-profile "serve-us," who continues to put in an annual appearance at the memorial thoroughly subverts and undermines, by this one act, any hope s/he may entertain that his/her departure will stir family or former friends to question the whole watchtower bamboozle.
This will be my first year of non attendance. For those in the congregation who knew me well, it will send the message that being missing from the meetings for the last few months is a conscious decision, one not taken lightly.
just been reminiscing about how c/a's have changed since we were young.
i remember when they started friday night in some rented hall , as well as the two weekend days.
saturday morning was a brief session then field ministry (which only a few performed ) and sunday sessions.. in the free time around the venue we just used to hang out socialising and eyeing up the girls.
I remember Dorking as a child , and the walk to the park every lunchtime (as long as we weren't allocated the third sitting for lunch when we had to wait in a queue on the stairs for what seemed an eternity).
A brother in my congregation was a trained chef and often used to supervise the kitchen .
have we ever noticed how witnesses are constantly being told that life is something that needs to be "endured", rather that "enjoyed"?.
life is always so tough, so hard, so difficult in "these last days".
"persecution and trials abound".
As a JW, my life was on hold - no university education, no real career, enduring an unhappy marriage, putting up with unpleasant situations - all in the belief that the present life is temporary.
Dubstepped's comments are so true. Now I have left the restrictive mindset of the religion, I see joy in every day. I take responsibility for my own life and realise that I no longer have to endure because I have the power to change what I don't like.
been reading this site for awhile now.
i have had a long and often tragic life as a jw.
my story is so long because i'm pretty old :) i feel sad i've been locked in fear and guilt for my entire life.
Welcome, Phoebe
You will find friends who love and respect you for who you are , not for who they think you should be. Unconditional, non-judgmental friendship, embracing your views not forcing you to conform to their own.
I admire your courage xx
CM
i do remember reading an article that it is not ok for jw to sell cigarettes at gas stations, etc... i was wondering what about lottery tickets?
they do sell lottery tickets at few restaurants around my home.
if jw works there and rats me out to the elders, i would not give a damn about it but i still prefer not to hear from the elders about it..
I seem to remember working for the UN is also prohibited among JWs.
Evidently becoming a NGO member of the UN is OK though!!
in conversation with an old jw friend today, it struck me that most jws have replaced their personal conscience with a collective one.. instead of training their own mental powers to distinguish right from wrong, as the bible encourages, they are content to shift personal accountability away from themselves and onto the impersonal org.
whatever behaviour may prompt an ordinary person to have serious misgivings ( such as ignoring glaring misapplication of scripture or rejecting basic human decency in favour of unchristian shunning ) they prefer to have those decisions made for them.. history teaches us, however, that there is no absolution for people who behave unethically or cruelly by allowing the excuse of 'obeying orders' to override what their inner voice should scream is inherently wrong..
In conversation with an old JW friend today, it struck me that most JWs have replaced their personal conscience with a collective one.
Instead of training their own mental powers to distinguish right from wrong, as the Bible encourages, they are content to shift personal accountability away from themselves and onto the impersonal Org. Whatever behaviour may prompt an ordinary person to have serious misgivings ( such as ignoring glaring misapplication of scripture or rejecting basic human decency in favour of unchristian shunning ) they prefer to have those decisions made for them.
History teaches us, however, that there is no absolution for people who behave unethically or cruelly by allowing the excuse of 'obeying orders' to override what their inner voice should scream is inherently wrong.
i just saw this posted on a facebook group.
anyone know if there is any truth to this?.
http://www.exjehovahswitness.com/gb-discontinues-new-world-translation-as-old-light.html.
look at this graph:.
it has the % difference between the peak number of publishers and the average number of publishers for that year.
this number can only be positive.. what the graph tells us is that there is a clear trend towards hunting down inactive and/or irregular publishers.
When I became an irregular publisher, as a prelude to my fade, the congregation secretary phoned for my report religiously every month . As soon as the six month deadline was up and I became officially inactive, he gave up.
That was over a year ago - I've not moved address or changed my phone numbers ( he used to try both my mobile and landline ) however I've not heard from him since.
i am incredibly disturbed.
many of the jws i'm still friends with on facebook are incredibly excited that trump won the american presidential race, posting, "yay!
i'm so happy!
An older JW friend recently told me her reasoning as to why Armageddon is imminent:
"If Hillary Clinton becomes US president, along with a female British Prime Minister and a lady German Chancellor - this is in blatant opposition to the Bible standard of female submission. With women holding such positions of power on the global stage, how can the world possibly survive?
The clearest sign yet how mad the world has become ; how far we have strayed from God's purposes for men's and women's natural roles.
Yes, Armageddon has never been closer."
A hastily contrived coughing fit disguised my involuntary snort of laughter 😁