Posts by NotFormer

86

Prediction: no more changes for a long while

by slimboyfat in

i’ve noticed a pattern where things don’t go the way i expect them to go and/or whenever i realise there is a trend and, i mentally adjust for the idea that the trend will continue, the trend stops in its tracks.

so on that basis, and given many people, including myself, and active jws, have been asking ‘what changes will the governing body make next?’ perhaps the (disappointing) answer is: ‘nothing much for a while to come’.

maybe they’ve made the changes they want for now, and will wait a while and see how it’s received.

NotFormer

ThomasMore: "I don’t actually believe WTC has a 10 year plan. Most of the decision makers don’t have a 10 day plan."

The only long-term plan the GB has is to stay in power. The same as any head of state or government. You're right that the decision making is day to day. They are only driven to change by changes in external factors. Vidiot often makes the point that none of the changes are ever dynamic (that would allow for the concept of a plan) but that they are always reactive. They only change when survival is at stake.

85

Disaster preparedness

by ElderBerry in

as your family considers its disaster preparedness plan, please ensure that the secretary has up-to-date contact information for you and your emergency contact.

also, we have re- peatedly seen good results when brothers and sisters are prepared with go bags and are ready to obey direction when they face various kinds of disasters.

please be sure you have a go bag, and review its contents at least once a year.

NotFormer

"The elders don’t know what to do they keep asking the branch but only get directions to lovingly take care of the refugees."

The elders should threaten to stop sending congregational donations to the Branch, and use them to lovingly take care of the refugees instead.

18

Apostate lies are NOW fulfilling BIBLE PROPHECY 😅

by raymond frantz in

the new study article 28 watchtower that has just been published on jw.org is about apostate lies and introduces new concepts in their effort to compat apostasy in the congregations.

so despite the loosening of their recent disfellowshipping rules their fight against apostates is still raging hard.

according to the foreword of this article, they will concentrate on :.

NotFormer

"Soon the Devil will use powerful propaganda to mislead entire nations into taking sides against Jehovah."

Snarky reference to Norway, perhaps? And to inoculate JWs against future government crackdowns on WT excesses?

Powerful propaganda? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! 🤬

8

Was Anyone Ever Disfellowshipped For Having a Beard?

by NotFormer in

i read a comment somewhere that having a beard ( before such was allowed) was never a disfellowshippable offence.

but does that mean that no-one who grew a beard was ever eventually disfellowshipped?.

growing a beard when such was frowned upon would surely attract the attention of those with nothing better to do, and possibly lead to sniffing around to try and find things that the "disobedient" one was up to.

NotFormer

I read a comment somewhere that having a beard ( before such was allowed) was never a disfellowshippable offence. But does that mean that no-one who grew a beard was ever eventually disfellowshipped?

Growing a beard when such was frowned upon would surely attract the attention of those with nothing better to do, and possibly lead to sniffing around to try and find things that the "disobedient" one was up to. And I imagine that such "weak ones" were subject to "soft shunning" ; not officially shunned, but avoided anyway.

And it wouldn't be just be beards. It'd be all those areas that aren't rules, but you know for damned sure that they are rules. For example, LongHairGal suggests that her refusal to quit her job and further refusal to pioneer lowered her "worth" in the congregation. There'd be more examples. Women who refused to wear skirts in field service in Winter and so on.

So when is not disfellowshippable actually shunnable?

46

New light: the GB are infallible

by AEnEm in

amazing new light in the latest morning worship by gary breaux.

the gb "never lie or deceive us.

we can have absolute trust in the governing body".. he then makes a very helpful point, so as to avoid being deceived and avoid lies.

NotFormer

They're doubling down. This can't be a good sign.

For all the talk of a kinder, gentler approach, it ain't gonna happen. Unaccountable people who consider themselves infallible rarely become nicer. They just keep telling you how much more you should be able to take, and keep ramping up the demands.

If that happens, say goodbye to their hope that some will come back. The harder they squeeze, the more who will leave.

44

The org. Came out with a Christmas song!!!!

by nowwhat? in

holy nativity batman!

on jw broadcasting.

final song for this year's convention.

NotFormer

My contribution in song:

Let us gather to celebrate, upon this wint'ry morn,

The holy blessed day, Judge Rutherford was born,

The sheep were disobedient, God didn't hold a grudge,

Instead of Armageddon, Jehovah sent da Judge.

He winnowed out the chaff and sent them door to door,

He changed their name to publishers, from now 'til evermore,

God's work is now more business-like, professional and choice,

Jehovah took da Judge away, the sheep did much rejoice.

44

The org. Came out with a Christmas song!!!!

by nowwhat? in

holy nativity batman!

on jw broadcasting.

final song for this year's convention.

NotFormer

"Is this a move towards mainstreaming?"

Possibly. If they start allowing JWs to attend Carols in the Domain, possibly have a choir of their own present their new Christmas song to the world, I'll be somewhat impressed. But seriously, doing something like that might gain them serious cachet in the broader community.

44

The org. Came out with a Christmas song!!!!

by nowwhat? in

holy nativity batman!

on jw broadcasting.

final song for this year's convention.

NotFormer

Larry Norman had a song entitled "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music". The WT probably wrote off "Christendom's" music as the Devil's music, but they've been trending lately to more Hillsong style choruses, I believe*.

I wonder what's driving the trend? WT music has been described as dirge-like, historically, but so what? The WT always had tight control over the sheep; it wasn't like they were allowed to go to other churches where the more upbeat songs made the WT versions sound like crap. So why bother with the change? If it's dull, but all you've ever known, you're hardly going to be champing at the bit for something else.

*From comments posted on this board

44

The org. Came out with a Christmas song!!!!

by nowwhat? in

holy nativity batman!

on jw broadcasting.

final song for this year's convention.

NotFormer

"Glory in the heights above" doesn't have the same ring to it that "Gloria in excelsis Deo" does, but at least they're trying. 🙄

86

Prediction: no more changes for a long while

by slimboyfat in

i’ve noticed a pattern where things don’t go the way i expect them to go and/or whenever i realise there is a trend and, i mentally adjust for the idea that the trend will continue, the trend stops in its tracks.

so on that basis, and given many people, including myself, and active jws, have been asking ‘what changes will the governing body make next?’ perhaps the (disappointing) answer is: ‘nothing much for a while to come’.

maybe they’ve made the changes they want for now, and will wait a while and see how it’s received.

NotFormer

Especially Treasury B'lites - they were not the brightest Bethel had to offer, but by god they were loyal.
Loyal versus capable: interesting trade-off. 😳