Zenpunk...where and when did you live near WT Farms. I lived in Middletown NY from 1984-1994...went to congo in Bloomingburg...let me know or email me...thanks
proandcon
JoinedPosts by proandcon
-
11
Bethel Boys Will Be Boys
by zenpunk in.
.
i found this article facinating...i lived close to watchtower farms and had first hand heard about a lot of this activity.
-
-
-
14
District Convention - Portland Maine
by proandcon in"thrilling convention"...only took notes of comments / observations not including:.
- typical "gloom and doom" (real heavy since 9/11).
- "do more" (especially as some one of a kind robotic drones demonstrate).
-
-
proandcon
more2c...didn't see any sisters in positions of "importance"...like directing cars or mopping up dumped drinks, etc...on Sat there was a truly monumental traffic tie up in downtown Portland because the JW's were unable to direct traffic. I mean really gridlock getting into garages...People (including many of Jehovah's true Christians) were really pissed off ! Many were late to the start at 9:40am...even though they were in the area trying to park by 8:30am...what a mess...must be Jehovah testing their patience...couldn't be ineptitude or lack of coherent leadership...NAH !
-
14
District Convention - Portland Maine
by proandcon in"thrilling convention"...only took notes of comments / observations not including:.
- typical "gloom and doom" (real heavy since 9/11).
- "do more" (especially as some one of a kind robotic drones demonstrate).
-
-
proandcon
"Thrilling convention"...only took notes of comments / observations not including:
- typical "gloom and doom" (real heavy since 9/11)
- "do more" (especially as some one of a kind robotic drones demonstrate)
- "True Christians" (tm) are (a) blessed by Jehovah; (b) joyful in the face
persecution (c) all of the above
So, because 98% of the convention was directed here, I didn't take many notes. The following was of interest:
- average attendance was about 5200. Only 16 were baptized - of which at least 7 were kids of JW's. Seems real light. A typical normal amount not too long ago was about 1% of the average attendance. Have JW's lost God's favor? Or are the doors to the "new ark" about to be closed? Can go either way !
- Jeremiah was a prophet hand selected by Jah. That's why it's no stretch in relating everything about him to the F&D slave class of JW's today! Yeah right!
- the media is an integral part of Satan's organization. Place little credence in what it says! (Unless it supports the WT credo).
- "Thank Jah for apostates! They are fulfilling scripture and are another evidence we are in the last days" (Ps 109:2-3). Apostates are "wicked and deceptive". They "only speak falsehoods". They speak" with hatred and keep fighting vs Jah's true organization without cause.However, like poison, we don't want to drink of their potent tonic!"
-" The organization is not perfect. Don't look at it under a microscope. Don't shirk your responsibility because you "think" the org to be slow or misguided"- or wrong or totally balled up! Wait on Jah. He will fix it in his due time (tm). Meanwhile, if you get screwed, so what. You can become an apostate and fulfill scripture while we shun your ass. It's a win / win situation all the way around!
- Recently it was nopted the internet had 275 million pages and was growing at the rate of 20 million pages a month. "Most of it is useless and harmful!" Don't be an "information addict" (love this WT lingo).
- The US supreme court gave another victory to Jehovah's people (tm) by its verdicet in the WT vs Stratton case. (Most there wouldn't have a solitary clue about this case but think it's a landmark because the speaker (WT) said so. The case was doomed to failure based on past case law. JW's think they got reaffirmed rights to call on anyone whenever they feel like. Someone in Stratton should just tell the entire town's residents about the "do not call" routine. Helluva lot cheaper than going to the supreme court - and far more effective.
That's it...left out some...probably cruising then...anyone else there?
-
31
The friends, the truth and loaded language
by detective inas many people already know, using the term "the truth" to describe an organization's teachings is a brilliant way to constantly reaffirm it's validity subconsciously.
it's a great use of repetition to establish as fact that which is only opinion.. i keep hearing the phrase "the friends".
aside from the fact that i really don't like the terminology, i couldn't help but wonder if this isn't just another use of repetition and loaded language to enforce the belief that all of the people who share the same religion actually are your friends.. in some ways, i think it would be beneficial for some folks to drop "the truth" and "the friends" from their vocabulary so that they aren't continuing to immerse themselves in group-lingo that's intended to elicit certain emotional responses and associations.. what other loaded language can you come up with that is quasi-specific to jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
proandcon
how about...
"privlege"...loke it's a privelege to clean the hall
"territory"...sounds like the wild west
"return visit"...keep bugging the uninitiated til they finally tell you to scram
"backroom"
"CO"
"COW" (circuit overseer's wife)
"total immersion"
"antitypical"
"1914 and 1935"
on and on and on.....
-
31
The friends, the truth and loaded language
by detective inas many people already know, using the term "the truth" to describe an organization's teachings is a brilliant way to constantly reaffirm it's validity subconsciously.
it's a great use of repetition to establish as fact that which is only opinion.. i keep hearing the phrase "the friends".
aside from the fact that i really don't like the terminology, i couldn't help but wonder if this isn't just another use of repetition and loaded language to enforce the belief that all of the people who share the same religion actually are your friends.. in some ways, i think it would be beneficial for some folks to drop "the truth" and "the friends" from their vocabulary so that they aren't continuing to immerse themselves in group-lingo that's intended to elicit certain emotional responses and associations.. what other loaded language can you come up with that is quasi-specific to jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
proandcon
how sick was I of hearing about "agape love" (principaled = no warmth or feeling; not affection...
-
31
The friends, the truth and loaded language
by detective inas many people already know, using the term "the truth" to describe an organization's teachings is a brilliant way to constantly reaffirm it's validity subconsciously.
it's a great use of repetition to establish as fact that which is only opinion.. i keep hearing the phrase "the friends".
aside from the fact that i really don't like the terminology, i couldn't help but wonder if this isn't just another use of repetition and loaded language to enforce the belief that all of the people who share the same religion actually are your friends.. in some ways, i think it would be beneficial for some folks to drop "the truth" and "the friends" from their vocabulary so that they aren't continuing to immerse themselves in group-lingo that's intended to elicit certain emotional responses and associations.. what other loaded language can you come up with that is quasi-specific to jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
proandcon
a local favorite...the "apostates" (anyone who disagrees in any way with their interpretations...
-
2
Comments...re Malawi Bethel Complex
by proandcon inexperience from malawi:.
we just received this wonderful experience and thought that you would.
enjoy.
-
-
proandcon
EXPERIENCE FROM MALAWI:
We just received this wonderful experience and thought that you would
enjoy
it as much as we did. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to be there?
Thought
we would share a few things with you from the dedication programme here in
Malawi of the new Bethel complex.It was held May 19, 20 & certainly was a weekend never to be forgotten.
2500 were invited to the actual dedication programme on the Saturday,
including Malawians who had been baptized 40 years +. It was an amazing
sight on the morning of the programme as all the old timers filed into the
Bethel complex. We were making packed lunches for all the delegates when
we
were suddenly aware of faces peering through the glass doors at us - when
we
waved & greeted them in Chichewa huge smiles spread across these well worn
beautiful black faces, next thing we knew these faithful brothers were
singing kingdom songs (many of them from the old green song book) in 4
part
African harmony. The whole facility was soon full of singing, waving old
timers, many of them didn't have shoes, some were blind & were being led,
others were amputees & some just plain old - one brother being 100 years
of
age, others in their 90's. Their joy at seeing these incredible buildings
was overwhelming - there were few dry eyes & unlumpy throats as we stood &
watched them swarm around us.The actual programme was held under a huge specially erected grass shade.
Spontaneous rounds of applause were the order of the afternoon. There were
many highlights, but one of the special moments was when bro Jack
Johannson
asked all those who had fled to refugee camps to stand up, a mass of bro &
sis rose, it seemed as if the only ones seated were foreigners, who
applauded long & hard this evident demonstration of faith. Another part we
found very special was during the part where foreign delegates from other
branches brought greetings & reports from their home countries. The bro
representing Mozambique began his report with these words "news from
Home".
He of course then explained how Mozambique had been "home" for these
Malawian bros for many desperate years. More rapturous applause, after
which
the bro went on to say how the chimanga (maize) these bros had planted
back
then was long gone as were their make shift homes - but the seeds of truth
which our bros so zelaously sowed under dire circumstances were
flourishing
- this same week a Kingdom Hall was being dedicated in the very village
where our brothers had lived & preached - a magnificent monument to their
love for the truth & desire to share it with others no matter what. On
hearing this news there was a wave of nodding heads, & more thunderous
applause.The programme went way over time but no one cared, though as the sun
started
to set we did wonder how we would sing the final song - but there was no
need to fear, as planned the final song was to be sung in typical Malawian
style, unaccompanied by music, so as we struggled along with our torches
the
Malawian brothers lifted the roof off - no song book needed - they knew
every word from the days when there was only one to share round everyone.
One could not help but think of Jehovah & his spirit family looking down
on
that spot on the globe right at that moment. On this little band of
incredibly faithful servants, who had been the focus of attention for so
many years as had Job & our bros in Nazi Germany - what a reply to the one
who taunts.The following day all bros in Malawi were invited to a second programme in
a
local stadium, the attendance was announced as over 17,000, though it
looked
much more as the stadium filled holds 30,000 & we not only filled it but
they were sitting on the grass pitch as well. Greetings came from all over
the world, & wonderful talks from the two guest speakers (Bro Sebastian
Johnson from Congo & Bro Guy Pierce of the Governing Body) served to
encourage all in attendance. The finale was another Malawi style song -
words fail to convey the atmosphere, sights & sounds of those few minutes,
but they are etched in our hearts, & we felt incredibly undeserving to be
there.As the bros left the stadium some of them with 10 hour journeys ahead of
them, crammed into open back trucks & heaving minibuses, they were full of
joy. We watched as they chugged out, waving dedication programmes aloft &
singing at the top of their voices beautiful, sweet tones to Jehovahs
praise. -
58
Current JW Urban Legend about Dateline
by bboyneko inapparantly it has been circulating that barabara anderson was wearing a cross in her interview :) (not true).
any others been going around?
-
-
proandcon
Local elder here in Mass said " Barbara probably broke into the office without authorization"...and people actually believe him !
-
10
new massachusetts law
by troucul inanyone have any opinions on what effect the new massachusetts law will have on dubba's?
(priests have 30 days to report any sexual abuse-or they will face criminal charges).
if you ask me, i foresee the borg's defense as:'we don't have priests, therefore the law does not apply to us'(by altering their terminology they can create loopholes).
-
-
proandcon
very good question...also, if I were an elder I would be particularly concerned for the potential personal liability I may very well incur because of the lack of full support from the WTS and the ineptness of fellow elders...this will prove to be very interesting...be real interesting to see if the WTS write a letter to the local Mass congregations...
-
21
The Elders are coming!!!
by lv4fer inelder concerned called me last night.
we talked about a few of my concerns and why i haven't been to meetings/service in the last few months.
he has set up an appointment with my husband and i for next monday.
-
-
proandcon
lv4fer...I would suggest you don't rush into anything or do anything rash...as you know, there are some onerous ramifications with getting DF or in DAing yourself...why do it?, unless you've fully thought it out and do so on your time schedule...suggest you delay their visit for any number of reasons (sick, tired, depressed, working, travelling, etc)...in a short time, they'll tire of trying to meet with you and leave you alone...then you have the option of fading if you like...don't let them limit your options...they'll not persist and soon forget about you...happens all the time, all over, with "Jah's loving shepards"
been there...done that..
best to you...