JWTom

Joined

• started 22 topics
• posted 124 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by JWTom

• 
  20

  Trying to get my head around these go bags

  by phoenixrising in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was looking at prepping back in the 90s i was told by several elders that we needed to just rely on the org and jehovah and not prep.

  i started to put away vacuum sealed bags of rice beans and spices anyway.

  now they have this go bag crap.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  In short, the go-bag idea as promoted within JW Land is ridiculous and illogical.

  Assessment: The WTBTS comes up with things like this and applies a "one-size fits all" approach because they have little of value or interest to share with current JW members. If those in hurricane zones might benefit from a go-bag, then everyone needs a go-bag! Go-bag hysteria has replaced predictions like 1975, the selection of all 144,000 by 1935 and the generations predictions. Since WTBTS has largely abandoned or given up on making specific predictions they have to replace it with things like go-bags, volunteering for disaster relief and watching an ever increasing amount of JW produced streaming content.
  

  As Sir82 mentions, the go bag "need" was a result of U.S. hurricane evacuations that caused mayhem for millions of people on the southern U.S. coast during the last 20 years. For anyone that might have to evacuate with at least some notice - the idea is valid and a smart thing to have some basic items ready to go. For hurricane evacuations this is likely something that makes a great deal of sense.

  For 80-90% of the rest of the world, the idea that you will be able to grab your go-bag...get in the car...and just leave with what will fit in even a large hiking backpack is ridiculous. Also, many disasters are not evacuation events...meaning you are likely not evacuating to another part of the region or country. How many people do you know that have had to evacuate on short notice and that having a go-bag would have made it possible? I don't know anyone.

  
  
• 
  10

  Why are things wrong?

  by Tim207 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during our family worship tonight a thought popped into my head while watching this weeks video on demon influence.

  why is does jehovah not like certain things?

  like why is homosexuality wrong?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  Tim207

  Great question, many years ago I started to say to PIMI people I am close to that as a JW every possibly human act is categorized as either the commission of a sin (you are doing something wrong by JW definition - so called Bible standards) or is a sin of omission (you should be doing something, but you are not - does not matter why).

  Commission Sins: Many of the things you mentioned and the list is really long. Basically anything JW thinks are wrong then you are committing a sin. If it is something good like talking a walk on a nice day and you do it often....then it is still a sin since "you should be more balanced and devote some of that time walking to doing spiritual things".
  

  Omission Sins: As a JW this is mainly things like - you should be doing more of the following: bible reading, field service, meetings, volunteering for extra work at KH/AH, you should be an MS/Elder, you should study more, be a Aux/RegPio, comment more at meetings and the list goes on and on into many personal things as well.

  My experience as a PIMI JW for many years is that the organizations goal is to constantly keep everyone in a state of uncertainty as to what is right, wrong or okay for one to do. There is not a course of action that will ever be the right course by JW standards. If you think you are following the right course at some point the JW org. will change the rules and you will be wrong again. Which is why I am now PIMO.
  
• 
  25

  Zoom meetings to continue thru July

  by Wakanda in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  co is coming and expecting to zoom it in july.

  also there is no talk about starting to slowly go back to the hall.

  like having 1 group at the hall and the rest on zoom, etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  Wakanda, Thanks for the intel...have not heard that yet but we do have a CO visit coming up.
  
• 
  15

  The purpose of conversion testimonies and stories

  by LeeT in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a hunch has just struck me.we get frequent accounts in the literature and videos of people whose dysfunctional lived have been turned around by studying with the jw's and coming to belief in the org (sorry, jehovah).

  evangelical type christian groups also use similar testimony stories.here's the hunch:the purpose of these is quite different among jw's compared to other religions.other groups use these testimonies primarily to persuade non-believers.the jw's use them to reinforce the beliefs of those already in the "truth.

  "any thoughts?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  I know first-hand of specific experiences that were given to encourage but the person the experience was about was no longer a JW. They left and wanted nothing to do with the organization. But the experience was still given due to how they came into the organization, etc.
  
• 
  20

  What a wonderful time---for faders to fade away!

  by eyeuse2badub in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks and i’m sort of surprised that no one else has introduced this topic!.

  what better time than now for a fader to fade?

  no meetings, no field service, no elder visits, no assemblies, no convention, and no other bullshit busy work going on.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  A larger and larger percentage of the people on our Zoom meetings never turn on the camera. No camera, no avatar, nothing. Also, initially when all this started we had a bump in attendance - but now quite a few that were irregular are no longer showing up for Zoom meetings. You see the same basic names on the meeting list on Zoom.

  Also, like Blues Brother - no one is reaching out and following up with anyone to my knowledge. We don't hear from the elders or anyone in general. Talk to close friends and family only, as-needed.
  
• 
  25

  Zoom meetings to continue thru July

  by Wakanda in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  co is coming and expecting to zoom it in july.

  also there is no talk about starting to slowly go back to the hall.

  like having 1 group at the hall and the rest on zoom, etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  Wakanda: How did the topic come up of staying on Zoom until July 2020? Just curious. Have not heard anything that specific in my travels. Thanks!
  
• 
  65

  US Letter Read Sunday 4/26 at Meeting - No KH Use and No Field Service Indefinitely

  by JWTom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there was a letter read sunday at our meeting that mentioned some parts of us are starting to open back up.

  however, regardless of things opening up that no kingdom halls should be used for any meetings of any kind.

  also, no door-to-door ministry or any form of in-person ministry is allowed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  There was a letter read Sunday at our meeting that mentioned some parts of US are starting to open back up. However, regardless of things opening up that no Kingdom Halls should be used for any meetings of any kind. Also, no door-to-door ministry or any form of in-person ministry is allowed. It said this is for an indefinite time period - no end date.

  Does anyone have the letter to share on here?
  
• 
  14

  July 2020 Watchtower - A little observation

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is a comment made in the latest study watchtower under the main discussion of humility.

  11 jehovah values humility more than ability and unity more than efficiency.

  therefore, do your best to serve jehovah with humility.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  What you find in each congregation can vary widely. Some congs. A) are in areas with lots of educated professionals with high paying jobs and thus many of the JWs have similar jobs/skills including elders; while other congs. B) are made up of mostly middle income people or lower income/education.

  The change in the demographics of the global WT organization during the last 20-30+ years are really the most supportive of this thread (and the comments in the WT).

  Including things like:

  1) Most members have little education and the education they do have is poor quality or little effort expended since org. says, not important;

  2) Low incomes with some in poverty or scrapping by month-to-month (in fairness this could be said of 90% of people today);

  3) Extremely low standard for anyone that is appointed or given responsibility in the cong.;

  4) Those that do get baptized through recruitment (not born in) are largely impoverished, uneducated and in many cases people that have significant problems in their lives.

  With few productive or "efficient" people coming in that can contribute to the success and growth of the organization - you are left with a larger and larger number of takers.

  Over the last 50 years, the WT leadership has cultivated exactly this outcome through messaging and policy within the org. An educated person that has been in the org. for the last 50 years (as i have) can easily take a look at all of this and realize the org. is going to continue to shrink out of existence.
  
• 
  17

  Coping/Living/Understanding

  by justangel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i’m relatively new to this forum but am far from new when it comes to living life as a jw.

  i wanted to throw out there my own personal experience and feelings and welcome any conversations (i’m mighty chatty and don’t have much for friends when it comes to jw’s) .

  i hit the turning of an era nearly a month ago of legally becoming an adult, raised as a j dub my whole life.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  Angel - It is definitely difficult to manage the view of someone in your household that feels like "all is good being a JW and we should be extremely happy to just keeping doing more and more in the truth" when that is not how you feel. My spouse is mostly PIMI and while I have been fading for a number of years there are still many things that come up that are difficult to manage or respond too. It slowly gets better over time and in reality there are many JWs that do not care what you do...if in general you treat people with respect, are kind and a fun person to spend time with socially.

  As Vanderhoven7 says, avoiding confrontation and redirecting the conversation or ending it as quickly as possible will limit the pain of what you are experiencing.
  

  
  
• 
  25

  2 Letters Arrived--English and Spanish!

  by Atlantis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2020-04-15 english encouragement for elderly.

  https://docdro.id/chmzmpj.

  2020-04-17 spanish .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWTom

  Again, COVID-19 should be a wake up call that congregations and the people in them are "on their own" when anything bad happens. The idea that the org. is going to do anything significant for anyone is simply not true.

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5446878953996288/covid-19-another-example-showing-local-publishers-congregations-on-their-own