Posts by konceptual99

60

Of course Skype is secure but just the fact a recording can take place puts the Bethel top brass into conspiracy theory overdrive. Every knowledgable brother I know thinks the approach to technology is crazy and self defeating but it will never change all the while you have a McCarthy-esque leadership in place.

All the while people will go on making recordings anyway, taking electronic notes where possible and putting out every letter and "secret" book onto the web regardless. Why not just go open? It's like the Chinese government is in control of the GB.

39

Restrictions On JW Members: What Are They??

by Cold Steel in

can someone please explain the rules and regulations jws are expected to abide by as it pertains to the outside world?

for example, if a jw wanted to debate his religion on a site like this, can he/she do so without fear of reprisal from the church?.

and for those who have cable or satellite television, what are their restrictions?

konceptual99

Being "approved" is basically an internal, legalistic phrase. It's similar to being "in good standing". If a witness is following the rules, doing enough ministry, has good meeting attendance etc. etc. then they are in an approved state. If they wanted to pioneer, do work such as RBC construction or volunteer at an assembly, become a MS or elder then they would have to be deemed to be in an approved state as a base pre-requisite.

60

Meeting attendance

by DATA-DOG in

konceptual99

@baltar447. You have to remember that us dubs have a persecution complex and think everyone, especially apostates, are out to get us. The fact that Skype calls can be recorded is enough of a reason not to use it. Another example is the use of radio mics. They are fine to use at a public meeting but cannot be used in meetings such as elders schools. All quick build halls in the uk now use a sound system that allows radio mics to be turned off and wired mics to be used in their place, just in case someone could be outside hacking into the mic signal!

It's the same cold war thinking that prevents the use of electronic devices in such meetings for recording or note taking. The fact the stuff comes out anyway seems of little consequence.

21

What's the next big THING...re: The WTS..that will come and go...

by tresdecu in

jw
friends

rumor.

2) 2 day convention rumor.

3) sparlock.

konceptual99

Don't be so sure that the overlap is a wake up. Pretty much 100% of the ppl I have spoken to about this are not that bothered. One told me that all the time we have at least one person alive from 1914 then the generation is still around. Most just are burying their heads in the sand and putting off any questioning for the next 30 years.

The more I research, the more I read then the more I realise that the psychological control of being in the organisation will keep most people bound for a very, very long time. The whom/where else is there to go to agument is VERY strong in most of the witnesses I know. I agree 100% with what leavingwt said on a thread of mine - the only people who will listen to any rational thought on the "truth" are those that want to.

56

Field Service Reports Count More than Showing Love - Ray Franz CF Book

by flipper in

jw
friends

i've always suspected this was the wt society's view when i was in the jehovah's witness organization - but never knew the head of the writing committee karl adams had written a letter to nathan knorr ( then wt president ) recommending a change regarding reporting field service time as it wrongly emphasized jw members being seen as mainly being approved due to field service statistics - instead of emphasizing christian qualities of love, kindness, peace, etc.. karl adams had been personally handpicked by nathan knorr to be the head of the writing department.

in 1971 he wrote a letter to knorr which he wanted shared with the entire governing body as well .

i'll share the main parts of that letter.. on pg.

konceptual99

@flipper & @elderlite...

The emphasis on pure hours as part of an appointment has rubbed me up the wrong way for a long time now. Funnily enough my wife, a friend and I were talking about a mutual friend who, as a result of working on a couple of builds recently, has decieded to become "more spiritual". What this translates into is going out on FS for two hours instead of one.

I don't recall one Bible passage that defines the measure of your sprituality as how much door knocking you do.

Fair enough you have "faith without works...", "out of the abundance of the heart...", "cheerful giver..." etc. but that's all just fluff.

9

Is the Daily Text being phased out?

by Quarterback in

what's going on with this?

the brother taking the group can't mention it.

it now is tuck away in silence.. do you think that the gb is trying to phase the printing of this book?.

konceptual99

Doubt it's been phased out. Still pushed at the assemblies as part of daily family worship. The FS thing is so the FS meeting is more directed towards how to get people to actually take the literature.

As it's on the CD rom and can be downloaded I can beleive it may become an electronic only publication.

45

"Suggested" Donation when attending Circuit Assembly

by BluesBrother in

jw
friends

i could have called this "fee now charged to go to circuit assembly" but i do not want to start rumours that go beyond what was actually said.

the k hall announcement encouraged attendance at the upcoming assembly day.

the elder then said that since the congregation no longer has to make a blanket donation to the assembly hall it is expected that the publishers remember their responsibility to maintain the costs.

konceptual99

Very interesting reading St. George. I looked at the accounts for the Surrey Assembly Hall (a.k.a. Haysbridge) - where our cong is assigned. The charity has funds of over £4 million, takes almost £300k a year and has costs of £160k. We are encouraged to live a simple life, just enough to get by. If the assembly hall was doing the same they would be saying don't worry about donating, we have the costs covered.

Not only do they not do that, they are disingenuous in how funds are solicited. The accounts when read out at the SAD or CA relate to the circuit attending the event and often are showed to be in deficit. So you get people encouraged to donate using the cash boxes or credit/debit card machine for a building with loads of spare cash. Would people donate if they knew the hall had £4 million in the bank?

So, effectively you have a business raking in a tax free profit of almost £160k a year. On the basis of the hall's own accounts it could be run for 20 years with no need for any more donations.

What am I missing here? I must be wrong somehow? Surely if they really had funds like this then they would go to benefit others in some way? Surely there would be no solicitation of funds with guilt laden begging talks?

32

"Pilot Project" - Jehovah's Witnesses in Manhattan, with your new host... Robert Warren!

by cedars in

jw
friends

yet another video effort by the society to be apparently pulled off jw.org and given an audience on youtube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbohitd8goi.

my observations.... despite obvious attempts to garner praise, the feedback robert gets from passersby is far from glowing.

at best, it can be described as neutral, with none of those chosen to comment seeming to know anything about jw beliefs.

konceptual99

Be interesting to see if this is rolled out to places outside of major cities. I can see it as an approach in places with major footfall but you try doing that outside the local station or shopping centre in a small provincial town/village.

Harking back to a thread a few weeks ago there is very little chance (IMHO) that the society will remove the D2D work as it is too good a way to monitor and prod peoples' "faith". Stalls are all well and good but you don't need much man power and the reality is that you need to keep everyone busy in theocratic activity to stop them getting sidetracked by everyday persuits.

58

New MS - Looking for the "better" job

by nochoice in

long, long time lurker and great fan of the site - first time poster.

i am not sure if i am truly a lurker since that implies i am apostate-curious.

in fact, i have been mentally out completely for a long time, but still physically in like many of you.

konceptual99

and in the vein of giving out the same info as others.....

DON'T DO ACCOUNTS

Did it for years. My qualifications....?

I have glasses. And was not a window cleaner. And could write. And count to 10 without my swallowing my tounge. Other than that I had absolutely no better qualifications than anyone else. I was terrrible at it for years but never got moved as no one else wanted it.

Somehow I have managed to remain a mini without actually doing any jobs for years now.

Was on the hall team. Kept turning up last minute.

Was on sound. Same gig.

Was on talks/hospitality. Didn't phone anyone up.

I do token ministry so don't get asked to assist with a FS group. Sound be out ringing bells now. But I am here.

I do get talks. Thanks to being able to string more than 3 sentances together. Gutted there are no more announcements. That was my favourite. No prep, talk off the cuff, use a bit of humour. Best of the lot. Having said that, it had been going downhill for a while thanks to the regular slotting in of a demo. My approach there - just didn't do it. Talk about the mags then say there's a last minute glitch, or just say nothing. No one ever says anything.

How do I remain in this position of uber service? Dunno. I used to care about it and want to try my best. Now I think it's a game and just want to play it better than the elders. Of course it's going to catch up with me. For the moment however it suits my fading into the background to have a badge of protection. I will come off but at a time of my choosing.

Tested as to fitness? That is a pile of great steaming pig dung in my case.

58

New MS - Looking for the "better" job

by nochoice in

long, long time lurker and great fan of the site - first time poster.

i am not sure if i am truly a lurker since that implies i am apostate-curious.

in fact, i have been mentally out completely for a long time, but still physically in like many of you.

konceptual99

yet more of the same advice- shoulda read the thread first...