Posts by konceptual99

6

How do cultural norms impact Witnesses throughout the world?

by optimisticskeptic in

an easy example is beards.

i hear they're not unusual in places like europe, even on appointed brothers.

it also seems like they're becoming more accepted in more liberal parts of the states.

konceptual99

I know an English guy who married a Canadian sister and has moved there. He had a beard in the UK and had to shave it off in his cong in the Greater Toronto area. The elders said they did not have a problem with beards (this after the recent WT article) but they did not want to stumble anyone so they did not use anyone with a beard.

So he has to knuckle under and shave his beard (which they don't have a problem with) to prove his humility so he can be used.

He's back for a week or two. What's the first thing he does? Stop shaving.

31

You may PRETEND to care - in reality you are SELFISH!

by wannabefree in

that;s what my wife (and all jw's) gets to hear about us at the kingdom hall today, (hmmmm, i wonder if she'll raise her hand to answer this one) ... .

watchtower study ... today, apostates and others who create divisions in the congregation use “smooth talk and flattering speech.” (romans 16:17, 18) they may pretend to care about others, but in reality, they are selfish.. (the watchtower - study edition (simplified version) 10/17 page 4 paragraph 7).

konceptual99

Watchtower study ..
Today, apostates and others who create divisions in the congregation use “smooth talk and flattering speech.” (Romans 16:17, 18) They may pretend to care about others, but in reality, they are selfish.
(The Watchtower - Study Edition (Simplified Version) 10/17 Page 4 paragraph 7)

Yeah - cos when the elders come round to question you on why you are not going on the knockers any more they are doing it just cos they care and nothing to do with trying to get you to incriminate yourself as an apostate.

40

Difficulty fading out

by Emily1987 in

jw
friends

this is my first post on here so i apologize that it is like an essay!.

my husband and i are currently 'fading out' of the truth.

we stopped preaching in may 2016 and limited meeting attendance in january 2017 and stopped completely in june 2017. my main reason for this was my whole life i have been doing things to please others, even getting baptized to please my mum.

konceptual99

Hey wannabefree - I think you are the exception that proves the rule 😆😆😆

40

Difficulty fading out

by Emily1987 in

jw
friends

this is my first post on here so i apologize that it is like an essay!.

my husband and i are currently 'fading out' of the truth.

we stopped preaching in may 2016 and limited meeting attendance in january 2017 and stopped completely in june 2017. my main reason for this was my whole life i have been doing things to please others, even getting baptized to please my mum.

konceptual99

Sorry - Welcome as well!

40

Difficulty fading out

by Emily1987 in

jw
friends

this is my first post on here so i apologize that it is like an essay!.

my husband and i are currently 'fading out' of the truth.

we stopped preaching in may 2016 and limited meeting attendance in january 2017 and stopped completely in june 2017. my main reason for this was my whole life i have been doing things to please others, even getting baptized to please my mum.

konceptual99

Sadly I think Jackson's video makes little difference to how things are handled on a local level. If you refuse to engage then you may get left alone but I suspect the minimum will be a local needs talk that will effectively rubber stamp shunning you. If you engage then any admission of celebrating Xmas will give them the licence to use the "disassociated by one's actions" card or even force you into DAing yourselves. You could easily be DFed as well if you get into a protracted argument.

You may have the right to fade but this only works if you shut up and don't get caught breaking the rules down the line. Faders out for years and well off the radar have more freedom but 6 months is not enough especially when you have "friends" ready to dob you in.

BTW, has your "friend" seen your tree? If not you could push back on "two witnesses" and ask why she did not speak to you first etc. But in my experience these tactics have limited value and you just end up DA/DFed.

Sorry not to be more positive...

69

284000 baptized in 2017

by jw-verite in

seen in the 03/2018 watchtower study :.

"during the 2017 service year, more than 284,000 “rightly disposed” individuals symbolized their dedication to jehovah by water baptism.".

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-march-2018/baptism-requirement-for-christians/.

konceptual99

This figure is meaningless until we see the rest of the report. It's the context and the trends that tell the full story and I am sure we shall still see plenty of evidence for decline and contraction, especially in the western world.

90

So my PIMO Younger Brother Tried To Kill Himself Today

by pale.emperor in

we all know that this cult will drive those trying to leave to desperate measures, and today by brother was very nearly one of those statistics.

he slashed his thigh with a kitchen knife and was bleeding out until he called the police.. i got a call on my way home from work from a police officer, coincidentally it was one of my old friends from school who's now a cop.

he told me my brother is in hospital after an attempted suicide and has lost some blood but will be ok. but i should get to the hospital as he's asking for me.

konceptual99

Sorry to hear this PE and hope things improve with your brother quickly.

33

How To Fade Away Cleanly?

by SplaneThisToMe in

jw
friends

this is my first post and hopefully i can get some advice and input.

i have been actively involved with the organization for a little over 10 years now.

i began studying in high school, got baptized and my family fortunately did not.

konceptual99

This is sadly exactly how it will be with most of your friends. They say no one is disfellowshipped for doubts alone however just being deemed "spiritually weak" is enough for the conditional nature of friendship with the WT org to become crystal clear.

9

Serbia: "Parents from hell sentenced the baby to die in a hospital" - Mon, Nov 27, 2017

by darkspilver in

there's been some front page coverage in serbia today (mon, nov 27, 2017).

monster parents condemned baby to death!

- alo!.

konceptual99

Good day to you too Morpheus.

I have to question why my post displays any ignorance regarding the difference between Serbia and Russia. I am well aware of the history of Europe and specifically, in this case, the Balkan states. I certainly am fully aware of how Yugoslavia was a puppet state of the Soviet (by which we essentially mean Russian) post WW2 empire and agree with the sentiment of your political point however I am sure we can agree that geographically Serbia has never been part of Russia.

Now you have explained yourself more clearly I can see the point of your post. I guess therefore we arguing a technicality regarding the political/cultural/geographic aspects of this story - the bits that don't really matter in the context of this thread.

To that end, as you say, we do actually agree on the key issues.

Hurrah for unity!

9

Serbia: "Parents from hell sentenced the baby to die in a hospital" - Mon, Nov 27, 2017

by darkspilver in

there's been some front page coverage in serbia today (mon, nov 27, 2017).

monster parents condemned baby to death!

- alo!.

konceptual99

Firstly it's Serbia, not Russia.

Secondly, it is tabloid journalism but not indicative of a communist history, far more like sensationalist nonsense common to the worst of the Western red tops.

Thirdly, the reporting is poor, sensationalist and undoubtedly unbalanced however the continued pressure that the WTS society places on it's adherents to make the stark choice between life and death even when dealing with young innocents such as this provides the perfect foundation for this type of story. It's the WTS that is to blame for perpetuating the cult mentality that means even parents of a new baby will put loyalty to doctrine as their highest priority.