i just thought i'd share this story from my past.. back in the 80s i remember the big problem seemed to be about music.
(today, it's tight pants, i guess) the organization, society, whatever they were calling themselves, were always going on about the music we listened to.
disco, heavy metal, the whole "backwards masking" thing...couldn't escape hearing or reading about how satan was corrupting us unless we were listening to kingdom melodies or elevator music.. i was assigned to wtf in the late 80s and remember one of the articles stating that "young people know that the rhythm of rock music is the rhythm of sexual intercourse.
It has always been this way, not just with WT goobs. Dancing is the pathway to illicit sex. From the liner notes of 'Celtic Wedding' by the Chieftains regarding song # 8 - Jabadaw: This dance from Breton Cornwall was once part of a suite of four dances. The clergy, who could see in it the opportunity for debauchery led by Satan himself, was opposed to it, and though it was considered the national dance above all else, it disappeared from the suite around 1890-1900.
Sad. Such a lovely tune.
i found the following article to be a nice contrast to the jw's gloomy point of view.. why 2017 was the best year in human history.
we all know that the world is going to hell.
given the rising risk of nuclear war with north korea, the paralysis in congress, warfare in yemen and syria, atrocities in myanmar and a president who may be going cuckoo, you might think 2017 was the worst year ever.. but you’d be wrong.
Yes, I feel so much better now that I have $3/day to live off. Thank you Mr Bezos for letting some trickle down. Hey, who knows. If I survive, next year it might be $4/day. For an alternative view:
Sorry. Linky thing did not cooperate. http://www.monbiot.com/2017/11/24/everything-must-go/
i was talking to someone a few years ago and he said in his congregation they have a rail of white shirts prepared in the cloakroom for if a speaker doesn't have a white shirt on.
it was a rule in their hall that all brothers in the platform must wear white shirts when going talks and if the speaker won't comply when asked to change into the shirt they provide an elder in the congregation will do the talk instead.
i have never known any other halls do it so it must be a rule the elders have made up without gb input.
As mentioned in an earlier remark, not commenting enough during the WT study was my downfall. I just didn't see the point of repeating exactly what was just read aloud. I was counseled for not being supportive of the arrangement. In other words, not drinking the kool-aid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktxjuyiat4.
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In light of recent death of Malcom Young of AC/DC I have been watching live coverage of River Plate concert in Argentina (over and over). Great crowd, great rock concert. Check it out even if you don't particluarly like AC/DC. You will appreciate the vibe.
so these countries roughly constitute europe.. here's how well they did in 2017 vs 2016:.
2017 peak pubs.
2016 peak pubs.
Not sure what is going on in Poland. I know in last Polish congregation I attended, several familes moved to Scotland. Only growth I see in is English/Foreign language groups. Lots of Poles in English language group also learning/studying other languages. At least here in Warsaw there are enough from other countries (many of them students) to keep them busy with return visits.
living in new england means having lots of snow and cold.
elders were very reluctant to cancel or reschedule a meeting due to the weather.
i lived 3 towns away from the kingdom hall and if it was icy and treacherous my vote would always be to cancel the meeting....and forget about rescheduling!.
Last place I was at in the US (Frederick MD), meetings were almost always cancelled for a snow forecast. Nobody complained. It was actually a good call since a lot of people had to drive down from the mountains.
it's a cold 13 degrees fahrenheit in tennessee this morning where i live.
glad i'm retired and don't have to work outside today.
what about where you live.
It has been an unusually mild winter here in central Poland. Expecting near 50F this weekend, Not complaining, It was actuall warmer here today than where my mother lives in North Florida.
i've on my been on this forum for a few weeks but the more i'm learning the more ill its making me feel that i believed the wts.
my 12yr old today said i've made her miss out on having a normal childhood and i felt sick when she said it coz i know it's true.
i've been telling my dad today the things i've learned that wts had lied about and about the child abuse and he's disgusted too especially coz he's missed out on 12 years of being able to celebrate birthdays with us.
I had a conversation with my son (when he was around 30) after I had faded out. I wanted to see if he harbored any ill will towards me for 'depriving' him of a normal childhood. I was a convert, he was brought up a Jw, but eventually drifted off on his own in his early 20's.
He was ok with it and didn't blame me for anything. I honestly think it bothers me more than him. I know he would have liked to play team sports in high school.
Just be upfront about it and admit it was a mistake. Our experience with the JW's wasn't bad, just a case of lost opportunities.
hello all, many years i have been lurking on this site.
gradually i’ve learned the real truth, gone from serving as a servant and at bethel to inactive for almost a year, barely ever wasting time going to meetings.
my family is large and very active and so is my wife’s so leaving altogether is difficult.. though it seems now that everything is about to change.
Welcome jc1985. Can I ask how old you are? I have just reached 60. My wife threatened to leave after I failed to attend the last memorial, but she is still here. Hang in there. You get thru it!
hi all,i have been studying with the witnesses for more than 6 months and regularly attend both midweek & weekend meetings, and i am nearly at the end of the "bible teach" book.
my boss is adamant i attend team christmas functions.
she knows about my studying and potential baptism next year, and has suggested that i attend and just not participate in activities like kris kringle.
rulehayl,
A lot of us don't fall into the 'hater' category. My overall experience of over 30 years as a JW was very positive. But, it wasn't 'the truth'. If you can live with yourself knowing that, have at it.
