Posts by Jehalapeno

38

How Many Here Remember Hearing Details from the Platform on Why a Person was Reproved or DF'd ???

by RubaDub in

i just had this flashback when commenting on another thread about how they used to announce reproof or dfing from the platform.

at least in our congregation, it was a dramatic event (this is what i can remember from back in the mid-late 60's or early 70's when i was a kid).. at the end of the service meeting, just before singing the final song, the brother would announce, "we have a letter that must be read.

the "congregation servant" (my grandfather or later my father) would then slowly walk from the back of the kh to the platform.

Jehalapeno

I remember it from the early 80's.

Mid 80's they simplified it into two different announcements: one for disfellowshippings and a different one for disassociations.

Then, in the 90's, it was just one announcement. "So-and-so are no longer a Jehovah's Witness."

As recently as 2015 (the last year I attended), they would still give a talk during that month's local needs section related to the particular sin.

I vividly remember at least three of the local needs parts given in months where I was already aware of what someone was being disciplined for. Apostasy, Wife Swapping, Adultery.

109

Proportional Representation vs Electoral Collages

by Simon in

jw
friends

the craziness of first-past-the-post elections .... we'll no doubt have to now live through the scotts demanding another referendum, because we may take their lands, but we will never take their freedom!

and so they want to be free of the uk, where they have a disproportionate influence in parliament, and be a little dot that's part of the eu.

yup, freedom.. but anyway, as it stands right now they have 48 seats after getting 1.2m votes.

Jehalapeno

Does Scotland have its own parliament?

If so, in what way do they not rule themselves?

(I'm a Texican, so I'm genuinely asking these questions because I'm ignorant to the subject matter, but am interested in the subject matter and want to educate myself as to these details.)

23

Will Armageddon Survivors Be Able to Marry?

by Expanded-Mind in

jw
friends

hi blondie!.

thirteen years ago you commented on an idea circulating among some jws prior to 1975, that there was a possibility that armageddon survivors might not be able to marry.. "these vows that honor god are used—not from the bible but the only ones sanctioned by the wts.. for as long as we both shall live together on earth according to god's marital arrangement.. when i was in my 20’s, many jws interpreted this to mean that at some point in the 'new system' marriage would end.

since this was shortly before 1975, many jws rushed to get married worried that they would never have the chance (and never have the chance to have sex.

Jehalapeno

Does this help?

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1959490

37

What’s Your Opinion of Adam Schiff?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i’ve heard some people praise him for his zeal against president trump.

others have not been so praiseworthy toward the california congressman.. today he was so concerned that trump might be so emboldened now that he has won acquittal, that he suggests that trump might make a deal with russia and sell them the state of alaska.

😐.

Jehalapeno

I think that should get people to stop and think, why is this the case?

Maybe the left should look within for the answer to that question. What is it about the post-2016 left that makes Trump supporters oppose you so much that liberals like me would still be on his side even though he’s a bull in a china closet?

37

What’s Your Opinion of Adam Schiff?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i’ve heard some people praise him for his zeal against president trump.

others have not been so praiseworthy toward the california congressman.. today he was so concerned that trump might be so emboldened now that he has won acquittal, that he suggests that trump might make a deal with russia and sell them the state of alaska.

😐.

Jehalapeno

I don't know much about him, but he has a really really really thin neck. Almost like a pen or pencil.

22

Jordan Peterson - Messiah or Poseur?

by cofty in

a jp video came up on my youtube feed last week - he was on a panel in front of a huge audience and some poor disturbed guy ran on stage and started crying and wailing to peterson that he needed his help.

it was agonising to watch.. what was even more disturbing was the comments section.

i do not exaggerate when i say that dozens of people were extolling peterson's wisdom as if jesus had come again.

Jehalapeno

I’ve discussed with my friends his reluctance to take a firm position one way or another about his faith or religious beliefs, and I think I know why he is this way.

Because many times it’s not relevant to the discussion.

“Stand up straight with your shoulders back” - faith or belief in God is irrelevant to the point he’s trying to make.

“Don’t let your kids do things that make you dislike them” - again, the God question is irrelevant to the point.

And I think that’s the point of him not wanting to talk about it. Especially with his opposition searching and looking for anything to criticize him about and go on an outrage news cycle. “Jordan Peterson believes in God! No wonder he hates homos!”

22

Jordan Peterson - Messiah or Poseur?

by cofty in

a jp video came up on my youtube feed last week - he was on a panel in front of a huge audience and some poor disturbed guy ran on stage and started crying and wailing to peterson that he needed his help.

it was agonising to watch.. what was even more disturbing was the comments section.

i do not exaggerate when i say that dozens of people were extolling peterson's wisdom as if jesus had come again.

Jehalapeno

Jordan Peterson's interviews are far better than his lectures.

His book 12 Rules for Life is excellent. Again, far better than any of his lectures.

I've seen CLIPS from his lectures that on their own are great points. But the long, drawn out lectures are just like you describe, Cofty.

I would compare his lectures to the Tolkein Ents arguing over whether to go to war with Isengard.

7

JW Statistical Charts - 2011-2019

by Jehalapeno in

just made a few charts using data from 2011-2019. interesting stuff.

definitely not the charts you would associate with an organization experiencing healthy growth.

the most interesting trend, in my opinion, is congregations.. .

Jehalapeno

Hmm, perhaps a slight increase overall.

I don't even view it as that. All things are trending flat or, in the case of congregations, down.
Increases in average publishers and peak publishers are diminishing every year...they're at a plateau and if the diminishing trend of "increase" continues that trend, we will start seeing our first 0% growth over the next decade. I'd put some money on even seeing decreases in the next decade.

57

Which songs give you goosebumps?

by LoveUniHateExams in

i don't know if this topic has been covered before - it might 've been.. i also recommend flipper's excellent music thread ('what songs have you been listening to?

', or similar).. but, i'd just like to start a thread about certain songs giving me goosebumps.

y'know, when you hear a song that profoundly effects you in some difficult-to-describe way and the hairs on your arm stand on end even though the room temperature's comfortably warm.. so, which songs give you goosebumps?.

Jehalapeno

All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, including the Reprise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t75STnoaR1w

7

JW Statistical Charts - 2011-2019

by Jehalapeno in

just made a few charts using data from 2011-2019. interesting stuff.

definitely not the charts you would associate with an organization experiencing healthy growth.

the most interesting trend, in my opinion, is congregations.. .

Jehalapeno

Here are some more charts showing total numbers of the stats over the last decade.