Posts by oldskool

14

The more things change, the more they stay the same

by OutsiderLookingIn in

oldskool wrote on another post that "the 'truth' is an experience, and the 'beliefs' are designed to get you to behave as a member of the experience.

" i've read a lot here about the many changes to the wtbts in recent years.

but this got me thinking about the practices or, for the most part, non-practices that make someone a jw.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

by OutsiderLookingIn in

oldskool wrote on another post that "the 'truth' is an experience, and the 'beliefs' are designed to get you to behave as a member of the experience.

" i've read a lot here about the many changes to the wtbts in recent years.

but this got me thinking about the practices or, for the most part, non-practices that make someone a jw.

oldskool

I had an interesting conversation with somebody who faded from the group that was faced with requests from active ones to "please come back, we miss you".

First point, this person hasn't moved, and is still available to these Witnesses. Simply a phone call away. Access is not the problem.

Since none of these people have reached out personally, and because JWs have no group sponsored social functions, we know they do not miss genuine friendship or social activity in any conventional sense.

So what exactly did these people miss?

They missed the person actively participating in group sponsored function. The group does not worship using ritual, lots of song, or other more worship/praise oriented activities. Instead, they sit through hours of group teaching sessions.

Now bring it all together. What these folks really were saying is that "we miss you sitting through the teaching sessions with us". And also "We missed you publicly demonstrating your dedication to the group". Just think of the words JWs use so often:

- Dedication

- Imitate

- Be Like

The group experience is to emulate whatever is "current" with the organization. Part of the groups experience is to actually anticipate what new changes there will be that people need to emulate, or "imitate".

5

Church of Christ, Scientist

by lrkr in

we were in boston this weekend and stayed at a hotel in the back bay, close to the hq of the church of christ, scientist.

these guys have an impressive cathedral and an hq setup that includes a "library for the betterment of mankind" as well as a walk in globe that represents the scope of their religion.

they have similar origins to jws- 19th century mysticism mixed with literal reading of the bible, heavy central control and "democratic" church structures.. but, for some reason, they really annoyed me.

oldskool

Not sure. Their membership base is bigger.

I imagine them possibly turning out like the worldwide church of god, or seventh day adventist. At some point, the WTS will crumble and out of that a combination of extreme and mainstream factions will probably arise. The most mainstream will probably do the best, and the others will forever lambast it for selling out.

87

The last video in the 2016 convention...

by problemaddict 2 in

...is an epic triumph is emotional manipulation.

bringing together all of the stories they told thus far and placing them int he "new world" complete with the little boy who was killed in a car accident coming back from the dead.. i have a good friend who is stuck in with family and plays the role.

he said everyone was crying, and the people next to him rated the videos by how many tissues they needed to dry their eyes.

oldskool

Congratulations Watchtower, you mastered the art of mixing 3.5 minutes of stock video with generic stock audio.

In your next film school assignment you will learn about writing a script.

16

JW.org videos....look like....

by Anders Andersen in

.... i just looked through some videos on the scientology and the mormon youtube channels.animated whiteboard animations, bad acting, compelling music...it's all the same as jw.org...or the other way around.the similarity is very striking to me.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghjomvjadbghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxf3pwvjoka.

i wonder why that is....

oldskool

All created in the United States of America baby!

All of these faiths have a capitalist like approach to faith and religion in general by developing authoritarian like top down organizational structures, large real estate and investment portfolios, aggressive marketing techniques, and unpublished financial information.

They are in the business on conquering and becoming the best religion they can be utilizing the capitalist modes of production with the added benefit that wage labor is absent and volunteer labor is utilized accordingly.

42

"Just don't overthink the truth"

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

so after almost a year of complete inactivity and non attendance, i ran into a nice brother from the local congregation.. after some nice chit-chat, he says "we really miss you and your family...etc...you were always the kind and supportive one, the approachable and encouraging one in the congregation.

your absence has confused so many".

i thanked him and said "oh no, no individual has stumbled us.

oldskool

YES!

The "truth" is an experience, and the "beliefs" are designed to get you to behave as a member of the experience. Doesn't really matter what the beliefs are, which is why, when pressed, lots of JWs just throw up their hands and say they don't care.

"Just come back and act like one of us, it's uncomfortable when nice people leave for no apparent reason, and you don't want us to feel uncomfortable about our faith do you?"

25

JW Broadcasting is the likely end of the road for JWs

by oldskool in

i started leaving the group in 04', and quit following what they do around 08'.

my recent posts express my reaction to what has happened since.. i just "tuned in" to the jw broadcasting episode for may 2016. it is worth a viewing.

gb member anthony morris describes what is basically the thrust of why this entire effort exists.

oldskool

JW`s would Go Along to Get Along..

The sister in your video is simply working on her Bathsheba talk in the ministry school

25

JW Broadcasting is the likely end of the road for JWs

by oldskool in

i started leaving the group in 04', and quit following what they do around 08'.

my recent posts express my reaction to what has happened since.. i just "tuned in" to the jw broadcasting episode for may 2016. it is worth a viewing.

gb member anthony morris describes what is basically the thrust of why this entire effort exists.

oldskool

great comments redvip2000

Kids today are participating in an incredible amount of screen time. The one place the WTS could differentiate is to create a place where screen based activity was less important, and social activity was more important. That was probably the WTS's biggest advantage, in terms of their pre JW.org days.

They have proven to be rather inadequate at understanding the needs of their followers.

I recall a rumor from the late 1970s- early 80s that claimed some high-ranking brothers had approached headquarters Bethel with a proposal for a youth program spurred out of concern for the attrition of young people from the organization. These brothers were portrayed as proud-minded and were told to 'wait on Jehovah'.

I remember this being posted here years ago. I tend to believe the story, but even if it didn't occur it sounds true enough to the WTS's mindset anyway.

Those that lead the group are in a massive bubble. JW.org feels straight out of the bubble. They have never learned to listen to their members. That tradition seems to continue on if full force.

25

JW Broadcasting is the likely end of the road for JWs

by oldskool in

i started leaving the group in 04', and quit following what they do around 08'.

my recent posts express my reaction to what has happened since.. i just "tuned in" to the jw broadcasting episode for may 2016. it is worth a viewing.

gb member anthony morris describes what is basically the thrust of why this entire effort exists.

oldskool

If they had any common sense they would also get more involved in the community. Ever heard of charity? How about a food drive or something? How about taking up some money for that family across town that lost their home in a fire?

Disaster relief, especially hurricane relief work, was one of those things that older JWs I used to speak with talked about fondly. They valued the act of getting out there and "doing something", and were completely behind it once the avenue was available for them to do so.
After hurricane Katrina I was waiting for this sort of moment to occur. A message would go out, and JWs from around the country would get together and do something. Instead it was rather lack luster. Reports were read that the Society had a response, but your job as a pub was to send in money.
Another thing that Mormons do better. I think the comparison between JW and Mormon is striking, because they are both American religions but only one seems to understand this reality.

This has always been a religious organization that looks much better 'on paper' than it does in practice in your local congregation. Now we can say, It looks much better on line that it does in practice in your local congregation. Young people dont need to ask about this grim reality; they are faced with it and leave - and we know that 'leaving' takes many forms.

I think that defining Jehovah's Witnesses as an experience for members separate from the image projected in their books is an important distinction that can't be overlooked. The WTS has always published a fantasy regarding what their organization actually is doing. At various points, I think the fantasy was much closer to reality, especially in the 60s/70s when growth was big and there was much to show. Since the mid 90s to the current time it appears the fantasy version of their reality is in high gear.

25

JW Broadcasting is the likely end of the road for JWs

by oldskool in

i started leaving the group in 04', and quit following what they do around 08'.

my recent posts express my reaction to what has happened since.. i just "tuned in" to the jw broadcasting episode for may 2016. it is worth a viewing.

gb member anthony morris describes what is basically the thrust of why this entire effort exists.

oldskool

In one of the Caleb videos about gay couples it ends with a mother/daughter discussion on how to preach in school.

The WTS looses more kids as members than any other religion. I don't see JW broadcasting help this. There may be a tendency to this that they are now catering to kids better now by getting more sophisticated with media. They are still ignoring children. It's a gimmic that will backfire.

They've targeted kids for generations. The youth book, young people ask, videos, etc., and it's just more of the same but done better. Young people have lacked good experiences for generations too. The Borg aren't going anywhere. There will always be people susceptible to their indoctrination.

Correct, a media driven approach that doesn't take into consideration what creates memorable lasting value. They still don't get it, and by dabbling in video, only enhance the inevitable disparity between a youths experience and what is portrayed on screen.