Posts by schnell

15

Compiling a list of Sin

by Nihilistic Journey in

with all the rules that we had to live under to be a good christian it's a wonder that we aren't all neurotic basket cases like i am!

let's compile a list of transgressions and rules that we had to live by.

no rated r movies.

schnell

No ideas that might "take you out of the truth". (Apparently "the truth" is fragile and easily debunked by basic evidence and logic, but should be adhered to regardless.)

No historical/critical analysis of the Bible. (It's the inerrant Word of God and that's that.)

No "violent entertainment". (Nebulous, much? Does the Bible count?)

No "vampires". (Oddly specific. When Twilight was big, there were talks and articles specifically about this. I always wondered why the elders forced this on everybody in attendance, as if we're all into it, and didn't just say, "Hey, don't watch shitty god-awful movies.")

No oral sex. (Hey, other stuff got repeated too.)

No instructional videos or texts that might give you an idea as to how to better please your mate. (No porn.)

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

@Finkelstein

The point or intent this guy was probably trying to infer is that people are crazy in consequence of being in this wicked old system of things but once they have experienced being engaged with Jah's earthly organization, they revert from that craziness into a state of happy emotional bliss. or what some describe being spiritually uplifted.

He was all over the place. In context, we were talking about the child abuse scandal, which made it that much more bizarre. I was personally upset when he said it, and he was the one laughing about the crazy people in the hall.

He's an older man than I and he's aware of most things I bring up, though not all the details. In his case, I feel like he's been trying to wake up for years, and he's holding onto anything he can, so he comes to me because he sees a lot of himself in me and wants to validate his choice to stay by trying to "encourage" me.

This is the same friend who told me that Losch put his arm around him and said, "...but look at all the things we've gotten right!"

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

@scratchme1010,

schnell, you should know better by now:
Do we say the same thing for other institutions?
Yes
Which ones?
Insane asylums and USA Congress
Why?
Insane asylums because they are for, well, the insane.
Congress, well, need I finish this sentence?

Heh, you know I was being socratic and rhetorical. :P

And I experienced something similar. I gave pioneering a shot and burned out immediately. (Early mornings every single day, gas stations, etc.) It exposed me to other young people who were also pioneering, and what judgmental assholes they were. I never spoke with a psychologist, but psychology is always interesting, and the Wikipedia article on cognitive dissonance illuminated things for me.

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

@Christophoros

'the truth' can also appeal to people who have a love of truth... And for whatever reason, fall for the Watchtower lies...
Personally, I was a naive 15 year old...
Is naivete', at whatever age, or stage of life and learning we are in, 'crazy'...?
So, could we have a definition of what 'crazy' is....?
It, and similar terms, are actually quite offensive to a significant number of people who suffer with, and/or advocate for, mental illness.

Nope, I can't in good conscience, except only in a one-to-one joke in person, seriously call naivete "crazy". You're right, it's a pejorative term.

What I can say is that if someone has a condition that falls under mental illness, they do not need to congregate in a millenarian sect. They need to face their issues honestly, and perhaps seek the help of a therapist and/or medical treatment if it's necessary. Being promised a new paradise earth where it will all be better is manipulative and cruel.

So, again, this is not a selling point for the organization, and Fear-Obligation-Guilt does not contribute to good mental health. Ignorance and cognitive dissonance do not either. Actual crimes of perverse nature certainly don't, and poison the whole well perhaps beyond redemption.

2

Is This How You Promote Insecurity in Relationships?

by Saename in

it's time for some ridiculous entertainment, guys.

today my sister showed me a video by pewdiepie in which he reacted with his girlfriend to this article.

it was really funny, i have to admit, because he was basically criticising the article.

schnell

Ha! My wife's a huge PewDiePie fan, I'll be sure to put it on for her later.

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

@Finkelstein

Does being poorly educated and presented with an imposing situation of life or death or a possible direction toward overcoming personal problems equate to being crazy?

For reference and posterity: That does not equate to being crazy. However, rejecting absolutely anything that contradicts the narrative and insisting others (especially children and family) do the same for years or decades is arguably quite crazy. While that is pejorative and somewhat derisive, it's also the observation frequently made by those in the organization who have to deal with others in it.

My old best friend who has since shunned me has a saying from his grandfather: Half the congregation is there to test the other half. Why should that be the case? I don't know.

117

2017 Yearbook released

by bohm in

jw
friends

i saw this on reddit:.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/5mlgsm/2017_yearbook_of_jehovahs_witnesses/.

overall the numbers are better than last year (1.8% growth compared to 1.5% last year -- as i predicted ;-) ) with an increase in all major figures including 1300 more congregations (i assume this is not physical kingdom halls?).

schnell

@Gorbatchov, funny how that works.

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

Short answer is yes! He then suggested and immediately retracted that without the Bible, we would not have democracy. Jehovah's witnesses must be getting pretty limber from all that stretching and reaching.

31

You know it's the Truth, because it attracts crazy people.

by schnell in

jw
friends

i wish i was kidding, but i have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the wts.

this is god's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people.

"unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.. i don't get it.

schnell

I wish I was kidding, but I have heard this idea suggested lately as a defense of the WTS. This is God's organization, even though it attracts crazy people, and because it attracts crazy people. "Unlettered and ordinary," et cetera.

I don't get it. Why is this a good thing?

Do we say the same thing for other institutions? Which ones? Why?

And let's test this: If this is really a good thing, why don't we try using it in the ministry? Next time you're out in service, knock on someone's door, and ask the householder if they're interested in joining an organization that attracts unlettered and ordinary crazy people. If this is really a selling point, trying selling it.

58

Mexico branch......Now closing!!!

by krismalone in

a circuit overseer friend of mine serving in latin america called me today to say hi.

i asked him what's new and he dropped the news that they have received notification that the branch in mexico will be closing!!

this branch also called the central american branch (although located in mexico) oversees all of mexico's 800,000+ publishers plus all 7 countries of central america of over 100,000 publishers.

schnell

@Diogenesister, ugh. Just ugh.

I recall a special pioneer, a WTS company man, who was on the phone in front of me with another Bethelite friend of his. It was basically bro talk about a governing body member who bagged himself a younger woman.

Yeah, congratulations, Matt. Everything you ever said to me or around me helped me to leave.