I'm pretty sure most of those folks would not talk with me, but I would LOVE to explain to all the people I helped into the Witnesses my reasons for leaving, and I'd even apologize for getting them involved.
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Seeker4
JoinedPosts by Seeker4
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As A Former JW, Do You Feel You Should "Apologize" For Past Actions?
by minimus indo you believe that you should now apologize for whatever actions you made when you were a witness?.
do you think that if you were an elder that you should contact those that might've felt oppressed by you and your "theocratic" actions?.
if you were a zealous preacher, do you now feel you should go back to your former bible students and tell them the error of your ways?.
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Seeker4
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Reason for the 8-Month Announcement
by doinmypart inthe question has been raised, "why was the announcement about the congregation bible study announced 8 months before implementation?".
i believe it is simply a matter of how the wts plans things.
the theocratic ministry school schedule comes out in the october km.
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Seeker4
Your reasoning sounds right on to me.
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Public Talk & Bookstudy Changes - the real reason
by bud2114 ini havn't been able to keep up with all the discussion in this forum as to why the gb has suddenly decided to implement these changes and perhaps someone has mentioned this already, but to me the most obvious reason has nothing to do with control, or money.
it has everything to do with the serious shortage of qualified brothers who can (or who are willing to) be used.
i have been involved in the organzation for 40 yrs and i have never seen the level of apathy and disillusionment among those serving in some capacity in this organization.
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Seeker4
The tax thing makes no sense. I see absolutely no tax advantage in this. They are tax exempt, and I know enough about tax law to know that moving the Book Study to another night, making it at the Kingdom Hall and changing the name from Book to Bible Study has no affect whatsoever.
How could it??
Tax exempt is tax exempt. There's no other box to check. Congregations don't file tax forms, and these meetings are held by the individual congregations, not the WTS.
This tax argument makes no sense to me, unless there is something I'm missing here.
Now, the dumbing down thing, yeah. I remember an old friend, CO and DO John Crispin, who used to joke that if a brother could put his pants on right side forward, he could become a Ministerial Servant. If he remembered to also zip up his fly, he could be an elder!
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Public Talk & Bookstudy Changes - the real reason
by bud2114 ini havn't been able to keep up with all the discussion in this forum as to why the gb has suddenly decided to implement these changes and perhaps someone has mentioned this already, but to me the most obvious reason has nothing to do with control, or money.
it has everything to do with the serious shortage of qualified brothers who can (or who are willing to) be used.
i have been involved in the organzation for 40 yrs and i have never seen the level of apathy and disillusionment among those serving in some capacity in this organization.
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Seeker4
Welcome Bud.
I was an elder until the early 1990s, and left the Witnesses all together when I couldn't stomach the 1914 Generation change.
Finding qualified brothers was always a challenge, and even more so now. Many of the best elders I knew have stepped down - or left the Witnesses completely. I saw a lot of good people burn out trying to keep up with the WTS demands. I would guess, from some of the clowns I see serving now, that the quality of congregaional leadership continues to go downhill.
Thanks for your insights.
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An ancient poster stopping by to say HI!
by ShaunaC inhello al!
i am an old poster from this websites early days.
i was here a lot during 2001-2003. during the days of posters like:.
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Seeker4
You may not remember me, Shauna, but I remember you. Glad to know you are doing well. Too bad about your parents. Maybe that will grow better with time and the new baby.
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Let's Hear It for Canadian Rockers!
by Quirky1 inhello all, i am just curious if there any fans of the canadian rockers out there?
i am a huge fan of aldo nova and doucette being a couple.
there are many other bigger bands or individuals i could list but don't want to ruin the fun.
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Seeker4
Whoa, how could we forget the late, great Jeff Healy??!!
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Could This Be The Watchtower's Endgame?
by metatron insuppose you had a business that didn't make money.
you would try to make the thing more efficient and probably lay off.
some workers to cut costs.
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Seeker4
Interesting thread.
I also agree that the WTS and JWs will be around for a long time yet.
A few months ago I wrote about what I felt were some of it's major dilemmas right now, and topping the list is the lack of dynamic LEADERSHIP.
The WTS had Russell, then Rutherford and finally the Knorr and Franz days. We idolized Freddie, our own little genius.
What do the Witnesses have now? Jaracz old and with health issues. Who will emerge as a real leader? Look at the recent videos and transcripts of talks by Gerritt Losch and Sam Herd - pathetic. Attacks on education, women, thinking - these talks are an embarrasment. There is no inspiration coming from these men. I know Sam - not an inspiring leader at all.
There are definitely senior Bethelites who would like to see some serious changes for the better, and perhaps once Jaracz is gone, there'll be an opportunity. I doubt it. The GB has a lot of power, and the new members come across as brainless company men.
I am wondering if money could be a problem. Don't know about you, but my 401K just got nailed real hard, and the WTS could have felt that in their investments. They are property rich, and are selling off a lot of their Brooklyn holdings. That will tide them over for a while. Printing costs (I'm in the newspaper business) are rising. They're cutting employees, like many major corporations.
They are printing the cheapest books and mags possible. They cut the number of issues about in half with the mags, so that's a huge savings. But still, 40 million copies or so a month is a lot of money.
The economy has to be affecting donations.
I think there is a lot of silly speculation on this thread, as well as a handful of really well thought out ideas. Thinking the WTS is going to take the money and run to the islands is nonsense, as is the idea of it becoming something like Jonestown. Get real.
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"Society's" View on TV and Free Time
by compound complex incomment from milton henschel, in search of christian freedom, p. 232:.
"and what will the brothers do if we give them more free time?.
probably use it in watching tv.".
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Seeker4
That's a new quote to me, but one that I appreciate your bringing to our attention. Coming from such an insider as Ray was, it verifies something many of us have wondered about - how concerned are the GB and upper echelon Bethelites with keeping the great publishing empire afloat.
My close friend says that his sister and b-i-l, Bethelites for 30+ years, are concerned about being able to stay at Bethel and Bethel staying around long enough for their old age. Even if they see things that upset them, they don't say anything. They don't want to rock the gravy boat, so to speak.
I wouldn't be surprised if, in the present economy, the WTS is feeling the pinch in contributions.
It will be interesting to see it start to crumble, eh??!!
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Let's Hear It for Canadian Rockers!
by Quirky1 inhello all, i am just curious if there any fans of the canadian rockers out there?
i am a huge fan of aldo nova and doucette being a couple.
there are many other bigger bands or individuals i could list but don't want to ruin the fun.
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Seeker4
Fred Eaglesmith, David Francey, Neil Young, huge fan of new R&R Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen
I'm sure I'll think of more.
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Your JW Baptism
by LouBelle ini was 16 years old when i got baptised - 1992 - it was at one of the two day assemblies.
only a few of us got baptised.
i pulled out the pictures - there i stood proudly with a friend of mine in our cosies (shirts over) towels wrapped around us.
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Seeker4
Baptized October 26, 1963. I was 11 years old.
It was in Massachusetts, and ironically, we stayed at a place called The Pioneer motel!
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