Spiral

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Posts by Spiral

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  91

  Is the Watchtower organisation facing the biggest crisis of its history?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  recent developments make me think they might be.

  the problems they are facing are not just lack of funds but also draining authority, and the two could be a heady and explosive mix.

  one of the best analyses ever written of the watchtower was a book called "trumpet of prophecy" by sociologist james beckford in the 1970s.

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  Spiral

  SBF, I think you make good points. My observation here locally is that a lot of people are uncomfortable with how the GB presents itself on the videos (classless and tacky), but no one is talking. (The silence is LOUD!!!)

  As for the book study, eliminating that was a big mistake. They should have eliminated the school/service meeting instead, people really find that boring, at least the book study had some social aspect to it people enjoyed.

  When it comes to the overlapping generation doctrine, anointed numbers going up, and the ARC hearings, I notice that if you bring it up the subject gets changed quickly. Hmmmm..... no one is talking.

  Meanwhile, my elderly mother (who actually has the means to do so) hasn't given anything in ages. She's so confused by the changes she doesn't think about giving more money. (And will I remind her? Noooooooo) She won't watch the videos either, they make her "nervous".

  Everyone else here locally is of modest income and doesn't have much to contribute. Serves them right.
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  30

  What are the economics of cart witnessing?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  on another thread shepherdless sketched out the past business model of jws and its demise.

  until 1990 they were a straightforward publishing business with the tremendous advantage of free labour in production and free distribution agents.

  since then they've been relying on donations for literature to keep the old model going.

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  Spiral

  My understanding is that cart witnessing is a privilege, so you're "special" if you get to do it. However, I still haven't seen much of it. I can't imagine how embarrassing it would be to sit in front of Wal-Mart or the grocery store next to a cart, with everyone you know walking by. I watched one set for awhile (from the safety of my car in the parking lot). They made sure NOT to make eye contact with people walking by, so the whole set-up seemed ineffective.
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  22

  Blood Cards on File with the Elders?

  by EyesOpenHeartBroken in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  i have a question for elders here or recent elders.

  were the elders, in the last 10 years, given instruction to keep a copy of every publishers blood card on file at the kh?.

  we moved to our current cong 6 years ago, and shortly after we moved in, the boe requested everyone update and give a copy of card to the kh.

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  Spiral

  The last thing I'd want is an excuse for the local elders to try to use their "authority" during a health care crisis. Even if I liked them, which for the most part, I do not. We haven't been asked here, however.
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  35

  What did being a JW teach you?

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  these are some of the things the wbt$ 'taught' me:.

  dishonesty is fine if it's to trick people into joining the cult.. if your spouse stops believeing, the best thing you can do is break up the family.. the laws of the governing body overrule any other laws...or else!.

  my friends are conditional.. avoid loving people, they'll only let you down or get df'd.. unintelligent dumbos are better than intelligent ones if the dumbos are elders or above.. hate is better than love.. i am not good enough and god will probably enjoy killing me.. demons will appear in my room at night.. ignore practicallity if being practical or loving prevents the leaders getting money or praise.. god hates.

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  Spiral

  Religion is a snare and a racket!

  Growing up in the Borg has cured me of all religion - now I am a happy atheist.
  
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  44

  Governing Body Letter details things that "have never been done before." - Really?

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [note: copy/pasted this with permission from reddit.].

  once each year, the governing body writes a direct letter to the congregation members included in the yearbook.

  in his annual message to the catholic faithful (urbi et orbi) delivered on christmas day, the pope spoke about world peace, terrorism, and the refugee crisis.

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  Spiral

  What?!?! Tattoos don't just wash off?

  The sad thing is, a lot of JWs will notice this flawed detail, but they'll say NOTHING.

  I know several JWs that have recently gotten tattoos (discretely), this will certainly cause them stress if they read it. I believe tattoo removal is expensive as well.

  
  

  And, turning into an evangelical mega tv church is nothing new.
  
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  45

  Closest to the truth?

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i know many jws that state that the watchtower corporation is the 'closest to the truth'.

  thus they quiet their cognitive dissonance.. i don't have access to a corporation library any more.

  is this a stance that the watchtower corporation has actually claimed?.

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  Spiral

  I remember my in laws saying that years ago, whenever some question about the Borg came up. I used to think "why do you need to go anywhere?" Sounded like they were saying "we're not smart enough to think on our own" - which, as it turns out, was exactly what they were saying.
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  32

  Peer presure to use Ipad

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  earlier this season i advised my retired father to ignore the use of a tablet during his kingdom hall congregational visits.

  his response was hopefull, but between the lines i could hear he had no choice.. yesterday he showed me his new 600 euro 64 gb ipad air 2. he had no clue what he has to do with it, he told me one of the elders will install the jw.org apps.. so, i feel he had to deal with presure to buy this ipad and i think he is not the only one.. do you recognize this?.

  gorby.

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  Spiral

  My mom (in her 80s) was feeling left out and confused, so I bought her a tablet. Made her feel better, she really can't use it without help but at least she doesn't feel left behind. I loaded it with several games she can play (if I get her started) and she loves that, and watching Netflix. (I am a bad influence, of course.). Doesn't seem to care at all about BorgTV.
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  43

  Beards galore at the Assembly

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok, at our recent assembly, i noticed that there were quite a lot of brothers wearing beards.

  not just the older dudes, but right across a range of ages, young men, middle aged men and older men.

  is watchtower beginning to relax this rule at last?

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  Spiral

  Here, there's a lot of "only shaving for Sunday" especially if you can figure out a way to skip the weeknight meeting (what is that called these days, anyway?). When I'm in town I see lots of beards :-). I always compliment them. Microphones handled mostly by young teens, here.
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  57

  Is zeal beginning to vanish?

  by Caupon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it has to be starting to fade somehow.

  the very last time i went out in field service, hardly any were out.

  maybe just about nine people were out and man if you could just see their faces.

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  Spiral

  I had not been in a KH for ten years before having to take my Mom on Sundays. I have seen a HUGE difference - everyone seems depressed. If there's much service going on I'm not hearing much talk about it, nothing like when I was growing up. Kinda sad for my Mom, she's looking for the GT...... tomorrow!
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  15

  You think the light may have come on in the mind of a few JW's?

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  isis or isil believe they are the key agent of the coming apocalypse.. jw's , we are warning folks of the coming day of jehovah.. isis, their purpose to spread a totalitarian caliphate throughout the world.. jw's "if you are not with us you are against us".. isis, polarize muslims against one another, to incite internal divisions.. jw's shunning..

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  Spiral

  Yes, I also see a similar frenzy to what happened after 9-11. But, I am also noticing a certain feeling of quiet desperation. Clinging to "the truth" because they can't picture doing anything else. The door is open but the prisoners are afraid to escape.