It seems like they really pushed the one cart they have here during the "memorial season", but this trend will stick because even the most devoted see that the age of D2D witnessing is over. Problem with that where I am is they will have to let the ones they like less (vs. the "special ones" in the congregation) man the carts. It's a labor shortage here and really funny.
Spiral
JoinedPosts by Spiral
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19
Apathy carts in NoCal
by kaik ini spent couple wonderful days in napa valley and sonoma with visits to san francisco.
what hits me was the number of apathy carts in the city.
they were at powell station, embarcadero, fisherman wharf, etc.
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Those of us going to memorial
by All for show inhow are you feeling?.
we weren't going... but a confrontation with family blew things up.
we decided we are going- because we are planning on moving and this is the last jw thing.
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Spiral
Ugh, have to go, not looking forward to it. It's the late one so hopefully I can leave right after! -
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My life as a fundamentalist
by joey jojo inas a born-in jw, i never considered myself to be a fundamentalist.
i always thought we were enlightened, progressive and not 'stuck in darkness' like all the other religions.. i was totally wrong.. as far as fundamentalists go, jw's are probably right up there amongst the front-runners.
no, they do not stone people to death or go on religion-fuelled violent rampages but that's not what i'm talking about.
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Spiral
It took me awhile as well to realize JWs are fundamentalists. Actually, it was when everything went online I really realized (if you look at those horrible videos) just what a fundamentalist church they are.
So much so, I have decided that if (really, when) one of my still-in friends asks me why I am no longer active, I have decided to say "I never wanted to be a fundamentalist". We'll see what happens.
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The memorial beauty pageant
by BlackWolf insince the memorial is coming up soon and its about time for me to go shopping for a new memorial ( aka easter) dress, i've realized what the memorial really is for us teenage girls, a beauty pageant!
the memorial is the day i spend painting my nails, curling my hair, and carefully applying makeup because my mother says i have to "represent jehovah" and look my best.
in reality its just to impress the newcomers and to compete with the other girls.
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Spiral
When I was growing up it was never a big deal, but now it seems to be a fashion show. Which is soooo contrary to what the "Memorial" is supposed to be about it's laughable.
I'd suggest black nail polish to bridge the gap.
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Spiral
Orphan Crow~ Yes! When I was growing up the WT was just too righteous to cater to kids like that. (ugh) Now they are so desperate they will stoop to the level of catering to kids if they can pick up that extra dollar. It's just beyond disgusting.
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Jehovah's Witnesses - Emotional Blackmail - Fear Obligation Guilt
by JT-LadyC inafter leaving the jehovah’s witness religion, we had the opportunity to read emotional blackmail by susan forward, ph.d. we could relate to the stories she discusses in the book and could make a direct correlation to our lives as jehovah’s witnesses.
while the experiences are somewhat different from what we encountered in our personal lives, we could readily comprehend how individuals use emotional blackmail to make others develop fear, obligation and guilt in order to manipulate them into furthering their own agenda.this podcast explains in great detail how jehovah’s witnesses live in the fog.
no one can dispute these comments as every current and former witness is most familiar with the culture of the organization!this podcast references the experience of a sister that lived in an iron lung and her experience was used as a tool to measure the faith of jehovah’s witnesses with otherwise good health that did not live up to the daily demands of the watchtower.
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Spiral
I haven't had time to listen (supposed to be working) but what a great way to explain it - FOG. I already used this as a "reasoning point" with someone this morning. Hopefully that will get some mental gears moving.
When you realize that's the glue that holds the whole thing together it's just......disgusting.
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So Proud of Pops
by brandnew inok so a car pulls up to the house and 3 eldurrs from my dads congo come up.
they come in and have thee nerve to ask me to step out so they can speak to pops!!!!
this is the good part.....pops says...and i quote " whatever needs to be said..can be said in front of my son".
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Spiral
Hi Brand New ~
Since I do all the bill paying anyway, I lock up the checkbook before I go anywhere...... just a precaution against someone asking my mom for a check when I'm not around.
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15
On Prayer
by kairos inso many prayers.. consuming.
the obligation.. when did you realize you were talking to yourself?.
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Spiral
I never felt like anyone was listening - it was all just talking to myself. How great it is not having to pretend anymore. -
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Question for those still attending the Kingdom Hall
by ToesUp inthis a question more out of curiosity, because we have not stepped foot in a kh in 3 years.. how is the attendance at the meetings/assemblies?
i know the answer will vary due to location.. are you (especially elders) receiving any notification or communication from bethel or co's that there is an upsurge of people that are simply disappearing or out right dis associating?.
thanks, in advance, for your feedback!
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Spiral
The hall I have to go to is always half empty. I think a lot of people make an excuse and just dial in .... no new ones to see to justify the number of "studies" they are claiming. Absolutely no energy whatsoever.
From what I hear the circuit assembly does better, but I suspect a lot of people are not going to the summer "regional" convention - at least not every day. Easy to say you went (have to travel far out of town where we are) but not really go. Who would know? It's not like anyone is really talking about what they heard that was so wonderful after the fact.
And the same problem IgnoranceIsBliss mentioned earlier, most of the elders are old, the two young ones lacking speaking talent, so I don't know what will happen to this group in a few years.
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Would you have married your spouse if you weren't both JWs?
by 3rdgen inok, i've had some wine, but i'm curious.
objectively speaking, but for the religion, did you have enough in common with your spouse to have met and married as non believers?
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Spiral
No, because we would have never met.
Mr. Spiral and I have had this conversation before (again, the wine helps) and agree we probably wouldn't have considered ourselves compatible if we had met, although we would have been friends.
If I hadn't been a witness I would have been off to college, as would have Mr. Spiral. But his interests are very different than mine so we probably wouldn't have crossed paths.
But, we've had a great marriage and have stayed together 30 plus years. We were just incredibly lucky it worked out for us. Also incredibly lucky that we both realized TTATT independently, but at about the same time. We are in total agreement about that.
I know a couple of people who got married because they were told they couldn't break off their engagements without being DF'd. (What the h*&^ is an engagement even for then, anyway!) Both have been through bitter divorces. Same for many we knew that were just far to young to be getting married.
The cult and families in the cult exert considerable control on who you can meet, and who you pick, and why you think you need to be married in the first place. Therefore it does not surprise me when I see divorces, and obviously unhappy couples.