Posts by Skimmer

13

new

by bonnie38 in

i have been browsing this site for a short time, and i have found it very inteteresting.

my personal story is lengthy, so i will not bore you with it at this time.

this is my dilemma: i was disfellowshipped four years ago.

Skimmer

Hello bonnie78 and welcome to the board:

You have the power to improve things in your life and you're making a good start by talking to others who've been in similar situations and who've had similar experiences.

God sees your struggle. He sees that you are the best mom you can be. He sees that you think of the welfare of others. He sees that you are a good worker and that you're thinking about your future. For these and other reasons he has granted you the great and terrible gift of introspection. He is waiting patiently for you to use this gift and so understand that you are not worthless. Who knows? Maybe He pointed out this board to you to help you out.

25

Kingdom Melodies Cassette No. 999999999........

by kimberly in

jw
friends

sad person that i am, i posted this yesterday, but the post seems to have self destructed....... anyway, if anyone posted to the other thread wants to re-post to this one it would be much appreciated.

alright, this is one of those what was your favourite questions:.

when you were a witness (or even if youre still reluctantly attached like me), did you have a favourite kingdom melody (why couldnt they just be called hymns by the way)?.

Skimmer

I remember the pink songbook. It came in two versions, one with a paper cover and a more expensive one with a leatherette cover. Of course, all the "spiritually strong" members had the upscale model.

One thing I recall about the lyrics is that there seemed to be an attempt to steer clear of the more detailed doctrinal points. Perhaps this was to avoid the need for printing new versions in response to the spasms of "new light" issued by the Brooklyn Boys.

Also, I remember articles in the WT about the editorial selection process for the songbooks. In the early days, there was a significant usage of songs from Babylon the Great and these were weeded out bit by bit for obvious reasons. Also, in one of the WT articles, it was hinted that there just might have been a little innocent theft where some of the lyrics or melodies were, uh, borrowed from copyrighted sources and that this was another reason for revision.

But the thing I remember most is that Kingdom Halls are the only places of worship I have ever seen that do not provide hymnals for all who might attend. Maybe this was because all the KHs I saw had cheap, uncomfortable chairs with no place to store a songbook. Why didn't they have pews? Was it just a question of cost, or was it because there were JW owned companies that made folding or stackable chairs? I note that in all the KHs I've seen, there was no expense spared for extensive landscaping and lawn work, none of which could be seen during a meeting. Got to keep up public appearances, I guess.

By the way, my favorite religious song is _Amazing Grace_. I have a bagpipe version on CD.

Books and Boobs

by Skimmer in

jw
friends

concerning wtbts organizational manuals;.

before the current _flock_ book, there were earlier organizational manuals.

back in the 1970s, there was the _org_ book (_organization for kingdom preaching and disciple making_, i think), and back from the mid 1950s there was the _qualified to be ministers_ book.

Skimmer

Concerning WTBTS organizational manuals;

Before the current _Flock_ book, there were earlier organizational manuals. Back in the 1970s, there was the _Org_ book (_Organization for Kingdom Preaching and Disciple Making_, I think), And back from the mid 1950s there was the _Qualified to be Ministers_ book. Somewhere along the line, possibly shortly after the death of Joe Rutherford, there was a _Lamp_ organization manual.

From what I read, there was a great deal of overlap in the first three books. I don't think there were any distribution restrictions on the _Lamp_ book and the _Qualified_ book, but I do recall that in some areas in the 1970s the _Org_ book had a tighter availability. It was handed out to an interested person only when the elders thought the person was ripe for dipping and so was allowed to have a peek at the Holy Question List.

The question list in the_Org_ book was a list of belief statements used to clear baptismal candidates. I remember going over these with an elder who described the difference between "disassociation" and "disfellowshipping". He said that the former was just a relatively recent invention and the only difference between the two was a few words in the canned announcement made publicly. He told me that the main reason for the invention was to protect the WTBTS from slander lawsuits; a secondary reason was for the WTBTS to be protected from government charges of sedition and the like for punishing people who chose military service or who chose not to go to jail if they were drafted into the military.

I distinctly recall the elder relating his personal satisfaction at recent WTBTS "new light" that gave him new power to discipline members for various types of loose conduct. He was almost joyful that he could now go after a younger, single brother for the specific crime of fondling a woman's breasts. That seemed to very important to him for some reason. Maybe it was because he was well into his 60s and probably hadn't touched a young woman's breasts in four decades. You would think he'd have given up on thinking about it, but no. I hadn't thought about it at the time, but afterwards I have felt sympathy for any young women who had to meet with him on a one-to-one to cover the same questions.

8

GUNS???

by Jimmer in

jw
friends

i've always wondered, what does that organization of stiff shirts teach and/or believe about hunting?

target shooting?

gun ownership?.

Skimmer

[Trying to fix up an accidental multiple posting.]

Another reason for the WTBTS sanctions against firearms ownership is their fear of bad publicity if they permitted a member to use a gun for himself/herself, but at the same time forbidding them to use a gun to protect their country by serving in the military.

8

GUNS???

by Jimmer in

jw
friends

i've always wondered, what does that organization of stiff shirts teach and/or believe about hunting?

target shooting?

gun ownership?.

Skimmer

[Trying to fix up an accidental multiple posting.]

Prior to the "new light" about the evils of gun ownership, I do recall that it was at least somewhat acceptable to own firearms for hunting purposes and that any animals shot were to be eaten. Likewise, fishing was accepted as long at the fish were eaten. Hunting and fishing for sport purposes only had been forbidden for a long time.

8

GUNS???

by Jimmer in

jw
friends

i've always wondered, what does that organization of stiff shirts teach and/or believe about hunting?

target shooting?

gun ownership?.

Skimmer

As I recall, sometime in the 1980s there was a WT article that came down very hard on ownership of firearms. At the time I read it it seemed to be presented as an outright prohibition, but I don't remember if it was yet another disfellowshipping offense.

Of course, the WTBTS itself does not heed its own advice and has no problem hiring very well-armed guards to protect its carloads of cash transported from assembly contribution boxes to the bank.

23

Things to do when they come knocking

by Skimmer in

jw
friends

i encourage people not to either verbally or physically harass jws when they come knocking on the door.. saying this, i recognize that it is ever so tempting to try the following:.

1) answering the door wearing a t-shirt with a logo such as "satan rules", "member of the evil slave class", and "1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, what's next?".

2) answering the door wearing only underwear (or less).. 3) dropping a name of some governing body member and suggesting that you got to know him when he and you were in jail together, and then ask if they know if he's stopped some particular filthy habit.. 4) answering the door while brandishing a pitchfork.. 5) say that you're so glad they came and that it's good for people to have an open mind about their religion and to be willing to change; once you get them excited with this, show them a copy of the wtbts failed prophecy list (backed by quotes from their own literature) and ask if they are open minded as well.. 6) as most jws have never looked at a copy of _studies in the scriptures_, tell them that you've gotten many of your religious beliefs by pyramidology; then show them a copy of _sits_ and point to the wtbts copyright notice.. i have #5 and #6 ready for the next visit.

Skimmer

Hello dark clouds:

A good place to start for a list of WTBTS date setting errors, all of which are backed up by quotes from their own literature, is the following link from the freeminds web site:

* http://www.freeminds.org/history/part1.htm

4

Just An Ideal !!!

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

there are 1370 registered users on this sight, lets say that 1000 of them are pretty serious players when it comes to trying to help jw's with doubt get away from the organization.. this is my ideal,lets say that 1000 users here form a group to help (plant the right seeds of doubt).

the way this could be done is by each person in the group paying a $25.00 fee (which would equal to $25,000.00) to place advertising on billboards located near assembly halls with 1-900 numbers for more information concerning the posted message.. then the money from the 900 numbers could be used to place more billboards near more assembly halls till there was enough out there to really cause a impact on the organization.. what do you think?

i know it is crazy, however it is a fun ideal>

Skimmer

Hello Big Jim, and thank you for your idea.

I have thought about similar tactics, and the one I like best is to use of the "sky billboard" services. For reasonable fee, one of these services will construct a large banner (say, five meters high and a hundred meters long) and tow it behind a small aircraft. The noisy piston engined propeller aircraft flies low and slow over the area of your choice (subject to local regulations), and makes as many passes as you care to pay for.

This works best if the assembly is not being held in a domed stadium. Yet even in that case, a few passes in the morning over the parking areas will get the job done.

One can also pay for multiple banners, flown on sequential flights, that taken together give longer messages. Just the anticipation of a another "apostate" message will give headaches to those who deserve such. If a flight can be made every half hour and keep to a schedule, soon everybody will be waiting for the next banner and will not be paying any attention to whatever "new light" is being flashed from the WTBTS speakers.

It's too bad that airborne leaflet dropping is restricted by anti-littering statues, or that would be another idea.

Think of it as a "Sign From Above".

23

Things to do when they come knocking

by Skimmer in

jw
friends

i encourage people not to either verbally or physically harass jws when they come knocking on the door.. saying this, i recognize that it is ever so tempting to try the following:.

1) answering the door wearing a t-shirt with a logo such as "satan rules", "member of the evil slave class", and "1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, what's next?".

2) answering the door wearing only underwear (or less).. 3) dropping a name of some governing body member and suggesting that you got to know him when he and you were in jail together, and then ask if they know if he's stopped some particular filthy habit.. 4) answering the door while brandishing a pitchfork.. 5) say that you're so glad they came and that it's good for people to have an open mind about their religion and to be willing to change; once you get them excited with this, show them a copy of the wtbts failed prophecy list (backed by quotes from their own literature) and ask if they are open minded as well.. 6) as most jws have never looked at a copy of _studies in the scriptures_, tell them that you've gotten many of your religious beliefs by pyramidology; then show them a copy of _sits_ and point to the wtbts copyright notice.. i have #5 and #6 ready for the next visit.

Skimmer

I encourage people not to either verbally or physically harass JWs when they come knocking on the door.

Saying this, I recognize that it is ever so tempting to try the following:

1) Answering the door wearing a T-shirt with a logo such as "Satan Rules", "Member of the Evil Slave Class", and "1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, What's Next?"

2) Answering the door wearing only underwear (or less).

3) Dropping a name of some governing body member and suggesting that you got to know him when he and you were in jail together, and then ask if they know if he's stopped some particular filthy habit.

4) Answering the door while brandishing a pitchfork.

5) Say that you're so glad they came and that it's good for people to have an open mind about their religion and to be willing to change; once you get them excited with this, show them a copy of the WTBTS failed prophecy list (backed by quotes from their own literature) and ask if they are open minded as well.

6) As most JWs have never looked at a copy of _Studies in the Scriptures_, tell them that you've gotten many of your religious beliefs by pyramidology; then show them a copy of _SitS_ and point to the WTBTS copyright notice.

I have #5 and #6 ready for the next visit.

39

A modest proposal: A national Do Not Call list

by Skimmer in

jw
friends

greetings to the readership:.

there have been reports over time that each kingdom hall keeps a "do not call" list of addresses.

these are addresses in the congregation's territory where, for one reason or another, the jws in the field service are advised not to make calls.

Skimmer

From what I've read about thte recent Canadian decision, I have to say I agree with the result. Civil authority is overstepping its bounds whenever it tries to limit the right of free association.

Of course, this has nothing to do with the GDNCL Project. The Project acts only as an assisting intermediary for the forwarding of do-not-call requests to the WTBTS.

Freedom of religion including the ability to go door to door (although I don't believe there is any support for this in the bible, Acts 20:20 notwithstanding) must be protected in a free society. And so what also must be protected is the equally important right for a householder to easily opt-out of uninvited religious calls. Let us hope that the WTBTS is fair minded enough to accept and support both of these rights with the same enthusiasm.