Posts by jp1692

38

Manual-- Instructions For COVID-19 and Announcement-2020-07-17

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

letters are from spain:2020-07-17 english announcement2020-07-17 spanish announcement2020-07-17 english instruction manual for covid-19, 18 pages with 8 chapters.table of contentsgeneral precautionsmeetingsfield ministryshepherdingtheocratic facilities and construction projectscongregation expensesjudicial mattersconventions and assemblies2020-07-17 spanish instruction manual for covid-19, 18 pages with 8 chapters.índiceprecauciones generalesreunionesministeriopastoreoedificios destinados a actividades espirituales y proyectos de construccióngastos de la congregaciónasuntos judicialesasambleas regionales y de circuitothose on the email list have already received these documents.

if you are not on the email list, reply below for a download link to be sent to your pm box.petra!

jp1692

It's not a new thought, but I was really struck by the vast amount of infantilizing going on in these directions.

I've come to appreciate that this is a basic trait of all cults to maintain control, but it is really remarkable how the GB via the branch treat elders as if they are children and couldn't possibly think their own about how to care for their family, congregation members or neighbors without being given substantial, explicit and often exceedingly detailed instructions as to how to do that.

By implicitly denying the maturity in age or experience on the part of the elders, the GB and the branch maintain control. And of course the elders, following this model, do the same to their congregation members.

This is a powerful example of how learned helplessness is inculcated in the sheep.

Let's review: It's a cult!

32

Watchtower June 2020 Article, '' Return to Me''

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | june 2020. .

study article 26.

6 who can share in the search for inactive ones?

jp1692

I quit attending meetings seven years ago. Since that time I have only been contacted once by an elder to have a “shepherding” call. I politely declined but said I would appreciate if he would set up a meeting to help me reconcile with some JW family with whom I was alienated by the religion when I was DF’d six years before—I had been reinstated for two years at this point.

He said he couldn’t do that because they weren’t in his congregation. (Both congregations are less than a 10 minute drive from my house.) I replied, “That’s funny because that’s what the elders in their congregation said to me—they couldn’t help because I’m not in their congregation!”

So much for an “International Brotherhood”!

That was five years ago.

15

Hello!

by Caedus in

been reading here for a few years.. 4th gen jw, born and raised, served for a few years which was the catalyst for me.

the politics, backstabbing, slandering and coercive tactics in particular caused a constant internal struggle.

i started researching and focused only on the stories of ex-elders/servants to see if i was the only one - i wasn't.. the rest is history..

jp1692

Usually I’d start with a welcome message, but since you’ve been lurking for years I’m with Zophar: After “reading here for years” what prompted you to finally post a comment?

21

What Fun Things Have You Been Doing While In Lock-Down?

by Simon in

jw
friends

so we've all been locked down and there's only so much netflix / prime / disney / hbo you can watch and computer games you can play.

what has everyone been doing to pass the time?.

when you're completely stuck inside and working from home it can get a bit boring staring at the same walls all day and then in the evening as well.

jp1692

I've been spending a lot of time on learning martial arts, which was a thing I studied before becoming a JW in 1984 and only recently picked up again a little over a year ago.

Although my dojo is closed during the lockdown, I have plenty of time to practice in my local park. I'm limited practicing alone, but there are many forms and kata that can be done solo.

I practice bujinkan budo taijutsu and also Okinawan bojutsu. When I first started, I was somewhat self-conscious, but after going to the same spot three times a week for four months I've gotten over that. The regulars—including the local police—always wave.

A few curious people have stopped by and asked me about it, but most people tend to stay away when your waving a 3 foot (1m) sword or a 6 foot (2m) staff.

It keeps me in shape and develops good discipline.

31

Just wanting confirmation on an unofficial JW experience

by joe134cd in

just wondering if anyone can confirm or deny this unofficial jw experience that my father received by email.

i’ve told him that it against wt rules to forward unofficial accounts.

but of course he just puts that down to apostate driven lies.

jp1692

Could it be true? Yes.

Is it? Not likely.

Let's see a copy of the internal memo as proof.

The vast majority of these "experiences" are made up or, if "based on a true story" have been embellished so as to have little connection to the actual events which inspired them.

Let's review: It's a cult!

31

2 Letters Arrived-English and Spanish-Announcement!--(as of 2020-07-17)

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

2020-07-10--announcement.

(2 letters--one in english and one in spanish.).

use of messaging apps to share video files:.

jp1692

RE BAPTISMS:

I thought it was odd that, although an they can "use an inflatable pool [for baptisms] . . . it should be installed on a surface that is in direct contact with the ground. It should not be installed on a terrace, flat roof, balcony, etc."

For several years in the late '90s, I was in charge of the baptism pools at circuit assemblies. We used a portable spa which was on the ground, but I never heard that it HAD TO BE on the ground. Anyone else heard of this unusual rule before?

The pharisees would be so proud of the WTBTS for making up so many bullshit little rules and regulations - (Matthew 23:23-24).

On a funny note, one time we tried to baptize a man that was about 6'5" tall (1.96m). To say he was a "big boy" was an understatement. The spa we used was only about 4' in diameter (1.25m), which was not a problem for most people. However, it was really difficult to get this huge man fully submerged. Every time the "brothers" tried, he'd have a knee or a shoulder pop up. And, as you may or may not know, according to "revealed JW wisdom" per the WTBTS, it doesn't count unless the individual is fully submerged.

So, after about four or five unsuccessful attempts, the individuals doing the baptism had to get out of the spa, and with the assistance of a couple of others on every corner of the little pool they were finally able to get him fully dunked with no bits or pieces popping out!

Let's review: It's a cult!

160

Do You Believe Polls Saying Trump Will Lose To Biden?

by minimus in

jw
friends

a new fox poll says biden is up by 12 percentage points.

of course, most other polls say trump will be trounced this time around.. do you think the polls might be right this time?

.

jp1692

The Bible says Trump will win.

Ugh, the Bible says no such thing.

The Bible is a fucked up book written by delusional Bronze and Iron Age people who were completely ignorant of so much of what has been discovered in the modern scientific era.

All religions are the product of what ignorant and often mentally ill and deluded people though an imaginary “supernatural being” thought of them and other humans. It’s oddly self-referential in a psychologically distorted way.

Anyone who thinks the Bible has any relevance to today is suffering from serious delusions and is completely disconnected from reality.

You might as well read your astrological forecast in the newspaper or base major life decisions on fortune cookies from Panda Express.

33

Are You Afraid To Publicity Express Your Opinion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

are you reticent to express your opinion when it comes to religion or politics?.

when we were jws , we had to be so careful that we didn’t stumble anyone.

are you comfortable saying that you don’t agree with someone or something even if it appears you are in the minority?

jp1692

Great question!

I’m not at all afraid to express my opinions, but I do find it frustrating and disappointing that often many people who disagree will respond by attacking with petty insults and childish name-calling rather than with calm, reasoned debate.

But that’s clearly where we are at, at least for a large segment of people. I guess it’s just easier for them to be angry and insulting than it is to be thoughtful, restrained and respectful.

Don’t misunderstand: I’m all for vigorous, even impassioned, debate. But we should attack the ideas or arguments which we think are wrong and not the person.

jp

58

When did WT lose the spirit?

by Smiles in

at what time would you say that the watch tower schema lost the spirit?.

like the ancient nation of israel which struggled maintaining divine blessing due to a long series of grave errors that eventually culminated in definitive loss... how and when did watch tower lose the spirit?.

can we pinpoint a time or event?.

jp1692

Smiles: This question rests on a premise that Watch Tower may have, at one time in the past, actually had the spirit.

But your premise is wrong. There is not only no evidence that the WTBTS ever “had the spirit,” there is no evidence said spirit exists, or ever existed, at all—at anytime or anyplace.

58

When did WT lose the spirit?

by Smiles in

at what time would you say that the watch tower schema lost the spirit?.

like the ancient nation of israel which struggled maintaining divine blessing due to a long series of grave errors that eventually culminated in definitive loss... how and when did watch tower lose the spirit?.

can we pinpoint a time or event?.

jp1692

Never. You can’t lose something you never had.

Lets review: It’s a cult!