here in czech republic wtbs opened new bethel home for some 60 workers about 18 years ago.
it was presented as a proof jhvh is blessing and aproving wtbs and of course as a sign that the end is so close.... recently i had with my mil discusions about wtbs selling their property in many countries and cuting costs... she did not believe me..... last week we went to visit her and she told me there was an anouncment at her meeting, that bethel is closing down and the building will be sold.
only translating department will remain in the country in other premises and everything else will be moved to slovakia.. recently there is bethel closing down in spain and italy and several assembly halls being sold here in europe.. i hope this will open eyes to many jw to see the gb in fact does not believe in end being so close .... albert.
Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.....looks like they have more problems that they can deal with. With all these branches being lopped off....the WTS tree is looking more and more bizarre. Will it "sooooon" be toppling over in a good wind, LOL?
Annie....of the "I love it" class.....
once again my wife and i were sent the " witness only " wt version by our lurking jw friend that they study at wt study meetings.
and once again wt society is showing very controlling tendencies towards it's jw members.. do any of you remember the " old days " in the 1970's or early 1980's when witnesses used to have goody night after book study ?
or you would have a " potluck picnic " with about 30 to 40 people getting to know one another to draw close as friends outside the confines of the kingdom hall ?
I, too, recall in the 70's and 80's when there were two and three congregation picnics at big parks and everyone got to know each other and "widened out" as the WTS urged us to do back in those days.
We were told that "when the Big A hit" that THESE would be the only people we could trust and that we had to get to know where their loyalties were and who were the "spiritually strong" ones that we could depend on.
As was pointed out....all this was cleverly and very methodically done away with and the BIZNESS OF WTS DISTRIBUTION came to the forefrontThe WTS is a publishing company first and foremost....with a cult following.
a brother i spoke with from bethel to me seemed discouraged and lacking zeal latley...he spoke of leaving which shocked me since he was there for decades...he left to get a full time job!!!
it was his whole reason for living since i've known him!
others have said the new doctrine of "blended generations" of anionted seeing armagedon is "confusing" or "i just don't get it"...one brother my only close friend is furious and said i qoute..."they seem to be blowing smoke up our ass!
I have to feel somewhat sorry for those who are STILL clinging to every latest utterance coming forth from the WTS presses. It is pitiful to see how these "loyal and obedient" (tm) followers have invested all they have and all they ARE into the everchanging lies of the men to who write for the WTS.
i received this generous offering from 'anonymous brother'.
his comments : hmmm...why do i not see such things at most jw funerals?.
please give your 'thank you' to "anonymous brother'.
You HAVE to be kidding!
Funny how Jehovah hates "his people" celebrating birthdays because it puts undue emphasis on the person.... but seems to have NO PROBLEM AT ALL with writing an entire booklet about a MAN....
and that this publication is designed for and devoted to the idea of shamelessly elevating this man and promoting the "thinking more of oneself than should be".
just setting the record straight.
there is another thread that notes a claim on wiki that said that ray has died.. he had a stroke yesterday, and is in the hospital.
he is still alive.
I am so sorry to learn of Ray's recent stroke! I had already walked away from the WTS when someone sent me his books.....and everything I read in them only solidified my decision to leave PLUS filled me in on so many things I did not know about this evil cult. May he be at peace no matter what the outcome, and may the peace of Christ be with both Ray and Cynthia.
i posted this earlier on the refocus thread, but you might want to bookmark this when someone asks you how to get help for cult members and their families:.
http://www.watchtowerworld.org and click on "gallery".
i set this up for others to get immediate help.
This is EXCELLENT! Thank you!
Is there anywhere online that has a list of those "resolutions" we used to have periodically read to us at assemblies?
i personally believe they do not, but what solid evidence can you provide me so i can try to convince others?.
First, I think for me, experience was the best teacher....
after 30 years of changing doctrines and best guesses that kept changing while being declared as ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE ONLY CHANNEL GOD HAS ON THE EARTH TODAY.....
it became obvious that their "bible truths" had a shelf life of milk.
Second, the religion proudly touted everywhere as THE MOST loving brotherhood anywhere on earth....simply did not stand up to scrutiny.
it has taken me a long time, but i have finally put together an article outlining how i used the law to force bethel to send me my personal files.
it is a very long article full of scans, so i have linked to it at http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/experiences/personal-files-privacy-act-1988.php.
in brief, in 2006 i requested that bethel send me my files on the basis that the australian privacy act 1988 entitles people to receive a copy of any information a corporation holds about them.
I admire your perseverance! Good for YOU!
Hugs,
Annie
i'm trying to compare some statistics and figures on this to share later in the thread to see if more long-time witnesses are exiting- or are newer witnesses exiting after a shorter period of time.
and - are more people exiting in the last 10 to 15 years than before.
so your answers would be helpful in looking into this .
I was contacted at the door in 1969.
Sadly I was sucked into the "don't YOOOOU wanna live THERE" fairy tale and accepted a home indoctrination study.
Got baptized in 1972.
Stayed loyal and faithful and never got into any trouble.
Got a computer in mid 1998 and did a lot of research, engaged in a lot of prayer and even MORE soul-searching
and by 1999 I realized without a doubt that the deceptive WTS was not "the truth" and never had been.
I walked away by way of writing a DA letter in Oct 1999.
and they are now in 1st place in the n.l.
west with a 6-1 record !
and the hated l.a. dodgers are in last place !
I just spent 1/2 hour trying to figure out how to insert the RED SOX LOGO on here.....as you can see I gave up.
Born in MA and been a Bosox fan all my life.....nearly 70 years!
GO RED SOX!!!
