Posts by TheOldHippie

26

Fascinating 1914 exchange between CT Russell and a colporteur

by cedars in

i'm just doing some research for my book, and i uncovered a real gem from the watch tower of july 1st 1914 - published three months before the "gentile times" were due to end climaxing (as they thought back then) in armageddon.. a rather brave "colporteur" (pioneer) wrote in to the magazine asking whether the studies in the scriptures series of books advocating 1914 to be the end of the world should cease to be circulated after october.

not only does the question itself prove that the expectations of publishers back then were entirely contrary to what the society repeatedly implies them to be, but the answer given by russell shows the same arrogance and evasiveness that we see in modern literature from the society, showing how little has changed since those days.. here is the clipping.... .

notice how russell falls back on the same line of argumentation used by the society, namely "we have not attempted to say these views are infallible.".

TheOldHippie

I particularly liked the humble and polite way by which he started his reply:

"You are entirely in error."

Nice!

And it is, as always, enlightening too see the statement that one should be aware of the fact that the year 1914 was not to be the BEGINNING of the troubles, but the END of them .............. There is a certain variance between how now the pre-1914 period is described as a peaceful, happy period ending abruptly in 1914 - whereas the QFR around 1907 circled around whether Russell was mistaken or not, because world conditions then were so tough and full of crime, violence, wars, rumours or war, famine, pestilence - that it was difficult to see how mankind could survive to 1914.

9

Zone visit in France - April 21, 2013

by fifth.column in

fyi, a zone visit is scheduled in france for sunday, april 21, 2013. .

at bethel : only do, some co, a few bethelites and long time elders will be invited to attend.. in each kh : only elders, ms, and pionneers will have the priviledge to attend the direct live retransmission (each kh is used by several cong).

the rf will have to wait for the mp3 file.... no hierarchy ?

TheOldHippie

Cannot be true. In other parts of Europe this summer's zone visits main talk will be shown in all KHs. You are sure it is not mixing it up with a special meeting for pioneers and elders/servants?

46

Coco Rocha: lonely celeb Jehovah's Witness

by recovering in

jw
friends

here comments made me laugh.

" if you are not interested just say so".

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/lonely_believer_jlww5fd1bwokhvuq7u2e9i.

TheOldHippie

I think it does, Listener, and other factors must be considered too. Greg Stafford was always treated extremely nicely. Writing critical books where you balance extremely carefully in citing what opposers have said and what valid points they might have etc. - and according to himself not being critisised, just having talks and discussions and being on friendly terms with the congregational elders; it surprised me he managed to balance. Then he started his "own religion", Servants of Jah - but still I don't know if he was df'ed. I have shown the Coco articles to others, and they are all thrilled and find her "way" a very positive one.

43

Trend of Fewer Baptisms Continues: Latest JW Conventions in New Zealand

by steve2 in

the round of "international" conventions that started in the middle of last year in the states "wrapped" up last weekend in new zealand.

there was some media converage (from which i derived the information that follows).

(someone who knows how to copy links may be able to provide the relevant media links?).

TheOldHippie

Baptismal talks are given when there are no candidates, to make the baptised audience medidate on their own baptism. The questions are not asked if no-one gets up.

As for age, I have a couple of acquaintances that were baptised at the age of 8 - and that was back in the 1940s, so low age should not be emphasised too much as a sign of an organisational crisis.

24

Just yelled at my mom today

by trujw in

sorry to post this but for some reason after a year of not talking i got drunk this morning(yeah i know no lecture) and called my mom and blew up.

i tolded her she was a false prophet and a horriable christian mother who never even came to her grandson's birth by my wife.

my words came out like a river of rage from which i never knew.

TheOldHippie

Stupid, stupid you.

And what good did you think you might accomplish with that?

86

2+2=5 cited this fact about the shrinking amount of elders. Perhaps the coming implosion?

by wha happened? in

at the last elders school i heard from a few different attendees that the average age was easily 60+.

there will be a lot of elders gone within the next 10yrs.

there is nowhere near enough young brothers to replace these ageing elders.

TheOldHippie

"The latest worldwide service report (for 2012) shows that there was roughly 300,000 fewer in attendance at the memorial worldwide than there were in 2011 "

I wouldn't pay too much attention to that (unless it keeps on dropping .........), the number has always been fluctuating according to what day the Memorial was celebrated. If during the Easter holidays, more people will be on vacation / trips, but if at the very beginning of the Easter week, more people will be at home and attend. 2012, April 5th was a holiday in large parts of the world. 2011, April 17th was BEFORE the Easter week. You would therefore expect a number of half siblings not attending. This year, March 26th will be in the Easter week but before the holidays for large parts of the world. More comparable to 2011.

46

Coco Rocha: lonely celeb Jehovah's Witness

by recovering in

jw
friends

here comments made me laugh.

" if you are not interested just say so".

http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/lonely_believer_jlww5fd1bwokhvuq7u2e9i.

TheOldHippie

How true, princecharmant. JWs just HAVE to be the ignorant window-cleaners they all are supposed to be; and if someone turns out to be somewhat different, like having a good education, like being a model, like standing a tiny bit out in the (great) crowd - then a hundrer voices here instantly KNOW that that person is not a REAL JW, is a hypocrit, is a fake, is only allowed to stay because he/she secretly donates a lot of $ to the GB members etc.

So she is a model. So what? Her choice, her responsability. Not one I would have made, but who am I to blame her? Working for the government as I am, I am sure there is a crowd out there saying I am a fake too. So what? I live with my choices, I am responsible for my life, I stand for who I am, and if critical voices are heard I think to myself they are only voices of people having forgotten that they are not my judges.

Coco Rocha sound very much like cucaracha by the way ....................

40

Another visit from the elders

by jonno12225 in

jw
friends

so i have another visit from the elder this week.

this time they want to speak with my wife, still a believer and myself.

i think they want to know my position about my children attending the meetings and some other things.. while preparing myself for it i though of a challenge for the elders and my wife.

TheOldHippie

There is no use asking "difficult" questions about the new understanding to the elders coming to you, they don't know anything more about it than what was published at jw.org. In due time, articles will be published in the wt, and then they will have more to say - based on those articles. As will you. I mean - they are not "know-it-all's", they are not knowing more than other people able to read. All they can say is "we'll have to wait for the wt to give us details".

4

Need Help finding a NWT

by admirmitch in

does anyone know where i can obtain an electronic copy of the nwt-large print?

please shoot a link my way via pm if possible.

thanks for any help..

TheOldHippie

jw.org

The Bible - pdf

7

Change of tone in French WT

by aposta-Z in

if some of you read the french version of the watch tawor (la tour de garde), i noticed recently, they have stopped using the formal "vous", for the more common "tu".

.

for non french speakers, both words mean "you".. but the word "vous" (second person plurial) is used out of respect when adressing strangers, and it is the pronoun usually used when adressing the public in a magazine, news paper, public adresses, etc.. i new the mighty wtb&ts was dumbing it down, but now they talk to them like they were children.

TheOldHippie

That is just reflecting what is common in the various countries. In the Northern parts of Europe, the 3rd person was used till the 60s, but after that the 2nd person is used. In Spain, Germany and other language editions, the 3rd person is used. Just a reflection os what is commonly used.