Posts by Thirdson

8

Have any successully faded away?

by lookingnow22 in

jw
friends

i would be interested in hearing from any of you that have successfully "faded away" from the wbts.

i realize that there is no easy way to leave because of the way that the jw's will treat me.

mainly, i am concerned with my family.

Thirdson

I faded away (I thought only old soldiers did that) but like TR said moving away helped. I moved a long, long way away, had a little involvement and then moved again. No one has ever come looking for me in over 4 years. However, I made it clear to some family members that I no longer believed in the WTS, the FDS/GB or much of the Bible for that matter. I have a strained relationship with my parents and two siblings have little to do with me. The rest of my family (siblings) quit or (aunts, uncles) never were JW's.

As I moved I severed some friendships but they weren't that strong to begin with. In all honesty, my oldest friend who I have known since I was a teenager has never been a JW. I'm 41 on Sunday and my friend is 53. He's visiting the US on business next month and will be spending a weekend with me.

I suppose now, I couldn't careless whether I was DF'd or DA'd, shunning has no effect when you have no contact with JW's. And if it did happen I wouldn't tell my family.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

5

Pioneering is Dropping!!!!

by metatron in

jw
friends

(figures for the usa).

oct 2000 93,338. nov 2000 92,940. dec 2000 92,920. jan 2001 90,477. feb 2001 90,334. .

and march (drum roll, please!

Thirdson

Metatron,

Those are quite alarming figures for the WT. Despite its relaxed hours limit it hasn't done much to keep the ranks up.

A couple of questions:

1. How many aux pioneered in October and March?
2. What was the number of regular pioneers before the hour limit changed and what did it peak at?

The decline could well escalate. No one likes to pioneer alone and if one gives up the partner does also. You have to remember that this is an overall number and many more leave each year but are replace by new pioneers. If the average life span of a pioneer is 3 years 30,000 would leave the ranks and about the same number would join every year. Does anyone have a number for the average duration of pioneer service?

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

40

WHY THE DOLLAR IS DOOMED

by You Know in

jw
friends

jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of those in his day whose faithlessness led them to become intransigent in the face of jesus' credentials as the messiah and all that that entailed as to jehovah's judgments.

likewise, the prophets indicate that ridiculers and apostates will proclaim themselves to be unconvinced concerning the evidence of christ presence and impending judgment of this system.

jesus' rebuke is equally applicable today, where he acknowledged that his generation was expert in using their powers of reason to interpret the changing clouds and winds to accurately predict the next day's weather, and yet jesus said of them: "hypocrites!

Thirdson

He also forecasted the 87 crash beforehand. He gave a speech on German TV back in October of 1998, in which he forecasted the breakup of the Soviet block and Russia's financial collapse. His 9th forecast is his last, obviously, since it forecasts the complete disintergration of the global financial system.

You Know,
Your prophet has done a wonderful job (I guess 1998 was your typo). He beats the Watchtower hands down. So You Know, is this wonderful prophet speaking for God? Obviously he gets things right which is more than Jehovah's prophet the "Jeremiah Class". Is this your new religion then?

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

11

June 7...How will you vote?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

general election...june 7....uk.

how will you vote?.....now that we are allowed to vote it would be interesting to see what political persuasions we have.. for me it is important to vote.

for years i have been told that i cannot voice my opinion....however to vote for me is one of our fundamental human rights.

Thirdson

Dark Clouds and Digd',

(It helps that this got back to the Top...Farkel's fix request). I believe I lost my right to register as a overseas postal-ballot voter. When I renewed my Britsh passport through the Washington DC embassy I was sent details on how to register as UK voter living overseas. However, according to an Expat news letters I was sent recently the UK government changed the rules (while I've been away)and UK citizens living abroad for more then 5 years lose the right to vote. (I think you have to return and re-register to vote).

It makes little difference to me. I guess that after 6 years I care little about UK politics and it could be argued, that after this time away and not paying UK income tax, why should I be allowed to participate in the political process?

When I read the letter I did feel like I was being rejected. I'm in a sort of in-between stage, a permanent US resident without voting rights (pay full US taxes and social security but without representation...sort of things revolutionary wars are fought over) and no longer entitled to full UK citizenship.

As I alluded to previously my next course of action is to apply for US citizenship. Mrs. Thirdson was miffed that I couldn't vote in the last election. She wanted another vote for the Democrats...and being a "minority" (ha ha) and an immigrant I do lean that way.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

13

The Firm and The WTS

by bj in

jw
friends

i would like to share with you the following comparison that is based from the book the firm by john grisham:.

the main character is mitchell mcdeere, a young advocate who was recruited by a small, but well-respected law firm.

they promised him a colourful future if he abide with their codes.

Thirdson

Hi Bj,

You make an interesting comparsion using "the Firm". In the end of book (if I remember correctly) Mitch gets enough evidence together that he can blackmail his way out. Neither the firm nor the mob will do anything because they fear being exposed.

Having inside information is a help. There are ways to leave intact. Some people have inside information, and a lot of this has been shared. The "secret" elders manual is available on-line and the new version, which apparently will be released soon, will quickly make its way to a website.

Knowing the WTS "fears" many have walked away intact and without hateful Watchtower labels attached to them. It may take some planning, just don't rush to leave.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

22

WHY YOU KNOW IS DUPED!

by Amazing in

jw
friends

in you know's post on 'why the world is doomed', he cites a web site in response to why he does not need a job.

it is a lindon larouch site that focuses on economic and political conspiracy theories.

larouch is a big con artists who finally went to jail for bank fraud.

Thirdson

Thanks Amazing,

You Know's continued defense of LaRouche says reams.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

54

WHY THE WORLD IS DOOMED

by You Know in

jw
friends

in referring to the preflood world, peter said that the heavens and the earth had been stored up with water, and that by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water.

the christian prophet went on to say: "by the same word, the heavens and the earth that are now stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of the judgment and of the destruction of ungodly men.

in furtherance of highlighting the apostate's blasphemy that jehovah is going to come streaking out of the clear blue sky one fine day and slaughter billions of innocents while they sleep in their beds, the apostle's brief comments on the topic of jehovah's judgments contains some interesting insights.

Thirdson

I will never leave the truth

You don't Know truth and you peddle both your own lies and that of your Lords and MAsters in Brooklyn. You have lost all credibility I don't know how you have the gall to keep posting your diatribe.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

13

Noah drama from a while ago

by betweenworlds in

jw
friends

does anyone else out there remember a drama from quite a few years ago that portrayed noah trying to preach to people about the flood, and he had a friend that wasn't doing all that he should in helping noah, and at the end of the drama the friend gets locked out of the ark and drowned???

i remember at the time, sitting there and thinking...what in the holy hell is this crap?

now they are making people up??

Thirdson

I remember this drama. Not only were there made-up characters but wasn't the daughter of Noah's friend dating one of the Nephilim? I wonder if he was giant in all places and that is why she liked him. Even better as a cross-breed the Nephilim guy was apparently sterile (I've heard this JW speculation) which makes dating giant guys like him even better.

Strange drama to do. Somehow the lack of a stage Ark, and the lack of a cast of a few thousand animals spoilt the effect a bit. The ark consisted of open platform in a soccer field with comfy chairs. Not very realistic. An audio only version would have been just as good (or bad).

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

18

Door To Door

by ladonna in

jw
friends

my father a ms told me several months ago that jw's no longer do "regular door to door witnessing".

he told me this as i said to him i cannot remember the last time i saw a jwitness at my door which was unusual.. has anyone any answers to this?.

ladonna

Thirdson

When I still associated but had quit field service (mid 90's) I noticed the emphasis was changing to street work (Strip Malls etc) as few people were being found at home. I have seen JW's doing street work in downtown Minneapolis and at the Airport they frequently have a desk set up.

It struck me that FS is extremely inefficient in suburban USA much more so than in densely populated areas and compared to what I was used to in the UK. Setting up groups of 3 pairs to go around together in a car to do the odd "not at home" meant little more than a dozen homes were called at in an hour. No wonder that at this speed I have not been called on in 4 years.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

4

Enterprise

by betweenworlds in

anyone else out there a startrek fan?

looking forward to the new series with scott bakula.

been a fan of his since quantum leap.

Thirdson

I was disapointed with the ending as well. It was a bit like the ending of "Next Generation" with a fast forward to a future time. Going back in time and changing history had already been used in a previous "Voyager" episode when Chakote(? spelling) and Harry Kim returned to the crashed Voyager 20 years later.

I really thought the series wouldn't end and that the journey home would be done in a movie with a possible tie-in to the Picard crew...sort of handing over of the gauntlet. Oh well, I hope I haven't given too much away..not any more than the trailers were showing anyway.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'