Posts by Thirdson

24

Religion of the Light and Sound of God

by Robdar in

jw
friends

.

check out eckankar

Thirdson

The temple of Eck (a golden pyramid) is about 6 miles from where I live. When I was dating Mrs. Thirdson, she asked me about the temple clearly visible from Highway 5 in Chanhassen. I hadn't a clue. So we looked up Eckankar on the web. After viewing the official site complete with images of the rather smug and gitty Sri Harold Clump, and after discovering we could be members for just $95 per year, we looked at the other hits. Definite problems with the cult. What sticks in my mind was the web page entitled "My life with Eckankar and Amway" I guess Eckankar is also a pyramid selling scheme?

Thirdson

I

18

Missing the UK

by DiscoSandy in

jw
friends

hi all - i've only posted here a couple of times - i'll post my story at some point.

i know quite a few people on this site are from the uk.

i (and my husband / 3 kids) lived in the uk from 2000 - 2002 and returned back to our home in minnesota 4 months ago.

Thirdson

Alright, Sandy,

I am originally from England but live in Minnesota (last 7 1/2 years). I miss some things from England, pretty much the same as you.

) a good curry - I make my own, if I had my way every night would be curry night!

2) Eastenders - Yuk, depressing program, available on both PBS channels in the Twin Cities, but about 2 years behind.

3) pub lunches (ESPECIALLY drinking a pint at lunch !) - Nothing like a pub lunch and a pint or two!!!

4) saying "bloody" this and "bloody" that. I never did because I was a JW, sometimes say "bloody hell" now when I want to be British.

5) being called "lovey" -- Nope, never called that.

6) walking in the countryside (I'm a rambler at heart) - Yes, I loved the Cotswolds.

7) picking up a paper from the local newsagent -- Not bothered

8) a proper pot of tea -- I can still make decent tea.

9) a good dose of sarcasm - Like I miss it too.

10) okay, I admit it, Graham Norton - Graham who? I have a celendar featured on his show (TV?) Round-a-bouts of Redditch, a Christmas present from my sister, it hangs in my cube at work. Sadly I know the 11 of the 12 round-a-bouts (traffic circles) featured.

Cheers,

Thirdson

13

Looking for a Superb Board Game? - Here it is!

by GermanXJW in

i have made this recommendation already last year but i will repeat because there are several new members and because the game is currently on stock at amazon.com.. in 1995, german game inventor klaus teuber created the board game "settlers of catan" that caused turmoil in germany: it won several prizes incl.

"game of the year".

and millions (!

Thirdson

GermanJW,

I wanted to thank you for this. I looked up the game and talked to my brother-in-law. I found out he already had "Settlers" so he brought it over and the Thirdson family is now addicted.

Have you played the variations? Are any better than the original? What about the expansion packs, does the game still work with more players?

Thanks again,

MFG,

Thirdson

31

WT Payments.

by caspian in

jw
friends

just recieved a new letter from the society.

it is another begging letter for contributions, in it they explain the british tax relief given to them as a charity .

for every 1 pound donated the goverment will give them an extra 28p if it is donated under the gift aid arrangement.

Thirdson

James (2300),

I suggest paying $13.86, or less. See how long you can keep the letters coming for the ever decreasing amount you owe. It probably costs more than $13.87 to send the letter each month.

I rather like it that a bank (Hell's Cargo) I have an account with usually contains less than $30 and they send me a statement each month. With free checking, I use their convenient ATMs to deposit small checks and draw the same amount of cash back. I understand that the monthly statement costs the bank about $30.

Seven years ago this bank refused me a credit card citing my lack of credit history despite my having $50,000 on hand. Another small bank was happy to provide credit card and a small auto-loan in exchange for investing with them. Guess who still keeps my money.

Thirdson

31

WT Payments.

by caspian in

jw
friends

just recieved a new letter from the society.

it is another begging letter for contributions, in it they explain the british tax relief given to them as a charity .

for every 1 pound donated the goverment will give them an extra 28p if it is donated under the gift aid arrangement.

Thirdson

How is this different from the scheme the UK WTS has had in place for at least the last 10 years?

JW giving has always been something done in secret and claiming tax back on contributions is difficult. This is because the pot of money at the Kingdom hall comes from a group of people not all of whom are income tax payers. To get around this the WTS agreed with the Inland Revenue that contributions could be made in numbered envelopes corresponding to a named person who was an income tax payer. The total contribution of the numbered envelopes was recorded each month and once a year the annual figure was filed with the Inland Revenue for a tax rebate. For Inland Revenue audit reasons the numbered envlope contributions could be linked back to a member of the congregation but only the congregation secretary kept the number/person list.

What is different today? Will tax be claimed back from every member of the congregation who signs the form? Does the form include an annual pledge? The annual pledge is a powerful way to get people to pay and can be used to remind persons who have slipped in their contributions.

When I was a JW, and lived in the UK I refused to pledge via the numbered method. I didn't want anyone knowing how much or rather how little I contributed.

Thirdson

35

Help the Elders are after me!!!!!!!!

by auntiem in

jw
friends

okay, an elder just showed up at my doorstep and he was wearing sweat suit and sweat pants and he was alone.

whats up with that?

is this a new tactic to get me to talk?

Thirdson

Auntie Em,

No elder should ever call on you alone. It is both inappropriate as a social call and certainly as a pastoral visit for a JW elder to visit with someone of the opposite sex. If this happens again you should not let him in and remind him he is breaking the WTS rules he is supposed to abide by. Better to not answer the door or be out at the next scheduled visit.

THirdson

11

Buahahahaha!!!!

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

.

the constellation of the seven stars forming the pleiades appears to be the crowning center around which the known systems of the planets revolve.... it has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling place of jehovah and the place of the highest heavens;..... the constellation of the pleiades is a small one compared with others which scientific instruments disclose to the wondering eyes of man.

but the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small when compared to the pleiades in importance, because the pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of god.. j. f. rutherford, reconciliation, 1928, p. 14.. .

Thirdson

It is thought, and with much weight, that the Pleiades is the source of the comet we call today Hale-Bopp. Hale-Bopp periodically visits the Earth with an accompanying UFO that picks up cult members to take back to Heaven.

In 1997, Marshall Applewhite and 38 followers committed suicide hoping to rendezvous with the supposed UFO accompanying the Hale-Bopp comet. When you consider the "Heaven's Gate" cult ideas they weren't that much different to a leader of our favorite cult we post about here.

Thirdson

69

Most ridiculous statements from the JW stage?

by Smiles in

we have all sat at jw meetings and heard some ridiculous statements that were either shocking or just plain old bunk.

usually it is the same jw individuals that make those statements time and time again.

you know the type..... you can almost expect such comments from them.. jws place great importance on what statements or persons are 'stage worthy'.

Thirdson

At a Watchtower study a pioneer sister answered a question about why "peer pressure" can be such an issue. She said peer pressure is difficult because of the intense stares of opposers peering at Jehovah's Witnesses. I guess her pocket dictionary (often the wealth of books owned by JWs that are not from the WTS) was lacking in definitions, but it made me laugh, and I still think about this person when ever I hear the phrase "peer pressure."

Thirdson

84

Officially Disassociated Tonight

by Princess in

jw
friends

steve and i attended our very last meeting this evening.

i wrote a thread a few weeks ago about our elder visit and their decision to announce that we were disassociated.

they agreed to wait until we returned from our vacation so i could tell my grandma who still attends via phone link and so she wouldn't have to be alone in her devastation.

Thirdson

Rachel and Steve,

What a great way to leave. Good for you and I am glad you had fun.

Judging by the photo, if they DA or DF many more there won't be any left.

Thirdson

"Would the last Disassociated person please turn the lights out on leaving."

8

" ...our colored brothers."

by MacHislopp in

jw
friends

im sorry for the absence from this excellent

board but for the moment im very busy in my professional life.

nevertheless i would like to correct a statement

Thirdson

I think the worst of this is the excuse the article made for not desegregating. As is seen throughout the history of the Watchtower Society, it is a religion of "do nothing." They don't provide hospitals, don't fund medical research, don't feed the hungry, don't provide clothing to the poor and don't provide shelter to the homeless. They certainly weren't going to to desegregate. The Watchtower took this attitude which was little better than some other churches of the time that sent paid missionaries to Africa but barred African-Americans from their churches in the USA.

Once again the Watchtower Society has benefitted from social reform and civil rights not because they did anything but because of the courage and sacrifice of others. If the Watchtower Society had been around just a few years earlier I think they would have taken a neutral stand in the abolishing of slavery, after all the Bible doesn't condemn slavery and they are a Bible Based (tm) religion.

Thirdson

P.S. AGuest, I liked your thought on color, but remember, on the Watchtower's convention bus the light green brothers sat at the front, while the dark green brothers sat at the back