i just got this from a witness who i bumped into yesterday.
she is very disturbed by this announcement the congo.
got on friday at their service meeting:.
Partiot,
The org also says don't watch "R" rated movies and videos as well since this is part of the corrupt world of Satan. Huge numbers of JWs ignore that directive. I can't imagine many JWs heeding the call not to watch the news...its on all TV channels and since everyone is talking about the events I doubt many could stand not to watch.
I echo Individual's wife's sentiments and gratitude. You have my support and admiration.
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
i am in need of references to watchtower publications that contain images.
of united states government buildings, especially the white house-.
depicted as being violently destroyed by the watchtower society.. i have much of the wt literature pre-1992, and a bit of the post-1992 stuff,.
Tallyman,
In addition to your request for pictures these thoughts and images are published on the official WTS website. I hope they won’t use these sentiments regarding the hundreds of New York firefighters and police officers killed rescuing people
At Mount Fugen, over a dozen policemen and volunteer firemen were on duty when the superheated volcanic flow hit them. They were trying to help and protect endangered people. They were like well-meaning men and women who are immersed in improving this world. Lofty though their motives may be, "that which is made crooked cannot be made straight." (Ecclesiastes 1:15) The crooked system of things cannot be straightened out. Is it reasonable to make oneself "a friend of the world" by trying to save a worldwide system that God is determined to eliminate?From Watchtower.org at this URL:
( http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/2/15/article_02.htm
More happy people at seeing destruction
(How We Know We Are in "the Last Days")
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
based on comments in various threads, it seems that many of you are acquainted with the various ``dodges'' jws use to strech out their field service time: foot-dragging, driving around on return visits from one far-flung end of the territory to the other, the skilful avoidance of contact with housholders, coffee breaks, etc.
etc.. do you have any impression of how pervasive these time-wasting such practices are, and what proportion of the time reported by jws is actually bogus and not spent productively?
or, put another way, how rare is is to encounter who just loves to go out and who uses his/her time efficiently from beginning to end?.
This is all true. I knew a handful of JWs who were enthusiastic about the FS. The "Pioneer Shuffle" in the UK area I lived in was termed the the "Pioneer Plod". Much of UK door-to-door work in cities and large towns is done on foot. We'd meet for FS at a home and then walk to the territory. We'd approach someone on the street as soon as possible with a mag to get an immediate "No", start the clock and then walk for 30 minutes to start the real "work". With leaving to do "return visits" after half an hour you spend the next 2 hours walking all over the neighborhood.
This is an effective ministry. Meet 3 people in first hour and manage one 30 second presentation of the latest mags. Then engage in return visit activity for next hour and find one person home who says there not interested in any more mags. The result, you feel good because you did it, you looked good because you set the lead and can have "freedom of speech" when bragging about the FS at Service Meetings.
The FS serves little purpose as an education tool. The WTS makes lots of money because "publishers" buy the magazines. Most of the magazines are not placed but end up as trash. Those that are placed likely become immediate trash because the householder took them to be polite. Ordinary congregation members keep doing it because this is how they are controlled.
A billion hours a year are spent like this. What a colossal waste of time.
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
i followed the link on the "support freedom" banner, and checked out "guidestar".
http://www.guidestar.org.
a search for "watchtower", naturally came up with their "charitable" work, and it's really impressive!.
Maybe they should correct their official website main page ( http://www.watchtower.org
to be something like this
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
http://www.jw-media.org/video/9-11_hi.htm.
modem.
http://www.jw-media.org/video/9-11_lo.htm.
I Checked out the PR site and read the press release of September 11.
I thought at first this sounds betTer than normal WTS stuff.
Everyone will be touched by this tragedy. Comfort and cooperation are the necessary survival kit right now.
Nice sentiments but the link on the underlined portion takes you here
--> http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2001/8/22/article_01.htm
If you read the series of articles you get to the future predictions. There the WTS states this as comfort to the those suffering PTS:
After describing a worldwide epidemic of trauma and the start of "great tribulation" to follow, note what Jesus said people should do: "Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." (Matthew 24:21-31; Luke 21:28) Yes, as world conditions worsen, we can be sure that great tribulation upon this distress-causing system of things will culminate in the end of all wickedness and the ushering in of a righteous new system.—1 John 2:17; Revelation 21:3, 4.We should not be surprised that our deliverance will come only after wickedness and violence have reached their zenith. God's judgments in the past against the world of Noah's day and the vile inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah followed a similar pattern. Those past executions of divine judgment show what will happen in the future.—2 Peter 2:5, 6.
( http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2001/8/22/article_03.htm)
So there you have it from the WTS: Suffering? Think this is bad? You ain't seen nothing yet...it's gonna be far worse than this!
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
hi folks,.
i havent posted anything since last weekend and a lot has happened this week.
like everyone else i have experienced the full range of emotions from shock and horror to anger and sadness.
Hi folks,
I haven’t posted anything since last weekend and a lot has happened this week. Like everyone else I have experienced the full range of emotions from shock and horror to anger and sadness. I gathered with many colleagues in the company lunchroom and watched TV, watched the WTC towers collapse, saw the shock, pain and the tears on the faces of my friends. When I couldn’t get on CNN.com, the BBC or any other news channels I came to this board to read your comments from TV news…thanks to all for keeping me up to date.
I won’t share my views on what has happened and what should be done. They are mine. When I have read some posts I have swung from one viewpoint that I thought I agreed with to the other extreme finding the opposite to be agreeable, only to swing back the other way again with the next post. I suppose that at times like this we post some rash statements as well and I have been disppointed by the reaction of some here but I can understand why some things have been said.
Mrs Thirdson has been deeply affected by the events of this week. She has been physically sick, depressed and very anxious. I have had my work cut-out just providing reassurance. I won’t watch TV news if she is nearby. Yesterday at dinner I prayed for the victims and the families and those who have died only to make my wife burst in to tears again. Today she attended the cathedral in downtown Minneapolis where we were married a year ago this weekend. She said it was packed for the 11:00 A.M. memorial service. She cried through the whole service and afterwards cried in the arms of many of the ones we know. But the release of tears has been a real help and it has been good for her to find a place and time to let go and release that emotion. The cathedral congregation numbers some 2000 and every family or member was contacted by telephone on Thursday to notify them of the special service. In addition to the national anthem the service included two of my wife’s favorite hymns. It has been a great help, I’m glad she was able to attend.
My son on the other hand has dealt with the tragedy by talking non-stop about the events and watching a lot of news programs. It has proved to be difficult dealing with both in the way they need to handle this situation!
Just my own viewpoint on small things: I think the little things that many are doing are right and helpful. Lighting candles and flying the flag are small things that strengthen us and unites this nation in this difficult time. My son went to school choosing to wear the colors of the flag. Neither he nor I are US citizens yet but we feel proud and privileged to live here and what has been generously shared with us will not be taken away from the American people by the evil.
Keep flying the flag!
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
i saw redhorsewoman's thread title, "the time is at hand", and knew why she picked it: because the society uses that phrase all the time (or used to when i was in, anyway... i'm betting they still do).
it reminded me of a district assembly part from along about 1983 called "now is the time" (can any of you brighter types guess which song they chose to accompany it?).
this got me to thinking of how the society has these pet phrases they use over and over again, often featuring them in some thinly reworked format (like going from "now is the time" to "the time is at hand") as article titles.
This is so easy, a bit like cut'n paste Watchtower articles.
Boys in Writing -- Honest Scholars or Heretics?
Where Can't You Find Trustworthy Guidance?
Unhelpful Teachings for our Not So Critical Times
Kingdom Proclaimers Inactive in all the Earth
Have You Found the Wrong Religion?
Why Does Fear Grip the Watchtower Society?
Unhappy in a Worldwide Sham of Brotherhood
and the December issue: Christmas, Is it Truly an Unhappy Time for Families?
All articles inspired by the Watchtower bound volume of 1994.
Thirdson
P.S. One from the Awake! Porcupine Procreation -- Proof that God has a Sense of Humor!
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
i must say i find the way the jehovah's witnesses draw parallels between the beasts of the revelations and organisations such as the un incredible.. when the united nations was brought into being from the league of nations, they still managed to twist scripture to accommodate this.. well, the un has had some tough times over the last 10 years.
what when it reforms as something else (as it most probably will sooner or later)?
will they find another beast from somewhere else, or drop it alltogether?.
Ballistic,
Every time they release a new book on Revelation they change a lot. When the UN changes the beast will be something else. Even Babylon the Grape may have to change!
Some things struck me as laughable when we studied the Climax book a dozen years ago...the seven angelic trumpet blasts. These were 7 resolutions at 7 conventions in the 1920's (p173). Who among your average JW can state or paraphrase a single sentence from these resolutions? Most of Joe Public doesn't even know that according to JWs they are soon to be toast let alone what this supposed global judgement message was 70 years ago. You'd think an angel blowing a trumpet might be a little louder!
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
.
(give it time - it usually takes a few minutes before it shows up)
Oooh, is that a sheep in wolf's clothing?
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
thank you all for the warm welcome!
it has been so hard living, believeing that i am an anomaly.
i realize that there are others out there who have lived and expierenced what i have.
Cassiline,
Welcome to the board, we're glad to add another member and look forward to your insight and experiences.
Like almost all of us you have experienced the different emotions of leaving this controlling religion, JW/Watchtower Society. I think once you reach the anger level, brought about by the realization of the lies, you've overcome all the other negative feelings and can begin to move on. There is no going back now. I talked to one of my older brothers last December about this. For several years he had felt sad and guilty after leaving and in his mind thought he would eventually return. But after discussing his feelings and thoughts with those of us who had already left and after reading Crisis of Conscience he realized he couldn't go back to the lies.
The things you mentioned, changes, were always there but they are so subtle that the average JW, who barely has time, never notices them because they never read the fine print. That is until quite recently with the advent of the Internet. There is a lot more dicussion and notification of these "little" changes. Still, my parents and oldest brother missed the implications of the change in the "blood" policy of June last year. I told them and I never saw a paper copy of the magazine!
Some things like voting are not really different. A version in print placates lawyers and governments but the rank and file will still be told a different version. The UN now is a "good" organization while the Revelation, Grand Climax book still casts it as a wild beast that "was, was not and was again and soon will be destroyed." Blood is bad still, and the JWs I've talked to have no clue as to what is allowable but the WTS says it is all "good" if you subdivide it small enough you can have 99.9% of it.
When I was a JW I rationalized the changes. Blood fractions were acceptable in my mind because of the rule of placental barrier crossing or being a component of breast-milk. But I relationalized it to death and at some point the whole doctrine toppled for being so unreasonable and illogical.
There is so much to discuss and the repeating of this information in the 100s of posts each day on this and other boards serves to enlighten the lurking R&F. The WTS is going to go through major overhaul in the coming years. There is enough debate and red-hearing frying here at the moment. No-one will know if any major or minor changes will take place until after this year's AGM and Watchtower articles. Lasts year's resignation of the aging GB from the WTS corporations was a major change that barely got a mention in the Watchtower amongst all the fluff of history and the idea that corporations are mere tools to be used and set a side as necessary.
Stay tuned (a certain TV show might be good too...damn! I've done today's version of "when is Dateline on again?") and join in the fray. There are some really good threads on this board.
Sorry to ramble on. But welcome again.
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
Edited for spelling and being too lazy to type in a word-processor first.
