I was df in August 2012, for brazen conduct, ie, refusing to accept that it was wrong to ask a non jw lady to help me shop for intimate items my very ill (now deceased) wife needed, and for me to repay the lady with a meal in a public restaurant where we were seen by the 'snoop squad'. In their eyes I should not have been entertaining a woman who was not my wife... anyway, I was at the hall the night my df was announced, and I contd to attend meetings for about 8 months when I finally decided that I could not put up with being ignored/isolated, by people who were once my friends and whom I had helped in many ways over many years. I used to arrive at the hall about 5 mins before the meeting and just sit in my car, then dash in with a minute to spare. I sat at the back on a specially placed chair away from others. I stayed quiet and made no attempt to interact with others. Quite often, a certain elder, who was at my df judicial meeting etc, would pat my shoulder and smile, almost welcoming me discreetly. I would then leave straight after the meeting to help others avoid any embarrassment. In effect, I tried to spare their awkwardness. Looking back, it was a crazy situation to endure. I had done nothing wrong to deserve such shunning.
westiebilly11
JoinedPosts by westiebilly11
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DF'ed arrival/departure times at meetings
by dubstepped ini didn't want to derail another thread, but something said made me wonder.
i know that i noticed df'ed people come in right when the meeting started and leave right when it left most of the time.
is that some sort of actual rule?
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Quality of newer membership
by Lostandfound inon a previous post mamacita29 pointed up the low quality of new jw converts.. is the quality falling even more as the society use lower than low meeting, talks, broadcasts etc.. when i was active initially the organisation and standards seemed totally different today.
i have seen hard working intelligent elders fall by death or exhaustion.
the younger generation that came along never really grasped responsibility hence shortage of good elders, never mind the watered down to almost nothing quality of meetings.
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westiebilly11
When I was last at a meeting I noticed how shallow the new younger ones have become compared to the calibre of elders and ministerial servants when I first went in, in 1982. Over the years younger wannabees have little enthusiasm or genuine interest in others or the subject matter. Their talks became progressively shallow and trite, lacking effective Bible depth , logic, or enlargement. I well remember one talk by a son of an elder, which had as its introduction just the words "Beep Beep..Roadrunner...Beep Beep....". It was a hastily put together talk which made no sense on any level. When I asked the speaker what it was about he said he used those words/sounds to illustrate problems in communication within marriage...! He then apologised and admitted he hadn't prepared well..As older ones die off they take with them the convictions and groundings that brought them into the 'Truth'. Right or wrong, such ones had sincerity and feelings. Those qualities in turn drew others to them . I knew of many young teenagers and older ones who were in just because they were brought up in it. They just went through the motions, unable to venture into the world without the pain of shunning by family and friends. Trapped. -
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All shunning soon to end
by poopie inthis is just a first step clapping.
it's like the fed one quarter bases point at a time.
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westiebilly11
Shunning is a two edged sword. On one hand it is perceived as a mechanism to protect the jws from spiritually dangerous, perhaps free thinking, sinful family and friends, yet on the other hand it is also a mechanism which divides and hurts families and friendships. Were it to be dissolved it would create free movement in and out of the jw org. This freedom might actually result in an increase in numbers as the society would then be seen as not a closed group, and so more friendly. Pros and cons... -
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Un shunning
by zeb inwith change looming large on the horizon what will those people do who make a wt/career of shunning should it become just a 'conscience issue'.
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westiebilly11
'join the club knowing the terms of membership'? How does this work with young ones under the age of consent who are ramrailed into baptism? Surely there must be a statutory age limit to baptism etc to protect default baptism. The young ones who are baptised too young face tremendous hardship if, at a later time, they exercise free will/choice to leave, but are hampered by the cruelty of shunning by one time loving family members. Such shunning is an infringement of children's rights, and tanatamount to emotional abuse. -
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A Sister Stops the CO's Bullying
by Simon Templar inwe had the co a few weeks ago.
i waited a few weeks for time to pass to post.
we now have a new co. he started in september and his first visit to our congo was a little while ago.
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westiebilly11
It's time the rank and file stood up for themselves and each other. Recent scandalous events and increasingly flawed prophecies etc should give them ammunition to raise questions. The CO's etc are just company reps. Were I still I'd fire a few salvos across certain one's bows..... -
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Plans for huge Jehovah's HQ take shape
by Formerbrother inhttp://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/news/11227290.plans_for_huge_jehovah_s_hq_take_shape/.
its going to be a real beautiful place when its finished.. they are going for quality over quantity.
it used to be accommodation for a few thousand permanent residents, now its looking like less than a thousand permanent with the possibility of a few thousand more in temporary accommodation should the need arise.. some say the plans are going to be like a garden of eden in england :) i mean they had farming in london over the years but this is going to be epic what they are planning for temple farm at chelmsford.. they are planting thousands (literally) of fruit trees, including tropical fruits in huge green houses, huge vines yards and then the same basic farming activities as before.
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Plans for huge Jehovah's HQ take shape
by Formerbrother inhttp://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/news/11227290.plans_for_huge_jehovah_s_hq_take_shape/.
its going to be a real beautiful place when its finished.. they are going for quality over quantity.
it used to be accommodation for a few thousand permanent residents, now its looking like less than a thousand permanent with the possibility of a few thousand more in temporary accommodation should the need arise.. some say the plans are going to be like a garden of eden in england :) i mean they had farming in london over the years but this is going to be epic what they are planning for temple farm at chelmsford.. they are planting thousands (literally) of fruit trees, including tropical fruits in huge green houses, huge vines yards and then the same basic farming activities as before.
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westiebilly11
all spin. pie in the sky. just another story to keep up morale.. -
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Shunning ? did JEHOVAH shun Satan ?
by smiddy ini don`t know if this has been addressed before , however it appears there is an inconsistency and a big one at that with the practice of shunning with jw`s.
elders / ministerial servants look out for the spiritual health of the congregation , and if they see something they feel is detrimental to the spiritual health of the congregation they are going to act to rectify it, .
they take appropiate action where they think is necessary .
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westiebilly11
other random thoughts:
Presumably good angels shun demons?..
Angels/demons don't have a mediator so satan and all demons are condemned to death as they are sinful, 'bloodguilty', and have no means of reinstatement..
If, as the bible says, adam and eve were subjected to an edenic test of obedience/freewill, (as jesus was tested by satan ) were angels also subjected to a test since they too have 'free will'? if so, how could they be tested?...unless....human creation is itself a test of angels. since presumably there were never any demons or fallen angels prior to man's appearance on earth....oh dear, I appear to be rambling again..!
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I've begun reading the Qur'an
by nicolaou ini've reached the point where i feel legitimate comment needs to be backed by knowledge of the source.. i'll post occasional updates on how i'm doing and what i'm learning .
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westiebilly11
The older I get the more I'm realizing that the basic flaw in religion is two fold. The unprovable and the unknown.
1) Any religion based on any book puts full trust in that book as truly being 'Inspired' and not just any man's or group of men's musings and assorted conclusions and selected narratives. They therefore claim to have a 'divine commission'..a claim which is unprovable.
2) Any/all religion has as it's basis earthly origins or ideology. It uses fear of the unknown to exercise control.
ie unless 'a God/Higher Power' actually physically speaks to the world it all comes down to belief/trust in men and a belief that only one religion is the 'true religion', when really no religion is the true one....
religion is therefore inherently divisive and a breeding ground for extremism. unless a divine power ( if it exists at all!) intervenes, religions are able to build up a constructed historical basis and a future based on transient ideology. Basically religion is deceptive. It claims to be authentic when there is no tangible method to prove authenticity. 'Religion being the opium of the masses' increasingly rings true.
Please excuse my rambling....!
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Changes and why
by Formerbrother inso far these are all the recent changes i know of, please add more if i have missed anything.. 1. all construction projects have either been stopped or reduced.. 2. all bethels are downsizing by at least 20% within one year of the announcement, and almost certainly more in years to come.. 3. remaining belelites will have to make their own food, do their own washing and cleaning.. no more laundry department, no more kitchen and waiters, no more housekeeping!.
and you still only get 80 per month, but no rent or bills, and food will be provided in the family fridge but you have to prepare it yourself.. as to why, it has been said several times officially its not because of a lack of funds, but how could that possibly be the truth?.
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westiebilly11
what has happened to their wealth?. why the financial cutbacks? what is really going on behind the front they present ?..I don't get it...