Yeah, I'm skeptical about all the empty halls also. Maybe in some places but not in others. The hall by me seems to have a full parking lot when I drive by. They did get rid of one of the old buildings in the area but they still have a few congregations they just meet in one hall. That seems like a good move honestly.
LeeMerk
JoinedPosts by LeeMerk
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Even with recent changes it’s a struggle to get people to attend
by hoser inthe kingdom hall is still empty.
even with amalgamation of 2 congregations.
the elders are handling the microphones and there was only one comment from zoom at the watchtower.
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Essential Beliefs
by LeeMerk inif the watchtower really wants to move more mainstream they need to take a lesson from evangelicals in the united states.
they seem to say there are "essential beliefs".
a handful of core beliefs that are necessary to be considered true christians.
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LeeMerk
They want almost completely mainstream…
…and shattered into a bazillion pieces.I don't know. It looks like there were splinter groups who wanted to stay non trinitarian but the group seems to have gone from around 100,000 to 66,000 or so. But that's with the core belief about who God is! That's a huge change.
The changes I am talking about are much smaller.
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Essential Beliefs
by LeeMerk inif the watchtower really wants to move more mainstream they need to take a lesson from evangelicals in the united states.
they seem to say there are "essential beliefs".
a handful of core beliefs that are necessary to be considered true christians.
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LeeMerk
What the WCG did seems like a bigger pull off in a way doesn't it? Didn't they go Trinitarian?
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Essential Beliefs
by LeeMerk inif the watchtower really wants to move more mainstream they need to take a lesson from evangelicals in the united states.
they seem to say there are "essential beliefs".
a handful of core beliefs that are necessary to be considered true christians.
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LeeMerk
In my view, they have always made too big a thing about too many things. The essentials become muddied as you say. Therefore, when someone questions something small and can't defend it anymore everything else comes into question too.
What mess has the beard thing caused already?
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Essential Beliefs
by LeeMerk inif the watchtower really wants to move more mainstream they need to take a lesson from evangelicals in the united states.
they seem to say there are "essential beliefs".
a handful of core beliefs that are necessary to be considered true christians.
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LeeMerk
If the Watchtower really wants to move more mainstream they need to take a lesson from Evangelicals in the United States. They seem to say there are "Essential Beliefs". A handful of core beliefs that are necessary to be considered true Christians. These beliefs set them apart from everyone else and mark them as "authentic". The "non-essentials" are basically up to your conscience and not emphasized.
I see this in books, churches and so forth in the last few years. Perhaps in response to controversies in the Evangelical world I don't know.
I really think this is what the Watchtower needs to move towards. It would still set them apart from other Christians (the non-trinitarian view) but many would find it reasonable. I will list some as a possible example:
1. Father, Son, Spirit separate (current belief and non-trinitarian)
2. Soul is the body (current view)
3. Hell is the grave
4. Resurrection at the end of time for all in the grave
5. 144,000 is symbolic
6. We are in a last day period since Pentecost
Birthdays, blood, shunning is a personal matter although counsel to those not following matters of sexual morality (conservative view) will still take place.
This is just a quick list, what would you think might be considered "essential" to a more mainstream Watchtower?
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LeeMerk
Damn, now I look like a Jehovahs witness again 😆
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A BEARD PREDICTION FOR 2024
by AndersonsInfo infyi, i posted this prediction on my facebook page last night and it has received 224 likes and there have been 83 comments made.
many of the comments are hilarious.. .
a beard prediction for 2024:.
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LeeMerk
Did I hear it correctly in that video? The reason th bare faced Jesus in the old publication showed up was because they listened to what an archeologist was saying at the time? Never heard that one before and what was the all about?
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Why are the 2 newly appointed Governing Body Members from Bethel, when there are anointed ones all over the world? they could have used.
by RULES & REGULATIONS inlibrary.
books & brochures.
enjoy life forever!—an interactive bible course.
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LeeMerk
I watched just a little bit. It's amazing how slippery they are with their reasoning. They just never can be wrong or blamed for anything. Also, look how they pick and choose scriptures to back up their twisted reasoning. Everything is out of context.
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Ban on Independent Meetings
by lssjr insource - march 2021 announcements - - https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5085868283920384/2021-march-147-english-german-announcements-reminders.
this is a sobering reminder of what happened some 40 years ago when raymond franz and others were literally kicked out from the jehovah's witnesses for having pre-arranged private spiritual discussions.lesson: paragraph 7 is another example of the i and t in dr. steven hassan's bite model of the 21st century cult - information and thought control at its best!!!!
"my gosh, there must be a lot of independent meetings these days.
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LeeMerk
I remember families getting together to pre study the Watchtower also. Congregation picnics also. The soul was gradually sucked out of everything.
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A BEARD PREDICTION FOR 2024
by AndersonsInfo infyi, i posted this prediction on my facebook page last night and it has received 224 likes and there have been 83 comments made.
many of the comments are hilarious.. .
a beard prediction for 2024:.
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LeeMerk
Sideburns being too long in the 90s were controversial in a city area but still good in a rural area which had leftover styles from the 70s. Ridiculous and all about control.