gingerbread

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Posts by gingerbread

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  27

  Where has the money gone??????

  by joe134cd in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all the real estate sell offs, im confidently sure that the wts must be a flush with cash (well at least for the present time).

  i cant believe how blissfully un-aware the local dubbies are about where the money has gone and what it is been used for.

  so my question is where has all this money gone??

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  gingerbread

  Yes. History shows that low income adherents to a faith freely give most if not all of their surplus income (to the church).

  This is a sustainable model for a religious organization when the membership is a growth phase. And, when the culture of the organization encourages personal growth. Wealth flows 'uphill' in religion.

  Organizations (religious or otherwise) that give back to their community develop strong local support systems. Jehovah's Witnesses - as a group and often as individuals - do not 'invest' in personal development, financial growth, social programs or crisis/dependency counseling.
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  27

  Where has the money gone??????

  by joe134cd in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all the real estate sell offs, im confidently sure that the wts must be a flush with cash (well at least for the present time).

  i cant believe how blissfully un-aware the local dubbies are about where the money has gone and what it is been used for.

  so my question is where has all this money gone??

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  gingerbread

  According to the Pew Forum (Pew Report) under demographics of Jehovah's Witnesses, 42% of the membership in the US earn LESS than $30,000 per year. And 70% of members hold a high school diploma without further education or training - or failed to complete public school (drop-out) altogether.

  The long term reality for the WT's donation pool is bleak.

  The growth rate in the US of membership is minimal - look for baptismal numbers on JWN for this years convention. According to Pew, only 37% of people that were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses remain in the religion - 63% of children born in/raised in will leave 'the truth'.
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  40

  Post 6: My brother turns on me now - Possible Legal advice

  by sosoconfused in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is a letter i received today with my brother turning on me based on something that was told to him by my crazy mother.

  he works for me, yet has not spoken a word to me in months because he is a self-righteous little dick.. .

  what i would like to know from someone who knows the law, is it possible i can sue him if he pressures people to not work with me because of my religious beliefs????

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  gingerbread

  Your brother must have just watched the new DVD release "The Prodigal Son Returns" by the Watchtower Society.

  If you haven't seen it, the 1 1/2 hour long movie is currently viewable on YouTube. It's a real 'tear-jerker'...
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  88

  Former Long Time Elder: Why I am still in

  by James Jackson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a customer on my route with whom i have had some lively debates was his number 1 complaint is that "the witnesses have so many rules".

  last month i agreed with on this issue.

  he asked why the change, i told him that i have been doing some soul searching.

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  gingerbread

  The 'truth' can have a positive impact on family life - showing respect, getting along, standards for morality, honesty, working together, showing empathy, etc. But these qualities aren't the property of the WT publications. Many religions, communities...and families teach these same positive codes of conduct.

  Having children grow up in this belief system makes the exit ten times more difficult. You have been very active and involved. I too once was - and raised kids in 'the truth.' It is the family's entire social circle. It takes time to reconstruct trust and faith. Leaving has repercussions. You can't avoid it. Like a divorce, when a family member exits it can turn everyone's world upside down.

  Take your time. Talk a lot. Be honest. Express your feelings.
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  25

  How to act crazy enough not to have to go in FS or to meetings but not crazy enough to get committed to a mental health facility

  by hoser in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking if i acted a little off but not too far off the elders would tell me i'm not welcome in the door to door work.

  i wonder if this would work.

  there is a watchtower or awake article somewhere saying that a mentally ill person may be excused from the meetings and field service if his illness affected others.

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  gingerbread

  Elders love to assist those who are unstable, fragile, depressed, dispondent and lonely.

  Why put a 'target' on your back? Do you really need the attention?

  Find something positive to do with your time. Enroll in a college or university, spend time in a library, get physically active....do something that will help you grow as a person and benefit your life!
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  62

  My mother continues with these creepy letters

  by sosoconfused in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as i continue to post these letters just to let people see what they can expect through a fade, i hope they are not annoying anyone.. if so please let me know and i will no longer post them.

  however i think these letters help you to see how cultish and crazy this religion causes people to become:.

  evening <name removed>,.

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  gingerbread

  When they view the new "Prodigal Son Returns" video, your parents are going to have a meltdown. You can view it on YouTube.

  Your mother is responding to your situation in the only why she knows how. Perhaps she is naturally a guilt-tripper. And her 100% devotion to the Org. magnifies her own fear and feelings of failure.
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  28

  Where are all the new members?

  by Captain Obvious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  with the changes in doctrine being fully unveiled at the dc this year, i expected many to wake up.

  the dcs have been going on for a month now, i fully expected to be welcoming new members by now!

  am i just being impatient?

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  gingerbread

  I 'lurked' for two years. Last year's Candace Conti abuse (coverup) trial in California and it's judgement against the Watchtower Society caused me to join. 18 million dollars...wow!

  The section that is for Members Only - private discussion - contains more personal and detailed insights about what is happening in the congregations and the organization worldwide.

  I needed to know more to help me deal with the unraveling of my personal faith and trust in the Org.
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  37

  Circuit visit (top secret) video presentation

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm just back from the meeting where it was a video presentation given by the circuit overseer.

  apparently it's not on general release, only being viewed during co visits at the moment.

  top secret.

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  gingerbread

  It came clear to me that this video is a promotional piece for the 'non-profit' WTBTS.

  The message is that our donations are being used to spread the 'good news' into every nook and cranny around the globe. Sure it's emotional. The producers did this on purpose - to rally the 'troops' in developed countries to increase their commitment to the Org.'s cause through volunteerism and increasing donations.

  It's presentation, during the visit of the area representative of the WTBTS, implies that the film is VERY important and coming directly from 'the slave' (corporate headquarters).

  Perhaps it's in circulation because the Society is expecting tremendous financial damage from pending lawsuit judgements...
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  69

  Atheism and the delusion of meaning

  by Laika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the movie annie hall, written by woody allen, as a young boy, alvy's mother, takes him to see a doctor as he appears to be dealing with some kind of depression.

  when the doctor asks alvy what's up, alvy explains that he just found out the universe is expanding, everything will spread out and go cold and die, therefore nothing he does matters, so he is not going to do anything anymore.

  most people might see this as a joke, but i think woody is trying to make a serious point.. the point here is about meaning.

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  gingerbread

  "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." Joseph Campbell
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  69

  Atheism and the delusion of meaning

  by Laika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the movie annie hall, written by woody allen, as a young boy, alvy's mother, takes him to see a doctor as he appears to be dealing with some kind of depression.

  when the doctor asks alvy what's up, alvy explains that he just found out the universe is expanding, everything will spread out and go cold and die, therefore nothing he does matters, so he is not going to do anything anymore.

  most people might see this as a joke, but i think woody is trying to make a serious point.. the point here is about meaning.

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  gingerbread

  Atheism is the belief that the existence of a supernatural deity in unprovable.

  Nihilism is the belief that traditional systems of values and morals are of no consequence to the individual.

  Existentialism is the belief that the universe/world is unexplainable and the individual assumes responsibility for his free will.