Posts by gingerbread

13

Where Is All The Money Going from Sales of WTB&TS `s Real Estate Properties.

by smiddy in

what governmental requirements are their for full disclosure of the proceeds from sales of property made by a not for profit organization such as the wtb&ts.. how does the wtb&ts explain their charitable status when they do not provide any charitable benefits to anyone , when all their members , jehovahs witnesses are not employed by them , they are just volunteers.. does american law allow religous institutions to hide monetary transactions or is their full transparency regarding their use of their money.. how can a multi million $ publishing company , engaged in a multi million $ real estate organisation be considered as a not for profit organisation .. is their anything like an auditor general in the usa that needs to investigate these things ?.

just asking.. smiddy.

gingerbread

Religious organizations in the US have a unique status regarding financial transparency. The Federal Government has checks in place to stay out of the religion business.

These laws were a primary reason that, after Charles Russell passed away, J.F. Rutherford turned the Bible Student movement into the new religion called Jehovah's Witnesses. Maintaining a religious status with governments keeps an organization tax free and protected.

Only in solid cases of embezzlement within a religious organization will a District Attorney press charges.

'Managing' funds and assests is not embezzlement - no matter how large the religious organization.

ginger

25

Once Again: It's Okay for JWs to Rip-Off Non-JWs

by Iown Mylife in

jw
friends

today i heard from the owner of a small restaurant, the story of how a brother in a local congregation ripped him off for thousands.

the restaurant owner is not a jw but totally familiar with the cult, as his mother is a long-time baptized sister.

she asked him to hire this wonderful brother from her congregation to do construction work he needed at his house.

gingerbread

I learned many years ago not to hire a JW or work for a JW.

It's not worth the risk - most times YOU get the shaft.

ginger

33

Baptisms only at regional ( district ) assemblies from 2014 / 15 service year?

by dozy in

jw
friends

just a rumour but i guess it makes sense - i've a friend on a circuit committee ( he knows it's not "the truth" but for family & work reasons he stays in ) & he says that the wtbts have told them not to book a swimming pool for next years one day assemblies as the plan is to have only one baptism a year at the main regional ( what they used to call "district" ) convention.. with the drop off in baptisms so that sometimes there isn't anyone baptised or just a handful , i guess this is inevitable.

i remember going to a baptism a few years ago - we had hired a municipal 25 metre swimming pool and only one person ( a rather confused and scared middle aged lady who hadn't been in a swimming pool since her youth ) was being baptised - it was all something of a farce with the "worldly" staff looking on very puzzled at such an elaborate & expensive ceremony for one person.

) also with both assemblies being one day with just short morning & afternoon sessions , i suppose it is sensible to ditch the baptism talk - it tends to be something of a snoozefest anyway at the end of the morning session.

gingerbread

If this is true I would bet the the WT will come up with a new title for anyone set to get baptized at the Convention. You know...like we now have "Unbaptised Publisher."

Perhaps :

- "Baptismal Candidate"

- "Dedicated Publisher"

- "Minister in Waiting"

- "Minister in Training"

- "Baptismal Apprentice"

- "Whole Souled Publisher"

ginger

72

CO's & DO's age 70+ to be laid off on 9/1/14

by williamhconley in

jw
friends

in a private conversation with a c.o.

friend from north carolina, he told me yesterday that they just got a letter that all traveling overseers (do's & co's) age 70 & up are going to be laid off on 09/01/2014.

they will be asssigned to local congregations and further details are pending.. .

gingerbread

I'm seeing (and hearing from other parts of the US) a younger crop of Circuit Overseers too.

Getting rid of the older CO's also gets rid of a part of JW history that is still fresh in their memory - failed 1975 prediction, the generation that "will not pass away", WT's involvement as a NGO with the United Nations .... and the days when the CO could give talks specific to each congregation or make decisions on his own without the heavy handed control of Headquarters.

ginger

22

The Annual Meeting Quote

by confusedandalone in

jw
friends

someone told me today that at the annual meeting something was said along the lines that, we do not need to be like the boreans and search that everything is true because we know we have the truth.

can anyone confirm this?.

gingerbread

I don't have the quote. But this same thought is expressed in the publications - that the Boreans, before they became Christians, examined the scriptures thoughly as proof. After they were baptised, according to the WT, they no longer had the desire to research or question their new religious faith.

ginger

66

hello

by fakefading in

hello my fellow "apostates".

just wanted to say hi.

i'm still in the borg but mentally out.

gingerbread

Take your time. Quietly observe others in the congregation. Think to yourself. Take mental notes. Be patient.

Protect your position. Password protect your computer. Erase your internet history. Don't write, text or email about your realizations. Be careful.

ginger

41

New Policy on Inactive Ones?

by Cynisister in

this may have been discussed, but i just recently was told that a km this past year stated that inactive ones are now to be treated as if they are df'd.

is this so?

cynisister.

gingerbread

Because many of the decisions the WT leadership makes is about available funds, an official policy of shunning the inactive won't ever happen.

They want these folks to be 'reactivated spiritually' > get them back to the Hall so they can once again stuff the contribution boxes or swipe their credit cards.

ginger

38

I want my donations back!

by Hortenzie in

i want to ask wt for my donations back.

i live in canada and i have income tax receipts from them so i can prove how much i gave them.... anybody ever tried something like that or heard about somebody doing it?

what approach should i take?.

gingerbread

ecan6 & RottenRiley - I appreciate your lines of reasoning. Here are some thoughts to consider regarding this particular situation.

The leadership of the Watchtower believes that they represent god on earth. They know that they are speaking the truth but, as we all know, the 'truth' is adjustable. They believe that they are going to heaven to rule with christ over the earth. They believe that this organization is mankinds only hope for a successful and happy future. They tell you that the money is needed for building projects, support of full time staff and travelling representatives, and for the production of literature. No deception here. In their minds (and in yours when you gave your money away) giving freely shows that you are a good christian.

They are like the Wizard of Oz - the man behind the curtain. The difference is that the GB believes that the scary, smoky 'wizard' that they operate is real. They are 100% in. They are not deceiving you when they ask for donations - god needs this money. In their minds, you gave back money to god by donating it to the organization.

Proving deceptive practices in a court of law is possible. Proving unethical behavior is much more difficult.

ginger

21

Why are they still going door to door?

by Euphemism in

hey all, long time no see!.

a friend posted the anthony morris videos on facebook today, and the ensuing conversation got me wondering: why are the jws still going door-to-door in the developed world?.

it's clearly useless as an evangelizing tactic; the wt have recognized that for 20 years, with their "go where the people are" spiel, but they also insist that it's still necessary.. .

gingerbread

At conventions and assemblies a select group of full time pioneers are always interviewed. Over the last couple of decades the focus has changed from experiences of bringing new ones into the 'truth' to 'how has pioneering benefited YOU personally'.

It's a way to get members back into the hall, to give the illusion that they are participating in meaningful activity...and it advertises to a community that Jehovah's Witnesses exist in their town.

"Advertise, advertise, advertise .... JW.org".

The tagline for 2014 !!!

ginger

52

What is the deal with the "this is the last memorial" comments from my JW?

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

the guy i know was saying this the other day.. "it's been suggested this may be the last one", or words to that effect.. where & by whom?.

is this doing the rounds?.

gingerbread

"Praying for the end of time"....