Posts by gingerbread

41

I NEVER Hear A JW Talk About Never Dying & Living Forever In Paradise Anymore!

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was raised with this belief, that we would never die and actually make it into the "new system".

mu faithful jw aunt still talked about my mother (her sister) and her walking together into the great tribulation--- and never die at all!

she spoke of that 2 days before she passed away.. i believe most witnesses expect to die and then get resurrected.

gingerbread

So many assemblies are filled with elderly long-term Witnesses. These attend because that is their life's routine. Their children attend out of obligation. Their grandchildren are absent.

The older ones in the congregations sit quietly during studies...or give the obligatory single answer. Desperate, aging pioneers shuffle around in service. Parents and grandparents who did it 'right' according to the Watchtower's guidance - but are now left with disfunctional familial relationships, hard feelings, resentment, depression, stress and chronic physical illness.

ginger

35

Petty Gambling

by konceptual99 in

jw
friends

according to the shepherd book.... .

the elders do well not to involve themselves in what individuals do with regard to petty gambling solely for entertainment.

they may need to give counsel if this becomes a cause of stumbling for others or affects the spirituality of the individual or the congregation.-w02 11/1 p. 31.. .

gingerbread

Another prime example of Watchtower pharisaical rule making.

It's okay for guys to have sideburns....but only "down to here".

A little 'accidental' viewing of soft porn is okay...if you don't do it all the time.

The Watchtower Society has been active in the stock market since the 1920's - according to two old timers I knew from Rutherford, NJ. Of course they won't call that gambling ... it's an investment i.e. making money off of your donations.

I told this to a long time elder in our cong. and he said "that's a lie. 'We' don't play the stock market".

But, by god, if you have a game at home you better keep score with a pencil - one or two beers max and forget about 'luck'.

ginger

44

Newcomers to TTATT: Beware of "New Study Mode"!

by Londo111 in

jw
friends

weve all heard it.

a person starts studying with jehovahs witnesses and love what they are learning so much that they cant stop talking about it.

bubbling with enthusiasm, they spill everything they are learning with their friends and family...or anybody who will listen.

gingerbread

Becoming aware of the realities of the Organization, it's history and the origins of our beliefs is a very emotionally charged situation.

That opens up the danger of spreading the 'new' truth. I rattled the cages of a few family members in the beginning ... now I accept that everyone has to do this on their own.

Stopping the thought and behavior patterns I learned growing up as a Witness is the most difficult thing to accomplish.

ginger

126

This is my first post

by Make Lemonade in

i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.

there are resources here that are deep.

like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?

gingerbread

Your background is much like our parents - young and hoping to change the world when they found 'the truth'. This religion dovetailed right into their hopes and dream. I was in grade school when 1975 approached - I was worried that I would never get to go to high school.

Over the years our parents have changed their outlook on the organization. My father in law asked me casually a few weeks ago if I ever read jwfacts.com. I about fainted... until he said he and the wife had been looking at it and they are pretty upset about what they've realized. They moved to where the 'need was greater' in 1973.

ginger

24

The Organization is expanding so much........

by DATA-DOG in

...that district overseers are now being used as circuit overseers!!

that was a comment at the wt study program.

another great comment was this: " you can go to bethel and have zero skills.

gingerbread

Confirmation bias in action !

At this point I do feel pity for these folks. They really believe this stuff....

ginger

26

News article: Watchtower buys former motel

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20140322/biz/403220306 watchtower buys former motelgroup may also purchase site in tuxedo the former hampton inn on route 300 will provide housing for volunteers working on the watchtowers new headquarters being built in goshen.steve borland/times herald-record.

by james walshtimes herald-recordpublished: 2:00 am - 03/22/14town of newburgh the watchtower tract and bible society closed friday on the purchase of the hampton inn on route 300.. watchtower spokesman richard devine said the building will be used to provide housing for short-term volunteers working on the organization's world headquarters, which is under construction in warwick.. the sale price wasn't disclosed.. another property, sterling forest apartments in a rural area of the town of tuxedo, may also be purchased by watchtower.

that would provide housing for long-term volunteer construction workers at the headquarters.. "we talked to the owner there," devine said of the apartments, "but we're still investigating that.

gingerbread

I bet the ones in charge of the WT purse strings had plenty of long, heated arguments about purchasing this hotel.

Or, a long term purpose was rationalized for the purchase that justified the outlay of money - perhaps a place for WT branch representatives from around the world to be housed when visiting the 'world headquarters'...or the Society sees the income potential of owning a nearby hotel during assembly weekends.

If an experiment of this sort works, maybe it will be applied to many town that have JW owned assembly halls.

ginger

28

When and where is the War in Heaven, supposedly?

by jam in

1)when did this war breakout or did i miss it.. many commentators conclude that the battle between michael.

and the dragon occurs roughly at the start of the church age.. some even argue that the battleground is the church itself.. others say this scene describes the dispute between michael.

and satan for the body of moses (jude 9) or the long-ago.

gingerbread

This 'war' takes place in the pages of the Bible.

Other cultures throughout history have verbal and written tales about wars 'in heaven' between spirit creatures/gods - Greek mythology is a common reference.

ginger

107

Will firing the DOs be the first step to a new Watchtower?

by Juan Viejo2 in

against my better judgement, i've decided to share the following as a response to guy pierce passing and the announcement of the elimination of district overseers later this year.. late in january (2014) i got an email from one of my contacts (a fader) who served at bethel for several years, but is no longer at wt hq.

he still has a lot of close contacts within the service department and in other departments at patterson and knows people in all of the ny offices.

i kept this email set aside on a flash drive and haven't shared it with anyone - figuring i'd publish an article about it later this year when i had more time to do it right.

gingerbread

The thousands of folks that were converted in the late 1960's and early 70's are now in retirement and facing the hard fact that they are going to die.

The Watchtower leadership realizes this fact and will change, change, change the 'truth' to make it more appealing to the hundreds of thousands who were born-in and raised by these converts. The "Millennials" generation of Jehovah's Witnesses are not engaging with the Organizational structure and many are (though baptized at age 10, 11, 12...) choosing to fade, drop out or move away from the religion of their parents.

ginger

28

What do you think are the future doctrine changes will be?

by thedepressedsoul in

the whole organization is going through huge and big changes.

it can be seen by names of departments, to how things function and teaches.

my questions to you is, what do you think the future changes will be, both in teaching and organizational matters?.

gingerbread

I don't forsee major shifts in doctrine - but 'new light' tweeks and organizational structure changes will continue.

The statement made in the Nov 2013 Watchtower Study Edition ('Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes' article, par. 17) about preparing for the coming attack of "the Assyrian" and that all need to obey the direction from "Jehovah's organization (that) may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. " should be a cause of concern for every Jehovah's Witness.

When the new World Headquarters completes the move to Wallkill, I suspect the preaching message will change from one of comfort to one of 'righteous condemnation'. The emphasis on 'preaching' in public places with carts, tables, booths, JW.org stores and JW.org trucks brings us out of the deserted neighborhoods and into the face of the public.

"Bring on the persecution so we can prove our faith" will become the new mantra.

ginger

42

BOE: Kaboom to DOs

by pixel in

to all congregations re: district overseers.

dear brothers:.

march 20, 2014. we are pleased to inform you of a significant decision made by the governing body that will affect the work of traveling overseers worldwide.

gingerbread

When organizations find themselves in financial trouble, the permanent layoff usually begins with unessential, low-level workers .... and then middle management. The D.O.'s are going the way of the City Overseers.

Now it seems that Circuit Overseers will report directly to the Branch Representative (Zone Overseer).

Keepin' the reins tight!

ginger

Remember that all of the changes the Org. has made this past year is being used to confuse/confound the publishers. It gives the impression that the WT is "on the move!!!" and you better keep in pace - so you don't think about why Jesus hasn't taken action upon this wicked world for 100 years...