gingerbread

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Posts by gingerbread

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  9

  Question about unbaptised publishers

  by XPeterX in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws are over 7.5 million.do they count unbaptised publishers as jws?do we know how many baptised jws are there today?.

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  gingerbread

  These are active publishers - regular or irregular - i.e. those who fill out and turn in a time slip.
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  43

  Newbie - I need advice!

  by awakening in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well here it is, my first post!

  it feels like a huge step like the point of no return.

  i am a born in, still in wanting to get out ms. i have refused eldership, used to pioneer and have sooo many stories.

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  gingerbread

  Too many of us 'faders' feel phony in the beginning. Just remember that you are finally being honest with yourself!

  I began to share some information bit by bit last year with my wife. But first I suggested that we do two things that the Society tells us to do: 1. read the Bible 2. research our "spiritual heritage" as JW's and the early organization. So...we began to read just the Bible. And watched the history videos. Then I shared more stuff about the early Society - belief origins/adventism/eschatology etc. from "neutral" sources like Wikipedia. I'm also underlining the WT study (something I haven't done in years) and highlighting the conjectures and assumptions made in every study that have no Biblical support. She is noticing and it's making for real, honest conversation about this belief system we were raised in.

  It's working!
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  25

  It Appears The Elderly Are More Taken Care Of Then Ever Before By The Elders

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i usually find fault with the religion but i must give credit when due.

  in the hall my mom is in, they regularly check on her and assign different ones to visit and check on the elderly.. if there's a storm or an extremely cold day, they come by to make sure the elderly have everything they need..

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  gingerbread

  It sounds like this congregation has some good guys - and they just happen to be elders.
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  6

  Sing it sister...

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it amazes me how many jdubs feel comfortable posting videos of themselves (or their children) singing kingdom songs for the whole world to see on youtube.. this lady actually puts some effort into it.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpeixixlo4.

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  cedars.

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  gingerbread

  I's my guess that these publishers are counting this as service time - in their own mind and on a time slip. With a growing push to find alternate ways to preach - letter writing, literature display stands and tables, emails - why not youtube.

  In my part of the US, just about every congregation has young folks forming bands - country, bluegrass, cover rock, indie... They play at "get togethers" and the adventurous ones play their own private shows, local clubs, burning their own cd's, etc. It's sad - but it's their only chance of acheiving a personal fantasy. Their 15 minutes of fame.
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  27

  Can't afford to pay Candace, but they can afford this:

  by WinstonSmith in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://thetandd.com/news/local/jehovah-s-witnesses-unveil-million-assembly-hall/article_82f68742-6776-11e2-a641-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=true.

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  gingerbread

  The society's plan - at least in the United States - is to continue to build large, regional assembly halls. The objective is "to cut costs" by eliminating the need to rent large auditoriums and stadiums. They want to become as detached from the "world" as possible. And funnel the rental dollars into the "world wide work" fund. These building projects also gives the local congregations the psychological illusion that each member plays a part in the organization - a mini Bethel you might say. A section in the assembly hall is usually set aside as a "theocratic" museum filled with Watchtower artifacts.

  The local Kingdom Halls are improved by the regional building committees in order to retain positive resale value. These are potentially flip-able. The investment in regional assembly halls are long term and "permanent". In conversations and prayers, you will hear talk of the hall's long term use - "right into the new system."
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  40

  Another visit from the elders

  by jonno12225 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i have another visit from the elder this week.

  this time they want to speak with my wife, still a believer and myself.

  i think they want to know my position about my children attending the meetings and some other things.. while preparing myself for it i though of a challenge for the elders and my wife.

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  gingerbread

  Before you agree to a meeting, please read the upcoming April WT - Study Edition. (available at JW.org) These study articles define the organization and how your support of it's efforts and arrangements are necessary for your happiness and survival. A major shift in emphasis has begun within the congregations - to "assist" those with questions or doubts and are not as active as they once were. They want a confrontation. And will deal with you judicially. Even if the elders have been close friends, their job is to carry out the societies directives. If your wife (and her family) comes to the conclusion that your viewpoints are "endangering" her spiritually, she has grounds for separation - with full backing and support of the local elders.
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  21

  Has disproving the "Truth" become an obsession for you at times?

  by Pyramid Scheme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was curious if anyone else has gone through a similar experience.. when i became inactive 4 years ago, i went through a period of not being able to focus on just about anything, other than doing tremendous amounts of research to prove to myself what my beliefs were, and to clearly identify my issues with the jw organization.

  i was mad - and i was on a mission to build the ultimate case against the wt.

  however, having read the fine advice on here, i backed off with my family, since it would have just gotten ugly.. i avoided posting on here for years, and had cut down my research and put it on the back burner.. however, i still felt a need to "witness" to my family and to have an open discussion with my wife.

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  gingerbread

  I echo your thoughts - both Pyramid Scheme and tornapart. If you were raised in the org with most family "in" as well as a lifetime of friendships, it's difficult to keep quiet. Two years ago I began my earnest research because of my own refusal to accept many organizational procedures and requirements - as man made/non-biblical. Mildly expressing my concerns and sharing evidence - over time - has helped my spouse to see the realities of the WTS. We now attend about half of the Sunday meetings - because of aged parents.

  Remember: the WTS and the congregation's elders (put in place to enforce WT directives) want you to be emotional and confrontational. If one expresses doubts to them, their stance will change from "concerned" to aggressively offensive in a heart beat. They want to push you out of the congregation and force a separation of you from your family and friends. They want you to get disfellowshipped or for you to disassociate yourself. We've decided not to give them the power. Our lives are ours and we've decided to believe what we want to believe....and to maintain our relationships with family.
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  10

  Just dropped my Mom off at the Kingdom Hall...

  by Jewel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we live about half an hour from the kingdom hall.

  we had some snow last night and the roads are a little "iffy".

  i didn't want my 83 yo mother driving on her own so i brought her in and dropped her off.

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  gingerbread

  My own situation mirrors your's in many ways. Remember that life is indeed short and good relationships and friends are gifts that make life full. You're doing the right thing with your mom - if that's what she wants. I'm trying to make time to just visit with my parents as often as possible - nothing special....sometimes just dropping by - showing them that I'm here for them.

  I suspect that the really nice folks that you grew up with at the Hall were good - not necessarily because of the religion - but because they were just really good people. The idiots in the hall - elders, elders wives, other kids - usually just wind up being....well..."idiots."

  I too can feel sad when I think about things - I'm in the middle of the fading process. Or maybe it's just a general disappointment with the realities of "the Truth".
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  12

  Singing Listen, Obey & Be Blessed

  by gingerbread in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently attended the sunday meeting during the c.o.

  's visit.

  at the end of the final talk, he says the song will be 'listen, obey and be blessed'.

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  gingerbread

  Before the release of "Listening to the Great Teacher" in the '70's, we were all asked to come down and sit in front of the the stage for the talk. During the talk we all received our own "personal" copy of the release. I'm guessing that most of my generation - at least in the US - retain that "special" talk in our memories. Maybe the WTS is attempting (or encouraging) to redo a similar experience for all the current unbaptised children....in the local halls.
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  12

  Singing Listen, Obey & Be Blessed

  by gingerbread in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently attended the sunday meeting during the c.o.

  's visit.

  at the end of the final talk, he says the song will be 'listen, obey and be blessed'.

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  gingerbread

  Recently attended the Sunday meeting during the C.O.'s visit. At the end of the final talk, he says the song will be 'Listen, Obey and Be Blessed'. Then he asks all the young folks to come on the stage with their song books and to lead the congregation into the song. The stage filled with kids... and also parents & grandparents holding very little ones. Everyone sings! Some phones are raised above heads to record the kids, etc. on stage. Some adults in the audience are singing with tears streaming down their cheeks.

  Has anyone experienced this event at the local hall during a recent C.O. visit? I've heard about it happening during "get togethers". Is it becoming the thing to do since jw.org released the video of the annual meeting?