gingerbread

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Posts by gingerbread

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  45

  New Watchtower video on "real friends"

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5schopnecog.

  it's difficult to imagine how this video could be more disingenuous and hypocritical.

  cedars.

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  gingerbread

  They're rebranding themselves.

  ginger
• 
  36

  New Awake magazine goes after the media

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is a link to the pdf.... http://www.jw.org/download/?issue=201312&output=html&pub=g&fileformat=pdf&alllangs=0&langwritten=e&txtcmslang=e&isbible=0.

  some interesting quotes.... while it is wise not to believe everything we read in the news, it does not follow that there is nothing we can trust.

  the key may be to have a healthy skepticism, while keeping an open mind.tone: when the tone of a news item is angry, spiteful, or highly critical, it suggests that an attack is under way and not a reasoned argument.sources: is there evidence of thorough research?

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  gingerbread

  They're laying down sandbags to protect themselves from the incoming storm of media attention from the Conti loss...

  ginger
• 
  10

  Are you fading mentally or physically?

  by gingerbread in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i began my proactive 'fade' a couple of years ago.

  it was due to multiple events: observing (once again) another botched judicial decision, researching the origins of wt beliefs and organizational history & reading the bible by itself.. when the kids were young, i made every effort to get them to the meetings, out in service, study with them, read the bible story book, watch the videos and have plenty of parties with other witness kids.

  being raised in the 'truth', i felt this was the best way to teach them right from wrong.

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  gingerbread

  Maybe the term 'faded' is what those that are still involved see us - like a boat fading off into the fog.

  SOP - your use of 'transition' is probably a better word.

  The fading process while physically still 'in' can be very depressing. Some people have a physical issue that causes them to become irregular and this can give them breathing time to think about things.

  ginger
• 
  10

  Are you fading mentally or physically?

  by gingerbread in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i began my proactive 'fade' a couple of years ago.

  it was due to multiple events: observing (once again) another botched judicial decision, researching the origins of wt beliefs and organizational history & reading the bible by itself.. when the kids were young, i made every effort to get them to the meetings, out in service, study with them, read the bible story book, watch the videos and have plenty of parties with other witness kids.

  being raised in the 'truth', i felt this was the best way to teach them right from wrong.

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  gingerbread

  Which came first for you?

  I began my proactive 'fade' a couple of years ago. It was due to multiple events: observing (once again) another botched judicial decision, researching the origins of WT beliefs and organizational history & reading the bible by itself.

  When the kids were young, I made every effort to get them to the meetings, out in service, study with them, read the Bible Story book, watch the videos and have plenty of parties with other Witness kids. Being raised in the 'truth', I felt this was the best way to teach them right from wrong.

  I now realize that I was mentally out for many years - just going through the motions of being a good JW.

  While I still attend some meetings (our parents are still active JW's), we are mentally 'out'. I struggle with getting out completely because of family and life long friendships that are truly genuine.

  Perhaps thinking about this process as 'fading' is not the best. Fading implies failure, washed out, losing - like the losing team headed to the locker room.

  At what point does one find 'closure'?

  ginger
• 
  17

  If the rumor is true, and there is a new bible will it be distributed at the AGM?

  by hoser in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  total speculation of course, but if they are good marketers every attendee will leave the event with a shiny new new world translation.

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  gingerbread

  label licker -

  I've been paying 'more than the usual attention' to the articles and talks (especially at conventions and assemblies) in the past couple of years.

  The WT writers are SO obvious. They don't HIDE anything! I can't believe I was so oblivious to this frankness.

  EXCEPT for the financial position of the WT corporations and any news that is negative about the religion...

  ginger
• 
  17

  If the rumor is true, and there is a new bible will it be distributed at the AGM?

  by hoser in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  total speculation of course, but if they are good marketers every attendee will leave the event with a shiny new new world translation.

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  gingerbread

  There may be a new 'version' of the NWT announced. This isn't new - it's happened a couple of times since the 1950's.

  I feel this new 'everyone is invited' annual meeting is meant to give the impression that the Org. is transparent with it's activities.

  Two major topics that I'm expecting:

  1. Get ready for intense persecution from governments (negative court rulings) and apostates (who make up lies and are trying to deceive).

  2. The world wide work is greater than it ever has been in the history of the Org. "We need assistance" with donations and skilled labor.

  ginger
• 
  14

  Overheard at the coffee shop...

  by Jim_TX in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's a bit of a story for you... .

  on the weekends, i go to a local restaurant/coffee shop and spend some time there reading, studying, taking notes, etc.

  i also get a light breakfast with my 6 to 10 cups of coffee.

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  gingerbread

  I worked with a man who used to get really cranky in December. He knew I was a Witness - I was vocal about it back in those days.

  One day just before Christmas he says to me "By god, next year I'm gonna become a 'jehovah witness' like you! My wife spends all my bonus money every Christmas on her damn lazy kids. Going to your Hall would turn me into a millionaire."

  Little did he know....

  ginger
• 
  46

  Faders shunned now?

  by Sammy Jenkis in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi all so my family had their c.a.

  last weekend and my mother dropped this one on me, she'll now be treating me as a df'd person per info she received from a talk at the assembly.

  apparently a fader should be treated as "bad association" given the fact they up and left the holy "truth" to splash around in vomit.. .

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  gingerbread

  The Org has always had 'faders' in the congregations. But I think things have changed about the attitude toward these ones.

  Years ago a person could come and go to meetings, make the memorial, etc and still be invited to 'get togethers' and homes. I've seen a real change. Since our 'fading' ( the past two years ), the idea of self policing within the congregation is spread throughout the articles and talks - and most poignantly in demonstrations.

  It's a double edge sword - for the org., the congregation and for families.

  The org. is actively asking for increased donations. Losing the folks that are not regular means loss of potential income. The pressure is on the elders to keep the congregation 'clean' of divisive influences. The elders are very aware that when the circuit overseer comes for a visit, he will checking 'the numbers'. And families are fearful of the impending destruction that 'is upon us'. Many a freaking out because their children and grandchildren are 'leaving the truth'.

  ginger
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  11

  How many Bible Students were preaching in 1919?

  by Emery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  doing some additonal research on the 1919 appointment.

  they claim to be the only ones preaching at that time and i find it hard to believe that a few thousand russelites out weighed the global preaching work of christendom.

  especially considering that what they were preaching from door to door at that time was false prophecy and now 95% abandoned.

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  gingerbread

  When J.F. Rutherford took the helm, he changed the preaching activity to being obligatory for all members.

  He started the JW tradition of recording hours spent and literature placements made on weekly time reports.

  ginger
• 
  97

  Did Jesus really exist?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i had been wondering over the past few years whether there really was a historical jesus at all, until a few months ago when i read bart ehrman's latest book "did jesus exist?

  " initially i was persuaded by his argument that the nt contains multiple sources that testify to jesus' existence.

  but more recently i have been reading the christ myth position of richard carrier and his responses to ehrman.

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  gingerbread

  I've been interested in this same question.

  My understanding about religious characters and traditions have changed considerably over the summer after reading Joseph Campbell. Stories and persons that we may hold as Biblical are shared with many other cultures.

  Stories exist about a divine son or daughter of the creator of the universe being born to a human being centuries before the birth of Christ - in cultures from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

  These same stories (or myths) contain many similarities to the life of Jesus : virgin births, 12 close associates, no bones broken at death, resurrection or return to 'heaven' three days after death, walking on water....

  Some of these stories date back over a thousand years before the 1st century.

  ginger