Posts by gingerbread

24

Why JWs record and report time?

by ThinkerBelle in

okay, so yes, i'm a born-in, but this point has always baffled me (and i guess i never bothered to research or ask).

what is the purpose of counting time in service?

when was it started and why?

gingerbread

J.F. Rutherford began this tradition. In the beginning, all approved for field service were required to turn in a service activity report weekly. Of course, back then, all baptized Bible Students (and later JW's) really, truly believed that the end was upon them. They went out in service ALL THE TIME - no leisure time at all.

The congregations were called "companies" and pioneers were called "colporteurs" - which literally means book and magazine salesman. So the members of a local company were turning in their weekly sales reports.

Time slips later became a way to assess a persons "spirituality" - which is its primary purpose today.

ginger

61

Stranger in my own house, Since my wife and i don't talk much anymore nor sleep in the same bed. i feel like a stranger.

by goingthruthemotions in

my wife is shunning me.

she is always in cult mode, we don't talk anymore, we don't sleep in the same bed.

i have been sleeping on the couch.

gingerbread

It sucks.

I spent the last two years (out of 15 years) on the couch. My first wife was also passive aggressive (and abusive and violent). After years of shepherding calls to get a handle on the problems (I always came out as the bad guy), she filed for divorce. No grounds. The local body of elders said she could file if she "thought" I ever had an affair (she was always accusing me of that). Not.

The evening of our divorce she and her 'friend' announced their engagement. A month later they were married (he's an elder) by another local elder. No prob!

Our now grown children have nothing to do with her. The last time I saw her she was an overweight, old looking, broke JW.

Sometimes it's best to move on. It's worked out great for me. It was very painful but now many years later it's a distant memory. And I'm happier than ever!

Gingerbread

48

Where has all the money gone?

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

a number of years ago when i was still active, our service group was having a coffee break with the visiting circuit overseer.

during the conversation he mentioned that the "society" was now being run like a business.

being raised in the "truth" i thought that rather odd (and my eyes began to be opened!

gingerbread

A number of years ago when I was still active, our service group was having a coffee break with the visiting Circuit Overseer. During the conversation he mentioned that the "Society" was now being run like a business. Being raised in the "truth" I thought that rather odd (and my eyes began to be opened!) because of the belief that the business men would lament the demise of Babylon the Great.

Fast forward to now and I begin to think of Jesus' words to sell excess belongings and give to the POOR. He never said give to my apostles (in order to spread the good new or advance kingdom interests).. Rather odd that the governing body wants all (those of you who are still active) your money. They've already taken ownership of all kingdom and assembly halls and have emptied all congregation bank accounts to the bare minimum. As we all know,, they now require a monthly money transfer from each congregation to the main office.

A few weeks ago, a family member told me that the congregation coordinator said to him that elders have been informed of a stop of new builds and remodels and that parts of the Warwick (new world headquarters) construction project are paused as well.

ginger

6

Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body knows they scare CHILDREN with Doomsday False prophecies

by Watchtower-Free in

the governing body knows they scare children.

from the may jwbroadcasting puke-a-sode at the1hr 5 minute mark .31 second clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqeey0uyvuw.

gingerbread

The Watchtower since the days of 'Judge' Rutherford has used fear as a primary control tool.

It works great on children and the undereducated.

As a side note, we recently watched a PBS program about earthquakes and one of the seismologists said "earthquakes never cause the earth to split open." We just looked at each other (having been brought up with the so-called 'paradise' book) and laughed - another Watchtower lie...

ginger

7

New way of preacing?

by dogon in

i have noticed that in florida at least i see at every flea market and or town square jws sitting drinking coffee with a table and a couple of sandwich signs with watchtowers and awakes doing nothing more than playing on their phones and or talking to each other.

i have not yet seen anyone going up to them and engaging them but i bet they are counting time.

what a cheat.

gingerbread

This new approach puts the publisher in full public view in their community. No longer can you just ride around in a car or fake knock on a door.

This method also has the potential to feed a persecution complex.

24

as long as shunning continues donations will be slow

by poopie in

jw
friends

one of the reasons the watchtower is having problems with donations is because they have refuse to let go of wholesale across the board shunning.

the average publisher is sick of it and jehovah is withholding his full blessing.

when you do not show love to fellow humans you run the risk of not being able to show love which i'm turn has a direct relationship to your joy in turn if your not happy your not motivated to donate lots of money to and arrangement you perceive as unloving all you bethel lurkers convey this message to bro letters and rest of gb stop trying to convince fair minded people to support unloving shunning.

gingerbread

The 'wisdom' from the WT has been, for decades, to simplify your life, work less, don't educate yourself, don't accept promotions, quit your job if you aren't allowed to take off for an assembly, don't move for a better job; move to where the need is greater (usually in a rural area with limited positive income opportunities), don't better yourself today. Live for the future....

Now the organization is reaping what it has sown.

To make matters worse, Jehovah's Witnesses currently have the worse record for membership retention (three out of five kids raised in "the truth" leave (or become barely active) in adulthood. And, few people become members as a result of the door to door activity.

14

Missing the point?! Is this what Jesus had in mind??

by Deltawave in

is this what jesus had in mind?

to be a spiritual person you must:.

underline your books.

gingerbread

These are among the many rituals of Jehovah's Witnesses.

See: Legalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_%28theology%29

36

Something tells me 1914...

by Monsieur in

after todays watchtower lesson, and the lessons coming, something tells me bigger and bigger new understandings are coming.

and that it will culminate with 1914. notice how jesus is now coming, and no longer already here.

the current understanding is both, he is here and hes also coming.

gingerbread

1914 will stay. The understanding will change.

Adventists have been waiting on Christ's return since the 1830's. They've changed their understandings of date predictions over the years.

The founders of the Bible Students took most of their core beliefs from the Adventists. Current JW's think God gave the Governing Body special insight.....

By the way (not that I care) but Adventists amount to 22 million members worldwide. As the JW's pat themselves on the back with a number just over 8 million.....?...

16

I listened. I obeyed. Then I realized...

by stillin in

what was that blessing part about?

i kept hearing pioneers talking about the blessings that they were receiving and as i looked at their lives objectively, there really isn't anything special about them.

maybe they are just more appreciative of things than other people.

gingerbread

This is cognitive dissonance in action.

A Pioneer is a professional JW.

Some do it for the recognition they receive - sacrificing their personal life in order to slave for the organization. They LOVE to let you know that they are full timers. They will always share how pioneering benefits THEM personally (and their STATUS in the organization). These are organization people and love its rules, regulations JW.org - unless it messes with own personal quirkiness and lunch dates. They'll tell you how you're not up to snuff. They love their iPads, shiny new "service car" and their never ending supply of new dresses. The pioneer 'ranks' are full of these kinda people.

Some do it because it's their life calling. These pioneers REALLY believe and follow the rule book wholeheartedly. They have come to the conclusion that their time is being controlled by Jah, Jesus and holy spirit. This type thinks they are sacrificing their lives to serve God. They are the 'old school' pioneers - live on beans and rice, work just enough to make ends meet, wear hand-me-down clothes, have yard sale furniture and a crappy car. Not many of these pioneers around anymore.

56

Who REALLY believed in the idea of living forever on earth??

by stuckinarut2 in

seriously.....even when you were 100% in "the truth", did you really believe in living forever?

?

gingerbread

The Adventists developed this belief (before the Civil War) and C.T. Russell & Nelson Barbour adopted the doctrine when they began publishing the Watchtower (1880's).

When we studied with or were raised in "the truth", we weren't told about the origins of this belief. Most JW's have no idea about the shaky scriptural underpinning - and Jesus never said "hey, when I become King I'm going to turn the earth back into a paradise". Most JW's think of the paradise hope as a Watchtower exclusive....

This carrot hope (that includes resurrected parents, grandparents, kids, etc.) is the primary reason questioning JW's remain in "the truth".