Posts by Rattigan350

26

Pioneering: How the GB shamelessly capitalizes on members' worldly desire for prominence.

by Island Man in

the bible likens the preaching work to a sacrifice of praise - praise to god.

pioneering is also a sacrifice that involves praise.

it's the sacrifice of a specified number of hours that wins you the praise of men.. when you really analyze the psychology of pioneering it is apparent that the praise of men or prominence before men is at the heart of it.

Rattigan350

Now think about it: what's the difference between just giving your best in the ministry and winding up preaching for 72 hours at the end of the month; and signing up to be a pioneer and preaching for 70 hours in the first 3 weeks in the month and taking the last week off because you have "made your hours"?

I asked that of Witnesses back in 1998 or 1999 when the pioneer hours were reduced.

What is the purpose of pioneering? People were glad and excited of the change. If someone had 70 hours prior to the change and then s/he had the same 70 after the change what is the difference? There is no pioneer discount. If someone had gone to pioneer school, one couldn't go again. It is just an accumulation of "full-time service." or meetings with the CO. and the Title.

People called me names and bad association and apostate. They said that they needed the hour requirement for motivation.

Just a bunch of bums who liked the title.

111

CONGREGATION FLEECING RESULTS?

by The Searcher in

how much did your congregation and its bank account get taken for?

share your horror story!.

Rattigan350

Let's not forget that the biggest winfall is that the Society now owns all of the Kingdom Halls outright. They ain't just cancelling the mortgages, they are taking the properties too.

And when a new hall is requested by the RBC, The Society will send a check for that amount but they own the Hall.

10

'Peace and Security' - What do you think?

by startingover13 in

jw
friends

woke up this morning to my cnn app alerting me that popel francis has called for peace in the middle east, and is making arrangements to meet with leaders in that region to promote tolerance and acceptance.

i've been out for almost a year now, inactive for almost two, but in that moment all of the jw teachings about the signs on the end, the cry of peace and security, and what would happen to those that aren't serving jehovah returned to me.

24 years of teachings are hard to forget, and reading the story on cnn.com didn't help the situation.

Rattigan350

That is not a prophesy.

Paul was not a prophet.

He was reflecting on the past of Jerusalem when it was attacked and its future in 66 & 70 CE.

There is no future declaratio of Peace and Security the way the Watchtower says.

It is misinterpreting it.

16

If your not baptized in the name of the father, son and holy spirit. was your baptism official

by goingthruthemotions in

matt 28:19 "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit,.

i don't ever remember hearing at my baptism nor any other baptism of a jw.

the person giving the baptism talk or person doing the dunking saying that i/we are baptized in the name of the father, son and holy spirit.. so i have come to the conclusion that my/our baptism's are not official.

Rattigan350

The three entities are not something that Jesus taught. It is most likely that the phrase was added by trinity supported. Since ones after him did not baptize in the 3 entities, it would seem that they did not follow him. If they did follow him, then what he said was different from that.

5

JW's shouldn't avoid watching violent movies...

by JH in

jw
friends

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/business/media/07violence.html?ex=1357362000&en=bd82c1b46fdcf8de&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.

january 7, 2008economists say movie violence might temper the real thing by peter s. goodmannew orleans are movies like hannibal and the remake of halloween, which serve up murder and mutilation as routine fare, actually making the nation safer?

a paper presented by two researchers over the weekend to the annual meeting of the american economic association here challenges the conventional wisdom, concluding that violent films prevent violent crime by attracting would-be assailants and keeping them cloistered in darkened, alcohol-free environs.

Rattigan350

I agree that people should not avoid watching violent movies and tv shows because that is a good way to learn how to deal with such situations if they ever come upon them. The organization teaches fear, meekness, peace, trust in God, prayer. None of which will help in a situation. Basic self defense and offense training and attitude is good.

43

New Atlanta Assembly Hall Has raised 3.4 million Dollars... GONE

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

they announced last week that the new atanta assembly hall has thus far raised 3.4 million dollars.

my local told that will become the society's come may 1. i wonder how that will go over with the ones who have been contributing to this fund..

Rattigan350

There is the Conyers Assembly Hall off I-20 just east of Atlanta and they were planning the West Georgia Assembly Hall around Rome GA.

I saw the letter that said they raised 3.4 million. I thought, what a waste, why not give it to those who need it, such as an animal shelter.

When I heard that the circuit assemblies were one day, I figured that they would conclude that there is no need for a new assembly hall for just that. I hope that is right and they don't build it.

11

Anyone have archives of talks like "stay alive till 75?"

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i was curious if anyone knew how to listen to talks like sinutkos stay alive to 75, or fred franz talk about how there was no 1st century gb.. i can listen to them on youtube but they are on obviously apostate youtube channels.

i would like for my wife to hear them but cant do that on apostate youtube channels.. does anyone know if these talks are available in an online archive somewhere else?.

Rattigan350

The 1975 talk from Sinutko is called Serving with Everlasting Life in view from the 1967 Circuit Assembly.

43

Is it okay for JW to take Medical Marijuana?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

just wondering.

.

Rattigan350

Why would 1973 articles mean anything to anyone?

"This does not make it Scripturally proper"

I hate that phrase.

105

New Article on BEARDS and Attire of Jehovah's Witnesses

by jwfacts in

i have had requests to add an article about beards and jehovah's witnesses.

it is interesting that there is virtually no statement that says a witness cannot have a beard, yet universally they do not have beards.

i have scoured quotes from all the threads on jwn, all references to beard on the cd watchtower library, and copies of elders letters that i have.

Rattigan350

Maybe they did have scissors or sharp blades as they did circumcisions.

And they had long hair and beards to keep the sun off the faces to prevent sunburns.

But if shaving was convenient, then they would do it. It just takes too long to do it manually and they would get cut.

31

Aren't You Glad That You Are Out Of The JW Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i am so happy to be out of the cult.

i would never go back!

i don't know some still could accept this religion, be here, regularly and not just get out..

Rattigan350

I am glad that I am not active in it, mentally and physically.

The wife is active in it and I try to passively discourage her.

We are visiting family and friends next week. I am considering how I can talk to people. If they ask, how is my congregation, I am going to tell them about how things are not like they were when I was their 10 ro 20 years ago. Nothing is like it was in the 80s or 90s. The only book used is the Reasoning book, the most senior GB member is Loash, Loush, Lush, whatever.

Things used to be fun, now it is all organizational. It is all business related.