Posts by EdenOne

17

The Monsters the WTBTS Created

by Coded Logic in

growing up, the jws at the kingdom hall taught me that perfection is the only standard via which things can ever be measured.

"well yeah modern medicine is great - but it's pointless because they can't save everyone.

and they can't stop people from dying.

EdenOne

We love ya, Punky ole bastid :) Never give up.

If you were in the vicinity I'd invite you to come over and jam with me @ my home studio.

Eden

22

How accurate is the Bible?

by WireRider in

how accurate is the bible?

the "compiled" version (council of nicaea) was not established for hundreds, or even thousands, of years after events happened.

stories were handed down generation to generation to generation before being written down.

The Bible is man-made collection of books that contain human wisdom, and therefore, it's no surprise that one can find there some good advice on several areas. But then again, that is true also of countless 'wordly' books. The wisdom found in the Bible isn't what proves it's from God. But the innacuracies and the errors found in the Bible are what proves that it's NOT from God.

Eden

17

The Monsters the WTBTS Created

by Coded Logic in

growing up, the jws at the kingdom hall taught me that perfection is the only standard via which things can ever be measured.

"well yeah modern medicine is great - but it's pointless because they can't save everyone.

and they can't stop people from dying.

EdenOne

Isn't it a paradox that they criticize 'wordly' institutions for not being able to achieve perfect results, as the OP described, but at the same time are quick to excuse the shortcomings of 'God's own earthly Organization' by saying its made of "imperfect men" ...

It's mind-blowing that they can't see the stupidity of that double standard.

Eden

51

Britain Branch Construction - UPDATE

by The Searcher in

definitely something going in the london bethel.. i thought i'd ask them again (and record it again) what the situation was regarding the new britain branch construction work.. i got the same sister (debbie) and here is how the conversation went: .

me: i've been told that construction of the new branch has been stopped - is this true?.

debbie: no, it has not ceased, it's carrying on as normal - can i ask where you're calling from?.

EdenOne

If significant layoffs are planned for the UK Bethel, then it's possible that they have to re-scale the Chelmsford project, redesign it, and that may mean that they need to stop to make a new assessment of the situation.

Eden

16

A funny little diplomatic cable regarding the Malawi atrocities against JW's in 1975

by Saintbertholdt in

no doubt that atrocities were perpetrated against jehovah's witnesses in 1972-73.. but what about the reports in 1975?.

here is an excerpt from a diplomatic cable sent to the us secretary of state in 1977.. the cable was released/declassified in 2009.. .... re jehovah's witnesses, why do we go back to the.

events of 197273?

EdenOne

Marked

33

A simple explanation for the financial changes

by JeffT in

jw
friends

as i've mentioned from time to time, i'm a retired accountant.

i have tried many times to come up with some logical, sound business reason why the wtbs has made the big changes in its financial arrangements: taking the congregations savings, the monthly donations per congregation etc.

i finally came up with the answer.. the leadership of the watchtower society is batshit crazy.

EdenOne

The way I see it, this was a monumental money grab scheme, and this is just the final coverup act. They have taken all the available money with the excuse of financing the building of new KH in third world countries. They have sold Bethel homes, consolidated operations and are laying off thousands of bethelites (racking and saving many millions by doing so). They are agressively abandoning printing materials and favoring digital publishing. (More millions saved) ; they are unashamedly asking for more money from the flock.

And now what? The rank and file would start expecting to see what use would be given to that money. But instead ... Lett's words: "If Armageddon interrupts our plans that will be wonderful ! ". I think this highly emotional card is being played right now. Reshuffle the meetings - the focus is not in training public speakers but training publishers; (The celestial cart is going on overdrive, the Witnesses will conclude); ex-bethelites being reassigned as regular pioneers with the excuse of focusing more on the preaching work. Preach, preach, preach! Stop everything else! They're overtly conveying the message that the GB had some special intel from God that the Big A is nigh, so we must concentrate in the 'final push'. Let's all pioneer! Sounds like 1975 all over again.

Now we understand what the true purpose of those words in the Watchtower about being strictly loyal and obedient to the GB even if the instructions wouldn't seem sound or logic from a human point of view. This is it. They're not all that crazy, they're pretty rational and methodical and they're following a plan - even if they buy into their own delusions.

And while the over-excited Witnesses are being kept busy and in mental antecipation of the Big A, the issue of "where did the money go to" will fade off, and the money is already on Org's accounts, waiting to be used for paying off lawsuits or covering up bad investments or frauds. In any case, ensuring their finantial independence for the next decade or two, as they try to figure out a way to survive the draining of talent and donations.

Eden

72

The bridge burning has begun.

by sparrowdown in

jw
friends

i was feeling particularly hopeless about the whole jws being assholes thing and sick to death of pretending so ....

i rang my sister and told her that i no longer believe jws have the truth and the phone went silent, when i asked her to say something she just said if that was the case then she would have to hang up on me and then proceeded to indeed hang up..

so i texted her back immediately with fu..

EdenOne

Congratulations and brace yourself, sparrowdown ! The ride is about to start. Mrs. Eden is going through a somewhat similar moment with her fleshy sister and some other close sister friends in the congregation and she's making some smart moves but the pressure is asphixyating and she's really going angry against all those who are simultaneously attempting to control her life while also digging for some dirt or 'faux pas' that may incriminate her and thus take it to the Elders.

That message from the Elder means they're already on your case. I would suggest that you ignore them and never accept a visit nor a phonecall from them. Any phonecall will be witnessed by a second elder and they will attempt to test your loyalty to the GB. Don't fall on that trap, if you intend to fade.

Eden

135

Latest Leaked BOE letter to Elders Oct. 4th

by Watchtower-Free in

october 4, 2015. to all congregations.

re: new provisions announced atannual meeting.

dear brothers:.

EdenOne

I suspect that the end of the TMS is heralding the future demise of the public talks by a local speaker, and its replacement by video presentations from the HQ.

Eden

"Everything You Wanted To Know About The Jehovah's Witnesses But Were Afraid To Ask" in Portuguese

by EdenOne in

i've found an excellent resource in the portuguese language to help those wanting to investigate the true story behind the jehovah's witnesses.

the book is called "tudo o que queria saber acerca das testemunhas de jeova, mas tinha medo de perguntar" (everything you wanted to know about the jehovah's witnesses but were afraid to ask).

the book is written in very acceptable portuguese (brazilian variety), but doesn't state who the author name is.

EdenOne

I've found an excellent resource in the portuguese language to help those wanting to investigate the true story behind the Jehovah's Witnesses. The book is called "Tudo O Que Queria Saber Acerca Das Testemunhas De Jeová, Mas Tinha Medo De Perguntar" (Everything You Wanted To Know About The Jehovah's Witnesses But Were Afraid To Ask).

The book is written in very acceptable Portuguese (Brazilian variety), but doesn't state who the author name is. The author, clearly an ex-Witness, still professes belief in the validity of the Bible and Christianity, although professes no current religious affiliation. It appears to have been written somewhere around 2011, so it doesn't include the latest developments about the "faithful and discrete slave = Governing Body" and "overlapping generations" teachings.

The book covers the origins of the Jehovah's Witnesses (I have found particularly good the way the author analyses the influences that CT Russell had, from Miller to Henry Grew to George Storrs to Nelson Barbour), the failed prophecies of 1914, 1925 and 1975; the blood issue; the "generation" issue; an easy to understand thorough explanation on how the Witnesses got the date of 607 BCE all wrong and dismantles every argument that the Watchtower Society has put forth to defend it; analyzes how we got the meaning of the "last days" prophecy all wrong; dismantles the teaching regarding the "image of the beast" and the secret relationship the WTS had with the UN as an NGO; the medical stances and pseudo-scientific quackery of the WTS throughout its history (with a precious set of quotes from past publications that will blow your mind); the doctrinal flip-flops over the years; how we got the use of God's name wrong; the fallacies behind the denial of the cross and prohibition of birthdays; and analyzes what attracts people to the Witnesses and how the WTS uses propaganda to make the Witnesses stay in. And more.

Mrs. Eden is having a blast reading it. To me it wasn't exactly new material (except in the way it explains clearly how Russell was influenced by his predecessors), but to see this written in portuguese is great. Whoever wrote this, did a great job. Highly recommended.

Here's the link to the downloadable pdf.

Eden

27

More of What the Watchtower Didn't Teach You

by CalebInFloroda in

what kind of bible education did the governing body really give us?

how much important information about it did the watchtower really teach us?

how much are we missing out on if we are one of jehovahs witnesses?.

EdenOne

OT - Hebrew, Aramaic

NT - Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek Koiné, Syriac

Eden