I have heard both China and Islam - seems to be anybody's guess a the moment.
Posts by Roski
-
30
Does China Disprove Bible Prophecy?
by metatron inchina is rapidly emerging as second only to the us.
it's growth rates may allow it to pass the us.
yet, interpretations of daniel and revelation say nothing about this, at least.
-
-
59
Did You Personally Know of Sex Offenders In The Congregation?
by minimus ini knew of 1 person that should've been reported to the authorities for fooling around with his sisters when he was an older teen and they were much younger.
it was hushed up by the elders, as this was considered a very prominent family.
the allegations were made probably 20 years ago, well before i was ever in that hall.
-
Roski
1. A sister who was raped by her uncle at age 12. She was told not to say anything because he would go to jail and his family would suffer. She brought the matter up again when her marriage had problems - about age 30. The elders on the case (old friends) told her to leave it. I had a very strong feeling that the main elder was covering up for himself in some way - something from the past. He was later a CO. She brought it up again at about age 40. She had moved and the new elders were somewhat supportive, however the elders from the original congregation told her if she was still there she would have been disfellowshiped. It got to the point where if she took the issue any further - to court - he would have been prosecuted. (This is the information I was given at the time). He threatened suicide so she dropped it - but he and his wife admitted what had happened. Somehow they had got into denying it ever happened. He was removed as an MS - reluctantly - as he was soon to be made an elder. His daughter-in-law also testified against him, and others cast shadows over his behaviour, but I do not know the details. He is still in good standing. He also gropped her sister on when she was young. This sister's parents sacrificed her to keep the peace, and keep the family happy. Over the years he did lots of suspicious things with young kids - often had single sister's kids stay over. His wife now suggests that they just had to admit his wrongdoing only to satisfy the sister - his neice. No remorse.
2. A young brother made some improper advances to my very young daughter in his room after closing the door. I didn't know about it until years later. He is a missionary now.
3. Numerous others over the years in relation to other people as well as lecherous older brothers that used field service as an opportunity to get too close to me. Even as a good witness I had issues with this matter.
-
9
Life After Death....Or Have we just done it all before...?
by Gill inthis has happened to me many times in my life, that i knew when something important had or was about to happen to us or ours....or i could sense that one of 'us' was in trouble or 'lost' to us all.. i was irritable and 'strange' on sunday morning.
finally i said to my husband and elder children that 'someone has died'.
to be honest, i didn't know who, but just that someone had gone.
-
Roski
I had a dream one night that I had lost a particular object. When I woke up I thought - I know I haven't lost that, but I know I have lost something so I wonder what it is. A couple of minutes later the phone rang to say my son had died. The previous night my daughter had talked with her boyfrined well into the night as she was very distressed. She said she knew she was going to need support as something was about to happen. Last week my son's wife dreamt of her brother a few times during the week - unusual. She saw him 'lifeless', she said. He died on Sunday. My husband also dreamt of his aunt's death and saw her swimming in the harbour of his hometown. He heard the next morning that she has died and she was cremated and her ashes scattered in the harbour - and that was a big surprise for the family as cremation is not well accepted in his culture.
-
31
Relationships....
by RichieRich ini never posted a big to do about it, but myself and my girlfriend of quite a while ended our relationship rather abruptly not too long ago.
it sucked, but luckily it wasn't really ugly or anything.. .
anywho, ole richierich is back in the dating game.. .
-
Roski
In the future perhaps you will benefit by thinking outside the box - so to speak. 'Society's' boundaries are not for everyone. I have been married for several years to a person much younger than myself and from a different culture. He broke 'all' the rules and I broke a few. He dislikes women from his own culture as he believes they cling but control. They also tend to be very immature for their age when young, but become more controlling/demanding as they get older. We have been through a lot - one way and another - things that would have broken up many couples (as in external pressures) but just the other night he said "I really love you - your the only person I trust comepletely and feel comfortable with". He has said that many times over the years. He respects me for what I am good at and I do the same - even though we are very different in some ways. If you knew his cultural background it would be easy to see why. I don't think anyone thought our marriage would work - particularly as I was still a JW (kind of) at the time - so there was that to overcome too. My reason for writing this (I don't usually go into my story) is to say - know yourself and follow through with what you feel is right for you. He had the courage to be different and now his friends envy his freedom to make choices they cannot. Hope this helps a little.
-
34
JWs, Higher Education and Misrepresentation by Barb Anderson
by Dogpatch injehovahs witnesses, higher education and misrepresentation.
footnotes and appendices and full article at:.
http://www.freeminds.org/doctrine/education_anderson.htm.
-
Roski
I knew someone who studied law at the height of the 'no education' era. No sooner had this person graduated than the society was offering them the opportunity to 'be of assistance'. Not to mention the (at least one that I know of - in this case a CO) they sponsored through Uni for a law degree.
Also, as far as I know, one cannot become a qualified tradesperson through 'short courses' alone (perhaps this is not the case everwhere). A 4 year apprenticeship is needed...same time as most degrees.
Re the concept of 'making a name for oneself". I think this is telling. How many people engage in higher education for this reason. To me this simply indicates the society has issues with control.
-
42
Aus Bethel 06 Annual Report - INCREDIBLE 50% DECREASE in donations
by jwfacts ini just purchased the 2006 annual report for the australian watchtower bible and tract society.
below are the highlights.
most incredible is that donations dropped by almost 50%, from 15 million dollars to only 10 million dollars.
-
Roski
Sorry - did not mean to change the topic of this thread - but I do think the society will be looking for money from older members of the organization. Well - maybe more now than previously.
-
42
Aus Bethel 06 Annual Report - INCREDIBLE 50% DECREASE in donations
by jwfacts ini just purchased the 2006 annual report for the australian watchtower bible and tract society.
below are the highlights.
most incredible is that donations dropped by almost 50%, from 15 million dollars to only 10 million dollars.
-
Roski
I agree about the need to be informed. I'm quite sure about where my family's money will be going as I know there has been 'spiritual guidance' on this matter over the years. I can't remember specific times and quotes - but I do remember it being an ongoing theme, which I am sure is gaining momentum. Previously, I would never have thought of contesting their will should it not be in my favour (ie. go to the organisation), however now I do think about it for the following reasons:
I was told in about grade 2 that I would never go to high school. In high school I was told it was a waste of time and "just pioneer". Hence I essentially paid for my own education - as an adult. This is OK, many people do, but in my case it was due to WT philosophy and it was not necessary. I missed a lot of opportunities/choices that need not have been missed. In the meantime my parents have donated, in time and money, a huge amount to the society.
My parents had run their financial resources into the ground by 1975. It was through my initiative that they got back onto their feet - bought a house and have been able to have a good standard of living since then. If they had not been able to buy property again (after selling their's originally) they would have had a far more unstable life and been a constant source of anxiety for me. This isn't because they are not hard working - they just worked for the wrong people.
I grew up thinking that the society came first and any family needs came second - education/family time/financial security/employment...whatever. I found it was difficult to continue thinking this way when I had children and then after looking outside the bubble, I began to see how other families treated their children. Even adult children. It has taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get to where I am now - and on principle I do not want to see my parent's money going to the society - they have had enough.
I am interested to hear of anyone else's experiences related to this matter.
-
42
Aus Bethel 06 Annual Report - INCREDIBLE 50% DECREASE in donations
by jwfacts ini just purchased the 2006 annual report for the australian watchtower bible and tract society.
below are the highlights.
most incredible is that donations dropped by almost 50%, from 15 million dollars to only 10 million dollars.
-
Roski
Guess this means they will be after my parent's property when they no longer need it. By the way - does anyone know if it is possible to contest a will (should this be made out to the society) re Australian law? And the implications of doing so? Perhaps it has already been done? I figure they have had a fair suck of the juice bottle.
-
41
Why are JWs so disrespectful towards war veterans, etc?
by winnie ini never could understand this.
do they have no respect???.
this subject came up when my hubby was talking to his brother on the phone a couple months ago.
-
Roski
Wazadummy...
I can understand where you are coming from. My father saw some serious action in WW2 and that's why he became a witness.
-
7
"Pollutants change 'he' frogs into 'she' frogs."
by FreedomFrog ini'm studying environmental science right now and our course has been on pollution/extinction and things that we as humans are doing to our earth.
i thought this article was interesting...scarey...but interesting.
because of pollution, we are causing some life forms to actually change what they were meant to be.
-
Roski
Interesting...do you have any more information as to which chemicals (apart from the above mentioned) play a part in this process, and their effect on humans?
Thanks...