All our our English elders in eastern ontario went to all day elders meeting in Ottawa yesterday. (Sat.) No more info yet.
Fading Begins
JoinedPosts by Fading Begins
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Rumor : Elders' meeting about pedophilia issues
by yalbmert99 inhi everyone, there is a rumor on a french speaking forum saying that the elders were to assist to a 9 h meeting,yesterday or today depending on availability, about pedophilia exclusively.
meeting directed by an circuit overseer.
more infos to come.
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Question about future enthusiasm of the congregations.
by Fading Begins ini was the store manager of a large furniture store - part of a national chain.
we had large sales once month, and giganic four day sale every quarter with a large amount of print and tv advertising.
for these quarterly sales we would have conference calls every morning with our directors to report our numbers, contests for the salespeople, and target goals for each salesperson, individual store, and the national district.
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Fading Begins
Gingerbread - that's exactly how I feel as well. Where the borg has gone wrong is there is no warmth or genuine caring in the congregation anymore. My Mom who wants me to go to meetings regularly again, will tell me multiple reasons why she's upset and "shocked" by the local brothers, but when I say anything negative, she closes her ears. I've come to the conclusion that at her age, there literally is "no other place for her to go" so I don't rock the boat to often.
But it was so much different 50 years ago, the congregation was much more loving, caring, showing genuine affection for each other. I think the change came when the society started to realize how much money they could make off the brothers, and it became a commercial enterprise instead of a source of spiritual love and support.
When all of the pre-75 jw's die, I think, then, you will see a massive decrease in the statistics, a result of the final loss of the "warm memories"for these faithful brothers, also the internet, and the educated, enlightened public, who scoff at women not being able to wear slacks to meetings and out in service, men not allowed facial hair, kids who are frowned on for wanting a higher education, and all the other unrealistic "policies" spouted by the borg.
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What were your favorite assembly foods?
by NoRegrets inso i'm young enough to not remember having hot prepared meals at assemblies, but heard all about it from my parents and the like.
but what i do remember were all of the cold sandwiches and institutional snacks and soda.
remember the food tickets we started to use?
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Fading Begins
I should mention, I was almost six at the 8 day international assembly in NYC in 1958. The sessions went from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm. My father had volunteered our family for food service, so my Dad, Mom, my four siblings and myself all arrived at the cafeteria site at 7:00 am - it was in a large white tent - and we all sat on little stools and peeled carrots. When we were done we were allowed to stand in the long cafeteria lines - in another large white tent - and had a hot breakfast, and also had supper for free. Looking back now, I understand that this was the only way we were going to get two meals a day, as we had saved every penny to drive there, get accomodations, and meals. I have to say, though, it was an amazing spectacle to see thousands of people in line for the various meals, never pushing or complaining - something I remember vividly to this day. I look back today, and wonder what happened.
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For those still "in"... is it just me?
by leaving_quietly ini'm still "in" and i've noticed an odd trend recently.
conversations with jws seem to be more jw-ish than ever!
in normal conversation, i'll hear: "these watchtowers are just wonderful!
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Fading Begins
Scotoma - I started a new feed after I read your post. I agree and wanted to comment, but didn't want to go off topic...
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Question about future enthusiasm of the congregations.
by Fading Begins ini was the store manager of a large furniture store - part of a national chain.
we had large sales once month, and giganic four day sale every quarter with a large amount of print and tv advertising.
for these quarterly sales we would have conference calls every morning with our directors to report our numbers, contests for the salespeople, and target goals for each salesperson, individual store, and the national district.
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Fading Begins
I was the store manager of a large furniture store - part of a national chain. We had large sales once month, and giganic four day sale every quarter with a large amount of print and tv advertising. For these quarterly sales we would have conference calls every morning with our directors to report our numbers, contests for the salespeople, and target goals for each salesperson, individual store, and the national district. The store managers would have staff meetings at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm - again to rouse the troops, instill a sense of urgency. The sad part was, that as soon as that sale ended, another began, and you would start all over.
This is just like the organization. I can remember in much earlier days, we would would have a thermometer at the front of the hall in April, with a "target" number of hours, mags etc., etc. Believe me, if we were not making the "goals", then we would be putting in extra hours - street corner work before the bookstudy Tues nite, extra time out in service after the PT and Watchtower study. We always reached our goals, and didn't feel pressured - instead we felt proud. There was much more of a "brotherhood" way back then, people actually cared about each other.
I think the society has forgotten (or never experienced it) being insulated in their little, snug bethel rooms) how much these "local" endeavours could do for the morale of the congregation, and strenghthen faith. They have become so "commercial" and "secularly engaged" at head office, that they have absolutely no realistic feeling for the little people that make up the organization. Because of this, they have to use "sales & marketing methods" to raise any zeal or enthusiasm in the continuation of the work. You know they analysed how tired the brothers are becoming by the way they have cut back on activities like length of meetings, ending the book study, shortening circuit and district assemblies. Also the drawing back that the elders have read about in letters about legal liability, individual incorporation for each congregation, ownership of buildings and land of congregations by the WBTS even though the congregation paid the mortgage. They refuse to directly answer confrontational letters by individual publishers. Even visits to Bethel are now "commercially" booked.
Do you think that this impersonal approach by the society will have a continuing impact on the enthusiasm and zeal of individual congregation members. Now that the "end of the world" scare tactics are winding down, what else do you think they can implement to keep the "little people" motivated, and their enthusiasm up.
Interested in your thoughts.
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For those still "in"... is it just me?
by leaving_quietly ini'm still "in" and i've noticed an odd trend recently.
conversations with jws seem to be more jw-ish than ever!
in normal conversation, i'll hear: "these watchtowers are just wonderful!
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Fading Begins
I have noticed this too - I thinks part "auxilliary pioneer" season, memorial time, and circuit assembly time for a lot of congregations plus these "international" assemblies are bringing back a lot of warm, fuzzy memories of the good old days.
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What were your favorite assembly foods?
by NoRegrets inso i'm young enough to not remember having hot prepared meals at assemblies, but heard all about it from my parents and the like.
but what i do remember were all of the cold sandwiches and institutional snacks and soda.
remember the food tickets we started to use?
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Fading Begins
We used to "donate" food for the circuit assemblies. I would spend a week making homemade tarts, butter, cherry, blueberry and fresh strawberry - all with my own from scratch filling. Everybody would tell be how delicious they were, and they made a lot of money from them. I made a few hundred each assembly until the rules changed. Of course, I was doing this for "approval", and the only positive feedback sisters ever got.
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Parents - How can I tell them what I have learnt and hope they leave too.
by free and happy inmy husband and i and our children having been left the jws for 5 years now, for me it was how we were treated, the lies elders told about us and the blood issue that really opened my eyes and while all this was happening, my parents watched, supported and even sympathised with us,they said they understood our decision and even though it sadden them we were leaving, they understood.
they have never shunned us and we have a really good relationship with them.. what i don't understand is how they can still stay and play happy families with the people who caused us so much pain and anxiety, without the transfusion my eldest had, she would be dead, it truely was a life saver, why did they not question the religion that was quite happy to let her die for it.. i think the problem for me is that when i was at home, we never really talked, any problems were just glossed over , in fact i don't think i have ever had an indepth jw talk with my parents about how i felt about being a witness which makes it so hard to tell them what i've learnt now, i haven't a clue where to start.. for my husband it seemed quite easy for him to have discussions with his mum and step dad as he never had the same closeness that i had with my parents when growing up even though we were raised in witness families, but then it dawned on me that we never really spoke indepth about anything much so how do i start now?.
so i'm asking for any advice anyone can give, if you have any suggestions i would love to hear from you..
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Fading Begins
Hi Free and Happy - I am in a similiar position with my Mom, except I am still fadng for personal reasons. I actually got through to my Mom, without a big blowup, when I asked to look at Rev. 7. I had her read the whole chapter to me, verse by verse. When she finished each verse, I would repeat parts of the verse, and ask her if this was literal. I purposely avoided verse 4, going on to verse 5, where it states which tribes 12,000 are out of. When I asked if ths was literal, were the 12,000 from Judah,Reben, Gad etc. she said "of course not". At the end I had her read verse 4 again, where it mentions the number 144,000. I asked her if this was literal - she paused and then said yes. So then I asked, how could every word in that chapter be symbolic, even the verses mentioning 12,000, but the number 144,000 ve literal. She was dumbstruck, and didn't have anything to say. I then let her off the hook, by very sincerely saying that the society would probably have a "new truth" about that in the near future. She disagreed with that, but I left the door open, so that when it does happen, she is going to think long and hard about all these "new truths". I know she will think of our conversation every time the 144,000 are mentioned.
Through experience, I find that if I don't back her into a corner, I can very subty get her thinking about things. My Dad used to say about peoples beliefs, that if you shoved them, they would plant their feet and shove back, but if you put your arm around their shoulders, and talked respectfully, and gently they would follow. It seems to work.
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Is there anyone out there who married a non jW...?how did it turn out for ?Are u happy?
by Chichi89 inplease be honest....did love conquer it all?.
how did u make it work?.
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Fading Begins
I was the JW and married a non-JW (second marriage - 1st to an elder) and then proceded to convert him. He was baptized and making great progress, getting "privileges" etc. Due to earlier circumstances, I had been "questioning" since I had read Ray's two books. Started missing meetings, not going in field service, not answering, and am now an "official" fader.
My wonderful "soul-mate", yes there is such a thing, listened when I gave him all the reasons why it was the truth, and because he loved me, he followed me in. When I gave him the reasons I had changed my mind, he followed me out. He is a very smart man, but his love for me came before anything else. He has been very supportive.
If you feel you are going to continue doubting and fading, then the only thing to worry about, is if he really is your "soul-mate" and if your love for each other will carry you through everything that might happen down the road. One of the questions I've asked my own kids to contemplate before making such a life-long commitment is this - if he was in an accident tomorrow and was paralized and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, would your love hold the course? If they had doubts, then I would tell them to have patience, and allow the "rose-coloured glasses" to come off before making the decision. The future, if you take this course, and continue to fade, or face df, will be extremely, emotionally traumatic, and you will need his support every step of the way. Make your choice, not because he is, or is not a JW, but because he is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.
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Watch Tower Corporation Listed Top Forty Revenue-Generating Companies in New York City, Reporting an Annual Revenue of About 951 Million US Dollars
by frankiespeakin inso are they a religious non profit corporation?
how is this dicotomy possible that they could generate such revenue and not make an accounting to irs?.
originally known as the peoples pulpit association, the organization was incorporated in 1909 when the society's principal offices moved to brooklyn, new york.
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Fading Begins
I counted down and have them in #23 position, which would make them in the top 25. Has anybody else counted down to see where they are?