ive found the un affiliation threads very interesting, but ive also expressed the view that this issue will have virtually no effect on jw membership.
i have at least two reasons for believing this.. first, after reading w. j. schnells 1957 book, thirty years a watchtower slave, in which the author describes how the watchtower used negative publicity to increase membership, im now of the opinion that continued commentary on this matter may only serve to foster an even greater conviction on the part of rank and file jws that they are being persecuted, and they will increase their efforts to recruit members; this will offset what i think will be a miniscule number of defections by those who will feel betrayed because of the un affiliation.
the reason why i think there will be few defections is described below.. second, i believe that the watchtower can easily defend itself.
I agree that among the average rank and file membership, by the time the GB puts their spin on it they will buy anything the GB says. Why the GB was able to smooth over their failed 1975 prediction and yet most of the rank and file members don't remember or don't want to remember what happened. Weather this will affect the over all membership is yet to be seen. Regardless I still think it is important to expose the WTBTS for the hypocrites they are.
Will
new york times december 15, 2001 .
in a startling revelation, the watchtower bible and tract society of brooklyn ny, parent organization to the jehovah's witness religion, was exposed for a stark contradiction in their religious practices.. it was revealed this week by the guardian (a leading uk newspaper) that the governing body of the watchtower religion had secretly erected a christmas tree in celebration of the festive season.
when the facts were made public this week, the watchtower quickly, and quietly, removed the tree to another location.. paul gilles, spokesman for the watchtower in great briton, wrote a letter to the guardian, in which he stated that the "tree was in no way secret" and that it was "necessary to gain access to the un library".
I agree with Reborn2002 on this point that with mistruth like these we are only playing into the hands of the JW's. All it does is justifies their thinking that everything we say is a bunch of lies and diminishes our creditability. I know that the UN scandal is big and it should be brought to the attention to all JW's that want the "Truth" but let us please stick to the facts on such an emotional and important issue.
Will
there are two things.
in the early and mid 80s there were witnesses saying that the cartoon characters the smurfs were not acceptable for witnesses.
i had two smurf cartoon books and my mother made me throw them away.
A couple more I just thought of...
When I was a teenager our CO cut out a picture of a young man out of the WT and posted it on the bulletin board. He wrote little captions around the picture like "See where his side burns are" or "He is wearing a White shirt". etc. Well you know most of the older ones there took it as gospel truth.
Around the same time I was studying with a brother (who is no longer a JW) that would get on my case about my side burns being too long. He hounded me so much about trimming them on and on. He insisted that he could trim them for me. Being a young teenager at the time and wanting to do what’s right I submitted to him and let him trim them. Well you know this is one time my JW mom took a stand. At the next book study, right in front of everyone, she said "Oh yeah brother so and so I would appreciate that you let me cut my own sons hair". He at least apologized to her and admitted he was wrong.
Another time I remember it was brought up on the platform about the Rod Stewart song "Tonight's the Night". About how it was about immorality etc. and we shouldn't listen to it. Also I can recall an ex Circuit Overseer giving a talk and saying we should only listen to nice classical music and none of the rock stuff.
I have lots more but have to get going here.
Will
there are two things.
in the early and mid 80s there were witnesses saying that the cartoon characters the smurfs were not acceptable for witnesses.
i had two smurf cartoon books and my mother made me throw them away.
What is the silliest thing that a witness told me??? Everything thing. LOL Anyway one experience that I can recall was when my son was little and he had a bib on that had the Disney Snow White and 7 Dwarfs on the front of it. Well we were over at a JW home when the German sister there well you would think she saw Satan himself and told me that that was demonic. She said that she would have to talk to my wife about it. I can't recall but knowing my ex she would have thrown it out. Reminds my of that old SNL skit of the Church Lady... Can we say Satan everyone.. LOL
Will
it is official in usa.
the announcement was made at the service meeting.. letter read due to cost of postage...once your subsription expires it will not be renewed.
If the WT is so afraid of who gets their magazines and who doesn't, Why do they stand at the bus stop and hand them out to anyone that walks by? If you want one all you have to do is go look in the garbage cans and on the side walk because that’s where 99% of them end up.
Will
home page url:.
http://www.jwrelief.org/hrc/mainpage/home.htm.
this website was evidently set up to milk all the pr the wts can get for doing what they should be doing anyway (except not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing.).
Hey NvXo,
You say your 20. Well let me tell you I am more than twice your age and I remember when I was your age and was told to not get a good education just go and get a job as janitor because 1975 and Armaggaddon was just around the corner. Well it is now 26 years later and what happened??? We are all still here and if it had come you wouldn't have been here... Anyway then what did the WT do?? Did they admit to their error? No they blamed it back on all the good hearted JW that gave up everything for their "rightious" cause. Myself and like most ex JW's I have talked to are maybe a little bitter and they have a good reason but they just don't want anyone else to fall for the lie's that we all did.
Will
friday.
well sad to say it was not revelations of sweeping reform or "new light" on caring for the flock.
the first day was primarily rehash of old stuff.
Well so big deal the 15 minute rule will bring up the total number of publishers but it will pull down the average hours. So for the society to keep their 10 hour average would mean that the younger publishers will have to put in more hours. Think about it... Just another way for the local BSO to get on your case to put in more hours..
Also I always thought that there was no great insights or new light at these elders meetings. They just feed the elders enough BS to keep them happy. If I was there my brain would have been turned off after the opening prayer and that’s exactly what the GB wants. No questions just except everything as coming from God himself. Good brainwashing techniques..
storch - a participant on the german board http://www.infolink-net.de/forum.htm wrote to the german branch.
he got the following reply.
and his local elders informed him without any reference to the letter that he is not to do talks in the tms at the moment.. the english translation is mine.
Who is the stupid one here? You know the Wt is getting themselves into a trap here by saying they didn't know what the NGO stood for. I can't believe they would be that ignorant to just sign something they didn't understand or do they believe the rank and file JW's are that stupid? Boy the GB must have sore asses riding that scarlett colored beast.
Will
home page url:.
http://www.jwrelief.org/hrc/mainpage/home.htm.
this website was evidently set up to milk all the pr the wts can get for doing what they should be doing anyway (except not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing.).
The WT sure know how to milk this "Old System" when its a financial benifit to them. Hey are the GB still riding the back of the harlot?
Will
mr. paul hoffel united nations -dept.
of public information .
in the watchtower bible and tract society's public position of october 22,2001 submitted for publication in the guardian in the united kingdom.
Good I hope the WT keeps this going and then the rank and file JW will see how their GB is nothing but a bunch of liars.
Will
