Posts by FreeWilly

20

(UN)Expected development

by InquiryMan in

part 1: my family and i stopped being active witnesses some 3 and a half years ago.

we did the fade thing, thus we are neither das nor df.

before we stopped, i served as an elder.

FreeWilly

It sounds like you came off as the voice of reason, rather than the ashamed child who got caught doing something bad. Way to go!

307

SERVICE REPORT 2005 : WATCHTOWER FEB 1ST 2006

by BluesBrother in

i have had a quick look and found no references to this, so - here goes..as in the mag we picked up on sunday.. worldwide % increase over 2004 = 1.3%.

memorial partakers 8524 (compared to 8570 in 2004).

most european and nth american lands show pretty static figs - britain 1% increase, canada 0%, germany 0%, france 1%, usa 0%... but spare a thought for the inhabitants of zambia where 1 person in 90 is a reporting witness, must be hell going down to the local market!

FreeWilly

LT,

I've noticed this too. JW's rehearse their arguements for only one audience. When I've spoke with JW's whom I've served with and know quite well they still revert back to a JW vs householder routine.

307

SERVICE REPORT 2005 : WATCHTOWER FEB 1ST 2006

by BluesBrother in

i have had a quick look and found no references to this, so - here goes..as in the mag we picked up on sunday.. worldwide % increase over 2004 = 1.3%.

memorial partakers 8524 (compared to 8570 in 2004).

most european and nth american lands show pretty static figs - britain 1% increase, canada 0%, germany 0%, france 1%, usa 0%... but spare a thought for the inhabitants of zambia where 1 person in 90 is a reporting witness, must be hell going down to the local market!

FreeWilly

Quango: " JWs do a tremendous amount of charitable activity" - then - "Jesus ... spent little time in "charitable" activities "

I think you need a little help organizing your arguements.

Boy you are really a "fish out of water" in this forum. You apparently can't seem to remember that we have all been there, done that. Your claims might sound convincing to householders or fellows at work. However, having served in numerous congregations, at Bethel and Internationally, you're not going to BS me (or anyone else here). It's not like you speaking to people who have no clue about your whacky beliefs. We know cuz we've been there. Do you really think you can sell us that "JW's do tremendous charitable activities" garbage? Your credibility is eroding with every post.

307

SERVICE REPORT 2005 : WATCHTOWER FEB 1ST 2006

by BluesBrother in

i have had a quick look and found no references to this, so - here goes..as in the mag we picked up on sunday.. worldwide % increase over 2004 = 1.3%.

memorial partakers 8524 (compared to 8570 in 2004).

most european and nth american lands show pretty static figs - britain 1% increase, canada 0%, germany 0%, france 1%, usa 0%... but spare a thought for the inhabitants of zambia where 1 person in 90 is a reporting witness, must be hell going down to the local market!

FreeWilly

OK, I'll go with "Many" instead of "Most" as more accurate.

Quango: I've never claimed this (JW's are the fastest growing religion) , so I won't seek to find any reputable sources!

Well, this is just a theory, but maybe that was directed to the poster who DID say that ? (david2002)

Quango: Does leaving JWs leave every one so bitter?

Oh brother, here we go with the "Everyone hates us" bit. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean they hate you. You sound like a little child who, after taking their favorite toy away screams "You hate me waa haaa haaaa."

Quango: Does every single belief , moral , value disintegrate?

A little melodramatic don't ya think? Lighten up ya weirdo , we're just exchanging viewpoints.

307

SERVICE REPORT 2005 : WATCHTOWER FEB 1ST 2006

by BluesBrother in

i have had a quick look and found no references to this, so - here goes..as in the mag we picked up on sunday.. worldwide % increase over 2004 = 1.3%.

memorial partakers 8524 (compared to 8570 in 2004).

most european and nth american lands show pretty static figs - britain 1% increase, canada 0%, germany 0%, france 1%, usa 0%... but spare a thought for the inhabitants of zambia where 1 person in 90 is a reporting witness, must be hell going down to the local market!

FreeWilly

Hey thanks Ian,

It's funny that it's the same way in England too !

I remember one pioneer Sister would bring here college homework in the car with her. She would do all of it while riding around in the car. You had to practically boot her out of the car to go to a door. When she did, it was the same presentation a "Hi, we're offering these journals to people in the community, have you ever wondered ....(then reads the cover)". She was back in the car doing her homework in 90 seconds flat!

And then there were the "Phantom pioneers". I remember one who always had a "Bible study" with someone almost every day. She would show up for the field service meeting and then leave the group and supposedly go to a study. This went on for years! On at least a couple of occassions I saw this same person in the grocery store shortly after the field service meeting shopping.

This one takes the prize though. A brother typed up a letter and printed out dozens of copies. He then added a tract to it and mailed these letters. He estimated 1 hour spent on the letter and multiplied that hour by the 50+ letters he mailed !!! Way to work the system - you have to admire his ingenuity.

307

SERVICE REPORT 2005 : WATCHTOWER FEB 1ST 2006

by BluesBrother in

i have had a quick look and found no references to this, so - here goes..as in the mag we picked up on sunday.. worldwide % increase over 2004 = 1.3%.

memorial partakers 8524 (compared to 8570 in 2004).

most european and nth american lands show pretty static figs - britain 1% increase, canada 0%, germany 0%, france 1%, usa 0%... but spare a thought for the inhabitants of zambia where 1 person in 90 is a reporting witness, must be hell going down to the local market!

FreeWilly

I personally believe the brothers and sisters substantially under report their ministry. I suspect the real number of hours spent witnessing is probably at least double the reported figure.

Oh please, you're kidding right? We all know about "The pioneer shuffle", or the witnesses who leave tracts at gas stations during their road trips, and the Sista's who make make a call at one end of the county, take a coffee break, then another 20 miles away, and count the whole 4 hours! This is the standard not the exception. Remember, you're talking to people who know the real deal, not some uninformed outsiders.

I live in a suburban area with a KH right down the street. I've had witnesses come by once in the past 2 years. Every time it's a drop-n-go. They try to leave magazines (which I take) and 'poof' they are gone, never to return. I was a pioneer for 5 years and have seen first hand that most witnesses preach to get their time in. Most actually avoid trying to get Bible studies, probably because that further complicates their already busy JW schedule.

Let's face it. 1.3% growth is about consistant with population growth. JW's are baptising primarily family members they birth. I doubt you will find a reputable source to corroborate your "JW's are the fastest growing religion" claim.

Here in the US (where JW's are relatively abundant) people barely know JW's exist, much less the intricacies of their shifting teachings. To beleive that Jehovah's gonna wipe out humanity because people don't subscribe to their "end times" teachings or the "issue of universal sovereignty" (taught nowhere in the Bible) is ridiculous. You've made God out to be a madman intent on genocide.

20

(UN)Expected development

by InquiryMan in

part 1: my family and i stopped being active witnesses some 3 and a half years ago.

we did the fade thing, thus we are neither das nor df.

before we stopped, i served as an elder.

FreeWilly

IM,

I'm not into fighting or bickering either. With my folks though, I make sure to remind them that they are the perpetrators, they are going out of their way to cause harm. If I don't, they adopt a mindset where they think I am the one making trouble, when in actuality they are the one's "Mucking it up". It's just the way they've been trained to think.

You can download the Pay Attention book here:

http://www.reexamine.org/index.php/Reexamine:Community_Portal:Publication_Downloads:Secret_Publications

247

never seen so much hatred

by PMJ in

i think that every one on this site goes way over the top calling jehovahs wittnesses names you spend more time trying to prove them wrong than you do prasing god.i mean is this your purpose in life.if you no more about the bible than the wittnesses then go straght a head and speak.but dont act like a spoiled brat calling people names.a lot of people on this site will belevae what they want to beleave because it suits there lifestyle lets get to the root of whats realy in your hearts

FreeWilly

In years past the watchtower Society could keep all of it's members in the dark. Now, in this age of readily available information I've always wondered what kind of persons would remain in this warped cult despite all of the information.

I guess I have my answer.

PMJ: "because it suits there lifestyle lets get to the root of whats realy in your hearts"

Boy you've bought into that Watchtower propaganda "hook, line and sinker" eh? Ask yourself PMJ, exactly what do you know of any of our "lifestyles" or "hearts" ? Once you've exhausted both of your synapses and come up with nothing, maybe you should stick around and learn a few things.

And hey, I don't hate you. You're entertaining.

51

question, need some info

by onetwofour in

.

can some1 explain to me what does the laodicean messenger mean?.

FreeWilly

Hi Kerri, welcome!

Kerri: "when they come around to teach me things i dont have back up only what i read of the internet which isnt much and they getaround it"

Yep. And when you go to buy a car, the salesman will have all the answers too. It doesn't matter if they are selling a BMW or a 1974 rusted out Chevy truck. It's the bestest car in the world! They anticipate the customer's objections and rehearse their answers - just like JW's!

What you are going to find is JW's will start to discourage you from doing research on them or getting you information from somewhere else. Hell just look at Quango. He's already trying to scare you out of here!

* They will try to get you to only read the New World Translation. Why do you think that is ?

* If you mention the internet they will say "oooooooow, you better be careful, scary scary!"

* They will try to tell you to avoid all other religious information except for theirs.

Don't be duped, it might just cost you big time! Just keep researching them and keep your eyes wide open, you'll figure it all out soon enough. ADVICE!! Pay close attention to all of the family issues descibed here and elsewhere - they are real. People can argue over religion all day, but the Family issues are the real danger with JW's.

33

1914 question

by drew sagan in

put aside all of the 607 b.c.e., there is another question that i'm not familiar with and mabyee some of you know what there explanation is, or if they don't even address the issue.

we are all familiar with the account in daniel chapter five, and nebuchadnezzars dream about the tree.

daniels explanation of this dream begins: .

FreeWilly

Drew: "I simply can't believe that I never once questioned this most basic idea."

That's easy. They bore the crap out of you with endless unrelated scriptures until you just "check out", nodd your head and just get past it all.

It's kinda like when the used car salesman has you in his office signing hours worth of paperwork. At first you read it all. Then after a while you just sign away your firstborn child just to get the hell outta there.

Isn't it embarrassing how we bought in to this crap at one time?