Alligator Wisdom

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Posts by Alligator Wisdom

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  6

  What percentage were born jw's to those who were not?

  by micheal in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after taking a count of my last 3 congregation phone lists 85% of those on the lists were born as jw's.

  what do you think that says about jw having the true religion?

  doesn't that mean that if you were not born into a jw family your as good as dead?

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  Alligator Wisdom

  Currently, by the looks of it here in Japan, it's more like 95% are born into the organization. This is based on the actual ones being baptized at the assemblies and conventions. They are all teens and young adults who were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses from childhood on. I suppose the other 5% are those who eventually had succumbed to the pleads of their JW family members. I found that many JW Japanese households don't have their "fathers" in the organization. Japanese men are "work-a-holics" and are devoted to the companies they work for. These "fathers" of JW Japanese households are embarrassed if they were to reveal to their peers that they are passively associating with Jehovah's Witnesses, let alone to reveal that their own families are JW's (pioneers for that matter). Here in Japan, JW's are viewed as a cult, as like in many other places. And since there are many cult-like factions popping up here in Japan, the JW's are hard pressed for finding "other sheep" who will even listen to their message.

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously")
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  6

  One reason I know it's not the truth.

  by BeelzeDub in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can remember how the wt always claimed that the bible could be trusted as gods word because the bible writers were so honest and candid about their own mistakes and did not try to hide them.

  can the same be said of the governing body of jehovah's witneses?

  if i were to join the ymca for no other reason to have access to the pool, i would be disfellowshiped.

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  Alligator Wisdom

  Excellent point!

  I'll remember that one when the elders make their rounds with the CO on their shepharding calls. (I wrote a letter requesting to step-down as a MS). I can state this as a reason for my spiritual "weakness".

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously)
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  8

  Slide shows

  by freedom96 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up i remember the only excitement for the public talk was if it was a slide show.

  once the first one happened, i always looked at the windows of the hall to see if there was aluminum foil on them.

  if it was, boy did i get excited.

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  Alligator Wisdom

  Flashback!

  I haven't thought about those slide presentations in years. They were good though. Kept me awake, being a kid at the time. It usually was announced earlier during the week, so the congregation always had a BIG turnout. Every seat was taken.

  I believe they discontinued those slide presentations. I haven't seen one since the late 80's when I was a teenager. But then again, it wouldn't matter. I'm doing the slow fade and when they look back in line, they'll find my place vacant.

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously)
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  15

  Int'l Convention Qualifications?

  by Jourles in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone know who approves candidates to attend the international assemblies and what the qualifications are?

  i know of a family that was "approved" to attend one of next summers international conventions.

  all but one family member was invited.

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  Alligator Wisdom

  My former (entire) congregation was invited to the International Convention held in San Diego, California, USA in 1998. Actually, most of the congregations in my former circuit were invited. I guess it was because they wanted a "significant" turnout, plus the fact that it was held only two hours away down interstate 5 (my former congregation was in Los Angeles).

  I'm assuming that you are referring to International Conventions that are held abroad from the country in which the publisher was living in. Then, in that case, as Little Toe mentioned, the individual publisher would have to turn in an application to the Service Committee in his/her congregation, which would then be accompanied by a letter of approval from the elders and mailed to the International Convention Committee for the final determination.

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously")
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  17

  Did you want to be a MS?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you think that if a brother didn't become a ministerial servant in a reasonable amount of time, that he was considered weak?

  did you want to be a ms or did you prefer not to have any responsibilities in the congregation?

  edited by - jh on 2 january 2003 17:33:47.

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  Alligator Wisdom

  No. But that didn't matter!

  I one day just before the meeting began, the service committee called me into the "backroom" and told me that I was approved by "Brooklyn" and was now a MS. (I suppose I did everything according to the WT/GB's Talmud of rules). I didn't even have any say in the matter. It was just given to me unexpectedly. Maybe it was because the elders needed help in the congregation and no other brother was "qualified". It was official when the PO made the announcement during the Service Meeting that night.

  However, over the past two years I did decline appointment of eldership twice. Boy, were the elder body puzzled! They continued to harass persuade me to accept this "fine" privilege of service. No way! (details within my personal profile).

  I am currently a MS, although I turned in my letter requesting to step down on October 30,2002. Still waiting for an official acknowledgment. The elder body, however, did put me on "light duty", which I'm currently in. From what I hear, I'll have to explain my decision to the CO in person (when his next visit is scheduled in April this year).

  Now attempting the slow fade ~

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously")
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  38

  Were you born into the jw faith?

  by nakedmvistar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many of you on this forum were born into the jw faith?

  do you think this put you at a disadvantage when leaving the org.

  do you think that someone who becomes a witness later in life would have an easier time adjusting back to a "normal" life?

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  Alligator Wisdom

  I was basically born into the JW faith (if you count first stepping into a KH at the age of 5). Now trying to do a "submarine witness" and "submerge". It's quite difficult accomplishing that, being that most of my family are currently active JW's and I'm a MS (who declined appointment for eldership twice). I wasn't (and still not) very socially inept because of the indoctrination of the world being "evil".

  Making my best attempt to have a firm hold on the "real life" at the age of 35.

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously")
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  44

  What Kept You "In The Truth"?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was it family, friends, the belief that this all was really true?

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  Alligator Wisdom

  THREATS!

  If I didn't get baptized as a JW in order to receive the 'mark', I would die at Armageddon.

  ~ I just didn't want to die ~

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT" Exerting Vigorously")
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  42

  Elders? Ministerial servants? Pioneers

  by lv4fer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm just curious.

  how many of you were elders or ministerial servants or pioneers?

  were you an elder or ms or pioneer when you realized it wasn't the truth or a had you stepped down already, were you "weak" when you realized it?

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  Alligator Wisdom

  I've been a MS for the past 6 years. However, I've always declined appointment of "elder" during the last two. (Details within my personal profile). I'm still considered a MS even though I had requested to step-down from that position also (letter to the BOE on October 30th). In the meantime, the elders have put me on "light-duty". (No talks or Book Study assistant anymore ). Now I'm awaiting the expected "shepharding call" from the CO during his next up-coming visit in April.

  Now doing the slow-fade. When they look behind them in line, they'll find my place vacant .

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")
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  7

  Joe Strummer Dies

  by ISP in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the clash's joe strummer dies at 50 .

  click to enlarge photo

  london (reuters) - joe strummer, frontman for seminal punk band the clash and a major influence on a whole generation of rock bands, has died at his home at the age of 50, his spokesman says.

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  Alligator Wisdom

  Oh no.....

  Many fond memories of the music from Joe Strummer & The Clash.
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  22

  Looking Back, Were You Easy Prey For The Witnesses

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  based upon your life and circumstances, were you easy prey for witnesses to get to you with their message?

  were you going thru some trauma or bad times?

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  Alligator Wisdom

  I was definitely easy pickings. Gullible and naive at that. After all, I first stepped into a Kingdom Hall when I was 5 years old. My mother studied (and was baptized in 1974....I wonder why?) with an older woman who "claimed" to be of the 144,000. I didn't know any better.

  But now.....I know better. When they look behind them, they'll find my place in line "vacant" .

  Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")