Posts by Bob

16

Secular JWs: The future of the organization?

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

i was raised in a jewish community.

the secular jews greatly outnumbered the orthodox jews.

like jws they had a tight knit community.

Bob_NC

kneehigh, I think your post makes the case for the JW religion behaving as a cult vs. the Jewish religion not.

The Watchtower (aka the GB, aka the FDS) should allow for "secular" JWs. Secular JWs would be people who are not opposed to the religion, they are not trying to tear it down, but they also do not participate in all the activities. As Jesus told the disciples, leave them alone, if they are not against us they are with us.

GB/FDS, how about it? Creating a new class of secular associates would do wonders for the morale of faithful members. Some people just want to stop all the activities but they pose no threat to the harmony within the organization.There are plenty of Biblical parallels you could draw from to make up the non-publishing supportive associates. Come on, think about it.

35

I'm going back.

by dazed but not confused in

jw
friends

to hawaii!!

what were you thinking?.

ive been to the big island twice when i was a 11 and 13. my sister lived there and flew me out.

Bob_NC

Be sure to take your Watchtower and attend the meeting while you are there. It would be so encouraging to work out in service with the congregation a few times too. That would give a fine witness.

41

Circuit Overseer wakes up, packs his bags and leaves!

by Anony Mous in

i just heard this about a co i knew back in the day before he was even a co. he must be in his mid-late 40's now, my mother told me the story as she knows the family very well (the entire family has gone 'apostate' including several elders, circuit overseers and missionaries - this was an "example" family, always on the stage etc).. he wasn't 'feeling well' so he took time off from his co duties.

that week he packed his suitcase, told his wife he can't do it anymore and he's leaving, leaves her the car and the house and went to live in a small apartment, bought a small car and a week later got a decent job.. this was very recent so not everybody within the org has heard yet what happened..

Bob_NC

AGREED with steve2. Parts of the story do not add up. The CO would not have a house to leave and go to an apartment. He would already be in an apartment. And COs are typically super organized and rational. He would not have a job right away, unless other "outs" are helping him.

7

"The gentile times reconsidered"

by zebagain in

have just finished the book by olofsson on this subject.

anyone else read it.?

it is extremely detailed and not an easy read at all.

Bob_NC

His pre-book manuscript was enough to set the Writing Department to wondering. No one knew how to reply to his research, since The Society had not checked their facts. Ray Franz was honest enough to realize that Olaf's conclusions were spot on.

This book also let me know that a bunch of higher-ups at Brooklyn know that the 607 - 1914 calculation is a sham. Watchtower?? Anything? We know you are reading here.

44

Has anyone found comfort/encouragement from "worldly songs"?

by awakening in

jw
friends

i remember reading a thread when my exit was starting, about inspirational songs.

someone posted a link to the "shins" for a fool.

this was a surprising help to me.

Bob_NC

Crazy song, but I love it. The Weight by The Band.

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said....

30

100 Years of Rule and the 1/15 WT

by Bob_NC in

first, i cannot believe how dumbed-down and simplistic the writing is now.

we used to have study articles with substance.

the writing style now is for people with slow minds or at the level of junior high students with learning disabilities.

Bob_NC

My grandmother was a newborn in 1919, not even crawling yet. She lived to be 91 and has been dead for 4 years.

30

100 Years of Rule and the 1/15 WT

by Bob_NC in

first, i cannot believe how dumbed-down and simplistic the writing is now.

we used to have study articles with substance.

the writing style now is for people with slow minds or at the level of junior high students with learning disabilities.

Bob_NC

First, I cannot believe how dumbed-down and simplistic the writing is now. We used to have study articles with substance. The writing style now is for people with slow minds or at the level of junior high students with learning disabilities. Seriously.

About the contents. So we are to believe that the most important event in recent human history has occurred , Jehovah becoming king, and the proof is that there is an organization of approx. 7 million people that 99.999% of the rest of humanity hardly know anything about? I did the math. The organization is about 1/10 of 1% of humanity.

WT quote - "Jehovah has already become King in our day! The thrilling events of the past 100 years are proof of this."

What events are they talking about? An assembly where attendees were told to go out and advertise?

WT quote - "Next, the King turned his attention to his earthly subjects to refine, educate, and organize them to do God’s will."

Where does the Bible say that such a thing would happen when Jesus became king?

WT quote - "By 1919, the “good news of the Kingdom” had taken on added meaning."

Where does the Bible say that the gospel "good news" would take on new or added meanings at a later time? Doesn't the Bible say that if anyone adds anything.....

WT quote - "The thrilling events of 100 years of Kingdom rule assure us that Jehovah is in control and that his purpose for the earth will be fulfilled."

Thrilling events like long-forgotten assemblies and Watchtower articles?

12

Update on my fade

by Jon Preston in

i apologize for the strangeness of my topics of late.

im in antight spot.

i havent been to a meeting for over a month...wife is sick again and wants me to attend but i am having the most difficilt time getting motivated to go...i mean every molecule in my body wants to stay home..but ive got an elder friend texting to ask if we are going and another asking for our service reports....grrr.

Bob_NC

I am sorry to hear it Jon. Your post serves to remind me how oppressive the Org is. I have been out for 13 years and now the thought of a religious group pressuring me to do something, anything, feels so ridiculous.

As strange as it will feel to do it, I suggest LisaRose's advice. Keep it simple. "No, no thanks." Volunteer nothing else. You are not obligated to explain yourself. Why aren't you coming to the meetings? "Thank you for the reminder. When I decide to come to the meeting I wil be there."

82

Is the Governing Body trolling us?

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

i'm starting to believe the bethel higher ups are trolling us.

the outright contradictions and stuff like overlapping generation is too ridiculous.

calling out the harold camping when we did the same thing.

Bob_NC

YES. You can be sure of it. The WT is like any corporation in needing to know how it is viewed and what is being said about it. They are here.

13

What would the Watchtower Society do...?

by LogCon in

when the economy collapses, and it will, worse than 2008, far worse.... ...what would the watchtower society do if a large group of homeless jw's starting camping out at wakhill, new york, perhaps in a large 'tent city'?.

Bob_NC

Will some other elders follow up on my comment? On the congregation level, we were instructed to aid needy Witnesses by helping them to apply for social benefits to which they might be entitled, on the premise that some people do not know how to apply for unemployment, food stamps, or heating assistance.

Of course, we were also told that as a body we could contribute to the needs of Witness families. I do not recall a provision for using congregation funds to help a needy family.

Bob_NC

Posts by Bob_NC