Posts by GrreatTeacher

32

Will recent dress-code changes affect the WTS negatively?

by Wonderment in

in a span of a few months time, we have had many unexpected changes announced by the jw organization.

some here have expressed the belief that a great number of witnesses will leave the religion.

in fact, there is a great probability the opposite will be true.. yeah, ancient hardliners will have a hard time assimilating these changes, but the younger generation will likely welcome these changes.

GrreatTeacher

This might make it easier on folks who are still there, but it's not gonna make anybody want to come back!

I never understood the whole dresses being more modest than pants thing. For God's sake, dresses leave everything out in the air! Pants cover it up and put good distance between your hooha and sudden breezes or even upskirt shots!

Dresses and skirts make many women feel very vulnerable.

Also, the whole "visible panty lines" thing just made me scratch my head. Like, you're surprised I'm wearing underwear? Don't you?!?

The last time (many years ago) that I visited the hall, I wore pants anyway. I didn't really care about JW dress codes then and I don't now. I still don't want to go back.

29

Beards vs. Shunning announcements

by slimboyfat in

during lett’s announcement that beards are now allowed he elaborated at some length how brothers ought to feel and react to the change in policy.

he warned brothers not to resent not being able to grow beards earlier if they had wished to do so.

he also warned brothers who supported the old policy not to allow themselves to wonder what the point of doing so was now that it has changed.

GrreatTeacher

Yes, that IS the question.

Are you doing this because you're a drone and someone else is telling you to, or have you really thought this over and have a deep moral conviction?

You know it's the former.

266

Where is Tony?

by Athanasius in

jw
friends

on february 22, 2023, anthony morris iii was officially removed from the governing body of jehovah's witnesses.

a few months later it was revealed that the watchtower bought him a house in lumberton, north carolina.. however, and correct me if i am wrong, since leaving the gb nobody has reported seeing tony attending jw meetings or participating in field service.

in fact nobody has reported seeing him anywhere, not even at a local liquor store.

GrreatTeacher

The only reason the gossip hasn't gotten out yet: there's likely an NDA.

A legal Non-Disclosure Agreement might be the only thing that can shut down the JW gossip mill.

If I had to make a wager, I'd bet Tony lawyered up to negotiate his exit.

28

JWs And Superstitions

by NotFormer in

prompted by a mention in a different thread.. cracks in the sidewalk, a pinch of salt over the shoulder, black cats🐈‍⬛; do jws have such superstitious beliefs.

are they allowed to?

would they be counselled if the elders became aware?.

GrreatTeacher

Terry, I remember the "everything is demonized" phase.

You could tell that something was demonized because when you tried to burn it, it wouldn't burn. You had to put copious amounts of gasoline and other flammables on it, then it would scream when the demon was released.

Also, if a demon was bothering you, you just had to say, "Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah!" like some kind of charm and it would ward off any demons.

20

JW sign is the sacred cow being idolized by the JWs

by enoughisenough in

this video makes valid points and the last pictures in the video says it all imo...i knew witnesses who wore the logo in their jewelry.

the sign represents the organization, so the organization is what is really being worshipped instead of god almighty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktadlxlqee8.

GrreatTeacher

Wait, that looks like a granite paperweight.

Take one of those granite countertop sample pieces, stamp JWBorg on it and sell it for, what, maybe $34.99?

A viable business opportunity? 😜

32

55 Year Cycle shows up in March 2024 Watchtower

by was a new boy in

did they hope that everybody who read the1969 awake as a kid is too senile to remember?.

.

GrreatTeacher

NotFormer, you'll notice that the girl next to her has the same cardigan over long skirt combo.

It's a kind of JW uniform. Not surprising because what they really want is Uniformity not Unity as they say.

So we have this change of dress and grooming standards now with the relaxation of beards.

Maybe someone finally told them that they weren't looking like upstanding members of society anymore, they were looking like JWs! It's easy to pick them out of a crowd.

So, what do they want? To blend in as respectable citizens or look different? They need to decide because the loose polyester suit and long skirt/ cardigan is making them stand out. No one dresses that way anymore.

8

JW lose case against victims

by enoughisenough in

caught this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud7uob6zck4.

GrreatTeacher

Oh, the money changers in the temple...

20

JW sign is the sacred cow being idolized by the JWs

by enoughisenough in

this video makes valid points and the last pictures in the video says it all imo...i knew witnesses who wore the logo in their jewelry.

the sign represents the organization, so the organization is what is really being worshipped instead of god almighty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktadlxlqee8.

GrreatTeacher

Meh, slippery slope to idolizing the symbol.

Like blood is the symbol of life, but they'll prioritize the symbol over life itself.

_______________________________________________________

I mean, yeah, they definitely idolize the Organization, but it seems like they've actually gone a step further and are idolizing the symbol now.

Sure, they can make fun of Christians for wearing a cross or crucifix necklace, but you can go online and get your JWBorg lapel pin now too.

13

70s Cartoons

by NotFormer in

jw
friends

there're the obvious ones, like the smurfs.

although why still escapes me.

was it because of the magic, that they were "magical creatures", that there were wizards, etc?.

GrreatTeacher

The Smurfs were hated because of Gargamel the Wizard.

He was the bad guy even within the episodes, so I don't know if that reasoning makes sense.

All this despite the fact that, you know, this was a child's cartoon and clearly fiction.

I was actually allowed to watch the Smurfs because my parents truly saw through the superstition of some Witnesses, despite being hardliners in other respects.

And that's what it was, same with Harry Potter: superstition. A bunch of simple-minded superstitious people, afraid of their shadow and ungrounded in science. Figuratively throwing a pinch of salt over their shoulders when spooked by something.

27

The Governing Body - Both sides of their coin

by Ron.W. in

how many can you think of.... they speak for god.. it would seem presumptuous to say they speak for god,.

they are neither inspired nor infallible.. they are god's only channel for issuing truth here on earth.

they won't be apologising for any errors/falsehoods they have promoted in the past that fail.. congregation members must be quick and apologise for their errors to avoid harsh discipline/disfellowshipping.. when they change a major belief/doctrine you must not complain or criticise them.

GrreatTeacher

NotFormer, just wanted to let you know that I wasn't the one to downvote you.

Thanks for the comment.

In general, I feel like people appreciate directed responses over simple up/down votes, and it keeps conversations lively and interactive.