Posts by WingCommander

51

Interesting that the other cult-cousins are going thru nearly identical hemmoraging of members.....

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

i still read on reddit.

(though no longer post) occasionally, i'll venture over to the ex-seventh day adventist (sda) sub and catch up a bit.

it's been a long time.

WingCommander

About SDA's and JW's having a "slight increase in attendance" during the COVID pandemic:

Well, "Duhhhhhh!" They are BOTH end-times apocalyptic cults! Any increase during any sort of world-wide plight is 1000% predictable. Previous example: 9/11. We know many who leave are sometimes POMI, so when something scary happens, their minds revert back to their cult programming. Get back to Mother's safe teet! Grab on for a while! Then, after everything cools off and settles down, they all leave again, along with other existing members who are fed up with the "Cry Wolf" mentality and not seeing "The End" come again. They finally see the cult is full of shit, and leave.

Someone above mentioned the great exodus of people from religions in Europe in the decade after WWII.

Again I say, "Duhhhhhh!" WW2, the greatest global conflict the world has ever seen, with atrocities that still haven't been matched in modern day. You had highly religious people (no matter what their faith: Jews, Catholics, etc) all at war, all praying to make it thru. In particular the suffering ones in the Death Camps.....and what did they receive in response to their prayers? Crickets chirping. Gas chambers and ovens. Entire communities, towns, cities (think Western USSR) wiped off the face of planet. Oh sure, the Allied troops eventually rolled in to liberate the Camps, but 99% of everyone was already DEAD, stacked like cord-wood.

The remaining? Scarred for life, and many pissed at God and re-examining if they believe he even exists. So many gave up on the concept on a Higher Power, because they saw when the going got tough, REALLY tough, they were on their own. So they went on with life, got married, had kids and grandkids. You think they pushed them into the churches? Hell noooooooo! So golly gee, big mystery as to how atheism exploded in Europe after WW2. And this isn't even touching the subject of all the past church history and sexual abuse.

So please, stop with all the bullshit about SDA's and JW's experiencing an "increase." Every single photo from every Convention this summer PROVES the JW's are losing membership. So are the recent changes. What? You think the GB is doing this out of the kindness of their hearts? LOL!!!! They've been forced to do this, or else risk losing even more members. If stats were good.....increasing even, you think they'd loosen their grips? LOL!

If you want to see what JW's and SDA's will look like in the future, go find a Christadelphian Congregation and sit in on a meeting and look around at the remaining grey hairs. That is, IF you can find a Congregation to attend. SDA's? They'll be around a little longer, as they've adapted quicker and also have better member services. Mormons are KING for member services, but even that isn't stopping the hemorrhaging over there. What will keep them going the longest is their land holding assets and huge savings and investment portfolio.

51

Interesting that the other cult-cousins are going thru nearly identical hemmoraging of members.....

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

i still read on reddit.

(though no longer post) occasionally, i'll venture over to the ex-seventh day adventist (sda) sub and catch up a bit.

it's been a long time.

WingCommander

I still read on Reddit. (though no longer post) Occasionally, I'll venture over to the ex-Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) sub and catch up a bit. It's been a long time. Sometimes the ex-Mormon sub as well.

The ex-SDA one is really something. Why? Because seeing as how SDA's and JW's came from the same Millerite Advent Movement (and the consequent Great Disappointment) they share very similar concepts, doctrine, and also loaded cult language. They also share ex-communicating, Elder Bodies, similar looking literature, etc. E.G. White's writings are still held up as authority, in similar to how the Governing Body is today, and unquestioning loyalty is expected. Now Mormons? The only similarity there is the time period, the use of the name Jehovah, Elders, cult-tactics, etc. But SDA's? Well, when you skip over to that Sub it's like you've entered a parallel universe. Almost the same, but not quite.

Anyway, the point of all of this is what I noticed upon reading down thru the threads:

1. COVID really allowed members to stop, ask questions, research things they couldn't before. The cult hamster wheel of activity stopped, and cognitive dissonance was allowed to simmer to a boiling point.

2. SDA's also believe only they have the truth, and also refer to it as "The Truth." Creepy and familiar as hell!

3. They have evangelical schools and hamster wheel activities (think SKE, Gilead, etc) to keep them busy.

4. A lot of pressure to conform to their health and dress standards.

5. You see alot of F.O.G. being talked about - FEAR, OBLIGATION, and GUILT to keep their rank-n-file in line.

6. You see a lot of people talking about how they or their families were used and spit out, with absolutely NOTHING to show for it. (think teachers in their schools, being kicked to the curb like JW Bethelites)

7. You see a lot of the similar "waking up" patterns being talked about. People getting fed the fugg up with all the cults bullshit, and saying "Enough is enough" and voting with their feet, and with their wallets.

8. Just like the JW's, the youth aren't having it anymore. They've got access to this thing called "The Internet" and they are using it. Hell, any of them under 25 grew up with it, used it since little on up. Now, those fruits of the freedom of the information highway are ripening, and dropping right off the tree and not just walking, but flat-out RUNNING AWAY from these dumbass cults and their dumbass demands and ultimatums. Good!

9. A lot of the above can also be said of the ex-Mormon sub, and also about Scientology. It's estimated that there's now less than 40,000 Scientologists worldwide, no matter what their (made-up) internal numbers profess. Sound familiar? Who the hell believes that there are 8 million baptized JW's, and as high as 20 million (attending the Memorial) JW's on planet earth? LOL! Not me! I think the true number is about 2 - 3 Million, tops. The explosion over on the Reddit sub is incredible, especially since COVID. The last 5 years are really something! When I joined there, it was 15,000 members, if that. Now? Over 100,000. And just think.....that's only the people that have hit the "JOIN" button for that sub. I'd guess 10x that number actually read there everyday, but don't dare comment or JOIN the Sub for fear of someone finding out. Any wonder why WT is shitting their pants and making hasty changes? lol

10. Something else about visiting other cult "Ex" subs: You already think they're full of shit. So nothing to worry about. If you are active JW, and you read those "other" ex-cult member Subs, you can't help but to see the similarities. It's smacks you in the brain. And the big American ones: Mormons and SDA's and Scientology, really do seem to operate on the same playbook as the JW's. Since you already call "bullshit" on those other ones, all of a sudden you see the correlation and call "bullshit" on the JW stuff and not feel guilty. Boom! You're starting your path out the door. I know researching and coming across other cults really opened my eyes many many years ago.

Just an interesting exercise in viewing several long-standing cults starting to implode.

3

Nice topic on Linkedin

by Gorb in

jw
friends

i think we have to see jw.org like the corporations named in the topic on linkedin:.

jon davids.. 3e+ ceo of influicity | author of .... .

mcdonald's does it.

WingCommander

1. I haven't eaten at McD's in about 10 years. About once a summer I'll have Burger King or Wendy's. I try to stay away from all fast food or anything deep fried.

2. I don't belong to Costco, too expensive. I belong to BJ's Wholesale Club. Same stuff, some even better, cheaper membership cost.

3. I was never technically a "member" of the JW's despite being born & raised in it. I was never dumb enough to get dunked. (so I was never DF'd aka "removed.")

39

JE-sus making a comeback at the 2024 Convention

by dropoffyourkeylee in

attended the friday sesson of the 2024 summer convention.. july 5, 2024 summer convention crowd photo; they invited quite a lot of empty chairs.. .

the facility usually has 5500-6500. they spun it saying that fewer congregations were assigned.

there were 6 of the smaller, more distant sections blocked off with tarps to lessen cleaning, which i understand.

WingCommander

The Governing Body only pay lip-service to Jesus just enough to make it appear as though this is a Christian denomination. Meahwhile, they proclaim that they've been appointed by God Himself to represent and that "all of the gold and silver are mine." Questioning them is the greatest sin of all, the unforgivable sin of Apostasy against the Popes of Warwick.

The reality? It's not; it's a for-profit Neo-Judaic Pharasitical Cult & real estate empire run by false prophets, masquerading as a non-profit Christian religion fronting for Jesus. Huge difference.

57

Holding a grudge

by LongHairGal in

i read something recently on reddit (not sure what thread) where a person related how some jw told them that ‘they hold a grudge’.. this reminded me of something an old jw acquaintance said to me some years back when i related my bad experience in the religion.. so, apparently, jehovah’s witnesses feel they should be forgiven for anything.

people should forget all about it and act like nothing happened and be charitable towards them, etc… when i read in james and ephesians i got the sense ‘holding a grudge’ was referring to the things average people do to offend each other.. i don’t see it applying to a religion that claimed to speak for god and who engendered hateful and unchristian attitudes towards people.. i know because i experienced this.. in addition, some people’s lives were damaged by listening to faulty teachings and interference in things that were clearly none of anybody’s business.. one case in point: them knocking worldly careers and now there are thousands of destitute jws in senior years with nothing.. then in 2023 the religion does away with a century old teaching about counting hours in the ministry.

meanwhile, i got judged over this.

WingCommander

@Blondie:

Wow.....I didn't realize they were blaming the R&F already in 1976!! I had heard that really didn't start until about 1979-1980.

In fact, this is what woke up Marjorie Chretian up at an Assembly in around 1980......a speaker had blatantly placed the blame on the R&F members......it was a slap in the face.

Her & Leonard's testimony on their awakening process on Youtube: (a very good listen)

https://youtu.be/DOvxI4-PSTk?si=DrAQcrO3tkr7QOqW

39

JE-sus making a comeback at the 2024 Convention

by dropoffyourkeylee in

attended the friday sesson of the 2024 summer convention.. july 5, 2024 summer convention crowd photo; they invited quite a lot of empty chairs.. .

the facility usually has 5500-6500. they spun it saying that fewer congregations were assigned.

there were 6 of the smaller, more distant sections blocked off with tarps to lessen cleaning, which i understand.

WingCommander

I was there in 1983, have the pictures to prove it. What groups would do, is bring along those pop-up awnings and set them up to sit under. So you had rows and rows of these when the sun came out, stretching out all over and in all different colors. It was a rainbow of tents/awnings. Oh, and coolers. You absolutely HAD to have an IGLOO cooler filled with drinks to keep hydrated and snacks for little kids.

"Fun times!" - said no JW kid ever who experienced the concrete monster known as "The Vet" in the summer months of DC times. I watched with glee the video of it being demolished. Good riddance! I actually like the old Capital Centre in Landover, MD much better. It had A/C and a large screen (first one of it's kind, actually) Looked like a bird nest from the outside, actually.

39

JE-sus making a comeback at the 2024 Convention

by dropoffyourkeylee in

attended the friday sesson of the 2024 summer convention.. july 5, 2024 summer convention crowd photo; they invited quite a lot of empty chairs.. .

the facility usually has 5500-6500. they spun it saying that fewer congregations were assigned.

there were 6 of the smaller, more distant sections blocked off with tarps to lessen cleaning, which i understand.

WingCommander

These types of Convention updates have been popping up over on Reddit alot as well.

It's so "Happifying" to see the sparse attendance!

Most CONventions have now been removed from the larger rented venues, to localized ASSembly Halls, such as the Grantville, PA ASSembly Hall. This progression has actually been coming for a while.

It's like this:

Summer District CONventions used to be held at the old hot-ass Veteran's Stadium in FilthyDelphia, for decades! Filled the entire place. (it was literal torture)

The "Vet" was torn down, and they moved these to the smaller Santader Arena in Reading. (much smaller, but at least now indoors with A/C). This lasted a while.

Several years ago, Martin Haugh and others started protesting the CSA cases, etc in front of the Arena, and it made many local news and newspapers. Attendance dropped some more. (COVID helped as we all know)

Now, they did away with Santander Arena, and send everyone to Grantville ASSembly Hall. (built in 1972) I'm sure Ruhlman made $$$ off that somehow. Also, big thanks to Paul Oxenreider for not messing up the HVAC ductwork. RIP, ya old tin-knocker!

They re-arranged Congregations in an attempt to fill up Grantville, but even THAT is not working! Place is half empty. Long ago, Grantville had a great kitchen and dining hall. Long gone. THOSE were the days! (except for that dreaded orange carpeting thoughout) It's less and less attendance.

So when you look at this way, you can really see the hemorrhaging that is taking place. The "yang wanzzz" are leaving in droves, and middle-aged ones with any brain cells at all are voting with their feet, and with their wallets. C-ya, dumbasses!

But hey! Keep not apologizing for your dumbass policies Jeffery Winder!

57

Holding a grudge

by LongHairGal in

i read something recently on reddit (not sure what thread) where a person related how some jw told them that ‘they hold a grudge’.. this reminded me of something an old jw acquaintance said to me some years back when i related my bad experience in the religion.. so, apparently, jehovah’s witnesses feel they should be forgiven for anything.

people should forget all about it and act like nothing happened and be charitable towards them, etc… when i read in james and ephesians i got the sense ‘holding a grudge’ was referring to the things average people do to offend each other.. i don’t see it applying to a religion that claimed to speak for god and who engendered hateful and unchristian attitudes towards people.. i know because i experienced this.. in addition, some people’s lives were damaged by listening to faulty teachings and interference in things that were clearly none of anybody’s business.. one case in point: them knocking worldly careers and now there are thousands of destitute jws in senior years with nothing.. then in 2023 the religion does away with a century old teaching about counting hours in the ministry.

meanwhile, i got judged over this.

WingCommander

@LongHairGal:

Very good post. I'm 44, born and raised in this. My parents were suckered into this finally in the mid-to-late 70's. My mother already had her career in full swing. (RN, was looked down upon always as a Professional by the jealous bee-ouches and also men in the Congregations - AKA, she had brain, but was also meek)

I have a LOT of resentment for this cult essentially ruining the first half of my life. All of my JW family passed away years ago. However, my mother actually woke up around the same time I did. (late 90's, early 2000's). So, I got to vent about things to her and tell her how bad I had it growing up. She actually apologized to me several times because of it. We got past it together in a sense.

The grudge I have is against this evil CULT. A money-grubbing one at that, that does absolutely ZERO to help its membership out in any way, shape, or form. Even the Mormon Cult has all kinds of programs and aide to give back to it's membership. JW's are all take and zero charity. It is very striking once you realize. Their un-apologetic gal (as in Jeffery Winder's no apologies necessary in a recent video) really are a slap across the face to any JW who's been in long enough to see these changes come about. It's a giant "STFU, and get back to work, you good for nothing slaves!" attitude. Real Christ-Like attitude from the "Fine Shepherds", aye?

Fuck these evil clowns. (I'm looking at you Lett!) They are quite frankly, the very definition given of the "Evil Slave Class" as described in the Bible. They show zero "Fruitages of the Spirit", and just as Deuteronomy states, I "have no fear of them." They're exactly where they belong; my rearview mirror!

46

August WT: DF'ing renamed "Removed." AKA: GB re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

so: the mystery has been clarified as to more "new light" / clarifications of decades old doctrine and procedure.

august watchtower has finally been leaked.

disfellowshipping?

WingCommander

As an aside: I know there was some speculative posts from a guy claiming that WT HQ had hired some outside consulting firm, and that they had a "10 Year Plan" that they were going to start implementing.

Honestly, with all of these changes........that scenario no longer sounds to far-fetched, especially with the recent summer Convention venue photos being leaked out. The places are nearly empty!

I've heard reports from Accounting Depts (that collect that money and tally it) that not only attendance, but donations are down a staggering 30% or more! That is a HUGE hit in the pocketbook for WT HQ. This, even though they've deleted a lot of sacred rented venues, and gone to using existing Assembly Halls. Case in Point: Reading, PA. Eliminated! Now send those people to the old Grantville Assembly Hall, which of course is long since paid off. (built in 1972 as a recall) Of course, I'm sure the negative press from the ex-JW protestors outside the building (which caught local news attention due to the CSA cases in PA) didn't help! Or rather, it did! People saw the signage, saw the local news reports, and then let their fingers do the walking onto Google.

Wonder what else the "10 Year Plan" will bring forth? One things for certain, the previous 10 years.....since say, 2014.....have been damn interesting. That's about when JW Broadcasting premiered. How's the dumbass televangelism working out for ya, WT HQ? lol

2910

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars (continued)

by Simon in

jw
friends

uh oh, looks like the mega thread gave up the ghost, so while i investigate / fix it just continue the discussion here .... it's been a long 9 years lloyd evans / john cedars.

WingCommander

Another month, another WatchTower debacle as they change and morph their sacred cow doctrines and polices.......and Hemorrhoid Evans has absolutely ZERO to say about it! It's all quiet on the Eastern Front as Lloyd makes exactly ZERO videos about all of the recent changes, lack of convention attendance, etc.

Patreons: What the fuck are you still paying this bloated perverted CLOWN to do exactly? Besides go on holidays and take drugs on your dime? Wake up!