my youngest son brought this article to my attention.
very, very interesting.
it was in the seattle pi, yesterday, december 2.. student risks ire of mormons.
This article is impressive. One cannot help but see the disturbing similarities!
I wonder. No JW should object to reading and sharing this article. In fact, let's share it to all JWs. Let's be technical - it isn't apostate, right? LOL
Yes. Let the JWs read it, see the wrongness, and then let their conscience go to work! We can only hope they still have one.
Edited by - Roddy on 4 December 2002 15:40:19
i'm doing a little research on islam and the quran (koran) and i ran across the following website that explained why muslims think the koran is the only book inspired by allah.
i never heard of this before, and frankly, i don't know what to think of this.
does anyone have any insight on the significance of the mathmatics involved here?
I haven't been that interested in Muslims. I've known a few Muslims personally and they've been nice. I'm nice to all people. My attitude with Muslims is live and let live kind of thing even though I've been annoyed at the religious violence Islam inspires. But after 9/11, the suicide bombings of innocent civilians, and the continued terrorist assualts on innocents instead of on people who can fight back, I'm convinced this is a violent religion of fanatical idiotic cowards which lends itself to be exploited by self-serving apostles of hate or oil rich fatcats who starve their stupid uneducated people while they shift all the blame onto Israel and the West.
If the Great Tribulation begins with the destruction of Islam, good riddance! I'll be dancing in the street. Consider it payback for 9/11!!!
Please excuse my language but deleted
Edited by - Englishman on 4 December 2002 11:53:12
a poster from this e-mail to the time to edit my first graduate research paper.
the poster e-mailed me & wished to remain anonymous.
even though i've had a tough quarter (1st yr. grad student), there have been many things that have brough smiles to my heart like the example above.
What is the paper about, Capp?
as i stood at my kitchen window, i could see them walking by the front of my house.
are they going to make that turn and start the small climb up the driveway?
"groan"!
Andee >>When my Grandmother went door to door she PROUDLY proclaimed what she was, and who she represented. Granted this was in the late 60's, and perhaps JWs hadn't gotten the bothersome reputation they find themselves saddled with now. Even when my JW schoolmate and I would go out in service we would make clear who we were. How things have changed. <<
Hmm, you're right! It was eased in so slowly that I haven't noticed. I remember how we used to really proclaim Jehovah's Kingdom and really get the literature and the message in their faces.
.
could some one post the annual report from the jan 1 wt?
I have a question for many years which even my JW friends wonder about. They notice the strangeness but, like me, just shrugged it off. Well, now I'm asking. :)
Why are so called 'lands' treated independently. For example, Alaska and Hawaii are treated as their own 'land' but not as USA. And the numbers for USA do not include the numbers for Alaska and Hawaii.
(Oddly enough, even the addresses of their branch offices are oddly written in the publications - with the zip code first then the address. So strange!)
The WTS quotes more lands and islands where the preaching work is done there are nations which you can look-up in any encyclopedia.
Very strange. Anyone have any idea why???
ok so i am home this morning finishing a paper for class (that has to be turned in by five--shh!
no procrastination comments please--focus on the topic!
) when the doorbell rings.
This thread is getting really interesting.
I also think we need digital evidence.
things must be getting tough for the 'number puffing' theocrats in japan.. .
3802 congregations (1999 yearbook).
3213 congregations (latest report).
Lost 589 congregations? That is shocking as well as amazing!
>>I remember too how Japan was promoted in the 80's as the example for all to follow here in the US.<<
So true! I remember how Japan was practically placed on a pedestal and adored. Came up frequently in assembly talks, CO visit talks, assembly parts, and magazine articles - in order to energize people to pioneer.
The Japanese mottos: "What prevents me from pioneering?" "Can you explain to Jehovah why you are not pioneering?" "There is no excuse for not serving Jehovah whole souled."
*** w92 1/1 8 Love for Jehovah Stimulates True Worship ***
A GROUP of 80 visitors from Japan were touring an Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in California, U.S.A. Delightful surroundings, including a garden complete with blue jays, doves, and hummingbirds, made them feel even closer to their Grand Creator, Jehovah God. Their tour guide soon realized that almost everyone in the group was serving full-time as a pioneer. So, later, the group was asked a question that has often been posed: "Why are there so many pioneers in Japan?" For a moment there was silence. Then one young woman volunteered a response: "Because we love Jehovah."
*** yb98 104-5 Japan ***
Enthusiastic Pioneer Spirit
In spite of the shrinking territory and growing religious apathy, there continues to be great enthusiasm for the pioneer service. In the spring, when large numbers of auxiliary pioneers join the pioneer ranks, the total of all pioneers swells to more than 50 percent of the publishers. In March 1997, 108,737 were serving as pioneers.
A question often asked is, "Why are there so many pioneers in Japan?" There appear to be several factors. The foundation for postwar growth in Japan was laid by zealous missionaries, and appreciative students endeavor to imitate those who teach them. (Luke 6:40) As a result, a heritage of zeal for the ministry was passed on to the next generation of disciples. Also, it is generally true that Japanese homes are quite modest, thus requiring little time for upkeep, and for the most part, lives are traditionally kept simple. This can make it easier for housewives to give priority to spiritual interests. (Matt. 6:22, 33) Additionally, the climate is generally moderate in Japan, and there have been favorable political and economic conditions in the country.
Cultural background and national traits appear to be still another factor. On the whole, the Japanese people are obedient to directions, responsive to encouragement from the group, and enthusiastic in their work. Touching on this, Shinichi Tohara, a Japanese-American who came to Japan as one of the first postwar missionaries, said: 'Kamikaze pilots died for the emperor by aiming their aircraft at the enemy warships. If the Japanese are that faithful to human lords, what would they do if they found the true Lord, Jehovah?' Yes, a keen desire to please Jehovah is behind every application to pioneer.
Parents Who Pioneer
Who are the pioneers? A majority are sisters, most of whom are married and have children. Many pioneer without spiritual support from unbelieving husbands and relatives.
"When I started to pioneer, my youngest daughter was just a few months old," says Mutsuko of Fujisawa, who has been pioneering for over 20 years. "My husband, working for a bank, usually did not get home until after we got back from our evening meetings. Even though it required a great deal of effort, I wanted to continue my pioneering." She was rewarded when all three of her children, upon graduating from high school, joined her in the pioneer service. After many years of opposition and then indifference, her husband too began to change. What a joy it was to Mutsuko when, in the congregation, she listened to her son deliver the first half of a public talk, followed by her husband, who gave the rest!
Pioneering fathers too exercise a fine influence. Hisataka knew that his father had quit his position as a teacher of data processing so that he could pioneer. During Hisataka's summer vacation from grade school, his father invited him to accompany him on his job, delivering milk early in the morning. "About the time the eastern sky became filled with glorious hues of orange," Hisataka recalls, "Father expressed to me his intimate feelings about how rewarding it is to serve Jehovah whole-souled. Seeing him joyfully toil for Jehovah moved me more than any words possibly could." Hisataka now serves as a member of the Ebina Bethel family.
*** jv 394 World Headquarters and Principal Offices of Jehovah's Witnesses-in Pictures ***
[Pictures on page 394]
JAPAN
Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan, as elsewhere, are zealous proclaimers of God's Kingdom. In 1992 alone, they devoted upwards of 85,000,000 hours to preaching the good news. On an average, about 45 percent of the Japanese Witnesses share in the pioneer service each month.
Bible literature is published here in many languages, including Japanese, Chinese, and languages of the Philippines
A Regional Engineering Office assists with work on branch facilities in various lands
[Graph on page 394]
(For fully formatted text, see publication)
Pioneers in Japan
75,000
50,000
25,000
1975 1980 1985 1992
how many meetings a week, do you think we should have had in order to be reasonable and not overdone?
maybe 30 or 40 years ago, when woman didnt work, or when life was a little easier, that all these meetings every 2 days was ok, but today with life being so stressful, and with all the time it takes commuting, is it normal to still have so many meetings.
nothing changed in the last 50 years as far as meetings go.
Tweety >>I remember when I was a little girl, going to assemblies that started at 9:00 in the morning until 9:00 at night. They would break for lunch and for dinner. I also remember going to an 8 day assembly in Kansas City in 1969. How in the hell did my mother do it with 5 kids in tow? <<
What did they say and do from the stage for almost 12 hours a day for 8 days?
how many meetings a week, do you think we should have had in order to be reasonable and not overdone?
maybe 30 or 40 years ago, when woman didnt work, or when life was a little easier, that all these meetings every 2 days was ok, but today with life being so stressful, and with all the time it takes commuting, is it normal to still have so many meetings.
nothing changed in the last 50 years as far as meetings go.
That is an interesting question.
Does anyone know the evolution of the weekly meetings? What I mean is, when and how did it go from one meeting a week (presumably Sunday), to two meetings a week, to three, to four, to five? And what was the meetings that were introduced?
Just curious.
.
what is the youngest you've known someone to be da'd or df'd, and what for?
Well, this is a little weird. Here goes.
Two frat twins. Both boys. Grew up theocratic. One gave in to pressures and baptized at 13 but the other didn't. As the boys grew older their hormones kicked-in. They both got into girl troubles.
To make a long story short, the baptized twin got df-ed for fornication at 15. He goes to meetings, sits in the back, and everybody shuns him, he can't talk to anybody, he can't go anywhere, and nobody talks to him in the house. The unbaptized twin who laid on more girls than his brother during the same time period, and even got one girl one pregnant, didn't even get so much as a public reproof. But the unbaptized twin can go to meetings and sits with his parents, gets to talk to everybody in the kingdom hall, gets to go to gatherings and parties, and he can talk with his parents in the house.
The baptized twin, starving for association and quite depressed as a loser, became antisocial. But he was reached by a good guidence counseler in high school who took him under his wing and became his mentor. He picked-up his grades, joined a positive christian youth organization, cleaned-up his act, did very well in the remaining two years of his schooling, ended up going to college on partial scholarship. But he is still df and wants nothing to do with JWs. His parents goes to visit with him in secret. While they fear the elders, they know that this situation with their son is so wrong.
The unbaptized twin did pretty well in the congregation. Never baptised - and thankful. Confidential rumor (if there is such a thing) being that his parents never encouraged him to do so. Can you blame them? Well, he left home and got married at 18. Doing ok. Comes to the meetings every once in a while just for old times. As soon as he walks in he his greeted with open arms. Deep inside he condemns them all because if his brother were to walk in they would give him the cold shoulder. And he did worse than his brother!
What's wrong with this picture?
Sorry -- ended up a long story anyway.
