Posts by rocketman

33

Special Assembly Day - tepid applause

by sir82 in

jw
friends

just got back from a recent sad.. after most talks, the applause was, at most, tepid.. it was striking in its tepidity, if that is possible (and if that is a word).. affter most talks, applause lasted literally no more than 5 seconds.

its volume was scarcely above a whisper.. it wasn't acoustics - the bethel speaker was technically a polished speaker (although presenting the same old boring info), and his talks generated noticeably louder applause.

but even still - that applause was maybe 10 seconds, and about normal-conversation level.. but local speakers - the applause was not much more loud than the hum coming from your refrigerator.. there were 1300+ people there.. it was just so weird - my previous large-group experience was at the agm, where people were nearly apoplectic & drooling with delight over their new "silver bibles" (which very few have read, i'd wager).. these guys were just "zombified".. speaking of bibles - bethel dude called it a "platinum bible".

rocketman

I've been at assemblies at which one person was baptized. So let's do the math:

You said 1300 were there. Now let's allow for an average hours/month per publisher of 5, despite the fact that they encourage 10 hours per month. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say 5.

1300 x 5 = 6,500

Now, since there are two assemblies per year (plus the convention) and it takes around six months to study with someone to the point where they become a Witness (assuming this person was found door-to-door and was not born-in), we mulitply the 6,500 by 6:

6,500 x 6 =39,000

So that's 39,000 hours of Field Service to produce one JW. Not very efficient.

If the person was born-in and just took forever to get baptized, then those 39,000 hour produced 0 JWs.

51

Is this proof that JWs are false prophets?

by Comatose in

.

rocketman

"Never did they say 'These are the words of Jehovah'"...but in the masthead of those Awake! magazines: "the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away".

So they call it the Creator's promise, which is just like saying "these are the words of Jehovah". So yes, it's a false prophecy.

142

How do JWs Not see how barbaric YHWH is? Its what started my awakening.

by BU2B in

if one reads genesis from the first chapter through the end with an open mind, it is clear that not only is it not true, but that god is potrayed as a cruel, petty, childish micromanaging tyrant.

if one continues reading the ot this is just further solidified.

how do jws not see the obvious?

rocketman

Cofty, I'm not a theist or an apologist. Just my .02 on what I get from the Bible. What I'm merely saying is that those who look for some explanation from the Bible probably won't find one. I'm not saying that's right, or wrong. But it is, to myself and likely countless others, frustrating. When I read Job, for example, I look for some explanation, and I wonder how Job felt by not getting one.

I take no stand for or against - I know better than to do that around here. I don't care to debate. Offer an opinion here and the sharks circle, waiting to devour.

142

How do JWs Not see how barbaric YHWH is? Its what started my awakening.

by BU2B in

if one reads genesis from the first chapter through the end with an open mind, it is clear that not only is it not true, but that god is potrayed as a cruel, petty, childish micromanaging tyrant.

if one continues reading the ot this is just further solidified.

how do jws not see the obvious?

rocketman

There's a basic pattern to most of God's judgments in the OT - warning, time allowed for repentance, then all hell breaks loose. In some cases, the time allowed was hundreds of years, such as for the Israelites and even the Amorites, whose error was allowed to 'come to completion'.

There are some cases that seem to be exceptions, such as the stoning of Achan and the guy who picked up stuff on the Sabbath. Then there was the poor guy who tried to steady the Ark of The Covenant. In these instances, judgment was swift. There were warnings given, though not directly to the individuals involved. All should have known better, but none received a reprieve.

Interestingly in Job, he took it on the chin quite hard and never received an explanation as to why. God simply questioned him with 'where were you when I...?' and then restored him. But nothing was ever really explained.

Perhaps God feels that he owes no explanation. If he didn't explain it to a man who lost everything, he's not obliged, apparently, to explain it to us.

53

Did Jesus say his followers would be witnesses of Jehovah?

by blondie in

jw
friends

what did jesus say?.

(acts 1:8)8 but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.

by "divine providence" what did jesus' followers become known as?.

rocketman

If a JW were to go to doors in field service and say 'we're witnesses of Jesus' he/she would likely draw a reprimand from the elders.

142

How do JWs Not see how barbaric YHWH is? Its what started my awakening.

by BU2B in

if one reads genesis from the first chapter through the end with an open mind, it is clear that not only is it not true, but that god is potrayed as a cruel, petty, childish micromanaging tyrant.

if one continues reading the ot this is just further solidified.

how do jws not see the obvious?

rocketman

Really good thread.

Of course, it's not just Jehovah's Witnesses, but Christians and Jews claim to love the God of the Hebrew Scriptures too.

19

My take on the meeting yesterday.

by integ in

some of you are aware of where i'm at with this whole thing.

i still occasionally go to meetings for family reasons but my attendance has been lack luster at best.

i'd say i go about once a month if that.. i empathize with those who are wary of taking the ultimate stand for fear of losing their family.

rocketman

When I was an elder, I'd sometimes stand at the back of the auditorium during the meetings, and just look at those in attendance sitting in their seats. I'd say to myself 'if not for them (their willingness to obey jw doctrine), I'd have no authority'.

This is how it likely is with the GB. Take away the rank-and-file, and their authority is gone.

24

April 2014 WT is up, more attacks on career and unbelieving family!

by EndofMysteries in

here are some highlights from the magazine.

the first article, "imitate the faith of moses", teaches how moses didn't remain in pharohs court, they then skillfully spin getting a decent paying job and career as equaling "enjoyment of sin", and how those who have "enjoyment of sin" will die at armageddon with everyone else who enjoys their job.

here are some quotes from the article.... "when tempted to engage in sinful conduct, ask, what future do i want for myself?....

rocketman

Poor Sophie gave up here career, but meanwhile, Serena Williams continues on her quest for yet another tennis Grand Slam championship this week, and if she wins, you can bet she'll thank Jehovah for all she has accomplished.

And bear in mind, I'm not blaming Ms Williams one bit. I applaud her for pursuing a rewarding career. I pity "Sophie" for surrendering the chance for the same thing.

And meanwhile, "Sophie" depends totally on her husband, apparently, for support, and has no skills of her own to rely on should her marriage tank.

186

Just out of curiosity, how many elders (current & ex) do we have here?

by mrquik in

jw
friends

me.

rocketman

Ex.

It was being an elder that truly turned me off to many things within the religion. Prior to that, I was a star-struck JW who saw the organization through rose-colored classes. It was only after seeing how an elder body was just a bunch of guys trying not to screw things up did I realize what the rest of the organization was like.

40

A bona fide Circuit Overseer endorses jw.net!

by abiather in

though he is a typical wt slave, we are like david and jonathan.. in my most intimate conversation with him, i asked him:.

how do you manage serving an organization built on inherent contradictions?.

he said: organization helps people to grow spiritual, like any other religious organizations do.

rocketman

I wonder if he was either referring to jw.org and accidentally called it .net, or if he's thinking of that jw board (the name escapes me at the moment) that consists of jws only?

In any case, I'm having trouble buying this, although I wouldn't dismiss it entirely as fiction. I mean, it is conceivable.