At the congregational level, I definitely felt a change in the early 80s. At the time I (like so many) didn't know what was going on in Brooklyn with Ray Franz and the great apostate purges, but none the less you saw something on the ground during that time.
Previously, there was a lot more freedom for elders to shape or make public talks as they liked. For those old enough to remember, many even made their own on-stage dramas which often involved many in the congregation. Other elders genuinely tried to help the spiritually fatherless youths and others formed Watchtower pre-study groups and the like, to encourage the congregation's kids to have a share and be apart of what was going on.
On the social side, elders arranged congregational picnics, particularly to compensate the younger ones loosing out on public or religious festivities. Or take a couple of them under their wing and let then share in their own family's entertainment.
Yes it was all a bit amateurish, but there was a real spirit caring and community.
But the 80s finished all that completely. Elder arranged congregational outings were immediately banned, even smaller parties organized by the youths themselves was criticized from the platform as being dangerous. Instead of it being a case of us vs. the world, it became a inward focused religion, always on the watch for other witnesses who may be 'bad association'.
And we ended up with in the end with a cold, script read, cookie cutter faith that only made the world look more fun ... thus begun the exodus of the young.
no-zombie
no-zombie
JoinedPosts by no-zombie
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35
In what decade was it clearly apparent that Watchtower was a high control religion?
by UnshackleTheChains ini'm just curious to get people's views on this.. the bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under charles taze russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on.
obviously things began to change under rutherford.
but what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?.
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no-zombie
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You are a Jehovah’s Witness or you are nothing at all…
by silentbuddha inthis morning i got a call from a friend of mine who i was actually roommates with at bethel in the 1990’s.
he left that organization about 3 years ago.
he was crushed because it was the 10 year anniversary (for lack of a better term) of the day that his brother took his life after being disfellowshipped many moons ago and not being reinstated.
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no-zombie
All these points are sad but true.
Yet another factor I believe is in the mix, at least for those who have converted into the faith. And that is, many of these ones have become a Witness because they are unable to make sense of the world around them. Perhaps they are grieving due to the loss of a loved one and are unable to move on. Maybe they have been involved in some natural disaster, lost everything and cant reconcile that event with their views on a loving God. What ever their life story, the 'Truth' provided them with a frame of reference that has helped them make understand the world and where they fit it to it. Unfortunately its fake. And when the reality comes crashing down on them for whatever reason (be it through fellowshiping or some other form a awakening) they are unable to mentally cope and they are in a worse situation, then when they started.
This is because the Organization is great for one thing; destroying peoples confidence in all the other world's religions. But when it becomes clear that even it is just another man made religion, they have nothing to latch onto ... and are left drowning in the sea of reality.
no-zombie
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October 31, 2017 TO SELECTED BOEs IN THE US BRANCH TERRITORY Re: Discontinuation of the Funds-on-Deposit Arrangement
by wifibandit inoctober 31, 2017 to selected bodies of elders in the united states branch territory re: discontinuation of the funds-on-deposit arrangement.
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no-zombie
Correct me if i'm mistaken, but are what is being spoken of here, is money that congregations placed in the Society's care, while the congregation continues saving to build a new hall? That's the impression that I've got. If that is right, it should be encouraging to us here on this forum because it shows how despite they must be. But also, just like when they stripped the local congregation's of 'excessive funds', it a one time deal. Like selling your furniture to pay for the bills. Soon enough there will be nothing more to sell to ward off the debt collectors and you end up on the street.
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Ireland: A Failure To Bear Witness?
by darkspilver infeature article in today's print edition (sunday, october 29, 2017) of the irish sunday business post newspaper along with small article on the front page.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_sunday_business_post.
jehovah’s witnesses in spotlight over their response to abuse cases.
the sunday business post, sunday, october 29, 2017 - front page of print edition.
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no-zombie
Is anyone able to provide a set of hi-res scans of the actual "A Failure To Bear Witness" article?
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252 Congregations have closed in Germany since 2015
by LevelThePlayingField inthis is a video from down with the tower.
it's excellent.
enjoy.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0lvvy2qurm.
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no-zombie
Well I suppose that the question about those numbers, really revolves around the Society's definition of the word 'congregation'. If it now includes foreign language groups within that number, that would explain the discrepancy. And of course, call into question the number of real congregations in any country. Dropping the threshold of what makes a congregation is not without precedent, if we remember how the Organization fiddled with the term 'Publisher' for the sake of older ones who could barely go witnessing, as with the term 'Pioneer'.
No Zombie
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So there are only 12 magazines left!
by stuckinarut2 inok, so hot on the heels of the announcement at the agm, we have been told that there are probably only 12 magazines left!.
yes, there will be only 3 wt each year, and 3 awakes.... and that they will do this for two years, then reprint those issues.... so yes, the "abundance of spiritual food" is limited to 12 more magazines..... surely, this is proof of the end coming so soon!?!
😉.
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no-zombie
stuckinarut2 ... can you give me more about this comment ... its the first i've heard about it
"Ok, so hot on the heels of the announcement at the AGM, we have been told that there are probably only 12 magazines left!"
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the 2018 Annual Report
by no-zombie ini have a bad feeling that the annual report in the form that we can analytically use, will no longer be available.
according the post agm letter, it said "this information will be published in the 'about us' section of jw.org" however when you go to that page, there are already a country by country listing of statistics.
the problem is that, the numbers displayed at the moment are not the whole story we used to get.
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no-zombie
I have a bad feeling that the annual report in the form that we can analytically use, will no longer be available. According the post AGM letter, it said "this information will be published in the 'About Us' section of jw.org" however when you go to that page, there are already a country by country listing of statistics. The problem is that, the numbers displayed at the moment are not the whole story we used to get. So while we have been told that the 'information' will be published, i fear that it will not be ALL the information. And it could end up, just a sneaky way to release a annual report ... without actually telling the whole story.
I could be wrong. The GB could place a hyperlink for people to download the report we used to receive. However, when you think about the current woes the Organization has, cancelling the yearbook's printing, could be their opportunity to skip out of an embarrassing problem.
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Don't expect any more downsizing announcements at annual meetibg
by nowwhat? inexpect a day of fluff, more bells and whistles and boasting.
they are not going to throw shade on their glorious day.
but shortly thereafter when everyone's feeling good about themselves expect the hammer to come down during a morning worship broadcast..
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no-zombie
I feel that we get two Christmases; the AGM and and the release annual report. Hope we get a lot of presents.
no zombie
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Baptism statistics from CO
by neat blue dog injust went to the assembly yesterday and during the final talk the circuit overseer said:.
'sure, there are some adults baptised here and there, but do you want to know something wonderful?
the vast majority of those getting baptized are teens and preteens!
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no-zombie
Anyway we'll soon enough whether or not there will be an annual report for this year, as the year book for 2018 is due to be released this month.
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Baptism statistics from CO
by neat blue dog injust went to the assembly yesterday and during the final talk the circuit overseer said:.
'sure, there are some adults baptised here and there, but do you want to know something wonderful?
the vast majority of those getting baptized are teens and preteens!
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no-zombie
There are many things that the Governing Body would not like to do but will have to do, purely due to march of time. When the great die off begins in earnest of witnesses (literally from old age) it will crash the publisher numbers. Would they put up with printing an -10% for long ... I think not.
no-zombie