Posts by no-zombie

89

why the watchtower is so short of money

by pepperheart in

the watchtower is so short of money because they have to pay for all the upkeep of so many branch offices around the world.because so many of the branch offices are in very poor countries and they are not balancing the budgets.

no-zombie

I'm sorry for those of my support of SLIM, but no company this is financially solvent will sell of it's assets, particularly when those assets are fully paid for. Its like needlessly selling your furnished to pay bills, when you have cash in the bank.

While I know that they have sold their New York properties for a considerable profit and downsized the HQ, but again I ask, why you sell you prime waterfront property, perhaps the best in the world (again fully paid for) and move into the middle of no-where, if you don't have problems. And the cutbacks to the magazines, books and brochures (all of which are income generators in themselves) are needless too, if the religion is flush with money.

The answer is simple economics, their in-goings were not matching their outgoings.

But why?

An rapidly ageing and poorer western world brotherhood (Watchtower's bread basket)

A rapidly growing but non-contributing 3rd world brotherhood

A rapid loss of funds due to their child abuse lawsuits (which have no sign of ending)

The never ending costs ($200 million USDs per year minimum) for running its empire

and that's the losses we know of ...

BUT IMPORTANTLY, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WILL WILL TURN AROUND IN THE FUTURE. EVEN THE ANNUAL REPORTS (AS PUMPED AS THEY ARE) SHOW THE DEFINITE DECLINE. THEY ARE NOT EVEN MATCHING THE WORLD'S POPULATION GROWTH RATE IN MOST PLACES.

I just don't get those who think that Watchtower doesn't have real problems.

13

Could you really trust the Governing Body to the right thing?

by no-zombie in

over the years, many have speculated on how the governing body might reform the society into something that might actually bring some positivity in to the world ... and a resent melancholy moment, i re-watched the youtube clip of usa for africa's, 'we are the world' which was released in 1985. now while i know our men in warwick would never actually consider organizing the brotherhood to do something completely selfless in helping the truly worldly poor, something that would actually improve the religion's reputation ... but the question is ... could you really trust the governing body to run an aid program like usa for africa or band aid, without skimming from the top?.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9bnonfkcbi.

no-zombie

Over the years, many have speculated on how the Governing Body might reform the Society into something that might actually bring some positivity in to the world ... and a resent melancholy moment, I re-watched the YouTube clip of USA for Africa's, 'We are the World' which was released in 1985. Now while I know our men in Warwick would never actually consider organizing the Brotherhood to do something completely selfless in helping the truly worldly poor, something that would actually improve the religion's reputation ... but the question is ... could you really trust the Governing Body to run an aid program like USA for Africa or Band Aid, without skimming from the top?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI

15

Update on my life as a Jehovah’s Witness Teen after running away

by Letty in

hey.

without them i felt...so...alone.

so i went back.

no-zombie

Hi Letty,

What we all of us have said you you in the past, still holds true today, in that its best if you stay clam, take one thing at a time ... but now look after your mental health. The stress that you have felt over the last few months was real and it can take a tole on you. And if you cant shake off your depressive feeling on your own, its far better to go to the doctor for some medication before it becomes a clinical problem. Having a lot of experience with someone i love suffer with a deep, long term depression, I cant emphasize it enough in get medical help early.

Regarding the 'Truth' and all that other stuff ... I would wager to say, that all of us have been in your shoes in one way or another in the way we have felt. Some have been able to leave though, others like myself as trapped like you because of family. In any case there is one thing that you can take away from all of this (and you must focus on the positives) is that you are awake and free in your mind. Something that 99% of Witnesses are not.

And finally, while it may be true that over the coming months, things could be still emotionally rocky for you ... this place ... the forum ... is great in helping you to heal. So vent as much as you want, make comment on others peoples' posts and of course ask as many questions as you like. Physically we may not be able to do much for you .. but we never judge ... and its good to get involved. Its helped me.

look after yourself :)

no-zombie

6

A question regarding RC/DC changes

by no-zombie in

with the rumored changes or deletion of the regional/district conventions ... does anyone know if the organization will cancel them all together or just reduce their duration from 3 to 2 days, so they can be slotted into local assembly halls easier?.

no-zombie.

no-zombie

With the rumored changes or deletion of the regional/district conventions ... does anyone know if the Organization will cancel them all together or just reduce their duration from 3 to 2 days, so they can be slotted into local assembly halls easier?

no-zombie

9

Archbisop jailed in Australia

by zeb in

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-03/archbishop-wilson-sentenced/9883610.

no-zombie

You beat me Zeb .... :). I've just read it and thought it would be an interesting post too. It's good news for the victims of child abuse here in Australia, but bad news for those who do not want to cooperate in bringing criminals to justice. I hope the Australia branch committee members get the message.

9

Who helps the most - POMO or PIMO

by Ray Frankz in

i was recentely talking to my girl who is also awaken about if there were any chance of the org to lose at least its power and authority since i believe to expect a destruction of the org is unreal i came to the conclusion that the best way to help jws is by means of the pimos.. if we take the own jw logic (the world is bad but we need to live among them in order to bring them to our side) i think that if a good part of the people who left when found ttatt stayed in they we could have much more awaken people today.

when you are out it gets extremely hard to gain the trust of any jehovah's witness to begin with.

every totalitarian government had to fight rebels among them.. im not being numb to the causes of anyone who decided to leave.

no-zombie

While I understand Simon's view, I believe the opposite is true, in that every PIMO witness who does not financially contribute to the congregation or Organization but who still consumes resources (of one kind or another) accelerates the death spiral of the Faith. Times that by 8 million and the Society would broke for real in a few months.

Thats why I do think that things are going bad for the GB because the falling numbers of paying witness in 1st world countries vs the growing number of 2nd and 3rd world consumer witnesses.

5

The problem of being (or wanting be to) an Ex-Muslin

by no-zombie in

i just finished reading a long article about the young people wanting to break free of islam in australia and the problems they face in leaving their high control religion.

the similarities between us and them is quite clear, as is how they woke up.

it's worth a read.. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/double-lives:-the-secret-ex-muslim-network-in-australia/9811340.

no-zombie

I just finished reading a long article about the young people wanting to break free of Islam in Australia and the problems they face in leaving their high control religion. The similarities between us and them is quite clear, as is how they woke up. It's worth a read.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/double-lives:-the-secret-ex-muslim-network-in-australia/9811340

78

So What Drastic Money Change is Next?

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

okay, they cheapened the product by getting rid of hardcover books.

they reduced printing of mags.

they drastically reduced the number of pieces of printed paper that members would "place" in people's hands in various ways, the biggest one being that they put them on a cart and don't encourage people to take them.they cut d.o.

no-zombie

The age of free labor to build kingdom and assembly halls in the western world is over. With the demographics the way it is, any work sites are going to hazard with all the zimmer frames.

Joking aside, the mass of younger volunteers is just not there anymore.

11

Pseudonyms

by no-zombie in

one of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place.

even when people have left the society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.. now i'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of god's organization".

of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith.

no-zombie

I just wanted to basically make the point that, that even here, we are not sometimes totally free because of the power the Organization has over others in squashing the genuine discussion of theological questions or operational policy. And by no means was I inferring that we don't need to be invisible from time to time, particularly those who may be reaching out for some kind help or support from this community.

I remember when I made my first reply to a post, I was petrified that somehow it could be traced back to me and be burned because of it ... and that's the saddest part of it all. That's what I've was tying to say.

11

Pseudonyms

by no-zombie in

one of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place.

even when people have left the society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.. now i'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of god's organization".

of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith.

no-zombie

One of this things that constantly reminds me of the extent and the reach the Organization has into our lives, is the fact we all need pseudonyms to have a conversation or to make a comment in this even here in this place. Even when people have left the Society (by however it has occurred), its rare to see somebody change their online presence to their personal name.

Now I'm not expecting people to do that of course, fore we are all free to do what we like (which is the real beauty of this forum) but the fact that it doesn't occur that often, shows how much we've all been effected by being told over and over again, "not to be critical of God's organization". Of course there could be an number so side issues at play here; with some people not wanting to burn their bridges in an attempt to keep what reputation they have left intact and sadly a small minority others, do enjoy the anonymity to just talk trash ... but if a person can not feel free to stand up and respectfully make a critical comment or ask a thorny question without fear of repercussion from their religion, then doesn't it show that there is no real freedom in that faith. And we are real slaves, body and mind ... no better that robots.

And if that was what God really wanted in the first place, why did he give us an inquiring mind and a personal conscience?