Posts by no-zombie

62

Ten reasons Jehovah’s Witnesses have the true religion (plus a bonus one)

by slimboyfat in

thinking back when i was a true believer these are probably the top ten reasons why i believed jws are the true religion.

1. they show love among themselves by not going to war.

not killing your fellow believers in any circumstances, including war, would seem to be a very basic requirement for true christianity.

no-zombie

To Silmboyfat

I was going to make a larger post on the topic of Jesus' presence in congregational meeting parts after the Annual Meeting, but I might as well say something now.

I must confess that once I learnt about the Jesus mini series and heard our Christmas song, I had hoped that it might be the beginning of a pivot back to CT Russell's teaching of learning the fruits of the spirit through Jesus' personal example.

Sadly after seeing the first episode (and listening to the talks around it) at the convention, I realized that it was just an exercise to appease those on the outside, who correctly claim that Jesus is invisible to the consciences of modern Witnesses.

But what is worse (depending on your perspective), is that one of the few opportunities to save the Organization from extinction, was lost. For instead of reforming the Church into a non-prophetic Christian based faith, one that would have a more attractive message to the world, the Governing Body weakly decided to spend millions on a white elephant project that would solve none of its problems. Proving once again how reactive instead of proactive, they really are.

And as the Bethel speaker noted, as we are slotting to see one new episode per District Convention, I strongly doubt that the Faith has another 15 years of business as usual, before the series wraps up.

62

Ten reasons Jehovah’s Witnesses have the true religion (plus a bonus one)

by slimboyfat in

thinking back when i was a true believer these are probably the top ten reasons why i believed jws are the true religion.

1. they show love among themselves by not going to war.

not killing your fellow believers in any circumstances, including war, would seem to be a very basic requirement for true christianity.

no-zombie

The core teaching of the WBTS were right. However the Governing Body just couldn't help themselves but continued talking and turned the simple Christian message back into a hybrid Jewish religion ... where King David gets more air-time than the world's savior, Jesus Christ.

53

Half hearted JWs compared to past generations

by JohnR1975 in

is it just me or has there been a massive change in jws of late?.

when i grew up in the cult they had a real sense of urgency and would do an hour minimum, these days it’s not even ten mins before coffee break.. same goes for everything else, it’s half hearted .

no-zombie

Over the long years, it would be fair to say that the expectations of the Brotherhood has changed.

Due to technological changes (in the form of TV, movies and the net) the horrors of WW1, WW2, the Korean and Vietnam wars have remained the high consciousnesses of people, the new system dream was something that many though may be desirable and attainable ... and worth the effort to pursue. And to be also fair about it, you can make a scriptural case for it.

However as time has moved on and number of failed prophecies mounted up, most Witnesses over the last two or three generations have slowly begun to see the practicality of putting less into the Organization and more into their own lives. And its easy to see by listening to conversations at the local Hall. While no witness will ever deny the reality of the 'new order', the talk of going on holidays, going out to restaurants, buying clothes or cars and other normal stuff shows what are now their main concerns.

Why? Its because the Faith now demands too much but offers too little in return.

Compare being a Witness to that of most other Adventist or Pentecostal religions and you will see that the others offer a much more vibrant social scene, and specific groups and organized association to help our young. Often their Churches and Cathedrals are beautiful structures to meditate and worship in, filling people appropriately with a spirit of quietness and humility. Our Kingdom Halls on the other hand, have as much Holy Spirit as a cheap shopping center, evidenced by the fact that once our meetings are over, most are gone as soon as the concluding pray is said and done.

So ... are our Halls filled with half-hearted people? Of course.

But who is to blame for the spirit of boredom and drudgery we feel out in the service or meetings ... the Governing Body is of course. After all, they made it that way (or at least allowed it to develop) and are now too weak to make changes where it really counts.

135

Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat in

say it ain’t so!

.

in one sense it’s a no brainer because the figures just don’t add up any more.. in another (negative) sense it’s a no brainer because it’s been fundamental to jws since year dot and might undermine the whole thing?

no-zombie

As far as I can can, there is little 'Theological' blow back, in regards to other doctrines.

In fact as mentioned by others, it solves the problem of never-deminishing number of those who claim to be anointed, the nearly forgotten date of 1935 ... plus it allows for others (read younger) future GB members, to discover that they are anointed after all.

53

Half hearted JWs compared to past generations

by JohnR1975 in

is it just me or has there been a massive change in jws of late?.

when i grew up in the cult they had a real sense of urgency and would do an hour minimum, these days it’s not even ten mins before coffee break.. same goes for everything else, it’s half hearted .

no-zombie

Your not imagining it John, as western countries has slowed down considerably over the last 10 years, with even the shine of the developing world fading.

The Governing Body is learning that people can't run forever and offering them, cartoons, music videos and movies, isn't working.

37

NO SUPPORT FOR EXJWS DRAFTED IN UKRAINE

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/ulan2hhagz8?si=jpedzunzb5o_6axd.

here’s a cautionary tale for anyone counting on past ties with jehovah’s witnesses to dodge conscription: they’ll throw you under the bus faster than you can say “conscientious objector.” a man in ukraine learned this the hard way after refusing military service and hoping his old religious connections would save him.

spoiler alert—they didn’t.

no-zombie

I'm sorry Slimboyfat, but do really believe what you've just wrote ? ....

"Has Russia treated Ukraine worse than the US has treated Haiti, or Iraq, for example?"

If you really do, then you slandering your own armed forces with indictable crimes against humanity. Because that is exactly what Russian forces and its command structure have been charged with by the ICC. Crimes like the uses of internationally banned chemical weapons, the forced deportation of children, the deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools and train stations ... and of course the mass (directly targeted ) slaughter of unarmed civilians in places like Bucha and Irpin.

At the moment, I am literally angry from reading your post.

37

NO SUPPORT FOR EXJWS DRAFTED IN UKRAINE

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/ulan2hhagz8?si=jpedzunzb5o_6axd.

here’s a cautionary tale for anyone counting on past ties with jehovah’s witnesses to dodge conscription: they’ll throw you under the bus faster than you can say “conscientious objector.” a man in ukraine learned this the hard way after refusing military service and hoping his old religious connections would save him.

spoiler alert—they didn’t.

no-zombie

I don't normally get involved in flame-wars, but if anyone can not see that the Dictator Putin and the FSB are the instigators and maintainers of the Ukrainian war, then such one know very little of how the USSR operated in the past like with in invasion of Czechoslovakia, how Russia operated in Chechnya and South Ossetia, nor do such ones see how Russia is operating in countries outside of Ukraine today.

Yes, I'm calling you out as dangerously ignorant.

Doubt what I'm saying talk to any Lithuanian, Estonian, Bulgarian or Fin on this topic for just a few minutes ... and they will set you straight.

26

What if JWs voted in elections?

by Las Malvinas son Argentinas in

all this political banter is exhausting, so i want to ask a question that has probably been asked before, so here it goes….

let’s try to keep this non-partisan - just give your opinion and why you think that way.. i’ll go first.

i think jws would generally lean to the right, but not by a whole lot.

no-zombie

Overall this is an interesting question, which could be answered one of two ways.

Firstly, we would have to ask if the Brotherhood as truly 'free' to vote, without the local branch providing 'recommendations' to faithful Christians. And if it was like that, I would imagine that the local branch would instruct Witnesses to vote for the political party, the political philosophy or the political candidate that offered the best set of kick-backs for the Organization. Which actually could change from country to country.

However If Witnesses were free to vote according to their own consciences, then I feel that most would vote for left or socialist parties because, as most of the Brothers are in the low income bracket, any direct and immediate financial support (as typically offered by these parties) would be highly desirable. In a similar vein, Witnesses are typically the kind of people who want instant help, rather than a people who would be happy to the government's long term strategic planing projects to help the economy, like the investing in ports, bridges or cleaning up the environment.

Thus ... not right, not center, not green ... but left political parties, would be my guess here.

72

Reddit thread about Bethel Reducing Headcount

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

apparently, the downsizing is still happening and from what i read those let go are over 50!.

sad because these people expected to be lifers.

now they have to make their way in the world at an advanced age with no education or desirable skill!..

no-zombie

There has been many Bethel staff purges over the decades, and so with their international army of lawyers, I'm sure that the Organization is covered against this kind of litigation.

I'm not saying that there might have been special cases where a very few exBethelites received a termination payment of some kind (like the case of our mysterious Brother Tony) however its highly unlikely that when some poor bastard from the printery get kicked out, that he'll get much more than pat on the back and a cardboard box for his belongings.

72

Reddit thread about Bethel Reducing Headcount

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

apparently, the downsizing is still happening and from what i read those let go are over 50!.

sad because these people expected to be lifers.

now they have to make their way in the world at an advanced age with no education or desirable skill!..

no-zombie

It's good that its happening this is happening. Why? Because these people who once thought they would be taken care of for life (those incidentally who would not hesitate in burning us at the stake) will very quickly become bitter and disillusioned ... and spread it into the congregations where they land.

Imagine a Bethelite wife who gave up her chance of having children and now having to live childless in some rented dump. She'll be letting other know how she feels, that's for sure.

But is it all the Organization's fault? Not really, as no promises were made and for them, its just a business decision. And besides, those Bethelites have had their kudos ... enjoying the title and privileges of being one.

It just didn't end up as they expected.

Welcome to the real world.