Posts by no-zombie

48

Retirement Planning for ex-JW's

by Simon in

this is something i think about a lot, possibly because i'm just getting older.

it seems that not only should i finally one day decide what i want to do with my life, but i should also be planning for retirement.. hands up everyone who feels their future has been royally screwed by the wts experience?.

if you were a good jw and followed the wts advice you could well be finding yourself facing middle or even old age without much or anything put aside in retirement savings.

no-zombie

Every country around the world has its own unique economic nuances that needs to weighed up. Some nations are battling high inflation, others stagnation. But regardless of where ever you may live, here are my suggestions to conciser.

#1 Look after you health

Firstly, if you live in the western world then most likely you probably weigh 10-15kg more that you should, so make that your first priority. If you can't jog around the block, then make that your second goal. Being physically fit will save you from needless medical bills, persevere you looks and help prevent Alzheimer's. Its no point worrying about retiring at 70 if you you don't making it to 60.

#2 Own your own home

Houses and debt, they go together. But what ever strategy works to become debt free, then do it. Maybe you have to down size, maybe you'll have to move to a different town ... but then save the money when you do it.

#3 Stop buying crap.

Yes ... stop impulse buying. Fast food, fashion sneakers, smart phones ... what ever does not last 5 years.

#4 Buy gold

Buy gold bullion. Don't invest in shares, don't invest in anything that give you just a piece of paper, just buy 99.999% gold. Why? Gold from the dawn of time is the ONLY asset that offers protection from ANY kind of economic problem. Save every cent and as soon as you can buy a 1/2oz gold ingot or a 1oz gold coin. Then save more and buy another one ... and then another. Don't let others care for your wealth.

end of lesson

PS ... I am not a hedge fund manage or broker :)

15

JWs Tortured in Russia

by blondie in

jw
friends

https://www.upi.com/top_news/world-news/2024/06/16/russia-tortures-jehovahs-witness/3971718239875/ .

russia is amping up to severe torture for jws.

i don't think this is appropriate behaviour for anyone..

no-zombie

While I fully agree that torture purely over one's religious beliefs is morally wrong, there are factors in this whole story that Witnesses never conciser.

Firstly, Witnesses expect that the rule of law, operates globally and are shocked to learn when its not. Why? Its because they are totally ignorant about the world. Dictatorial governments thought all time, have always acted in this manner, which includes the violent suppression of decent. Additionally, while the torture is bad, there are actually far worse things being committed throughout the world, like the industrial level execution of people for organ harvesting or the legalized killing of children a week before their birth.

But secondly, Witnesses themselves (or more exactly the Governing Body) have fostered the situation that encourages violent action of totalitarian regimes, by developing the doctrine of non-compliance. Yes ... the spiritual warfare doctrine is well known by those in power, and the stubborn application of it by the ordinary Brother will only be rewarded by pain in countries like Russia.

Thirdly, Witnesses always think that its all about them. But no. Russia has banned and actively persecutes all religions and NGOs not directly tied back to the Russian government. The situation in Russia is not religious, its POLITICAL ... with all members of American religions in particular, being attached and having their assets confiscated. The LDS in Russia is another good example where peoples human rights are also being violated.

However lastly and rather sadly, the persecution Witnesses get anywhere in the world over their religious beliefs, is not more than what the Governing Body gives out to tens of thousands of people ever year, when disfellowshiping people for their beliefs and actions. And I too have lost good friends through suicide, after being crushed by that 'loving' arrangement.

So while I do feel for people who suffer needlessly, in this particular story ... the blame is not all one sided.

18

Rutherford himself as Jesus on the Jordan?

by Sektenkult in

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no-zombie

Its easy to imagine that the NEW WORLD image of Jesus was based on pictures of JF Rutherford, based on Rutherford's egocentric personality and the fact he was the literal head of the Organization. And even if he didn't commission it directly, I'd be fairly certain, he would have smiled with approval when he saw it in print.

However, I did look at all the photos of Rutherford I could find online and I think that an eager WT artist must have made a composite picture based on a very early image of him in his 20s (having a fuller brushed back hairstyle) with the more intense facial features from a photo when Rutherford was about 40.

18

Rutherford himself as Jesus on the Jordan?

by Sektenkult in

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no-zombie

Hi Vidiot,

Actually I did it deliberately, in that I don't know German (and I was guessing many others didn't either) so i translated the OPs text, and provided a link to a copy of the book so that others could verify the drawing for themselves.

Its just many like posting information, leaks and like but without references or proofs, which could make us look a poor researcher ... or worst still, someone who deliberately doctors stuff up just to get others excited over nothing.

If I was a PIMI on this site, I'd certainly spread disinformation. I think its called Counter-Counterinsurgency.

18

Rutherford himself as Jesus on the Jordan?

by Sektenkult in

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no-zombie

Hi Vidiot,

while I'm little confused about what you mean exactly ... but regardless, all advice is warmly welcomed.

18

Rutherford himself as Jesus on the Jordan?

by Sektenkult in

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no-zombie

Just a little something, for those interested ...

Ich Habe mir das Buch: "Die neue Welt" gekauft. Das Buch ist von der WTG aus dem Jahre 1942. Das war zur Zeit von JF Rutherford. Schaut euch mal an wie Jesus hier aussieht (Seite96). Der sieht doch aus wie Rutherford. Ich glaube, der hatte nicht mehr alle Tassen in Schrank.

Translates into

I bought the book: “The New World”. The book is from WTG from 1942. That was at the time of JF Rutherford. Look at what Jesus looks like here (page 96). He looks like Rutherford. I think he didn't have all he had left in his cupboard.

Also you could look at a copy of this book online through this link ... https://www.scribd.com/document/663458672/1942-The-New-World

30

Education video this midweeks meeting

by jehovaxx in

there is an item this week all about yang ones leaving school.. the two brothers go to a career advisor seminar.

one brother thinks it’s good to work hard full time while you are young and tries to encourage his friend to as well.. his friend (who is the good jw trust the gb no matter what they say)) he wants a part time job.. the video shows him dreaming about investing his money on his phone and the chart goes up, he drives a nice car and seems to be doing well financially.. then he reads the scripture in proverbs and next you see that investment chart go down in the red and he is so pleased he just got a low paid part time job.. this infuriates me.

how many of us are now struggling because we were told to get menial part time jobs and we were told the end would have been here by now.. i will never tell a young person to listen to the gb advice on this.

no-zombie

For me, the way the Governing Body handles the whole education thing, is about control.

Let me explain.

You see, the GB could say ... "Look many young people live on university campuses, often far away from parental control. Unfortunately this has led to many reports of worldly youths drinking, having sex and taking drugs in the dormitories and at so-call frat parties. Christian youths could easily feel pressured in this environment to join in, which would directly compromise their standing with Jehovah. However if a Christian youth is determined to go to university, despite the risk, wouldn't a better option be to attend one in your home city, were you can still go to your congregation meetings and be cared for my your parents?"

All of which is reasonable advice. (Except of course university campus living is not really a thing outside of the US)

But the Governing Body has decided to claim that the desire to attend university, is a lack of faith. A lack of faith in the nearness of Armageddon, a lack of faith in Jehovah's willingness to provide and a lack of faith in them. Yet for anyone who thinks about it for a minute, will see that the level of education a person wants is purely a conscience matter, for there is not one scripture in the Bible on this topic. And if they wanted to get interpretative, then actually there is more weight to support the argument of having more education to "support one's family".

Thus the only reasonable, conclusion a person can make, is that the Governing Body wants control over the lives of young people, to limit their options and to make them mentally dependent upon the Organization.

13

Kingdom Hall Insurance

by NotFormer in

that the wt "self insures" kingdom halls has come up in occasional conversations on here.

how exactly does that work?

do they* actually set aside a portion of the monthly remittance from each kingdom hall and save into a pool to cover damage etc.

no-zombie

In times long past, Kingdom Halls had insurance policies, just like our own houses and paid for under the hall's normal operating funds. Then as more and more Kingdom Halls became 'owned' by the society, the idea was floated that an insurance discount from a worldly firm was now possible because of the size of collective contract. But once all the halls were fully under the control of the Organization is term of being 'self insured' Kingdom Halls because a thing.

But really when the Society say 'self insured' what they really mean is, that they will take the risk and pay for the repairs themselves.

However when a hall is damaged or destroyed, the Governing Body may pay for the materials, but the labor is very often obtained free through the local RBC. Thus in the end, a type of double saving is made ... and maybe more if the congregations around the damaged hall are encouraged to donate funds for that project or the world wide work.

It not a scam ... but seeing the rebuilds continually done by local Brothers, when enough money was supposedly set a side to pay for an outside contractor, makes me believe that it is a policy decision.

30

Education video this midweeks meeting

by jehovaxx in

there is an item this week all about yang ones leaving school.. the two brothers go to a career advisor seminar.

one brother thinks it’s good to work hard full time while you are young and tries to encourage his friend to as well.. his friend (who is the good jw trust the gb no matter what they say)) he wants a part time job.. the video shows him dreaming about investing his money on his phone and the chart goes up, he drives a nice car and seems to be doing well financially.. then he reads the scripture in proverbs and next you see that investment chart go down in the red and he is so pleased he just got a low paid part time job.. this infuriates me.

how many of us are now struggling because we were told to get menial part time jobs and we were told the end would have been here by now.. i will never tell a young person to listen to the gb advice on this.

no-zombie

I know there are more important things to get upset about, however how the Governing Body treats professional education and professional careers, is my the one that personally sets me off.

And while I'm not going to into what qualifications I have, they were enough for me to work in the professional world all my life. However in all my years in studying and working, I never once heard anyone talking about how much money they were going to make or money they had made. In fact in my environment it was viewed as impolite to actually do so. People just got paid their worth according to their qualifications and experience, and that was it.

But why did the people around me, choose our profession? They did it because they loved the work ... and the so-called money, fame and recognition was NEVER considered as a factor.

But the pure hypocrisy of the the Governing Body is that, while they quite happy to pour the 'you know what' on the people who have gone to university, they don't hesitate in asking those very same people, who were now in a medical, legal or engineering field, to donate their time in a Bethel to help with 'the Kingdom interests'.

Its such a joke.

20

Waking Them Up When They Feel Safe

by KerryKing in

good morning all, i would love some genuine advice please.. i have an old friend who is still in the org, but has never been the very staunch type.

however, she is going through a very rough patch in life, (past deeds from youth caught up and now is in prison) and i reached out to her by old fashioned snail mail.. by her reply she sounds more pimi than ever and finding some sort of comfort in the literature.

would i be wrong to attempt to wake her up, would that actually be a cruel thing to do right now?

no-zombie

Witnesses in trouble are like WW2 hand grenades. They look safe ... until they take your hand off.