Rattigan,
I didn't pay attention to the Dark Lords in this matter. As you can imagine, I was on a collision course with the BOE. And like the famous 20th Century philosopher John Mellencamp stated, I fight authority but authority always wins.
Posts by DJS
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41I quit the Theocratic Ministry School
by My Name is of No Consequence inafter almost 24 years in the school and doing it since i was nine years old, i officially resigned.
it has become increasingly difficult to prepare talks, especially with the new format for brothers.
i did not mind doing them; i actually put the time and effort into getting them out.
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41
I quit the Theocratic Ministry School
by My Name is of No Consequence inafter almost 24 years in the school and doing it since i was nine years old, i officially resigned.
it has become increasingly difficult to prepare talks, especially with the new format for brothers.
i did not mind doing them; i actually put the time and effort into getting them out.
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DJS
MyName,
Your comments: "Things changed whenever they went to strictly bible reading as opposed to the "introduction-bible reading-conclusion" format for the first student talk."
That occurred over 20 years ago when I was the TMS Overseer, and it was one of the things that propelled me out of the Borg. By then I was sick of the mind numbing, ever pervasive control, and the Dark Lords' instructions about the bible reading made me see red. There was no rational explanation for it other than control. It was a solution to a problem that didn't exist. I had several conversations with brain dead elders about it, with some suggesting that it was due to the talk going over time on a consistent basis (my response was to give them an extra minute or reduce the number of scriptures to read) or that some bros were providing too much of their own views which might run counter to the Dark Lords' or that the scriptures were sooooo very important they all must be read. Neither of these 'problems,' btw, were 'problems' at our hall or any other hall I knew of.
My comment was that we were supposed to be training speakers and preachers who could teach and motivate, and an organization that was so afraid of giving them a few seconds of analysis and commentary was awfully weak and pathetic. They just looked at me with impotent stupidity, while they were filing it away under "A."
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it bothered others.
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35
Do you feel bad throwing away literature?
by stuckinarut2 inso do you feel bad throwing away your old literature?.
what about your old song book or bible from your early days in the org?.
if so, is it because of sentimentality, monetary cost or because it might be 'sacred' ?.
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DJS
Getting rid of the WT garbage, which I did about 20 years ago, was empowering. It was kinda like spring cleaning on steroids - you know the feeling you get when you really get rid of old, useless crap. It makes moving forward much easier. -
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The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University Cult
by cofty inas an apocalyptic cult the brahma kumaris have some similarities to the watchtower.. they believe that all humans will die during an imminent and desirable end of the world they called destruction, in order that 900,000 faithful brahma kumari followers will inherit a heaven on earth before 2036.. to outsiders, bks refer to this event as a transformation and adherents are led to believe that a heavenly royal status can be achieved after it by donating money, free labor and unquestioning mental submission to the brahma kumari leadership, who will rule the world as emperors and empresses.
the brahma kumaris leadership has sought to cover up or deny child sex abuses at its headquarters, multiple suicides of followers at centers, financial corruption and abuses, immigration abuses, the persecution of minor or breakaway groups and the breaking up of families.. with echos of russell's divine plan of the ages, time, according to the brahma kumaris, is limited to a single, identically repeating, 5,000 year period called, the cycle in which human beings procreated by the power of mind for the first 2,500 years, and will do again from 2036, and the dinosaur period existed at the time of ancient greece.
likewise, in another 2,500 years into the future, brahma kumaris world spiritual university leaders teach that abraham, buddha, christ and mohammed will all be reborn again in order to start to teach, after having re-learnt their religion under them at this time.. the bkwsu leadership continues to financially benefit from their position by encouraging their adherents to a total mental, physical and financial surrender to their god.
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DJS
Perry is awfully silent. There is a lot more I could say, but it has already been said. -
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A coming out story to my mother.
by JennyBoo inso i actually came out to my mother a few days ago.
told her how i really felt about being a jw (jehovah's witness) and how i wasn't straight.
i wasn't surprised by the disapproving response i got because really, i wasn't expecting any more.
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DJS
JennyBoo,
Welcome. Live your life to the full and let no one judge you. I hope you stick around and participate in our lovely forum.
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Do the Chinese think they will soon take over the World? This is an official response
by fulltimestudent inlot's of people believe that china will soon be a super-power.
while its true that roughly 400 million chinese have attained a living standard approximating the usa, there is still another 700 million who have not.. every year, some 100 million chinese take overseas holidays.
and, many millions of chinese live overseas, either as students or as representatives of chinese companies.. but of the 700 million who have not achieved something like western prosperity, some 90 million still live in poverty, leaving 610 million struggling between poverty and a low level of prosperity.. until they can live more comfortably, the chinese government must focus on building a more prosperous nation.. .
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DJS
Thanks Bobcat,
We have pointed out all of Forbes' list with the exception of No. 1 in previous OPs about this topic. I don't recall anyone bringing that one up. As I've pointed out, the obsession with China seems to come from those who want to bring attention to themselves in a 'you heard it hear first' manner or who simply want someone to read their article. Military leaders have a vested interest in painting China with ominous overtones. Duh.
And then there are the religious who are keenly looking for the next King of the North. Economics is a very complicated topic; when your are considering global macroeconomic policy, application it becomes even more complicated. And when you consider socio-economic issues along with all of this it becomes mind numbingly complicated. That's why they give Nobel Prizes to economists who develop theories and models that work.
The Forbes article left out a lot of the details and some of the other major issues that we have briefly discussed in previous OPs about this, but it doesn't seem to stop the confirmationally biased amongst us from continuing to post nonsense. Well, it does seem to have slowed it down a bit. Thanks again.
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36
Do You Think President Obama Is Muslim?
by minimus ini really think that he is.
not that it's a bad thing...
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DJS
Don't know, don't care. However, I do not think he is a Muslim for one second. The right wing nut cases spin everything in his past to make him appear sinister, just as the left wing nut cases try to make right wing pols appear sinister, which is one of the reasons I am apolitical. Paul Kengor tells me Obama is a Communist because his mentor, Frank Marshall. who was selected by his white grandfather to mentor young Barack for the purest of motives, had Communistic leanings.
Donald Trump tells me that the birther rumors are true, even though the overwhelming evidence says different.
And other right wing nut jobs tell me he is a Muslim because of his father.
If you read Obama's history, he is a child of the planet, having lived around the disadvantaged at a young age and the advantaged later in life. I'm with Cappytan, he is likely an atheist, but that is death to a politician.
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25
My Mission is over!
by abiather inwhen i understood, jws are wrong in some vital areas [eg.
woman being viewed secondary, refusal to greet those differing with them ....], but right in other vital areas [such as their teaching that human rule is doomed, and will be replaced by gods rule], i began a diligent search for the right organization.
my search ended with brahmakumaris.
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DJS
Abiathar,
Your reason for being on this site, though predictable, disgusts me. Your arrogance and narcissism will likely eventually lead to your finding fault with the BKs, at which time you will find yet another, even more special, more exclusive group to hang with for a while. One that you just know has the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
After a few more iterations mathematically speaking there will be about 7 or 8 of you guys on the planet, the only ones with special knowledge, the only ones favored by god and the only ones with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
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End of the world—How and When—explained scientifically!
by abiather inend of the worldhow and whenexplained scientifically!.
problem with humans is that they dont learn from mistakes.
their greed has already spoiled air and water, and brought global warming which would ultimately sink most of the inhabited earth!.
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DJS
Excuse me, I don't mean to intrude on yet another one of Abiather's nonsensical OPs. But am I reading this correctly? Did Abiather just refer to himself in third person (illeism)?
"Forget about Abiather. Think of the issue he raises!"
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52
The beginning of the end for shunning?
by Saltheart Foamfollower inthe borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?
" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.
i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.
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DJS
We see these 'kinder and gentler Dark Lords" OPs every couple of months. It is fun to play what if. This is what i know. Feel free to de-construct:
The Dark Lords love the following in order of most to least important:
Control - It is common for those in control, whether it is the Dark Lords, politicians, Clergy, CEOs, the Head Coach or the local Boyscout leader, to do pretty much anything in order to hold on to or strengthen their control. Human nature I suppose, so the Dark Lords aren't much different than others in this regard. But they love control more than they love air. It is their drug of choice, first and last IMHO, and their ultimate "Precious."
Money - As far back as you care to look, the Dark Lords equated enough $ with god's approval. I doubt that has changed any, and I doubt if it ever will. They seem to have taken on an almost Gollum-like affinity to their shiny Precious -es. They almost certainly rationalize/justify their affinity for Precious-es with the same reasoning that CT and the rest of the old school Dark Lords used. It is a sign the lord is with them. From what many of you describe - the greedy grab of the $ from the congregations' tills, etc. they may have even ramped up their obsession with Precious-es.
Growth- Like Paul (I think it was Paul I'm so bible rusty), they often look at the growth as evident of their bona fides, their credentials. Not that they actually give a fukk about any of the rank and file, but they do love numbers, and they use growth, any growth, to spur on the rank and file in zeal.
So can/will the Dark Lords evolve into being White Lords? I don't know; anything I suppose is possible, but the scenarios that would make this occur would almost all have to include something akin to Gollum chewing off his own leg and arm before giving up control and then and only then as a last resort. The Dark Lords clearly are making some things easier from what you all say - lower hours for pioneers, etc., but in the same manner they appear to be ramping up control in some areas that have the potential for some really dark and scary times ahead for the rank and file. There appears to be trouble in Mordor as seen from a distance.
Having said all of that, I cannot see any scenario that would include abolishing DFing. That is the ultimate control, and without it the mean, nasty, vile apostates - us in other words - would/could have free access to run amok amongst the Hobbitses, creating turmoil and chaos in the Shire. And causing the Dark Lords to lose control, the one thing that is truly their Precious.