StrongHaiku

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Posts by StrongHaiku

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  15

  Have JW relatives disinherited you? (especially Canadian)

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  interesting court case whereby the entire will was declared void because the father was racist.. would that not also apply to jw's who disinherit their non-jw family?.

  http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/29/judge-rejects-ontario-mans-racist-will-that-disinherited-daughter-for-having-bastard-white-son/.

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  StrongHaiku

  "Unproductive Territory" = The people living there are too well-educated, successful, and happy to exploit.
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  15

  Have JW relatives disinherited you? (especially Canadian)

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  interesting court case whereby the entire will was declared void because the father was racist.. would that not also apply to jw's who disinherit their non-jw family?.

  http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/29/judge-rejects-ontario-mans-racist-will-that-disinherited-daughter-for-having-bastard-white-son/.

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  StrongHaiku

  I have been out of the "Organization" for over 25 years.  I was DFd and, throughout that time, the only time I was contacted by my JW family was when they needed money.  'Cause Armageddon was around the corner and they failed to save money, make good investments, and plan for a future.  A couple of years ago, in light of all WT hate-speech, I took a stand and stated that they would receive nothing from me unless they wanted to maintain a relationship with me.  After that I did not hear from them again.  

  I am in the process of updating my Will and Estate to ensure that, when I die, all my funds go to help social programs and, hopefully, make this world a better place.  "Rules must apply to everyone or they mean nothing" 
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  30

  Translating and deciphering witness expressions.

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wanted to start a thread with correct explanations of what witnesses really mean when they say stuff... please add to it!.

  "we missed you at the last meeting" = "where were you?

  why did you miss a meeting!?".

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  StrongHaiku

  "Listen, Obey, be Blessed" = Wash, Rinse, Repeat...
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  17

  Jehovah Witness promotion of JW.org as the place to get answers to all of lifes important question is the height of arrogance

  by Brokeback Watchtower in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we are hearing reports of this promotion of the website by the jw and it seems to be a resource for them to dodge questions of their faith, when they don't have or want to give an answer to a question they direct the house holder to the organization/corporation's website to get the answer as if it really existed.there.. i think soon they are going to drop the door to door work all together as completely unprofitable, i mean their donation arrangement is a complete flop and has cost them i'm sure so they are in the process of shipping as many as they can into building up real estate for the corporation, because that is where the money is right now.. the whole jw.org is just a complete failure as a source of good information and only scare away people except the most vulnerable/gullible.. .

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  StrongHaiku

  Based on what I have seen so far, most JWs can be replaced with an electronic Kiosk with a money drop-box attached.
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  30

  Translating and deciphering witness expressions.

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wanted to start a thread with correct explanations of what witnesses really mean when they say stuff... please add to it!.

  "we missed you at the last meeting" = "where were you?

  why did you miss a meeting!?".

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  StrongHaiku

  "Evidently..." = Just making it up as we go...
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  65

  The Fear mongering of this weeks WT study!

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  have you all read this weeks study article?.

  oh my word it is full of fear inducing tactics....doom and gloom outlooks.... anxiety inducing methods to develop absolute control over witnesses and cripple them in any attempt to think for themselves!.

  (notice i am saying "themselves" rather than "ourselves"?!

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  StrongHaiku

  On a side note:  I am still in awe of the "Organization's" ability to make good and bad news work for them.  If their number go up, "Jehovah is blessing us" if the numbers go down "It shows that we are being persecuted by the world and proof we are righteous".  If they hear good things in the media "it shows we are standing out in the world".  If it is media criticism and lawsuits "it is persecution of the righteous as prophesied".  If the end is delayed it shows that "Jehovah is being merciful before closing the door".  The "Organization" has a remarkable set of psychological immune systems that it uses quite effectively.  
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  39

  received revealing "witness" in parking lot

  by Magnum in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a few weeks ago i was working out of my home state and was in a grocery store parking lot when i received my first jw witness since leaving jwdom.

  a youngish-looking lady was sitting in an suv parked next to my car and i was about to get in my car to leave.

  she opened the door and asked whether she could give me something to read (had a tract in her hand)..

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  StrongHaiku

  Magnum, thank you for the kind words.  As a matter of fact I was in Puerto Rico about a month ago.  I saw a number of JWs standing with their carts.  I had my girlfriend go up and ask some questions.  They handed her literature but that was about it.  They just kept pointing her to look at the book.  I think the average JW could be replaced with a Kiosk at this point.  

  I am not sure of the future of JWs there.  I took a quick look at the numbers and they seem a bit suspect.  At the very least they seem "flat" to me in comparison to the "blazing work" we were doing when I was there as a kid.  If the growth had continued as it was in the 70's everyone in that island should be JW by now ;-).  Their growth is probably similar to other U.S. states/territories that have access to good education, internet (Internet speeds are usually about 3 to 4 times faster than in the U.S.  It is crazy fast.),  and a dying "hardcore JW" population.  However, Puerto Rico is experiencing economic and social problems which the "Organization" can leverage/exploit and might give them a slight "uptick".

  I guess time will tell.  I plan to go back home again this year.  I will make it a point to learn more.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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  65

  The Fear mongering of this weeks WT study!

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  have you all read this weeks study article?.

  oh my word it is full of fear inducing tactics....doom and gloom outlooks.... anxiety inducing methods to develop absolute control over witnesses and cripple them in any attempt to think for themselves!.

  (notice i am saying "themselves" rather than "ourselves"?!

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  StrongHaiku

  I find that picture both shocking but expected.  I think one of the things the GB has to do is inoculate their people to what is becoming evident in the media and Internet.  To me it seems that the picture is being used to "prime" JWs to believe that any criticism of the "Organization" is equal to persecution and is part of the "Great Tribulation", etc.  So, when JWs read about the lawsuits, bad press, etc. they will likely interpret that as "persecution" and create a "sense of urgency".  

  I could be wrong (said by no one ever in the GB)
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  39

  received revealing "witness" in parking lot

  by Magnum in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a few weeks ago i was working out of my home state and was in a grocery store parking lot when i received my first jw witness since leaving jwdom.

  a youngish-looking lady was sitting in an suv parked next to my car and i was about to get in my car to leave.

  she opened the door and asked whether she could give me something to read (had a tract in her hand)..

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  StrongHaiku

  I remember growing up in the late 70's and 80's as a JW going on special field service days where all you were allowed to bring was a bible as opposed to trying to place literature.  I remember that one of the key cornerstones that all you needed was the bible and you had to practice using just that.  I remember the focus on studying and memorizing "Reasoning from the Scriptures" so we could do that.  

  I think one of the appeals of the JWs (especially during the 70's) was that it had a veneer of pseudo-intellectuallism that was a magnet to a particular type of person.  In the 70's people were becoming dissatisfied with the Catholic Church (especially where I grew up, in Puerto Rico) and the alternative was the charismatic (e.g. Pentecostals) which was viewed as too extreme.  JWs were extremely successful in Puerto Rico because they were in the middle of that continuum.  And, one of the things that the JWs do really well is that they create a very strong and cohesive inner-circle that goes beyond their doctrine.  So, at this point in time, doctrine doesn't even seem to be part of the equation any more.

  All of the comments I have seen so far are very much on point.  I do not recognize these people now.  They have "jumped the shark".
  
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  22

  Woke up this morning to the realization that the future is now

  by campaign of hate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as the title of the thread says, i woke up this morning realizing more than ever that we should, each and every one of us, live for today and what we can accomplish today, rather than constantly looking toward the future.. i'm not implying we shouldn't make plans, plans are healthy and advisable, especially if you have healthy commitments.. but i realized the reason why nothing in my life ever seems to get done, is because i put things off, and look ahead 10 years down the line, then a few days later realize how much work needs to be put into that said task, then i don't do anything.

  and so the cycle seems to repeat itself.. what i think i'm trying to say is that worthwhile endeavors that have a reward at the end, but take many years to get there, need to be challenged one day at a time.

  i now understand that to get to where we want to be 10 years down the line, we need to focus on today and the hard work that needs to be out into a task one day at a time.

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  StrongHaiku

  CoH - You are not alone.  It is sometimes disheartening to think of all the time, opportunities, careers, resources, and lives that I wasted.  I try to keep in mind - "Success is the best revenge.".

  
  

  “Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.” 

  ― Marcus Aurelius