i am absolutely swamped right now or i would take this on as a project, i would love to see a 3 column table.
jehovahs witnesses mormons scientology.
as i think these are some of the largest mainstream if you will cults.
This may or may not be what you have in mind, but here is a link to an interesting source - http://www.patheos.com/Library/Lenses/Side-By-Side?path1=x528&path2=x1853&path3=x621
Gotta love the Internet...always serving well-oiled dishes at the proper time ;-)
i am 6th generation.
i have been out for a few years.. back story on the situation:.
i had a co come by while going door-to-door in the neighborhood.
Not sure if this will help but sometimes it is better to sidestep a doctrinal issue and come at it in a way that hits at whatever is left of their humanity (I know, a small target).
Some have already noted the pedophile situation. And, that can be addressed outside of the minefield of doctrine. However, here is another example:
I once asked my mother "If Jehovah (through his spirit direct organization) asked you to kill me, would you do it?" She said "Yes". That is the only appropriate answer for a JW. An answer of "No" means that they have set boundaries. If they have set limits on what they will or won't do for the "Organization" then maybe they have boundaries in other areas that can be explored. Just a thought.
the 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.
steve2 - Very powerfully stated StrongHaiku. You da man, in my book.
Lol! Thanks for the kind words, steve2. You made my day.
On a somewhat related note, for the past 25 years or so, my family would never contact me unless they needed money. A couple of years ago I told them that my money came with a condition - "that they openly have a relationship with me". Have not heard from them since.
I don't think I am alone here. Many exJWs I would bet are much more successful than the families they left behind. It is sometimes good to remember that they may need us more than we need them. Hey, "theocratic warfare" works both ways.
growing up, i never ever even saw these guys faces, or even knew their names.
all of a sudden they're on my computer screen, tv, and on every other magazine coming out of the watchtower machine.
why all the glamour now?
I get the sense that they are trying to rebrand themselves as a "Cult of Personality". But that only works if you have a strong and compelling vision that you can communicate in a charismatic way. Kinda like Steve Jobs was for Apple. However, they neither have a strong vision nor do they have any charisma, neither as individuals or collectively. I may be wrong, but sometimes it looks like there is a bit of wrangling between them as each of the GB try to vie for that top spot.
Just get a bag of popcorn and a coke and watch the freak show.
you have the opportunity to sit and discuss what's on your mind.. what would you tell them??.
my question, do you men have a heart, how do you sleep at nights??.
why do you think jehovah pick you to feed the sheep??.
the 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.
This may be off topic, so I apologize upfront. But the subject got me thinking...
After years of having my family and the "Organization" kick me around like a soccer ball with the shunning practice, I am not sure if I would immediately embrace changes in this area if it came. Maybe in the past I would have.
I think I have a bit more pride now and they don't have the high-moral ground they had in my mind before. I don't think I would be so quick to act as if all is forgotten and try to go back to "normal".
I am not sure if I would want to associate with people (my family) who turn off their love so easily and capriciously. And, based on all of the scandals, I am not sure I would want to associate with JWs. After all, I have a reputation to maintain. Who knows? Maybe I should put them through a reinstatement process...
I know many don't feel that way and I totally understand that. I think in my case, I am tired of being subject to the "Organization's" whims and always having to act according to their terms.
i have this memory of deciding to get a stephen king novel (tommyknockers) from my high school library.. went home and started reading it.
first few chapters were pretty amazing.
felt guilty because i had heard urban jw legends about people who owned stephen king books having demon problems.
id give a guess of maybe another 15 to 20 years ,.
nothing will be the same , if there even is a headquarters.. opinion?.
I have to agree with other posters. They will be around for a long time. They are a niche religion and there will always be personality types that will fit it quite well.
If the GB got up tomorrow and said right out "We are a sham", someone below them would cut/paste a bunch of scriptures to show that this was part of prophecy and ret-con their history again, etc. My mother and the rest of my family would buy it as they are so invested that they will ride this bus all the way down the precipice.
I have day dreams where I get to see my family again. But it is just that. I am pretty much resolved to the idea that I will not get to see any of them or for that matter bury my own mother when the time comes.
lets see what we can find on youtube or elsewhere that tickles your funny bone .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyv-qyewpkk.
This may or may not have been posted before, but it killed me...
Remember to laugh. Enjoy.
millie210 - my eyes go to the guitar case by the door on the right
Is that a guitar case or a skateboard? Sorry, my eyes might be screwed up. I guess it really doesn't matter as I'm sure both will probably become disfellowshipping offenses at the next convention.
