i am starting this thread to discuss the financial points i picked up during the branch visit.. firstly - as an elder we were told that all donations from the event - local and worldwide work were to be sent to the branch.
first of all - could the money-grab be any more obvious given these instructions?
is it even legal to take funds a person gave to a non-profit for one specific purpose (pay the light bill) to allocate them for another (www slush fund)?
The question I have is who benefits?
i don't doubt what you are saying, but who personally benefits from all this money?
The GB live in Bethel, they have all their needs catered for, free lodging, free food, flights and travel paid for but how much do they have in terms of personal wealth?
The only possibility left is a hostile corporate takeover of Bethel itself that will be hidden in plain sight with the invisible ones making off with the money.
i'm not going to list all the changes here that have happened in 2014, most of you who frequent the boards know about them.. in reference to anthony morris' talk, i can't help feel that the organization is behaving so abnormally out of character for itself that it is bewildering even to ex jws.. cultish behavior is perfectly normal for cults, but whats happened this year is so far out of whack it beggars belief.. what do they think they are doing?
are they psyching jws up for some major announcement?.
i can't help but feel that something really strange is going on, this does not feel like the regular "special announcements" followed by articles in the watchtower.. .
I'm not going to list all the changes here that have happened in 2014, most of you who frequent the boards know about them.
In reference to Anthony Morris' talk, I can't help feel that the organization is behaving so abnormally out of character for itself that it is bewildering even to ex Jws.
Cultish behavior is perfectly normal for cults, but whats happened this year is so far out of whack it beggars belief.
What do they think they are doing? Are they psyching JWs up for some major announcement?
I can't help but feel that something really strange is going on, this does not feel like the regular "special announcements" followed by articles in the Watchtower.
These changes almost have an ominous feel to them.
Dont forget too, that the last major split in the religion was almost a century ago when Rutherford kicked ass at Bethel.
What are your thoughts?
Truthseeker
if you don't know, km's are now online too.
under the heading, "i cannot find him at home again!
" it mentions how a text message or email is to be counted as a return visit.
It wouldn't surprise me if shepherding visits were now done using text messages...
"we love u"
"we missed u"
"the friends really miss u at the hall"
"can u text me your field service report"
Truthseeker
what if the society know it only has to lose one big case to lose a whole set of cases on precedent of the first case?.
this means they will lose millions of dollars in lawsuits and settlements.
which means their financial stability is under threat.
What if the Society know it only has to lose one big case for a precedent to be set for future cases?
This means they will lose millions of dollars in lawsuits and settlements and their financial stability is under threat.
If the precedent is followed in other countries based on a huge win somewhere else, then WT may be quietly warning the rank and file that a major event is coming but they will disguise it as "persecution"
I can see how they could point the finger and say look, "a coalition of nations" is "attacking and persecuting us"
Any ideas here? Is this a possibility? That they know they will lose one big case and then they can tell the rank and file Gog of Magog?
Truthseeker
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
So? Reason is you should have critical thinking skills to analyze and interpret texts as part of the coursework
You may. Please share with me your credentials (or lack thereof)
For someone who claims critical thinking skills, this is showing a stunng lack of it, presuming to ignorantly know that which you cannot. Perhaps you are hallucinating your critical thinking skills. I think you are hallucinating that my experience was a hallucination. Now, enough tit for tat please, I'm more than capable of defending my viewpoints and this thread has gone off at a tangent Respectfully, Truthseeker |
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
I have no objection to having my worldview crushed if it means I arrive at the truth. Don't forget, we all had our worldview crushed by the Watchtower, that is why most of us are here.
we give lables to things we see and can't explain away, such as spirits, demons etc. They are labels people recognize and associate with paranormal phenomena. You could call it Joe six-pack but the convention is to use ideas and beliefs we are already familiar with. This doesn't invalidate our experience but it provides a framework that can be understood.
witness My Fury, I am still reading the links, this reply is not the follow up
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
Witness My Fury,
I'm checking out the links now, thank you.
will provide follow up response.
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
This is but one of many paranormal experiences. If it were just one or two I might be inclined to say, I was hallucinating but I remember the feeling of fight or flight when I saw this thing. I still remember it happening as if it were yesterday.
many of these events are accompanied by an intense fear that is foreign and otherworldly.
i wish it were just hallucinations but it had a different quality to it.
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
Viviane,
The prerequisites for hallucination weren't present at the event.
By the way, I hold a BA in English Literature which requires both reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
May I ask what your credentials are?
i know you would prefer I call my experience a hallucination because that doesn't challenge your ideas about the reality you live in.
as of now iam making an unbiased examination of evolution.
however one thing keeps me hanging on to the belief of a supreme spirit being; the existence of spirits.
i have heard countless accounts of people who have experienced frightening encounters with evil forces.
Coffey,
Something happened as a child that I still can't explain. My experience and others leads me to the conclusion that there are forces at work which by and large are unseen by the scientific community.
