very interesting experience RandomTask.
Blondie, on some of the ex-Primerica!! sites I went to, people there did label them a cult.
truthseeker
JoinedPosts by truthseeker
-
26
Any of you worked for Primerica? My experience at their "seminar."
by truthseeker ina few weeks ago, a brother called me out of the blue and asked me if i was interested in working for him.
he told me he had his own business and was looking to "expand.
" he told me i "was a special person" with "good qualities" and "capable of going places.
-
-
-
26
Any of you worked for Primerica? My experience at their "seminar."
by truthseeker ina few weeks ago, a brother called me out of the blue and asked me if i was interested in working for him.
he told me he had his own business and was looking to "expand.
" he told me i "was a special person" with "good qualities" and "capable of going places.
-
-
truthseeker
A few weeks ago, a brother called me out of the blue and asked me if I was interested in working for him. He told me he had his own business and was looking to "expand." He told me I "was a special person" with "good qualities" and "capable of going places." He said that "a lot of people end up working for someone else instead of themselves and are stuck in debt. They have no hindsight. they can't see a better way."
I was vaguely interested and then he asked me, "Have you ever heard of Primerica?" I responded that I hadn't. He wanted me to attend an "interview" on Wednesday evening at 7pm. I responded that I have classes then and couldn't. I said I would try to find another time later.
After another couple of weeks, he called again, and repeated the exact same conversation with me. I had "good qualities and attributes and I could go a long way." I asked him about the job and he was very cagey answering my question. I did not know what my job title woule be, my salary or what I would do. He gave me no details except to say that Primerica was part of Citigroup and were the number one business in America. At this point, I still didn't have time for an interview and told him I'd call back later.
The third time he called me, again, he said exactly the same lines! He sounded like he was reading a script. I told him that I would attend an interview and we set it up for 7pm.
What I didn't know was that I would be going to a "seminar"
I arrived at the location and went upstairs. I signed in and what I saw surprised me. A whole room of people all sitting in chairs. A red flag went up and I sat down and watched the 1 hour presentation.
If any of you aren't familiar with Primerica, it is basically a dubious pyramid multi level marketing company. Supposedly, they "help families" by consolidating people's debt, refinancing their mortgage and buying cheaper life insurance."
Working just 8-10 hours a week for this company, I could earn $1000 by finding two families willing to buy the whole Primerica suite of financial products. I could even be a vice-president.
Another red flag went up when we were all told that to join, you would have to pay $199 up front for training to get your license. This of course, they said, "would be reimbursed."
The whole seminar reminded me of a service meeting. The speakers spoke in exaggerated tone, and one guy passed a picture around of an old guy with two blonde babes by him looking like he was enjoying life. The speaker said that "when I saw this picture of that old guy making lots of money, I realized I could do this."
Apparently we were told that there is "no cold calling."
Seminar ended, and the brother asked me what I thought. I told him I'd think about it, but made up my mind to go on the net and see what came up.
My, was I surprised. Primerica use similar indoctrination methods to convince you that you can do this and they are extremely aggressive about recruiting. If I joined I would have to give out the names of family and friends for references (thinking background checks), but what they do is call them and get them to join up. From people's experiences of working for Primerica or attending their seminars, they have a pretty bad reputation.
Meanwhile, this brother called me again and wanted a decision. I told him no, he asked why, and I said that "there business practices were unethical." I also said that he was dishonest with me about the interview which was nothing more than a seminar. He said, "I was only trying to help you." Previously, he said that "we can't help everyone, those who are on welfare or aren't employed." I thought so much for helping families. He asked me if I could make a decision not to work for Primerica based on what I have read, and I told him, "that there are so many bad experiences out there, they can't all be wrong." By the way, if I signed up for Primerica, this brother would make a cut of every lead I came up with.
Theoretically, you could work for Primerica 40 hours a month, and make less then minimum wage. And your "business partner" gets paid more than you do and makes a cut.
He then proceeded to tell me that what I had read on the Internet was "filthy dirty lies," with no evidence to substantiate his claim. He got very heated and said that "attacking Primerica was attacking me because I am the company." He then compared what I had read to what the Society tells about reading negative websites on Jehovahs Witnesses.
It ended on a neutral tone, with him saying that "it's better that you don't work for Primerica as you don't have the qualities we would want."
This was a few weeks after he tried to boost my ego saying I was "a special person with good qualities who he is looking for."
If you do a search on Google, you will find many stories of people who worked for this company and how they were harassed and told to go to meetings. There is a lot of similarity between their methods and those used at the Kingdom Hall.
-
17
The Governing Body - Invisible and Impersonal
by truthseeker inthere used to be a time when one knew who the president of the watchtower society was, and with that in mind, one could sense some kind of leadership.
perhaps witnesses then, felt that "the society" was keeping up with jehovah's celestial chariot.
maybe you felt in the 80s and 90s that you had to keep "in step with jehovah's organization" because it was making bigger steps each year - and with each new release, maybe you felt "privileged" to be a part of the "spiritual paradise.".
-
-
truthseeker
There used to be a time when one knew who the president of the Watchtower Society was, and with that in mind, one could sense some kind of leadership. Perhaps witnesses then, felt that "the Society" was keeping up with Jehovah's celestial chariot. Maybe you felt in the 80s and 90s that you had to keep "in step with Jehovah's organization" because it was making bigger steps each year - and with each new release, maybe you felt "privileged" to be a part of the "spiritual paradise."
Those days are gone. With the members of the governing body all resigning from their postions as directors, and of course, the president himself, very little is known about these aged men, the oldest being almost 100.
Much is spoken about them, in roundabout terms - you hear, "the governing body," and "the faithful slave", yet you may never ever meet one of these individuals in your life - much less read their life story.
Their personal lives and there thoughts are relatively unknown - save for those few that have worked with them in Bethel or on other occasions.
The few old gentocrats that control the lives of 6.5 million witnesses are largely unknown, and therefore impersonal.
Not only are they impersonal (except for their brief letter in the yearbook and daystext), they are also invisible. Scarecly does one find a photograph of any of them - much less all of them.
I believe that one of the very few photo's of all of them, and certainly not together, is in the Kingdom Proclaimers book, released in 1993.
Impersonal they are, invisible they are. If anyone's presence was invisible, it had to be theirs, and even before 1914.
If anyone can shed recent light on this mysterious group of old men, who rarely speak in public (except at conventions) and are rarely, if ever seen on field service, this would be news indeed.
-
9
How will gas prices affect the Watchtower Society?
by truthseeker inezekiel3 posted an interesting tidbit about max larson stopping the printing... .
president of the wtbts max larson formally stops the press at jehovah's witnesses' printery in brooklin, ny.
pictured below is press #4. with the sale of the furman street building and shipping methods changed to road freight, jws seems posed to evacuate their brooklin headquaters.
-
-
truthseeker
Ezekiel3 posted an interesting tidbit about Max Larson stopping the printing...
President of the WTBTS Max Larson formally stops the press at Jehovah's Witnesses' printery in Brooklin, NY. Pictured below is press #4. With the sale of the Furman Street building and shipping methods changed to road freight, JWs seems posed to evacuate their Brooklin headquaters. JW have also been beefing up their worldwide branches, including a large facility in Brazil, to decentralize their publishing empire.
I was just wondering, if the WTS makes more use of road freight, and gas prices really spiral, how will they fare financially? Then, consider all the trucks which stop at the Kingdom Halls/brothers homes, with the magazines etc.
Makes you think...
-
32
Did you ever unscriptually end a trial? June 1st Watchtower
by truthseeker init almost seems like this non-study article takes a perverse pleasure in allowing witnesses to "keep their trials" instead of ending them.
how would you fare with a trial?
do you want trials?
-
-
truthseeker
Yes, SLM, that's exactly what thw WT Leadership want us to do.
The phase, "wait on Jehovah" is used so much, it has lost its real meaning. Feeling down? Wait on Jehovah. Children abused? Wait on Jehovah. Wife being battered by elder? Wait on Jehovah.
"Wait on Jehovah" seems to have lots of superstition about it -
after all, what is the difference between putting a tooth under your pillow and waiting for the tooth fairy and waiting on Jehovah as the elders say? The toothfairy actually does something, and in 12 hours too.
-
32
Did you ever unscriptually end a trial? June 1st Watchtower
by truthseeker init almost seems like this non-study article takes a perverse pleasure in allowing witnesses to "keep their trials" instead of ending them.
how would you fare with a trial?
do you want trials?
-
-
truthseeker
It almost seems like this non-study article takes a perverse pleasure in allowing witnesses to "keep their trials" instead of ending them. How would you fare with a trial? Do you want trials? Do you love trials?
Do Your Circumstances Control Your Life?
Page 22, subheading Wait on Jehovah has this to say...
The third lesson is that instead of using unscriptual means to change our circumstances, we should wait on Jehovah.
The disciple James wrote: "Let endurance have its work complete, that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not
lacking in anything." Endurance should always be allowed to have "its work complete" by our permitting a trial to run its
full course without resorting to unscriptual means to bring it to a swift end. Then our faith will be tested and refined, and
its sustaining power will be revealed. Joseph and David had this kind of endurance. They did not try and work out a solution
that would incur Jehovah's displeasure. Instead, they worked to make the best of their situations. They waited on Jehovah,
and what blessings they received for doing so! Jehovah used both of them to deliver and lead his people.
We too may face situations for which we could be tempted to seek unscriptual solutions.
-
16
When doing territory, did you prefer streets or blocks?
by truthseeker inhaving done field service in the uk, i preferred working streets as opposed to blocks in the us.
working "blocks" was confusing, as more often than not, we would have no idea which way to go, or how far to go.
at least with a street, you could work over and over and completely cover it, and not have to write "stopped at 125 xxx ave".
-
-
truthseeker
Having done field service in the UK, I preferred working streets as opposed to blocks in the US. Working "blocks" was confusing, as more often than not, we would have no idea which way to go, or how far to go. At least with a street, you could work over and over and completely cover it, and not have to write "stopped at 125 XXX Ave"
Which do you prefer?
-
9
May KM - Society's Website - are they getting scared?
by truthseeker inhere's a gem of an article in the may kingdom ministry... .
a means to help them.
true christians share in the public ministry of spreading the good news.
-
-
truthseeker
Here's a gem of an article in the May Kingdom Ministry...
A Means To Help Them
True Christians share in the public ministry of spreading the good news. As a means to that end, some
basic brochures, tracts and articles in 20 languages have been on the Internet at www.watchtower.org.
This Web site is not designed to distribute current publications to Jehovah's Witnesses (and why not?!).
It's objective is to make available to the public accurate information about what Jehovah's Witnesses
teach from the Bible.
Recently, there has been a significant addition to our official Web site. This is the brochure What Does
God Require Of Us? in over 220 languages. Also, with the issues of January 1 and January 8, 2004, The
Watchtower and Awake! in all languages began showing our Web address on the back page.
How can you use this tool? Well, you may meet a person who seems interested but understands
another language. If he has access to the Internet, you can point out the Web address (JW.com!) of The
Watchtower or Awake! That way he may be able to examine the Require brochure in his native tongue
until you can return with literature in his language. Or you may be able to refer the call to the congregation
or group that cares for his language.
-
25
July 1st Watchtower - The brothers are slowing down in their ministry
by truthseeker inthe last watchtower i commented on, was about the friends tiring out and slacking off meeting attendance.
each publisher did: 9.2 hours.
ok, so the above is for one publisher.
-
-
truthseeker
Blondie, I couldn't agree more. I stopped donating once I learnt the "troof" about this religion. My hours are down, and I miss so many meetings. My excuse, and it sometimes is a real one, is that I have exams on those nights.
-
25
July 1st Watchtower - The brothers are slowing down in their ministry
by truthseeker inthe last watchtower i commented on, was about the friends tiring out and slacking off meeting attendance.
each publisher did: 9.2 hours.
ok, so the above is for one publisher.
-
-
truthseeker
The last watchtower I commented on, was about the friends tiring out and slacking off meeting attendance.
Well, the July 1st issue of the Watchtower, 2nd study article entitled "Teach Them To Observe All The Things I Have Commanded You", seems to be a desparate attempt to stem the tide of inactive witnesses.
After talking up how many millions of hours the Witnesses preach each day (3 million), and how many lands they are active in (now 235), paragraph 11 says this...
It saddens us, however, to notice that some of our fellow believers have grown spiritually weakened and, as a result, have slowed down or stopped carrying out Christ's command to make disciples. Is there any way we can help them renew their association with the congregation and resume their share in making disciples? The manner in which Jesus helped his apostles when they were temporarily in a weak condition indicates what we may to today.
so, in other words, if you slow down (do less hours each month) this means you are spiritually weak. Do they never take account that people's circumstances change? For example, a father may have had a part time job and 3 kids, and let's suppose he auxiliary pioneered. He later loses his job, and now finds he has to take a full time job for the same money. He can no longer pioneer. Consequently, his hours drop, and he is looked down upon.
Show Concern
paragraph 12
At the end of Jesus' ministry on earth, when his death was imminent, the apostles "abandoned him and fled." As Jesus had foretold, they "scattered each one to his own house." How did Jesus deal with his spiritually weakened companions? Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus told some of his followers: "Have no fear! Go, report to my brothers, that they may go off into Galilee; and there they will see me." Although the apostles had shown serious weaknesses, Jesus still called them "my brothers." He had not given up on them. In this way, Jesus was merciful and forgiving, just as Jehovah is merciful and forgiving. How can we imitate Jesus?
I think the Watchtower forgets, that their system of worship does not imitate Jesus.
paragraph 13
We should have deep concern for those who have slowed down or stopped sharing in the ministry. We still remember the works of love that those fellow believers performed in the past-some perhaps for decades. We truly miss their companionship. How though, may we express our concern for them?
So, it looks like those long time faithful ones, yes those who have 30, 40, or 50 years of service are quitting the rat race.
There are so many experiences here on this board that when you become inactive you are ignored and no one calls on you. where is this so called "concern"?
This article is such complete drivel, yet it displays a desparation as the rank and file, not to mention elders, thin themselves out.
But, what does this really translate into?
Consider the numbers for the February 2004 Service Report, United States.
Each publisher did: 9.2 hours
Placed: 8.1 mags
Made: 3.6 return visits
Conducted: 0.4 bible studies
Now multiply those figures by 12 to get the annual performance for one publisher..
110.4 hours
97.2 magazines
43.2 return visits
4.8 bible studies
OK, so the above is for one publisher. Now consider that 1,000 publishers become inactive in the United States.
110,400 hours
97,200 magazines
43, 200 return visits
4800 bible studies
When you look at the above figures, you can see why the Society is so desparate.
Consider if each publisher donated $5 a month into the Kingdom Hall fund. Over the course of a year, that publisher would have donated $60. Multiply that by our one thousand inactive publishers and you have $60,000 in lost donations.