Posts by truthseeker

it would be a damning report for watchtower if most of us appear to have left for decades.. you don't have to mention your exact age, you could always say "in my 50s".. i am in my 70s.

truthseeker

I've been coming to this site since 2000.

I was 24 then and am now 47.

10

Mass formation control and the Organization

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

mass formation control.

most of the changes in the organization have been doctrinal and as a rule jws would not openly discuss these for fear of being labeled an apostate.

examples include overlapping generations and types and antitypes.

Most of the changes in the organization have been doctrinal and as a rule JWs would not openly discuss these for fear of being labeled an apostate. Examples include overlapping generations and types and antitypes. Some changes are procedural such as the amount of preaching time needed to qualify as a pioneer and not having to count hours any more but whether it’s doctrinal or procedural none of these changes are visible.

An exJW friend of mine and I were discussing the recent changes including brothers being able to wear beards and sisters wearing trousers. A lot of brothers are now sporting beards or goatees. They don’t question why after all these decades it’s now ok to wear a beard - they’re just happy to roll with it and not having to count time makes being a JW easier than it has ever been.

It’s a modern phenomena we’ve not seen before because these changes are visual and they propagate throughout the organization and unless you’re a PIMO nobody seems to question or connect the dots as to why these changes are happening.

I would call this mass formation control (I adapted the term from medical researcher Robert Malone). Think of the Queen Bee deciding to change direction and all the worker bees follow her instinctively.

In real life wearing a beard is a small thing. You either have one or you don’t. Nobody really cares and you might get the odd compliment for growing one or shaving it off. Not so in the organization.

For decades beards were banned. My dad wore one and was never appointed as a ministerial servant because of it. Now, not only can you wear one, you don’t even have to wear a suit jacket and tie and sisters can wear trousers as long as they don’t have a meeting part.

This is a good example of the butterfly effect where a small change in a deeply connected religious ecosystem can influence larger changes. Wearing a beard is a small change but seeing Governing Body members wear them after “new light” was published is a larger change and it benefits the Society because they want to be seen as progressive while at the same time they continue to exert control over the membership.

Multiple changes happening within a short period of time can overwhelm and confuse the membership but because these changes are seen as positive they happily come into agreement with them because it makes their load lighter. It also creates a buzz of excitement as they wonder what will change next.

Could making birthdays a conscious matter be the next big thing? Absolutely, because with the changes in disfellowshipping and marking, it is more likely that some witnesses will take liberties and decide to quietly observe the day of their birth and may invite others to join them and they will be able to do so without causing waves. If this propagates and is allowed to flourish it could become the defacto norm.

We are “witnessing” a metamorphosis in the organization as they position themselves for the long haul throughout the 2020s and beyond.

Make no mistake, the GB and its helpers know *exactly* what they’re doing. They are well versed in marketing techniques and the effect this has on human psychology. Survival is first and foremost their main priority.

19

It's been ten years since congregations surrendered their finances to HQ

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

anyone have any anecdotal reports of individual congregation finances since the stealth takeover by the wt of their checking accounts?.

are donations up?

can they pay their bills?.

truthseeker

Anyone have any anecdotal reports of individual congregation finances since the stealth takeover by the WT of their checking accounts?

Are donations up? Can they pay their bills?

17

JWs obtaining fake degrees from a US institution to teach English as a foreign language

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

teaching english as a foreign language in asian countries is quite popular for those looking to travel and explore and make some money.

if you have the tefl qualification you're pretty much good to go and don't need a degree.i don't know how lucrative these overseas jobs are but i do know one jw from my congregation in england who decided to move to the caribbean and teach english as a foreign language.

i'm not knocking this individual.

truthseeker

There doesn't seem to be any alumni.

17

JWs obtaining fake degrees from a US institution to teach English as a foreign language

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

teaching english as a foreign language in asian countries is quite popular for those looking to travel and explore and make some money.

if you have the tefl qualification you're pretty much good to go and don't need a degree.i don't know how lucrative these overseas jobs are but i do know one jw from my congregation in england who decided to move to the caribbean and teach english as a foreign language.

i'm not knocking this individual.

truthseeker

When you look closely at the company and their shady practices it's really fraud.

37

Robert King aka e-watchman

by RolRod in

jw
friends

there have been a few post about robert king, the first was 16 years ago, the last was 9 years ago.

just to the let the old timers here know, he's still at it.

and for you newbies, robert king who wrote "jehovah himself has become king.

truthseeker

Robert King has become King!

50

My guess for August WatchTower: GB claims we're in beginning stages of Great Tribulation due to World governments turning on JW's

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

the september watchtower has already been released and is being discussed over on reddit.

some highlights: .

1. more hitting the flock on total reliance and obedience to god's representatives on earth today, the f&ds (the governing body, of course).

truthseeker

Even if the August study edition should delay, it will not be late!

17

JWs obtaining fake degrees from a US institution to teach English as a foreign language

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

teaching english as a foreign language in asian countries is quite popular for those looking to travel and explore and make some money.

if you have the tefl qualification you're pretty much good to go and don't need a degree.i don't know how lucrative these overseas jobs are but i do know one jw from my congregation in england who decided to move to the caribbean and teach english as a foreign language.

i'm not knocking this individual.

truthseeker

Some more follow up info...

https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/11eliol/jw_pseudouniversities_how_many_are_there_like/

"Been speaking to a PIMI recently who got a 'degree' from USILACS, a university based in America where they hand out TEFL degrees to JW's.

If you go on their website, there is nothing to suggest it's ran by JW's, and it may well accept people of all faiths on to their e-learning course, however apparently in JW inner circles it's owned by JW's.

They even allow you to submit ministry hours as part of the requirements for the degree as it is classed as teaching.

Does anyone know of any more institutions like this"

"I did a quick search and was surprised to find that USILACS is offering Bachelors degrees. I remember old PIMI friends telling me that they allow you to use a large amount of preaching hours as "volunteer teaching time". This "degree" program is a complete joke though. https://usilacs.org/degree-programs/"