I wonder what effect the rising hispanic influence will have. The culture is so different from the emotionally frigid, pleasure-denying, isolationist Watchtower, that I can't imagine they will either turn to a more spiritually satisfying religion if they can't change this one. Anybody have any experience with hispanic congregations? Are they indeed copies of white congregations? My friend attends a hall in an inner-city predominantly African-American neighborhood and I suspect that is one of the reasons his experience has been less damaging than those in white congregations. (I recognize I am talking completely through my hat and am looking for info from people who have actual, you know, knowledge and experience!)
kgfreeperson
JoinedPosts by kgfreeperson
-
55
The Watchtower Attendance Crisis
by metatron inif the average congregation has about 83 publishers in the us, then the organization may be sinking into a crisis.. take that 83 and consider that half the congregations may have less.. take away '15 minute publishers' who don't attend.
take away completely fake publishers who rarely attend.
take away increasingly tired publishers who 'feel sick', are depressed, or just want to stay at home and watch tv.. .
-
-
-
5
charitable work
by kgfreeperson ini was surprised to find that my jw friend had been on the board of directors of a charitable organization for a number of years because i've read here that any charitable activities are actively discouraged on the basis of either any time spent at any such activities would better be spent in "the preaching work" and that any attempt to solve problem sin "this system" is a waste of time and resources since jehovah will fix everything permanently in his own time.
can anyone point me to writings of wts saying that?
-
-
kgfreeperson
I think he has swum against the tide more than once, but he remains a committed and loyal JW. I, who have no training in the "holding contradictory ideas simultaneously and denying the contradiction" necessary to be both sane and a JW, get baffled and frustrated. But "balanced" is a word he uses often but I think he uses it as you or I would rather than as a code word for "avoid." I am often amazed how he has been able to "cherry pick" WT writings and teachings so that he really has gotten a set of principles for living that are pretty decent. But my poor mind that requires coherence and congruence just has a terrible time with this stuff!
-
5
charitable work
by kgfreeperson ini was surprised to find that my jw friend had been on the board of directors of a charitable organization for a number of years because i've read here that any charitable activities are actively discouraged on the basis of either any time spent at any such activities would better be spent in "the preaching work" and that any attempt to solve problem sin "this system" is a waste of time and resources since jehovah will fix everything permanently in his own time.
can anyone point me to writings of wts saying that?
-
-
kgfreeperson
So my impression is incorrect? charitable work isn't actively discouraged, it is just that it isn't encouraged?
-
5
charitable work
by kgfreeperson ini was surprised to find that my jw friend had been on the board of directors of a charitable organization for a number of years because i've read here that any charitable activities are actively discouraged on the basis of either any time spent at any such activities would better be spent in "the preaching work" and that any attempt to solve problem sin "this system" is a waste of time and resources since jehovah will fix everything permanently in his own time.
can anyone point me to writings of wts saying that?
-
-
kgfreeperson
I was surprised to find that my JW friend had been on the board of directors of a charitable organization for a number of years because I've read here that any charitable activities are actively discouraged on the basis of either any time spent at any such activities would better be spent in "the preaching work" and that any attempt to solve problem sin "this system" is a waste of time and resources since Jehovah will fix everything permanently in his own time. Can anyone point me to writings of WTS saying that?
-
10
song 287: Move Your Buttocks
by gitasatsangha in(another song suggestion: a revamp to an old jahova classic, same music) .
till twenty-thirty-four.
its the will of our god.
-
-
kgfreeperson
Well, rats, I know people have posted links to kingdom melodies, but I don't know how to use the search function. Can someone supply a link? I know this, hilarious as it is, is even funnier if you know what it is parodying!
-
63
Watchtower study today at meeting
by dustyb inwell, looks like they do have a new date for the conclusion of the end, and that we should "be prepared".
even some people that commented said that 90 years of the 120 years have passed by and we should be prepared for the time at hand.
2034 people, 2034.... i've had enough, i'm talkign to the elder about this one, i don't care if i get labelled or not.
-
-
kgfreeperson
ahem. That's "do more _'til_ '34"
-
20
What did the Watchtower say following 9/11
by kgfreeperson inthere have been some references from time to time about how jws felt about 9/11 and how the watchtower responded, but i'm interested in what, if anything, the watchtower said specifically.
i don't have access to any of the publications, though.
can anybody enlighten me?
-
-
kgfreeperson
my goodness
-
27
My Husband Just Thinks I am Being Vindictive
by Mystery insituation:.
my mom and sister came down in november "during thanksgiving" break.
my mom has been a jw since i was 1 year old.
-
-
kgfreeperson
This sounds so painful. I'm hoping you'll find a way to let go of them all. I can't imagine how any good will come from engaging at all at this point. It would be good if you could somehow let your nephew know you're pulling for him, but you may have to wait until his mail and phone calls aren't being censored. Maybe keep a journal for him? I'm sending peaceful thoughts.
-
26
Governing Buzzards - Part 1 - Who are they?
by Amazing inwho are the governing body members?
can the average jw name even one or more members of that body?
i don't really know, but over the last ten to twelve years since i left the jw religion, i have a better idea - i think.
-
-
kgfreeperson
I was completely confused about the F & DS--I thought that was how the Governing Body, speaking for the Watchtower, referred to itself. I had no idea the F&DS was made of the "anointed"--itmakes sense, except, as you say, the majority of the anointed have no say in what goes into the pubs or how the org is run. Thanks, Jim1
-
22
Elder Visit
by Coqui ini've been away for a year and a half.
today my family got a knock on the door and yes two witness, one a servant who i know and an elder who i had never met.. mostly small talk all directed at me and not my wife.
i never da nor had i been df'ed.. elder question: do you beleive this is the truth?
-
-
kgfreeperson
I wonder how many people these "shepherding visits" close the door and go to the internet? It seems more reasonable to me to not want to stir things up, to let people fade away, rather than to make people defensive and look for reasons why the Watchtower is wrong! It seems to me lots and lots of people fade away because they just get worn out rather than they stop believing. But visits from elders designed to trap you into doing something so they can announce you have disassociated yourself and bring down all manner of grief on your head just seems to me likely to provoke people to want to plant doubts in the elder's heads! As some of you here have been able to do. Foolish people.