most of us left the organisation because we could no longer stand one or other aspect of it, perhaps its very dictatorial administration, the disappointment due to the false promises and vain hopes raised by its leadership, disagreement with the blood ban or pedophile and shunning policies, the feel one gets that this is a business and not a religious organisation manipulating its members to its own profit etc etc.
these are of course valid reasons for rejecting this religion and refusing to identify with it but do the jws who stay in have a valid argument for rejecting leaving the org?
they will say: "ok our religion, our society has its flaws but what human society doesn't?
I think EdenOne is onto something. I am not inside, but will continue to read the publications, so I can see at least part of what my family is being forced to believe this week. It is pretty evident that they are planning something inhumane.
My mother should stay in, to protect my niece from her abusive father, and from even more potential abuse inside the KH.
i live in a seniors-only apartment complex.
management has a tendency to patronize us, which is interesting and rather entertaining.
today we had our annual t-day dinner for the seniors, catered by a local church.
I can't say that I've ever had more than one Thanksgiving dinner per year... I feel like such an underachiever now!
Thanks for the entertaining story. I love sing-alongs!
"however, it would be appreciated if such donations are made without restrictions as to where and how the funds may be used.
" additionally, at this time, there is no need for donations of food, clothing, or other items.
if such needs arise in the future, you will be notified accordingly.
How does that saying go?
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
of the three following vacations, which one would the watchtower society prefer that a witness take?.
1 - a three week working volunteer vacation in bethlehem, to help the international palestinian youth league and the alternative information center, [ a joint palestinian and israeli activist organization] to turn a former israeli army base into a residential compound with a school, a hospital, a youth house and a series of gardens.. 2 - a three week working volunteer vacation to help the local food bank collect, stock and distribute food to the needy.
duties would include preparing tasty and nutritious meals for local residents including families.. 3 - a three week cruise from seattle to hawaii, enjoying all the amenities of the luxury liner, as well as seven days in hawaii enjoying the scenery, the restaurants and the hot, sandy beaches.. if you are able to make more detailed comments i would greatly appreciate it.
My parents take a 12 hour road trip with other JW couples, to enjoy a time share that one of them owns somewhere in the US. (Yet it is too far for my dad to drive 70 minutes to my house for a family gathering).
I have no idea what people would say, but I'm sure they would only aprove #3. Any and all resources you have should go to theocratic ministry work.
Would there be consequences for supporting another cause in such an overt way?
someone agrees to a bible study and it goes very well.
the investigator answers all the questions correctly and shows a great interest in the message.
how long does it usually take before he/she is urged to do field work?
And yet, when we would pose questions to our "teachers," about choices we saw people making at the Kingdom Hall, they would explain to us how these things were left for people to decide with their conscience. The double standard was so obvious, yet they couldn't see it. During our long examination of this religion, we really got to know a few of the local JW's. They sure are quirky and judgmental. (seriously? Warning us not to shop at garage sales, because the items could be possessed by demons?? Wow.)
Some of the stories told by my 65 year old, born-in JW woman, about her childhood, were downright bizarre... yet she told them with pride. She displayed very strange behaviors sometimes, and her reactions to some things were comical. For example, she panicked when she saw pumpkins growing in my huge garden... (eyes wide) "And WHAT are you going to do with THOSE???" Hahaha. I thought it was funny that she was so scared of squash.
faking of hours in field service or dragging service time out by making coffee stops or driving for hours "between" household contacts are never frowned upon, let alone mentioned, in the publications.
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yet, in each congregation of jehovah's witnesses, to one degree or another, faking hours, padding time out with coffee stops and long journeys between opportunities to "witness" are endemic practices..
The society wants you to track every minute possible, so they can add it to the grand total. The more hours they can tabulate, the more proof they have that the JW's are the ones doing the majority of the preaching work on the planet.
Why not count your time, from the minute you see your first fellow JW at the KH? This time should count. All time that you are spent isolated with JW's, is indoctrination and control of your thoughts and actions. You are under the protection of your brothers and sisters, and will not be influenced by worldly people or their twisted thoughts, as long as you are in that car group.
They want to make it easy for publishers to get points for their time cards, so they will want to become pioneers. The more pioneers, the more proof they have that they are growing in their faith and that Jehovah is blessing the preaching efforts.
It all boils down to controlling the flock. Keep pushing them to report more time, so they will spend more time being isolated and controlled by JW's. Keep them separate from reality, so you can convince them that they are the chosen people. They are closing ranks, and they want to squeeze every last ounce of independence out of the sheep.
It is a cycle. You report more time, you feel like you accomplished something. You compare numbers with your friends, and get a little competitive spirit. It's human nature. You want to strive for higher numbers, or at least maintain each month. I think every seasoned JW realizes how little fruit is produced from the door-to-door preaching work. It is all about numbers on the card, not reaching out to unbaptized people.
The confessions and observations made here, and by active JW's I have met (my parents), tell the real story. The preaching "work" is a joke. They report time to be recognized by men. The reward for putting in your time, is advancement and privilege within the organization.
They claim that this preaching work is what proves they have the favor of Jehovah God, but the opposite is true. They are running around deceiving themselves, and anyone who is courteous enough to answer the door. If JW's were allowed to stay home on a Saturday morning, they might be tempted by unwholesome activities. They might even go online and see that there is a big wide world out there, or they might read a book or take up a hobby, or even *GASP* visit with unbelieving family members and friends!
EVERY minute should count, whether your mouth is full of pastries and coffee, or if you are regurgitating the lies of the WTS.
i understand that they claim to have the responsibility to preach to every corner of the earth, so they can encourage armageddon to come quickly.
(matthew 24:14 "and this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
what rationale do they have, for keeping track of their hours and literature placements?
SFPW: Thank you for your reply.
I think elders and CO's are men. I reject the notion that these men are capable of evaluating your spiritual health, on the basis of a field service report.
To suggest this, is to tell me that these men are mediators who are somehow in control of your relationship with Jehovah God. While they DO control your relationship with Jehovah's organization, they are men, who are also being controlled by the society. These reporting rules are not biblical, but for business purposes, according to your own explanation.
From my understanding, the Watchtower is a corporation.
I would also like to make an observation. Jehovah's Witnesses most certainly do pat themselves on the back for their efforts. When you put your name on the top of that time card, you are taking credit from the men above you inside the organization, accepting recognition for your righteous acts and your recorded theocratic activities. Also, as a bible student, our teacher and his wife, separately and on more than one occasion, were not shy about pointing out how they were VOLUNTEERS in the organization. They also made sure to insult and mock worldly people who did charity work for the poor, for abandoned animals and even cancer research. They proclaimed that their preaching work was the only worthwhile effort in Jehovah's eyes.
They were never shy about insulting anyone who was not a JW. Nothing was off-limits for them. While on the surface they seemed meek and gentle, I saw them turn into vicious and paranoid creatures, whenever they started speaking about anyone outside the organization, especially anyone who was trying to make a difference in the world.
I don't mean to sound bitter, because I actually have a great compassion for the JW people. I don't blame them. But your claim that JW's are merely humble volunteers, who do their work dutifully without complaining or puffing themselves up with pride, is a little far from reality.
Putting it simply: You are reporting your efforts to men. Maybe not to be posted on the bulletin board for all to see, but still to be recognized by men. Your condescending tone, is giving away the fact that you are getting defensive. I am not changing the subject, by bringing up these verses... that was my original question. When I was reviewing this section of Matthew a few weeks ago, it really threw me for a loop.
Thank you for explaining your position and beliefs. It will be interesting to hear what my dad says, if I ever get a chance to ask him this question.
a dub posted this link earlier this week.
this video aired feb 16, 2011 as pointed out by one of the commenters.
it's amazing though how many witnesses lack the ability to scrutinize the information presented, and go check the data for themselves.. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=206101939577972.
I second what Gopher said. ALL news is good news for the Watchtower.
Bad news = proof we are the one true religion. We are being persecuted! Jehovah will deliver us! Remain united and continue preaching.
Good news = proof that we are the one true religion! Jehovah is blessing our efforts. Remain united and continue preaching.
Above all, Remain United and Persevere! Contine Preaching! Increased statistics in our yearbook are proof that we are the one true reigion. Jehovah will deliver us!
in just a few months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbnazyb3j1a.
The Tower is crumbling! The internet is too big for the WTS to handle.
my father has been suffering from alzheimer's for a couple of years now.
my mother keeps referring to his hallucinations as demons.
i haven't been to the hall in a while, i've been fading for 20 years now, but i find this amazing!
wasblind: Thank you for pointing that out to me. I will remember it.
