TTATTelder

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Posts by TTATTelder

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  34

  Pondering Noah account

  by problemaddict in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i see my wife being pulled into the org a little again, by some good people and kindness.

  she grew up a very happy jw, and to leave is very hard for her.

  but she has opened the pandoras box of her brain and can't shut it.. we were discussing blood a couple days ago.

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  TTATTelder

  There are so many holes in that story it's mind-boggling it is believed by anybody.

  Good point though.

  I guess the logic went something like this:

  "Since we have the only initial stock for all animals of the planet.... LET'S HAVE A BBQ!!!!!!!
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  26

  Critical Thinking from the Wife !!

  by TTATTelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the other day i had a couple of drinks and went off on the gb (again), about how they are just posturing and have no clue.

  i said if they knew what they were talking about we would already be in the new world, but we're not ..so they dont...the end.. well i got some push back as would be expected, but what surprised me was what she said a little later.

  firstly she didn't pay attention to the public talk this past sunday and instead read an article in a watchtower on stress.

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  TTATTelder

  Wow Villagegirl ... sorry for your past abuse from men.

  We aren't all like that.

  My comments in the OP weren't from being surprised my wife's comments came from a woman (that feels stupid even typing that) but because they were critical and completely free of my influence.

  Everyone else got it.

  Its a good thing. .... Looking forward to future observations from her.

  I agree with BU2B all the way.

  Thanks for the comments everybody.
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  26

  Critical Thinking from the Wife !!

  by TTATTelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the other day i had a couple of drinks and went off on the gb (again), about how they are just posturing and have no clue.

  i said if they knew what they were talking about we would already be in the new world, but we're not ..so they dont...the end.. well i got some push back as would be expected, but what surprised me was what she said a little later.

  firstly she didn't pay attention to the public talk this past sunday and instead read an article in a watchtower on stress.

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  TTATTelder

  The other day I had a couple of drinks and went off on the GB (again), about how they are just posturing and have no clue. I said if they knew what they were talking about we would already be in the new world, but we're not ..so they dont...the end.

  Well I got some push back as would be expected, but what surprised me was what she said a little later. Firstly she didn't pay attention to the public talk this past Sunday and instead read an article in a watchtower on stress.

  I commended her. The talk was a bit of a snooze and I said "better to make good use of the time in some way"

  This is what blew me away though... She was reading in the article about how our brain has particular funtions that kick in during stressful, dangerous, or emergency situations and how that is a helpful, practical part of how our minds were created. The malfunction, as explained, comes in when our body/mind stay in this state unnecessarily for prolonged periods of time. This leads to health issues involving stress and anxiety.

  But here's the kicker... she said "Why would Jehovah create us this way if we were supposed to live in a paradise?"

  WTH !!!!!!! .... In other words - Why would we have brain functions to handle danger and distress - even life threatening emergencies - if we were supposed to be skipping around pettiing pandas?

  I tried to play it cool, but I was screaming inside. I just said, "That is a very good question."

  Honestly it shocked the hell out of me. Not only does it speak to critical thinking and doubt on her part, but it is a thought I seriously have never had before! She'd poking her own holes in the theology! Un -freaking-believable (in my world).

  What do you guy's think? Have you ever had that thought or similiar? I found it quite a good point especially coming from my uber dub wife.

  I just had to share and any thoughts would be appreciated.
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  107

  Will firing the DOs be the first step to a new Watchtower?

  by Juan Viejo2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  against my better judgement, i've decided to share the following as a response to guy pierce passing and the announcement of the elimination of district overseers later this year.. late in january (2014) i got an email from one of my contacts (a fader) who served at bethel for several years, but is no longer at wt hq.

  he still has a lot of close contacts within the service department and in other departments at patterson and knows people in all of the ny offices.

  i kept this email set aside on a flash drive and haven't shared it with anyone - figuring i'd publish an article about it later this year when i had more time to do it right.

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  TTATTelder

  Thanks Juan and thanks to Brother X.

  Interesting stuff. I think the 144,000 thing is slowly being tested/implemented IMO. You can see it in the language being used now and the absence of statements about the number being filled that were so common before. I think if the number of partakers had dropped this past year, they would have been ok to ignore the subject. With it continuing to grow as a marked trend, they have to address it in some way.

  I recently pointed out the larger 'partaker' number in 2013 to my wife and another elder's wife.

  The other sister defended it as, "Maybe there are spots reserved for those who live right before the end and maybe this actually means we are just that close!"

  But after hearing herself, she simply said with a sigh, "But who knows, that's just all I've got"

  We didn't say much - I was just floating it out there. Interesting to see people when they are forced to actually think about these things. The meetings are such robotic rah- rah sessions that never allow actual personal thought.

  It is surprising about the DO's. I just found the letter on the site myself. It's funny... I'm an elder and I hear about things on this site before I see it on jw.org or hear about it from anyone on the body. Obvious the downsizing is continuing. Closed branches all over the world. Selling off of property. Retiring CO's and possibly others at 70. Now eliminating a level of management with by canning DO's. Again plainly cost-cutting, efficiency measures.

  I think more will wake up from these changes. The org will prob begin shrinking in the western countries. The GB must already know that. That would be one logical explanation for all the downsizing.

  I am reminded of Bono's line - The God I believe in isn't short on cash.

  Hard to claim God's backing when downsizing is such an obvious priority.
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  13

  "Jehovah's Witnesses" among most controversial articles on Wikipedia

  by ILoveTTATT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's an interesting article:.

  http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/08/daily-chart-1.

  among the french-language wikipedia articles, at least, "jehovah's witnesses" is among the most-changed articles on wikipedia.

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  TTATTelder

  interesting
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  27

  For those who still attend- When was the last time you had a Congregation Picnic or Get together?

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems that in my neck of the woods there is no social interaction between jws outisde of fs and the kh.

  the last get together was 3 summers ago.

  other than that there is no bond.

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  TTATTelder

  BU2B,

  No real rules that I can think of. Everybody was just wearing the normal ultra conservative attire. Also it was a windy, overcast day and had just recently rained, so the normal fun-in-the-sun wasn't in play.

  My experience overall has been a reduction in these congregation events though. I think Blondie made some good points about why that may be.

  I observe a general zombie-like feel to the friends overall. People are just going through the motions. The old confidence of the Franz 80's that I remember as a kid is long gone.

  The cong is also such a mixed bag of education, financial means, personalities, and even mental/ emotional health. People usually find those they can deal with and associate occasionally with them.
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  27

  For those who still attend- When was the last time you had a Congregation Picnic or Get together?

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems that in my neck of the woods there is no social interaction between jws outisde of fs and the kh.

  the last get together was 3 summers ago.

  other than that there is no bond.

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  TTATTelder

  We actually had one late last summer. We are by a beach so beach volleyball was main activity.
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  83

  Heard a rumor: Guy Pierce died this morning

  by respectful_observer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  didn't see any other threads, apologies if one already exists.

  apparently died of a massive stroke this morning.. r_o.

  (completely unconfirmed.

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  TTATTelder

  Adios con artist.

  One less charlatan in the world.
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  15

  Will the Governing Body ever show a ' broken heart?'

  by LogCon in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  psalm 51:17 says, my sacrifice, o god, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, god, will not despise.. .

  as the evidence mounts, and fingers are pointed at the governing body for their complicity in the 'child abuse cover ups' ,.

  ...will they ever get down on bended knee and show truly broken hearts?.

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  TTATTelder

  Their mission is to preserve the organization at any cost and if human beings are sacrificed on the way it's just the cost of doing business. - Nancy Drew

  Nicely put...Guy Pierce certainly served that mission...what a legacy.
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  8

  It is legally an "assault" to point a gun. The Watch Tower assault: the SHUN GUN

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the insidious bind the watchtower religion places on their members is unconscionable.. holding family and friends "hostage" as an extortion strategy may be their most potent weapon of enforced conformity.. .

  in effect, like an armed criminal who points a gun at you and threatens "your money or your life", the watchtower leadership.

  holds the power to separate dissenting members from those whom they most cherish.. the "gun" is the shun.. pointing the shun at you and threatening to cut you off from your loved ones is a psychological brutality.. absolute obedience is required.. .

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  TTATTelder

  I think a slow fade to "weak" is probably best.

  That way you avoid the drama/shunning of DF or DA which is essentially the same now. I know it's hard for some because of the disgust we feel toward the org and many of their practices, but contolling our impulses is best for us in the end. It preserves our name and family connections.

  I am also of the opinion to use the "theocratic warfare" tactic of telling the elders whatever you need to in order to remain in "good standing". It's done in the legal profession everyday.

  Claim "discouragement", "depression", "health issues", etc. Play whatever card you need to to get them off your back. Do your protesting anonymously (in forums like this one) and watch your mouth in front of dubs.

  There are a lot of moles out there that would love nothing more than to run to their favorite COBE and be the teacher's pet ratting you out. We have an entire family of moles in our hall that constantly have their eyes and ears open and troll social media.

  If you do say something that comes out later and bites you, never admit to anything. Say "they must have misunderstood me, I would never say such a thing..."

  Never Ever Ever Forget the Two Witness Rule. I can't overemphasize how big this "two witness" thing is. I have seen people get away with big acts of wrongdoing that happened in front of 6 people. This was because only 2 people would come forward and then they couldn't keep their story straight when the accused started getting nasty and throwing the "slander" word around. People crawfish big time when the heat is on them. If there is only one witness and you deny it, it can't go anywhere to begin with.

  Honestly unless you plaster your face all over the internet screaming against the GB, it's hard to pin this stuff on you without your admission/confession.

  So in other words lie. Lie your little head off. These goofballs don't deserve the truth and can't handle the truth.

  Also despite what you hear on this forum from some, many elders are lazy and stressed out and don't have the desire or energy to chase you all over town to try and DF you. Now granted some will, but not as many as you might think.

  Oh, and I am currently still serving as an elder. I am doing a surgically slow fade because of the wife.