way back in 20's or 30's, (someone correct me if i have the time frame wrong), the wt's strategy for witnessing was to give each publisher (or have them buy one) a phonograph to set on the householder's steps so they could play one of the judge's speeches.. flash forward and there was a testimony card that publishers handed to the householder, introducing them.. this gave way to the current model of the publisher being informed and able to discuss a subject with the householder.. .
that seems to be giving way to the new approach being used by the wt: the website.. the wt realizes that slick content is more impressive that a publisher talking, one who can't or won't keep up with the insane doctrinal changes.. publishing books and magazines is taking the back seat; the wt and awake have less than half the content they used to, and are published half as often.. the wt's trolley cart method involves not getting into discussions with people, but using an ipad to play them a video.. .
the past is the future!.
Absolutely...the ipad is the new phonograph.
People were using a video (talked about at the convention) just this week in the door to door work with their ipad.
Supposedly, a couple of studies were started.
It has to be more effective than the dubs asking stupid questions and faking conversation, but it has a very cultish.
-TE
on the basis that most of us realise the w.t wasnt really the best " job" or way to spend our days, it would be fun to find out what people would really have liked to have done with there lifes and if this is still possible.
or maybe its not even a very realistic ambition just a dream.
in my dreams i stay at home all day and make a living from being a professional artist.maybe i need a phycholgist?.
Day trading psychologist author. How's that ?
-TE
hey :).
for a while, i've sort of been wondering why i always check in with this board... i mean it's filled with great people of course - and is my only link to what's happening in the jw world, but i shouldn't care that much... i'm not a jw, neither is my husband - it's only his batshit crazy family who are and it shouldn't bother me that much.. however it does interfere with my life and when i'm around them, they do somehow manage to make me feel like crap.
i think it's all mad and they are most definitely stuck in a cult, however my husband - who grew up as a jw just sort of shrugs his shoulders and is a bit 'it is what it is' - it doesn't seem to offend him as much as it does me.... every time that i hear about a new change or scandal on here, i think 'surely this will be what wakes them up'!
I don't have much experience yet with trying to wake people up, but I have enough to know most don't want to be awakened.
It is their worldview, hope for the future, and get-out-of-jail-free card all rolled into one. For some it's their hobby and passion as well.
It is way more complex than just an argument to be won.
Most people must come to realize it on their own somehow.
I started opening my mind after noticing some things on my own in the organization and then slowly opening up to more info on the internet.
Jwfacts.com was huge. Jwstruggle videos on YouTube were big. Specifically the topics that really got me were:
1) Light getting brighter scripture taken in context
2) faithful and discreet slave scripture actually looked at in context and analyzed
3) the mind control cultish techniques used in the watchtower like loaded language and thought stopping phrases
4) flip flops and ridiculous doctrine changes out of desperation and nothing close to divine inspiration
5) 1914 and even more so 1919
It is a hell of a process and a slow one that demands patience on our part.
-TE
i am still in, and as my name says "stuckinarut"...now i know it is not the truth, i know it for a fact...but im so messed up with a wash of hundreds of thoughts that i cant seem to get my head in order.. i thought i had my head clear and my 'sh1t together' so to speak....but ..... im sure you know what i mean?
when there are so many reasons and facts proving ttatt, but if asked to make a list in bullet points now, i would get so overwhelmed....i just dont know where to start.
i feel like i would be like a balloon let go flying around the room in all directions trying to 'spew' out the facts!.
What stands out to me is the blatant use of mind control techniques in their writings.
Loaded language everywhere, thought-stopping at every turn, and absurd leaps of logic.
Questioning and debate are not allowed.
None of this would be necessary if you actually had eternal truth as they claim.
-TE
these days, virtually every public talk speaker thinks it's interesting and intellectual to include a dictionary definition of some word.
often the word is in common use and needs no explanation, such as 'exercise', or 'knowledge', or whatever.. now contrast that to all of the words that the wt has it's own meaning for, and referencing a dictionary for the common understanding of it would be viewed unfavourably.. words like 'generation' or 'men' (as in jesus is mediator between god and 'men' - 1tim 2:5-6).. what words have the wt redefined that you know about?
- i'd like to compile a list if possible.. splash.
"New Light" = neither new nor light - ADCMS
LOL. Love it.
I will add this:
New Truths - neither new nor truths
Old Truths - WTH ???
-TE
i just got back from the district convention and watched the new video.
can't remember what it is called but the main family live in a million dollar home and there teenage daughter drives a red convertable sports car.
probably worth about 50000$.
I haven't seen the video yet. It seems, though, that the WT has been sending mixed signals for awhile.
Praise will always be given to the sacrificial lambs. Special titles, special meetings, put on a pedestal at assemblies, etc. That of course is in the WT's best interests. They want these "givers" to keep on giving. Free salespeople and laborers.
OTOH, they are also sending the message that they aren't exactly going to ostracize the money folks. Actually they are whispering "It's ok, we need you too."
I picked up on that a few years ago and privately adjusted my stance. That was before I even learned TTATT. The added benefits to this "balanced" approach (besides having more money) was - personally being less judgemental, less self-righteous, and interestingly less black-balled by men in the congregation that thought I was trying to out do them "spiritually".
LOL... What a nutball organization.
-TE
... you felt what you did was great.
ahh yes.
preaching in foreign lands....in english.
The WT is still riding the interest that still exists in "America" in less developed countries.
These people find it intriguing when English-speaking Americans come to their door.
Many assume these people are wealthy. Some are. So you can see the underlying appeal to an impoverished household in a poorer nation.
It brings in huge field service stats. The WT brags about these stats of course. The number that stick and actually get baptised are far far far less than the number that study.
But hey...bored dubs get to do something way cooler than marching around empty suburban neighborhoods in the US, the natives get an interesting experience with crazy, clean-cut, possibly wealthy, Americans visiting them and teaching them English and American customs, and the WT gets to keep people busy and get glowing reports of activity and interest!
win win win
The whole thing works with Canadians and others from English speaking countries as well.
-TE
does anyone know if any of the current governing body members became a jw as an adult, or were all of them raised and bred a jw from childhood?.
i have a theory that the jws that are "born in" and stay in tend to be more extreme and less reasonable because that is all they have ever known, especially if they are sheltered and groomed to be a good little jw.. and i was just looking at what i could find about the newest and youngest member, mark sanderson.
he was born on february 4, 1965, and he was baptized on february 9, 1975 ... a few days shy of turning 10 years old!
Lett is a born in. He told everybody at the convention last weekend.
His mom was like a special pioneer or something.
-TE
i just compared the latest data provided by the german wt and data i found searching for the same page in archive.org.
congregations 2011: 2232. congregations 2014: 2210. kh 2011: 1075. kh 2014: 1034. source: http://www.jehovaszeugen.de/statistik.18.0.html - this is a oficial site for germany.
.
I think the determining factor is how greedy the controlling interests are in the short term. Betting on men not being greedy is a risky bet.
I could see the Ocean1111 scenario playing out. I hope it does, selfishly for my sake. The motivation there of course is taking the money and running. If for instance they are already fudging numbers and know the ship is sinking, this would make sense.
OTOH, I can see them splitting the difference (hedging their bets) and seeing what they can get away with over the long haul. Of course they will be stockpiling money and making money grabs all along the way.
Either scenario will see this Germany situation playing out in all the developed countries. We will see (as discussed many times on this forum) KH's closed and sold. Congregations consolidated. Property flips. High end properties sold off and replacement halls built in the less expensive growing areas. Yada yada.
Maybe we can determine long range objectives by watching how many long term projects are started. Headquarters doesn't count. That is for them.
It will be long and drug out either way. It will be interesting to watch, though.
-TE
i have noticed a few comments lately about worldly pr firms and marketing companies being used by the wt.. does anyone have any information confirming this to be the case?.
for many jw's this would be borderline scandelous considering the venom constantly spewed about satan's world.. if i missed any threads about this topic, please give a link.. thanks for any input.. -te.
Neon,
Apparently it isn't obvious the problem with worldly pr and/or marketing firms. So I will explain as a person still very much on the inside of this organization.
This organization villifies anything from the religous, political, or business sectors of society. They claim they are directed by God, guided by Holy Spirit, and are motivated by Christian love. Worldly "Big Business" is supposed to be greedy, corrupt, and immoral (Satan's world remember?).
In the "real world" there is nothing wrong with it, BUT, and it's a big BUT, in their world it is supposed to be beneath them. They claim divine blessing.
Angels are supposed to be directing people to the "truth". They are not supposed to have to use worldly advertising techniques.
Now getting people to create some web designs is not as much the issue as using a PR firm to help mold their image or guide them through such things as spinning this 2014 embarrassment.
So anyway that's that.
-TE
