Magnum

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Posts by Magnum

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  26

  Was It Designed? (My head hurts)

  by Cadellin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know i shouldn't--i tell myself this over and over--but i can't help peeking at these silly articles.

  and then i see this and my head really starts hurting: so the gannet, if you don't know (and why would you?

  ) is a seabird that feeds on fish.

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  Magnum

  I noticed that kind of stuff the whole time (decades) I was in JWdom and made notes about it. It really bothered me.

  One article I remember from probably twenty or more years ago was about a bird of prey that had double eyelids (two on each eye). One of the eyelids was translucent and it allowed the bird to blink and keep its eyes moist while pursuing prey without losing sight of the prey. "Oh, what a marvel of design!" I was thinking that that indicated that animals were designed to hunt and kill, yet, JW theology says otherwise. Extreme contradiction; it just didn't (and doesn't) make sense.

  Another article was about a bird who lived in a reed habitat and when on the ground in the reeds, would sway with them in the wind so as not to be noticed by predators. "Oh, what a marvel of design!" I was thinking "Why would an animal be designed with such a defense when there were no predators when it was designed?"

  It's not only the offensive capabilities we see in nature that indicate that animals were "designed" to kill, but also all the vast defensive capabilities; they wouldn't be needed if there were no predators.
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  18

  “The Asiatic Mind” — Watchtower 1956

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  searching instances of the word “simplify” in watchtower literature, i stumbled across this.. the asiatic mind finds it difficult to accept new ways, to simplify and to make advantageous changes.

  they fear conversion and dislike others’ offering them help.

  many continually live in a realm of unreality and refuse to face modern facts of life.

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  Magnum

  OMG! Got to save this one for my anti-JW arsenal. And, to think, these guys claim to be in the right hand of Jesus.

  JWs might claim that they've learned better since then; however, they're supposed to be guided by holy spirit - not dependent on human learning.

  JWs aren't supposed to be receiving thoughts of men in their "food at the proper time".
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  34

  World Wide Work Resolution Doubled Overnight

  by JW_Rogue in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  during covid-19 crisis our hall decides to double the amount sent to hq from our local account.

  the resolution is unanimously supported, no questions asked.

  has anyone else had this happen?.

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  Magnum

  If local congregations and individual JWs are willing to donate more than they did before the virus hit (or probably even just the same amount), then JWism will become an e-religion. I think the org is monitoring the situation closely to see what's going to happen to its income stream. If donations don't drop off, then it can sell off all Kingdom Halls and claim the scene of the world is changing, we're near the end, etc.

  I bet JWs would be willing to donate more to keep the situation as it is now - not physically going to meetings, no door-to-door, etc.
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  23

  Transparency in Field Service Hours

  by Earnest in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i notice that in the recent instructions for new regular pioneers (2020-08-s-236-e) it lists a number of assignments for which a pioneer can be credited (up to 75) hours in a month.. these include:construction oversight, assembly hall oversight, assembly oversight, and convention oversight, as well as serving as temporary volunteers at bethel, commuter bethelites, remote volunteers, bethel consultants, hospital liaison committee members, patient visitation group members, disaster relief committee members, local design/construction department field representatives and maintenance trainers, and so forth.

  approved assignments also include assisting with kingdom hall construction when such is done at the request of the branch office or its representatives overseeing the project, assisting with pre and post-assembly or convention work, assisting with work at assembly halls, conducting or participating in congregation meetings held in prison, as well as attendance at a theocratic school or class .

  when i was pioneering and doing pre and post-assembly work i was told i could include the time spent working in my monthly report, which i did.

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  Magnum

  This is not a change. It's been that way as long as I can remember - for decades. The things you mentioned in the OP were never supposed to be counted as field service time; they were supposed to be credited to the pioneer. It's just that most (even elders) did (or do) not understand that.

  It's kind of like "public reproof". There's no such thing, but most (even elders) think there is and don't understand the concept of reproof.
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  33

  Are You Afraid of Contracting The Covid Virus?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thankfully my best friend who got this terrible malady is doing well after being in the hospital for more than two months!

  i see some people who are still petrified over this virus.

  they are still virtual prisoners in their own homes.

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  Magnum

  I get out all the time - grocery store, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Lowe's, Walmart, etc.

  I eat a lot at a couple of local truck stops / travel centers, and worry about them most because people from all over are stopping there.

  So, I'm carrying on with life mostly as normal, but I am a little worried about getting it because I don't know how my body will react; I'm 60ish.

  A coworker's mother died from it last week; however, she already had a liver problem.
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  27

  2020 Pioneer Seminar in German!

  by Atlantis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2020-pioneer seminar video in german.. .

  this file was sent to us by an anonymous kind person.

  all files that are sent to atlantis are re-named, and a different download link is generated from the link the sender used.. .

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  Magnum

  Petra, thanks for relating the steps Atlantis takes to remove any possibility of the org's finding out who sends material. And, to think, they say us old farts don't know much about new technology and such. I can tell Atlantis knows what he's doing; I understand the reasoning behind each step.

  By the way, I would like to be added to your list to receive new material. Do you send the material by PM or should I send you an email address?
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  11

  JW Tchotckes _ How Nauseating Are They?

  by Room 215 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  knorr, franz, henschel et al must be spinning in their graves....https://www.jwstuff.org/.

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  Magnum

  Damn, Jofi_Wofo, how could you say that stuff is cute??? Now, if those items had Mickey Mouse and/or other Disney stuff on them, I'd agree with you. BUT... "The Best Life Ever"??? A picture of a panda in paradise??? I want to know how you feel about it when the weed you're smoking wears off.

  And don't get irritated at me. I'm not a critic; I just have the ability to criticize. I don't think you're wrong; I just think I'm right.
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  11

  JW Tchotckes _ How Nauseating Are They?

  by Room 215 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  knorr, franz, henschel et al must be spinning in their graves....https://www.jwstuff.org/.

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  Magnum

  My post above had some pics in it, but they're gone. So, some of the post doesn't make sense.

  The first pic was of a tag with the phrase "The Best Life Ever". The second was of a tag showing a panda in paradise and with the phrase "everlasting life".
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  11

  JW Tchotckes _ How Nauseating Are They?

  by Room 215 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  knorr, franz, henschel et al must be spinning in their graves....https://www.jwstuff.org/.

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  Magnum

  Yeah, barf. JWs have become so corny - almost churchy. Nothing like the old days when there was a semblance of seriousness, boldness, dignity, etc.

  
  

  "Best Life Ever", my ass. It was a miserable life for me.

  
  

  Sorry, folks, time ran out on that prediction. According to what I was told for decades, we should have been petting pandas for a good 30 years now.
  
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  12

  Miney under the table and retirement

  by road to nowhere in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i know several older retired witnesses who comolain abiut how little social security pays.

  all of them made more than i ever did but were self employed.

  they fudged the amount t they reported on taxes and thought they would never get old.

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  Magnum

  hybridous, thanks for the response. My wife and I literally everyday say we wish we had awakened in our teens. If we had, we would be retired now. However, we both have to work fulltime with no retirement prospects, and will have to work until we drop.

  We didn't awaken and leave until we were mid 50's. We suffered greatly while in and will suffer the rest of our lives because of having been in.

  Thanks again for the response.