have you ever wondered why there is always a deficit at the circuit assembly?
did you realize that before the program begins, the circuit is already in the red?
many of the friends thought they were paying for the use of the building and covering the costs of the utilities, etc.
Interesting that around 6:30, he describes the 'arrangements' for the Book Study contributions. Hmm, 'obviously there was ministerial servants that was borrowin' money', so they instituted a new-to-them, but SOP accounting practice of checks and balances.
He is very kind to use the euphemism "borrowing money". : )
it seems that the bounty expected from the brooklyn hq sale may not be as bountiful as thought.
how is that going to affect their shaky finances?.
http://nypost.com/2016/02/23/jehovahs-witnesses-selling-watchtower-building-for-220m/.
They are getting out while the getting's good. WTS did not suffer from the real estate bubble of 2008/2009, but they quickly got into gear and started selling. Real estate speculation has proven to be a worthy investment. Perhaps some of the bad press they've received re: unfulfilled promises to the borough of Brooklyn, has lowered their price, but their ROI is still nothing less than spectacular.
Lest we forget, they paid ZERO property taxes on these valuable investment properties.
are our dead loved ones watching over us at all or are they really just gone now?
I have to say (off-topic, but for the sake of showing that yes, I have an open mind), that in the spirit of intellectual honesty, I do wonder about 'the collective consciousness'. Lots of anecdotal evidence, and it's a valid 'why' question. Do I believe in it? No. It's a possibility, as well as alternate forms of communication (ie, through thoughts). Is there scientific proof? No. There is scientific research being conducted, though, and whether that is our next level of evolution (thought communication) remains to be (seen) proved. xx
are our dead loved ones watching over us at all or are they really just gone now?
My friend was dead from anaphylaxis (sp?), an allergic reaction to Novocaine in the Dentists' office. Luckily, the paramedics got there quickly, and brought him back. He was 15. He saw/heard/felt NOTHING. I've been hit by a car, and in a coma for 2 days (when I was 8) ... nothing, nil, nada.
These "near-death" experiences are easily explained by the chemistry of the brain. Cofty, I like the poem you posted earlier.
i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.
i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.
i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.
Agreed, Wing Commander. I did note that he took down the gofundme request (though it was too late to edit his comment) very soon into the thread. Like I said, why not let it go for now, and who knows?
There is another thread showing JWS who are seeking funding for their "pioneer" retirement on gofundme. It's possible to be 30YO, a JW, and naive. Also possible, to freak the f*ck out, after having a lightbulb moment. Perhaps he thought that would be a legit way to ask for help? My other thought, is a plant from the so-called Apostate Army, to highlight some issue or other (I suspect a few posts of that, meant to prompt a response from this large community).
Either way, the proof will be in the pudding; ie, future threads/posts. I think the point has been made, and sincere? Will be back. Troll? Will not.
i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.
i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.
i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.
s&l, I have observed and read this thread since you first posted it, and stopped on page 3 or 4.
To your latest post on this page, yes. Read the suggestions, take a deep breath, and make a plan. Read other threads, make some comments, see the kind of support offered, and you will realize "I can do this." When you're ready, start a new thread, asking for any suggestions of help in implementing your new plan. You'll get lots of support, and your unfortunate introduction will be let go.
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There have been some incredibly smart con people who've done harm over the years. In fact, 10 years ago, that second post or link may have been swiftly deleted, because of the ask.
We are lucky to have folks like Nathan Natas to 'growl' a warning. When I left the JWS, I was so naive. Good with money and business, but socially? Not a clue. Is this elder behaviour? I think not. He is a supportive person, an advocate of children and women. He urges independent thinking. Yes, he can be strong in his choice of words. He's more like a *real* big brother, which I never had. Mine was faux.
Let's all take a deep breath, especially you, s&l, and leave this particular drama behind.
i've been using windows 7 for several years and have had no complaints.. i've tried many browsers and settled on google chrome.
it has absolutely everything i want or need.. i kept hearing about the free upgrade to windows 10, so i went to youtube and watched endless "reviews" pro and con.. what pushed me over the (microsoft edge) was the fact i could test drive the new operating system.
for 30 days and go back to windows 7 if i didn't like it!
GodZoo -- how many thumbs-up can I give your comment?
Windows was introduced as an answer to Apple's Mac and its user-friendly desktop, and was forced on PC users by the Microsoft Corporation. Check out the charges laid on Bill Gates by the government, for using shady and illegal tactics to make vendors peddle his software. [Edited to say: that puts a different spin on his involvement with another corporation that is trying to monopolize - Monsanto.] At the time, compared to DOS, it sucked. We can thank "Windows" for the dumbing down of the average PC user.
i've been using windows 7 for several years and have had no complaints.. i've tried many browsers and settled on google chrome.
it has absolutely everything i want or need.. i kept hearing about the free upgrade to windows 10, so i went to youtube and watched endless "reviews" pro and con.. what pushed me over the (microsoft edge) was the fact i could test drive the new operating system.
for 30 days and go back to windows 7 if i didn't like it!
Fink, I had read they offered the month to switch back, and that is great. I would venture to guess that they've been steadily tweaking it, and some of the bugs have been worked out.
The following comment of notsurewhertogo would be one of my big concerns, and is the reason why I am planning on losing google as my browser and switching back to Firefox. Firefox is run for and by users. They were having problems with FlashPlayers a couple of years ago, and I switched to Chrome until that got sorted out - Chrome is so fast, though, I got hooked. Their latest privacy invasions have given me pause.
.RE: Win10, from notsurewheretogo.
You are forced to receive updates, you cannot decline them...
And the amount of syncing of data back to MS servers even though you disable things defies belief...
W10 is a big no no
Win8 was definitely using the PC buyers as guinea pigs - come on, I have to buy your OS, with no hard copy? And I can't just copy to disc, I have to backup my whole hard drive? That didn't last long.
Linux is a great OS, but you need to be flexible with your wants/needs, and somewhat savvy to effectively use it. That's what I've gathered from friends, and from my own perusal of their site and forums - it's the best OS for the average user, but there is a learning curve. Once you get past that, it's my understanding that you will be very, very happy with it.
If you have problems figuring out facebook, then Linux may not be for you. ; )
i've been using windows 7 for several years and have had no complaints.. i've tried many browsers and settled on google chrome.
it has absolutely everything i want or need.. i kept hearing about the free upgrade to windows 10, so i went to youtube and watched endless "reviews" pro and con.. what pushed me over the (microsoft edge) was the fact i could test drive the new operating system.
for 30 days and go back to windows 7 if i didn't like it!
i've recently started to research npd.
having identified several of my family members as having it ( no wonder we're such a ¿***#@**!!!!
up family)there's huge similarities between the borg and individual members of the cong as well i've noticed.the over whelming love of self, the need to believe in a grandiose fictional version of themselves, always striving for more power and wealth, being unable to stand any criticism, and then there's the manipulation of the victims too.i could be wrong i guess but what thoughts do you guys have about it?
millie210 - good point. It's certainly, like all things, not a black-and-white issue where all JWS are stamped with a label. I think that the religion allows those with narcissistic tendencies, a place to practice them. The victim/ martyr complex is a good example. What is more controlling than someone who is always sick? Poor Sister so-and-so, does get a lot of attention. There's always a new crisis.
Wanting our children to be little carbon copies (not exclusively JW, think about the super-rich. Their kids have an expected path to follow, and straying from it could mean disinheritance and expulsion from the family unit) is a narcissistic trait that JWS fosters. So they are, in fact, teaching these traits to the R&F. It's one of many factors to consider. Being aware and informed of the traits, makes a narcissist easier to spot and avoid (if possible).
