Posts by Imminent1975

173

Atlanta Int Convention 2014:The Big Party. Does this look like WT believes Armageddon is coming "soon"?

by AndDontCallMeShirley in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=potrr2qxhue.

.. if armageddon is "imminent", why is wt focused on sight-seeing, entertainment, travel, etc.

instead of preaching and saving people??.

Imminent1975

With all the crap the gb stirred up about micro managing weddings with their endless rules, especially ones at the Kingdom hall, not having the option to play worldly music at weddings and that you must, without question, play kingdom melodies for the wedding ceremony at kingdom hall,.... and I just watched a video of people dancing to the song "My Girl" in front of the stage in a Kingdom Hall? The same song that Tom Cruise sang in Top Gun at the bar trying to pick up a hottie?

Further, in the late 1980's early 1990's the GB squashed any get togethers because in one big city the host sent out faxes to advertise and charged admission. The end result after the GB putting a lead foot on every get together??? Softball games, Gone! Get togethers at individuals houses that personally invited the whole congregation? Gone. Nothing was acceptable unless you had under 12 people. Alcohol at any gathering would lead to a meeting with the elders.

From then on it was no congregation could have get togethers at all, and NOW THIS video? It appears Jw's are trying so hard to make themselves look like normal people.

Unfortuneately, for those of us that know the real story of demanding minimal education and that seeking the kingdom first means everything else is in last place including: family, jobs, and that secular responsibilities should not interfere with pedaling their literature from door to door for a minimum of 10 hours per month?

I am totally disgusted and agree with the other posts about the "Parade of homes" show houses they indicated that the delegates would be staying in. Total BS, and hypocrisy. I'm just disgusted.

45

After leaving did the feeling go away?

by committeechairman in

the feeling that you're never good enough.

the feeling that you're wicked and evil.. .

because i'd give anything not to feel this way.

Imminent1975

Unfortunately, part of my healing process was, my self-respect became worse. I bottomed out and now I feel pretty good about myself. In fact, I endured the brain zaps from getting off anti-depression medicine and haven't taken them for almost a year. I am sure that you will get better. I found that when I started to beat myself up that I had to start exercising thought stopping processes and change my thought direction.

46

The WT Isn't Going Away (sorry got long)

by LostGeneration in

jw
friends

i've seen more threads and comments in the last week about the "demise of the wt" than in some time.

several were on threads about the donation arrangement and how its going to backfire in some way on the wt.

oh and the lone elder who was pissed in some sort of passive-aggresive manner about it when he presented the resolution.

Imminent1975

Interesting conversation, we really don't know and I don't expect a mass exodus either. However, it does seem from their latest new light on the donation arrangement that WTBTS is not receiving donantions as they used to and they are expecting some more difficult years financially. Why else would they make the change?

They may be preparing for a downward membership trend and thus will consolidate kingdom halls and sell numerous halls as the membership growth numbers are anemic and there is an increased apathy amoung the rank and file, and servant body. The internet is playing a strong role also with TTATT be readily acessable and the truth about Jehovah's Witnesses not hiding under a rock.

Consider how many times that you "Google" something that you want to buy, invest in, donate to, etc. to. This campaign to suddenly endorse the internet, thinking WTBTS is going to be popular with the JW.org site and that interested people won't investigate other writings about JW's and WTBTS is wishful thinking but in my humble opinion, it will backfire.

This new donation arrangement may serve as a wedge that divides the business savy elders from WTBTS. Don't think some elders are not confident to balk about WTBTS taking "their" money, that the local body with their congregation has control.

Traditionally, "spiritually" strong families, meaning families that especially enjoyed the coolaid have been the cornerstone of the congregations. Many of the parents of these family units pioneered before they married, and later have raised their children and offered them up to WTBTS as a sacrifice.

The low birthrate of JW's that used to provide new publishers and the high publisher turnover rate are not mathematically good news for WTBTS. It is admitted that they do not have the talent pool to draw from as they have in years past. The next ten years will be interesting because many in the congregations are beginning to get advanced in years and will die.

162

...The WBT$ Theft of Kingdom Hall Bank Accounts and JW Elders...

by OUTLAW in

.. the new wbt$ donation arrangement/ jw kingdom hall bank account theft... is a very hot topic right now... the wbt$ is literally going to clean out kingdom hall bank accounts,filled with donations from jws... that theft is going to happen world wide..the wbt$ is going to steal from 7 million plus jw`s... .. we have jw elders here on jwn,that know whats going on... they "serve" in kingdom halls,they are "supposed" to be looking after the welfare of the average jw... they know there is a 4 page letter,only one page will be read to the congregation..the rest will be kept secret... they know the wbt$ is about to steal jw donations..on a world wide scale!!!...

.. i would like to know what you active jw elders are going to do about this??!!...

are you going to let "your" congregation know about the other 3 secret pages?...

Imminent1975

Scully said, "This is a perfect opportunity for anyone still actively attending Meetings™ at the Kingdom Hall™ to vote very loudly and definitively by snapping closed their wallets and checkbooks and never opening it to the JWs / WTS again. "

I also closed my wallet in the early nineties, after I return home from working at Bethels around the world. I didn't get cancer free till about 6 years ago.

It makes me wonder if many of the brothers/sisters/congregations have stopped donating or possibly donations have just fallen off a cliff? Is this a case that the society/GB are astounded at the lack of contributions and basically flex their bully control to wrestle the funds away from the congregations? It makes me think that their introducing a new and improved Silver Sword NWT Bible was not so profitable considering the cost.

Is the GB/Society somewhat panicking that their waters are drying up and that they have sold their property in Brooklyn and are anxious about having enough money to finish Warwick?

Has anyone heard of whether the assembly halls were also instructed to give any excess funds to HQ? I would assume they have. I know that some of the assembly halls are sitting on a small fortune in excess of several millions per site. Now whether they already had these funds "on loan" to the society I don't know.

This type of fleecing of already beaten up people just makes me sick.

31

My Successful Fade

by Darth Rutherford in

it's been a while since i've posted anything about myself.

i've been on jwn for a couple of years.

my leaving the organization was not because i lost my faith, but i left because of my faith.

Imminent1975

Thanks Darth, I enjoyed your story. My great-grand parents go back to the Millions Now Living campaign before 1925, they were on the road as Pioneers for 5 years selling the book. I'm glad your free.

29

Can White JWs Have Mustaches?

by Space Madness in

jw
friends

someone mentioned in another thread that white jws can't have mustaches but black jws can.

i noticed that the only governing body member with a mustache is black.

can anyone confirm that this is an official policy?

Imminent1975

Bondie, an evident demonstration of the Christlike love that exists in the congregations.

6

Unlimited Money

by pontoon in

we know the place on the lake was not their first choice.

another property in tuxedo park was but they were not able to get permits, lawsuits followed with the former owner, don't know how it turned out but it was a mess.

wat kept the property in tuxedo to use as a staging zone for the big construction at sterling forest lake.

Imminent1975

I visited a friend (overseer) while they were building Patterson, (I worked at Patterson for 6+ months while I had visa/passport work done to get into another country and build another branch), he mentioned several times if the brothers would just contribute $20 per publisher, the society would have plenty of money. If I remember correctly, they were spending six figures a month on food alone for the workers on Patterson.

But think of 1,200,000 publishers? (is this accurate?) with the expected contribution of $20 per publisher each month. That's 24 Million a month. I think they should be able to make ends meet for their work in Warwick. LOL.

33

Did other JWs judge you? What for?

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

some judged me for going/having gone to university.

some judged me for being 'too smart.

' some judged my non jw brother for being in the army.

Imminent1975

I was talked to by the PO because I was having a party and I did not prohibit drinking. (alcohol) It was 100 degree weather in Texas in July-August. The next day I counted the beer bottles in the trash. Not that many bottles considering the size of the "gathering". He and his co-PO, his wife, remained mad at me for years.

Judged for wearing a sport jacket on stage for a ministry school part. Counciled for not wearing a jacket at the bookstudy in a brothers home that would NOT turn on the air-conditioning, (again Texas in June-August). He couldn't afford it. Counciled for having mixed up the coat to matching pants in a suit. Similar colors but not quite the same. My mistake in a hurry in a dark closet but, Definitely showed a spiritual weakness on my part.

Counciled for playing in a garage band a few brothers had at their private homes. Any sister that had any cosmetic proceedure/etc was toast. Judged heavily for any drinking anywhere at any time, on vacation, at the home mowing the grass, anywhere. So I just started drinking heavy. Interesting, after my fade, I don't drink that much any more. LOL.

24

CO Special Meeting with MS & Elders

by Syme in

jw
friends

when the co visits a cognregation this semester, a special meeting with elders and mss is sceduled tuesday night, right after the normal meeting.

does anyone know what this meeting is about?

this special meeting is held at the beginning of the co-week, and is different from the standard meeting with personnel which is held friday evening.

Imminent1975

Syme,

Thanks for keeping us informed! I don't want to be disrespectful or aggressive; I wish I could be more positive, but you mentioned "there must be an INTERESTING reason"?

I seriously doubt there is an "interesting reason", but they have something to say. I'll bet it is the same old blah, blah, blah, blan, blah and further blah, blah, blah.

Just saying

23

What I really hate....

by Perversion of a truth in

jw
friends

is that i was born into this cult, taught and believed that i was going to live forever, , that i was never going to have to die.

now i am in my mid 30's realizing that this life is all there is and that after that i am dead forever and i am terrified.

i don't want this to be all there is, , i don't want to just live a few years on this beautiful planet and then become non existent forever!

Imminent1975

Hey Perversion of Truth, I feel you pain, (as Clinton said) and I understand. I was about 36 when I started having "anxiety" close to an 'attack". However, It was because of my workload combined with my father dying. When I learned TTATT it seemed my whole world (faith) fell apart in a matter of hours. At this point I was already on anti-depression medicine and anxiety medication as needed, but, I felt overwhelmed when aware of TTATT.

I can't tell you what will work, you most likely do Not have a problem with your heart, you need to relax, but that's hard to do if you can't go yet to the doctor and let him tell you your ok.

There are some natural relaxant herbs that are sold locally, I found they help. I am confident to say that you will successfully navigate through this difficult time period, please be confident that you can and will. Also, remember that it is just like a storm passing through, what you are feeling is not permanent. It does take some time to mentally process everything, and that's why we are here. I've known the TTATT for about 5-6 years and I've noticed that just now am I accepting and doing ok with the deception.

I might also suggest that you personally visit with a psychologist that has experience with anxiety and someone that you can openly talk to about TTATT.

I know it is so disappointing, but you can make it through.