It’s the time of year when Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide look forward with eager anticipation to Watchtower’s Annual Meeting.
Usually hosted at the Jersey City Assembly Hall (or “Stanley Theater”), over recent years the Governing Body has increasingly used the event to showcase new releases, or announce new organizational developments or understandings of scripture.
The 2015 Annual Meeting, to be held next Saturday, October 3rd, will be no different. But this time, thanks to an anonymous contact within the organization, JWsurvey has exclusive details of what will be announced.
A letter to be read to all congregations dated October 4, 2015 (the day after the Annual Meeting) outlines a number of intriguing changes that, in different ways, highlight the new direction in which the organization is moving.
Gone is the much-loved Theocratic Ministry School, to be replaced by a 15-minute session for demonstrating preaching presentations. And, perhaps more tellingly, printing of the public Watchtower and Awake! magazines is being further scaled back as the organization continues to downsize.
[Update: 09/29/2015 – Letter removed –
For more information, please click here ]
As mentioned, the scaling down of magazine printing is perhaps the most telling of these changes. In July 2013, I wrote about how the magazine reductions for that year represented a 39% reduction in printing since 2005. That figure is now up to a staggering 57% reduction in monthly magazine printing, even after factoring in increased circulation figures for the Watchtower and Awake!.
If you want to check my math for yourself, please do…
Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to digest this news would do well to ponder the question: “If we are so deep in the last days, and more urgently in need of spiritual food than ever before in earth’s history, why is spiritual food in our magazines being reduced? Why would Jehovah give us MORE spiritual food 10 years ago, when there was supposedly more time to elapse before Armageddon, than now?”
The reduction in printed “spiritual food” will be especially noticeable to anyone who collects bound volumes of the organization’s magazines. As the following graph shows, the equivalent of only 9 months’ worth of pages out of the original 24 months (12 months for each magazine) will be printed from 2016 onwards…
The announcement about the updated “Organized” book also offers a glimpse at the direction Watchtower is being forced to move in as its woes deepen. Publishers have been told to ponder carefully whether they really need a printed copy of the book rather than viewing it online.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if, within the next few years, we reach a stage where printing operations are cancelled altogether and ALL material for preaching and meeting preparation is to be accessed online, with greater use of tablets or publishers printing out their own leaflets advertising JW.org.
The scrapping of the Theocratic Ministry School will similarly come as a shock and disappointment to many thinking Witnesses. As I mention in the video that accompanies this article (see below), if there was one nugget of goodness in my experience as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was in the training I received as a public speaker in the Theocratic Ministry School.
Not that the Theocratic Ministry School compensated me in any way for the many years I wasted being taught lies, but at least it gave me skills that were transferable for when I left the organization. Now, even that small personal benefit has been excised by the Governing Body, who are seemingly only interested in their followers learning how to be distributors of their propaganda rather than competent individuals who can express themselves effectively.
But any sadness and nostalgia I may feel for seeing the religion I grew up in bled of all useful cultural elements is quickly replaced by joy, for two reasons.
Firstly, I have the privilege of witnessing a harmful cult entering its death throes, forced by this wondrous new age of information to downsize and implement counter-productive measures in its floundering attempts to stay afloat.
And just as significantly, I am witnessing a Governing Body that, already unable to claim control over ALL of its 8 million members (many of whom stay inside through fear rather than choice), cannot even stop leaks from the bethelites it sits down for breakfast with.
Change is happening before our very eyes, and THAT is worth celebrating.
Update: for those of you who might be wondering whether this leak is genuine, the following images have emerged on a pro-Watchtower website (jw-archive.org) related to the new “Teach Us” book. The title differs from that mentioned in the letter (“What Can the Bible Teach Us”). Also, the letter advises that the cover will be only “slightly altered” from that of the Bible Teach book, so it could be that these are only early mock-ups before changes were made to the title and appearance. We shall see.
Further reading…
- More downsizing on the way? Multiple sources report bethel letter warning of further cuts
- Is Watchtower imploding? 10 reasons why the end could be nigh
- JWsurvey articles on organizational downsizing
Related video…
While I see where you’re coming from regarding downsizing, I was more intrigued by the “dumbing-down” of materials, relying more on simplified versions of texts and the sudden inclusion of “art work” (and with the WBTS, I use the term “art” very loosely) as teaching tools. How long will it be before the Kingdom Halls start throwing up stained glass windows, which were originally developed for the same reason? I think the GB may be trying to mainstream their religion before it’s too late and Armageddon becomes a complete impossibility given the organization’s teachings.
Loyd, how do you get this information? Never mind, I’m glad you do and enjoy reading your thoughts about them. I have the same story as many others here when I escaped the JW stronghold. Needless to say I haven’t spoken to my family in years but I do have a core of ex JW’s that left when I did, not because of me but because we all knew it was bs.
Your updates and comments are a source of rehabilitation. Instead of getting flustered about my family situation, I find solace in knowing how wrong they are. Hopefully one day this cult religion comes to its own demise by its own hardheadedness.
I can only wonder what my mother, brothers, and sisters will do once this happens.
My thoughts on what will happen to the Watchtower:
Money dries, conflict arises, and Jehovah Witnesses will break up into 2 classes each having there own religion and separate views. One more fundamental and the other more liberal. Possibly, someone like you that leads it.
2. Congregations will be required to buy there own high quality printers and ink with their own contibutions. This will eliminate delivery costs, waste, and save the society tons of money. This will give them a few more years.
Peace, keep up the great work!
Our Life and Ministry and Digging for Gems, they seem to be getting more hokey, emotional and Evangelical as time goes on. Any semblance of scholarship, albeit contrived, seems to be vanishing quickly. The study aids simplified to capture “low hanging fruit” as it were is also indicative of an organization in its twilight. I can’t wait to hear my family all excited about the changes…. The celestial chariot changing direction… Yada yada. Chariot hasn’t the ability or will to change direction in the face of tens of thousands of pedophile victims of course, that has to wait for due time.
Took the words right out of my mouth
Strike two watchtower ! Soon you are going to be out.
Only one thing to say “Hurrah!”
I really got excited when I saw the title. Materially not a whole lot has changed though. They renamed and restructured the meetings and are incorporating more ‘canned’ material in the form of videos but it is still 1:45 long with student assignments and some guided audience participation. There was a bit of a preview of this when they started giving the men talks with householders last year. I told the school overseer not to give me one of them, I refused to do them. As far as teaching public speaking the school was pretty worthless anyway. The only thing it did was give you a chance to get on the stage. I rather enjoyed it and rarely looked at the counsel points anyway. My talks were stellar next to the semi-literate babble that many of the students were capable of so there was rarely any counsel anyway unless the counsel point was something very specific and there was no evidence of my having put any thought into it. The fact that they always said there were 5 meetings a week betrayed their love of big numbers, there are only 2 meetings in reality.
Now, the push to get everyone online is interesting. A definite cost-saving measure hinting at financial problems, coupling this with the possibility of them cutting staff is a good indicator that they are in trouble. Reducing the number of issues reduces writing department costs since there is less to write meaning less staff is needed. I won’t even address the issue of the last days and the need for increased spiritual food, precious little of that was provided ever. The next few years will be interesting.
@FadingFast I totally agree that they are really trying for emotional involvement. This is of course because they cannot compete on an intellectual level. Videos are great for playing the heartstrings, jumbotrons are now a requirement at the summer conventions so they can show the sugary, nauseating drivel onscreen.
As a woman, I see that with the end of the TMS, there is no room for women to give a ‘talk’. Only to do a demonstration how to hand out magazines. That was the only ‘fun’ bit for me, writing ‘talks’. Now there is nothing more to do than to just clean the toilets.
I don’t recall women doing much more than you describe ever. Good observation though, women can’t cry foul if everyone is doing demonstrations instead of giving real talks from the podium. About the toilets, c’mon, you got to push the vacuum cleaners around too ;)
I agree with you, women are marginalized more than ever with this new arrangement.
Wow so many changes have occurred recently and now even more. Totally agree with Lloyd about the printing, it will be soon be an option you can do yourself if you do not have or want a tablet at the meeting. Shame the mid week meeting is still quite long, would have been nice to see just one hour for the members. Also yes I too benefited from the public speaking. It was at least something that was of benefit when I left the org. But overall, great. Watchtower’s days are numbered.
Btw, anyone who knows the response from Watchtower in Australia to Angus Stewart’s and the Commission’s request for the W. to pay damages, very high ones, to all the pedophile vitims?
If it was a ‘request’ what do you think they will do? They won’t pay when ordered by a court, look at the Candace Conti case, Jose Lopez. Do you think they saw a nickel yet? The Royal Commission inquiry was not a trial, it was just that, an investigation to make recommendations for change in procedures for all organizations like that. They never had problems criminalizing the victims, they won’t have a problem not paying either. I hope I’m wrong, time will tell.
Forgot to mention that they already backpedalled on all the things that Jackson said would be brought up for discussion – the two witness rule and the precedent in Deuteronomy where a raped women could actually get justice without a second witness, and allowing women to handle matters where men might create discomfort or undue stress in the victims. Lloyd I believe has a link to the letter that was sent to the Royal Commission. They in effect ‘thumbed their noses’ at the Royal Commission and incorporated their usual bewildering, illogical arguments from scripture to support it. Read it, it’s priceless.
From where I stand they missed the golden ring when Stewart brought up Deuteronomy. They should’ve grabbed that and run with it. But then I suppose they can’t be taking advice from one of Satan’s government henchmen. We all know where that leads…
Could you post a link to this letter? Really interested to read it. Followed all of the Royal Commission.
Here is the link to Geoffrey Jackson’s Royal Commission transcript:
http://jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Geoffrey-Jackson-Transcript.pdf
And Jackson’s follow-up letter to the commission:
http://jwsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/STAT.0670.001.0001.pdf
The Theocratic Ministry School scrapped? This is staggering. When I was a JW the TMS was praised as being a sign that the organization was the true religion–all members were trained in public speaking and defending the Bible and JW doctrine. I know that the emphasis in recent years has been on giving a memorized message from OKM rather than writing out the 3 point, 3 scripture presentation that I was taught to do in the 80’s when I joined, but this is really telling. Another sign that leadership might believe they are the only true religion but that they don’t believe that Armageddon is coming soon if ever.
When I was a member (and regular pioneer for almost 10 years of that time), I remember people talking about how important it was to have the Congregation Bible Study in private homes–that when the tribulation hit this is how congregations could stay together underground even under ban. I left in 2001, a couple of years later that arrangement was scrapped. That was another telltale sign to me that the leadership didn’t believe that the Great Tribulation was imminent.
Now with the TMS scrapped and the CBS reduced to 30 minutes, where is the place for deeper study in the JW church? Nowhere. It’s going from an organization where members were encouraged to do a lot of extra study and preparation, to an organization where members are encouraged to be more and more passive in their spiritual life every year.
To me, all this is damning proof that not only are JWs not expressing the true faith, but that their upper echelons ceased believing in what they are preaching years ago. I cannot believe that thinking people could see this and still want to be part of this church.
The new Teach Us simplified book is definitely aimed at children or vulnerable adults with learning difficulties. I am outraged at this.
Does anyone agree?
Kate xx
Outraged? Who do you think the target market is? It’s a brilliant strategy. They’ve been focusing on children for a while – get them while their young they’ll be trapped when they’re old. If you look at the Pew survey – http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/jehovahs-witness/ – you will see that JW’s are the least educated religious group in the US with the lowest income. Of course they have to dumb everything down.
I agree, it’s the only audience they have left in the developed world. The only good news is that neither of these two groups have the means to support the org. financially. In my old congregation I’d estimate 75℅ are on government assistance of one kind or another. Just a matter of time before the money runs out.
More and more use of the videos too…that is one sure way to cope with the lack of appointed men to teach…just show a video!
Makes you wonder what all the Bethel construction is really for.
CHANGE…has come to the Watchtower!
CHANGE will come when they admit they screwed up and apologize for misleading millions of people and wrecking many thousands of lives. This is to keep the drones distracted by getting them amped up by a ‘new arrangement’.
Aren’t you Mr Glass Half-empty! ;)
Lol, I will lead the parade when real change comes :) I’ve been around this bunch for 50+ years. I’d like to think I’ve seen and heard it all but I love surprises too! If I’m ever in the Old Country I’d like to buy you a pint though. Definitely good writing worth reading. Your emails and Twitter feed are the first things I read.
There’re not really cancelling the TMS school; they still have 3 students giving 5 minutes presentations each just like we had with the TMS school. So, not sure of what you mean by the concept that they are doing away with training for public speech.
To me, re formatting the mid-week meeting is not a big deal. However, the bi-monthly magazines? They are yet again trimming down the amount of information they are publishing…. that is interesting keeping in mind how they used to brag about the abundance of spiritual food.
Presentations are not the same as talks, or even readings, where the onus is on public speaking skills. Rather than honing transferable skills, the onus will be on helping publishers “prepare for the ministry.”
That’s basically what they always said about the TMS… We’ll see for sure when they provide the actual program. If that is indeed the case, than, my feelings are exactly like yours.
It seems to me that the inclusion of more videos is the GBs way of saying “if you want something done right you have to do it yourself”. They want to make sure that none of their ” guidance “is lost in the hands of some local elder.
The use of technology is dual purpose. It saves money and it shows the ” young ones” that this is a hip forward moving org. Holding on to their young people is desperately needed to keep things afloat. External growth is stagnating and they depend on future JW generations(pun intended) to make up more explanations on “generations”.
So more pictures (a picture is worth a thousand words) more videos (entertainment) more simplified teaching aids (is that possible?) who are they appealing to? – obviously to the poorly educated , the kind they prefer and who are more likely to be taken in.
Oh do we get a colouring page too? I like colouring at the meetings. Filling in all the ‘O’s’ and ‘0’s’ is getting boring.
Ha ha!
Wow, this is mind boggling stuff.
I liked the part about the Christian Life & Minstry meeting beginning with a part from the Ministry chairman.
It totally made me think of Orwell’s 1984 thing with the “Ministry of Love” (representing hate and all the things they must hate, which is basically everything and anything against the Party). In same book, the Ministry of Truth was a place for disseminating lies….
Consistency, thy name is Cult….
Truly mind boggling. And what are older brothers and sisters to do, who have little to no knowledge on how to use computers or smart phones, with all this app stuff…? And all these videos… What’s up with that? Can’t have the brothers or sisters speak on their own, as we all did in the past? Might they say something not quite in line with present truth? (That expression, “present truth” always cracks me up!) Perhaps there are now too many “Awake” people in the org for them to trust what anybody might say?
Not that many years ago, our congregation had two ministry schools going every week and then it went to one every week and the other one every other week and I quit giving talks about five years ago. It was a hard decision for me and I did initially like giving talks but it got to the point where I was having to give one every few weeks and I had too much stuff going on and it got to be too stressful for me so I quit. The school overseer said he’d just assign me on every six months but I refused and quit.
What bothered me so much about it was that I had to read the school guide book about the points I was working on and then they would assign you extra assignments besides and if you didn’t do the extra assignment, they’d keep checking up on you to make sure you did the extra assignment. I decided that when I joined the school, it was voluntary and so why now am I being made to jump through all these hoops? I quit and I was really happy about it.
By the time I stopped going to meetings last year, there was only one school every week and the other one once a month, if I recall. So, I think a lot of people came to the same conclusion as I did and quit altogether. I think that was happening all over the world and so the Watchtower pulled the plug on it so they wouldn’t look so foolish with the ones giving talks dwindling down to nothing. What that would have alerted the rank and file to is that something is really wrong with the whole thing and so to me, this changing the names of the meetings is just another red herring to distract the rank and file from the fact that the Society is dying and they are desperate to save it.
Good point anonymous!
I agree ,the TMS has been the most helpful and maybe worthy educational tool that has been used It has helped us develop some good skills that have been beneficial in the work place.
But this is far from the religion I have grown up in over the last 45 years.I served a good number of years as an elder ,standing down a couple of years ago because of my conscience. Like many,my whole life has been the organization from pioneering,MS, Elder. All my family and extended family are JWs and I know I am living a lie,but the world would fall in for them if I left. I have felt like this for a long time and I mean a long time, and its been very hard.But I do see light at the end of the pathway ; ), and its websites like this one that have in recent times helped and been a source of comfort.Thanks Lloyd for your work and your good humour
Sorry but its not what you think.
Sorry Lloyd but you are not witnessing the death throws of a “harmful” cult. All they are doing is embracing modern technology and therefore do not need as many young gullible young working there and yes some of the unconnected older ones. I worked at one of the largest corporations in the world and they were constantly downsizing and using modern tech to be more efficient. Why can’t the society? Less magazines? Less content, more pictures? Yes, society in general can’t read something more then a paragraph in length now anyhow. I know you want to see the religion go away but it won’t, sorry. In a few hundred years from now it will still be here. I am sure they will drop the overlapping generations and come up with the Methuselah generation some time in the future. You always want to see the worst but its not always the case.
There are lots of reasons to conclude that all is not well at Watchtower. The shrinking magazines are just one omen, there are others – unless you think a GB member going on JW Broadcasting and admitting a shortfall between income and expenditure is a sign of a financially prosperous outfit? http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/is-watchtower-imploding-10-reasons-why-the-end-could-be-nigh
This qualifies as the best news I’ve read in a very long time. I agree that the Ministry School gave me much in confidence and helped me to see the importance of developing good communication skills, including grammar and punctuation, etc. So your summary of not worrying about teaching the members, but just setting them up to go out and get more members is pretty darn accurate. I am getting a kick out of watching Watchtower slowly sink into the quicksand.
What happens to the position of Theocratic School Overseer…one of the 5 most important jobs in the congregation…blah blah blah blah…..Please let this be the beginning of the end of this high control cult.
You know what I think would be interesting: as a JW what they would think about the school being discontinued. They would probably give a bunch of reasons why the GB wouldn’t do that. But they will happily go along with it when it’s announced!
* ask a JW
The reduction in printing can easily be explained away: the Internet. By itself, this reduction is not an indicator of general failure. The sweeping changes, however, are an indicator of either trouble or trying to keep up with the changing times. Also, when the WT removes “kingdom” as in kingdom ministry, and introduces “christian life”. This to me is a big indicator of mainstreaming the religion, while abandoning millenarian roots
Sorry LLoyd but is not what you think. The JWs will still be here 200 years from now. The new light will be the Methuselah generation. The overlapping generations will have been scarped in 2114.
It’s quite revealing that even after 35+ years out expressions like “loving provisions”, “new arrangements”, still generate old jw emotions.
I can remember the excitement regarding “new” releases at conventions. Standing in line to just get a single copy of the new red, blue, green, purple publication. Cracking it open and looking for tidbits about what was coming in the near future.
The local elders will embellish these “provisions” to sound as if the organization is indeed like a ‘chariot’ speeding toward Armageddon. Anyone not hitching a ride with it will be left behind. Sadly the majority of 8 million poor deluded members will sigh a big amen to it all.
The power of mind control is demonstrated every time these gb charlatans open their mouths. Unobserved by those who have had their minds and hearts so taken in through years of indoctrination.
How much simpler can the bible teach book get? I love that they are making all these changes! Hopefully it will wake up some more people. Pretty soon the only thing going on at meetings will be videos with a brief intro from someone.
This is really telling!
I joined this religion in the ’80s. It’s is now completely unrecognizable. I’m glad I’m out.
Let’s review: It’s a cult!
It’s feeling that way from within too. It’s not the organization I chose to associate my self with years ago. Back then, you barely knew who yhe GB was, because it was all about Jehovah, the Bible, Jesus. Now it’s about being indoctrinated by the GB, watching internet televangelism and doing whatever the Big 7 say. No different than ancient Israel with their kings and princes. But we know what happened to them….
Am I the only one upon whom the TMS has left a detrimental effect?
Although it is years ago since I was involved and gave talks, I still occasionally have terrible nightmares about being on the platform. As a young girl, speaking in front of an audience about a subject matter I had no belief in gave me little in the way of confidence, and reduced me to a bundle of nerves.
Unfortunately the legacy lives on and often when I have to talk in public the association with being on the platform at the KH (with the overbearing and arrogant School Overseer staring at me and making notes about my inadequate performance) returns and shatters my confidence so that my mind goes blank.
Maybe I need hypnotherapy to recover from PTSD?
Rosie
I used to be the School Overseer and my attitude was to be very kind to all the brothers and sisters . Encouragement and kindness so important especially when previous and subsequent TMSO could be as you say rather harsh and not qualified to teach to be frank.
@Rosie . No Rosie you are NOT the only one… My Mother-in-Law found it VERY DIFFICULT to concentrate on Anything Else for 2 Weeks prior to the talk… EVERYTHING SUFFERED… She was SNAPPY,TENSE, ARGUMENTATIVE with Everyone because of Being SO NERVOUS until the TALK was out of the Way!! & YES We had a PIG of a THEOCRATIC School Overseer who was SO PERFECTIONIST that it Bordered on being SADISTIC!! The JWs who were best Giving Talks Hardly went on the Field Service! They Just were Fluent Speakers & KNEW IT & LOVED the LIMELIGHT!!
To a natural introvert, it I hell. There are better ways to get accustomed to public speaking than “ok now get up there and talk while we judge you!” It still makes me uncomfortable thinking about it. Being an introvert JW is certainly “spiritual weakness” if not sin. Just another reason to hate oneself! Cult.
Aw Rosie. That is terrible!
I too hated giving talks. I naturally speak quickly, and sitting in front of a Hall, filled with people who I knew were judging me, made my speech speed up even more.
I was always told to “work on it”, very little praise given for the content of my talk.
Towards the end, before I left for good, when I was fed up with it all, I would end my conversation with the householder by having her say “no thank you” to the offer of keeping the publication to read. I was just trying to keep it real. I never had any success in field service, so why pretend up on stage that the householder is always keen as for a r.v or regular copies of the mags?
So, If I understand this, the weekly meetings have been combined into one meeting. I’d heard the book study had been done away with, but it’s interesting that they are making things so much easier, finally.
All those meetings before, left people exhausted, with little free time to be a family.
In the end, unless they change their shunning and two witness policies, nothing much will stem the exodus.
The slick new image/rebranding does not change one iota their Pharisee-like family/life/child-destroying policies.
One thing is certain, if they do finally change tracks, they will spin it to make it look like they are being progressive.
The dumbing down and mainstreaming of the JW Cult….never thought I’d ever live to see this!
What a puny cult this is now.
Just walk away….and your life will be spared…..
Just walk away…..and spare yourself from the horror of perpetual boredom that lies before you…..
Just walk away, and spare your own lives!
Just walk away……leave your oversized service bags and cheap JC Penny suits behind……
Just walk away……and spare yourself having to buy more gaz-o-line
@Thelordhumongos
Soooooo… funny :)
Great news! Keep it coming! I can’t stop smiling!
This is happening quickly. . . For absent friends, Genesis.
My thoughts on theses changes immediately went to the practical side. Will not scaling way down on print pose a potential financial issue for many worldwide in the congregations ? These devices (iPads, tablets etc) are expensive and will especially be so if they want the info downloaded. Additionally , the elderly still seem to be resistant to the Internet. I work for a major newspaper which is currently badgering its customers to go digital and they just won’t have it . Felipe great point regarding the dropping of the word “kingdom” . Moving in a different direction indeed. Now if only the length of the meetings were reduced , that’s a change all would embraced. Btw Pope Francis. Visiting the US this week , he also believes the Internet is a great tool !
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SP8rUIFE_q4
The full horror of indoctrination:-(
More pretty pictures and less text? More rejoicing at the resurrection and playing with pandas? They are appealing much more to emotion than to intellect. After all, it’s never the logic that draws people to cults, but the emotional needs/wants. Should be pretty appealing to those in poorer countries who need a reason to hope their lives will get better. Very crafty….
Iv never ‘got’ the resurection… even when I was regular pioneering… especially after watching The Stepford Wives…. and countless arguments about ‘Cloning’….its never appealed to me as a hope because the person that was..is gone…and since I no longer believe in God…they are not in his memory either…what a load of rubbish!
“This book is an internal publication, provided solely for use by congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and is not intended for public distribution.”
I guess the silly asses still don’t realize that the days of hiding all their insane doctrines, rules and regulations are long gone. Cedars will probably have a copy of it before the COs do. LOL!
I was thinking the same about the Organization book. Its was used in the ARC. I wonder if they have rushed this out with changes in it.
Mary, pertinent point vigorously expressed. So agree with you! The GB and its hierarchical henchmen are so out of touch, so transparent.
Do hope the good-hearted ones in the Rank and File call these henchmen on it in their own individual and myriad ways — and say them resoundingly nay. I think this is evolving reality, thanks to the Net.
For my spouse and I — never part of the oppressive, repressive regime of the WT, but leaned on endlessly through 20-plus years to ‘join’ by our (actually still very much loved) family members — this increasing exposure of the punitive reality of the JW religion is welcomed.
The numerous times I have had to say, in response to ‘if you would ONLY agree to a bible study’ … ‘yes, but I have to follow your Q and A format if I do that, and I think your Q and A format is reprehensibly totalitarian! And, so, I can’t even agree with the primary notion of this so-called bible study of yours!’ And, flipping heck/expletives-as-you-wish, as a female, what the hell is the point of me joining a belief system that will immediately denude me of my inalienable, human right to speak my integral mind, simply due to the fact my genitals ain’t of the male variety?
None of what was offered was ever very tempting, to be honest, but it WAS very heart-hurting to have to deal consistently with such pressure, especially when you really liked (and later loved) the family members attempting to kick-start your putative ‘conversion’ — to try to be respectful of their beliefs, and yet live your own.
Oh well, such is experience, and trying to live compassionately and with kindness to others and ourselves; and us family members all still speak to each other and meet. So I know that is an amazing positive of all of these rather ship-wrecking-at-times 20-plus years.
Yet I know too that many others haven’t been so fortunate; and, for them, and for ourselves as well, I support with a full heart this jwsurvey forum and others like it.
Lloyd Evans, my spouse and I thank you for creating this forum. And well-deserved CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the 5,000 plus subscribers status on YouTube. Good wishes to you, your wife and little daughter.
http://youtu.be/eWgphYPf0PA
As “tight pants” said they are guided from heaven therefore the new changes are rock solid.
Can God give wrong directions?
@David . OF COURSE STEPHEN[God]LETTS CAN’T GIVE WRONG DIRECTIONS !!!!
Well, well, well, loadsacomments! my first reaction was can’t they cut the time down. Second thought the announcements (the bit we actually listen to) is at the end of the meeting to keep us there to the bitter end. I did think they might be trying to get people to read the Bible more with the first part of the meeting. That is my biggest criticism in that we don’t read the Bible enough when we come together as a congregation and it is too rushed. Anyway as been said Christian living no mention of the Kingdom as we know it’s further away from them as ever and yes the majority of jdubs DO need lessons in Christian living learning to play nicely and be kind to sinners and the shunned would be a start. The games afoot. Maybe the dogs of war are snapping at the heels of the GB.
I remember in the Proclaimers book a quote from the first edition of the Watchtower, Russell wrote some to the effect “When Jehovah stops providing the necessary funds, we will see this as a sign to discontinue publication of Watchtower.” Maybe the Governing Body will see the lack of funds as a “sign from God” to close up shop once and for good. One can only hope.