Cosmic said "This is usually something that they wait until a convention to announce."

Interesting that you mention that, because that's exactly what they did according to my mother.

She's in Oz, and she called me on Wed night to say hello. Usually, she tends to steer clear of any religious chat, but she couldn't help herself this time. She told me that they'd just been to an assembly and that an announcement was made at the beginning of the first day, which apparently went something like this - "Now Brothers and Sisters, don't rush off on Sunday after the assembly has finished because we have a very important announcement to make about some major changes within the organization"...or words to that effect (this is my mum's relayed story, don't forget! LOL)

Then, after the Sunday session, they made the 'no more bookstudy' announcement. The reasons they gave was because of increasing fuel prices, and that they were trying to make life that little bit easier for the Bros and Sis.

What a load of bollocks. Like someone mentioned before (Revniv, I think) the book study was usually in walking distance for most people. That can't be the real reason - since when have the Borg bothered their arse to care a jot about individuals, let alone the cost of their petrol bill?

And I found it interesting how they dangled the impending announcement like the proverbial carrot....making them all sit and wait until Sunday arvo....making it sound like something amazing....tossers. That's the kind of thing you sometimes do with kids when you want them to behave!

This is the equivalent: "Now, Johnny, if you behave while you're at Grandma's place for the weekend, then you'll get a special treat on Sunday night!" "Mummy, what's the treat gonna be? What is it? What is it?"...."Wait and see Johnny". So, poor little Johnny behaves for the whole friggin' weekend at Grandma's, bored out of his tits the entire time, and when Sunday night rolls round, he gets....wait for it....his very own copy of the WT magazine! Hahahahahahah! Can you imagine???

But what really surprised me was the way my mum was SO excited about this announcement! She said to me "so, it's all happening!" When I asked "what's all happening?", she said "well, it just goes to show that the end is closer than ever!". I had to laugh. Bless her.

Then she went on to ask me if I would think about coming back to the truth (bleugh!) because Armageddon really is just around the corner. She then 'revealed' that they now also have two versions of the WT (if only she knew that I already know all these updates, thanks to my online apostate family!) .

I asked her "Why would the JWs not want to let the public see what's in their version...it's a little bit 'secret squirrell', isn't it?" And she explained that it was because the Borg's version included more study material, and the public version is slightly more generalised. She said it was the organisation's way of making sure that the bros and sisters stay strong in these times which are so close to the end. Jeeeeeeez!

Then she went on to ask me "Tell me, do you think that mankind is going to solve their own problems?". And I honestly answered "no, probably not all of them". To which she took that attitude of 'AHA! See, I told you so!' cos then she said "the world is getting worse and if you don't come back, you'll die at Armageddon". I simply replied "I love you mum, and I appreciate that you are saying this stuff because you really believe it, but I truly do not think it is the 'truth'. I don't even know if I believe in god anymore." She said, "Aren't you worried that when Armageddon comes, it'll be too late for you to change your mind?" so I said "That's a chance I'm willing to take. If it turns out that you guys are right after all, then I'll simply look on the bright side - and I won't have to get up early to go to work the next day!"


Monty Python says it best for me..."He's not the messiah. He's a very naughty boy!"