The real impact of "apostate" sites (page 7)

candidlynuts

On thing that I wish though, is that there were more Pro-JW's sites. Why? Because I want to hear both sides of the argument.."

there are three pro jw boards at belief net.
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=2437

sir82

On thing that I wish though, is that there were more Pro-JW's sites.

There used to be. There was a Kingdom Ministry, late 90's I think, that strongly implied that it was bad bad bad to set up your own web-site to defend the JW beliefs. A search on the WT-CD would reveal exactly which issue it was.

AuldSoul

sir82,

*** km 9/02 p. 8 par. 6 Avoid the Pursuit of “Valueless Things” ***
6 Internet Web Sites: We have an official Internet Web site: www.watchtower.org . This site is adequate to make information available to the public. There is no need for any individual, committee, or congregation to prepare a Web page about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some have posted the contents of our publications with all scriptures and references given in full and have even offered copies of convention material on a donation basis. Whether profit is involved or not, the practice of reproducing and distributing publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses in an electronic document is a violation of copyright laws. While some may view this as a service to the brothers, it is not approved and should be discontinued.

*** g05 5/8 p. 13 Which Movies Will You See? ***
In addition, some parents have found it helpful to research movies on the Internet. There are a number of Web sites that give detailed reports on the content of films. These can be used to get a clearer picture of the values promoted by a particular movie.

*** km 11/99 p. 3 par. 10 Use of the Internet—Be Alert to the Dangers! *** 10 Web Sites of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”: Consider, for example, some Internet sites set up by individuals who claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses. They invite you to visit their sites to read experiences posted by others who claim to be Witnesses. You are encouraged to share your thoughts and views about the Society’s literature. Some give recommendations about presentations that could be used in the field ministry. These sites offer chat rooms for individuals to connect to, allowing live communication with others, similar to talking on the telephone. They often point you to other sites where you can have on-line association with Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world. But can you tell for certain that these contacts have not been planted by apostates?

*** km 11/99 p. 4 par. 18 Use of the Internet—Be Alert to the Dangers! ***
18 Noticeably, there have been a number of individuals who have created Web sites ostensibly to preach the good news. Many of these sites are sponsored by indiscreet brothers. Other sites may be sponsored by apostates who wish to lure unsuspecting ones. (2 John 9-11) Commenting on whether there is a need for our brothers to create such Web sites, Our Kingdom Ministry, November 1997, page 3, stated: “There is no need for any individual to prepare Internet pages about Jehovah’s Witnesses, our activities, or our beliefs. Our official site [www.watchtower.org] presents accurate information for any who want it.”

*** km 11/97 p. 3 Good News on the Internet *** Our Internet Web site has the address http://www.watchtower.org and contains a selection of tracts, brochures, and Watchtower and Awake! articles in English, Chinese (Simplified), German, Russian, and Spanish, as well as in other languages. The publications on this Web site are already available through the congregations and are in use in the ministry. The purpose of our Web site is, not to release new publications, but to make information available to the public in electronic format. There is no need for any individual to prepare Internet pages about Jehovah’s Witnesses, our activities, or our beliefs. Our official site presents accurate information for any who want it.

Ask, and ye shall receive.

However, nothing on their Web site gives the Scriptures that support their doctrine on pre-baptismal requirements. So, I need some enterprising JW to either provide the Scriptures here or design a Web site that answers the question and give me a link to it.

sir82, you are currently an elder. Although I realize you are only nominally a JW, can you support the teaching on pre-baptsimal requirements Scripturally? Do you believe any Jehovah's Witness can?

Respectfully,
AuldSoul

saki2fifty

JW Literature quoted above: "There is no need ..."

Which is not "we're not supposed to...". Only being cautious, which I take as good advice.

saki2fifty: On thing that I wish though, is that there were more Pro-JW's sites

Correction: Although wrong in JW eyes, wish there were more JW's to debate arguments on this board... pretty much one sided.

AuldSould : sir82, you are currently an elder. Although I realize you are only nominally a JW, can you support the teaching on pre-baptsimal requirements Scripturally? Do you believe any Jehovah's Witness can?

I cant, but wish someone would at least try to answer you... cause I know you've been waiting for an answer on this!

BizzyBee

As far as the internet itself, i've always been a firm believer that its the breeding ground for all things bad... is feeding people with filth and crime and embedding new thoughts of things immoral and disgust... and is fueling things such as child porn, rape, incest, swinging, hatred, murder, adultery, etc... all to a great degree. And of course, and apparently, its fueling people to question their faith and beliefs as well.

Michael,

IMHO, the internet is just a medium for the exchange of information, much as television, radio, newspapers, books, etc. Those who are interested in filth and immorality have always been able to find sources, though I will say that the interenet makes it easier. However, the internet also makes it easier to access resources for things that are positive. I personally do a lot of research on the internet in order to write proposals that secure funding for causes that combat child abuse, teach kids a trade, cure diabetes, support cancer patients, shelter homeless teens, and provide counseling for a wide array of social ills. I couldn't accomplish half as much of this without the internet.

Bee

AuldSoul

saki2fifty: Which is not "we're not supposed to...". Only being cautious, which I take as good advice.

It is worded in the KM as a caution, but many JWs have been instructed by their local body of elders to remove their pro-JW sites. Including the owner of this forum, who was originally pro-JW and who was disassociated for leaving this forum up.

I believe it is deceitful to imply that it is only a recommendation and then enforce it as a Christian requirement. Others may disagree.

Respectfully,
AuldSoul

mama1119

What about people who find out the truth, leave the org, and then get DF for other offeses like fornication or smoking...is that taken into account???

AuldSoul

mama1119,

Whatever offense someone is disfellowshipped for or announced as disassociated over is what goes on the card in their congregation file. It doesn't matter whether the things they discovered on the Internet led to abandonment of JW rules and, therefore, their later ejection. It is this uncounted for propensity that ruins the theory of the quoted COs and DOs.

Also, there are people like saki2fifty, never baptized and nothing will go in the congregation file if he never becomes baptized. Due to reading here, he has already noted that no JW has bothered to try and Scripturally defend the pre-baptismal requirements, which requirements would directly impact him should he decide to become baptized. Even if he decides to become baptized, when he studies with someone will he be able to conscientiously tell the student that the pre-baptismal requirements are Scriptural?

The Internet has an effect that cannot possibly be measured in numbers and of which the COs/DOs anonymously quoted earlier seem unaware. It changes the rank and file perception of dogma, even if they never leave. They are more suspicious, they notice more, they are more inquisitive regarding doctrine. In my opinion, this effect is actually more damaging to the organization than is a person choosing to leave.

Respectfully,
AuldSoul

sir82

can you support the teaching on pre-baptsimal requirements Scripturally? Do you believe any Jehovah's Witness can?

I haven't taken the time to try to do so. A rather quick read of your post outlining the sophistry of this issue indicates to me that it would be well nigh impossible.

It is getting harder and harder to maintain the pretense of being a good l'il JW elder, while trying to hang in there and do some good (and fill in the board on the latest scoops, where I can). At some point, there's going to be a crisis of conscience that will force me to step down.

The real impact of "apostate" sites

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