confusedjw said: Mary you should have been a lawyer (if you aren't) or in my field troubleshooting problems
One of my teacher's in high school told me I'd make a good lawyer after we had to participate in a debate in class where you had to defend something you didn't believe in. I did it and did it quite well, but I never pursued becoming a lawyer for several reasons: first, The Big A was coming and we all know that there would be no need for lawyers in Paradise; second: at that time I only knew about criminal law and there's no way I could have defended someone who I knew was guilty of a bad crime, nor (if I was a Prosecutor) could I try convicting someone who I thought might be innocent.
Rabbit said: So-o...a heart transplant is 'OK' ? As long as it's from a JW "in good standing"...? (and dead?)
It's a "conscience matter" hon.
Purplesofa said: It is very humiliating and humbling to go through this process.
And that is their goal: to humilate you and humble you and to break your spirit. If you ever saw George Orwell's 1984, you know that that's how they get John Hurt's character in the end: they break his mind and spirit as that's the only way you can control someone's mind. The Organization is no different.
I also realized elders were only human, and they could ask all the silly questions they wanted to, but they are not trained psychologists, nor can they know whats going on with a persons heart.
That's a huge problem in the Organization: People come to the elders with all kinds of mental health issues, but as you said, they're not trained Psychologists and haven't a clue what to recommend beyond the standard "pray more and go out in service more" crapola. Not only are they not trained themselves, but it's an unwritten rule that you do NOT encourage any brothers or sisters to seek professional help (beyond going on antidepressants). The "happiest people on earth" are amongst the most depressed and repressed groups on earth.
Blondie said: And David did not lose his "privileges" as an anointed king over God's people.
Exactly. And once again, David did not have to sit before a panel of human judges (apparently) Jehovah Himself forgave him. As as you brought out in your other thread, the Lord's prayer says "forgive us for our sins as we forgive those who sin against us".
Ade said: This quote is interesting "God's servants study the bible and Christian publications. "
How often we see the WTBTS quote from other books and publications - does that mean those publications are made by christians too??
One thing I've noticed more recently, is that the WTS's literature quite often quotes from the Biblical Archaeology Review magazine (which I subscribe to) and they have quoted several scholars on various matters. What's interesting is that these scholars all agree that Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BCE, yet they don't quote that (for obvious reasons). It's a typical sleigh-of-hand tactic of theirs: taking things out of context to suit their own purpose......