Well, you guys have taken this way deeper than I can comprehend, so thanks, I've got some interesting reading to get my head around . In answer to your last question ruby, simply, yes it is unity, but it's enforced unity from birth (or baptism) PORTRAYED as protective. E. G. Don't read other materials, don't talk to apostates, for YOUR OWN GOOD, they're wily and will lie to you... If you DO go outside our walls we'll have to lock you out for the good of the community. I admit, there have to be rules for any club you belong to, and a kicking out process for those that transgress, but we take it WAYYY too far. Imagine belonging to a Ford motor enthusiasts club then being thrown out for bad behaviour. Or for saying that you think Fords are actually not as good as General Motors. And then seeing former members in the mall who will not catch your eye or say hello. True, some may do that naturally, out of fierce loyalty to Ford, but the majority would recognise an old companion, exchange pleasantries, maybe even joke around about Ford/GM! But I digress. Our unity is simply by brainwashing, brain training, repeating repeating the same old stuff until it becomes new stuff then repeating repeating that stuff until it's entrenched. And warning that there'll be repercussions for speculative independent thinking. That's not unity that I want to be part of. If someone else has a different idea to me, that's their prerogative, as long as it doesn't harm anyone or impinge on their liberty, fine. If only! I keep coming back to Barry's quote at the top of this thread. Cheers Barry!
disposable hero of hypocrisy
JoinedPosts by disposable hero of hypocrisy
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26
UNITY vs CONFORMITY - discuss.
by disposable hero of hypocrisy ini've read the walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me.
so how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements?
for example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity.
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CO visit
by thedog1 init's the co visit in our hall this week.
last night he gave a talk about all the changes that have taken place in the last few years, like the change in the book study arrangement and the changes in public forms of witnessing, the rise and importance of jw.org.
he then emphasised what our reaction to these should be.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
^^^ You're not alone bro's..
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26
UNITY vs CONFORMITY - discuss.
by disposable hero of hypocrisy ini've read the walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me.
so how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements?
for example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
Thanks for those replies, very deep, and most interesting. I'm trying to preempt discussions that can happen in the future. I know one of the arguments for jws is that "we're unified. No one else is as unified as us. We worship the same all over the world, and despite local differences (facial hair, sideburn length, multiple ear piercings for the ladies etc) in the DOCTRINAL side of things there is absolute unity." And we point the accusative finger at churches for splitting over the issue of women priests or homosexuality etc. But in my mind our unity is ENFORCED, we can't believe something differently to what were told to believe, but a better unity would be a unity in common purpose but all embracing in opinion. I don't know why I'm bothering to ramble on, I'm not sure I even believe in a god anymore anyway... Just preempting future discussions.... Dhoh
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UNITY vs CONFORMITY - discuss.
by disposable hero of hypocrisy ini've read the walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me.
so how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements?
for example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
THAT - (where you quoted Jesus just then) is an OUTSTANDING point. Gonna have to see what the cdrom says about that verse....
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Grand daughter of deceased Governing body member Guy Pierce mentions being shunned
by Watchtower-Free inover on jwsurvey.org .
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/governing-body-member-guy-pierce-dies-of-massive-stroke.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
She comments quite a few times and seems very balanced in her viewpoints.. It's terrible that she doesn't seem to be welcome at her own grandfather's funeral. Hardly Christian. For shame. If it's a public event we should all put money in, fly her there, and arrange for lots of local support for her when she arrives....
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Photography and HDR
by ILoveTTATT inas i have mentioned before, i love photography, and specially a technique called hdr.
hdr stands for high dynamic range, and it means the ratio of the "lightness" of the lightest spot in the picture to the darkest.. .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/high-dynamic-range_imaging.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
Good use of hdr that, not overblown , it's as the eyes would see it. I'm with you, if you can tell by looking at a thumbnail that it's hdr, then it's over processed .
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UNITY vs CONFORMITY - discuss.
by disposable hero of hypocrisy ini've read the walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me.
so how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements?
for example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
Interesting quote Barry, thanks for that. And yes that's a good summary lame and Fernando, it's funny how we as witnesses pride ourselves on our unity but can't see past the fact that it's enforced unity, not willing unity. And the fact that we actively criticise other faiths for practising interfaith, for being inclusive, unified DESPITE differences.
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UNITY vs CONFORMITY - discuss.
by disposable hero of hypocrisy ini've read the walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me.
so how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements?
for example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
I've read the Walsh trial that indicates the societies stance of ' unity at all costs, even if we're wrong ' but that sounds more like conformity to me. So how do other religions or movements justify the range of beliefs within their respective movements? For example, the born again movement, a massive range of beliefs, but they don't insist on conformity. If there's a range of beliefs then surely some of them are false. How do they justify that? I know the witness quote would be that we should worship with "spirit and truth", but as our truth changes on a monthly basis then that argument applies equally to us. Or them. I don't know if I've put my point across at ALL, such is my confusion. Can anyone who DOES believe out there help me understand your position? DHOH
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Archive you might want!
by Atlantis inhere is an old archive you might want.. reexamine archive.
.. nevada.
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
Coffee and doughnuts.. Mmmmmmmm
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Ex 20:11. Two big problems for WT creation tradition. What's their best shot?
by Open mind insomehow the significance of exodus 20:11 has slipped right past my critical thinking skills for several decades.
"for in six days jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and he proceeded to rest on the seventh day.
that is why jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.".
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disposable hero of hypocrisy
Interesting piece. Not thought of that before. But then I'm finding that more and more lately.