Posts by menrov

13

Received a letter from a JW today.

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

it started off as "dear friend ,as one of your neighbours" , however the postmark on the letter was from 2 townships away ?

a good twenty minute car drive away .a minor point i know.

it goes on about how she is concerned about the effects that current events are having on the welfare of the community and the corona-virus has prevented her from discussing the issues personally with me.. she then goes on to state and quote jeremiah 29:11 and then goes on to say "for more information about this promise and other questions like :.

menrov

Hi, if you are interested at all to reply, be aware you will be replying not to her but to the congregation. Therefore, if your reply will contain a disagreement, I am sure she will never receive the email. You can ask the congregation for her address or email, stating you prefer to know the individual who wrote to you and not just the impersonal congregation.

Jer. 29:11 is about the 70 year of Babylonian rule and when it's over. So, indeed, nothing to do with our times. You might invite her to find better scriptures to encourage you :-), not scriptures that are part of events that took place more than 2500 years ago.

29

Beards are depicted as normal in heaven but not on earth

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | august 2020. study article 32. walk humbly and modestly with your god.

jesus is depicted in the heavens.

next to him stand some of his co-rulers.

menrov

As the WT loves to use the OT (Hebrew scriptures for them):

Lev 21:5 Priests must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body.

Psa 133:2 It is like fine oil poured on the headwhich flows down the beard – Aaron’s beard,and then flows down his garments.

2Sa 20:9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa’s beard as if to greet him with a kiss.

Jer 48:37 For all of them will shave their heads in mourning.They will all cut off their beards to show their sorrow.They will all make gashes in their hands.They will all put on sackcloth.

Isa 50:6 I offered my back to those who attacked, my jaws to those who tore out my beard;I did not hide my facefrom insults and spitting.

2Sa 10:5 Messengers told David what had happened, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”

As said, it is a controls issue based on Western (American) values and customs. Same as wearing a suit. In the middle, even today, men were using long robes. Jesus was. Same as using a tie....useless and actually, wearing a suit and tie might give a distinguished impression but at the same time, can disguise who you really are on the inside. Sales men look like that but can they always be trusted?

7

Marry in white - a worldly practice

by menrov in

i was not aware but just learned that is was queen victoria who was the first to get marries in white dress.

.

so, it is a worldly practice.... i assume jw's should reconsider whether they adopt / continue this worldly practice or keep away from it ... .

menrov

I was not aware but just learned that is was Queen Victoria who was the first to get marries in white dress.

So, it is a worldly practice.... I assume JW's should reconsider whether they adopt / continue this worldly practice or keep away from it ...

22

Indonesian--2020 Elder Manual--Addendum--and August S-147-E!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

2020-04 indonesian--shepherd the flock of god elder manual, flock book addendum, and the 2020-august-s-147-e announcements and reminders.. .

reply below if you want me to send a link to your pm box.. .

petra!.

menrov

I would be grateful to receive this. Thanks!

48

My letter of disassociation, what do you think?

by James Jack in

dear brothers, july 27, 2020. in 1919, the president of the watchtower society made a bold prediction, “millions now living will never die”.

that quotation was constantly repeated by the organization till the year 2000 when they realized that everyone in attendance at that assembly, who listened to j.r. rutherford repeat those words, are dead.. that teaching has guided my life.

statements were repeatedly made at assemblies, conventions and in print that there was no career in “this system of things” so you don’t need a job with benefits or retirement, your fulltime job is to “preach the good news”!

menrov

I would not write a letter of DA if it is to formally inform the congregation as only the elders will see the letter. I recommend to remove your religion info at the municipality/county. That is far more powerful as that information is often used by the Bureau of Statistics to track religion in a country. In some cases, it might also be used by tax offices to see if the organisation is still allowed to receive tax benefits.

29

Tony Morris was right

by wolverines in

i have no love loss for the gb or religion and this is not an apologist attempt.

in fact i hate the religion and the gb.

but i watch night after night young kids who's minds have been corrupted by the propaganda and dogma that modern college's are teaching them.

menrov

Interesting Awake as it says that

"Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill a career that this system offers. Why not? Because of the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years".

This was written in 1969. A few years could mean 1975. Here is the proof that they did teach that 1975 would be the end of the world. All in "this generation"

People that do not have a higher degree will most likely endup cleaning windows or working in construction or workshops. In that environment, people are very likely exposed to political discussions, sex, and foul language.

So, if a JW is going to college or university, she/he will be exposed to other ideas and thinking. If the JW will lose his/her faith, that person should wonder how weak is his/her faith actually. Jesus spoke to all kinds of people but did not lose his faith.

13

What to say to WT Publishers

by Anna Marina in

on bbc radio this morning there was a 20 minute piece on jws and the child abuse cover up.

i am already receiving reaction to it from a number of sources.

it occurred to me - if you were giving ordinary members of the public a steer on how to deal with wt publishers what would you advise?.

menrov

If knowing the name of the creator was indeed a life saving requirement, I would expect that the name would be clearly communicated, without doubts, without variations and without some dependency on one organisation, which is not free from scandals.

The scriptures say that he is a jealous god. Well, if that is true, and you are almighty, how hard would it be to protect the use of your name and to ensure every human being will know your name?

I compare it with the times that people were having multiple wives, like Abraham, David etc. If the creator did allow even his key representatives on earth to have multiple women, i can only conclude he did not mind that much. It was not that important. Well, if it was allowed that people (jews?) removed the name from the scriptures, apparently it was not that important and many generations have not heard at all of that name.
In other words, if you do not protect it, you do not value it. If I do not protect my children, my pets, my fellow humans (where I can), I do not value any of them, right?

25

The Watchtower—Study Edition | August 2020

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | august 2020 .

study article 33. the resurrection reveals god’s love, wisdom, and patience.

8 for a number of reasons, we can assume that those greeting resurrected individuals will be able to recognize their loved ones.

menrov

8 For a number of reasons, we can assume that those greeting resurrected individuals will be able to.......

There it is again....we can assume.... typical WT speak. First, who is the WE here? The leaders? The writers? Or all R&F?

This whole concept of resurrected people being able to be recognized by other resurrected friends and family members is only to keep the R&F looking forward to a vague promise and as such, keep them inside the organization. It is a promise from the WT as it cannot be found in the scriptures.

The Lazarus example is stupid as it was to show the Jesus was sent from heaven and had the power to give life. He could have used anyone but he liked Lazarus. It is obvious Lazarus was known in that community. The fact that others recognized Lazarus was to show/prove that it was the same person that had died 4 days before. It was not at all intended to serve as model of a future promise that resurrected people will recognize and live with their family.

But it is a nice sales and marketing argument. (well for many, as there are also those that will be very happy not to see their family members anymore..... )

23

Television segment on JWs and the Australian Redress Scheme

by Listener in

tonight there was an 8 minute segment allocated to reporting on jws regarding child abuse and the redress scheme.

it was presented by lisa wilkinson for the project.the australian branch has issued a statement to the show advising that they will not be joining the scheme.. they state:.

statement from the jehovah’s witnessesthe religion of jehovah’s witnesses does not have the institutional settings that the voluntary national redress scheme is designed to cover.therefore, the ministry for families and social services has been advised that jehovah’s witnesses will not join the scheme.jehovah’s witnesses have responded and will continue to respond directly to individual claims for redress in a caring, fair, and principled manner, taking into consideration the unique circumstances of each claim.. https://10play.com.au/theproject/articles/statement-from-the-jehovahs-witnesses/tpa200621ycelq.

menrov

reinforces in the minds of JWs that their WT teaching is true, that the governments will turn of true religion

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy in the WT behaves. The more they show their real nature, the more governments might limit the freedom of the WT. Not because of the government but because of the WT themselves.

4

Stockholm syndrome and religion

by menrov in

based on a discussion i had with my wife, i started to compare the situation of people who are a member of a religious organisation or are devout to a belief, to the so-called stockholm syndrome.

the stockholm syndrome is where feelings of trust or affection is felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim towards a captor.

in such a situation, the person being kidnapped is not free to leave and is held against their will but over time takes that situation as a "new normal" and even starts to see their kidnapper(s) as normal people.

menrov

Based on a discussion I had with my wife, I started to compare the situation of people who are a member of a religious organisation or are devout to a belief, to the so-called Stockholm syndrome. The Stockholm syndrome is where feelings of trust or affection is felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim towards a captor.

In such a situation, the person being kidnapped is not free to leave and is held against their will but over time takes that situation as a "new normal" and even starts to see their kidnapper(s) as normal people. A new type of relationship starts. As long as the person being kidnapped does not challenge the kidnapper for the fact that your are kidnapped and remain to have hope to be released one day, the relationship between kidnapper and the person being kidnapped starts to become "normal".

People who are religious have a relationship with their God. They follow their God or the people who represent their God. They will not challenge their God for the situation they are in. They have hope one day things will be better (for them). They forget that their belief is actually kidnapping them. They are accepting things that others would normally not. They even might find excuses for certain events.

OK, may be not a 100% similar situation as the Stockholm syndrome but I do see parallels.