I’ve been conscientiously doing some informal witnessing here and there on my own, which, now that I think of it, I could have added to my service time slip. I just wouldn’t have to say that it was all anti-witnessing.
Posts by SAHS
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10A few thoughts
by Powermetal4ever insaturday night in the country where i am from, i am sitting by my computer alone and drinking and having some thoughts.
hos sad isnt that?
.....i am feeling a bit down right now and dont know what to do.had a call from my mum, she was among other things saying that its not very good that i dont go to meetings if they are not (she and my dad.
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It's starting shunning will stop brochure first.step
by poopie ini'm in contact with service and writing and brochure first step there bleeding publishers they can't take it anymore publishers are depressed because they feel they must shun others and they know it's unloving.
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SAHS
The WT organization would never drop either the shunning or the no blood policy, because those two things have long become the hallmark of their “religion.” Ask anybody what first comes to their mind when you mention JWs, and right away they would inevitably bring up shunning and no blood transfusions (and then they would mention no Chtistmas and no birthdays, all in that order).
JWs without shunning and no blood would be like the Hare Krishna without the robes and drums or Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple without the Kool-Aid. It’s what defines them. And I couldn’t imagine the WT organization being willing to let go of their pet instruments of power and control – which have served them well. (The governing body, that is. Certainly not their followers.)
If they were to abolish, or to even relax, the powerful shunning weapon, then no doubt about half the membership would leave right off the bat because they would no longer be blackmailed by their families being held at ransom. A huge proportion of the young born-ins would then jump ship in a heartbeat (only about 33% of born-ins stay) – and the governing body knows that quite well!
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Sat., March 28th, TV program "48-hours" investigates JW killer, Christian Longo. Focuses on his impersonation of journalist
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.cbsnews.com/videos/48-hours-investigates-accused-killer-who-impersonated-journalist/ .
48 hours investigates accused killer who impersonated journalist.
march 27, 2015, 8:20 am|a journalist strikes up an unlikely friendship with an accused killer who took his name -- what happened next would become a book and a film.
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SAHS
Thank you, “AndersonsInfo,” for the tip! I’ll be sure to set my PVR for the airing tonight. Here in the Greater Toronto Area (Ontario), it airs on Rogers Cable at 10:00 p.m. (eastern standard time, same time zone as New York, USA).
I always show these news items to my folks, but they always find ways of justifying things from a JW perspective. My dad is a very well-known, long-time elder in our general area. It seems that no matter what manifests itself in the media, such long-time, entrenched JWs never connect the dots – at least not in their conscious mind, anyway. All well. Every bit of such tidbits and items surely go to helping people at least taking another look at what is their very small world of indoctrination. -
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Breaking cognitive dissonance - or - how to get Bill Cosby to help a dub see the light
by undercover inlet me preface this by saying, i don't know if mr. cosby is guilty of all that he's being accused of.
the number of women coming out against him is pretty damning, but no real proof has been offered (that i'm aware of anyway).
and it is this circumstantial, hearsay evidence that can actually play into the hands of someone trying to get a jw to grasp the seriousness of the child abuse claims in the jw religion.. how so?.
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SAHS
“Storm”: “The accusations against Mr. Cosby are against him as an individual. The people attacking Jehovah's Witnesses are seeking to make others responsible aside from the person who actually committed the crime.”
Actually, this is not a case of attacking all Jehovah’s Witness people, nor is it seeking to make others responsible aside from the person who actually committed the crime. At issue here are the policies of the Watchtower organization/corporation itself, which is under a legal and moral obligation to follow the secular laws in these matters. Thus, the plaintiffs’ legal actions, or ‘attacks’ as you call them, are properly, legitimately, and justly directed at the corporate entities of the Watchtower organization. The aim of such actions (including those others which may be pending) is only to effect punitive justice upon the individual perpetrators and effectively prevent those perpetrators from causing further harm to other victims, and, in practical monetary terms, punitive justice upon the legal/corporate entities of the Watchtower, which would hopefully result in them reexamining and improving their self-serving and harmful policies – but such cannot be judged as “attacking Jehovah’s Witnesses” as a people, like it’s some kind of archaic “community responsibility” punishment.
The Watchtower policies in dispute are those requiring local bodies of elders to immediately go through the legal department of the Watchtower before any consideration of notifying the proper authorities, as required by law, and which seek to protect the image of the Watchtower organization at all costs, even if it means covering up repeated and scandalous actions toward the vulnerable and the very young by deliberately failing to inform and warn others in congregations within the Jehovah’s Witness community. Elder bodies forwarding outstanding recommendations as introductory reports to other congregations on behalf of dangerous and habitual pedophile sexual predators, while they refuse to even acknowledge the testimonies of victims because of not having second or third witnesses to the crimes (which basically would never happen during sexual assaults on young children), certainly do not, in my opinion, in any way constitute even a basic and minimal due diligence in protecting the congregation – the flock – of which elders are supposedly assigned to do by their God-appointed position. That is what is at issue – the policies sanctioned and systematically implemented by a self-serving, arrogant, and corrupt organization.
The Watchtower couldn’t give a hoot about all those little victims of unwitnessed indecent assaults, . . . BUT, should somebody ever get caught having anything to do with any holiday celebrations or allowing their baby to have a necessary lifesaving blood transfusion, or even just storing their own blood to make it available for an upcoming dangerous surgery – then you’ll see the vicious punitive fangs of the Watchtower organization come out in full fury! Think about it.
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Yet Another Putdown of Women! – KM March 2015
by SAHS inthis weeks service meeting part (week starting march 23, 2015) in the our kingdom ministry under the heading meetings for field service that accomplish.
their purpose includes a little sub-article entitled when a sister must conduct.
the direct link is: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/ click the little document download button under the one labeled km15 03-e us and then choose a format (pdf looks best)..
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SAHS
“Vidiot”: “If Saudi Arabia opened its doors fully to the WTS, they'd absolutely thrive there.”
The edition of Our Kingdom Ministry specifically for that whole area would probably replace the words “head covering” with the words “burka and mouth gag.” Although, it wouldn’t surprise me if such change were to be implemented in all the editions for everywhere soon. The WT leash is getting tighter all the time for women. At this rate, women won’t even be qualified to clean the kingdom hall windows because it’s not demeaning enough, and they’ll be restricted to cleaning the toilets only. (If that were the case, the brothers would start using the women’s toilets and stop flushing.)
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Yet Another Putdown of Women! – KM March 2015
by SAHS inthis weeks service meeting part (week starting march 23, 2015) in the our kingdom ministry under the heading meetings for field service that accomplish.
their purpose includes a little sub-article entitled when a sister must conduct.
the direct link is: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/ click the little document download button under the one labeled km15 03-e us and then choose a format (pdf looks best)..
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SAHS
Excellent comments, folks! It all goes to show just how ridiculous and backwards the teachings and policies (opinions) of the WT leadership really are.
I recently attended an event in a church community center, and I checked out an item on their bulletin board listing the scedule for “ushers.” As I thought, the names listed were pretty much mixed between males and females. Aside from women preachers (mostly non-Catholic, I assume), I’ve noticed that all the various administrative positions and general duties of service within churches and in spiritual community-based organizations and programs are freely mixed among the genders. I showed a non-JW man a photograph of the WT governing body, and right away he asked me, “No women? They’re all men. How come there aren’t any women?”
JWs are so used to that extreme misogynist crap within the WT leadership and membership, but to any normal people outside of the WT, it just seems bizarre, nonsensical, and plain extremist. Most JWs by far, especially born-ins, don’t really realize just how different they really are from everybody else.
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Yet Another Putdown of Women! – KM March 2015
by SAHS inthis weeks service meeting part (week starting march 23, 2015) in the our kingdom ministry under the heading meetings for field service that accomplish.
their purpose includes a little sub-article entitled when a sister must conduct.
the direct link is: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/ click the little document download button under the one labeled km15 03-e us and then choose a format (pdf looks best)..
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SAHS
This week’s service meeting part (week starting March 23, 2015) in the Our Kingdom Ministry under the heading “Meetings for Field Service That Accomplish
Their Purpose” includes a little sub-article entitled “When a Sister Must Conduct.” The direct link is: “http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/” – click the little document download button under the one labeled “km15 03-E Us” and then choose a format (PDF looks best).
Here is that little part about women directly pasted below, in which I have highlighted in yellow the most pertinent parts:
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When a Sister Must Conduct
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A sister should wear a head covering and would normally be seated when conducting a meeting for field service. What she chooses to discuss would be similar to what a brother would consider. While she should avoid giving the appearance of instructing those in attendance, she may initiate a group discussion. If she invites another baptized sister to say the prayer, that sister should also wear a head covering. If a baptized brother joins the meeting after it has started, the sister would normally invite him to finish the meeting. The service overseer should try to anticipate unusual situations and give appropriate instructions so as to minimize awkwardness. For example, a very young, perhaps preteen, baptized brother might attend when a sister is assigned to conduct, but the elders feel that he is not yet qualified to conduct the meeting. In such a case, the service overseer can inform those involved that the assigned sister should conduct the meeting, but the brother should say the prayer if the elders feel that he is qualified. Or perhaps there is an adult brother who is restricted from conducting the meeting or offering congregation prayer for reasons known by the elders. Without revealing confidential information, the elders should let the assigned sisters know that they should conduct and pray even if he is in attendance. The elders might also let the brother know which days sisters are scheduled to conduct the meetings for field service.
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Now, we have all heard about the head covering thing for sisters in those rare instances when they absolutely have to take the field service group because no baptized brothers are around. There is nothing new with that – except, I don’t recall ever reading a directive from the Watchtower organization that in that situation where a sister has to conduct the group, she has to not only wear a head covering but also she has to remain “seated.” So, she would have to remain seated even if offering prayer for the group.
As well, “she should avoid giving the appearance of instructing those in attendance” . . . . um, isn’t the whole idea of taking, or conducting, the field service group to “instruct” those attending, to organize them into partners, car groups, and territories? If whoever is conducting the group isn’t supposed to appear to be “instructing” and making necessary practical working arrangements for field service, then what the hell are they there for? I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t make any sense to me. Either you’re doing the job of conducting/organizing or you’re not.
Further, “if a baptized brother joins the meeting after it has started, the sister would normally invite him to finish the meeting.” After it’s already started? The Watchtower organization can’t even allow a woman the basic respect and dignity to at least finish conducting the group if a baptized testicle-carrying member arrives partway through? Really?
“The service overseer should try to anticipate unusual situations and give appropriate instructions so as to minimize awkwardness.” Awkwardness? So, it’s really that much of an “unusual” and “awkward” situation for a woman (female) to conduct a little field service group? The governing body must really feel uncomfortable about the very thought of a woman (female) having to do anything in the congregation. (But, of course, cleaning those toilets and washing those floors and sinks is always most welcome for those apparently lowly women. I guess that’s their real place, at least according to those seven grumpy old men at the big conference table in New York. Lucky them.) “The elders might also let the brother know which days sisters are scheduled to conduct the meetings for field service.” Oh, yes. We wouldn’t want any of that awful “awkwardness” arising from one of those “unusual situations,” now would we?
The more that little blurb in this week’s Our Kingdom Ministry can get shown around to people in general in the “world,” the more people will be able to see just exactly what they would be in for if they were to join, and thus be able to make a more informed, and hopefully intelligent, decision just in case they ever got any ideas about membership. Copies should really be sent to women’s rights groups, or even just human rights associations. It’s ridiculous and nonsensical little things like this that will surely prevent any more growth of the Watchtower “religion” in any progressive parts of the world and be the purging of more and more of the current membership out the door. What a stupid, quirky, medieval outfit!
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U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge, the Honorable B. Dwight Goains, a Jehovah's Witness
by jwleaks inthe current sitting u.s. federal magistrate judge, in alpine, texas, is a jehovah's witness and is set to retire on november 9, 2015.. .
link to news article.
on november 9, the honorable b. dwight goains will retire from an eight-year term serving as the u.s. magistrate judge in alpine, texas.
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SAHS
Isn’t that interesting that a Jehovah’s Witness would actually be a U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge. I say that because JWs have often frowned upon anyone even serving on jury duty, especially for a capital murder trial, as even that would apparently be thought of as putting oneself in the position of “judging” involving the life and death of their fellowman. And that’s the reasoning that has been used by many JWs to request an exemption from such jury duty on grounds of religious conscience. I’m sure that ever since his position “as a federal prosecutor,” the Honorable B. Dwight Goains would be in such a position to make life-and-death decisions, thus having the moral culpability to God that goes along with that, at least according to the WTS’ teachings.
And according to a similar line of reasoning that has been adamantly pushed by the WT organization, a JW could be disfellowshipped for choosing to remain employed as a police officer or security guard carrying a gun because they could be in a situation where they could become personally bloodguilty. (My dad had a Bible study quite a few years ago who was a policeman, but, of course, he had to quit his job so he could be baptized.)
Yep. Kind of makes you go, Hmmm. (At least it does for me.)
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Breaking cognitive dissonance - or - how to get Bill Cosby to help a dub see the light
by undercover inlet me preface this by saying, i don't know if mr. cosby is guilty of all that he's being accused of.
the number of women coming out against him is pretty damning, but no real proof has been offered (that i'm aware of anyway).
and it is this circumstantial, hearsay evidence that can actually play into the hands of someone trying to get a jw to grasp the seriousness of the child abuse claims in the jw religion.. how so?.
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SAHS
Most JWs, even if they were to see Anderson Cooper or Don Lemon reporting live on CNN about anything to do with the sex abuse scandals and coverups in the WTS, they would probably just say something like, “Oh, that’s just from apostates; it’s all lies to discredit the organization.” Some JWs would probably think that the “apostates” are working in cahoots with CNN and all the rest of the media. Yep. It’s all a conspiracy from Satan the Devil to JWs. No matter what, their precious WT organization is Almighty God’s only spirit-directed organization – the only one that has the truth, don’t you know.
But, funny thing, back during the O. J. Simpson trial, my mom said that a lot of the African and Jamaican sisters were telling her that he was definitely innocent, no doubt about it. I guess you just can’t mess with a JW’s pet hero, no matter who that might be.
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Crazy JW wields machete at New Orleans airport - shot - died because he refused blood on religious grounds
by Wild_Thing inhttp://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-machete-attack-new-orleans-airport-has-died-n327841.
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SAHS
Those people at the airport who potentially could have been severe casualties or even fatalities really owe their life and limbs, literally, to the police officer, Lt. Heather Slyve, for her lifesaving services that day. That just reminded me: officer Slyve wouldn’t even be allowed to be a JW unless she quit her job because it involves carrying a gun. And if, say, she had already been a JW, she could be disfellowshipped if she decided to become a police officer after she was baptized. Kind of makes you think – this officer’s commendable and heroic actions would have just been looked down on by JWs because they were performed while working at a job which is considered a disfellowshipping offense because it requires bearing arms, but, on the other hand, the WTS demands all its members to let their children die because of their blood policy, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of children, and somehow that is supposed to be okay according to the JWs. When you think of it, that’s most bizarre.