OrphanCrow

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Posts by OrphanCrow

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  86

  Words that irritate

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have words that irritate me and not always without reason.. my latest hate is the word: 'solutions' as used by so many businesses in their title these days.

  y'know, 'something innane business solutions' and such balderdash.. i loathe that word now.

  arrrrggghhhhhh!

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  OrphanCrow

  Oh! Another one...

  "I see that you have made some bad choices in your life."

  Really? Bad choices? Well, f*** me...you should have seen what the other choices were.

  I just took the least worse of the bad choices offered to me.
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  86

  Words that irritate

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have words that irritate me and not always without reason.. my latest hate is the word: 'solutions' as used by so many businesses in their title these days.

  y'know, 'something innane business solutions' and such balderdash.. i loathe that word now.

  arrrrggghhhhhh!

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  OrphanCrow

  "I don't mean to offend you, but...."

  And then they go right ahead and offend anyway...

  And if the person they offended objects, it is quickly followed up with:

  "Oh, why are you being so sensitive?"

  (said with the accompanying disparaging tonal inflections)
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  24

  Is the Society trying to self sabotage?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm not going to list all the changes here that have happened in 2014, most of you who frequent the boards know about them.. in reference to anthony morris' talk, i can't help feel that the organization is behaving so abnormally out of character for itself that it is bewildering even to ex jws.. cultish behavior is perfectly normal for cults, but whats happened this year is so far out of whack it beggars belief.. what do they think they are doing?

  are they psyching jws up for some major announcement?.

  i can't help but feel that something really strange is going on, this does not feel like the regular "special announcements" followed by articles in the watchtower.. .

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  OrphanCrow

  It makes no sense what so ever that any all intelligent God would decieve so many people for so long with one truth, then change the truth right before his great day of judgement. That would be ridiculous and very sick.

  But it happened before when the Watchtower Society re-invented itself in the wake of failed predictions.

  During the mid-20s, and especially after 1925, the religion lost up to 75% of its membership. And, in retrospect, the loss was orchestrated - it, too, was a divide and conquer maneuver that paved the way for a brand new religion to rise from the ashes - the Jehovah's wintesses AKA Joe's Army.

  Failed predictions don't harm this religion - the failure of 'biblical' prophecy (AKA political doctrine) is a boon to the 'Organization' - it acts to get rid of those who are not LOYAL and OBEDIENT. Because, the only thing that the membership does for this organization is give it just enough legitimacy to keep operating under the guise of a religion. The Watchtower Society will and can continue operating even without membership - the only thing that would change is that they would go into a different tax exemption category (and they would lose the built-in 'volunteer' group that will sign up so readily for medical studies..but that should be no problem once 'blood management' is rolled out worldwide - the Society won't need that noblood control group anymore).

  A great 'falling away' will actually help this religion in the long run. The current Jehovah's Witnesses (and the burdensome apostate community that comes along with the group) can eventually fade away and become as invisble to the membership as the Bible Students did, way back in the day. Most current JWs have grown up with the notion that the JWs are the core group and the Bible Students just simply....disappeared. This can, and will, happen again.

  However, it was probably a lot easier back in 1920s to re-emerge from the dust of legal and political intrigues that happened behind the closed doors of the Society. Today, tax laws and such make it more difficult to pull off a costume change privately - the door to the dressing room is not as closed, especially with an active apsotate community that keeps opening it on them.

  Something that may be giving the Watchtower Society some difficulty is the low membership numbers. A total global membership of only 7 million - a tiny group, actually, in the whole big picture. Why this could be problematic is that the tax man might be questioning how such a small membership can sustain such a large, multi-billion dollar establishment. I don't know what the total worth of the Society's properties and investments are, but, it more than exceeds what can be accounted for by donations alone. Which might be behind the 'attack' that the GB claims is occuring in headquarters - the tax man could be asking some pertinent questions as to where all the money comes from. The below average earnings of the r&f just doesn't cut it as an explanation to the tax man/charity commisssions for their overflowing coffers.

  But, never fear...the Society will scramble, hide, and generally pull all sorts of illegal maneuvers to keep their operation afloat - including alienating the membership and fishing for a whole new (or almost new) slice of the marketplace through their re-branding.

  Changing the religion is a solution for them, not a failure.

  And the Watchtower Society won't disappear - it will just re-invent itself. Like it always has done.
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  142

  Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

  what say you?.

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  OrphanCrow

  Dumb non-attorney question: Can Losch be prosecuted for perjury for saying he never worked for the Service department, when of course clearly he did, and does?

  Is this statement made "under oath"?

  My dumb non-attorney answer:

  He affirmed under penalty of perjury under the CA laws that his declaration was true and correct.

  Would they prosecute him individually for perjury? Not worth it, I'm guessing. The referees/judges deemed that the objections to Lösch's appearing for deposition had no real merit. He was court ordered to comply along with WTSNY. They didn't and were slapped with a hefty multi-million dollar penalty.

  Well...Losch didn't really lie....or maybe...just a little bit.

  He said that he didn't work for the US Service Department. It is a side-step. He is probably claiming that he was still in Austria when he was connected to the service department - not in the US. It is a weasel tactic.

  What I don't get is this - he claims that the GB's capacity only covers 'spiritual oversight' of the JWs.

  Then how come the GB gives out medical advice? How is medical advice and 'scientific' opinion considered 'spiritual'?
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  32

  Books about early Christianity

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i've just finished reading two (imo) great books:.

  "a history of christianity - the first three thousand years", by diarmaid macculloch.

  "misquoting jesus", by bart ehrman.

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  OrphanCrow

  EdenOne,

  If you are interested in dissecting Christianity and the Bible, you may find it helpful to investigate where that Bible came from.

  Contrary to what most Christians will tell you - the Bible is not a primary book. The Old Testament (Torah) gets much of its content from pre-existing sources. Even though some Christians will ignore or reject the Old Testament, it is undeniable that Christianity has layered itself over the old writings.

  The discovery of Ugarit has done much to add to scholars' understanding of the Biblical text.

  http://www.theology.edu/ugarbib.htm

  The ancient Canaanite city-state of Ugarit is of utmost importance for those who study the Old Testament. The literature of the city and the theology contained therein go a very long way in helping us to understand the meaning of various Biblical passages as well as aiding us in deciphering difficult Hebrew words. Ugarit was at its political, religious and economic height around the 12th century BCE and thus its period of greatness corresponds with the entry of Israel into Canaan.

  Why should people interested in the Old Testament want to know about this city and its inhabitants? Simply because when we listen to their voices we hear echoes of the Old Testament itself. Several of the Psalms were simply adapted from Ugaritic sources; the story of the flood has a near mirror image in Ugaritic literature; and the language of the Bible is greatly illuminated by the language of Ugarit. For instance, look at M. Dahood’s brilliant commentary on the Psalms in the Anchor Bible series for the necessity of Ugaritic for accurate Biblical exegesis. (N.B., for a more thorough discussion of the language of Ugarit, the student is advised to take the course titled “Ugaritic Grammar” offered by this institution).

  In short, when one has well in hand the literature and theology of Ugarit, one is well on the way to being able to comprehend some of the most important ideas contained in the Old Testament. For this reason it is worthwhile that we pursue this topic.
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  11

  how long will it take for the r&f to realise what this letter means?

  by purrpurr in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  most of them at the hall will be half asleep as usual.

  and the letter is worded very cleverly it just barely skims and hints at what's to come with the halls being sold off.

  how many in the halls will realise what it means?

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  OrphanCrow

  How many in the halls will realise what it means? And understand? And how many will start to awake up in response?

  I don't think it will matter to most of the r&f.

  When it comes right down to it - they will still believe it is 'The Truth' and will sit it out thinking that, at least, they will be the ones that see 'paradise'. They will be secure in their 'knowledge' that they, at least, 'stayed faithful to the end'.

  It won't even matter if the Watchtower Society crashes and burns...they will still be waiting on Jehovah.

  Faithful to the end....playing their violins while the WTS burns.

  People are basically selfish - the r&f, individually, will smugly think that..."ahhh....so it is ME that is the special one...I will survive....after all, the WTS are ONLY MEN...and Jehovah will fix things....and bless ME."

  The WTS may fall...but there will always be those who need to believe they are special - and there will always be a cult that will be available for them to insulate themselves against real life.
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  23

  Millerites, Jehovahs Witnesses and Purple Triangles

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i came across this after posting another iq video to a different topic.

  interesting how much the jehovahs witnesses are featured ... but it is because they are a millenial cult with failed rapture prophecies:.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chug6f0tnfg.

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  OrphanCrow

  "Rebel, I am not sure which account is historically accurate When I found the photo, I thought the dress was more reminiscent of late 1800s fashion. I thought it possible that the photo was taken in 1874 - the 'first'Russell rapture."

  Look at his face - he was not that old in '74. The picture is taken on his Middle East trip way later.

  Okay. That makes sense. I will go with the photo's accuracy over the Watchtower account.

  So that means that my inherent distrust of the Watchtower's revisionist history is, yet again, proven to be right.

  I was trying to give the Society the benefit of a doubt....
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  142

  Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

  what say you?.

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  OrphanCrow

  Sokay, Apo...I am quite used to being misunderstood.

  And, what makes it even harder to be clear about issues is wading through the murky bullshit that is put out by the GB and the Watchtower Society. It is really easy to get confused when wading through the muck.

  I feel pity for the poor judge that had to deal with the Watchtower Lawyer's arguments as to why the Society wouldn't cough up the discovery documents or the witness that the court asked for. If my position is hard to understand, just thank your lucky stars you didn't have to be the one on the bench.
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  142

  Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

  what say you?.

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  OrphanCrow

  Apognophos - I see that we have a misunderstanding happening here. I think you read more than what is claimed in my posts.

  About the Morris thread - again...I was not the one who claimed that Morris may have a different name than what he goes by. My post was just a response with a photo that substantiated what the entire thread prior to my post claimed. My post was just what it appeared to be and nothing more - just some more circumstantial evidence to add to what had already been written.

  Yes.

  I believe you read too quickly.
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  142

  Governing Body Member Gerrit Loesch Must Eventually Take The Witness Stand In Child Molestation Lawsuits

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  with many more cases in the offing the zalkin lawfirm will press the issue again and again and force gerrit loesch to testify.

  what say you?.

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  OrphanCrow

  There are plenty of people who remember the GB members when they were DOs, COs, and elders, back to their original congregations..... They are born-ins and converts who rose up through the ranks to where they are now.

  That is EXACTLY the point I was trying to make.

  I was not the one that claimed the GB have nothing to do with the running of the Society - LOSCH SAID THAT. Not me. Read the documents before you take my comment out of context.

  My questioning was in response to what was claimed by Losch.