does anyone know if it's at all possible to see what the wt has on you if you're not longer associated with them?
is it possible to request, maybe legally, that they expunge any information about you?
does it stay there forever?
As far as I know there is no way to get your records back or deleated.
There has been new direction on cards on inactive publishers. No publishers cards are to be disgarded. They are to stay in the file indefinately. This way the elders will know who is still in their "care" and can make visits from time to time.
do you agree with that statement?
As regards anything about faith or spirituality, yes definately. In normal eveyday stuff I would say no. No worse than anybody else.
last sunday's watchtower admits (p. 17) that "we are not under the mosaic law.
" but in the next paragraph it says that just as the tithing arrangement was not optional for the israelites, meeting attendance is also not optional for christians.
the first page of the february 2004 kingdom ministry tells us why.
As regards why 5 meetings, a CO mentioned not too long ago that it is based off of securlar references of what the exciled Jews did in Babylon for the 70 years. Since they had to center of worship they would meeting regularly in groups to keep themselves strong. I don't know if he was pulling this out of nowhere or what the references where. It sure isn't from the bible.
This is a perfect example of their "traditions" being more important than actual scripture. There are so many different areas they do this to, it makes me sick
i have never been able to understand the "the brothers from xyz cogregation are sending their love" at the end of a public talk.. it always seemed to occur when the speaker was from a far-away place.
then, we all have to clap when he rhetorically asks "do you want to send our love to them?".
they never seem to do it when it is a near-by congregation .. only one far away.
About 5-8 years ago (I don't remember exactly) they specifically instructed the elders (at least in the US) NOT to send their love with visiting speakers or visiting speakers to bring their love before they start their talks. They said in so many words "it was wasting too much time from the other parts on the meetings."
They also said that brothers giving public talks should not say "thank you" right at the end before they come off the platform because they are assuming everyone is going to clap and it is bringing praise upon yourself.
i have heard that the co's and do's are being systematically called back to ny for extended training.
now normally this is no big deal as they do go back from time to time for training but this time it is for a 8-9 week training course (without their wives).
from what i have heard they are going to be emphasizing more oversite or control over the congregations from a circuit level (i am sure they are discussing other issues as well).
I have heard that the CO's and DO's are being systematically called back to NY for extended training. Now normally this is no big deal as they do go back from time to time for training BUT this time it is for a 8-9 week training course (without their wives). From what I have heard they are going to be emphasizing more oversite or control over the congregations from a circuit level (I am sure they are discussing other issues as well). Sorry I don't have any more info than that.
what was the point of this book?
what did we learn?
we studied two books, 700+ pages, on the 66 chapters of isaiah, for 3 years, and what was learned?
It is the Draw Close to Jehovah book. It is going to be studied from 3/15/2004 to 5/16/2005.
this past weekend a relative came over with these ultimate fighting dvds that he bought but he wouldn't sit down and watch city by the sea because it is rated r.
they can be so dense and hypocritical!
when i pointed out to him that his ultimate fighting dvds are un-rated but in my opinion it is far worse to watch people fighting for pure entertainment purposes than it is to see a rated r movie that teaches a great life lesson.
Like Blondie mentioned, you will not really find anything in print about this. This is one of those unwritten rules. They will beat the drum from the platform or in private. They don't have it in print because then they can say "we never ever came out and said that".
the society has really been pushing hard lately (i know, like always) to do more and reach out.
there is at least one reason for do this that i can think of.
i have many friends around the country and they went to the elder school last year.
The Society has really been pushing hard lately (I know, like always) to do more and reach out. There is at least one reason for do this that I can think of. I have many friends around the country and they went to the elder school last year. In all the cases, it was brought up that there were far more elders than MS's at their respective schools (elders and MS's go to different schools). For most of them it was about a 2 to 1 ratio.
This is a great change from 15-20 years ago or more. There always, for the most part, used to be more servants than elders. Now it is reversed. As the current elders start to die off or quit there is not going to be enough replacements to backfill. As has been brought out before here, the younger generation is just leaving and the ones that are staying around are not doing much. I think the sqeeze is already being felt and is just going to get worse as time goes on.
almost the majority of us know that there is a secret book just for the elders which is called "pay attention..." everybody knows that the society defends herself saying that the book is not secret becasue it was shown to the witnesses in an assambley and there is a picture of it in the book proclaimers so she askes how the book could be a secret.
well, acccording to my dicctionary for learners of english says: secret; something that is secret is known about by only a small number of peple, and is not told or shown to anyone else.
so the book is secret.
I would highly doubt there is a CD just for elders. The Society NEVER puts anything sensitive on electronic media. Especially if they are handing it out to the elders. They do not trust them to keep it to themselves, it will eventually get out. Also they are very parinoid about other people getting access to things they shouldn't. That is why they direct elders not to keep anything on their computers and not to make any "electronic copies" of any forms they may use. They are not even suppose to use cordless phones when talking about sensitive matters as there may be a chance of someone listening in.
What may be the case is some elder put together his own CD but I highly doubt it came of Brooklyn.
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sometimes we read of how, if a person gets bothered by the elders or organization, they'll sue.
do you think this could ever work??
Yes, I believe it is possible but have not heard of any specific instances. Most of these types of cases never make it to trial.They get settled out of court. That is why they changed things a few years back( 88-89 i think). They forsaw all the upcoming trouble, especially with the abuse cases and started to disavow having influenced anything from a judicial nature. By having that seperation they are trying distance themselves from these type of issues.
They will try to help when an elder has to go to court because they don't need him saying something that will get them into trouble. By offering help on the side, they are helping themselves. They need to keep very clear the boundries of eccliastical privledge in court. This is why they will join with other religions in appeals on various issues (like taxes) because it is in their own best interests.
