Posts by Village Idiot

75

Rumor about the Imitate Jesus Convention

by FusionTheism in

i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.

Village Idiot

DATA-DOG,

"What the WTBTS doesn't realize is that "termites" have invested the "legs" already, with "information control" leading in first place. Those little apostate termites are working 24/7!!"

I love that analogy. My apartment, which had a JW manager and renters, had a massive termite damage which they didn't want to deal with for over 10 years. It took a confrontation in court for them to fix it. Once they did everybody else got into the act incurring at least a 100,000 dollars worth of repair throughout the complex.

Yes, they're ignoring their 'spiritual' termites. Let it crumble though I do believe that there will still be a hard core remaining like in Rutherford's day. The only difference from Rutherford is that no one in the Governing Body has his bombastic manners. That means that they might not be able to regrow after the implosion.

29

Book Burning and other burning of materials done by JW. Any experiences Please post

by adjusted knowledge in

jw
friends

as a very young child i have memories of several book burnings done by jw families.

it wasn't something arranged by the congregation, but elders did participate in it.

it was actually scary for me as a child of only about 8 years old.

Village Idiot

Eva luna, "Ever tried to burn a bond book?"

I did with a Truth book. I don't remember if the cover burned but the pages did.

It wasn't my Truth book, I simply tossed those (and I had them in 60 languages!). It was a book that my Baptist friend had on a shelf at his house. I remember a sister telling me (before I was disfellowshipped) that she had placed a book at that house, probably with his mother who was also a Baptist. After my disfellowshipping I told my friend that and he didn't want to believe that. So I looked at his shelf and, true enough, it was there. I suggested that it be burned and we had a fun time.

75

Rumor about the Imitate Jesus Convention

by FusionTheism in

i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.

Village Idiot

This might be what they will refer to as far as imitating Jesus' example on shunning:

17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Matthew 18:17 New International Version

Note that 'pagans' and tax collectors were supposed to be ignored to the greatest degree possible.

And here is what the Bible has to say about how Christianity will effect family relationships:

34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. - Matthew 10:34-36 New International Version

Why should the Watchtower be any different?

24

New Light! People CAN now be saved AFTER the Tribulation begins!

by FusionTheism in

for decades, i remember the society, publications, and elders saying that once the great tribulation begins, it is too late to repent or be saved.

they said the "door of the ark will have been closed.".

now, however, look at the brand-new clarified understanding / new light on this from jw.org, below.. they are still saying that the majority of worldly people will not be saved, but they are now saying it is possible.. the simplified july study watchtower says this:.

Village Idiot

If that idea takes root then it will allow for some of the Witnesses to drop out of field service. The Watchtower will no longer be able to guilt trip them by saying that if a single person does not get preached to and he dies at Armageddon then his blood will be on their hands.

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Village Idiot

Cofty, "Assume it was official and your relatives followed it."

I personally would not want to associate with anyone who had previously shunned me.

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Village Idiot

If the Watchtower were to bring this issue up they will probably say shunning is up to your conscience just like the blood transfusion issue.

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

Village Idiot

I count myself most fortunate that I never had family that were in the JWs.

By asking if they would stop shunning do you mean official Watchtower position or the individuals? Even if it were the official Watchtower position individuals within it might not necessarily follow it.

3