i've been looking at this letter for some time.. and researching it's origins.. i can't find anything conclusive, really.
i can't locate a denial of its existance from the society, but i haven't got access to any literature anymore, having left it all behind when i moved country to america from england.
so...is there any reference to it in, for example, the proclaimers book?.
I have the 1934 yearbook. So, I have a rare treasure, eh?
That was the first thing that led me to want to leave the WTBTS.
ashi
oh,here's a link of what it looks like.
... http://cftf.com/online/1998OctDecp08-14.html..... sorry, this is a scan of the '74 yearbook, which I also have, i'll look for another site.
steve 17 .
manuel 12 .
nicole 9 .
Cute kids.
ashi
just in case any lurkers here may be in doubt about the criticisms made of the witnesses' idolizing of an organisation, here is a selection of their claims, in their own words:.
"he [god] does not impart his holy spirit and an understanding and appreciation of his word apart from his visible organisation.
" (the watchtower, july 1, 1965, page 391).
I didn't know about Ray Franz until I left, You Know. I haven't read either of his books; I didn't even know about the shakeup in 1980 until I came here, two years after I left.
I looked right at the Society's publications to prove to myself that this was not the true religion. No apostate literature, etc. I think that's the only way a person could really leave because of doctrine. It was also a question of people.
Do you know no one ever calls my mother to see how she is? She was a Witness for fifteen years, and all during that time, she only had one friend, because she loved her children, and wouldn't allow people to abuse them. My abusive father was told he was in the right, no matter what, and those are the judgements of three different congregation's body of elders. Religious ego.
That's the legacy the WTBTS leaves with their followers who have good, strong minds and hearts. God doesn't want automotons, but the WTBTS does. They don't want people to make waves, even if they are in the right. They call it discrediting Jehovah, but it is really the WTBTS who is worried about their own name.
The GB are probably good men with good intentions, but this religion has played out poorly for many, many people. God should not be blamed for it, but the men who misrepresent him should.
ashi
just in case any lurkers here may be in doubt about the criticisms made of the witnesses' idolizing of an organisation, here is a selection of their claims, in their own words:.
"he [god] does not impart his holy spirit and an understanding and appreciation of his word apart from his visible organisation.
" (the watchtower, july 1, 1965, page 391).
I remember a P.O. telling a friend that if he "wasn't 100% Watchtower, then he wasn't a true servent of God."
Those quotes reminded me of that. The bible is secondary, Watchtower is first. That's a big reason for my leaving them. I finally realized that they say they obey the principles in the bible to as to call themselves christians, to increase their flock, but they really worship the words of men, yet those still 'in' would look at those quotes as loving reminders.
ashi
when jehovahs witnesses first started calling on my wife and i, we knew very little about the bible.
the message that this world with all its wickedness and suffering was soon to end and be replaced by a new order under the rulership of christ jesus was very appealing to me.
to believe that god had a purpose for mankind, gave my life a new direction.. acceptance of watchtower doctrine along with its rules and regulations is expected of any that wish to be baptized.
I agree, thanks for it. Sometimes I feel guilty for leaving, and then you guys remind me very quickly why I left in the first place.
ashi
to set the mood: think of the lavish $1 million dollar chandelier in the stanley theater, think of the lavish settings of patterson, think of any excess bankrolled by those morally bankrupt geezers in crooklyn.. now, any of you catch the back cover of the feb 1, 2002 wt?
the title is "wise in their own way" and it's about these impoverished african kids who donate to the society from their lunch money.. from the article:.
unknown to their parents, emmanuel, michael, and uchei, their nine-year-old sister, have been saving part of their lunch money and putting it into the boxes.
Someone once mentioned that the Stanley Theatre chandelier was already there. I am not condoning their actions, just want to get the facts strait.
ashi
well today i spent christmas at my dad's, but when i got home i had a disturbing message from my mom.
for you that know me, you know my mom has borderline personality disorder and is difficult to deal with at most times.
i had planned on actually seeing her before christmas, but everytime i tried to call her she was not home, so i was not able to.
My wife has a mother that sounds much like yours. Keep as far away as you can, but if you feel the need to associate with her, by all means call her, but be prepared for the consequences.
ashi
anyone have any good ideas on how to keep dubs from constantly returning??
they don't seem to leave the area alone with just requests and they are preying on those who live in a development that do not have the money to file a lawsuit.
help!
Tatoo your forehead with 666. That's sure to sure what ills you.
ashi
hi.. ive been experiencing some pretty weird phenomena recently.. it started about two months ago.. what happens is, i get dreams.
they are bad.so bad they wake me up.this is always like, 3am, 4am,then i get up.
after a while i start getting sensations with my hair standing on end and electric impulses running up and down my back, like mild electric shocks.
refiner,
my friend saw a light, and had an experience unassociated with a religion. He can't explain it, and to this day, attributes it to God. I cannot explain it myself, but I BELIEVE him. I don't know why.
His mother saw his face afterwards, and she said it was like seeing Moses coming down from the mount after receiving the commandments. She is a devout JW, which makes it even stranger.
Personally, since this happened to him, I do believe in the spiritual side of things, although I do disbelieve in a spiritual God. Something remarkable happened to my friend that day, and I don't know what it was. I hope it was God setting him free.
ashi
hi.. ive been experiencing some pretty weird phenomena recently.. it started about two months ago.. what happens is, i get dreams.
they are bad.so bad they wake me up.this is always like, 3am, 4am,then i get up.
after a while i start getting sensations with my hair standing on end and electric impulses running up and down my back, like mild electric shocks.
Refiner's fire, listen to them, although a friend of mine has had a similar spiritual experience.
ashi
