"I wonder if I could have refused the role at that moment?" I know of 5 men that turned down being an MS in that meeting, 6 that turned down being an elder. Of course, their spirituality status dropped considerably. Even if an elder says he can no longer handle his family responsibilities, the other elders try to talk him out of it, saying they neglect their families too and that is a sacrifice their family has to make. Also, technically, an elder can't decide on his own to stop being an elder; he has to be permission of the BOE to do so. One elder, said that do what you have to do, but when you announce the start of the Ministry School, I won't get up on the stage, and that will be very embarrassing for you. Well, they decided to give him "permission" but he was viewed with suspicion after that.
Posts by blondie
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341985 and baptism...I wish I had read this before today
by enoughisenough ini am posting a link as to being legally bound to jw rules at time of baptism.
i only did a quick skim, but what i gathered is interesting, and what it says about 1985 may be of use to some hoping to just fade and not be bothered.
in 1985, the questions were changed at baptism for legal purposes so they could have causation to defend themselves should you decide to sue for whatever reason.
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blondie
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38
Did you ever meet someone born in the 1800’s?
by Fisherman ini met freddie franz who was born in the 1880’s and many others from the 1880’s.
but as a very small child i remember someone very old aged 106 and that person was born around 1856 which means that he was around people from the 1700’s..
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blondie
My grandfathers, was stunned to think I knew someone born in the late 1800's. But then were born in the early 1890's. Even still, the world changed drastically in 1914 from the previous days before (not using the 1914 doctrine here). Even on-jw historians say that 1914 was a turning point in world history. I was amazed to meet people who had lived when there were no planes, and bought a plan and flew it without a license, who had met Charles Lindbergh before he was famous.
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1985 and baptism...I wish I had read this before today
by enoughisenough ini am posting a link as to being legally bound to jw rules at time of baptism.
i only did a quick skim, but what i gathered is interesting, and what it says about 1985 may be of use to some hoping to just fade and not be bothered.
in 1985, the questions were changed at baptism for legal purposes so they could have causation to defend themselves should you decide to sue for whatever reason.
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blondie
Here is a post I made some time ago which in the Opening Comments it lists several changes in the baptism questions: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/112946/comments-you-will-hear-5-7-06-wt-study
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Is This New?
by Lost in the fog init is a very long time since i was an elder and the elders textbooks have changed multiple times since then.
going back to when i was an elder, to the best of my knowledge the only way a spouse could divorce from his/her partner was porneia, if that person had sexual relations with a man, woman, child, or beast.
but it had to be proven and that's the dubious 2 witness rule.. in fact, if it was not proven and the innocent party divorced and married someone else, then they could be hauled up in front of a judicial committee and be charged with committing adultery and disfellowshipped!
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blondie
The Watchtower definition of fornication (porneía) has changed over the years, and quite illogically homosexuality and bestiality were not grounds for divorce in the 1970's then 1983, a complete flip.
Watchtower 1983 12/15 p.27
"That fornication (which in the Bible sense includes adultery and gross sexual immorality such as homosexuality) can break up a marriage. Scripturally, the innocent partner has the right to divorce the guilty one and remarry without sin in God’s eyes."Watchtower 1/1/1972 p. 32
While both homosexuality and bestiality are disgusting perversions, in the case of neither one is the marriage tie broken. It is broken only by acts that make an individual “one flesh” with a person of the opposite sex other than his or her legal marriage mate.
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JW's in war zone
by Gorb inthere is so much silence about the jw's in the ukraine conflict.
are the jw men arrested because they don't want to fight?
how is that going in the hyper nationalist fase the country is in?
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blondie
The issue of whether jws should take up arms in the wars on earth have been discussed surely since 1914 when WW1 broke out, and during every war since then. So the reasons have been fairly clear that the WTS does not support its members doing so. In fact, now it is considered "disassociating yourself" if you do (DAing). While the WTS is wishwashy about it and says it is an individual choice, but it comes with a punishment if you chose "wrong." There was been much discussion over time about being drafted, and there have been many "legal get-arounds" used by the WTS, and major changes that meant some went to prison or were executed for not becoming part of the military before that "adjustment", only to have some able to do community service instead later and avoid prison.. Jws in Korea still are routinely sent to prison.
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More Watchtower Quotes
by Sea Breeze inthe secret of the greater intelligence and aptitude of the caucasian undoubtedly in great measure is to be attributed to the commingling of blood amongst its various branches; and this was evidently forced in large measure by circumstances under divine control.“ — charles taze russell zion's watch tower (july 15, 1902), pp.
215-216.. golden age, july 1, 1927..... every bedroom [should receive] at least two hours of sunlight everyday.
[this will] kill tuberculosis and other germs.
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blondie
I remember that BettyHumpter. 1971 book The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How Chapter 20 p.377 "Doubtless the Almighty God will use some highly scientific means, whether including antimatter or not, to dispose of the surplus of decaying bodies in a speedy and sanitary way." The WTS covered their rear for future critique of this by using the word "doubtless" to give them a way out saying they were not stating it was a fact, just the WTS surmising it might happen, of course, if the WTS says it you can't say it is not true, but you must wait for the WTS/GB to "adjust" or "clarify" it.
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refusing to go in service with someone
by enoughisenough indid you ever refuse to go in service with someone?
i did.... i went to the kh to meet for service and 3 brothers were there.
i told the brother taking the lead, that when he made up the car groups to take note i had a plan of my own -the 3 brothers could go together and i would do my own thing.
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blondie
There were at least 10 men and women I refused to go with because they always picked fights with people at the door and one time with the owner of the apartment building about their legal right to preach from door to door even though the elders had told her to refer such situations to them. One time I went back in casual clothing and talked to one man and apologized for her behavior. He and his wife invited me in and we had coffee and home-made cookies and had a peaceful and fun conversation about the positive things people do every day to help others. And the jw who had been with me did not have any diagnosed mental illness (that's another issue).
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"Christian Witnesses of Jah" by Greg Stafford
by Bartolomeo inhow many of you know greg stafford and his youtube channel "christian witnesses of jah"?
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i really like his style, always calm, respectful of the holy scriptures and firmly based on them to analyze the teachings of the wt from which he disagrees.
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blondie
I am surprised he is still around.
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Two Bible teachings JW's DON'T know about....
by BoogerMan in....but the november 2022 study watchtower will definitely instruct them.. 1) god's name is jehovah!.
2) jehovah is using an earthly organization to do his will - not jesus!.
in study article 45, 'jehovah' is mentioned at least 60 times.
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blondie
Years ago, I posted on here how often the WTS used Jehovah compared to using Jesus/Christ. I was amazed how often Jehovah was used, way more than Jesus. Same in the so-called Kingdom songs. Although, checking the bible, no mention of "Jehovah's witnesses" in the New Testament, only "witnesses of Jesus" or witnessing about Jesus, The WTS tries to use Revelation 1:5, but it falls short compared to all the others about witnessing for Jesus. And Acts 11:26 says "Acts 11:26 New International Version "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." Called Christians not Jehovah's witnesses and some versions of this scripture say "by divine providence." (Divine Providence — that is, under God's sovereign guidance and control. " What does the WTS bible say: "After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians" WTS says: “the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.” (Acts 11:26) This was a God-given name that they readily accepted." Why didn't their god by divine providence, call the early followers of Jesus, Jehovah's witnesses?
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2022-Secret Watchtower Disfellowshipping Reference Manual.
by Atlantis inmassive new document written by wt, 837 pages, meant for arguments vs officials and media to defend the disfellowshipping arrangement.
found in the casefile in norway.
meant to be secret.. .
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blondie
I found both sites have expired. Is there another link?