The independent study groups were formally ended by the WTS in 1980/1981 when the WTS connected it to the "apostasy" problem at Bethel. The WTS hunted down this people and invited some to leave and others were eventually df'd. Even social occasions were limited by the number of people who attend. The WTS did allow 2 families could meet together for a "pre-study" of the WTS, but only 2 single people were implied. It caused a lot of unhappiness among the members and shutdown many occasions that promoted people getting to know each other outside of "field service" and meetings.
Posts by blondie
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21Keep telling yourself that!
by Lost in the fog inin the latest copy of the elders textbook someone kindly made available to us on this website, i see that "independently organized meetings for spiritual feeding" are still not allowed.
no wonder because independent research would let the scales fall from the eyes.. the gb still insisting that they are guided by the (always lower case) holy spirit and the bible!!
not that the rank and file members need the bible or holy spirit themselves because they are fed through meetings, conventions, assemblies, jw broadcasting and the publications.
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12
What do Jehovah`s Witnesses beleive that can be linked to Pagan practices , anyone ?
by smiddy3 ina previous thread has inspired me to post this ,thanks guys .. { i`ve been out for so long i may have missed something }.
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blondie
Used to believe that Polynesian luaus were connected to false religion and that pinatas also had connections but the WTS back tracked on that. Pinata September 22, 2003 Awake, page 22. We found that for many people in Mexico, the piñata has lost its religious significance and is considered by most to be just harmless fun. In fact, piñatas are used in Mexico on many festive occasions, not just for the posadas or for birthdays...When considering whether to include a piñata at a social gathering, Christians should be sensitive to the consciences of others. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33) A main concern is, not what the practice meant hundreds of years ago, but how it is viewed today in your area. Understandably, opinions may vary from one place to another. Hence, it is wise to avoid turning such matters into big issues.
Luaus As noted there in our footnote on page 24, while the luau may at one time have had a connection with false religious practices, the word now has simply come to refer to a Hawaiian banquet. A specific gathering to which the word "luau" is applied may or may not be appropriate for a Christian to attend. As in all aspects of life, Christians should make decisions that will leave them with a clear conscience before Jehovah God. (January 8, 2000, issue of "Awake!" pages 26-7.)
Kauai Luau Celebrations and Feasts
A Kauai luau is a party or celebration with Hawaiian music, dancing, food and fun.
Non jw source: Traditionally luaus were held as a thank you to the gods to celebrate a battle victory, the birth of child or a safe return from a long voyage. As a religious ceremony a luau consisted of elaborate rituals which needed much preparation.
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/133780/comments-you-will-hear-5-6-07-wt-review-resist-demons
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Do the old boys on the GB actually report their field service hours?
by eyeslice inthis came to mind as my 71 year old wife got up at 6:30 to drive 1.1/4 hours to meet the field ministry group.
we live a long way from the kingdom hall and the traffic is horrendous where we live!.
somehow, i doubt the good old boys do much themselves.
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blondie
I might add that public speakers can report their time as well. No need for door to door or even personal studies with non-jws. "Brothers may count the time spent delivering a public talk. An interpreter for a public talk may count the time as well." GB members give many talks, even invited to individual congregations for dedication of buildings (of course congregation pays for their travel and other expenses). (Organized to do Jehovah's Will book p.82)
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What does Watchtower think of being Medically Assisted in Death (MAiD)?
by Vanderhoven7 inthere has been much political controversy in canada over the acceptability of maid.
what, if anything, has watchtower said about this issue?.
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blondie
Here is an ambiguous phrase put in an article about assisted "suicide". "A person who shows respect for life would seek the best medical care available. Yet, doing so does not require choosing medical procedures that simply prolong a dying process that is nearly complete."https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/publication/r1/lp-e/ijwbq/0 p. 135 Euthanasia
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Is Your Name in “the Book of Life?"
by BruceX inhere are 2 reviews about the recent watchtower study article "is your name in “the book of life?':.
https://beroeans.net/2022/11/24/wt-fantasy/.
https://michaeljfelker.com/2022/11/16/is-your-name-in-the-book-of-life-watchtower-study-review-september-2022/.
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blondie
The WTS even teaches the anointed while holy spirit "bears witness" to them are chosen, they are not permanently written in the book of life until they die "faithful." In WT September 2022 page 19-20, the WTS said this: "Does this mean that all those who have their name written in this book are guaranteed everlasting life? We find the answer to that question in Jehovah’s words to Moses, quoted at Exodus 32:33. Jehovah said: “Whoever has sinned against me, I will wipe him out of my book.” Thus, names that are presently in that book can be wiped out, or erased, as if Jehovah had initially written the names in pencil. (Rev. 3:5, ftn.) We must make sure that our name remains in that book until it is written permanently in ink, as it were."
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2022--December--S-147--Announcements And Reminders!
by Atlantis inwill they start appointing "teen-agers"?
who knows, nothing is shocking when it comes to the tower.
paragraph 1 says: "teens or even "younger" for responsibilities in the congregation.. 2022-december-s-147-announcements and reminders.. click the image to enlarge.. page 1--https://postimg.cc/hhh8c3sd page-2--https://postimg.cc/pnzpzfjh if this keeps up they will be asking babies in diapers to give the instruction talks.
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blondie
I can remember when us women met for the congregation midweek field service at the KH, the only male there was a newly baptized boy, 13 years old, and he had to conduct the meeting. Now that was uncomfortable for his mother too, and only he could offer prayer.
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Anthony Morris responds to Norway's denial of financial aid
by RULES & REGULATIONS inhttps://direkte.vg.no/nyhetsdognet/news/jehovas-vitner-nektes-statsstoette.5z-pnao3e?utm_source=share-btn.
08:20 27.1.kristoffer solberg.
jehovah's witnesses denied state aid.
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blondie
The WTS and its representatives will be instructed to "lie" to these authorities as they did when appearing before the government people in Australia regarding their beliefs. The WTS teaches that this is not "lieing" because these authorities are not "entitled" to the truth. "While malicious lying is wrong in Jehovah’s eyes, a person is not obligated to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it. Even Jesus Christ did not give full details or direct answers when doing so could have brought unnecessary harm."
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Do you Attend University scholarly Lectures
by peacefulpete inwe've been privileged to attend a number of outstanding lectures on a wide range of scientific topics, some by now quite famous researchers.
for example, we attended a caltech discussion/lecture by svante paabo not long after his initial work on neanderthal dna was released and met him after the lecture.
he wasn't a dynamic speaker but a humble man who obviously felt more comfortable in the lab than on the podium.
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blondie
People 60 or over can audit university courses for free. I have done that. During COVID-19 this has been difficult. But I have watched shows with such speakers.
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The use of "Stumbled" as a Control Technique.
by Phizzy ini thought about this when i read the expression in another thread, "someone was stumbled", they would never tell you who the person was, and simply used it to control you, or it got worse, some times it was "you might stumble someone" .. who were these stumbling loons of which they spoke ?
not only was it a control mechanism, it encouraged you to not be your real self, ever.. i liked the response of one of my jw relatives to this, where they expected him to change the person he was, he said "these people accusing me are not perfect are they ?
no, well then, they cannot expect perfection from me".
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blondie
Yes, every time an elder told me that some unnamed jw said something I was doing was "stumbling" that person, I would ask who. Never knew who it was and the elder would not tell me. I said they should come to me and talk about it first. I would also ask the elder why he and his family are doing the same thing and why they don't stop. Yes, the "stumbling" game is used by too many jws to interfere with other jws lives. But them I ask the elder if this counsel is being shared with the "stumbled one." "“Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law,” sang the psalmist, “and for them there is no stumbling block.” (Psalm 119:165) If we as individuals love and keep Jehovah’s law, we will not be stumbled spiritually by what someone else does or by any other matter." WT 2005 4/15 p. 20
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25
Did YOU have 'princes' in YOUR congregation?
by BoogerMan inlol .
w54 5/1 p. 277 par.
17 - some of the “great crowd” are now serving in position of “princes,” .
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blondie
The statement in the 2014 WT says "Doubtless, Christ will appoint others from among faithful elders of today to take the lead in the new world" In WTS jargon, "doubtless" means we are just "suggesting it" but even if you don't understand it you must believe it and wait until the WTS adjust this "fact." Many other words like this, I call them weasel words where the WTS goes on to tell how prayers should be said. "How long should our prayers be? The Bible doesn’t say. Our prayers can be short or long, depending on the situation. For example, we might say a short prayer before we eat but a longer prayer when we are giving Jehovah thanks or telling him about our concerns. (1 Samuel 1:12, 15) We don’t want to say long prayers just to impress others, as some people did in Jesus’ day. (Luke 20:46, 47) Jehovah is not impressed by prayers like those. What’s important to Jehovah is that we pray from our heart.