Posts by blondie

27

June 2024 WT: Don't talk about Anthony Morris

by neat blue dog in

the latest study edition mentions hypothetical scenarios of jws who are no longer serving at bethel or no longer elders, etc.

and says we shouldn't speculate, as defaming them could border on slander.. we could unintentionally defame someone by spreading negative information.

..... would it be proper to speculate on the reasons why these adjustments were made and to share that opinion with others?.

blondie

How the WTS speculates, "The Bible does not say

The Bible does not say how long it took Noah to build the ark, but it seems that he spent several decades building it.

The Bible does not say, and traditions about their number vary. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Eastern tradition sets the number of Magi at 12, but Western tradition sets their number at three, probably based on the three gifts of ‘gold, frankincense, and myrrh’ (Matthew 2:11) presented to the infant.”

The Bible does not say, but here are some possible ways.

The Bible does not say why he left, but the apostle Paul evidently viewed Mark’s action as irresponsible. Paul might have had questions about Mark’s dependability.

How many thousands had become believers? The Bible does not say, but even by the end of the first century, the number of believers must have been far fewer than 144,000.

The Bible does not say, but the way events unfolded suggests that consideration for young Samuel was an important factor.

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

blondie

WTS statements about slacks/pants for woman over the years

1984

The principle in this text would not rule out a Christian woman’s wearing slacks sometimes, as when working around the house or on a farm. And according to local custom and necessity, slacks may be the desired attire in very cold climates.

1975

During cold weather she likely could arrange to be exposed to the weather for shorter periods of time, or pause more frequently to warm herself. But in frigid climates, where everyone in the community wears clothing appropriate to the weather, such as slacks, surely it is proper for Christian women to do the same.

1972

So if a woman were to put on a worn-out pair of her husband’s trousers to do a job around the house or on the farm, she would not be going against the evident purpose of the law, namely, to prevent confusion of sexual identity and sexual abuses...A Christian woman appreciates that whether it would be proper for her to wear slacks or pants depends upon factors other than her personal likes. She would not want to be the cause for stumbling others or bring reproach on the Christian congregation

1951

The women can use good judgment as to time and place and what is accepted as proper in the section where they reside. In some sections where winters are severe many women wear trousers or ski suits or some similar garment that covers and protects their legs. Such is not Scripturally wrong.

Reporting not Supporting

15

The New Busy Work

by NotFormer in

for a hundred years the slaves were kept from having the time and energy to question anything and associate anywhere where they might be exposed to alternative views by having to keep up the busy work of going door to door.

that avenue is drying up.

and policy is changing.. the wt needs new busy work to keep the sheep engaged without thinking.. the wt fancies itself as an up and coming movie studio.

blondie

NorFormer, it is just a little "joke." But then I have known of jws that go to the beach with small pamphlets to hand out to other beachgoers (to people on 2 person chairlifts (snow) as well. Or the jw grandfather that took walks on the beach talking about the "kingdom" to his unbaptized young grandfather.

23

When The 'Tower Is Mentioned In A Will

by NotFormer in

i assume someone from wt attends the reading of the will.

an elder, a co, some especially selected person from the branch under whose purview this sort of thing is maintained?.

what is the procedure?.

blondie

NotFormer, a will is a legal document and can't just be ignored. The WTS has brought a lawsuit against jw and non-jw relatives when they don't follow the will's direction.

8

Fleegle Calls The GB Meeting To Order

by NotFormer in

i still can't believe that fleegle is a member of the gb!.

here he is in prime form:.

https://youtu.be/o0ow8rzc8i4?si=b4wulfd1hpkqhfop.

blondie

Yes, that is true, NotFormer, Fleagle as in Flea Beagle.

56

The Reason Behind Recent Watchtower Changes

by Vanderhoven7 in

eric wilson's video is worth a view.. https://youtu.be/iil4fryuczk?si=f566n0tdqgpqc2ok.

blondie

I think too many jws are "voting with their pocketbook." A kind of passive-aggressive way of "rebelling." With so-called anonymous donations, hard to know who individually is not donating.

78

How can Babylon the Great be the WORLD of false religion?

by BoogerMan in

(revelation 17:5) “babylon the great, the mother of the prostitutes (plural!

) and of the disgusting things of the earth.”.

btg is spotlighted as being the principal "disgusting thing" which affects christians & christianity, with other lesser "prostitutes" in the background... (revelation 18:4) “get out of her, my people, (christians) if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.".

blondie

There was a time up until the 1950's when the WTS said they were not a religion at all. Then in the 1950's they changed that to "false religion" and "true religion" saying that the WTS was the only true religion. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1951607

"Why has the Watchtower Society suddenly approved the use of the word “religion” relative to the worship of Jehovah’s witnesses?—P. L., New York.

We are not trying to make a new language, but we want to use the language we have to the honor of God’s name, and do so with as little confusion as possible in Kingdom preaching. In the English language the word “religion” means the service or adoration of God or a god, as expressed through certain forms of worship. So the religion may be either true or false, depending upon both the god being worshiped and the form or manner of expressing the worship. If we practice the true form of worship of the true God Jehovah, and if we are speaking the English language, then when discussing our worship we may properly use the English words that will so limit our meaning, namely, “true religion.”

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

blondie

The WTS has a history of rewriting their publications to conform with current teachings. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/failed-1914-predictions.php

Studies In the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come pre 1914

Studies In the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come post 1914 editions

"That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished. With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance."
Click here for scan of 1911 edition

"That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished."
Click here for scan of 1923 edition

9

Russia's FSB Raids Jehovah’s Witness Office in Occupied Mariupol

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

russia's fsb raids jehovah’s witness office in occupied mariupol.. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/15/russias-fsb-raids-jehovahs-witness-office-in-occupied-mariupol-a83726.

blondie

Beth Sarim: I doubt that secular governments will not use the same practices on all religions and will be financially devastating for all of them. Time will tell. I am not just concerned about the hiding of child sexual abuse (CSA) better to say it for what it is, but in all religions and secular institutions. Only then will CSA be confronted head on in more situations. CSA is not exclusively a WTS problem, so all children can be protected more comprehensively. For me, it is the protection of children that is the most important thing, not bringing down anyone one religion or institution.

(The issue I was directly commenting on is that the WTS considers all human governments under Satan's control directly or indirectly)

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

blondie

One thing I thought was a big change in the WTS blood doctrine was the approval (by individual conscience) of the hemoglobin-based products. bloodchart2004

Products being developed from human or animal hemoglobin could be used to treat patients with acute anemia or massive blood loss. KM 1/06 p.5 "Products being developed from human or animal hemoglobin could be used to treat patients with acute anemia or massive blood loss." Quote from https://www.ajwrb.org/watchtower-approves-hemopure

For Jehovah’s Witnesses who are evaluating these issues we would simply point out the kind of tortured logic the WTS is employing by taking the largest single component of blood from an animal (hemoglobin) and saying that a Christian may use it in good conscience while at the same time arguing that a tiny component of human blood like platelets are not permitted. This is certainly not something that can be substantiated with the Bible or even science for that matter. We believe the only reasonable position is to allow individual Jehovah’s Witnesses a free choice in their medical treatment." That link to ajwrb.com is an ex-jw site with good info on the WTS blood doctrine.