Duran, I know non-jws believe differently, and the WTS always has its own interpretation to fit its doctrines.
Posts by blondie
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40Memorial attendance
by Balaamsass2 incurious.
what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?
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WASHINGTON ST PASSES BILL MANDATING CLERGY REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
by blondie inhttps://www.thereflector.com/stories/washington-legislature-passes-bill-to-make-clergy-mandatory-reporters-of-child-abuse,378913 .
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blondie
As to the privileged communication, that is similar to the clergy-penitent practice of the Catholic church where there is a one-on-one with confessor and priest privately, no other one involved, no report to headquarters. The WTS has tried to say they qualify under this exception, except it is 3 elders that meet with the person, a file is kept by the body of elders in the congregation, and a report sent to headquarters. "Clergy-penitent privilege, also known as priest-penitent privilege, protects confidential communications between a member of the clergy and a penitent, preventing disclosure to third parties in legal proceedings. This privilege applies when the communication is made to a clergy member in their professional capacity as a spiritual advisor" On top of this the WTS has claimed they have no clergy class: 1951 "Christians maintain no Levitical priesthood. No “clergy class” exists among them" Switching to a legalistic approach in WT 1971 p. 507, the WTS starts using this distinction "Likewise among Jehovah’s witnesses today there is no paid clergy class
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God’s wisdom in allowing bearded JWs July 25 Watchtower
by Listener inthe july 2025 watchtower has a paragraph that claims that it was the superior power and wisdom of jehovah that guided the gb into allowing jws to grow beards.. the study article is ‘can you still learn from basic bible teachings?’ under the subheading ‘jehovah is the creator’ paragraph 7 states-.
“ 7. what did rahela do to accept a change in direction?.
your answer.
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blondie
Up until 1968 the WTS did not picture Jesus with a beard. WT 1968 p. 288 Questions from Readers "Nevertheless, as already shown, it is apparent that Jesus did wear a beard, and so artistic representations of him in future Watch Tower publications will harmonize with the Scriptural evidence to that effect." But added this "In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God’s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth." and at the end "In paradise restored on earth it would not be out of order if men returned to wearing beards, in perfect fashion, like Adam in Eden." Picture of Adam without beard by WTS: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/73465037648316667/
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Can someone remind me the reason's you could be disfellowshipped?
by SydBarrett inthe only reasons i can remember are smoking, sexual immorality and of course, apostasy.
there must be others but having been out since 1990, i'm drawing a blank.
i was thinking perhaps serious criminal offenses that result in prison, but then i remembered a brother in my congregation in the 1980's who went to prison.
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blondie
In support of BalaamsAss comment: Also can be df'd for "brazen conduct." WT definition: "
Brazen conduct
From the Greek a·selʹgei·a, a phrase pertaining to acts that are serious violations of God’s laws and that reflect a brazen or boldly contemptuous attitude; a spirit that betrays disrespect or even contempt for authority, laws, and standards. The expression does not refer to wrong conduct of a minor nature.--Galatians 5:19, 2 Peter 2:7" "When a person is guilty of brazen conduct, a judicial committee will handle the matter. Uncleanness includes various types of wrongdoing. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, some matters involving uncleanness might need to be handled by a judicial committee in the congregation." Remain in God's Love page 249. Basically ignoring the elders.. "loose conduct is grounds for reproof and possible disfellowshipping from the Christian congregation" "When trying to identify loose conduct, elders should look for brazenness, wantonness, filthiness, shamelessness, and what is shocking to public decency." Questions From Readers WT July 2006
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Live long and prosper: WT JULY 2025
by raymond frantz in"now more than ever, we need to focus on our hope.
because we are living in 'the last days' and we all have problems that are 'hard to deal with.
' (2 tim.
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blondie
Thanks for the link.
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WASHINGTON ST PASSES BILL MANDATING CLERGY REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
by blondie inhttps://www.thereflector.com/stories/washington-legislature-passes-bill-to-make-clergy-mandatory-reporters-of-child-abuse,378913 .
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blondie
Senate Bill 5375, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, passed the House 64-31 on Friday, April 11. It now heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who must sign it for it to become law.
The bill makes clergy members mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect and does not include an exemption for information shared in a confessional.
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Memorial attendance
by Balaamsass2 incurious.
what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?
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blondie
Ding "When Jesus instituted the meal in the first century, did he invite any non-participants to come and watch? No. So why does the Watchtower do so?"" Good question, originally, all the members of the WTS were self-reported anointed. Then as the numbers of attendees approached 95,000 there seemed to be a problem (144,000 total supposed starting from 33 CE!). But then the end did not come in 1925 and the numbers dropped off dramatically the next year. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php
The Bible is clear that the Great Crowd are in heaven, as was taught by the Watchtower until 1935. (quote of what WTS taught)
"… all the facts and the scriptures bearing upon the matter under consideration show that those who form the great multitude constitute a spirit class, born on the spirit plane." Watchtower 1927 15 Jan pp.19-20 "The Great Multitude," https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/great-crowd-other-sheep.php
"Today, according to authentic records, there is a “great crowd” of dedicated, baptized Christians who actively collaborate with the small remnant of spiritual Israelites. Ever since the spring of 1938 they have been invited to attend the annual memorial celebration of Christ’s death, not to partake of the memorial emblems, the unleavened bread and the red wine, but as respectful observers" WT 1979 November 15, p.27
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Blood decisions are now your problem: WT JULY 2025
by raymond frantz inthe following is from the latest study watchtower july 2025, study article 28, paragraph 17:.
each christian must make up his or her own mind about whether to accept or to reject these fractions.
we may find it a challenge to understand this matter fully, but making decisions like this is part of the load that each of us must carry.
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blondie
https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/blood-transfusions.php
Haemoglobin
Haemoglobin is what makes blood blood, as it carries the oxygen. It is also a major component of blood by weight, accounting for 33% of red blood cells and 14% of whole blood. As such, to allow haemoglobin effectively makes the Watchtower's entire blood policy meaningless.
1992 - Specifically Forbidden
“It would be right, of course, to avoid products that listed things such as blood, blood plasma, plasma, globin [or globulin] protein, or hemoglobin [or globin] iron.” Watchtower 1992 Oct 15 p.31
2000- Indirectly Allowed. With the Watchtower 2000 Jun 15 stating that fractions of the four blood components are allowed, haemoglobin was indirectly permitted, being a fraction of red blood cells. The same conclusion could also be drawn from the 2004 chart.
2006- Specifically Allowed. In the Kingdom Ministry 2006 Nov p.5, a work sheet specifically stated that haemoglobin is a personal decision.
For the history of WT stance on blood transfusions, jwfacts.com has a wonderful piece documenting this history of the blood doctrine over time till today. I always check to see how things are changing regarding using hemoglobin-based products made with expired human blood and others with animal blood. "
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Blood decisions are now your problem: WT JULY 2025
by raymond frantz inthe following is from the latest study watchtower july 2025, study article 28, paragraph 17:.
each christian must make up his or her own mind about whether to accept or to reject these fractions.
we may find it a challenge to understand this matter fully, but making decisions like this is part of the load that each of us must carry.
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blondie
In print the WTS says it is a conscience matter (for legal purposes) but the chatter behind the scenes from elders, etc., can and will walk it back.
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Live long and prosper: WT JULY 2025
by raymond frantz in"now more than ever, we need to focus on our hope.
because we are living in 'the last days' and we all have problems that are 'hard to deal with.
' (2 tim.
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blondie
nowwhat? Yes, they are selling kingdom halls and combining more congregations in one building. Here there are 4 congregations meeting in one building. Midweek meetings M, TU, W, TH and Public talk and WT study combo twice one Saturday other Sunday.
