Posts by TheListener

10

Unity vs. Uniformity

by confusedjw in

wasn't the thought that we were so unified a comforting one when you were in the congregation?

only to realize that kicking everyone out that disagrees or forcing people to act a certain way "in the name of god and the wt" produces uniformity and not unity.. there is a difference, which of course are worlds apart.. did you notice this while in?

what value do you place on unity now?

TheListener

I've always felt (well, since becoming eeeeevil ) that a lot of those in org. are there precisely because of the enforced uniformity. They don't want to think about what to do. They want to be told. Memorizing a bunch of mindnumbing rules and regulations is much easier than reasoning out various situations. When a circumstance comes up that isn't covered by memorized knowledge they break out the CD rom to see what they should do. If that doesn't work they call a favorite elder to guide them.

I've always felt (again, since becoming eeeeevil that getting a dub to reason on a matter using their own understanding is one of the most difficult things to do. They aren't comfortable making a decision unless it's from a memorized rule, cd rom or stated by an elder.

5

Open Minded Elder about Blood

by TheListener in

has anyone else seen the debate on another religious board (beliefnet -is that ok?

) about blood?.

apparently someone who has stated he's an elder has asked some questions about blood.

TheListener

I re-read the thread and it turns out that the only reason he has questions is due to a dub letter being written to the society. His body received a copy of the letter and the society response. Seems he wanted more medical information than wt information (since he already knows the wt info).

It seems that he can't reconcile the facts with what he believes. sounds like cognitive dissonance to me. He'll have to make a decisions of whether to ignore the facts or realize that what he believes has at least a couple problems. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I found a website that has a conversation between Marvin Shimler and Rick Rhoades (?). I assume it's ok to say since it's already on the web. They talk about the monochronic issue and rhoades (apologist?) has an answer but I think it's on the weak side. If I can find the link again I'll post it.

5

Open Minded Elder about Blood

by TheListener in

has anyone else seen the debate on another religious board (beliefnet -is that ok?

) about blood?.

apparently someone who has stated he's an elder has asked some questions about blood.

TheListener

Has anyone else seen the debate on another religious board (beliefnet -is that ok?) about blood?

Apparently someone who has stated he's an elder has asked some questions about blood. The witnesses on the discussion don't believe he's a witness and seem to be pretty defensive. The apostates have been pretty friendly and helpful as we usually are . I'll post his questions:

1. Since whole blood sharing occurs between twins in a monochorionic pregnancy in a natural setting, why isn't that recognized by the WT the same as blood fractions crossing the placental barrier?

2. Since whole white blood cells are in breast milk (up to 1 million cells per drop of colostrum), why aren't white blood cell transfusions a conscience matter?

I know some of this stuff has been discussed here before, but to see an elder ask about it on an openly apostate filled db means that some are beginning to think for themselves. Read the thread, it is really interesting.

I am going to do some research on this for him and hopefully I can help answer his questions.

38

Please welcome my wife, Gina AKA FreedomFrog

by AlmostAtheist in

jw
friends

hey all,.

gina's got her own account now, she's freedomfrog.

hopefully she'll tear herself away from u.n., blood, birthday, and whatever else research long enough to say 'hi' back!.

TheListener

Welcome to the forum Freedom Frog. It's good to have you here. If you need any help researching or just want to vent we'll be here for you.

You both are so lucky that you're coming out together. I'm green with envy.

(get it, green, like a frog)

108

my transformation, I am showing off here...

by jwbot in

jw
friends

hey all, i just took some "after" pictures today and need to share with my friends.

as some of you know, i lost a bit of weight recently.

(by eating less, eating better and exersizing - it actually works sometimes!)..

TheListener

Good for you! Being committed to a routine like yours can be dificult. You deserve two thumbs up.

By the way, was that a bag of m&m's on the shelf behind you in pic #2.

-Listener -of the not a boobs man but an m&m's man class

14

Details on "Advance Health Care Directive"

by ezekiel3 in

the ?blood card?

and dpa have been combined into one document that folds into a business card size.

(unfolded it measures 6.75 x 8.5 inches / 17 x 21.5 cm.

TheListener

I have the instructions. They say "REVISED" in big bold letters across the top of the page.

It appears that for point 3, which addresses the use of minor fractions of blood in your treatment there is a note added:

NOTE: If the options in point 3 do not represent your choices, use point 6 (blank lines) to express your wishes, such as: "I accept all minor fractions of blood" or "I accept all minor fractions of blood except:," and then itemize only the fractions you reject. After the sentence in point 3 that reads "Regarding minor fractions of blood: [initial those that apply]," you may write "see point 6 below."

Also,

It appears that for point 4 which addresses medical procedures involving the use of your own blood that may temporarily leave your body there is also a note added:

NOTE: If the options in point 4 do not represent your choices, use point 6 (blank lines) to express your wishes, such as: "during the course of a surgical operation, I acceptall medical procedures involving the use of my own blood" or "during the course of a surgical operation, I accept all medical procedures involving the use of my own blood except:," and then itemize only the medical procedures you reject. After the sentence in point 4 that reads "Regarding medical procedures involving the use of my own blood, except diagnostic procedures, such as blood samples for testing: [initial those that apply]," you may write "see point 6 below."

I hope this helps.

17

My husband's new blood papers are in the trash???

by wordlywife in

jw
friends

i don't know what the new terminology is for the forms, but that paperwork, already signed by him (i refuse all blood, etc.

), is in the trash.

i found it while looking for some schoolwork of my daughter's.

TheListener

I hope this works out for you worldlywife. Doesn't it suck having an issue that you are dying to know the answer to but can't really bring up in conversation.

Hopefully you hit the jackpot, but just in case don't open the champagne just yet.

23

Why do witnesses HAVE to use only hotels on the list for the conventions?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

.

does anyone know the answer to this?.

a while back i read that the society gets free rooms for its convention speakers if they agree to fill so many rooms in a hotel with dubs, but is there anything more involved?.

TheListener

You're not only told what hotels to call, but when to call. Starting a couple of years ago the society decided that too many of us were calling after the meeting. So now the instructions are to wait for the next business day. CONTROL, CONTROL, CONTROL.

It's almost as if they want to see how much control they have.

No talk so far this year (at least not in the KM insert) about bringing your own lunch. Perhaps they'll send another special letter.

I know this was discussed last year, but can you believe the letter actually quoted Eccl 3:1 to show that this included a time to bring one's own lunch? I'm not sure which was worse, hearing it or having to nod my head in agreement with everyone else like some fantastic scriptural lesson was just imparted.

11

Godly Obedience in 2005

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

yep, "godly obedience" is the theme for this years district convention.. you know the wts will be hot on obedience this year.. expect more wt articles asking for money (as obedience to jehovah), asking for more pioneers and elders, and making this a matter of obedience.. it's getting worse.. at the meeting this week, a whole 25 minutes was taken up on what to do regarding accomodation at the district convention.. brother zealous said if we're not obedient to the instructions that the faithful slave has given us, we undermine the hard work the society puts in to arrange these provisions.. godley obedience means we will attend all three days at our convention.. .

this cult makes me sick.

everything is about jehovah; jesus just does not figure in anything, unless they feel the need to quote a scripture or something.. .

TheListener

Some of us go to keep peace in the family. Also, it's a great way to see packs of scantily clad women roaming the corridors looking for guys. Not that I notice

If you don't go to the convention you kind of show your cards. You will probably not be considered fading; but faded. If you're not ready for that then going is the only choice.

11

Godly Obedience in 2005

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

yep, "godly obedience" is the theme for this years district convention.. you know the wts will be hot on obedience this year.. expect more wt articles asking for money (as obedience to jehovah), asking for more pioneers and elders, and making this a matter of obedience.. it's getting worse.. at the meeting this week, a whole 25 minutes was taken up on what to do regarding accomodation at the district convention.. brother zealous said if we're not obedient to the instructions that the faithful slave has given us, we undermine the hard work the society puts in to arrange these provisions.. godley obedience means we will attend all three days at our convention.. .

this cult makes me sick.

everything is about jehovah; jesus just does not figure in anything, unless they feel the need to quote a scripture or something.. .

TheListener

I couldn't agree more. That 25 minute part was pure BS. 25 minutes devoted to how to make reservations and act in a hotel, and barely a minute on what the actual convention will be about. That will come later. Can you imagine - we need 25 minutes to discuss something so mundane. I never realized the amount of control until the last couple years. I always felt that everything was for my benefit. Now I feel duped. Instead of saying here are some good suggestions for where to stay, they make it a matter of obeying god himself. And we (they) even have rules and regulations about when and how to make reservations and how soon to send in your deposit (do people really send checks for the deposit anymore?). The only thing worse than this part will be actually attending this thing.