rebel8

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Posts by rebel8

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  34

  'Clergy' and 'Ordained Ministers'

  by OrphanCrow in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  what i can't seem reconcile are the concepts of 'clergy' and 'ordained minister'.. the wts has consistently won legal battles, specifically in cases involving military exemption, by making the claim that each and every baptized jw is an 'ordained minister'.

  and, they bolstered this label with the assertion that 'we do not have a clergy class'.

  so, why is that different now in the sex abuse trials that happening right now?

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  rebel8

  On my pioneer ID card, it said I was an ordained jw minister. Do elders have those silly ID cards?

  IIRC, at the time, all baptized, active publishers were technically considered ordained ministers...but us appointees were the only ones with ID cards to prove it. (I was told to show it when called to jury duty or if I needed time off work to attend assemblies.)

  When I told them for the last time that I am not going to participate in dubism anymore, they were hot to get my pioneer ID card back because it said the ordination thing.

  Silly.
  
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  21

  Joined up, long time looking

  by highline20 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  joined the site, not that i have much to share.. i'm married to a jw (wife).

  i never have been or will be a jw, i honestly hate the wt (not the jws).

  being married to a jw, can sometimes make you crazy, i never believed any of the bs.

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  rebel8

  are you saying she is able to report preaching hours I join her at meeting??

  Yes, it counts as a 'return visit' because she is re-witnessing to you. And she can count her time 'bringing' you there and any time she spends chatting about the meeting before and after.

  I hate it and I'm sure everybody at the KH can tell

  She gets bonus points for this, socially speaking. She is now both the pitiful Wife in a Divided Household and the faithful Wife Who Gets Her Unbelieving Husband to Attend Meetings Even Though He Doesn't Want to. Sympathy and admiration.
  

  I personally know someone like you who went for years and finally gave in and joined. Witnesses know these stories--they pass them around all the time and are all undoubtedly believing your 'hard heart' is softening. Often they are unable to fathom how a person could be repeatedly exposed to their Special Truths w/o joining.
  
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  69

  "Your bad attitude is evident, because you don't bring a meeting bag to the meetings anymore!"

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  yes friends.....this is the comment said to me by an elder!.

  "your bad attitude is evident because you don't bring your meeting bag anymore!".

  i calmly replied: "but everything i need is on the tablet now......".

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  rebel8

  I think those of you still 'in' should carry a different bag every week, in increasing sizes, culminating in a giant suitcase.
  
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  69

  "Your bad attitude is evident, because you don't bring a meeting bag to the meetings anymore!"

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  yes friends.....this is the comment said to me by an elder!.

  "your bad attitude is evident because you don't bring your meeting bag anymore!".

  i calmly replied: "but everything i need is on the tablet now......".

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  rebel8

  Bookbags and highlighters were a sign of spiritual depth when I was in, for sure.

  If I got this advice, I would be tempted to go Superfine Turbo 1970sjw. Do this, approach the elders, and say, "Better now?"
  

  For men--polyester, wide lapeled suit, wide tie, highwater hem, oxfords, vest, coat buttoned all the way up, watchtower tie tack, glasses with masking tape holding them together, pulled together with an enormous bookbag. Hair must be parted on the side, sideburns must be present but not be longer than the earlobe, no beard or mustache.
  

  For women--thick pantyhose, low-heeled pumps, a-line skirt with a mid-calf or lower hemline, half slip, camisole under your polyester blouse (which is buttoned up One Extra Button So You Don't Stumble the Brothers), modest haircut, little makeup, Stepford Wives vacant smile, lady-sized bookbag with a slew of highlighters, earmarked magazines with underlining. If you have kids, include a wooden spoon or ruler for spanking.
  
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  21

  Joined up, long time looking

  by highline20 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  joined the site, not that i have much to share.. i'm married to a jw (wife).

  i never have been or will be a jw, i honestly hate the wt (not the jws).

  being married to a jw, can sometimes make you crazy, i never believed any of the bs.

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  rebel8

  Welcome.

  I only join her at the meeting 1 or 2 times a month
  

  I have always wondered about this. What do you see as the benefit of attending meetings?

  From my experience, nonbelievers attending only does more damage.

  1. Improves her social status, making her more likely to stay in the cult.
  2. Gives her hope you may join up (and yes, some have, in your situation), making her more likely to stay in the cult.
  3. Provides her with reportable preaching hours, making her more likely to stay in the cult.
     

  Good luck with your situation.
  
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  5

  Article published in Philippines - "Group offers to translate Bible into Pangasinan" Name of Group? WTS Remote Translaton Office

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/685988/group-offers-to-translate-bible-into-pangasinan.

  group offers to translate bible into pangasinan .

  skilled translators from various pangasinan-speaking towns work hard every day without pay at the remote translation office of the watch tower in san carlos city, pangasinan province, to translate english bibles and bible-based literature into the mother tongue.

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  rebel8

  I was recently told the new bible was translated into another obscure language as well. It seems like they are doing this for bragging rights primarily, secondarily to prey upon people who are linguistically isolated.
  
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  11

  "Neither can salt water produce fresh water." - James 3:12, RNWT

  by 88JM in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i noticed this verse the other night and thought it looked so obviously ridiculously provably untrue that there must be something more to it.

  surely even a bible writer must understand that desalination isn't witchcraft?.

  new american standard bible:"nor can salt water produce fresh.".

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  rebel8

  fukitol, The Bible's blatant inaccuracy is not "obscure and irrelevant" to a discussion forum about a religion based upon it.

  That evidence is, in fact, not irrelevant to human society in general. That book has caused much death, stunting of technology, human rights violations, etc.

  Its inaccuracy is extremely important.
  
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  24

  Conn. Firefighter Who Is Jehovah's Witness Files Federal Discrimination Lawsuit

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  conn. firefighter who is jehovah's witness files federal discrimination lawsuit.

  http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202722980377/conn-firefighter-who-is-jehovahs-witness-files-federal-discrimination-lawsuit#ixzz3xhkbpznt.

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  rebel8

  In this thread, several people say no one should be forced to participate in flag stuff.

  I don't see where the article mentions him being forced to do anything. He is suing for harassment.

  Am I missing something?
  
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  48

  Struggling

  by Alive! in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i read here regularly and although i haven't joined in, i really appreciate all the wonderful contributions from those who are willing to share their experiences.... .

  i was a convert.

  i won't go into the whole history ( perhaps another day) - my story could easily be recognised in the small town where i live, with my husband.. so, we stopped going to the meetings around a period of time when we were going through severe emotional difficulties - at that point, we needed unconditional family love - the hectic, forced jw dinner parties and social occasions gave no real comfort.

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  rebel8

  Alive, I live in an area with a ton of retirees and there is always so much stuff to do. They are having a blast. I am scoping out which senior clubs I'm going to join once I'm old enough. I think they let you join at 55! Sometimes they have day trips and other activities too.
  
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  29

  Mystery Letters of "Human Apostate" talk 2013 summer convention and its connection to Lev.5:1

  by Bill Covert in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  greetings from redding calif. my name is bill covert.

  i am one of those viet nam war felons for having to refuse communtiy service in lieu of military induction per direct instructions from ny, so i have been around for a while.

  i am the writer of the letters mentioned in the human apostate talk of the 2013 conventions.

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  rebel8

  How do you know the 'human apostate' was referring to you?

  Apologies if I'm misunderstanding. The only quote I can find is: "apostates may use smooth talk on the internet, on television or through letters to loyal witnesses of Jehovah". This doesn't refer to any individual though.