i have a question.
who actually owns the kingdom halls in the us?
the local congregation (which has paid or is paying the mortgage) or the wt society?
Hi all. I have a question. Who actually owns the Kingdom Halls in the US? The local congregation (which has paid or is paying the mortgage) or the WT Society? How about the land on which the hall is built? An article on Freeminds.org says that the Society owns the land even though the local congregation may be paying the mortgage. Does anyone have knowledge of how this all works?
Joe
huge news everyone!
i recently had a breakthrough with my mom.
we were debating last night for several hours, during which time brought up the mexico/malawi situation, which she of course being a faithful and blind witness, knew nothing about.
Several years ago, the WT had a question from readers, "How can we distinguish a tip from a bribe?". Mexico was not specifically mentioned but clearly the intent was to create a smoke screen so that in the event a JW was asked about the Mexico / Malawi incident, the JW would conclude that apostates were maliciously accusing the Society of bribery when in reality it was only a tip. Witnesses want to believe the Society would never commit such wrongs. The average JW would not take the time to research what actually took place. So they will readily latch onto any explanation the Society would give. So if you bring the issue up, be prepared for your mom suggesting that they were only giving a tip to officials to get some governmental services.
i am new here and have been "lurking" for several months.
the discussions have helped me tremendously to break free from the society.
i want to thank you all for your help and heartfelt posts.
Hi Grace! Yea. Every once and a while I pop up. So very busy, but doing well. Vicky and kids are all fine. Just closed on a house for my kids here in Waterbury. I have 4 grand children now. Daughter has two and son in Florida has two. BTW the next BRCI conference will be in Orlando. Hope you can make it. Miss you.
Love,
Joe
i am new here and have been "lurking" for several months.
the discussions have helped me tremendously to break free from the society.
i want to thank you all for your help and heartfelt posts.
Welcome. I don't post a lot, but do lurk quite a bit. Your story captured my attention. Glad to see you are gradually moving forward along with your family. Your statement about enjoying just reading the Bible resounded with me.
Also you mention how the song My Favorite Things, helped you along. That has always been one of my favorite songs but I honestly never thought about how it fits so well in helping us get over the pain of shunning, etc. While on the subject, I want to say how much listening to music was such a great help to me during the time I was in the process of leaving. So many songs which I had never paid too much attention to, had such beautiful words that expressed so well what I was going through. I am convinced the God uses music and the many talented artists to speak to us in our times of need.
Joe Whedbee Jr.
in the 70s the wt published that certain practices between marriage partners such as oral sex were wrong and could result in disfellowshipping.
we all remember the havoc it wreaked on marriages especially where a non jw mate was involved.
they later backed away from this position.
In the 70s the WT published that certain practices between marriage partners such as oral sex were wrong and could result in disfellowshipping. We all remember the havoc it wreaked on marriages especially where a non jw mate was involved. They later backed away from this position. Later sometime in the 80s they seemed to again put the practice off limits and warned of possible sanctions if the couple "advocated" such practices or if it became known. (Unlike their earlier position, elders were not to initiate any investigations or go on "witch hunts"). Can anyone tell me if this is the current position. If not, what is their policy on this issue. I've been out for close to 15 years.
Thanks
a lawyer for a municipality contacted me today.
a jw is suing the city for, among other things, disciplining her for her refusal to pick up a birthday cake for someone.
she says that carrying, transporting a birthday cake is against her religion.
A lawyer for a municipality contacted me today. A JW is suing the city for, among other things, disciplining her for her refusal to pick up a birthday cake for someone. She says that carrying, transporting a birthday cake is against her religion. There are other issues which he did not go into. He inquired about the WT policy which indicates that "withholding the truth from opposers is okay". He will be taking a deposition from this JW plaintiff and is wonderfing if she would be inclined to "withhold the truth" if necessary. I told him that it was my opinion that the WT society would not back her up in a case like this since it is not likely to have any ramifications on the organization as a whole. I don't think they teach that carrying a birthday cake is wrong. They would probably say it was a matter of conscience. I told him that most (95%) of JW's are perfectly willing to accept a birthday present or Christmas present. He could ask her if she had ever accepted such. It might reveal an inconsistent position on her part. Any thoughts from current JWs here on the WT position?
bro-jo
i was at the hospital the other day in the waiting room for about 2 hours with a friend, and i noticed only one awake magazine from 2000 in the pile of reading material.. i always thought that the watchtower was trying to "preach the good news to all the inhabited earth before the end comes".
well , they don't like the internet, which is the # 1 way to inform people, you cannot get a subscription anymore unless someone at the hall does it for you or you are still attending, probaly why i didn't see any at the hospital, or lawyers office, or doctor's office etc etc etc.. it seems to me that they are trying to limit what info gets out to the outside world, is this not contradicting all they have preached the last 50 years.. no subscriptions for anyone who might want one ?????????.
no new books, for anyone who is not a jw.. what do you think ????????.
How about their teaching that the horses with scorpion tails of Revelation refer to the numerous WT publications God uses. They supposedly contain a "stinging" message to opposers. Wouldn't this show that the literature is to be distributed to those favorable or unfavorable toward the message. How will they get this stinging message if we withhold the literature from them? Is there a prophecy that says that a time would come where in the symbolic horses would be corraled?
BRO-JO
i recall reading a couple years back, some court documents posted on an ex-jw site that stated that charles taze russell was accused by his wife (at their divorce hearing) of sexually abusing a girl that they had taken in to their home.
does anyone have any information on this?
or know where i can find this again?
Barbara Anderson with silent lambs has done tons or research on these allegations of Russell molestation of this girl. She may be able to give you the information.
the watchtower of 15th june, 2002 contains a strange three-paragraph-article about 'confidential matters':.
a time to reveal a confidential matter.
keeping certain matters confidential can mean the difference between peace and contention.
Perhaps the WT now realizes that they will be forced to name names of child molesters, which they have been keeping "confidential" (covering up)all these years. They want to make it appear that this was being done for the congregation's benefit, but 'now Jehovah wants these confidential matters revealed'. The molesters should be told in advance that their names are going revealed. This enables them to prepare for the coming public embarrassment and possible prosecution.
That's my take on it.
i am looking for df's or da'd jw's in ct. i have lost most of my friends due to this and am looking to make new ones.
please e-mail me at [email protected]
Hi! I am from Waterbury, Ct. Would be happy to speak to you.
