do jw youths understand that if they just didn't get baptized their parents would not be able to shun them later?
they must be able to see how this works in other families.
is it feasable for a jw teen to reject baptism?
Just a small aside ... I could have asked this question when a 'brother' came to my door with his teenaged companion:
"Is it true, that JW's pressure their children to get baptized ... why is that .... what happens if they change their mind when they get older ... will their own family shun them?"
Might make a young person think twice.
i am new to the board and am looking forward to many insightful discussions here.. a good friend of mine attends a congregation where sisters are working behind both the literature and magazine counters.
the brothers who were handling those responsibilities were removed because in the elder body's opinion, none of them were "exemplerary".police officer explained that save for the elders and a few of the ministerial servants, none of the men in the congregation were meeting the national average in field service time, so for the foreseeable future, "exemplerary".
the irony here though is that the same men who are unfit to handle the literature and magazine counters are qualified to offer opening and closing prayer for meetings and do reading for the watchtower study.
Welcome to the board enlightenedcynic!
This one got me:
Being baptized is not enough; the brother has to be able to read and do math as well as be in good standing. I can remember being in a book study that had 2 brothers including the conductor. One was on restrictions and the other could not read anything at all.
I can't imagine Jesus putting ANYONE on restriction!!!!! Was Peter on restriction after he denied Christ three times? These people are nuts. They treat each other with such disdain it's no wonder new ones are coming to the board every day. What sane person can continue putting up with this nonsensical childlike treatment? Doesn't being an adult matter anymore? How about having a little diginity? Why must you be humiliated, shamed, disgraced and judged just to be a part of God's 'clean organization' of 'happy people' . And yet and still, many of them won't believe they are in a cult!
sweet tee
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http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/361673p-307958c.html
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I agree finallyfree. People need to know and understand that JW's have the same problems everyone has. They are human after all, and should stop putting themselves upon a false pedastal of piety while hypocritically judging everyone else as wicked, miserable and misled. Reminds me jgnat comment in another thread about "Jehovah's happy people" . Just cause you say it doesn't make it so.
sweet tee
well, as a nice start to the new year, the jan 1st watchtower article, "how firm is your trust in god" blasts those who live comfortable lives, those who don't reach out, and those who pursue higher education.. definitely, they are taking a harsher stand, having completely painted themselves into a corner.. i highlighted the interesting comments.
i did not include all the text for each paragraph, just the main points.. .
1 a young man wanted to be more useful to the congregation.
THEREFORE, why can't they just trust their members to be balanced, to make the right decision for THEM, why can't they just trust that through prayer and meditation, they can find the answer as to whether or not they should go to university or college, THEMSELVES???
Hmm Jez ... that sounds a lot like independent thinking. When I started thinking for myself I figured out that they couldn't be the one and only way to God. Then I left. I truly hope that the up and coming GB members will relax the rules for the R&F but I don't know what it would take, or how long for that to happen. From what I read here it sounds like many are getting fed up just as I was with all the 'do more, get by on little or nothing, wait on the kingdum' gibberish. I say in 5 years the WTBS will be just a fraction of its former self.
sweet tee
words from god???.
"heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
" matthew 24:35. this is speaking about the word of god, the bible.. can you say this about the myriad of countless numbers of books and various publications published by the wts?.
I have become so frustrated trying to get a straight answer from these apologists that I just refuse to pay them any attention anymore.They refuse to reason. They resort to personal attack, red herring, or circular reason in nearly each case.
Yet, everytime certain ones pop in with the most inane of ideas they get 8 pages of replies as if they are best friends with all these people here.
Here, Here!!! I still hope SOMEONE can help them though.
sweet tee
i worked at the hq for a few years in the 90's and i've personally known and met several influential bethelites during my time there.
these are brothers that have been there 20-30-40+ years and hold various degrees of authority within the org.
looking back and thinking about these ppl, i can't help but comment how out of touch these people were.
Wassup black man? I feel you on this:
When I found out who authored various articles on education, prophecy, and other things that directly impact the everyday lives of witnesses, I actually lost my feeling of awe towards the org, because I realized how sheltered and unbalanced a lot of these men were.
That's how I felt after reading COC. The curtain had been lifted and the wizard was a wacko!!!
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http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/361673p-307958c.html
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well, as a nice start to the new year, the jan 1st watchtower article, "how firm is your trust in god" blasts those who live comfortable lives, those who don't reach out, and those who pursue higher education.. definitely, they are taking a harsher stand, having completely painted themselves into a corner.. i highlighted the interesting comments.
i did not include all the text for each paragraph, just the main points.. .
1 a young man wanted to be more useful to the congregation.
The thing that bothers me the most is the premise that higher education is for greedy people that want material things in life. Education is about so much more than that, what about getting a fulfilling career, something that you enjoy doing, not 'have' to do for $, reaching your potential, expanding your mind, increasing your knowledge base, security, brain exercise, etc.
I would ad to Jez's comment ... providing for oneself and living above the poverty level.
Because the GB do not live in the real world where necessities must be provided by oneself they cannot comprehend how difficult it is. Even though they mention the economic state, they still fail to acknowledge that it has any real impact on the R&F. But, if the R&F cannot provide for themselve, the GB are not going to step in with any provisions ... more than likely they'll say that it is due to a lack of reliance on Jehovah . I like the expression "God helps those who help themselves" (Amen!). There is little to no welfare in the states anymore and what provisions are left are being cut every year. There is no safety net! You HAVE to take care of YOURSELF!
My ex-mother-in-law pioneered for over 20 yrs. Where is her retirement plan? Where is her health plan other than Medicare? What about her burial? Nadda! She won't get so much as a thank you, let alone a gold watch . So much for caring for widows and orphans. So anti-Christ like.
sweet tee
sorry all, i couldnt cut and paste, but this should get you there... gotta see this 'little' number:).
orbi
http://channels.aolsvc.aol.ca/life/article.adp?id=20051104130509990004
btw thats not a factual statement ..thats sarcasm..not far removed from irony
sweet tee
sorry all, i couldnt cut and paste, but this should get you there... gotta see this 'little' number:).
orbi
http://channels.aolsvc.aol.ca/life/article.adp?id=20051104130509990004
I think Serena is attractive but all that glitz detracts from her natural beauty (by the way, that's not a wristbland ... that's BLING!). Wearing clothes that are too tight fitting and too revealing is more sleazy than sexy. She should dress to flatter her figure and wear hair styles that compliment her face. But ... that's Hollywood for ya!
sweet tee
