Posts by ThomasCovenant

After that I mentioned that reading through the postings on those threads many people were against any justification for violence. I am not trying to discuss that topic which I did not take part in. I am just interested in the thoughts of those who feel so strongly against. The issue of the African rapes I have to say were the main trigger for this thinking on this subject.

Like I said, I genuinely respect those who have the strength to abhor all forms of violence. It is by trying to understand their thoughts that I may learn to be a 'better person' perhaps.

Respectfully

Thomas Covenant

21

Is violence ever justified or acceptable?

by ThomasCovenant in

jw
friends

sorry if this has been discussed a thousand times before.. .

my heart says no let's all get along and love each other and show respect to the individual.. my mind says yes.

unfortunately not everyone else agrees with the above.

ThomasCovenant

In a black and white world the answer can only be YES or NO

Trouble is life isn't like that.

This topic is NOT meant to be anything to do with the pepper spraying incident.

However reading through the many postings that took place it struck me how adamant and definite people were on this issue of violence. Then reading 'purplesofa's' account of wife abuse plus the weekend article about rape in Africa got me thinking about how I would react to these sort of things. Only yesterday in the local Welsh news a women was found not guilty of murdering her husband who it was believed was physically abusing her.

Thanks

Thomas Covenant

21

Is violence ever justified or acceptable?

by ThomasCovenant in

jw
friends

sorry if this has been discussed a thousand times before.. .

my heart says no let's all get along and love each other and show respect to the individual.. my mind says yes.

unfortunately not everyone else agrees with the above.

ThomasCovenant

Hi

Sorry if this has been discussed a thousand times before.

My heart says NO Let's all get along and love each other and show respect to the individual.

My mind says YES. Unfortunately not everyone else agrees with the above. What then?

If a woman is being abused by a violent husband is she 'justified' to physically cause him violence to stop it?

If a child grows up and later meets his sexual abuser is he justified in causing the abuser physical harm?

I was reading at the weekend in a national newspaper about the systematic mass violent rape that is taking place in one of the central African countries. There were reported cases of husbands being forced to watch their wives and daughters being gangraped with wooden objects to the extent that the womens internal organs are now totally ruined..

If that husband managed to break free would he be justified in causing physical harm to those abusers?

It would seem to me that all who say NO would still have to say NO.

I tip my hat to those ( including women) who still maintain this stance as I don't think I am that strong.

Thanks

Thomas Covenant

2

A Possible New Layout for the 2007 Service Report?

by ThomasCovenant in

this is just a thought that has probably already been proposed here before but after looking at the 'official' watchtower site i think maybe the latest service report for 2007 will follow the format of.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report.htm .

missing out the percentage increase (decrease) from the previous year.. i think the following year they will also leave out the ever decreasing (increasing) number of memorial partakers.. just my thoughts.

ThomasCovenant

Hi

This is just a thought that has probably already been proposed here before but after looking at the 'official' watchtower site I think maybe the latest service report for 2007 will follow the format of

http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report.htm

i.e. missing out the percentage increase (decrease) from the previous year.

I think the following year they will also leave out the ever decreasing (increasing) number of Memorial partakers.

Just my thoughts

Thanks

Thomas Covenant

17

Arguing with an Avatar/Alias

by ThomasCovenant in

am i correct in saying that lots and lots of people who post on this site have physically met each other?

and chatted together face to face?

and know each other personally?.

ThomasCovenant

Yes road rage is a very good analogy.

Accidentally bump into someone whilst walking and it's usually apologies on both sides.

Accidentally bump into someone whilst driving and it's can turn nasty.

Disagree with someone in a face to face discussion and it should be reasonableness all around.

Disagree with an avatar and it can turn nasty.

I think it may be different when people do know each other personally though. If you have met someone face to face and actually don't like them then I can understand that you are going to carry it over onto the computer screen. You can't like everyone after all. ( I should say ' I ' can't like everyone. There may be some who do).Which is my point on this site. Many do seem to know each other.

If they don't, then it seems very childish really to lose control arguing with someone that they don't know the age, gender, location or quantity of.

It may be different,of course, if people didn't conceal their identity.

Thanks

Thomas Covenant

17

Arguing with an Avatar/Alias

by ThomasCovenant in

am i correct in saying that lots and lots of people who post on this site have physically met each other?

and chatted together face to face?

and know each other personally?.

ThomasCovenant

Hi

Am I correct in saying that lots and lots of people who post on this site have physically met each other? And chatted together face to face? And know each other personally?

If not, how come so many seem to argue very aggressively with an avatar /alias.

Thanks

Thomas Covenant (the unbeliever)

6

Re: Possible Generation Change........Would Postcards Do Anything?

by ThomasCovenant in

jw
friends

speaking to someone from north of england last week with regard the possible 'new shite' on the generation teaching that may be coming in the new year.. they were thinking of printing off postcards with a simple message such as,.

'they are going to change the 1914 generation again!

'would you believe it, another change in the 1914 generation coming up'.

ThomasCovenant

Hi

Speaking to someone from north of England last week with regard the possible 'New Shite' on the generation teaching that may be coming in the new year.

They were thinking of printing off postcards with a simple message such as,

'They are going to change the 1914 generation again!'

'Would you believe it, another change in the 1914 generation coming up'

'What if they change the 1914 generation again?'

etc etc and delivering / posting to as many JW homes as they know of.

This seemed a good idea to me as the JW householder would be unable to avoid seeing the caption.

Some may think 'surely not' and then put it out of mind again. But if the WTS did change the 'understanding' in the new year the memory and doubt may creep to the fore again.

I know of some JW's around here that definitely felt unease with the '95 change in teaching and may need a little prod prior to the news from Brooklyn, if it comes of course.

Any thoughts/ comments/ suggestions?

Thomas Covenant

6

Are teenage step daughters allowed to stay with step dad in JW land?

by ThomasCovenant in

what do you think of this situation?.

scenario.

a former 'sister' gets divorced and remarries 'out of the truth'.

ThomasCovenant

Hi

What do you think of this situation?

Scenario

A former 'sister' gets divorced and remarries 'out of the truth'. She stops going to meetings but is not disfellowshipped. She has a daughter, possibly late teens early twenties. The daughter lives with mother and mother's new husband. The daughter still goes to meetings and I think is now baptized.

Mother (the former 'sister') goes on holiday for a week without husband. Daughter doesn't stay at home with her mother's husband for duration of the holiday but instead stays with her mother's father (maternal grandfather).

This account was given to us by a third party who said the reason why the daughter didn't stay home with her step father was because

' It wouldn't be right.They are not allowed to stay in the home alone together.'

Is this normal in step families in JW land?

Thanks

Thomas Covenant