careful

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Posts by careful

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  40

  The Watchtower Tract Society doesn't print Bibles?

  by Nathan Natas in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  after reading a few comments here, i thought it was time for me to get a copy of "the silver sword" for my own occasional research and occult practices.

  so i thought i would see if jw.org would offer a way that i could purchase a printed copy (not digital) of the new world translation.

  as i browsed, it occurred to me that i might also like to have a copy of the... what was it?

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  careful

  I walked up to one of the carts and asked for one. They produced it and I went on my way with it. It wasn't difficult at all. I even carried on a conversation with the sisters for a minute or two about the revision. I didn't want to stick around and make them think I was "an interested person." The whole experience was quick, easy, and pleasant, considerably more so than going on eBay—cheaper too!
  
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  20

  Has the GB changed any published information on their JW Library?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  in rummaging through some of my old cd's i came across a 2011 jw library disk.. i have the most recent home release on my pc but was wondering if anyone knows if the gb has deleted or changed any embarrassing or outdated doctrine.

  i was going to throw it out but thought twice.. any info is much appreciated.. thanks..

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  careful

  I can recall them changing things in the publications long before computerization and CDs, and for reasons other than expounding prophecy. For instance, there was a WT study article that commented on the place in John's gospel where heaven speaks (12:27-30), and the writer stated that the voice occurred to strengthen Jesus. The article directly contradicted what Jesus himself says in v. 30, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours." This was not some simple error. The stated "application" of the passage was key to the writer's argument in the article. I remember how when this article was "studied" after the public talk, there was present in the congregation a strong sense of unease as the publishers and conductor danced around the WT statement and the scripture's context. When the bound volume came out for that year, the article had been rewritten with no trace of or explanation for the blunder. One would never know what the original article read.
  

  I asked one old Gilead grad I knew about it. He told me that such things were pretty common, and that when he worked in various overseas Bethels, they regularly got paper notices form Brooklyn changing this and that in the publications. One of his collateral duties was to keep a paper file of all these. He said it was remarkable how many of these there were, and they were more than just changes in policy. They were errors in fact. He told me that purging such things in the bound volumes was standard procedure.

  After discussing it with him, I came to the conclusion that two basic things were responsible for such blunders. It is not as though the WT writer was thinking, "Let's see how I can pervert the Bible today." Rather the first real reason is that the writers are under pretty severe deadline pressures and so are the proofreaders, so such errors come thru pretty regularly. But the second reason is far more serious and depressing. The official WT view of the Bible is that it is basically a depository of 30,000 or so proverbs, nicely divided into chapter and verse. The common thinking then is that the use of the Bible is mainly to dip into it, pick a verse, and apply it to whatever perceived need there is at hand. That's it. There is rarely, if ever, any attention given to context, in the small or large perspective. That's why the WT writer of that article could "apply" verse 28 the way he did without even thinking of verse 30. If I recall correctly (and that's shaky!), the "need" was something like, "Elders, don't get discouraged. Jehovah will help you out just like he did Jesus when he was down. He even spoke to him from heaven to raise his spirits."
  

  What all this indicates is how poorly Witnesses know their Bibles. Sure, they know certain things like the biblical view of the soul's not being immortal, how to find the book of Daniel quickly, etc. But they are not taught the importance of context, so they just don't know it. They don't even think of it.
  

  For those who might wonder about the ref to this WT study article, I don't have it handy, and looking at the official index and bound volumes won't help since that's all been sanitized. You'd have to get a copy of the original individual WT magazine. I do remember that it was in the mid-late 1980s, prior to 1989. I might be able to find the ref in files ... somewhere ... If someone would remind me, I'll look later.
  
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  10

  Police descend on Jehovah's Witness HQ after abuse allegations

  by BourneIdentity in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  http://brusselstimes.com/belgium/justice/15271/police-descend-on-jehovah-s-witness-hq-after-abuse-allegations.

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  careful

  BI,
  

  Thanks for the update.

  Vidiot, your comments "it's a super easy habit to fall into when you're convinced you're God's representatives on Earth, and you surround yourself solely with people who are never allowed to disagree with you" just made me think of how unbiblical the current GB worship arrangement is. The kings of Israel, even if they did not regularly make good decisions, at least let their advisers offer conflicting advice. Paul corrected Peter openly and then later wrote a letter (that circulated widely) reporting it (Galatians). How the current group does not follow their lead! They seem to be saying—not openly, of course—that they know better than the apostles who wrote portions of the Bible!
  
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  24

  Australian ABC News article on JW incest victim

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i am surprised nobody else has posted this yet.

  a lot of people in aust will read this.. “incest victim turned lawyer speaks out on reporting violence and sexual abuse”.

  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-08/incest-victim-to-honours-law-graduate-shelly-triumph-over-abuse/10978530.

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  careful

  Thanks for this post. I'd missed it earlier. Can't always get to this website every day or even every week.
  
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  A possible move?

  by careful in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in the second section (money stuff) of this morning's usa today newspaper (print copy p. 5b) there is one of those legal notices that groups put up in order to announce things and set deadlines.

  this one is from the santa fe, new mexico archdiocese, mandated by the us bankruptcy court.

  it's notification that people who were sexually abused by rc priests have until june 17 to file their claims.. this got me wondering.

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  careful

  In the second section (money stuff) of this morning's USA Today newspaper (print copy p. 5B) there is one of those legal notices that groups put up in order to announce things and set deadlines. This one is from the Santa Fe, New Mexico Archdiocese, mandated by the US Bankruptcy Court. It's notification that people who were sexually abused by RC priests have until June 17 to file their claims.

  This got me wondering. Do you think that the GB will ever take a somewhat similar course? That is, do you think there will ever come a time when the head of the WT Legal Department Philip Brumley will advise the GB that it would be in their best interests to follow the course of the RC Church, come clean on the CSA matter and how the org has hidden their wrong decisions regarding pedophiles, and make public payouts? Given how they keep racking up millions in secret payouts in individual cases, how this is putting a continual strain on their finances, how it has moved into two class action lawsuits in Canada, how it constantly threatens their public image, and how all this shows no signs of abating, do you think such a scenario will ever occur?
  It could be done by circuit, sort of a parallel to the RC archdiocese organization. That could also prove a money saver for the WTS since it could limit the cost of payouts, evidently what the RC has done to help stop their overall financial bleeding. Since bankruptcy judges often limit legal responsibilities in such ways as to allow those involved to retain holdings (like the RC church being able to keep churches and other institutions), this might be a way for the WTS to hold on to their KHs, AHs, etc. The real cost to the WT org would be, of course, the loss of respect the R&F would have in the leadership when their corruption would be exposed. The long prevailing view of their holy authority would suffer serious damage.
  

  Just interested in what people here think...
  
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  12

  Literature Carts are Really a Vast Spy Network

  by HiddenPimo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am not sure if this is getting into the tin foil hat arena, but what if one of the reasons for the carts is to spy out who is leading a double life and to catch the pimo's?

  they are everywhere in common public areas.

  like the stasi of e. germany.. i know i may be reaching, but we all know the way zealous j dubs love to rat out anyone who steps out of line.. they can't be there to place literature, because no one is taking it.

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  careful

  The carts were started mainly to pad the statistics and give elders and pioneers easy FS time. It's like turning an RV into a "Bible study" by just reading one biblical passage and calling it a "doorstep Bible study." It's just more smoke and mirrors.
  
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  77

  Advice on Disassociating

  by HiddenPimo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello my exjw/pimo/pomo friends,.

  i am working on penning my da letter and wondered if i should use it as a tool to maybe wake up individuals as the boe will have to read it.. anyone have any advice on what i should say versus what i should leave out?

  i am not going to fade as my family can either be loyal to blood or loyal to a man made religion.

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  careful

  HP, I agree with those who say hold back. Your efforts will bear more fruit if you keep your cool and stay un-DAed/un-DFed. Keep the long range view in mind. Most of us can relate to wanting to vent our feelings about the org's corruption, but you will do more good if you stay "inactive." More options will be open to you. Think of others rather than your own feelings.

  You state "I ... wondered if I should use it as a tool to maybe wake up individuals as the BOE will have to read it." You won't wake anyone up with a DA letter. It's not a "tool" for that! If you remain inactive you will have multiple ways to enlighten people. DA letters have a long record of waking up NO ONE. All the "faithful ones" think of is "he went out from among us because he's not of our sort." That's it. They not only will not care what you say are your reasons, but they will be positively afraid of reading them. Why stir that up that fear? Isn't reasoning better? You will be able to reason with them if you can still approach them and talk with them. DA yourself and you will cut that off permanently. Think about it...
  
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  25

  How Should Houses of Worship Protect Themselves Against Shooters?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is there a way?

  these madmen go into soft areas knowing they only will have firepower to inflict their damage.

  i think people better start thinking ahead about what they can do to protect themselves..

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  careful

  Zing,

  "never to announce/advertise special events to the general public but should be privately shared to members only." But that's the opposite of WTS public preaching and open invitation policy. There must be a real tension in the minds of the "Holy Eight" (GB) between wanting to protect the faithful and keeping an open (meeting-wise) organization. Hmmm...
  
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  14

  Venus and Serena William's mother in a Mother's Day commercial

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think this is such a cute commercial!

  (link below) however, if venus and serena's mother is a loyal witness, i am surprised that she would consent to do a mother's day commercial.

  we all know what they teach about celebrating this and so many other holidays.

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  careful

  "she be pulled into the back room for a little talk"—not to mention the bit o' cleavage! If anything, that would merit some "counsel", at least back in the days I was in. Maybe that's changed now too?
  
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  35

  Reporting Live From Orangeburg Assembly Hall

  by HiddenPimo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  2,259 in attendance .

  9 baptized.

  $21,000 to operate one day assembly.

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  careful

  So HP did they sell the comfy Salisbury NC AH? If so, was it worth more $ than the Orangeburg one? Loved your current description that now "you eat at your seat"!