I have lately started to think many things over. As I adquire more knowledge, or other kind of knowledge, i see things more and more in another light. It's a strange and thrilling experience I'm going through. At moments also scary. Reading up new stuff on JW beliefs, the Bible itself, yes even about if there is a God at all has been an interesting journey. Anyway, thinking about my work as an elder I came to realize the following thought and I would like to share it with you, as I don't have anybody else. I'm sorry if this has been expressed elsewhere in this forum, but I need to share it with somebody...
What is the purpose of the shunning and disfellowshiping practices?
We have been thaught that it is to protect the organization from bad influence and corruption. Well, the irony is that this "wall" that is supposed to cut contact to the outside world (often compared to the law as the jews had, to separte them from the surrounding nations) IS CORRUPTING. Matter of fact, I have been reviewing a few cases I had to deal with in the congregation and it hit me like an hammer. THIS PRACTICES ARE CORROSIVE to the organization. Why?
Because, suppose the JW didn't have those practices set in place. People that don't want to continue would just leave, walk out, without major consequences. In due time, they wouldn't even bother to convince fellow Witnesses to leave, as the topic of conversations would naturally be different, so friendships that where REAL friendships would continue and the relationship to the rest of the congregation would "cool off". Am I correct?
So, the "tire kickers" and the "corrupt" ones (as seen from the standpoint of Witnesses, as I don't consider many of them as corrupt, just to use the JW thinking) would leave easier, because they wouldn't fear the shunning of their family.
What do we have now? Many witnesses become corrupt, practice sins, have other beliefs (thoughts) but HIDE - they LED DOUBLE-LIFES!!! Giving "bad witness" to whoever sees them practicing the things they shouldn't! Why? They are scared to undergo the "treatment" that others have had. So, they stay inside. Another point is that I had to deal with lots of reinstatements that I believe only wanted to come back because of lost family relationships = more people with double lifes and more "tire kickers" on the inside.
THIS WALL IS PROVOKING the "corruption" (again: as JW see it!) TO STAY INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION!!! Isn't that amazing? The very same system that is supposed to PROTECT is CORRUPTING the organization. It's like closing some metal object and seal it as much as you could to protect from RUST, but leaving the humidity inside, without any chance to get rid of it = OXIDIZING process is WORSER!
Today I have come to realize that this is the most stupid measure/practice the organization has set in place!!!!!!! Because the measure in itself, defeats the purpose why it is practiced in the first place.
WOW! Why aren't others seeing this? (Like circuit overseers, district overseers, they deal with cases like I do.....I will start puting this point to the attention of some....very carefully and slowly, but I will see what comments I get back.....)
Trojan.
Trojan
JoinedPosts by Trojan
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The GREATEST IRONY of Shunning and Disfellowshiping
by Trojan ini have lately started to think many things over.
as i adquire more knowledge, or other kind of knowledge, i see things more and more in another light.
it's a strange and thrilling experience i'm going through.
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Trojan
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"Jehovah unmasked" - Bible account about unborn babys killed???
by Trojan ini have heard that the book "jehovah unmasked" mentioned a bible account about slashed pregnant woman and unborn babys being killed.
i can't remember having read something like that in the bible.
what account is the author refering to?
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Trojan
I have heard that the book "Jehovah unmasked" mentioned a bible account about slashed pregnant woman and unborn babys being killed.
I can't remember having read something like that in the Bible. What account is the author refering to?
Trojan.
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Revelation It's Grand Climax at Hand! - bookstudy
by TheListener ini was reading e-watchman today and someone there is saying that after studying the what does the bible really teach book at bookstudies the next book will be the revelation book!!!.
there isn't any real proof, but the poster claimed a letter from bethel stated this.
perhaps some here can dig around and confirm or deny this new rumor.. we've studied it 3 times in the past and it's been awhile.
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Trojan
I remember when I was in second grade, i took the bright red book to school (to prepare and because we where told, that preparing in school would give a good witness). So, there I am sitting at lunch time and underlining my answers. This really wacky guy comes around and actually found me cool (he was the kind of guy that nobody would relate to) and grabs the book, sees the harlot riding the beast....and puts it down, looked at me, saying: "Wow, I didn't knew you where into "Dragons and Dungeons"-books, I love Fantasy books...."
He talked and talked about these weird comics and books he was reading (Vampires, witches, John Sinclair stuff). I never stopped him, telling him that this was actually REAL, that I BELIEVED the HARLOT really sitting on that beast....he was so fascinated with my reading material. After that he became a good friend of mine.....but, LOL, picture this: the idea of taking the book to school was to atract some interested guy, and finally I was attracting this really whacky kid.....
Another experience I remember with that book. I had an elder in my hall that was the absolute fundamentalist JW. Really fanatic about everything (the kind of guy that wouldn't paint his house, because Armaggedon comes tomorrow...) He had a bible study with some older guy, and his study had to enter the hospital for surgery....being there this bible study starts talking to the doctors and nurses about the beasts of Revelation, but because he is new to this stuff, puzzles all and doesn't get things "right"....so he was VERY convinced that there was some red dragon out there.....
LOL....they put him down in psychiatry for two weeks, under medicamentation and observing if he was all right in his mind....the elder in my hall was worried, that the guy ended up in that level because of HIM telling him this crap....ROFLMAO!
Trojan.
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FROM DESK OF C.O: We'll just call it "research" instead of snooping.
by stillAwitness inaugust 12, 2005
dear brother_________
thank you for the questionnaire you submitted for the subsitute circuit work.
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Trojan
I'm sure all the letters are the same except for the date and name they put down on it
Exactly. That is confirmed. They are all the same. It is even the same letter they use in other countries. Same text. Standard letters have a number and code (sometimes not printed on it), they are ALL standard. Another date, another name. Thats it. Off it goes. Another poor bastard on the road...
Service Department works with lots and lots of standard-out-of-the-box-letters. It is too risky to have some secretary at the service department adding his own stuff and make the Society liable.
Trojan.
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Witness history or As I See It
by joelbear insome guy reads the materials of some other guy and gets the idea of marketing it himself.
adds pizazz "i am the faithful slave", dramatic effect, the end will come in 1914 and boom you have a product.
advertise, advertise, advertise thee kingdom of god.
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Trojan
joelbaer, THAT was awesome! I would call your little essay: "The shortest Proclaimers book in the world" or how about: "Proclaimers book for Dummies".
"Jehovahs Witnesses History in 5 minutes" (you need 1 minute to read and 4 to let the information sink in...)
By the way, I once wanted to print my own book and asked some printing businesses to send me quotes (for fairly big quantities, in the several thousands - i was being optimist) and was amazes HOW CHEAP it is to get his own publishing business up and running. Nowadays they use so much electronic programms along the way. That makes printing so easy and cheap! Now add the fact that bethelites work almost for FREE!
Trojan.
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Revelation It's Grand Climax at Hand! - bookstudy
by TheListener ini was reading e-watchman today and someone there is saying that after studying the what does the bible really teach book at bookstudies the next book will be the revelation book!!!.
there isn't any real proof, but the poster claimed a letter from bethel stated this.
perhaps some here can dig around and confirm or deny this new rumor.. we've studied it 3 times in the past and it's been awhile.
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Trojan
Yep! Boys and girls, it's true!!! (not the book, the "rumour"). Confirmed and sealed. Recent communication states that study will start in the week from January 8th, 2007!!!
How to deal with the changes in "light"? The problem right now is that many branches have tons of that book (wonder why) and it would mean to scrap all that valuable material , so GB decision so far is: keep the old books, if a branch has to reprint/restock they will do based on the revised version. The folks at your friendly, local bookstudy group will end up with different books, saying different things. But never mind.
I heard even hardcore JW gulp after they've heard this wonderful news. As always folks in Third world countries will do some very, but very creative study out of this - far away from what the boys in Brk intended...believe me this one!
Trojan.
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WTBTS Brochures you never saw - The scarry, The bad and The Funny - Part 2
by Trojan intoday's issue of "watchtower brochures fashion police" is dedicated to the more obscure, scarry versions of brochures.
the ones wes craven would use for a movie or so.
free to comment.
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Trojan
Today's issue of "Watchtower Brochures Fashion Police" is dedicated to the more obscure, scarry versions of brochures. The ones Wes Craven would use for a movie or so. Here it is. Free to comment. This will be interesting, as some of you had very creative thoughts with the first part of this series - Adam and Eve).
The following example of an "jewel of spiritual enlightment" remembers me of the feeling I had after watching Steven Spielbergs "War of the Worlds". With the difference that watching this picture and reading the content, would give me the feeling of an movie like "War of the Worlds" that would have interruptions, say every 10 minutes, with pieces and bits of the Superbowl of different years, and when the movie gets to a peak, you suddenly get some scraps of "Freddy vs. Jason" movie....I mean, you got to admit: pretty disturbing. After all of that, you had to go ahead with your life - but you would spend days and days figuring out what the "deeper meaning" of the movie was...
Remaining question is: Would this beauty place well???? Let the "Watchtower Fashion Police" of this Forum do it's work....
Trojan.
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WTBTS Brochures you never saw - The scarry, The bad and The Funny - Part 1
by Trojan indigging in the dungeons of past wtbts literature, you will find some neat brochures.
i will call this series: "wtbts brochures you never saw - the scarry (yes there are some very scarry pictures around, be ready for this one), the bad (you kind of guess this one) and the funny (like todays) - part 1"
they are all original.
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Trojan
Ok. Lets sum this up!
The people of the arts department (back in 1934, Rutherfords oversight) had great
spiritualsexual thoughts. They where creative and talented people, indeed.They're view of the first couple is this: Eve was a young (too young?) hottie that liked to make it out with the "Python of love" (oh, kid-a YOU'RE the creative one, I'm still cracking up on this, really, I could have pee'd my pants...). This obviously caused Adam to get very frustrated. Frustration that he could only get rid off, by going fishing or stretching his "whang" into insane lenghts (the community here isn't very sure on this last point, me neither, what the heck did the artist had in mind???). Both where using razors and liked to be clean shaven (didn't notice this, interesting....)
This story is than called: Cause of Death! It MUST have been the most favorite brochure for 12 year old boys in the thirties...
Conclusion: Why don't they hire creative arts people like these? Some of you have suggested the 2006 version of this brochure and we all would love to see it!
Part 2: Follows today.
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WTBTS Brochures you never saw - The scarry, The bad and The Funny - Part 1
by Trojan indigging in the dungeons of past wtbts literature, you will find some neat brochures.
i will call this series: "wtbts brochures you never saw - the scarry (yes there are some very scarry pictures around, be ready for this one), the bad (you kind of guess this one) and the funny (like todays) - part 1"
they are all original.
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Trojan
Hahahaha.....kid-a....love it!!!
Nope, no scratches on this one. He has some very long, ugly, fleshly "thing" in his hands....its original, the color is pink, like his body color....I can't figure out WHAT it is......if it's meant to be a spear of some sort (why would he have one?), than the color is bad choice....
Trojan.
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WTBTS Brochures you never saw - The scarry, The bad and The Funny - Part 1
by Trojan indigging in the dungeons of past wtbts literature, you will find some neat brochures.
i will call this series: "wtbts brochures you never saw - the scarry (yes there are some very scarry pictures around, be ready for this one), the bad (you kind of guess this one) and the funny (like todays) - part 1"
they are all original.
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Trojan
By the way, watch Adam in the back.....WHAT the heck is HE doing???? Is the painting bad quality, or is he doing "something bad"?????
Trojan.
