Cognac, OTWO is right. When they look to appoint a MS or elder, they also look at the wife's "qualifications" ie their publisher record card. If you aren't at or around the national average and making the vast majority of the meetings, he won't qualify. Man, he must be desperate to be recognized if he's all excited about giving the prayer. I kind of feel sorry for him.
Doubting Bro
JoinedPosts by Doubting Bro
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oh, crap. I think I'm getting hubby more "priviledges"...
by cognac ini've been watching over this elder/pioneer couples kid who is a neighbor of ours.
i've been doing this a lot over the past week or two.
i just feel it helps get this poor girl away from service all the time and i like kids anyways.
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List of 100 Watchtower Corporations [Reposted and Updated]
by Amazing ini posted this a few years ago, before the society created the christian congregaton of jehovah's witnesses, inc., kingdom services, inc., etc.
in their oct. 2000 meeting.
watchtower bible & tract society of pennsylvania brooklyn, ny branch.
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Doubting Bro
Reniaa - Actually, the "paying back Caesars things to Caesar" referred to paying taxes, something that religious organizations don't have to do in most countries (certainly here in the US and in the UK). Jesus wasn't financing a multi-national printing organization. The money box had donated funds that cared for Jesus & the apostles physical needs during their ministry tour. Incidentally, Jesus gave to the poor out of that box. Whens the last time you've seen a WTS sponsored charity? I am very familiar with the disaster relief program which is about the only sort of charitable giving I know about. Then even then, folks that have their houses rebuilt are requested to "donate" their insurance settlement to the WTS. Not sure if that really counts as charitable or not. I agree that I don't see anyone getting rich from the WTS although the vast majority of religious leaders are also not getting rich. I never said anyone was getting rich but I would challenge your statement that "a lot" of religious leaders live in posh mansions and the like. I've run into many a preacher going in field service and I can tell you that I've NEVER seen any of them with a better house than I have. I still can't understand why "God's visible organization" would need all these complex corporations set up. Don't they trust that Jehovah will help them? Its a pretty big claim to be the only religion with God's direct backing. By the way, how was Paul's ministry financed? He WORKED! Yes, he did receive some donations as well but he spent time making tents to support himself. And, he was directly appointed by Jesus, something claimed by the WTS without any proof.
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List of 100 Watchtower Corporations [Reposted and Updated]
by Amazing ini posted this a few years ago, before the society created the christian congregaton of jehovah's witnesses, inc., kingdom services, inc., etc.
in their oct. 2000 meeting.
watchtower bible & tract society of pennsylvania brooklyn, ny branch.
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Doubting Bro
The WT says they aren't like other churches. Truth is they are. They have a complex set of corporations that would make executives at Enron proud. I know you can donate to the WTS via credit card contribution over the internet, so reniaa, perhaps that will be next. I would say that most organized religions (WTS included)are nothing more than tax evading money machines. They aren't even close to what the Bible had in mind.
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 10-26-08 WT Study (ELDERLY)
by blondie incomments you will not hear at the10-26-08 wt study (august 15, 2008, pages 17-21 (elderly).
review comments will be in red.
older christians--only jws.
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Doubting Bro
Nice review as usual Blondie- I wonder if they realize that the WT treadmill (meetings, service,etc) actually discourage people from helping each other. The mandatory knocking on doors on Sat could easily be used to help the elderly within the congregations. I know of one brother (was an elder, not one any longer) would be criticized because instead of going in service on Sat he would use part of the day helping a few folks out. I have seen times where congregations have been very good at helping out older ones, even spreading the load between various BS groups so that no one would get burned out. Yet, often times, this doesn't happen, despite what the WT article says. If they allowed this as part of sacred service either by having folks count the time or just drop the time report altogether, the "widows & orphans" would be taken care of much better. Its not that the average JW doesn't want to help (in my opinion), its that they are so intent on keeping up their time average or place within the congregation, they forget what James says true Christianity involves.
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JWs and National Oaths of Allegiance Expose' by Marvin Shilmer-Please Read
by AndersonsInfo inthe following three paragraphs are part of a startling new essay written by a well-respected poster on jwd.
he spent much time and money to gather proof of duplicity on the part of watch tower leaders.
marvin shilmer (not his real name) has given permission for me to put his entire essay on my website, www.watchtowerdocuments.com.
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Doubting Bro
Thanks for the research "Marvin". I wish I could say I was stunned but I'm really not. Nothing shocks me about the Borg anymore. I never knew that you needed to pledge an oath of allegiance to get a passport. I knew about the citizenship pledge but never really bothered to understand the WTS take on it. Maybe they had their fingers crossed when signing the documents?? When I think about those poor folks in Malawi and what they went through, it just makes me sick. It was never a big deal for me growing up, but I realize that is not true for everyone. Double standards are so typical for this organization.
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Holy Disfellowshipping batman
by lancelink inwow, .
i heard yesterday that 50 (yes 50) young people have been disfellowshipped within the past month in my .
old circuit.
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Doubting Bro
I know of at least 2 instances where there were mass df'ings of kids. Both involved parties that got out of control and the police were involved in both. Both spanned multiple congregations and if my memory serves, one had around 30 actually df'ed (with probably the same amount reproved or otherwise dragged into the back room) then other had around 20 df'ed with about 30 getting hit with lessor sanctions. I really think that because JW kids are so restricted, many end up rebounding so hard the other way and are completely out of control. A kid with a balanced family life has a much better chance of staying out of trouble (getting pregnant, doing drugs, etc). I would imagine the same type of backlash comes from kids involved with other high control, fundy type of religions. AS - I agree, its a shame that these kids will be shunned by their families and some will likely be kicked out of their homes. They need help, not rejection.
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Bossert deal falls through
by Dogpatch inmebbe gene smalley will have to forgo that room remodel...dogz thursday linksamny does best of ny october 23, 2008levine walks, bossert back in play.
at the eleventh hour, r.a.l.
companies has walked away from its contract to purchase the former bossert hotel from the watchtower group, a source familiar with the situation tells us.
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Doubting Bro
Obviously, Holy Spirit created the credit crunch and is directing the WTS to keep more of their operations in Brooklyn! Funny, if something good would have happened with this sale, that's what they would have been saying. Something bad, "time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all" The Bossert is an awesome building with a great location. It will be interesting to see what they do. That building probably isn't worth the 92m right now, I'd guess 80m? Of course, if they keep it, it costs. If they are truly short of cash, they'll end up selling this building at a much lower price. That should be a great indicator. By the way, I heard an elder say from the platform a few weeks ago that the WTS selling the Brooklyn properties prior to the real estate crash was proof that Jesus is leading them. Uh, does this mean that its proof that he's not?
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Latest United Nations-End of Religion-End of World alert
by Questions1 init has been awhile since i've posted anything, but i got this e-mail from someone who is on the edge of falling out of the borg due to mental stress.
i've attempted to verify the information, even called the united nations, but haven't gotten to a person who can say if this meeting happened.
my gut says this is a contrived experience with many details just not adding up...but you never know.
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Doubting Bro
Hikaru - You've got to chill. There are several threads running on this made up piece of garbage. Just to summarize - 1) the story has been around for over 20 years, 2) the actual story doesn't add up, 3) the UN has NO POWER. They couldn't ban religion even if they wanted to, 4) even the WT has back off the UN and now says "nations within the UN" (likely because of their 9 year status as a NGO with them). Lots of folks have pointed out the major flaws in the story and the hallmarks of "urban legend". You won't find anything using Google because the JWs are such a small fringe group and these legends are circulated only among the faithful. I'm over 20 years older than you and I've heard variants of this story my entire life. Have you sought help with your panic attacks? I'm really worried about you from reading some of your posts.
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My 3-Year JWD Anniversary
by daniel-p inso i logged into jwd today and saw that i'm on my 3-year anniversary of membership.
it's been a big 3 years--the biggest three years of my life.
here's a few reflections i'd like to share with you: .
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Doubting Bro
Cheers bro! Its great to see your situation turn out the way it has. Too often, this cult ends up destroying marriages.
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New article on methods of False Reasoning in the Watchtower
by jwfacts ini have just posted a new article on methods of false reasoning in the watchtower at http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/rhetorical-fallacy.htm.
this discusses rhetorical fallacy, methods such as red herrings, straw man arguments, generalisations etc.. i would welcome any comments or proof reading.
i would particularly like to know of any additional examples that i may have missed.. .
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Doubting Bro
I love your site. The only suggestion I have is to attempt to replace some of the 1970-early 1980 quotes with newer ones. You know how JWs love to say that arguments refer to "old light". By the way, I can't begin to tell you how much your site helped me wake up. I am eternally grateful!