Doubting Bro
JoinedPosts by Doubting Bro
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64
April KM Question Box
by JWFreak in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-gb</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="--" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!
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This is probably petty, but .....Did you ever have a problem with losing your KM?
by miseryloveselders in"misery, do you have an extra kingdom ministry?
" "misery, you didnt give me my kindom ministry for april, i know its only february, but you wouldnt happen to have it, would you?
" "i could have sworn i gave you your km.
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Doubting Bro
Now they have the whole midweek meeting schedule but the articles have been cut way back to one a page.
I was always on top of handing them out. I even wrote names on each copy and kept them in my enormous "elder bag" that I foolishly toted to each meeting! Most of my groups were pretty good about hanging on to them. I don't think I've ever misplaced mine.
My current Service Group Overseer (or whatever the designation is now) NEVER gives me (or anyone else) theirs. I have to follow-up with him. He's a nice, older gentleman who is very forgetful.
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34
Elders who step down for little or no reason?
by Truthexplorer inwithin the past decade, two elders stepped down in my old congregation.
actually one was taken off for commiting adultery and therefore reproved, but the other one simply stepped down for no apparent reason.
also, in another congregation i used to attend for a short time, i was shocked to hear of another elder stepping down, again for no apparent reason.. i am wondering if there has been an increase in the number of elders stepping down for no obvious reason and to see if this is a worrying trend causing alarm for the society.. i am thinking the past 10 years, particularly with the internet being available to so many people around the world today; but have you experienced many elders stepping down in your congregation or past congregation?
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Doubting Bro
After I stepped aside I had one of those R&F nutbars (a loopy loonies with the fake bipolar) come up to me and tell me how much she was shocked and surprised and asked what lead up to my decision as she and her husband were so sad....my answer..."you and your family - you robbed me of my joy"
LOLOLOL - that's fantastic!
NLP - welcome. And, exactly!
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Deleted Elders?
by Farkel ini knew about elders being "deleted" and have commented what a strange and pejorative term that is, but it wasn't until "wtwizard" and "designs" commented on another thread about it that it actually hit home for me.. one cannot step down as an elder with any dignity!
elder's can't quit, with the word "quit" being as in "he quit his job.
" elder's can't resign as in "he resigned as chairman of the board for xyz corp.".
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Doubting Bro
If they invited the "deleted" elder to give the closing prayer at the end of the meeting, that was a signal to the congregation that "yeah, he's not an elder any more, but he's still a decent chap".
That's the practice I've seen as well. My take was always that if someone decided that he either didn't want to be an elder or maybe couldn't for whatever reason, he should be allowed to step aside with some dignity. The offical WTS position doesn't allow the BOE or congregation collectively to thank them for their service but its basic common courtesy to do so. So this is a way to send a signal to the congregation that the person stepped down on his own.
Crazy and similar to the mob. You can't just quit (that's what my old COBOE/PO said to me when I resigned)
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34
Elders who step down for little or no reason?
by Truthexplorer inwithin the past decade, two elders stepped down in my old congregation.
actually one was taken off for commiting adultery and therefore reproved, but the other one simply stepped down for no apparent reason.
also, in another congregation i used to attend for a short time, i was shocked to hear of another elder stepping down, again for no apparent reason.. i am wondering if there has been an increase in the number of elders stepping down for no obvious reason and to see if this is a worrying trend causing alarm for the society.. i am thinking the past 10 years, particularly with the internet being available to so many people around the world today; but have you experienced many elders stepping down in your congregation or past congregation?
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Doubting Bro
The standard procedure is to get the resignation in writing which is then forwarded to the branch. I'm quite sure they keep that letter in your permanent file. So, everyone has to state a reason. I've actually seen more resignations than removals and the most common reason is "to take care of family". No one can really argue with it so its the perfect excuse. In some cases, its probably true but in other cases (such as mine) there was some skepticism from the BOE. It seems whether its for "sin" or not, that's the automatic assumption from the rank & file. It's all part of the control (punish behavior not condusive to the leaders)
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The BITE model of mind control: "E" is for "Emotional control"
by JimmyPage iniv.
emotional control1.
manipulate and narrow the range of a person's feelings.. 2. make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader's or the group's.. 3. excessive use of guilt.
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Doubting Bro
I'm on a roll!! Great posts Jimmy Page. When you take a honest look at these cult identifiers, its difficult to argue that the WTS doesn't qualify. It was hard for me to admit but that's the reality.
1. How else can you get people to shun family or friends they've known for decades because the leaders tell you to?
2. See the WT explaination for the 1975 debacle.
3. See any assembly for numerous examples. Also the WT articles telling us about how a brother in Africa swam across croc infested waters and walked 10 miles each way to get to the meeting on time.
4. Shunning, persecution and of course the big A
5. People crying over the new song book at the DC.
6. No public confession until the elders wives gossip about it ( that doesn't apply to everyone but it happens)
7. They took that right out of the WT playbook.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.....
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The BITE model of mind control: "T" is for "Thought control"
by JimmyPage iniii.
thought control1.
need to internalize the group's doctrine as "truth".
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Doubting Bro
Again a 100% WTS match.
1. The "truth"... black & white thinking... us vs them (true christians vs the world)
2. Too many buzz words to mention. Gathering instead of party always irrated me. Also, Brother So & So being used like a formal title also annoys me.
3. Yeah, but that could apply to most religion.
4. Rejection of rational analysis, JWs??? No chanting or speaking in tongues but you're told to shut the conversation down.
5. Try asking a question and see what happens if its not dropped quickly.
6. True christians = only JWs
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The BITE method of mind control: "I" is for "Information control"
by JimmyPage inii.
information control1.
use of deception.
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Doubting Bro
This is by far the most applicable to the WTS:
1. Theocractic warfare! Misquoting outside publications. Old light/new light
2. a not so much as long as it isn't news about the WTS then yes. b & c. Apostate material d. Just look at those worthless tract campaigns and convention invitations.
3. Shepard the Flock book not readily available to non-elders. COs keep stuff from elders, DOs keep stuff from COs. Dead on accurate.
4. So many examples!
5. Whoa, did the writer read the WT and KM? The "Congregation Bible Study" that consists of reviewing paragraphs in a WTS book and never actually cracking open the Bible? Or if you do open it, its to read one or two out of context scriptures to support a particular WT take.
6. We recommended a person to be a MS once that was divorced 20 years ago from his first wife. He was df'ed because of adulty back then. Remarried for a long time, yet the letter came back referencing this man's divorce from that far back.
2nd identifier = 100% applicable to the WTS
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The BITE model for mind control groups: "B" is for "Behavior control"
by JimmyPage ini. behavior control1.
regulation of individual's physical reality.
a. where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with.
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Doubting Bro
Let's see:
1 a. Not so much where but with whom (if not married and want a roommate should be with a JW of good standing of the same sex). Associates? Should only associate with JWs in good standing
b. See the Bethel guide to attire & grooming. See the KM convention insert where members are discouraged from wearing shorts & jeans after teh convention and encouraged to wear the name badge. Lots of individual congo rules regarding dress. Attendants & those giving PTs MUST wear suits. etc.
c. Not really
d. Not really
e. No
f. Absolutely! Lots of written "counsel regarding keeping entertainment in "its proper place".
2. - 10 hours per month in service and attendance at both meetings + family study or your not good association.
3 - Must consult WT pubs when making major decisions. Don't have time to dig up references but in addition to written, there are the talks which say the same thing.
4 - Yup - confess your sins and those of others.
5 - Rewards - privileges, status... Punishment - loss of status, shunning
6 - yup
7 - yup
8 - yup
So, step 1 of identifying a cult = Yes to JWs
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Why Jehovah's Witnesses Are Discouraged From Using the Internet
by AllTimeJeff inat a recent series of circuit assemblies, the governing body put out warnings on what in their view is the latest danger from satan, designed to break the faith of jehovah's witnesses everywhere.. facebook.. yes, thats right, apparantly, the gb is concerned because a lot of people are having "facebook sex".
they are meeting old friends who aren't jehovah's witnesses and getting it on with whomever would willingly sleep with them.
evidentally, the gb would like their flock to believe that when jw's get on facebook and other social networking sites, fornication happens.. now, this is news.
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Doubting Bro
Jeff - I couldn't agree more with your take. Funny, it's usually a combination of factors that leads ones to doubt the borg. For example, I had seen many "apostate" sites and it never really phased me. But, the actions I saw by elders & COs coupled with the UN thing really got me to take a serious look at doctrine. And when you look objectively at the JW faith, it just can't withstand the facts and falls like a house of cards.