BTTT - I think this is good news and wish more countries would take this step. Society in general is getting sick and tired of organizations who cover up wrongdoing, putting kids in harms way simply to save their reputation.
Doubting Bro
JoinedPosts by Doubting Bro
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AUSTRALIA - Prime Minister Gillard has just announced a National Royal Commission into Child Abuse within Religions
by jwleaks inaustralia's prime minister julia gillard has announced a national royal commission into child abuse within religions and religious charities (not-for-profit sector).
julia gillard announces royal commission will probe child sex abuse.
royal commission to probe child abuse.
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It's Official! The Governing Body IS the Faithful and Discreet Slave (Annual Meeting Report - jw.org)
by 00DAD init's official!
from the jw.org website:.
november 9, 2012. annual meeting report .
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Doubting Bro
I put this thought on another thread but I really think this is a step to change the end time prophesy around.
TJ - I hear what you're saying but what challenges in authority is the GB facing from other "annointed". The power structure is much different today than it was in Russell's or Rutherford's day.
What do you think would happen if an annointed brother or sister persisted in trying to get the GB to change doctrine or even taught different doctrine or shared different ideas with their local congregation. They may be given a little more latitude than say you or I, but they most certainly would be talked to and if they continued, there's no doubt in my mind they would be DF'ed. Nothing in this has really changed that fact.
I agree that there is something motivating this change. And, it's not holy spirit or a revelation from Jehovah/Jesus/whoever.
They know that the 607 arguement doesn't work. You see how many changes they've made over the years to the interpretation of Revalation. If they move up the dates, they'd be able to generate more excitement and urgency. Sure, they'd lose a few but they didn't lose that many when they said the system was going to end in 1975 so I can't imagine they'd lose that many if they moved around the end time date now.
The single most important thing was the appointment of the FDS. Now that they moved it to just the GB, it's easy enough to say the GB didn't officially come into existence until (pick a date - 40s as some of their archieve series is saying or 70s when it actually came into existence). Now that the emergence of a FDS isn't until modern times and not a continous sucession of annointed individuals, then its super easy to push it past 1919.
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The everlasting saga of The faithful and discreet slave class.
by MacHislopp inat the 128th annual meeting of the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania, on october 6 th 2012 .
during this meeting “food at the proper time” was given and the most important, was given during a symposium of six talks by members of the governing body—brothers jackson, lösch, pierce, herd, lett, and splane— which analyzed and discussed the meaning of jesus’ words recorded at.
" (matthew 24: 45, 46) it must be conceded, then, that at the end ot the world, at the "time of the end", during the presence of the lord, during the harvest, he would have in the earth a servant who would be faithful and wise.
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Doubting Bro
I've been thinking about this and really am seriously considering the option that they did this to move some of their end time theology around. Somehow keep 1914 as a significant date, perhaps still the start of the last days but push all that 2 witnesses who are killed, trumpet blasts and other things that they've said has already been fulfilled to a more modern date to coincide with the appointment of the GB in the early 70s. They could say the Franz defection was the evil slave.
I'd have to sit down with all the things they've said has already been fulfilled in the early part of the last century and map it over to the later part of the last century but since their first interpretation is made up, doing it again should be that hard.
I can't think of any other reason for them making this change. After all, the other "annointed" have already been marginalized and aren't important. They're so small in number and most have a huge lack of standing in the organization that they're hardly a threat to the power structure. So, its not like they're pulling a coup since they have all the power and control anyway.
If I get insipred, I'll pull some information and see if I could put something together. Of course, its a complete waste of time....
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Todays Bloomberg/ Business Week story: Religion and Money in the U.S.A.- "How the Mormans make Money".(explains how the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society hides assets).
by Balaamsass inthe church of latter-day saints has amassed financial holdings worth billions.
here's an inside look at its business empire.
read the story on businessweek.com: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-10/how-the-mormons-make-money.
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Doubting Bro
I still can't understand how freedom of religion means freedom from taxing. After all, I have freedom of speech and I pay lots of taxes.
Didn't Jesus say to render Caesar's things to Caesar? To those who call for a tax, a tax?
These religions are big business, and these business activities should be taxed. The profits should be treated as any other profits. To the extent that the religions can prove they're performing charitable activities (of which definition does not mean promoting themselves), then that could reduce their overall burden.
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Your reaction if they drop the shunning policy?
by jam inhow would you react toward those family members that.
have treated you like you had leprosy.
for years didn,t.
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Doubting Bro
I would immediately look to the sky as I'm sure there would be pigs flying overhead!!! They will cease as an organization before they drop shunning. It's the only tool they have.
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Latest Cable News Updates on Killer Jonathan Holt And The Murdered Young Oregon Barista Whitney Heichel
by Scott77 in.
"...jonathan holt, 24, a neighbor of heichel and a member of the same jehovah's witness church, appeared via closed-circuit television in clackamas county court wearing a suicide smock..." read cable news report of full story complete with photographs.
very excellent investigation.. http://abcnews.go.com/us/murdered-barista-whitney-heichel-raped-shot-times/story?id=17534209#.ujvk-w-hk8b
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Doubting Bro
Yeah, I was 23 when made a MS and I wasn't a pioneer or anything. Make the majority of the meetings, be "seen" in FS, put in 10 hours or more a month, comment at every meeting and be "available" to do stuff around the hall and you're in. The bar to be a MS isn't very high, especially for a born-in. Actually for a born-in to not be a MS by their mid-twenties would be a major disappointment, at least around here.
Whether he used to be a MS is relevent to me only in that he story being told is that he was removed a year or so ago. I think they elders may have known he had some issues but quite frankly, MANY folks in the congregation have some sort of issues. The BOE isn't trained to spot potential killers and I seriously doubt they was anything they would have been able to do.
Plus, if there's a civil case to be had, it's going to need to be brought by either Clint or maybe Whitney's parents both of whom are JWs and are likely not going to try to go after the WTS or the local elders.
It will be interesting to see just how bizzare Holt was acting in the months leading up to this awful crime or if maybe the elders were involved in some respect but I'm not sure I see much exposure to the WTS at this point.
I hope justice is done (ie death penalty).
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2012 Annual Meeting
by allyouneedislove ini just wanted to let everyone know that i can confirm the new "light", regarding the gb, given at the 2012 annual meeting.
i am confirming the initial post on this link:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/239637/1/2012-annual-meeting-more-notes.
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Doubting Bro
Thanks for posting. These are pretty comprehensive notes. I seriously doubt this will bother many JWs with the exception of some "annointed"
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Today's TEXT: Do not . . . be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ.Matt. 23:9, 10
by Greybeard insunday, october 28. do not .
be called leaders, for your leader is one, the christ.matt.
23:9, 10.. christendoms churches have human leaders, such as the pope of rome, the patriarchs and metropolitans of the eastern orthodox churches, and the heads of other religions.
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Doubting Bro
That's rich! It's hard to believe they could write that with a straight face.
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How will the WT "officially" respond to the Heichel case?
by sir82 inthe case is garnering national attention.
it's pretty evident that both murderer and victim were jws, most likely in "good standing".
the jw angle is playing more prominently as details unfold.
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Doubting Bro
Blondie,
I had forgotten about the Slack case and teared up reading it. I hope they are tortured everyday in prison.
I don't think the WTS will officially respond. I guarantee that the family statement was handed to them by the WTS legal department.
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Some information
by cedars inhere is some information.. the following prospectus seems to give evidence that the watch tower society is attending an investment conference less than a month after their november 8th court date over the bond motion (see page 4, bottom right).. http://www.imn.org/2012/etm1324/pdfs/etm1324_prospectus.pdf.
read into that what you will.. i would rather not pass comment in case i am accused of sensationalism.. .
cedars.
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Doubting Bro
Yup, looks like the Chief Investment Officer (overseer?? LOL) is attending. Nice place as well.
From a business prospective, this makes all the sense in the world since the WT globaly with all their different corporations I would imagine has sizable invested assets.
From a WT teaching prospective, this seems to be making the most of this system. Is that brother going to be attending meetings in Scottsdale while on his business trip? I hope he's bringing his wife least he be tempted to access the in-room adult movies.
It's really a do as I say not as I do sort of organization.