Doubting Bro

Joined

• started 10 topics
• posted 2,130 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Doubting Bro

• 
  220

  2011 Watchtower publisher statistics with analysis

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the 2012 yearbook has released the publisher statistics for the 2011 service year.

  a scan of the report can be found at http://www.jwfacts.com/images/2011-publisher-report.pdf and i have started updating the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php.

  as expected, it is following on from similar trends to the last 15 years.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I think Hawaii came in at the beginning of the 2011 service year (Sept 2010). What about Alaska? I thought that branch was merged in as well but maybe that was done the year before?
• 
  24

  What did I miss? (Also, a brief Open Mind family update.)

  by Open mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends
  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  The Borg has some potential legal issues in Australia and got some pretty bad press in the UK over calling those who left "mentally diseased". Nothing real big but every little bit helps.

  So good to see you and your family doing well. Your story is an inspiration!!!
• 
  82

  What really ended the book study in private homes?

  by Alfred in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's been over 3 years since the book study in private homes was discontinued and some jws are still scratching their heads over it.

  although a letter was read to all congregations explaining that "book study night" would now be "family worship night", there was still much speculation among jws as to the real reason behind this decision (the great tribulation was about to start, jehovah was simplifying the lives of jws, to lessen the burden of poor jws who had no money for gas, etc.)...

  but as we all know, decisions like these from the gb invariably have some ulterior motive behind it... and discussion boards such as this one usually finds a way to dig up the truth for all to see... but after reading several threads on this subject, i'm really not sure we've uncovered all the facts yet.... so i have to ask... what do you believe really ended the book study in private homes?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I think shepherd summed it up perfectly. A combination of very poor stats and not enough elders to lead the small groups. I recall after I "stepped aside", I had to conduct about everyother week because the elder assigned wouldn't show up and there was no MS assigned to the group.

  I also think they may have believed that cutting down to one midweek meeting would increase the TMS/SM attendence. In the congregation I go to, I don't think the numbers have moved. At first, it did increase but after a few months, attendence reverted to the mean.
• 
  4

  Kansas City Bishop Indicted on Child Endangerment Charge

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as catholic groups keep working to set legal precedents regarding religious leaders being required to report child abuse, those hurt by the wts can benefit by using those laws.. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/14/justice/catholic-bishop-indicted/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Good. They should be held accountable. Out of all members of society, one would think that religious leaders would be at the fore front of protecting children. It seems they were at the fore front of harming children and still are.
• 
  73

  C.O. Jonsson's response to Watchtower's latest 607 articles

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://kristenfrihet.se/vtsvar/vtsvar1.pdf.

  (thanks to augustin for bringing this to our attention in another thread.

  ).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Quendi - I agree with your point. Taking Daniel 4 and giving it a minor and major application is pure creative thinking. However, I think its much easier to argue that 1914 means nothing because Jerusalem wasn't destroyed in 607 (FACT) verses saying that Daniel 4 doesnt' have a major application that stretches 2,520 years into our time (theological interpretation).

  Putting them together is certainly more powerful if the person believes 607/1914 because of the WTS interpretation of Daniel, but I know for me, I always believed Daniel to have the "major" application because I believed 607. Without 607, I quickly realized that the explaination of Daniel was actually given by Daniel himself and that it was a huge stretch to think he meant anything more than he explained. Interestingly enough, when Daniel was talking about the future, he actually said so. So why didn't he say so when explaining the tree dream?
• 
  24

  For those still "in" the W.T , a Moral Question.

  by wobble in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those who are still in the jw/wt religion for whatever reason , and to whatever extent, i ask :.

  how high would you rate your moral standards ?.

  where do you stand on telling lies, upholding truth, deceiving others etc ?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  I'll answer but would like to see your answers as well:

  How high would you rate your moral standards ? I do not see myself as morally superior to others. How do you define morals? Are they based on rules from holy writings, society norms or do you see them as a code which a person decides to live by? I obey the rules of the land, try to treat others the way I wish to be treated, love my family and am loyal to my wife. I'm certainly not perfect but try to "do the right thing". I'm not always successful.

  Where do you stand on telling lies, upholding truth, deceiving others etc ? I try to be honest and recognize there are times when that doesn't happen. Upholding truth? What is truth? Seriously, the 2 things I know to be true are that 1) I'm going to die and 2) I have to pay taxes. Everything else is relative truth.

  Does the end justify the means ? Yes in some cases. Don't kid yourself. Do you think the politicians are looking out for you? Do you think your company gives a damn about you? Everyone is expendable and if you don't look out for yourself, no one else will.

  Where do you stand on associating with people who do not act in a way you approve ? I don't judge how others act as long as they don't hurt their fellow man.

  How do you feel about how the world of normal people views you ? Don't care. I care about how my immediate family views me. I'd like to be known as a great guy, but I've learned that seeking others approval just sucks your soul. Life is too short to be concerned about that.

  How do you draw the line on what you will not do at the bidding of the WT ? I do not give them money and if they forced tithing then I would leave. If blood became an issue for my family, I would leave. Basically, I go to meetings to appease my wife. I make an appearance in service every now and then. Otherwise, I don't do the the bidding of the WT.

  What is personal integrity ? That's a difficult question. What was important at one point is not important now.
• 
  73

  C.O. Jonsson's response to Watchtower's latest 607 articles

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://kristenfrihet.se/vtsvar/vtsvar1.pdf.

  (thanks to augustin for bringing this to our attention in another thread.

  ).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Sorry P Sac! I posted right after reading the article without reading the other comments!!

  Right, the appointment is where they get their "authority" from. Jesus as usual is just a sidebar.
• 
  73

  C.O. Jonsson's response to Watchtower's latest 607 articles

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://kristenfrihet.se/vtsvar/vtsvar1.pdf.

  (thanks to augustin for bringing this to our attention in another thread.

  ).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Very well written and easy to read article. Although I know the WTS to be dishonest, to be so blatantly dishonest is a little stunning. It actually makes me angry that I actually believed this stuff at one point not so long ago. There are lots of reasons to recognize that there is no way the WTS is God's sole channel of communication on earth. False prophesy, lack of love, etc. But, I think this sort of dishonesty and selective quoting is by far the biggest indicator that they have no divine backing.

  This is where they always get themselves in trouble. Rather than saying that God revealed this date to them and leave it at that, they try to "prove" it using secular sources and changing a verse in their bible to match their teaching. That someone can deconstruct their argument so thoroughly using the same source they are makes them look much worse. Rather than being misguided, they are shown to be devious.

  They know that the 607 date must be defended at all costs. Here's the crazy thing, if you used the real date and pushed their crazy 2520 year theory out another 20 years, that would put Jesus coming to power in 1934 with their "selection" in 1938. Add a 80 year "generation" and you get 2014. I wonder why they didn't do that back in 1995? Instead, they changed the definition 3 of what a generation is 3 times to cover up the obvious.
• 
  73

  C.O. Jonsson's response to Watchtower's latest 607 articles

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://kristenfrihet.se/vtsvar/vtsvar1.pdf.

  (thanks to augustin for bringing this to our attention in another thread.

  ).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  marking for later
• 
  17

  Victoria, Australia: Here is what JWs didn't do--fill out the "Working With Children" Application Form

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  here is a link to a .pdf version of the working with children (wwc) application form that steven unthank has put on his website.

  very important reading material to understand the wwc act and to see the questions asked to those who wanted to comply (or not to comply) with the act.

  the download link is: http://workingwithchildrencheck.wordpress.com/.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Doubting Bro

  wbf - sorry for taking your thought. Our postings crossed. I agree with you 100%