Posts by Joe Grundy

i'm not and never have been, etc.. i was not even aware jcs existed until a couple of months ago - but now i understand a lot more from the postings i have read (and i find some them tragic).. two thoughts struck me as an outsider.. the first is to agree with the advice/suggestions given by many posters that submission to the jc process is a voluntary thing.

in the real world any court or tribunal can only act or consider issues if it has 'competent jurisdiction', laid down by law.

a jc only has 'competent jurisdiction' over a jw if the jw consents to that jurisdiction.

Joe Grundy

I'm not and never have been, etc.

I was not even aware JCs existed until a couple of months ago - but now I understand a lot more from the postings I have read (and I find some them tragic).

Two thoughts struck me as an outsider.

The first is to agree with the advice/suggestions given by many posters that submission to the JC process is a voluntary thing. In the real world any court or tribunal can only act or consider issues if it has 'competent jurisdiction', laid down by law. A JC only has 'competent jurisdiction' over a JW if the JW consents to that jurisdiction. A simplistic view, I know, and I (now) understand the personal and familial consequences and sanctions that can be brought to bear on the JW. I don't minimise these and I appreciate that never have suffered them I can only 'understand' them in theory.

My second thought is this. The JWs are a very rule-led organisation and it seems to me that WTBTS has tried to cover every eventuality and lay down directions for it in their various manuals, etc. (Strikes me as an effort to gain complete control and eliminate any independence or avenue for personal conscience led decisions). Given that that's the case, then elders conducting a JC are theoretically strictly bound by the rules and procedures. If they fail to adhere to WTBTS rules, they are themselves liable to be reported to a 'superior' authority and to be sanctioned for failing to follow the rules.

BUT - for the JC members to be investigated/disciplined, there would have to be (by their own rules) two witnesses as to their conduct. The 'victim/defendant' JW would be one, but who would be the other? Would it be possible for the 'victim/defendant' to insist on having a 'friend' present so that if he/needed to initiate action against the JC he/she would have the requisite second witness?

Just a thought.

4

Are the wtbts more paranoid of "other information" ?

by A Paduan in

has the wtbts impetous for controlling and prohibiting other information sources become stronger, and more of a focus for control and in regards to who is an apostate ?

?

does earlier literature have the same level of "don't read anything else" in it ?

Joe Grundy

Thanks aniron

See how much I have learned from this site already? I can recall bits from 29 year old WTs - and I'm not and never was, etc.!

4

Are the wtbts more paranoid of "other information" ?

by A Paduan in

has the wtbts impetous for controlling and prohibiting other information sources become stronger, and more of a focus for control and in regards to who is an apostate ?

?

does earlier literature have the same level of "don't read anything else" in it ?

Joe Grundy

I'm sure I remember reading a post here with an extract which said something like 'You don't need to bother doing your own research because WTBTS has a bunch of experts who do it for you'.

I think it was in an article connected with college/higher education.

Sorry, can't be more specific.

82

Latest News In JW Sex Scandal

by Kenneson in

it's the top news at http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_178173758.html .

see "boy in minister sex scandal speaks to cbs.

investigators compiling mountain of evidence against suspect.

Joe Grundy

As a matter of policy, police should now be examining every computer to which this man had access.

Do they have a 'congregation' PC in Kingdom Halls?

Do the WTBTS Bethel complexes have a computer network, and would he have had access to it? If so, the whole network (or at least the part he had access to) should be examined.

May prove interesting. I wonder whether the FBI may become involved? (My guess would be 'yes').

10

Child baptism

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

why does the society encourages kids to get baptized?.

1. it becomes a bragging right for the parents.. 2. it puts too much pressure on the kids.. 3. it is unscriptural as jesus astounded the jewish leaders at 12 years old and yet did not himself get baptized until another 18 years later.

hard to believe that some 12 year old snot in the congregation has a deeper relationship and understanding with god than jesus did!.

Joe Grundy

I may be completely wrong here, but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that 'baptism' was part of the regular jewish ritual cleansing process - something that people undertook often. Didn't Paul go through this when he was called back to Jerusalem to explain his divergent teachings?

Can anyone clarify?

75

Do you love/care for people here?

by lonelysheep in

jw
friends

i care about all of you.

i love some of you and have told you that, some i love and haven't told (yet).

for some of us, those here truly are family and friends.

Joe Grundy

Actually, what i really feel for a lot of peeps on here (it wouldn't be appropriate for all of them, you understand) is what I felt when my kids were young and we had a thunderstorm.

I'd like to hug them and tell them it was all OK, nothing was going to hurt them.

For some of the hot babes this would only be a preliminary, you understand.

Joe, of the usually platonic supportive class but easily tempted ...

75

Do you love/care for people here?

by lonelysheep in

jw
friends

i care about all of you.

i love some of you and have told you that, some i love and haven't told (yet).

for some of us, those here truly are family and friends.

Joe Grundy

Dear Miss Thropic (or may I call you Ann?)

I'm glad you can recognise irony when you see it!

I spoke to my JW neighbour yesterday for the first time in ages. I've recently been looking at Mormon history (now, that IS crazy, with all due respect). I made a comment to the effect that while JW foundations were a little weird, Mormons were clean off the planet.

He wasn't sure whether to agree with me or not.

Regards

75

Do you love/care for people here?

by lonelysheep in

jw
friends

i care about all of you.

i love some of you and have told you that, some i love and haven't told (yet).

for some of us, those here truly are family and friends.

Joe Grundy

Well, I'm a complete outsider, but I have been very heartened by the welcome I've received, and by the answers I've been given to my questions (which I'm sure must have struck some readers as completely dumb).

For a bunch of crazy ex-dubs, I'd say you were pretty nice peeps!

And yes, I care for people here.