Posts by Dutchie

I enjoyed reading the article. I just wish there had been a greater emphasis on the fact that one of reasons for disfellowshipping is that you no longer believe what the witnesses are teaching. So there are times when shunning is undertaken not because someone has done something that is morally wrong, but simply because one ceases to any longer believe that the witnesses have the truth. If you voice that belief you are disfellowshipped and shunned. If you disassociate yourself from the organization you are shunned. However, all in all, it was a great article.

28

Firearms in USA

by Haereticus in

jw
friends

how common it is in usa that a jw has a legal firearms?

i have no recollection of wtbs publications handling this matter specifically.

of course general attitude towards firearms in usa is different from europe but so is also legislation.. it is just that once being a concsientious objector i cannot, even after almost 40 years, imagine myself having one.

Dutchie

I remeber an article in one of the magazines that also dissuaded the use of the "granny bat." You know, some old women living alone would keep a baseball bat by their bed for protection and its called the "granny bat". Well the WBTS says that all women who had bats by their beds for protection would have to get rid of them because they might possibly hurt someone. Women living alone were counselled to turn to Jehovah for protection.

13

Climbing the corporate ladder at congregations

by master chief in

jw
friends

at the hall i used to go to started to notice certain men volunteering all the time to do talks and helping others with needs in the hall.

though there was nothing wrong with that i started to become suspicious because they were not like that previously.then some months later these men became elders and some became ministerial servants ,and guess what did they volunteer for talks as much maybe be as helpful as much well i will leave you to guess that.so the question is why such a change of heart after the promotion,what were they really after did they want to fit in or want authority over others.

Dutchie

Young men in the congregations are urged to "reach out" for eldership. You do this by spending a lot of time in field service and be of great assistance in the kingdom hall, where the brothers can see you and remark on how spiritually mature you are. Once you have achieved your goal of being an elder, why stress yourself out anymore? You got the position you wanted and now you get to judge who is spiritually mature or not.

6

Governing Body, starting to doubt themselves?

by taoInitiate in

i was thinking.... anyone who receives a large amount of criticism starts to doubt themself eventually.. so, unless the governing body is receiving power from another source (eg.

heaven, and most of us here would doubt that), then i would think that they have to start to doubt themselves.. for example, the wizard of oz, i'm behind this curtain here, pretending to be powerful, but i'm really just a frail old man, who has no special power.

my influence is a sham.

Dutchie

Even if they don't believe everything they write (and I don't see how they could) they have an obligation to continue the WTBS simply because it is a corporation and many people hold an interest in this corporation and not all of those people are JW's. So they cannot make any admissions of guilt or in error because then they would be jeopardizing the continuance of the corporation. They need their members to believe that the WTBS is an infallible religious organization to keep the r&f faithful and doing what they term is "Jehovah's will".

3

Italian Wisdom

by teenyuck in

italian wisdom.

angelina and giuseppe were standing before the judge.

in divorce court.. angelina says: "your honor, we benna marry 25 years.

Dutchie

Puff, funny joke!

41

Get Out More / Questionaire.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

is it true that americans are the least travelled people in the world?

if that is the case, its hardly surprising when you read all the dire warnings contained inside a us passport.

also, i am told that americans regard the rest of the world as a very dangerous place to be.

Dutchie

Well, I live in New York City and last summer I went to London. It was terribly expensive for Americans because at that time as we only got about 68 pounds for 100 dollars. I stayed at the Hilton in Kensington. It was a lovely hotel but far from everything. We took buses and the tube everywhere. Love the city though. Loved the London Eye. Besides that I have been to Germany, France, Switzerland, Tangiers in East Africa, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, France, Athens and Italy.

9

Shunned from Sister's wedding reception PART 2

by Quotes in

just to keep you up-to-date on my not being invited to my sister's wedding reception.. (in case you missed part 1, check out http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=23578&site=3 ).

in response to the letter i received from my sister (which explained why i could not be invited to the reception) i sent the following email reply.

and here is my case:.

Dutchie

Wow Quotes this is getting good and the plot thickens. That was brilliant your showing her from the Watchtower that those who cease to be involved are not to be shunned. What can she say? According to their writings you have every right to be at the wedding and you are not to be shunned. Oh, joy! Well I hope that you go and have a wonderful time. If I were you I'd make sure to put myself in every picture and be very conspicious. She is after all your sister and you could probably make a very elaborate toast. Anyway, that's just me.

12

What's your spiritual type?

by crownboy in

jw
friends

i took this test some months ago and got a score of 37. i retook it today and only got a 22!

i didn't think i changed much, but i guess i did.

here's the test link:.

Dutchie

Ha! I got a 35. Not bad. I'm classified as a Spiritual Dabbler. Oh, well.

19

To any of my friends here - last straw

by Celtic in

jw
friends

you have my mail, it would be good to hear from you from time to time, feel welcome to stay in touch, if you need me for whatever reason, know that you may contact me in an emergency and i'll do my best to look after your needs.. kindest regards.

mark

Dutchie

Celtic, I haven't been here very long but I always looked forward to your posts. They were always well though out and strenthening. I am sorry to see you go but urge you to please reconsider. Personality flareups occur everywhere and on this discussion board its actually rather easy to ignore people. One solution is to keep your email restricted. Just a suggestion. Or open another email account and only give it to people you want to have it. That way people won't be emailing you willy-nilly. Anyway, I hope I am not speaking out of turn. I wish you the best.