please review my letter to the irs commissioner to establish a process for revoking the tax exempt status of dangerous cults and write comments about how to improve it.. rough draft of letter.
mr. douglas h. shulman .
commissioner.
With all respect, the IRS is not going to take away JW's tax exempt status. The letter from one citizen who could potentially be framed as a disgruntled former member will do little to nothing.
If the letter makes you feel better, and you want to be on the record though, that is what being a citizen is all about! Just be realistic about the outcome.
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topgodapexspiritual persons (eg paul)middleatheists, agnostics, secularistsbottomreligionists (eg saul)seemingly in scripture the only persons jesus repeatedly tore into were the religionists (pharisees and sanhedrin or governing body).
it seems he gave the romans (secularists) scant attention, and chose to eat with the likes of prostitutes and presumably also lgbt persons..
Hi Phizzy. I grow in my spirituality by learning and being honest with myself. I am not afraid to read or consider other points of view. I think that a growing spirituality involves more than "getting closer to god". I think it has everything to do with improving as a person and finding your purpose in life. With developing a philosphy that is both solid, yet allows for learning and growth.
I think that if "spirituality" causes you to look down on people, to rule people out, to give up on people, so that you can be right or better, than you go backwards and not forwards.
Being a spiritual person is not about finding a group of people who agrees with you so that you can think your group is right and others are wrong. It's about being a light in the world to everyone, to be yourself while allowing others to be themselves.
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topgodapexspiritual persons (eg paul)middleatheists, agnostics, secularistsbottomreligionists (eg saul)seemingly in scripture the only persons jesus repeatedly tore into were the religionists (pharisees and sanhedrin or governing body).
it seems he gave the romans (secularists) scant attention, and chose to eat with the likes of prostitutes and presumably also lgbt persons..
Wasn't expecting to find that old post up here. Thanks for finding that BTS.
My thoughts on this are simple: I think that you limit yourself when you go all in to the group think of a church/religion. I think that there are more evolved ways to view god and spirituality. When you move past group think, you allow yourself to grow.
The 4 Stages link really does describe to me in a general way why I feel that way.
lately i have been thinking about saying something apostate to my elder father in law.
he is an uber witness and actually believed that god interveined and saved him when he had a heart attack and kept him alive, until he told me that and i asked him why jehovah allowed jws in nazi concentration camps to suffer horribly and die but he loved an alcoholic more than them.. i havent been to a kh in 6 months or in service in years.
i grew a beard and basicallyhe avoids talking to me.
Write a letter. Write it on one side of one page. (Bethel policy). Don't make it long. Make it pretty damn biting.
When I put in my resignation letter, the elders still wanted to meet with me. In my case, they held off announcing it for several weeks because it came completely out of the blue. I had planned it all, and gave off very little as to my intentions. Reading here (lurking) during that time convinced me that I had to go out on my terms. So I planned it all out.
I moved out in a few hours to a new apartment, let my ex wife know that I was done with her in a seperate letter, and put my resignation letter with it. (we were staying at an elders house after coming back from Africa.)
I say, resign. I also say if at all possible, save the drama. Plan on leaving and leave. Who cares if it shocks them? It's a cult, a no win situation. You can't change them. You can only move forward.
someone who's shunning you?
it's my sister's 10th anniversary today.
i sent her an anniversary card in the mail, and am reeeeally hoping it doesn't get returned to me.
Send the card. When in doubt, do the normal, loving thing.
the april 2012 wt study article has some of the most strongly worded statements about contact with disfellowshipped family members.. page 12, paragraph 17: -.
good that can come when a family loyally.
upholds jehovahs decree not to associate.
Sorry 00DAD. I apologize, you're right. I don't have to deal with it everyday like you do.
What I mean is, there is little anyone can do to change it. We can only change our response.
But I feel bad that I came across as coldly as I did. That's not how I feel about it.
Be patient and loving, and perhaps in time, they will come back to you. :)
Hi Truthseeker. I just want to say, I love Terry's post here, and I don't scoff at your faith.
However, I don't believe the flood account for a second. It doesn't make any sense in how it was reported, how it was purportedly done, or what it accomplished.
See, "evil" according to the bible is still around. Nothing changed.
I think that the only relevant terms to measure this are in human terms.
Having said that, I wish you well in your faith. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the flood account of the bible, it's potential meaning is very limited today, especially considering the (lack of) evidence.
the april 2012 wt study article has some of the most strongly worded statements about contact with disfellowshipped family members.. page 12, paragraph 17: -.
good that can come when a family loyally.
upholds jehovahs decree not to associate.
First off, don't get angry about this. We are all victims. In the time since I left, none of my living family, including my dad, will talk to me.
Sucks.
Take comfort in the fact that many have, and will continue to disobey this idiodicy. When I was an elder, this was a big problem, and it will continue I am sure.
There are borderline families who will follow, but this article will push just as many the other way. Don't worry, the Governing Body can't win this. They are leaders of a type of cult. You have to expect that their #1 play, shunning, will be promoted.
Having said that, I will also say that these idiots more than ever are a CULT CULT CULT!
the april 2012 wt study article has some of the most strongly worded statements about contact with disfellowshipped family members.. page 12, paragraph 17: -.
good that can come when a family loyally.
upholds jehovahs decree not to associate.
First off, don't get angry about this. We are all victims. In the time since I left, none of my living family, including my dad, will talk to me.
Sucks.
Take comfort in the fact that many have, and will continue to disobey this idiodicy. When I was an elder, this was a big problem, and it will continue I am sure.
There are borderline families who will follow, but this article will push just as many the other way. Don't worry, the Governing Body can't win this. They are leaders of a type of cult. You have to expect that their #1 play, shunning, will be promoted.
Having said that, I will also say that these idiots more than ever are a CULT CULT CULT!
I am waiting for someone to convince us that the Watchtower has enough good, talented artists to embed images that would cause us to go to the KH? You know, subliminal art.
Sheesh... (I mean, Sheep)
May this prove once and for all that the WT can barely keep in their employ "artists".
I bet someone called in a favor for a new artist. This is crap art. Looks like he just got his winky wanked.
