neverendingjourney

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Posts by neverendingjourney

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  44

  Name the 'Finest Hypocrites' you know.

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i knew of an elder who ran a janitorial business for decades here [surprize] - his primary employees were his kids, ranging in age from 3 or 4 to teenager at various times.

  he would bring in the whole family, they would spread out and empty bags, vacuum, and dust.

  in a flash they are out and off to the book study or whatever.. he was able to 'witness wipe' several offices after 5 o'clock and before the 7 o'clock meeting times.

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  neverendingjourney

  This has to rank pretty low on the JW hypocrisy scale, but what bothered me the most about it was not so much the act itself, but the widespread acceptance of it. I'm talking about pioneers that would work seasonal jobs and spend months at a time drawing unemployment benefits while "getting their time in." This was the way a great deal of pioneers were able to get their 1,000 hours a year in (back then it was 90 hours a month).

  The thing about it is that you had to send a report every week to the state that you were actively looking for work, but couldn't find any, in order to keep the unemployment checks coming in. There was a statement that had to be made to that effect under oath. They had no problem with lying about looking for work in order to keep pioneering. It was ridiculous. The elders and the C.O. knew about it, but nothing was ever done about it. This practice was widespread throughout the circuit. Most of those pioneers knew it was wrong too because they would get very defensive about it if the subject was ever brought up. The rush to acquire status in the religion was just too much of an incentive for them to do the right thing. I only knew of one man, and elder from a neighboring hall, that didn’t do that, but he is one of the most righteous people I’ve ever met. It’s too bad he’s still under their mind control.
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  38

  Service meeting part about My Space

  by seek2find in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this week an article about the internet will be discussed on the service meeting.

  at one meeting it was announced that the elders would be contacting parents about kids who have my space accounts.

  anbody else hear it at their meeting?

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  neverendingjourney

  When I hear JWs talking about the Pharisees, it reminds of 2 Samuel Chapter 12. They condemn the Pharisees for their actions without realizing that they are guilty of the very same crime. Where's Nathan when you need him?

  2 Samuel 12: 1-13

  1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

  2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

  3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

  4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

  5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

  6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

  7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

  8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

  9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

  10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

  11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

  12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

  13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
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  38

  Service meeting part about My Space

  by seek2find in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this week an article about the internet will be discussed on the service meeting.

  at one meeting it was announced that the elders would be contacting parents about kids who have my space accounts.

  anbody else hear it at their meeting?

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  neverendingjourney

  It doesn't surprise me. You don't JW kids to start feeling normal.
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  15

  "It will change your life"

  by lost_light06 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have to share this.

  last night i had an appointment with a lady.

  i was under the impression that it was regarding life insurance, something i will need to get soon, however there were hints that there was some sort of "business opportunity".

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  neverendingjourney

  Sounds a lot like Amway. Some people really close to me were recruited by them. I got to sit in on the sales pitch, but I flat out told them I wasn't interested. It sounded just like JWism. I believe they had three meetings a week and three conventions every year. The company became their life. The people making the pitch seemed completely brainwashed. Instead of selling everlasting life in a paradise earth, they were selling the hope of wealth and financial security. Their weekly meetings were all about reinforcing how valuable the company was and how they would be wealthy soon if they just persevered. The guy making the pitch carried these tapes that he would listen to over an over. The similarities to JWism were uncanny. It creeped me out, frankly.
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  8

  JW Hit by Lightning while going Door to Door

  by Wordly Andre in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the article doesn't say jw but the radio broadcast did.

  anyone hear about this?

  http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_189151333.html

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  neverendingjourney

  This reminds me of a story I heard years ago from a regular pioneer. He said there was this old apostate lady who was protesting outside of a convention in Florida and got struck by lightning. He even said that the Bethel speaker made an announcement about it, which delighted the crowd.
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  18

  Updates to my WT Organization Chart

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  following recent communications, i have updated my wt organization chart.. http://au.geocities.com/doug_mason1940/org_chart.pdf.

  apart from making minor changes to the layout, i have amended the section dealing with the local congregation.. i will appreciate any help and advice, but when you make them please remember that i do have space limitations.. doug.

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  neverendingjourney

  I've never heard of the worldwide order. Could you please explain that?
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  36

  Confidentiality and the elders.

  by LtCmd.Lore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  while talking to a jw elder: if you specifically state that you are speaking to him as and elder, and that you want the conversation to be classified.

  is he legally required to keep it secret, like a church confessional or doctor/patient type thing?.

  lore.

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  neverendingjourney

  A few more things. I've done some thinking about this during the day and some additional possibilities are coming to mind. There is a tort of breach of confidence that is often used against doctors who breach patient confidentiality. I'm not sure if it's ever been extended to clergy-penitent communications. It might be worth taking a look at.

  Also, I found the following article which seems to be on point. I haven't read it yet, and I don't have time to read it right now. I hope there's some good info there for you. Good luck.

  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3968/is_200001/ai_n8884548/pg_1
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  7

  "Read the bible daily"

  by veen in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  correct me if i'm wrong, but i used to think that on one of the brooklyn bethel buildings there used to be a big sign saying, "read god's word the bible daily", or something along those lines.

  well i went there recently and i saw a big sign saying, "read the watchtower and awake!

  " not necessarily daily though, that was not specified.

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  neverendingjourney

  Those are two separate advertisements. There is one saying "Read God's Word the Holy Bible Daily" and another one saying "Read the Watchtower and Awake." At least that was the case last time I went there to visit, but it's been a few years.
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  36

  Confidentiality and the elders.

  by LtCmd.Lore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  while talking to a jw elder: if you specifically state that you are speaking to him as and elder, and that you want the conversation to be classified.

  is he legally required to keep it secret, like a church confessional or doctor/patient type thing?.

  lore.

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  neverendingjourney

  Take a look at this:

  I. Public Disclosure of Private and Embarrassing Facts

  Courts have recognized that certain intimate details about people, even though true, may be "off limits" to the press and public. For example, publishing detailed information about a private person's sexual conduct, medical condition or educational records might result in legal trouble. In order to succeed in this kind of lawsuit, the person suing must show that the information was:

  (1) sufficiently private or not already in the public domain,
  
  (2) sufficiently intimate, and
  
  (3) highly offensive to a reasonable person.

  Each state may have thier own unique take on this. This tort usually falls under the umbrella of "invasion of privacy," so take a look at that as well.

  http://www.splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=29
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  36

  Confidentiality and the elders.

  by LtCmd.Lore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  while talking to a jw elder: if you specifically state that you are speaking to him as and elder, and that you want the conversation to be classified.

  is he legally required to keep it secret, like a church confessional or doctor/patient type thing?.

  lore.

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  neverendingjourney

  Unique:

  The requirements you listed go to whether the communication is "privileged." This means whether what is said between a member of the clergy and a church-goer can be kept private and not revealed in a court of law. Privileged communications is part of the law of evidence, i.e., what can and cannot be introduced at trial. If you want to sue someone in a civil trial, you look to the law of torts. Torts (civil wrongs) have elements that must be met. If the plaintiff meets the elements, which always include damages, then you can recover money the person you are suing. If someone wants to sue the elders, you would need to identify a tort that your jurisdiction recognizes and sue on that basis. As far as the issue of slander, the courts do recognize it as a tort, but the information revealed must be false. You are not liable for slander if what you say is true.