They have to address this because it's a real issue for them. Elders don't have the authority they used to have. The rank and file is not as subservient as it used to be. It ain't the 1950s anymore....
Hermano
JoinedPosts by Hermano
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99
Latest WT: "Refusing to appear before a JC is like refusing medical treatment"
by cedars inin the latest october 15th 2012 watchtower (page 13).... "because of what they perceive as defects in the elders, some individuals who engage in serious wrongdoing in the congregation have refused to appear before a committee of elders assigned to help them.
this could be likened to a patient who loses out on the benefits of a treatment because he does not like something about the doctor.".
sounds like they're now trying to stigmatize those who try to avoid judical action.
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Is their a slackening off / lack of zeal in the witnessing work that I am observing or is it just the area I`m living in
by smiddy inlast saturday i was home with my wife,having a leisurely brekky pottering around in the kitchen ,then i noticed her standing still pondering ,what`s up i asked , wife :i thought i heard someone knocking ,i looked out the window to see two middle aged guys exciting my front drive.why didn`t you tell me they were their,i didn`t hear them.
i would have engaged them in conversation , but my wife doesn`t think i ought to,just let it go ,is her motto.. but my point is : i`m not deaf , and i didn`t hear them at the door , we were both in the front room ,my wife only thought she heard someone at the door only to be proved right observing them leaving i was in my pj`s and dressing gown so was not going to pursue them.
we have been living here nearly 5 years now and i can honestly say they have never been on our doorstep more than 4 times if that , i personally have only encountered them 3 times at the most.
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Hermano
The leadership has claimed Armagedon is imminent too many times. Many witnesses know it's just a scare tactic to get them to do MORE! MORE! MORE! They're not buying it anymore.
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Hermano
I grew up in Spanish congregations. We assumed the English speaking congregations were more materialistic because they drove better cars.
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When did the religion become a cult?
by Hermano inam i wrong in believing it was rutherford who took the religion from strange to cult?
under russell they had some strange beliefs but strange beliefs don't make a cult.
wasn't it rutherford who established and reinforced the hierarchichal structure and demanded absolute loyalty?.
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Hermano
Thanks for the replies everyone. To clear things up, by cult I mean a high control group that uses coercive techniques. I know Russell wrote that without his books one wouldn't understand Scriptures. My understanding however, is that "congregations" in those days were autonomous groups that studied his books. Seems to me that many of the loyalty tests came with Rutherford, perhaps because of the way he came into power and because he did not have the widespread support that Russell enjoyed.
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When did the religion become a cult?
by Hermano inam i wrong in believing it was rutherford who took the religion from strange to cult?
under russell they had some strange beliefs but strange beliefs don't make a cult.
wasn't it rutherford who established and reinforced the hierarchichal structure and demanded absolute loyalty?.
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Hermano
Am I wrong in believing it was Rutherford who took the religion from strange to cult? Under Russell they had some strange beliefs but strange beliefs don't make a cult. Wasn't it Rutherford who established and reinforced the hierarchichal structure and demanded absolute loyalty?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses#1917.E2.80.931942
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You CAN continue associating with wordly/disfellowshipped family members AND get a higher education
by Anony Mous inquotes:.
-- therefore, explain that a parent's decision an a child's associates would not be based on religion, but on the young one's conduct ... it will probably help if you acknowledge that this does not mean that all other youths whom your children are around in the neighborhood or at school are no good.
some of them may be pleasant and decent, as some of your neighbors, relatives, and workmates are.
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Hermano
Does anyone have a copy of said publication? How can the average JW be made aware of it?
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Not Breaking News: Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony, Are Jehovah's Witnesses Next?
by Scott77 inhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-utah-mormonsbre86000n-20120630,0,5340553.story.
mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremonyshare112chelsea bair reads a declaration of independence from mormonism during a mass resignation of mormons from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints in salt lake cit (jeffrey d. allred, reuters / june 30, 2012).
relatedalex willardson shows his letter during a mass resignation of mormons from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints in salt lake city.
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Hermano
Just a few quotes from the article. It could have just as well been written about Jehovah's Witnesses:
known for its culture of obedience, and the mass ceremony was a seldom-seen act of collective revolt.
bills itself as the one "true" Christian faith, and its theology promises families eternal relationships among those who remain faithful
The number of those resigning from the church are not publicly reported.
culture often stigmatizes those who fall away, leaving some without social or business connections.
I don't see why this couldn't happen among Jehovah's Witnesses. They are no more inmune to inner revolt than any other high control group.
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Betrayal
by breakfast of champions inso far when i have seen the word 'betrayal' or 'betrayed' on these boards, it's in reference to how we feel betrayed by the watchtower society, family, or individuals within the organization.
we all understand this feeling well.
i can relate to many of the sentiments expressed.. but the other night with my therapist, towards the very end of the session, the word 'betrayal' came up in reference to myself.. the therapist noted that i seemed to be 'holding back' with her.
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Hermano
But the worst I fear, and what I think is bothering me the most, is that I will become "unrecognizable" to my wife and family.
My wife and I went through this. As have others on this site. We had to develop a whole new set of rituals and routines outside the religion.
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Is the FDS losing control?
by Hermano ini believe there is growing unrest amongst jws.
they may not be very cohesive or organized, but the rigorous demands for obedience coming from the leadership and the unbending, never ending list of rules, not to mention the end that has been ever so-close for so long yet never climaxes, has a lot of jws frustrated.. don't get me wrong.
i know there are some jws that will hang in there no matter what they're told to do and will obey without question.
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Hermano
DesirousofChange, Compound Complex, I grew up hearing my dad say he would most like see the end in his lifetime. Then it changed to "I still hope I will see the end in my lifetime." As of about 5 years ago, I don't even think he says that anymore.....
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Website by MODERATE JWs who recognize issues with the religion
by Hermano infound this website this weekend by jws who recognize there are issues within the organization and are calling for change.
this is the type of forum moderate jws needs, imho.
glad to see moderate jws are out there and are doing something.. http://www.jwreform.org/.
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Hermano
I'm not going to hold my breath Room 215. However I love the idea of average Witnesses calling for reform, not because I'm naive about the chances of reform happening, but because it shows average Witnesses know something is not right. Not all of them will leave, but some will eventually find out the religion has more to do with control than with pleasing God.