the following is a translation of a message to extj.com/foro (let's call it the spanish jwd).
mary, david, once again ... did you know that you are the new watchtower in many circuits?
original post in spanish .
I'm not too sure about how genuine the original post is.
However, that even if there is a small level of dissent, the majority will continue to tow the line. And the way that the control works is to isolate and ostracise any dissenters, painting them as apostates and evil. Look what happened to Ray Franz.
were you one of those deemed "qualifed for this privilege":??
?
Interesting. When I was an elder I once suggested that all the elders should take turns in doing microphone duty and being on the front door to welcome those arriving. I found being at the front door easy enough to do on my own - you didn't really have to be assigned that but non of the elders thought the handling of mics was their job.
When I stepped down, note I was not removed, about 6 months later, they deemed me 'qualified' enough to handled the mics. It was over a year before they asked me to open/close in prayer despite the fact that I argued that I was always in good standing. I also argued that as neither a ministerial servant or elder that I should be able to chair the public talk - you have to go back a long way to see what the responsibilities of the chair are. All to no avail.
It was then that I began to realise just how hypocritical the whole set up is.
Eyeslice (no longer a mic handler because I am never there)
some of you have probably heard this talk before, but i updated my site and made this page:
http://www.watchtowerletters.com/more.html
the best part (in my opinion) is the talk by ciro aulicino, entitled "you will be with me in paradise".
Not sure where the directive 'do not go beyond the things written' comes in to this talk. Reversal of continental drift, re-naming of days of the week, snakes, etc, where's all that from?
Even as a witness, I would not commit to the idea that God was going to destroy all non-Witnesses. I have seen too many people who I would term God fearing who are not witnesses that I cold never imagine God destroying.
The situation is even more strange now that I no longer attend. I have asked my wife if she thinks that I will be destroyed at Armagedon. She does not think so, but that sort of goes against witness current doctrine.
karl adams, writing department overseer, wrote a letter to president knorr (november 18, 1971), questioning the keeping of voluminous files containing embarrassing information on disfellowshipped persons.
even after individuals were reinstated, their files were retained:.
"at the present time the names of even those reinstated are kept in the file, and bulky records are kept of their cases, labeled 'do no destroy.
You are right that files can be kept for a very long time.
Usually, the notes on a judicial meeting would be kept in a sealed envelope in the congregation file that is kept by the congregation secretary.
However, in recent years the instructions have been that files on the sexual abuse of children shuld be sent to the society for them to keep.
Any one seen the movie 'Big Fish'? Life can be one big lie if you like it that way.
i explained the other day to a friend of mine the real reason there are 7 million now as opposed to the 3 million or so in the 80's.
it goes back to the 50's 60's and 70' and continued into the 80's and 90's.
just think of all the families that are/were in your hall.
I don't see any real growth in the west. It is amazing how many congregations are basically the same as they were 30 years ago - same core families, and often the same elders. Where there have been changes, it is usually due to families moving in or out.
In the last 30 years, I have not seen a single family come along in the truth and really 'make it' in terms of becoming core; elders, kids becoming pioneers, and the like. All I have seen a few dysfunctional families come along and then fade away.
It was different when my parents joined in the late 50s and early 60's through to the 70's. Whole families joined then and became what is today the 'core' of many congregations, often grandparents and parents are elders and kids are the next generation of pioneers.
Eyeslice
it has become increasingly apparent that the society is currently taking a hard line on university/college education for the young.
however, this policy must put some witnesses in an awkward position.
i know of an elder who is a prominent university professor, in fact he is a world authority in his field of work, which is a medical area that seeks to better the lot of humankind in general.
It has become increasingly apparent that the Society is currently taking a hard line on university/college education for the young. However, this policy must put some witnesses in an awkward position.
I know of an elder who is a prominent university professor, in fact he is a world authority in his field of work, which is a medical area that seeks to better the lot of humankind in general. His working life is totally immersed in education and research.
Not exactly the career the society would encourage young ones to pursue.
Eyeslice (Once a very clever young man but not higher educated because of obedience to the Society as a youth)
are you disfellowshipped?
disassociated?
a fader?
Actually, it is an interesting question for those of us not DAed or Dfed.
I haven't been to a meeting in nearly 5 years, so I cannot be classified as an active JW. What worries me, as for family reasons I don't want to get disfellowshipped, is how the local congregation views me.
Personally, I do not accept that I am under the still under the 'authority' of the congregation. Also, I have next to no contact with any members of the congregation other than my wife but because I do occasionally bump into members of the congregation at the shops etc, I am sure that if I did something like start attending church regularly, they would be quick to disfellowship me.
Eyeslice (on the bye line so not totally free)
i'm assuming yes, but if anyone has definitive info, it would be appreciated.
Talk about taking and not giving.
A question that I asked of the Hospital Liaison Committee - "how is it that we can accept blood fractions but not donate blood for use as blood fractions". Got no logical answer.
part 1: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/163998/1.ashx.
part 2: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/164136/1.ashx.
part 3: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/164163/1.ashx.
"I should like to add, that even though I am free, growing up a Jehovah's Witness affected every part of my life. I can move on but part of me will always want to know what happens next in the strange world of the Watchtower Society.
I can't imagine gowing up any different - it's too bizarre to contemplate. This is the only world I know.
Gorwing up as a JW brought to mind fundamental questions of life. Who am I? Why am I here and where am I going? What is the purpose of life?
Simply leaving the witnesses has not answered those fundamental questions, but at least I have the freedom to disover them for myself.
Well put - exactly my feelings.
