Apognophos:
The blood teaching was branding, supporting the idea that JWs are unique and thus the only true religion. "Only Jehovah's Witnesses use the name Jehovah, don't celebrate birthdays, refuse blood transfusions . . . "
a few days ago i posted my estimations about how much the wt actually makes a year.
you guys were all really helpful and provided a lot of useful info.
a good estimate would be 2-3 billion dollars a year.
Apognophos:
The blood teaching was branding, supporting the idea that JWs are unique and thus the only true religion. "Only Jehovah's Witnesses use the name Jehovah, don't celebrate birthdays, refuse blood transfusions . . . "
a few days ago i posted my estimations about how much the wt actually makes a year.
you guys were all really helpful and provided a lot of useful info.
a good estimate would be 2-3 billion dollars a year.
I believe this to be a very important thread.
From what I have observed (from over 50 years as a Witness) the comments of jgnat (overview) and Apognophos (detailed) are, to me, the most accurate. Since the time that I had seen the Organization up close (through personal acquaintance with higher-ups in the Rutherford and Knorr administrations as well as members of the GB, Writing and Service Departments during the Jaracz period), it has morphed and adapted. Since the days of Russell, doctrinal changes and policy changes have always been in reaction to something human. I know of no exeception to this.
The checks and balances alluded to by jgnat, have evolved out of necessity and have contributed to the Oganization's survival in recent years. In theory, the Organization will continue to make any changes it sees as necessary for survival, regardless of which corporation, branch, body, department or committee comes up with the idea. But in practice, so long as it holds to its tradition, changes prohibited by that tradition may be the very changes it needs to make, in order to survive.
during a disciplinary procedure, what would the response be if you wanted representation?
an advocate?.
why don't they have a group of unbiased men, a prosecutor to present the case against you and an advocate that would represent the accused?
Advocacy is not allowed. If you want to quash a judicial meeting just inform the elders that you will be bringing your attorney.
The answers to your other questions depend on the elders involved and, at times, the degree of the service department's involvement.
Every appeal committee on which I served reversed the original decision and the service department honored our finding. In one instance though, and this involved a special committee attempting to resolve a business dispute, it became clear that the service department had already passed judgment. When our committee came to a different conclusion, we were fired and replaced with another special committee who, while agreeing with our findings, were off the hook when one of the parties confessed to sexual immorality. The new committee took disfellowshipping action and in this way, the matter was resolved.
I have seen compassion, reasonableness, mercy and wisdom at times; but at other times, politics, ego, faovitism, Simony and dishonesty.
i thought the kingdom ministry feb 2014 had a couple interesting things in it:.
1. a short talk encouraging the jw sales force to publicize the jw.org website at every opportunity.. 2. do not put out bibles on your table displays keep them hidden underneath.
i thought they were so p-p-p-p-proud of their new nwt??.
"And this good news of the website will be preached in the entire inhabited earth for a witness, and then the end will come. . . ."
hello gents and ladies.
whats your take on this article on jan 2014 awake?.
did your view of evolution change?.
Who, then, produced the life of the intelligent Creator?
I know, I know . . . God has always existed. I'd be interested to know the extent of Dr. Kotlar's research supporting that assertion.
my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?
.
I am, by any definition, an apostate. However, Brother Mike, I am going to give you the answer you seek:
Question: Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult?
Answer: Because so many have been deceived by apostates and others who have taken a position against Jehovah's Witnesses.
. . . hey, wait a minute . . . I'm an apostate . . . have I contributed to this deception? . . .
Wow! Thank you Brother Mike for getting me back on track. I need to get my unforgivable sin of apostasy forgiven somehow and return to the flock!
wolford and betty john,nice loveing couple,always loved children.. arther and tinnie roderson, nice couple he passed away some years ago too young from cancer.. wiakato and hine gray couldn't ask for better people.. jack teesie ..single guy would never go to a single sisters place for dinner even if she had children apperantly a bad look.. joe sleighman and wife nice couple were d.o's leaft and joined our side.. sandy pannell and wife...he reminded me of bill clinton always love to look down from the stage and wave his left finger at the congro....never liked him.. han's hubler,nuff said has been a few threads started about him.. there is many more.. karter..
Although I haven't visited Australia, a few have visited California and I enjoyed meeting Bill Hosking, Shannon Farmer, and Don McLean. Also, Grundy's son (does that count?).
http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/dncall/media/photo.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0.
besty made a business trip to california last week.
naturally, i had to get together with him.
http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/DNCall/media/photo.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
Besty made a business trip to California last week. Naturally, I had to get together with him. Sweet Pea had to stay in Old Blighty, to keep the home fires burning (whatever that means). WhoKnows had a headache (. . . boy, she gets a lot of those). To fill our need for female companionship, Dagney and Aude Sapere stepped up to the plate.
The attached photo memorializes our get-together at the Hermosa Beach Pier. I am not indicating who is who, in order to protect our heavily guarded anonymity. It was snapped by a local meth-head.
As you can see, the gathering was a sedate affair, wherein we discussed global warming, slimboyfat and the reemergence of the Anglo-American World Power under the leadership of Besty and yours truly.
From what I remember of the evening, there were multiple orders of multiple alcoholic beverages. Somehow, several cigars also found their way into the mix. Dagney seized upon the occasion to gift me with a John Coltrane CD that I don’t already own. Somehow it ended up in Besty’s possession and is now 5,437 miles away from its intended recipient. Send back what is rightfully mine!
the following appars in the new, new world translation bloatware section under "the message of the bible".
"about 1914 c.e.. jesus hurls the serpent, satan, to the earth, confining him there for a short time.revelation 12:7-9, 12.".
err, urm, err ok?
wasblind: The problem with WWI being triggered by Satan's confinement to earth is that WWI broke out months before Chirst was supposedly enthroned and started kicking butt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9k4wjvmhi.
bro "elder" took his family to disneyland.
the first day, he did not want them to go on this "demonic" ride.
Before Disneyland went all out for Halloween, it was like any other day except that it was pretty empty since most people were involved in trick or treating. It became known as the perfect day for Witnesses to take their children to the "Magic Kingdom." We took our kids for a number of years in succession and ran into other Witnesses we hadn't seen for a long time. We would always go through the haunted house. Imagine the Hauted House full of Witnesses. That's pretty much what it was like.