Posts by hillary

What I will say is that the WTS does not want to mainstream but it has no choice. It is true that the most important voice on the GB and those whom he grooms for leadership are living with their hearts firmly fixed in the 50's. Think of your parents generation Eman in their die-hard days and you have the GB pretty well summed up.

I can tell you that a very senior WTS voice recognizes the need for change but has been heard to say 'The GB will not be pressured by outside forces into making these changes, they must come from within, at our own pace'. However, to coin a WT phrase, ‘the facts show otherwise’.

The reality is that mainstreaming is taking place both with doctrine and social attitude, albeit at a slow pace. This has resulted as the WTS has grown increasingly aware of just how powerful their enemies are, that Armageddon is not going to rescue them and that they are in for the long haul. Most of the changes we have seen in doctrine, 'generation', 'sheep and goats', disgusting thing', etc. and policy 'blood fractions', 'military service', 'voting' etc, have been bought about by outside pressure which has forced mainstreaming on the GB whatever they personally desire. This will continue.

The battle that is presently being fought between the WTS and its ‘enemies’ is on new territory from that its fought 20 years ago. This is a PR battle against itself and its own monsters. Its past doctrines, propelled without restraint by the Mad Hatter, Frederick Franz, have come back to haunt it. It is fighting itself, on a battleground it that prepared itself, with weapons it itself designed and with a leadership long ago having lost contact with the emotions of its adherents. It just so happens that society is helping to bring this cauldron to the boil.

This religious revolution is most certainly devouring its own children.

Kind regards to you and the Missus, Squire - HS

12

Dutch Bethel responds to NGO case

by Merlin in

jw
friends

i wanted to share with you a response by dutch bethel on a letter sent by dutch jw re: the ngo thing.. i've not been able to keep up with all the posts on this subject here, so i might end up saying this already said, but never mind that.. thing is, dutch bethel confirmed the ngo status, justifying it by referring to romans 13:1. .

quote from the letter (translated) : <i>"jehovah's witnesses view the organisation of the united nations in the same way they view the other governments of this world ... considering the un as one of the 'superior authorities' is a help to understanding that it is possible to have certain contacts with this institution, similar to the society having contact with ministries taking care of matters related to justice, education and the like"</i> .

as for sharing the ideals of the un charter, it was said : <i>"it is not that hard to only share ideals, while we of course pay tribute to the biblical view on the way in which they should be achieved"</i> (i couldn't help noticing the shocking similarity to the society's letter to hitler in this line of reasoning...).

hillary_step

NYT,

damn..we are good

That I agree with wholeheartedly, the WTS has cunning to burn.

Problem is:

That is why, since we have this ministry according to the mercy that was shown us, we do not give up; but we have renounced the underhanded things of which to be ashamed, not walking with cunning, neither adulterating the word of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Still, given the WTS reaction at having itself disaffiliated from its NGO status at the UN, one of the fastest theological back-tracks on record, scriptual principle has been upheld:

He catches the wise in their own cunning.

HS

4

bin Laden's terrorists in Sydney

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

today's news item in australia:.

07:21 aest fri 12 oct 2001 .

100 identified as terror group members.

hillary_step

Ozzie,

Thank you for an interesting and depressingly unsurprising post.

Kind regards - HS

UncleBruce,

This stuff has been common knowledge for a very long time but our piss weak governments have done nothing abvout it except allow people complaining to be tagged as racist

A statement that could be all too easily made in most Westernised countries. I was puzzled to learn that the man arrested on the US/Canada border, by the US border guards with a trunk full of explosives in 1999, had been living as a refugee in Montreal, Canada for six years. He had been arrested four times for burglary, was being watched by Canadian intelligence ( forgive me, but a contradiction in terms! ) was released all four times, all the while being floated by the Canadian taxpayer who paid his rent, living accomodation, medical and dental bills. He almost blew up LA airport.

We get what we deserve! -- HS

HS

6

WT - Amusing Quotes Of The Year

by hillary_step in

jw
friends

here is one to get the ball rolling,.

recently, "the faithful and discreet slave" has helped us to refine our understanding of the term "generation" used at matthew 24:34 and of the timing of the judgment of "the sheep" and "the goats" mentioned at matthew 25:31-46, as well as of our view toward certain types of civilian service.

no doubt some apostates would have been delighted if many of jehovahs witnesses had stuck rigidly to the previous understanding of such subjects and refused to progress.

hillary_step

Here is one to get the ball rolling,

Recently, "the faithful and discreet slave" has helped us to refine our understanding of the term "generation" used at Matthew 24:34 and of the timing of the judgment of "the sheep" and "the goats" mentioned at Matthew 25:31-46, as well as of our view toward certain types of civilian service. No doubt some apostates would have been delighted if many of Jehovah’s Witnesses had stuck rigidly to the previous understanding of such subjects and refused to progress. Nothing of the kind has happened. Why? Jehovah’s people are loyal. w97 8/1 12

So here we are, 2,000 years into Christianity and a flash or two of light finally illuminates the collective brilliance of the FDS into the perceptive situation of acknowledging the truth of what 'Babylon the Great' has known for several hundred years. Nothing new here.

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes right the way through.

HS

13

The 'Like' Words - Language course for Aussie BBQ

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

g'day blokes and sheilas,.

in the interest of world peace, we are presenting a course in strine as a service to our fellow worldlings.

study it well before the next sydney bbq.. today's lesson is in phrases beginning with the word 'like', which are so necessary for descriptive language.. 1. like a blue-arsed fly........in a frantic manner.

hillary_step

OK Ossie,

Just two questions.

How does the man in the advert, who speaks as if he is high on speed shouting 'buck off' this and 'buck off' that, stressing the 'buck off' with obvious relish, get away with it?

How does the man who opened a resteraunt in Freemantle called 'Gut Fillers' stay in business?

Best tongue in cheek regards - HS

13

The 'Like' Words - Language course for Aussie BBQ

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

g'day blokes and sheilas,.

in the interest of world peace, we are presenting a course in strine as a service to our fellow worldlings.

study it well before the next sydney bbq.. today's lesson is in phrases beginning with the word 'like', which are so necessary for descriptive language.. 1. like a blue-arsed fly........in a frantic manner.

hillary_step

Ozzie,

Does anybody know a web site that translates Australian to English?

A number of years ago we had visitors from Australia where some of my relatives live ( Perth ). They bought with them a noted architect and his wife who was responsible for many respected designs in London and extremely wealthy. We had a dinner party to which we hosted in the grand old style.

During the meal my sisters four year old niece wandered into the dining room sleepy eyed and oblivious to the tenor of the moment. We introduced our exclusive guest - 'this is XXXX he has come all the way from Australia'. She looked at him with a puzzled but obvious interest and finally, at least it seemed to us, almost screamed - "are you the bloody convict".

Cannot think where she picked this up....

Kindest regards - HS

4

To Thine Own Self Be Fairly True....

by hillary_step in

jw
friends

ray franz is a liar, thank god for that, because if he was not...... few bodies of people on this planet have more hope vested in the term truth than the wts.

by this term they divide the world between the living and the dead, the good and the bad, and seek to build the garrotes of exclusivity around their empire.. yet, it has been repeatedly noted that on an individual basis the average jw has, not a respect for truth, but a fear of it.

this is quickly established by asking some of the many embarrassing questions that frequently surface on boards such as this.

hillary_step

Hello,

Ray Franz is a liar, thank God for that, because if he was not.....

Few bodies of people on this planet have more hope vested in the term ‘truth’ than the WTS. By this term they divide the world between the living and the dead, the good and the bad, and seek to build the garrotes of exclusivity around their empire.

Yet, it has been repeatedly noted that on an individual basis the average JW has, not a respect for truth, but a fear of it. This is quickly established by asking some of the many embarrassing questions that frequently surface on boards such as this. Rather than search for truth, they seek to confound the reaching of frightening conclusions by labeling anybody questioning the doctrines of the WTS as ‘apostate’, ‘liars’, ‘weak spiritually’ ‘contentious’ or in my case recently ‘obsessed with detail’.

The problem is that once ‘truth’ has been found, no ‘truth’ exists outside these boundaries, therefore anyone still searching for ‘truth’, once they have found ‘truth’ cannot have good motives. The Mother of all circular arguments.

Note what a ’76 WT 7/1 stated:

Rather, those humbly seeking the truth will be asking questions of the kind that sincere truth-seekers inquired of Jesus.

So it seems that only if we ask certain questions in a certain way are we sincere. Imagine a civilization based on this reasoning. A world, packed hemisphere to hemisphere with village idiots.

Of course there is no real need for individuals to seek truth if the WTS has already found it for you:

Jehovah has a teaching organization in the earth today. Sincere truth-seekers should listen to it. Not only should they learn what is false to clear it out, but they should learn what is true to put in its place……..It is a case of setting aside pride and prejudice and with an open mind going ‘to the law and to the testimony’ and reasoning together. Sincere ones will do this. All the more so if they sincerely believe they are right, for they will want to help the one calling on them to see the right. They will either be helping or be helped. Truly sincere ones will be happy in either case.

Amidst this cacophony of slogans throttling the word ‘sincere’ to death, you will note that those who desire to grasp the fundamental truths of WTS doctrine need to be ‘sincere’, lack ‘pride’ and ‘prejudice’ and submit their reasoning to the ‘teaching organization’, the discriminators of truth and falsehood.

I suppose we need not be surprised when those of us who have succumbed to this conditioning, duck for cover, or twitch helplessly in no-mans-land, when truth approaches and invites us out for coffee

HS

If a thousand old beliefs were ruined in our march to truth, we must still march on. - Stopford A. Brooke

44

Bin Laden Innocent?

by dubla in

jw
friends

there have been several threads recently where individuals have spoken out against the united states for their actions against afghanistan.

there are some people on this forum who continue to express the belief that bin laden has not had a fair trial up to this point, and these same people have insinuated that perhaps the u.s. doesnt have enough proof against him and his network to take forceful military action.

for any still unclear on this, please click here >>> http://www.cnn.com/2001/world/asiapcf/central/10/10/gen.alqaeda.video/index.html.

hillary_step

bboyneko,

Ossama was trained by our CIA to overthrow the societ invaders during the late 70's early 80's..at that time russia was our enemy and ossama our friend...well when ossama overthrew the communist invaders he was the enemy and then russia is our friend. Same exact thing happened with cuba

A governments foreign policy is a far more complex matter than can be defined by the terms, 'friends' and 'enemies'. It is naieve to approach highly complex and long-reaching political scenarios by looking at them through John Wayne's eyes as is so often the case with US foreign policies.

Every country is a friend and an enemy to each other at the same time. Even Britain spies on the US. Frankly, even the US spies on itself. This is what maintains an equalibrium of sorts and a balance of power. Each country works for its own interests, whether this be achieved by dropping flour, or dropping bombs on other countries.

The problem with US foreign policy since the inception of the nation is its stunning ignorance of the thinking and inclination of the peoples of other nations.

A very intersting book that helps one see behind the scenes of diplomacy was written by Kissinger ( the closest that the US has had to a true Foreign Diplomat imho. ) and is entitled 'Diplomacy'. A good read.

Best regards - HS

17

Language has Gone Downhill in the Society

by dubla in

jw
friends

in a recent thread with a "witness" on this forum, i was told that he spent last night with my mother, as she was more than happy to "take it up the ass".

when i replied that my mother had passed on, he continued on with, "i wish i could feel sorry about your mom.

but i dont.

hillary_step

Jdubla,

I was horrified to read your post and what was said about your mother. I read very few posts on this Board these days as when I do I feel as if I have exercised in razor-wire, and then been dipped in a slurry soup. I am pleased to admit that I did not read the original post.

Many JW's are very angry and emotional stunted on a sub-conscious level and given the opportunity to make this known in an anonymous surrounding perhaps led to this outburst. This post was not so much about the use of language as an explosion of hate.

Simon, poor fellow, though inundated with mail, does react to eliminate such hateful posts if you contact him directly.

I am sorry Jdubla for the pain that this comment has caused you. We must all realize that we are our words, what we say has effects on the lives of others - for better or worse.

Best regards - HS

hillary_step

Posts by hillary_step