i have read today this quote from one member on facebook going by the name of ruth eeker.. .
based on her quote, she states that "as well in regards to the un, the society has various name versions registered still in the un.
so they are still not completely out of the supposed beast!".
You are not addressing the OSCE issue here Reinaa...
Do you feel its right for the WTS to be involved with the OSCE when an ordinary witness is subject to disfellowshipping for joining the YMCA to use a gym, sauna or pool?
I know they are not perfect and chrisendom has much more to answer for but as a witness for many years telling others we were different this involvement is disappointing to me and other witnesses.
Dont you think there's a double standard here at the very least?
i have read today this quote from one member on facebook going by the name of ruth eeker.. .
based on her quote, she states that "as well in regards to the un, the society has various name versions registered still in the un.
so they are still not completely out of the supposed beast!".
Reinaa - I could not believe the societies involvement with the OSCE - I wanted to believe they are not but the facts are obvious that they are involved with an organization who's mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press, and fair elections.
Other witnesses who I have shared this with (after initially questioning me about this possibly being apostate propaganda and since investigating the matter further via the OSCE website) have expressed to me their disappointment about this involvement.
Justitia Themis summed up the issue here, namely:
In addition to my prior comment, what makes their association so damning is their reasoning on why JWs can not join the YMCA. Despite the good work that it does, the QFR specifically states that IF you join an organization, you are supporting ALL their agenda, not just part.
Therefore, if the WTBTS joins the OSCE, then, according to their reasoning, they too are supporting ALL its goals, including in political and militaristic goals.
So, I cannot see how your argument using the example of Paul addresses the issue at hand - the problem of the WTS hypocritical duplicity here!
i have read today this quote from one member on facebook going by the name of ruth eeker.. .
based on her quote, she states that "as well in regards to the un, the society has various name versions registered still in the un.
so they are still not completely out of the supposed beast!".
To me and probably many others on this post, this is a very serious information that adds to many list of hypocrisy on the part of the Watchtower.
Very true and well said Scott77!
yes, i am enjoying realizing the truth about the truth.. but there is another side to it.
the world as we know it didn't seem to me to be the way that god intended it to be.
i know i was brainwashed, but it felt good believing that all the bad things would be changed.
I too wanted it all to be true....I dreamed about running through a beautiful meadow, viewing waterfalls, and petting all the animals. I do not know what to believe now....some religions teach that the earth will one day be man's home, or they picture heaven as a place that is a beautiful garden.
That, of course, is why my name is Quandry. I just am so disillusioned....and saddened by the revealing of the history of the JWs.
Yes quandary, I too feel disappointed that the WTS has proven to be something different to what it claims - how can they be so dogmatic about paradise earth when Jesus did not teach the masses about it? If it features so prominently in Gods purpose how come the Apostles and first century Christians did not preach or teach others about paradise earth?
Another example of the WTS going "beyond the things written" and teaching/preaching their interpretation of the Bible...
"inciting hatred on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality or sexuality or other personal characteristic.".
is this seriously one of the forum's rules to follow?
how can that be so when this whole forum is based on inciting hatred towards one religion.....jehovah's witnesses.......wow this is funny!
Welcome to the forum scrapmama777 and thank you for sharing your story!
The WTS never elaborates on what exactly people that leave disagree with; they actively discourage independent investigation and demonise any alternative views.
I never gave this much thought as I thought that the "truth" can stand up to anything thrown up against it.
Over 12 months ago I started to investigate opposing views - a post that had a profound impact on me was this thread by a serving elder at the time
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/3642/1/In-there-no-good-in-the-WTBTS-or-ourselves
Please continue to keep an open mind and I look forward to more of your posts.
Best wishes
Lukewarm
*** lv pp.
212-215 flag salute, voting, and civilian service ***.
flag salute, voting, and civilian service.
I used to wonder if all the hours spent typing out Ray Franz's enlightening words would prove beneficial.
CC - Ray Franz's books are Gold!!!
Thank you for your efforts!
Lukewarm
*** lv pp.
212-215 flag salute, voting, and civilian service ***.
flag salute, voting, and civilian service.
Thanks for the timeline trebor!
Steve 2 - here are some links which will give you context...
VOTING CHANGES:
http://www.jwfiles.com/vote.htm
ALTERNATIVE SERVICE CHANGES:
http://www.adam.com.au/bstett/JwWTSandAlternativeService70.htm
so this morning was the public talk and wt study.
after, we did our usual and went to eat.
the group was mixed ages.
what does all this moaning about the rights and wrong actions of our leadership achieve?
People suffered by this wrong teaching yes but it has changed are you not glad it changed?
Does God make mistakes Reniaa?
Does He continue to change his mind like WT Society?
Does God get things wrong and would he serve bad food at the wrong time again and again?
Or do these errors and changes indicate that God was never behind these decisions at all. That instead, perhaps these mistakes --many of which literally cost people their very lives--, have been the result of poor decisions made by fallible men who claim God is using them and only them today?
organization member tressa ballard, 62, left the jehovah's witnesses in 1990 and has since embraced evangelical christianity.
the colorado springs resident sometimes speaks at the meetings about how four of her five children who remained in the church refuse to talk to her since she left the faith.
"people can leave, but they will be shunned by family and friends," ballard said.. .
Looks like he is using "Theocratic War Strategy" to protect the Organization!
http://www.jwfiles.com/TheoWarStra.htm
how sad that the witnesses have nothing to celebrate.
the more i think about it since i stopped going to the meetings, the more i feel that spirituality and religion are about opportunities to give thanks and to celebrate life with family and friends.
christenings or name giving ceremonies celebrate the gift of a new life to a family.
Are the witnesses wrong for not celebrating these festivals as this whole thread implies?
Reinaa, the WTS are wrong in the context of not allowing the individual to make a personal decission especially when the Scriptures are silent on the matter.
Should the WTS outlaw Christmas or leave it to the conscience of the individual as to how or even if they should celebrate it?
I don't celebrate Christmas Reinaa nor am I interested in celebrating it but the issue is that the WTS denies its members the freedom of choice and that is such a contrast to the reasonableness that Russell displayed, namely:
"Christmas Day, in celebration of our dear Redeemer's birth, has for centuries been celebrated on Dec. 25; and although it is now well known that this date is in error...nevertheless, since the Lord has given no instructions whatever upon this subject, and since it is proper to do good deeds and think good thoughts upon any day, it cannot be improper, ...for us to remember in a social way our dear Redeemer's birth at this time."(Zion's WT, Dec. 15, 1898-pg.370).
"It matters not particularly that Dec. 25 is not the anniversary of our Lord's birth, according to the Scriptural account; that really He was born about September 25, nine months later. One day, as well as another, will serve us to commemorate our Savior's birth in the flesh, as a gift of God's love to a condemned and dying world."(Zion's WT, Dec. 15, 1908-pg.379).
