Posts by donuthole

23

So, Who Really DOES Write the WT? ( A LONG But Worthy Post)

by AGuest in

jw
friends

" 1 john 2:26-28. .

"when the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of "the faithful and discreet slave" at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood.

nor does it say, "helps the governing body.

donuthole

My memory might be a little foggy but didnt' the Proclaimers video show the GB commenting on the minutia of the magazines like the selecting the cover? ("The picture of the delcious looking red apple ...")

I'm particular interested about who originates "new light". The newer WT are making it very clear that this does not come from the anointed. I know in the past that it was understood (if maybe not entirely accurate) that the anointed around the world write into the Society was "new light". Does the average member of the writing comittee have personal liberty to suggest changes? It seems that changes in the teachings in the literature trail after members of the Governing Body have already presented this in the semi-private speaking circuit (Gilead grad, annual meeting, special speaking engagements.)

77

DC 2010 Releases and info

by JWFreak in

jw
friends

sorry i have been very busy and forgot.

as promised.

friday afternoon.

donuthole

I agree with Sapphy --

I fully expect another watered down prophecy book -->

What does Jeremiah's prophecy teach us about Christian dress and grooming, avoiding Internet pornography, meeting attendance? Find out in this new 192 page book

135

The generation changed is explained in the June 15'th WT!

by life is to short in

it is here in writing the new generation change.

on page 5 of the of the wt while talking about the annual meeting report.. "john barr gave the third and final talk.".

"john barr made clear that the gathering wound not continue indefinitely.

donuthole

As I read it the new mag makes clear that at this time the official explanation is not multiple overlapping generations but two. Now granted it could conceivably be stretched further to include another generation but that will have to wait until this one is spent. Right now it is just two generations, the "old" annointed and the "new" annointed. (Or more specifically the old leadership and the new leadership.)

The numerous changes to generation pre-1995 were prompted by time constraints due to the growing gap from 1914. However, the two previous changes expanded the time indefinitely. This new change was not prompted by a time crunch as they had already detached a single lifespan from 1914. So what are the reasons?

From Barr's talk you can see that this new generation teaching renews that sense of urgency that the pre-95 teachings had. It gives you a group to look at, the current "young" Governing body, and start watching them get older and older, knowing that the end will come before they all die off.

But I think there is more to it. If you take this change in teaching with the general tone of the Watchtower of late, there is a real sense of the Governing Body seeking legitimacy. The new generation teaching acts is sort of a passing of the baton, from the former group to the new. That is also the importance of Barr, one of the old guard, giving this talk at the annual meeting.

22

Why do even inactive Jw's play the shunning game?

by AK - Jeff in

i have contacted a half dozen people thru facebook.

all of these people i have known for 2 decades, most more than that.

in every case, i have not been overly apostate in my statements - just a simple hi, hello, and how ya' doin' type message to them in private.. nearly all of them fall into one of two categories: never been a jw, just studied, maybe attended meetings for a while, likely not doing so nowadays.

donuthole

I know of out and out DF'd ones that will have nothing to do with one who is classed as an "apostate". You know the ones that go to memorial once a year in the off-chance that Jehovah won't kill them when big A comes.

61

2010 - Year of the Governing Body?

by lepermessiah in

jw
friends

let me explain by what i am getting at without sounding like captain obvious!

i am actually excited about this since i think this could help assist a ton of people out of this organization!!.

i believe that the governing body is stepping up efforts to emphasize their unconditional rulership - every wt study article seems to make reference to their authority.

donuthole

When the original GB came to power over the presidency they had numbers on there side. It was the large GB against Knorr and few loyalists.

When I look at this latest crop of teachings it seems that the GB is desperate to seperate and elevate themselves above "the anointed". I'm wondering if there is an element of fear there. You have 10k+ who have been told all along that they are the FDS and that the GB represents them. I can't ever see a coup happening but if it ever did, the anointed have the numbers on their side.

More than likely it is simply the consolidation of power, the misuses of authority, and push toward tyranny that humanity tends to skew towards.

It seems likely that the GB will assume the role of the FDS. I'm wondering though if it will stop there? They have been trying to deflate "anointed ones" why not shift into outright hostility toward them. The seeds are already there. Wage war against them. Call them pompous. Call them crazy. Maybe make the GB an apostolic group that must "lay hands on" (grant authority) for individuals who will become anointed. As it stand the position of "anointed" is the only thing the WT has not yet try to take control over. Maybe leaving the election to God will no longer be in the best interests of the Society.

29

Russia: JWs treated as "terrorists"

by behemot in

jw
friends

russia: jehovah's witnesses treated as "terrorists" .

investigations and searches from house to house, seizing religious material "extremist" allegations.

a kingdom hall in budennovsk set on fire.

donuthole

Burn the Ships -- Did you notice Article 29 2?

Article 29

2. Propaganda or campaigning inciting social, racial, national or religious hatred and strife is impermissible. The propaganda of social, racial, national, religious or language superiority is forbidden.

The JW's violate the Russian constitution because they indeed distribute propaganda (literature) that promotes "religious superiority". Can anyone argue that the JW literature does not routinely do this?

The simple solution is for JW's in Russia to stop using literature that the government considers to be a violation of the constitution. Why won't the Organization take this simple step that would help JW's in Russia be able to worship freely? What is so important about the literature?

75

How Many Here Actually "Handled The Microphones"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

.

donuthole

I had that privilege when I was teen. We had the mics on a long boom.

Sometimes when a buddy would be be called on to answer we entertained ourselves by moving the mic closer and closer to their mouth so that had to keep backing up their head.

I hated when someone dead center would comment and you had to do this gigantic one arm stretch to reach them. Invariably those folks would have some long winded comment that left your arm wobbling like jello by the time it was over.

Also didn't enjoy those who when they were called upon wanted to grab the mic to position it how they wanted. Hey this is my show!!

23

Rated R Movies?

by NikL in

jw
friends

been wondering if the jw's are still told to not see them.

seems like i haven't seen or heard anything like that in a few years.. .

donuthole

Yes R-rated movies were taboo in the United States. (If was funny when we went on trip to visit the Canadian Bethel branch and some of the congregation went to see a movie that had a lesser rating under that system. When asked they responded by saying, "It's not Rated R here." So anyway that was the mentality.) Many did watch them in the privacy of their own home but this wasn't something you went around talking about. Heck, sometimes even watching an edited version on TV of an R movie would be scrutinized. I also remember when my friend applied for Bethel service there was a question about watching Rated-R movies. He was afraid of being disqualified because he had seen both Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.

The US rating system is flawed and biased. Sexual content rates harder than violence. Major motion pictures with industry clout can get softer ratings than indie pictures. Even the way profanity is used can rate stricter. For instance if the f-word is used in sexual way it will get an R-rating where if it used as simple expletive it will get a PG-13. Also the standards change from time to time. PG movies of the past often contained more profanity, sexual content, and nudity where as today these same movies would probably receive an R.

20

Are some of the anointed ones now already ressurrected and gone to heaven as the society claim?

by Truthexplorer in

frankly, i am a little bit confused by this teaching.

well when i read 1 thes 4:13-18, it contradicts what the society claim.. paul wrote -.

moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping [in death]; that you may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope.

donuthole

As I understand it - in 1878 Russell, and other likeminded individuals, expected to be raptured to heaven. When this didn't occur as expected, it was explained that the resuurection to Heaven had already occured - but invisibly. In 1878 the righteous dead went to Heaven, they would be joined by others as they died, until the end of the Harvest in 1914 when the remainder living would join them.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have kept this idea but shifted the dates forward. Jesus invisible presence begins in 1914, the invisible resurrection follows in 1918, and after that any annointed who die immediately go to Heaven. (That is why the Bethel graveyard is nicknamed the "launch pad".) They have went back and forth of when those still alive go to heaven, pre-armaggedon or post-armaggedon. The last I knew they just left it open and didn't commit one way or another.

27

Memorial partakers

by etna in

jw
friends

i think its probably too soon, but if anyone knows how many partakers of the emblems this year?.

.

etna.

donuthole

@MadSweeney

I can confirm what you are saying. After I partook the first time it wasn't long after that I had "shepherding call" from two elders who attempted to validate my claim using the Watchtower magazine.

1. Did I have a drug use history?
2. Was I undergoing emotional stress due to my father's health problems?
3. Had I had mental problems in the past?
4. Did I read apostate information to make me think I was anointed?

They also used the old 1935 argument and the reasoning that if a replacement would be needed it would be someone with a long history of Kingdom service. I kindly informed them that it was between me and God and I didn't need them to validate it - not able to convince me otherwise they left, only telling me to pray about it.

I didn't last a year after that - as they disfellowshipped me just prior to the next memorial. (The official announcement was read the following week.)