Posts by sd-7

Yeah, I sure miss some of the stuff I threw away...I think I realized there was just some stuff I wasn't going to part with. Guess that was my spiritual downfall. After a prolonged period of self-control, even seeing Leia in 'Return of the Jedi' was more than I could handle, as I normally didn't look at her like that...and that was usually the end of that...

Anyway, the theme for Saturday is a quote of Jesus' words, so...that could count as mentioning Jesus on the program...right? But one would expect that Jesus, who "knew what was in man" and could discern hearts, would figure much more prominently, at least one talk in that regard. I mean, come on!

As usual, I would expect the final talk to include more of the "faithful slave" recounting its glorious history and patting itself on the back for how God has used them to refine his people, etc., etc. I've noticed on practically all assembly/convention programs I've been to since waking up fully that the final talk mentions the "faithful slave" several times. Why the final talk? I wondered. Because that's when everyone is the most mentally tired and thus vulnerable to suggestion. Or in the unlikely event that you're not tired (as you exerted yourself in the ministry all week before coming to the program), the final thoughts you will hear are all about the "slave class". What you take away most will presumably be the last things you hear on the program.

It's no wonder I remembered leaving and feeling like I'd been reprogrammed. Hypnotic suggestion, if you ask me.

--sd-7

28

Are you approved to report (from the km for july)

by therevealer in

yes indeedy.

if you are fortunate enough to be approved you can report (as in be allowed to report) 15-minute increments.

i knew that older ones, for example, were encouraged to report even the smallest amount of service and the cong.

sd-7

My understanding was that if you were a regular publisher who got 8 hours and 15 minutes, that you would carry those uh, theocratic rollover minutes to the next month, so that when you get the next 45 minutes, it becomes a full hour. That was what the congregation secretary said from the platform in my old congregation. I never saw that in writing, but I went ahead and did it.

--sd-7

16

An article on shunning that really started the wheels turning

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

it was the september 1, 2006 watchtower, page 17, "when a loved one leaves jehovah".

it was this quote i found upsetting:.

it has become harder and harder to sit at christian meetings and see parents laughing and talking with their children, says louise.

sd-7

making it seem like the Watchtower feels your pain and relates

Really? Never got that feeling. I think I always had the sense that this stuff was written by old men in their ivory tower who were clearly detached from reality and human nature. Still thought they were right back then, but I think I nonetheless started to become cynical about God and the 'sovereignty' issue. I started to see it as just a war between God and the Devil and I began to suspect that humanity would lose no matter who won. So many of us would die, all for what? To prove one being is right? A person who had the right by virtue of being absolute power? The core of the entire belief system started to seem hollow.

--sd-7

28

Are you approved to report (from the km for july)

by therevealer in

yes indeedy.

if you are fortunate enough to be approved you can report (as in be allowed to report) 15-minute increments.

i knew that older ones, for example, were encouraged to report even the smallest amount of service and the cong.

sd-7

"Whole-souled service" isn't something we need an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of. Is there some part of that they don't understand? How do they think things work in heaven, exactly? It just gives this image of a Heavenly Service Department with all these angels tapping at their JehovahSoft Excellence spreadsheets. "Hey, Gabe--did District #3B submit their field service reports yet?" "Yeah, I got 'em. Wow, what whole-souled service. Look at that. Easily a 10-hour average. Hey Mike, we got our quota! 100 districts reporting!"

--sd-7

14

Human Rights vs Watchtower Rights

by undercover in

jw
friends

whenever the wts/jws face being banned or limited in activity the wts is quick to turn to the courts for support for their right to worship as protected under various human right organizations.

when the wts either wins a court case, or looks to curry favor from the courts, such as in greece or georgia, they champion their victory as a win for human rights and religious freedom rights or they cry out for justice under religious freedom rights and human rights.. http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980108/article_01.htm.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19970322/article_01.htm.

sd-7

You really are the writing committee SD7!!!

Scary......

Nah, I just read a LOT of magazines growing up...I quickly learned that most people probably didn't do that. I think some have read so little that even their own actual beliefs sound like apostasy to them... Oh, right...well, there is that...

--sd-7

27

2012 July Kingdom Ministry!

by Atlantis in

.

2012 july kingdom ministry*click the link below and when the next page appears scroll down and click the link in the long blue box that says: (click here to start download from sendspace).

ignore all the other buttons and symbols.

sd-7

But wait, I thought numbers weren't any indication of God's backing? Oh, right, that's only when Christendom experiences an increase...

--sd-7

14

Human Rights vs Watchtower Rights

by undercover in

jw
friends

whenever the wts/jws face being banned or limited in activity the wts is quick to turn to the courts for support for their right to worship as protected under various human right organizations.

when the wts either wins a court case, or looks to curry favor from the courts, such as in greece or georgia, they champion their victory as a win for human rights and religious freedom rights or they cry out for justice under religious freedom rights and human rights.. http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980108/article_01.htm.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19970322/article_01.htm.

sd-7

Yeah, that's definitely not something they'd put in a Public Edition WT, at least. The Public Edition might be more like:

"Jehovah's Witnesses do not shun family members who cease their association with their brothers and sisters. Each one has the freedom to decide what he or she will believe, and we do not interfere with the conscience of any individual, nor restrict their right to exercise faith as they see fit. Congregation elders routinely endeavor to encourage those who have withdrawn from Jehovah and lovingly invite them to return to the congregation. Such heartfelt action on their part is further evidence of the love that exists amongst Jehovah's Witnesses. (John 13:35)"

--sd-7

14

Human Rights vs Watchtower Rights

by undercover in

jw
friends

whenever the wts/jws face being banned or limited in activity the wts is quick to turn to the courts for support for their right to worship as protected under various human right organizations.

when the wts either wins a court case, or looks to curry favor from the courts, such as in greece or georgia, they champion their victory as a win for human rights and religious freedom rights or they cry out for justice under religious freedom rights and human rights.. http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980108/article_01.htm.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19970322/article_01.htm.

sd-7

Jehovah's Witnesses do not interfere with anyone's freedom of religion. Upon baptism, those who become Jehovah's Witnesses have agreed that their baptism identifies them as being associated with God's spirit-directed organization. Should an individual choose to withdraw said association, he or she is free to do so. However, our responsibility as true Christians requires us to avoid such persons, "not even eating with such a man." (1 Cor. 5:9-11) An individual who thus separates himself from association with family or friends who truly love God is therefore exercising his freedom of religion--though to his own spiritual detriment--just as Jehovah's loyal servants are in choosing to avoid him.

--sd-7

16

An article on shunning that really started the wheels turning

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

it was the september 1, 2006 watchtower, page 17, "when a loved one leaves jehovah".

it was this quote i found upsetting:.

it has become harder and harder to sit at christian meetings and see parents laughing and talking with their children, says louise.

sd-7

Rereading this quote I just realized another piece of manipulation:

One Christian elder recalls the four years during which his wife’s daughter cut off association with them.

So it was the person who got expelled who cut off the association, not the people who under threat of expulsion are told to cut off association with their child...isn't that backwards here?

--sd-7