Posts by sd-7

16

Tom Cruise announcement: Scientology and WatchTower to merge!

by mP in

i just saw it on tv straight from the scientology satellite..

sd-7

I can totally see this happening. Tom Cruise meets with the Governing Body and says, "This is how many followers you'll gain if you're with me. This is how many you gain without me. With me. Without me. WITH ME. WITHOUT ME."

--sd-7

115

Disfellowshipped!

by Las Malvinas son Argentinas in

jw
friends

libertad!

though my story is a bit more complicated than that.

i live in argentina.

sd-7

Well, what is Bethel going to do to someone who's already been DF'd...may I ask? That is the limit of their power. There's an innate fear that comes with this sort of thing, but geez, they're not literally stormtroopers, just metaphorically stormtroopers...

--sd-7

9

Accurate knowledge is..............neither

by Terry in

thinking is what separates humans successfully from other life forms in a way that allows us technology, medicine, science, social reform and progress.. thinking is a neutral term.

it is neither good nor bad.

it is like a fork which is great for eating peas and useless for eating soup.. thinking we have knowledge gives us smug satisfaction we are up to whatever task is at hand.. .

sd-7

Has any of this progress actually come from one word written in any ancient holy book? Or, rather in spite of it?

[Brain explodes] WHAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

--sd-7

20

Mysterious JW Death in Walkhill Bethel April 29th - see link

by dreamgolfer in

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-z-bobzien-tommy&pid=157453859.

note: this just happened and some rumours are surfacing from bethel family there and are told "not to talk" about this.

1. young man called parents to say good bye night before being found dead.

sd-7

That's terrible. It would be nice to know what actually happened there. Tragic. So many young men dream of going there to Bethel and...to end up dying there at a young age...it's sad.

--sd-7

115

Disfellowshipped!

by Las Malvinas son Argentinas in

jw
friends

libertad!

though my story is a bit more complicated than that.

i live in argentina.

sd-7

Emilie--check your PMs. Just wrote you a message.

--sd-7

115

Disfellowshipped!

by Las Malvinas son Argentinas in

jw
friends

libertad!

though my story is a bit more complicated than that.

i live in argentina.

sd-7

Wow. So sorry to hear that. This highlights what I found out myself through personal experience in a judicial committee--whether or not you're truly repentant really doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is how the organization looks in the public eye. If a sin is too public, they feel a need to expel the person regardless of their attitude. And yes, the gossip has a lot to do with this sort of thing, so I'm sorry to see yet another victim of that sort of unchristian behavior.

I'll have to send you a PM (a message for the little blue envelope in the top right corner of your screen, but you probably figured that out already). If you're talking about Georgetown University in Washington, DC, well, that's in my area. Cool!

Well, I don't know what your feelings are about the organization as a whole, but maybe being here on this site might prove very helpful in whatever decisions you make as far as your future with the Witnesses and your family. At least being informed is one of the best things you can do in this situation; otherwise you might be needlessly tormenting yourself emotionally without knowing why.

Anyway, oh, and congratulations on your motherhood. Nothing compares to the birth process; it's something every human should get the chance to see (well, maybe not the surgical details, but...the baby part, I mean). I hope that proves to be a joyful and inspiring experience for you.

--sd-7

17

Blood Policy: Punishment?

by garbonzo in

i have no idea what happens to those who take blood transfusions.

this i don't think, is never made clear at the meetings.

do they get disfellowshipped or reproved or is it a conscience matter or what?.

sd-7

If an individual brazenly takes blood into his body, he is sinning unrepentantly against Jehovah. But how can one show one's repentance after falling prey to fear and taking a blood transfusion? One way would be through willingness to obey God's command to pour such blood out on the ground--even after it has already entered the body.

For example, it may be necessary to cut the repentant one several times, perhaps even at a vital artery, thus releasing the unclean blood that should be poured out on the ground. If he is agreeable to doing so, perhaps a mere reproof from the body of elders is necessary. Care should be taken that those particularly zealous for obedience to God's command do not engage in sadistic, ritualistic cutting such as those of pagan nations did in the past to honor their false gods. As this is a loving incision, elders must also avoid allowing personal resentment to cause them to endanger their repentant brother's life by cutting too deeply or cutting into vital organs.

We appreciate this loving, timely provision from Jehovah, which serves to protect us from the unclean practice of taking blood.

--sd-7

9

Accurate knowledge is..............neither

by Terry in

thinking is what separates humans successfully from other life forms in a way that allows us technology, medicine, science, social reform and progress.. thinking is a neutral term.

it is neither good nor bad.

it is like a fork which is great for eating peas and useless for eating soup.. thinking we have knowledge gives us smug satisfaction we are up to whatever task is at hand.. .

sd-7

I think this is why I have yet to start a serious critical investigation into the Bible. Because I'm already a skeptic, and if/once it loses all credibility, I lose all common ground with anyone else I might be able to help to wake up. Last thing I'd want to do is criticize the Bible itself in front of them.

Sad thing is, so many feel that if the Bible isn't the Word of God, they have no rules, no means or reason to live their lives. As if right and wrong depend absolutely on the existence of a god to declare them so. As long as man is by and large in a state of ignorance and/or dependence on something or someone greater than themselves, we will continue to fail at getting to the root of a number of roadblocks to a united human race. Because there will always be some strongly held different belief that shapes us the wrong way.

Excellent post as always, Terry. [Raises glass to toast] To all the false, nonexistent gods that ever were, even if I'm toasting to someone else and not referencing any gods at all! Here here!!

--sd-7

115