Posts by sd-7

19

Letter From WTBTS Evidence of Mind Control Tactics

by Corvin in

the following is taken from ray franz's book, crisis of conscience, pages 341-344. this letter, sent out to all traveling representatives, circuit overseers, by the service department of the international headquarters, shows the society's demand for comformity no matter the cost to the rank and file.

jw lurkers: please read carefully.

the portion of the letter in blue is of particular interest, and franz's comments nails the governing body's intent.. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

sd-7

I'm sure that if you read up to this point in 'Crisis of Conscience', you were probably already sick to your stomach. It's the consequences of this policy and how it was carried out at that time--and how it continues to be carried out--that really show the true face of this religion. It would be hard to believe if I hadn't experienced it firsthand at my own committee, when the key question I was asked at the end was: "Do you believe this is God's organization?" Nothing about my belief in the Bible, Jesus, the resurrection, anything of that sort.

The implications of the false teachings and false predictions which were well-documented in print were just no big deal to the elders. None of it had any deeper meaning to them. One of them said he wouldn't let that stop him from serving God, yet he couldn't grasp that this isn't how serving God should be. What the elder who told me that didn't seem to realize was that he was doing the very thing the WT would warn members of 'Christendom' not to do--pretend that false teachings don't matter, and leave any real understanding of the Bible to 'my pastor'.

The Bible itself warns us not to be babes tossed about by every teaching. Yet the entire history of the religion is just that--being tossed about by every single new teaching, here and there and back to the same place again.

Page 13 of the classic book 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die' has an interesting quote that stayed with me and helped me through the worst of it:

"Every man should be persuaded in his own mind and no man should permit himself to be deterred from examining a question based on the Bible because a clergyman or any one else makes the unsupported assertion that it is dangerous or unworthy of consideration. Error always seeks the dark, while truth is enhanced by the light. Error never desires to be investigated. Light always courts a thorough and complete investigation."

--sd-7

37

Upcoming Regional Conventions - GB talks & GB Helper talks

by OwnAccord in

.

photo from jw talk.

sd-7

I wouldn't think too much of the viewscreens. They used to have that back in the old days, as I recall, at least at the old Capital Centre. Can't remember if they just showed scriptures up on the screen or if the speaker's face was up there, too. Now if they put up Ray Franz' face for like a Hate Hour, then I'd be concerned...

Anyway, looks like quite a schedule. At least I'm not going to this one. That's the good thing.

--sd-7

58

G.B. ARRANGED A MEMORIAL WITHOUT EMBLEMS!

by The Searcher in

weird!.

http://ilynca.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/unforgettable-memorial.html?spref=fb.

sd-7

So...I wonder if governmental authorities might have advised people to avoid large gatherings due to the Ebola outbreak? Or maybe to avoid hand-shaking or wash your hands frequently? Would these folks have taken any precautions without the Governing Body telling them to? One would hope so. Either way, it's hardly a case of 'divine direction' saving the day when hopefully the local health authorities issued some kind of warning to everyone about it. This is the sort of thing Ray Franz wrote about--how mundane things are presented as if God had a special hand in it.

The funny thing? The Governing Body could just as easily have told them to go ahead and pass the emblems anyway, and it would have been received as 'divine instruction' just the same regardless of the risks. It would have been regarded as a 'test of faith', no doubt.

--sd-7

38

Unbelievable Watchtower quote from 1962!!.. ''Don't waste time speculating on what year Armageddon will come'' (check it on cd-rom if you like)

by defender of truth in

wt 6/15 1962 p.380-383.

"likewise it is possible to spend valuable time speculating on matters concerning the future.

one might ask, in what year will armageddon begin?...jehovah has not provided answers at this time.

sd-7

Well, remember, the key here is that YOU should not speculate. The Writing Committee can speculate all it wants and it'll all still be called 'truth'. Really, why waste time speculating when we can speculate for you?

--sd-7

24

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-20-2014 WT Study (MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB)

by blondie in

jw
friends

(john 1:36; 3:28, 29; rev.

(rev.

sd-7

Paragraph 16:

The anointed remnant love their companions and are happy to know that the Bridegroom’s Father, Jehovah, has granted these other sheep on earth the privilege of joining in the jubilation over the heavenly marriage of the Lamb.

And really, who wouldn't love the near-worshipful adoration of millions of people who hang on your every word as if it was spoken by God himself?

They render Jehovah sacred service in the earthly courtyard of his spiritual temple.—Rev. 7:9, 15

So is the temple in heaven or on earth? Makes it sounds more like a temple kiosk or something.

Paragraph 17:

The Bridegroom-King will turn his attention to the earth and will resurrect his earthly “forefathers,” who will become his earthly “sons.” (John 5:25-29; Heb. 11:35) From among these he will appoint “princes in all the earth.” Doubtless, Christ will appoint others from among faithful elders of today to take the lead in the new world

So apparently the writer of this article knows who Jesus will appoint on the earth, for some reason. However did he acquire such knowledge of the future, I wonder? Or is he telling Jesus what he will do? I guess that makes sense given that the target audience for this article isn't in the same congregation as Jesus, apparently. The 144,000 have their own meetings with Jesus and then pass on what they learn in the pages of the Watchtower, I guess... Anyway, what reason would there even be for such appointments, anyway? The kind of supernatural intervention presumably to be involved in nearly exterminating all mankind would then be followed by, what, chaos if God didn't appoint some 'princes'? Here I thought 'God himself will be with them'. Guess that's just not enough.

Paragraph 18:

In fact, all earth’s inhabitants who receive everlasting life will gain it because they exercise faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.

Why bother? He clearly didn't die for them in the first place, he offered himself up for the bride, and they ain't the bride, remember? All they need to do is exercise faith in the bride and they'll get life, the way I see it...

Or is it just the way I see it? Paragraph 19:

The other sheep are moved to be ever more submissive to their glorious King and are grateful for the privilege of being associated with the remaining members of his bride on earth. After their marriage, Christ and his Kingdom associates will bestow untold blessings upon the inhabitants of the earth.—

Maybe it should read:

The other sheep are moved to be ever more submissive to (us,) their glorious King(s, all 144,001 of them) and are grateful for the privilege of being associated with (us, the writers of this article). After their marriage, Christ and (the writers of this article) will bestow untold blessings upon the inhabitants of the earth.—

Paragraph 20:

As we look ahead to the fulfillment of “something good” concerning the Messianic King, are we not moved to ‘make his name known’?

Nope. Making Jesus' name known? What are you, some kind of apostate, talking like that? It's JEHOVAH'S name we make known! [fingers in ears] alalalalalalala JEHOVAH JEHOVAH JEHOVAH alalalalalala I can't hear you alalalalalalala....

--sd-7

24

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-20-2014 WT Study (MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB)

by blondie in

jw
friends

(john 1:36; 3:28, 29; rev.

(rev.

sd-7

But we will focus on a very special wedding—a royal one at that. Just imagine! It has been in preparation for about 2,000 years.

When I first read this, I thought maybe the delay was because the cake just kept going bad every few days or so, since refrigeration hadn't been invented yet when this wedding was first planned. Now I realize, it was the dress--they keep having to expand the dress size for the new anointed people that keep coming in. That has got to be one frustrated tailor, let me tell you.

Paragraph 3:

Read Psalm 45:8, 9. The Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, puts on his glorious royal wedding garments. Fittingly, his attire gives off a delightful fragrance like that of “the choicest perfumes,” such as myrrh and cassia, which were among the ingredients of the holy anointing oil used in Israel.—

Please tell me this paragraph had a kid raise his hand and answer, "JESUS SMELLS GOOD."

Paragraph 4:

the heavenly part of God’s organization, which includes “the daughters of kings,” that is, the holy angels

So...there are going to be a lot of angry angels up in heaven about now. They got just turned into females for some reason. Talk about a serious, serious stretch here. Maybe Psalm 45 just doesn't mean what you think it means, you know?

Paragraph 5:

She is a composite bride made up of the members of the congregation headed by Jesus Christ.

Okay, so then, question for Jehovah's Witnesses: WHAT CONGREGATION ARE YOU IN? Because you're not in the congregation headed by Jesus Christ, since you're not part of the bride--they just said it right there in print. Uh oh...so you must be in the congregation headed by the bride, then... Not part of the Christian congregation = not really Christians at all...

Paragraph 7:

Christ has been preparing his future bride for the heavenly wedding. The apostle Paul explained that Christ “loved the congregation and gave himself up for it, in order that he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word, so that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, without a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but holy and without blemish.”

So then, since most JWs aren't part of this congregation, Christ doesn't love them and didn't give himself up for them? No, it doesn't say that, but aren't we forced to draw this conclusion? How does that not apply to MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS?

Paragraph 11:

Finally, the Warrior-King will complete his conquest by abyssing Satan and his demons, reducing them to a state of deathlike inactivity

Actually, that's not a complete conquest, because they're not only still alive, they'll actually succeed in luring many thousands more to destruction once they're let out. Hardly what I would call finishing the job...

Paragraph 14:

These loyal companions of the anointed Christians have purified their lives, becoming spiritual virgins

Huh. That sounds oddly familiar. Wonder why. Is it Rev. 14:3-5, maybe?

And they are singing what seems to be a new song+ before the throne and before the four living creatures+ and the elders,+ and no one was able to master that song except the 144,000,+ who have been bought from the earth. 4 These are the ones who did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins.+ These are the ones who keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes.+ These were bought+ from among mankind as firstfruits+ to God and to the Lamb, 5 and no deceit was found in their mouths; they are without blemish

And here I thought being spiritual virgins was limited to the 144,000! Silly me!

--sd-7

24

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-20-2014 WT Study (MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB)

by blondie in

jw
friends

(john 1:36; 3:28, 29; rev.

(rev.

sd-7

After their marriage, Christ and his Kingdom associates will bestow untold blessings upon the inhabitants of the earth.—

Well, let's see here...any 'Kingdom associates' mentioned in the cited scriptures?

Rev 7:17: "because the Lamb,+ who is in the midst* of the throne, will shepherd them+ and will guide them to springs* of waters of life.+ And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”+

No. Not there. Maybe it's in Rev. 21:1-4:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth;+ for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away,+ and the sea+ is no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God+ and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.+ 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them.+ 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes,+ and death will be no more,+ neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.+ The former things have passed away.”

They mention New Jerusalem, but no 'Kingdom associates' bestowing blessings on anybody. Huh. Looks like God and Jesus will be the ones bestowing blessings, not anyone else. Well, that's odd. So how does that support the point here, that

Christ and his Kingdom associates will bestow untold blessings upon the inhabitants of the earth

? Well, looks like it doesn't. Alright, then.

--sd-7

68

What TV Show(s) Do You Just Love?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i regularly watch family feud.. homeland is a great show i watch every week, when it's in season.. metv has so many great programs---from taxi to the twilight zone.. what do you like watching?

?.

sd-7

LOL!! @ SD-7!! Ducktales rocked the house!!!

Yup. I've got the whole set on DVD. Haven't watched those in awhile. Was playing Ducktales Remastered not that long ago, though. But I got TaleSpin, Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck, too. Ducktales and Rescue Rangers seem like they withstood the test of time best. Darkwing Duck always put me to sleep when I tried to watch it.

--sd-7

68

What TV Show(s) Do You Just Love?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i regularly watch family feud.. homeland is a great show i watch every week, when it's in season.. metv has so many great programs---from taxi to the twilight zone.. what do you like watching?

?.

sd-7

sd-7 you like adventure time too?

Oh, yeah, definitely! Shmowzow! I have the Finn hat and a giant Adventure Time coffee mug, in fact. Still working on getting the video games for DS and Wii U, though...

--sd-7

18

FYI, links to photos of jw.org signs on top of WT buildings

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

yesterday, on the thread i started on 4/15/14, http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/279088/1/essay-by-barbara-anderson-whats-in-a-name#.u1e98jao7l9 that introduces a recent article i wrote which is posted on www.watchtowerdocuments.org , i thought i made an inaccurate statement in one of my posts about wt having a sign, jw.org, on the top of one of their buildings.

i was sure i had seen a photo of such a sign but couldn't prove it until last night when proof was sent to me in an email and the proof is to be found in the form of links to photos of the sign.

i was wrong in thinking the sign was on a wt factory building.

sd-7

Nice. Okay, so this did actually happen, but just not over top of the old 'Read God's Word the Bible Daily' sign. Got it.

I don't know enough about computers to know why, but when I type jw, JWN is the first site to come up. Is that because I frequent JWN, or would it be the same for anyone who inputs the letters jw? If so, anyone who tries to check out jw.org is going to get a lot of information from JWN that the Watch Tower cult doesn't want people to know.

Well, if you Google "jw", only jw.org seems to come up. JWN doesn't even seem to be on the list. Curious. Definitely needs to be addressed...

--sd-7