Truthexplorer

Joined

• started 49 topics
• posted 479 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Truthexplorer

• 
  27

  "Crises of Conscience"

  by Olivia Wilde in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i just finished reading chapters 11-12 of raymond franz, crises of conscience & i must admit, i am pretty strong person, however the way ed dunlap & ray franz were treated left me crying, i had tears rolling done my eyes driving home from work on friday... & how ed was kicked out by wt, left me feel soo disgusted & outraged.... it was very obvious he needed to stay at bethel because of his age & medical conditions but i admired he didn't compromise his conscious, it's sickening to me how cold & callous these men can treat a christian after all his service.... & of course ray franz situation was no exception either, the witch hunt they did to get him out was, well, there's just isnt enough adjectives to describe their disgusting motives against him... he was 59 yrs old trying to make a honest living with his wife & for them to go after him was devious & demon like.... i'm soo grateful i came across this book & i wished i had much much sooner.... i know god will reward both ed dunlap & franz plus many many more who have been unjustly & unchristian like treated during that time & this time, sooo sickening.....i still feel very much upset & emotional over the whole thing .... i never met any of them & then yet i feel deep christian love for them......

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  Nathan natas - 'ignored positively'. Hope I spelt that correctly for you!
  
• 
  24

  My Bthel Experince Part 19 The Last Chapter..(really) Bethel Overseers

  by new boy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  there were other people who either killed themselves or tried to kill themselves while they were at "the house of god.

  one person who did kill himself was richard wheelock, press room overseer ......he jumped out of a window at the watchtower farm one day.

  it seemed, he was never quite the same after his wife "willy" died.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  Hi newboy, I am going to have a good read of your experience from start to finish. It looks fascinating- and gives a good insight into bethel life. Regards TE
  
• 
  27

  "Crises of Conscience"

  by Olivia Wilde in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i just finished reading chapters 11-12 of raymond franz, crises of conscience & i must admit, i am pretty strong person, however the way ed dunlap & ray franz were treated left me crying, i had tears rolling done my eyes driving home from work on friday... & how ed was kicked out by wt, left me feel soo disgusted & outraged.... it was very obvious he needed to stay at bethel because of his age & medical conditions but i admired he didn't compromise his conscious, it's sickening to me how cold & callous these men can treat a christian after all his service.... & of course ray franz situation was no exception either, the witch hunt they did to get him out was, well, there's just isnt enough adjectives to describe their disgusting motives against him... he was 59 yrs old trying to make a honest living with his wife & for them to go after him was devious & demon like.... i'm soo grateful i came across this book & i wished i had much much sooner.... i know god will reward both ed dunlap & franz plus many many more who have been unjustly & unchristian like treated during that time & this time, sooo sickening.....i still feel very much upset & emotional over the whole thing .... i never met any of them & then yet i feel deep christian love for them......

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  I read his book twice and shocked at what I was reading. The book explains why the culture of the organisation is so black and white in their dealings with people. Ray France described the Governing Body as an iron fist in a velvet glove particularly when it comes to enforcing their own rigid rules. Such a culture permeates through all the Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. That explains why so many individuals have been treated so harshly, particularly when a matter has been trivial! . I genuinly feel sorry for elders who sincerely want to shepherd the Congregation as sincere Christians, but MUST adhere to everything that emanates from the GB, instead of basing decisions SOLELY on Gods word.
  
• 
  16

  Are G.B. Members Too Scared to Visit the U.K. ?

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ... in case the u.k. charities commission summons them - like the australian royal commission snared mr. jackson?

  why else would they be sending two of their personal boot-lickers?.

  credit to wifibandit for this post.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5658621048258560/boe-2016-01-13-britain-branch-visit-2016-01-18-correct-use-jw-org-inboxes.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  I wonder what the charity commissions view is of Watchtowers safeguarding policy framework. Surely they must see it falls far short of what is acceptable for a charity working with vulnerable people!
  
• 
  31

  Your favorite Bible version / translation

  by lumberjack in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  which one is your favorite?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  NKJV is my favourite
  
• 
  32

  The disappointed look on a Jehovah's Witness face - that you're living a good and fulfilling life

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  another thread got me thinking of this issue.

  i don't think you'll ever come across a set of people with such a skewed and twisted outlook on life.. my memory serves me well when i recall a sort of blood lusting excitement over things like the 9/11 atrocities.

  in fact i remember jw's describing the event as 'sad but exciting.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  I think some of the points made in the OP were quite accurate. Often, I would end up talking to this particular Sister in our hall and I would come away from her feeling like a grey cloud was following me. I would however say that happiness depends on each individual whether in or out of Watchtower. Yes, there are the doom and gloom witnesses that thrive on every bad thing that happens in this world; and yes the general R & F who tow the WT line and frown on those who leave. In fact I heard a few stories about some who left and usually it was only the negatives things that had come upon them that were ever mentioned. It's like, the witnesses have to reassure themselves that being in the truth is worth it. I joined WT believing my spiritual needs were being met. I was happy until I realised that instead of a faith group helping me to meet my spiritual needs, I was part of an Organisation controlling my life. I am now taking control of my life and treat every individual as they come, whether inside or outside WT. So for me personally, I don't get a feeling of disappointment at seeing an ex witness living a fulfilled life; but can understand why some witnesses would have that look of disappointment.
  
• 
  26

  Living as Christians at the C.L.A.M this week

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this weeks meeting under the section - living as 'christians', starts off with 'repentance makes a difference', which is a talk given by an elder taken from w06 11/15 27-28 par 7-9. in a nut shell it discusses those who have been disfellowshipped and then show repentance.

  it then goes on to discuss reinstatement and how a certain amount of time must pass by before this can take place.

  it makes the following point in the paragraph.. 'a disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the congregation after a certain amount of time has passed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  Fisherman- you say I subscribed to wt rules around repentence at baptism. Having bought into wt and baptised in under a year. I had absolutely no ideas about many of watchtowers rules, particularly the whole shunning policy and all that entails. It was only after a few years later I learned such things and about a decade later about the secret elder book with all its rules. In fact, I didnt find out until 12 years later after my baptism that Jesus wasnt my mediator. I only discovered that when reading tge book 'Crisis of Conscience' by an ex GB member.
  
• 
  26

  Living as Christians at the C.L.A.M this week

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this weeks meeting under the section - living as 'christians', starts off with 'repentance makes a difference', which is a talk given by an elder taken from w06 11/15 27-28 par 7-9. in a nut shell it discusses those who have been disfellowshipped and then show repentance.

  it then goes on to discuss reinstatement and how a certain amount of time must pass by before this can take place.

  it makes the following point in the paragraph.. 'a disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the congregation after a certain amount of time has passed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  It means going to the meetings for 6 months or more and to stop what you were doing that got you df. -But the elders look for evidence of God's Holy Spirit

  Fisherman- I get the whole idea about repentance and works befitting repentance, and obviously keeping the Congregation clean; but what I don't get is why an individual continues to be shunned having sincerely expressed their heartfelt desire to return to God?

  1 Cor 5:11 says - But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. NIV

  Obviously, if it came to light that the returned individual was STILL PRACTICING the above, then the Christians are not associate with the individual in line with scripture.

  But the person who earnestly wishes to return to Jehovah and has changed their life around to do so; why not welcome such a one back with open arms and a warm Christian welcome, instead of a cold watchtower shoulder!, yet obviously not allow that person reinstatement or privileges for a period of time until they have proven to everyone works that befit repentance. That would be more loving and appropriate at the same time. Why the need for complete shunning?? That is out of line with the story Jesus told about the prodigal son!
• 
  26

  Living as Christians at the C.L.A.M this week

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this weeks meeting under the section - living as 'christians', starts off with 'repentance makes a difference', which is a talk given by an elder taken from w06 11/15 27-28 par 7-9. in a nut shell it discusses those who have been disfellowshipped and then show repentance.

  it then goes on to discuss reinstatement and how a certain amount of time must pass by before this can take place.

  it makes the following point in the paragraph.. 'a disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the congregation after a certain amount of time has passed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  I was never disfellowshipped, but did experience a public reproof ( which I now know should have been a private reproof). Having moved halls, I recall having to attend all the meetings including the book study in a state of reproof. The book study was an embarrassing experience. I was not allowed to answer. I experienced 6 months of this AND had attended 'EVERY' meeting in that time. I finally went up to an elder, who pardon the pun, was elderly and whom I thought would show a little empathy and understanding given his experience AND wisdom; someone I thought was approachable. I asked if it was now possible to answer up at the meetings at this point given that I had been attending every meeting for several months. His wonderful spiritually grounded answer was and I kid you not. 'heh...heh...heh... naw...naw...naw....naw..naw' whilst smiling to himself and shaking his head. That wonderful, spiritual, loving, edifying Christian response to my sincere question caused me to stay away from the meetings for another 3 whole years. It is no wonder so many disfellowshipped individuals refuse to go back, knowing the gauntlet they have to go through to be reinstated. It's must be an absolute nightmare for such ones.
  
• 
  26

  Living as Christians at the C.L.A.M this week

  by Truthexplorer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this weeks meeting under the section - living as 'christians', starts off with 'repentance makes a difference', which is a talk given by an elder taken from w06 11/15 27-28 par 7-9. in a nut shell it discusses those who have been disfellowshipped and then show repentance.

  it then goes on to discuss reinstatement and how a certain amount of time must pass by before this can take place.

  it makes the following point in the paragraph.. 'a disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the congregation after a certain amount of time has passed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Truthexplorer

  This weeks meeting under the section - Living as 'CHRISTIANS', starts off with 'Repentance Makes a difference', which is a talk given by an elder taken from w06 11/15 27-28 par 7-9

  In a nut shell it discusses those who have been disfellowshipped and then show repentance. It then goes on to discuss reinstatement and how a certain amount of time must pass by before this can take place. It makes the following point in the paragraph.

  'A disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the Congregation after a certain amount of time has passed. Before he can be reinstated, his heart condition must undergo a great change. He must come to realize the gravity of his sin and the reproach he brought upon Jehovah and the Congregation. The sinner must repent, pray earnestly for forgiveness, and conform to Gods righteous requirements. When requesting reinstatement, he should be able to give evidence that he has repented and is producing 'works that befit repentance'

  So effectively , lets just say for argument sake a person is genuinely repentant (similar to the prodigal son) and his or her heart desire is to genuinely 'return back' to God. He or she cries their eyes out before the elders, telling them they are truly sorry for their wrong doing and genuinely wants to do right in Gods eyes again. The following happens:

  Well firstly, there aint no preparing the fattened calf or joyful party for the returned prodigal son or daughter...Nope! Instead they receive a welcome back Watchtower style; which is that the person MUST sit at the back of the hall and be shunned for most, if not more than a year by the entire congregation. No one can speak to them; they cant speak to anyone (such Christian love and encouragement!). They will continue to be shunned until the BOE come to a decision that the person 'is truly' repentant.

  It isn't good enough for such a person simply to have no privileges in the hall, which would be fairer and perhaps more more fitting...nope!; Watchtower goes further than that. The individual will be treated to what amounts to being a proverbial leper for a period of time and then all being well can then and only then, be reinstated back into the Congregation where they can experience the prodigal son style welcome!

  Right after the elder gives this 'loving' talk, the next item is a discussion on the topic 'Forgive Freely?

  OH.. THE IRONY