There is a difference between being free to avoid those we would rather not deal with and being compelled to shun somebody we otherwise would want to associate with. "Freedom of Association" is based upon mutual choice; the WTBTS policy is a compulsion enforced by a third party.
GLTirebiter
JoinedPosts by GLTirebiter
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120
The right to shun - wrong?
by Simon inmany people are understandably upset and angry at the notion that jws have the right to shun people.
it seems such an obvious "no brainer" cruel and inhuman thing to do - it must be wrong ... surely?.
of course we look at things from the perspective of those hurt and harmed by shunning.
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Need clarification from someone who speaks JW: What is an "apostate" ...or... an "apostate website?"
by Faithful Witness inhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/27/jehovahs-witnesses-destroyed-notes-about-child-sex-abuse-inquiry-told.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/27/us-australia-religion-sexcrimes-iduskcn0q10ih20150727.
http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/07/28/australia-jehovah-witness-sex-abuse-hannigan-lklv.cnn.
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GLTirebiter
JWs don't like to hear this: anybody who leaves another religion to join the WT Society is, by definition, an apostate. -
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Would the discovery of EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE completely debunk the bible and religion?
by Black Man ini think it would.
instantly.
in fact, i hope one day soon that we somehow encounter extraterrestrial life because i think there would be a wholesale rejection of the bible and any/all religious institutions.
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GLTirebiter
Would the discovery of EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE completely debunk the bible and religion?
Not according to the Pope's astronomer. From the Huffington Post article:
“God is reason. If you reject reason, you are rejecting God,” Consolmagno said.
I'd even wager that the "big" religions (Catholics, Orthodox, etc.) already have a contingency plan worked out & locked up in a safe somewhere.
Top secret contingency plan? That would be to keep doing as they have always done. It would be the same as converting the first century gentiles. The same Vatican astronomer said that he would baptize E.T., upon her request.
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Did you know that President Jimmy Carter used to be a Jehovah's Witness?
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.christianpost.com/news/jimmy-carter-says-jesus-would-not-support-abortion-revealing-only-conflict-between-his-politics-and-christian-faith-141881/.
carter said that as a young man he used to be a jehovah's witness before he was a baptist christian.. .
"it's hard to grow up with such a foundational system and just let it go.
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GLTirebiter
Regarding the Eisenhower-Watchtower connection, it also is important to remember that the Jehovah's Witness teachings as we know them (post-Rutherford era) have changed dramatically from what the young Eisenhower was taught by the Bible Students (Russell era). It is misleading to call Eisenhower a "Jehovah's Witness" when he walked away from the Bible Students years before "Judge" Rutherford invented that name.
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Why would Jehovah and Jesus talk to Satan?
by hardtobeme inif satan is the greatest apostate there is, why he was allowed to be in heaven?
job chapters 1 and 2 says that jehovah talked to him.
wasn't jehovah supposed to shun his son and set an example to all parents?.
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GLTirebiter
Job chapters 1 and 2 says that Jehovah talked to him. Wasn't Jehovah supposed to shun his son and set an example to all parents?
The introduction to Job identifies the book as a parable or fable, a story meant to teach but not to be taken literally. The absurdity of God and Satan making a bet tells the audience this book is not a literal account of actual events, but instead is a moral teaching presented as a memorable tale.
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GLTirebiter
Men without coats: LDS
Men with bike-messenger-style bags: LDS
Ladies without bags (chivalrous men carrying the load): LDS
BUT older than college age: JW
Odds are they are LDS, but they might be JW.
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Back in the Basement
by LostGeneration inlooks like the faithful jws are back in the basement, the oct 15th wt has this image on page 9. but now the lights have been turned out!
i guess the persecution is really kicking in if the electric company has shut off their electricity, or the jws are really, really paranoid that the government is gonna get them if they have the lights on!.
only one guy is smart enough to use his tablet (far right), the rest of the jws are old school, using a lantern to read their bibles in the dark!
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GLTirebiter
If this is really during a time of societal collapse I sure hope they stocked knives, kevlar, Kalashnikovs with plently 5.56 rounds, pepper spray, cutlasses, .38 revolvers, Colt 45s, and Winchester rifles for close ranged door to door urban battles...
What, no 12-gauge?
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'Conti' Court decision secures Watchtower's Policy of confidentiality
by telemetry11 inthe court on the rule of confidentiality of penitential communications and evidentiary privilege--.. decision reads:.
"the law generally protects the confidentiality of communications with clergy like those of kendrick to the elders here.".
"if the person has a constitutional right to independence in making religious choices, the recognition of an evidentiary privilege is an apt means of protecting that autonomy.
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GLTirebiter
The church has no legal duty do do criminal checks.
From a criminal law standpoint, that's possibly true (if so, the law should be changed!) But failing to perform the background check could be considered negligence, even if there is no statute requiring it.
I am bothered that the appeals court used such a broad interpretation of the penitential privilege. A JC is an involuntary investigation, a judicial function (just as the name states). It is not a voluntary confession of wrongdoing. It involves third parties giving testimony; it is not a private matter known only to the penitent (accused) and confessor (board of elders). Its existence (though not the charges) can be made known to the congregation in general via a public announcement similar to "George leRoy Tirebiter is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses," and the congregation is familiar with that practice. Other religions claiming the penitential privilege keep even the existence of the meeting private; nobody else may even be told it ever happened.
Ironically, the point of the Conti case is that the BoE deviated from the usual practice by not making the normal announcement, and that failure contributed to Conti being harmed!
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Disfellowshipping Image
by naazira inthis photo can be found in the april 15 , study edition article titled:.
why disfellowshipping is a loving provision.
just by looking at this image we can see how quickly the barrier between the congregation and former member is put up, after the announcement that this sister is no longer one of jehovah's witneses.
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GLTirebiter
At the far left, is that her father turning away with the sad look on his face? -
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Governing Body Mandating That Parents Shun DF'd Preteens Baptized Children Will Hurt Them Big Time In The Courts
by Brokeback Watchtower inas the bad conduct of the governing body becomes widely known to both judge and jury i expect that will make lawsuits more profitable against them and easier wins against them and more plentiful.. i think probably one of the most damming videos out there on the net is the one where the parents show their loyalty to the wt corporation and shun their own flesh and blood in obedience to it cruel directives.
this video truely shows that the governing body don't give a shit about the children who symbolize their dedication to the corporation or their parents.. such a self serving corporation that uses it members for profits only and offer nothing in return no matter how much how much they claim otherwise.
they can't hide this it is plain as day so no matter how much they claim they are concerned about the youth in the organization their action thunder loudly and can not be hiden under a basket.
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GLTirebiter
One phrase in the video speaks more truth than they intended: "...just a body in the car." It doesn't matter that you hurt and need support, it doesn't matter that going against your natural parental instincts has torn you apart inside. The only thing that matters is to "Do what we tell you to do, no matter what!"
The shunning policy punishes the parents and siblings just as much as the DF'ed, if more. All that matters to Brooklyn is showing that they are the master, and the slaves prove their loyalty through unconditional obedience.