Posts by JeffT

9

No part of the world

by Lost in the fog in

the wt calls itself christian while at the same time insisting that its witnesses don't mix with other christian groups but remain separate.. to be no part of the world.. i was mulling this over recently in my personal bible reading.

in the first century that demarcation would have made sense because apart from your fellow worshippers the rest of mankind were going to be jewish, roman, polytheistic, pagan, or (i guess much like today) didn't really care.. christians had no worries about meeting up with other people who believed in jesus the same as they did even if there were minor differences depending on who had first taught the gospel message to them.

but nowadays there's not just one christian group against the world, there's lots of "christians" out there.

JeffT

As I came out of the Watchtower it was a real revelation to discover that "Christendom" was not nearly as divided as the WTBS would have us believe. The vast majority of Christians regard each other as fellow believers. They accept a number of core beliefs and consider everything else as a matter of personal choice. Even Catholics are regarded as faithful and well-meaning, even if a bit mislead.

I once read that most American Protestants picked the church they attend based on one of two things: 1) it was their parents church or 2) the building is easy to get to and they like the music. Doctrine simply isn't a major source of disagreement.

22

My mom died.

by noni1974 in

jw
friends

it's been years since i posted here.

my jw mother died july 5th.

it was quite honestly not that emotional for me.

JeffT

Hi Noni, I remember you. My condolences on the loss of your mother.

3

Vice Network showing a documentary on CSA

by JeffT in

i was channel surfing to find something to watch while working on a book.

i came in on the middle of an hour and half documentary on the vice network about jw's and child sex abuse.

it looks very well done with several experts and a number of xjw's, including barbara anderson.

JeffT

I was channel surfing to find something to watch while working on a book. I came in on the middle of an hour and half documentary on the Vice Network about JW's and child sex abuse. It looks very well done with several experts and a number of XJW's, including Barbara Anderson. I'm trying to figure out when it might be on again, I'll post a note if I find it. I want to watch the whole thing.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

"beer tits"

I don't drink anymore, but this raised an interesting mental image.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

This is just my personal observation and opinion. I am not a doctor or psychologist. However I think many members here know I'm a recovering alcoholic, and I worked in a residential treatment facility for five years.

That long rant (it is always a long rant, never a short one) sounds very much like many of the patients I worked with (and myself 17 years ago). It is very typical to blame addiction on some one else: it is always some parent/sibling/friend/lover/boss etc that "makes me" drink or do drugs.

No, those people are not making you do anything. The first step is recognizing that your life is out of control, and your problems are of your own making. Progress can only happen when you are willing to engage the idea that you were present when all this stuff happened to you.

Lloyd you may not be an addict now, or perhaps you already are. I don't know. But I've traveled down the road you are on, it does not go anywhere you want to be.

34

1985 and baptism...I wish I had read this before today

by enoughisenough in

i am posting a link as to being legally bound to jw rules at time of baptism.

i only did a quick skim, but what i gathered is interesting, and what it says about 1985 may be of use to some hoping to just fade and not be bothered.

in 1985, the questions were changed at baptism for legal purposes so they could have causation to defend themselves should you decide to sue for whatever reason.

JeffT

Elements of a contract

As an accountant I've handled lots of contracts. I do not think those questions constitute a legally enforceable contract, no matter what the watchtower's lawyers say.

Problems

1) Mutual consent. Witnesses could make a good case they entered into the contract under duress. Certainly a child cannot enter a contract.

2) Consideration. There needs to be a mutual exchange of value between the two parties. You agree to sell me your car for a hundred dollars. I get a car you get $100. What does the R&F Witness get for selling his soul to the publishing company?

3) Capacity. A person has to understand what they are entering into. See my comment about duress. They also ensnare people who are in the midst of some sort of crisis. This can void a contract.

4) Legality. You can't contract to do something illegal, like say withhold information about CSA in you congregation.

Obviously the WTBS uses this talk about a contract to flog their membership into compliance. Where is a copy of this contract, with signatures and all that? A contract doesn't have to be in writing, but if it isn't how do you prove what it says?

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

JeffT

“Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence.”

Don't worry Lloyd we got it.

39

Did becoming a JW influence you to give up something you enjoyed ?

by smiddy3 in

when i was a teenager a younger fellow workmate was involved in the sport of judo.i got interested and went along to a number of sessions and took to it like a sponge to water ,and as a sport i was happy participating in.. not that much longer another workmate was getting re-activated in the religion of jw`s.

which i had never heard o before and then got interested in that .. conflict : was judo a sport that was compatible with j.w beliefs?

sadly i decided it was not and stopped any further involvement.. to this day i resent that decision i made back then .and i`m 82 years old now.. it was a sport i was comfortable doing and i enjoyed it.and i gave it up because of the religion .who knows what i may have achieved had i continued with it.

JeffT

Where's that rich widow when I need her?

I hear Barry Manilow concerts are good places to look for prowling cougars. Or you could try the live stage version of "Mama Mia." Either way the downside is having to sit through the music.

16

What other alternatives for the meaning of Babylon the Great ?

by enoughisenough in

i thought the reasoning sound as to the wt explaination of babylon the great, ( world empire of false religion ) but have any of you knowledge of other plausible explainations?

or knowledge of other sources that are in agreement with wt?

JeffT

According to my Zondervan's, most modern scholars agree that it is Rome.

35

Useless Majors

by Sea Breeze in

jw
friends

i was passing through a very liberal college town recently during rush hour.

so, i decided to stop for some refreshment at a fine-looking establishment and wait for traffic to die down.

a young waitress waited on me who probably could have been stevie nicks twin when she was young.

JeffT

I have a BA in English, I starting studying with JW's the year I graduated. Nine years later I went back to school (over the objections of the elders) and earned a certificate in accounting. The combination of BA and certificate served me well, I'm now retired from a decent career working in accounting, fiance and management for investment property.

A few years ago I found out what Art History majors do when they graduate. After we settled my parents estate I ended up with a Chiuly that had been a gift to my parents when Dad was lecturing. I think my insurance agent almost had a heart attack when I told him I had it. So I needed to get it appraised for a rider on the insurance. I located an art appraiser via google. Turns out she had earned a degree in Art History from UW a few years earlier. She met up with a long established appraiser who eventually turned his business over to her. Getting the degree had clearly given her the basics of what she needed to know. As she put it, her job introduced her to meet some nice people, look at a lot of cool art, put food on the table and a rood over her head.

What most people don't recognize is that the degree will get your foot in some doors, but a successful outcome depends on what you do after that. If your bright and hard working you can turn a job into a career. If you go through life thinking the world owes you something, you're in a for an awakening.