pirata

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Posts by pirata

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  44

  The GB tightening their grip! Straw to break a camel's back?

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i post on a couple of forums and read and lurk and all that stuff.. a theme that seems to be gaining momentum is about how the gb are 'tightening their grip' and 'becoming more cultish'.. i don't read the publications anymore and oddly i read extracts of them on the forums.. punk is babbling now.............sorry...................my questions are (sorry if they're a bit long.

  sorry if i sound like satan: 'is it really so?

  ' but then i am a mentally diseased apostate).. 1. are the gb really tightening their grip or is it just the same as it ever was........but..........we just notice the propaganda more now we're out?.

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  pirata

  I can't remember seeing so many appeals to human authority as I have since the Study Editions of the Watchtower came out. Before the appeals of authority seemed to be geared more towards obedience to Jehovah and Jesus and the Bible. Now they seem very much geared toward obedience toward the "faithful slave", with some Bible scriptures to try to give credibility to their authority.

  I also note a noticeable change in terminology over the past 10 years:

  In the 80s and 90s, I remember hearing the phrase "The Society says" all the time. People have substituted this with "The Faithful Slave says".

  While there is still quite a bit of "Jehovah has provided.." talk, there is more and more "The faithful slave has provided" going around.

  I hear the use of "the Faithful Slave" a lot in comments and talks a lot more than I remember. Last meeting there were at least 3 mentions of the Faithful Slave in the Bible Highlight comments alone (which were based on the book of Job; Funny Jesus didn't get any mention).
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  31

  Trinity booklet PDF

  by 86theWT in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible
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  pirata

  you can't use IE9 or iPhone to post, I believe.
• 
  9

  Who wants to help put together the ultimate Watchtower Index Wiki?

  by pirata in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  presenting: wtindex.info.

  there are a great deal of watchtower publication references available on a number of sites, and on this forum, but it takes a lot of searching, digging, and reading to find them.. i have put together a wiki that currently catalogs:.

  1) subject references for watchtower publications (from 1800s to present), in an organized and clear way.. 2) the sources of quotations (with context) used in watchtower publications.

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  pirata

  Presenting: wtindex.info

  There are a great deal of watchtower publication references available on a number of sites, and on this forum, but it takes a lot of searching, digging, and reading to find them.

  I have put together a wiki that currently catalogs:

  1) Subject references for Watchtower Publications (from 1800s to present), in an organized and clear way.

  2) The sources of quotations (with context) used in watchtower publications

  This is intended as a resource that will be of use to both JWs and non-JWs. The intention of the site is to provide a "forest view" of beliefs and development of beliefs in a no-nonsense manner. The collaborative aspect will, I hope, help keep the site up to date and make it a very comprehensive resource. This is not meant as a replacement for sites like jwfacts.com; it is meant to be more of a "raw resource" to provide materials for study, commentary, essays, posts, etc. No quotations of Watchtower publications (copyright issues), nor personal commentary are permitted.

  If you're interested in contributing, please send me a PM and I can set you up with a secure login and editing instructions.

  At least initially, I may need to limit response to those who have been posting here for a while and have an ability to present information in an organized and objective manner. I'm open to suggestions and would love to hear any ideas you may have in regards to expanding the scope of the site.

  pirata

  PS. I "seeded" the current wiki with some content, but it is still a work-in-progress. It needs a lot more information, as well as continual organization of information for maximum clarity. It's very plain right now and could probably use a bit of improvement on that side as well.
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  50

  What's the biggest lie/rumor that has ever been told about YOU?

  by VampireDCLXV in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  most of us here know what a hypocritical, backstabbing bunch of gossips many of the jw's tend to be.

  far too often, a jw wont tell you to your face what's eating them, but they'll sure tell others.

  when i started waking up (the second time around) this made me very paranoid.

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  pirata

  It's also been my experience that those who turn their back on Jehovah's Organization do so out of selfish motives.

  Maze/Spade/Superspook: What exactly would you consider "selfish reasons"?
• 
  50

  What's the biggest lie/rumor that has ever been told about YOU?

  by VampireDCLXV in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  most of us here know what a hypocritical, backstabbing bunch of gossips many of the jw's tend to be.

  far too often, a jw wont tell you to your face what's eating them, but they'll sure tell others.

  when i started waking up (the second time around) this made me very paranoid.

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  pirata

  Most of us here know what a hypocritical, backstabbing bunch of gossips many of the JW's tend to be.

  With a very few exceptions, in over 30 years, my experience has been that Jehovah's Witnesses are above all, trustworthy and genuine when it comes to friendship.

  And reality lies somewhere in between those two statements.
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  25

  JW editorial on how education does you no good...

  by PYRAMIDSCHEME in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bill underwood is a phoenix signs of the times examiner staff writer and a jw as well.

  his editorials always toe the wt party line, heres the latest on education:.

  http://www.examiner.com/signs-of-the-times-in-phoenix/work-without-college-1?cid=examiner_alerts_article .

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  pirata

  To make a link work you paste it, then highlight it, then click on the "chain" icon (beside the picture icon), then paste the link again in the URL field, then press ok.
• 
  36

  Counselled on chatting to a study!

  by Penn9 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hey all, i'm new to posting, but i've lurked for a while.

  quick intro: i'm a 25 yr old guy, brought up a jw, strayed for a while, then got baptized convinced it was the best thing for me, the rest of the world is satanic, etc.

  i overcame that ridiculous belief and i know the truth about "the truth" but my friends and family are all deep into the cult so leaving is a huge risk that i'm not willing or ready to take.

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  pirata

  Read sd-7's story from the beginning.

  Date someone on the same path as you. You, on your way out, dating someone, on the way in, may not be such a good idea.

  PS. Welcome to the forum!
• 
  7

  so when did disfellowshipping start? and what took them so long??

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i should know this but have been really slack as of late....i think it was the late 50's maybe?

  i would like to know what wt they introduced this new light in.. i also wonder how they kept the rank and file under their control prior to the implementation of df and their loving ways of shunning.....anybody know?....prior to df rules wt may have been a cool place to hang out (not).... i guess you could get drunk, fool around, do drugs all without ramifacations...sounds as good as christendom even................................oompa.

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  pirata

  Courtesy of Aussie Oz:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198411/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-13b-1879-to-1882

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198412/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-23b-1883-to-1887

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198413/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-33b-1893

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198459/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-43b-1894-to-1919

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198460/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-53b-1920-to-1925

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198461/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-63b-1937-the-Salter-disfellowshipping

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198500/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-73b-1943-to-1947

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198557/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-83b-1952-to-1959-inc-one-on-blood

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198558/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-93b-1962-to-1966

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198862/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-123b-1992-to-2003

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198586/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-103b-1970-to-1977-inc-smoking

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198810/1/WT-development-of-Disfellowshiping-part-113b-1981-to-1989-Inc-disassociation-3d-apostate
• 
  7

  so when did disfellowshipping start? and what took them so long??

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i should know this but have been really slack as of late....i think it was the late 50's maybe?

  i would like to know what wt they introduced this new light in.. i also wonder how they kept the rank and file under their control prior to the implementation of df and their loving ways of shunning.....anybody know?....prior to df rules wt may have been a cool place to hang out (not).... i guess you could get drunk, fool around, do drugs all without ramifacations...sounds as good as christendom even................................oompa.

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  pirata

  Not sure about the JW,s but the first was Canaan.

  Or maybe it was Adam and Eve..

  In that case, when did shunning start?
• 
  7

  so when did disfellowshipping start? and what took them so long??

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i should know this but have been really slack as of late....i think it was the late 50's maybe?

  i would like to know what wt they introduced this new light in.. i also wonder how they kept the rank and file under their control prior to the implementation of df and their loving ways of shunning.....anybody know?....prior to df rules wt may have been a cool place to hang out (not).... i guess you could get drunk, fool around, do drugs all without ramifacations...sounds as good as christendom even................................oompa.

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  pirata

  Started early on in the history:

  • Do not disfellowship for some difference of opinion
    • "The Ten Virgins", John H. Paton, Watchtower 1879 p.40
    • "An Unpleasant Duty", Watchtower 1882 p.423
  • Church of England uses shunning to prevent further advance in knowledge
    • "The Beast and his Image", Watchtower 1882 p.321
  • Shun evil influences, but not weak ones
    • "Full Proof of his Ministry", Watchtower 1883 p.552
  • Church of Rome uses threat of disfellowshipping so that followers accept their voice as infallible and do not search continually for truth
    • "I am not Ashamed of the Gospel", Watchtower 1887 p.923
  • Duty for stronger members to disfellowship baneful influences
    • "Discipline in the Church", Maria Russell, Watchtower 1887 p.954
  • No fellowship with disfellowshipped ones
    • "Unequally Yoked", Watchtower 1893 p.1588
    • "'Once in Grace, Always in Grace'", Watchtower 1894 p.1699, par.2
    • "Scriptural Fellowship", Watchtower 1905 p.3673