i saw this on reddit this morning.
not sure who the religious group is but if you change just a couple of words (church to congregation) it reads like a jw letter - the kind you get when they are wanting to get you into a jc or disfellowship you absentia.
it's weird how similar these high-control/judgment groups really are.
JW's or not, reading something like this makes me sick....... absolutely sick.
For men to think that they have this much power over people continually confirms to me that religion is a farce and that fear is a great tactic for control.
Thanks for the pic of the letter.
CoC
1, 2. for you to be successful as you grow toward.
trail, you might want to take along a. map and a compass.
a reliable map and a compass.
pirata said - Why did I get baptized?
As a young teen, my mom, with all good intentions, kept asking me "what is holding you back from getting baptized?" I kept answering "I don't know".
Finally, I got baptized because it was the "right thing to do". I considered it "positive peer pressure". And I felt good about the praise I got in the congregation about my spiritual progress, good talks, etc.
This is my story, word for word, with the exception of it not being my physical mom, but rather my "spiritual parents."
I would never say that I was forced to do it. It was MY decision. MY decision because I too felt that I had positive peer pressure, and that it was the right thing to do. Only that as a teenager, you just can't understand the gravity of a lifelong and life altering decision.
It's interesting, I just had a conversation recently with a sister I know that was just absolutely sure that her daughter was ready for baptism. She spoke about how mature she seemed and how sure of the truth she was at a young age.
So I bravely asked if she thought her daughter was ready for marriage at that young age (I think she said 12)?
Of course the sister responded NO. So I proceeded with asking then how she could be so sure her daughter was ready for baptism or even understood the seriousness of it. She said she just KNEW she was.
Ah, you have to love the blindness and the double standards. Thanks for another great review, blondie .
CoC
are jehovah's witnesses the only religion teaching the truth?.
the statement that only jehovah's witnesses are teaching the truth is an extraordinary claim.
such a claim would require extraordinary evidence.
Many thanks for this excellent post.
It's such a shame that reading things like this make so much sense to those of the conscious class and yet is alien talk to those mentally enslaved to "the one true religion."
One can only hope that more people will wake up.
Lurkers - Pay attention and make moves!!
CoC
so did anyone notice the statement on page 11, paragraph 11?
"if a brother has been baptized at least one year and to a reasonable degree meets the scriptural qualifications fo rministerial servants outlined at 1 timothy 3:8-13, he can be recommended for appointment.
" i thought paul specifically warned against appointing a "newly converted man"?
I was a 'young lad' when appointed, 2 years shy from 20 years old. And I had been baptized just slightly over a year. Also, I am not a born in.
So this isn't really something new, although I don't ever recall seeing it highlighted like this or in a publication/magazine.
But it definitely varies by both region and congregation.
I must admit, it does sound desperate.
CoC
would like to know what colognes for men really turn you on.
.
Curve by Claiborne is my favorite. And my wife loves it!!
last week, i told you i was going to tell my daughter that i was leaving the truth this weekend and you all gave me sound advice.
but, i cannot keep a secret this heavy from the person i love most on this earth, my only daughter, who is beautiful inside and out.. well, i have always had an open and honest relationship with my daughter, and i guess it paid off.
this weekend i visited my daughter (who lives in another state) and i told her i was leaving "the truth.
whathappened, WOW! That is great to hear! You are a brave soul I must say. I hope everything works out for you. It seems that it will.
I loved how you laid things out for her, and obviously through research, for yourself. It's amazing how logical you made everything sound, and yet sad that not everybody reacts the way your daughter did. Blind faith is strong, very strong.
While my wife is quite aware of my feelings, there is still much I have not shared with her. You have taken a BIG step in this regard towards your family. If God is aware of this and truly cares, I ask for his blessing on your behalf. I am truly happy at the current result.
Best wishes.
CoC
boy am i tired of hearing this one.
yes folks, i heard it at the meeting this week...again.
the sm included a local needs part and this was the subject - family worship night.. apparently, regarding fwn, that time was never, nor now is, ours.
BTTT
do you feel that something has changed within god's organization?
have you noticed that in the past several years there has been a more authoritarian spirit displayed in the publications and from the platform?
i am in the beginning stages of a fade away and wanted to express my thoughts.
Thank you for contributing this tread stuckinamovement . Excellent.
Just doing what I can to BTTT this.
hypothetical scenario.
you are a city manager in a major metropolitan city with a population of 3,000,000.. .
if the governing body was truly convinced themselves of the impending disaster and the fact that the end is imminent would they not focus their efforts in spreading the message through effective means such as telephone, television, internet, social networks etc?
Excellent analogy! Marking for future use. Thanks stuckinamovement !
been going nuts looking for this.. i am sure i have read, and probably saved, a quote by them about not being false prophets but i am buggered if i can find it anywhere in search, google or my own pc.. can you help?.
i think its 2009 but not sure, where they have the line 'never have we said ''jehovah has said'' when ...'.
a link or pdf or scan or cut n paste, etc would be great!.
I am also marking this for future reference. Thanks everyone!!
CoC
