Posts by Crisis of Conscience

8

Logical holes in: "What is taught is not from men but from Jehovah"

by pirata in

*** w10 9/15 p. 13 par.

8 unity identifies true worship ***.

the governing body publishes spiritually encouraging literature in many languages.

Crisis of Conscience

pirata , This is a conversation I had with my wife today. Except, I took it from a different angle.

I presented her with an illustration. If I were to give someone a gift, like for example, a Sony DVD player, and it was defective, who should take the blame? Certainly not me! I didn't manufacture the product. Blame it on Sony.

So when there is a mistake, oh pardon me, "New Light", in a publication, who is to blame? Blame it on the ones lovingly providing food at the proper time? NO WAY! They are only teaching what is from God. Fine, then blame it on the source - Almighty GOD!

Now does that make sense? If the GB doesn't want to take the fault, but yet they say God is not the source, who the H E double hockey sticks keeps making these dogone mistakes, and wasting the worldwide work donations printing this garbage?

Answer : (Only the sound of crickets)

Things that make you go....................................

CoC

23

Elder's Manual Question

by satinka in

my youngest brother is the family jw patriarch, and an elder, maybe even the po in a small northern town.

in an email i asked him if he ever hears from my kids.

i happen to know he lives in the same small town as my son, who might very well be an elder, too...by now.

Crisis of Conscience

Great thread, with all the research included. Thanks!!

CoC

39

NEED HELP Proving that 607 BC is false and list of flip-flops

by doubtful in

this post is going to seem erratic to some, but i'm afraid it's the best i can do.

i can only write on this board during the spare moments i have when my mother is not in the home.

so i need to get as much info in per thread as possible given the time constraints.

Crisis of Conscience

Spade said - There's plenty of evidence that reveals where we are in harmony with Jehovah's timetable,

Who's WE? I thought you said it was your "wife" that was involved with the witnesses?

If there is anyone bringing shame to God's name and obscuring truth, IT's YOU Alice. Misrepresenting yourself IS A LIE.

Go lick Sasquatch's left.............................................................................................................................................................toe.

@ Amelia Ashton - Thanks for the video!!

CoC

78

May 22, 1969 Awake! promises "you will never grow old" - Creative Writing

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

the year is 1969. faithful followers of the watchtower society are gearing up for the imminent end of the system of things just as they had been for the previous ninety years.

a young witness named andrew is trying to decide what to do with his life.

andrew is a smart kid and he has an entire lifetime ahead of him.

Crisis of Conscience

Invetigator74 said - Again it is ironic that this tibit of information can't be found in the WTLib cd. Pretty sure it can be found at the KH library.

It is definitely found at my kingdom hall library. I already believed what I read here. But since I mentioned it to my wife, I decided to do "research" while at the meeting and confirmed it to her by looking at the actual magazine. Confirmed, but again, they are just imperfect men.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

CoC

86

They really are pooping their pants over these latest "signs"...

by undercover in

jw
friends

i've seen a few threads/posts where some of y'all have heard from jw contacts and how they've stepped up their 'the end is close' rhetoric because of the earthquake/tsunami in japan.

i usually take those things with a grain of salt.

there's always some jw whose cheese has slipped that reads prophecy into every little thing that happens.

Crisis of Conscience

Here is a question for the JW's. Is this really a sign that the end is here, or is it just an 'unforseen occurence that befalls us all'?

There is a high probability that many will say the time of the end, while completely forgetting that not even the dear Lord Jesus claimed to know the day or the hour.

Things that make you go........., hhhhhmmm.

CoC

78

May 22, 1969 Awake! promises "you will never grow old" - Creative Writing

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

the year is 1969. faithful followers of the watchtower society are gearing up for the imminent end of the system of things just as they had been for the previous ninety years.

a young witness named andrew is trying to decide what to do with his life.

andrew is a smart kid and he has an entire lifetime ahead of him.

Crisis of Conscience

@ Mad Sweeney - Thanks. This really puts this article into perspective when you hear it mixed in with a human life.

I've brought this up on several occassions to people, including my wife, and the general explanation as to why it was said, or rather predicted, is because the GB are imperfect men. Alright, no disagreement there.

But so was Moses - an imperfect man. What would have happened if he followed his gut feeling and listened to the Isrealites about returning back to Egypt? A typical JW response would probably point out that he wouldn't do that because he was being guided by God. Therefore, he wouldn't give the wrong advice or direction.

But isn't the GB too guided by Jehovah? Aren't they relying on him? How come they got this "direction or advice" wrong over 40 years ago and continue to screw up?

Oh, I get it! This is because they are imperfect men, guided by Jehovah, that give lifesaving direction and counsel to an uncapable bunch of so called Christians who have no mediator and are not worthy to even be children of God.

So now we reach a crossroad. Who is to blame, God or the GB? Seems like a Jesus question that confused the Pharisees. "If we say God, then........... But if we say the GB, then.................... (Thinks - Better not to give a direct response and answers the following instead) That's a good question. Let me do research in the Wtlib and get back to you."

The GB thinks, "Hey, don't blame us! We are just a mouthpiece! " So.....it's God's fault then? The GB thinks again, "UH........? Which way did he go George? DUH, Which way did he go?"

CoC

28

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-13-2011 WT Study (MARRIAGE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 03-13-11 wt study (january 15, 2011, pages 13-17)(marriage).

respect marriage as.

21 marriage, of course, is not the only gift.

Crisis of Conscience

Thanks for the review Blondie.

I find it nauseating how they continue to talk about how sharing or being involved in spiritual activity strengthens the marriage. Yet how many times have you felt uncomfortable around an elder, MS, or pioneer because of the way that they treated their mate, perhaps even while engaged in said activity?

Spiritual activity is NOT the answer. It's APPLYING what you learn, and not just from the Bible. It includes other life experiences and observations.

All these man made assignments in the congregation do not make a man or woman a better person. Rather, applying the simple things, and striving to show respect and truly care for one another and always being mindful of that.

The society would like to have you think, just short of them saying it, that because a couple are JW's, that is why they are successful. I've observed couples that have nothing to do with the witnesses and yet you can tell they truly love and respect each other. It's because of their belief system and what they have faced as well as what they apply themselves to that has made them a success.

WTS - Stop demonizing everyone else's marriage just because they aren't JW's doing Family Worship! That is not the key. If a person is not willing to change inside, a study of the Bible won't miraculously change that! That is obvious from those who have "served" for so many years and yet still treat their mates like crap. Yea, you know it's true.

CoC

57

Governing Body Autographs Gift Bibles For Cuban Authorities

by PublishingCult in

jw
friends

"the one sacred book that thus from first to last declares its author to be jehovah god is the holy bible.

" (w60 10/1 p. 584 par.

5 the holy biblethe book by jehovahs witnesses).

Crisis of Conscience

@ palmtree67 - It was brotherdan that said he saw GB members at Bethel signing Bibles. And forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think it was baltar447 that called him out on it, which I was happy to see at the time.
I admit, I doubted too because while I was at Bethel, I never saw it happen.
But this is direct evidence, and disgusting, to say the least.

CoC

18

Christianity, on it's death bed

by free2beme in

jw
friends

as i grow older, and perhaps more controled by satan.

;) there is something i can not help but conclude.

it is the fact that christianity only exist, because it was born in a time in which there was no media, communications, and possible chance of being proven wrong.

Crisis of Conscience

I clicked on this thread yesterday but didn't get a chance to read through it. Now I have one word - awesome!

What I find interesting is that Paul's letters were written to specific congregations, and as was mentioned, to possibly address certain issues within them.
Yet Christianity has formed "laws" from things that are found within those letters. They claim that these were written for us, the modern day congregation.

If a dear friend wrote you a letter, pointing out certain things that he's noticed about you, would you expect anyone else you let read it to feel the letter applied to them also? Sure, they may find something touching that can move them, but should or would they make the claim to saying this was written to them personally?

Isn't this what has been done with these letters that supposedly Paul and other apostles wrote? Especially within the JW religion do we find theses Bible "laws" often hidden behind what they like to call a principle.

I agree that there is much we can learn from the Bible. But to take it literal as if a man that wrote a letter over 1,000 years and more ago is just, IMHO, now, completely absurd.

I've looked back at some of the love letters my wife and I wrote each other over 10 years ago. And were anyone to read them now, should I expect anyone to feel the content within it was directed to them, unless I mentioned them in the letter? No, and this is how I currently feel about the Bible.

CoC

26

About Therapy/Counseling

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

if it becomes obvious to strangers on an internet message board that you should get therapy/counseling:.

my wife and i are in therapy both separately and together.

we're not crazy; we're getting help talking through issues we've never had to face before from a professional who knows how to talk us through things.

Crisis of Conscience

I LOVE therapy!! There, I said it. LOL

I began going primarily to confront feelings I had regarding physical abuse from my father while growing up. But at the same time, I was facing feelings of burnout in my "service" to Jehovah. I was begining to wake up and so a lot of the ridiculous things in the org that I ignored finally began to bother me and I had to address them.

These days I find myself much calmer and happier, though I am generally a happy person. My doctor has even pointed that out to me.

What I really enjoy about therapy is definitely the perspective that is given you. But a therapist DOES NOT solve your problems. Rather, as has been mentioned here, they help you to understand why you feel the way you do and often offer practical suggestions. The rest is up to you. You must be proactive in applying some, if not all, of the suggestions you receive.

I feel that therapy has, in a large way, contributed to giving me the boldness to make my own decisions rather than continuing living to please men.

I absolutely encourage those with the resources and opportunities to take advantage of it. And no, you're not crazy for doing it. Give it a chance.

CoC