respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  11

  Will the GB use the on going conflict with Muslim extremists as a sign of the end being near?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't read over much of the recent articles in the last decade from the wt.

  i wonder if they will mention muslim extremists and use that fear as a control mechanism on their members.

  i have a feeling they will resist mentioning islam specifically.

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  respectful_observer

  I wouldn't be surprised to see them declare the countries that generally align with Islam as the collective "King of the North" and those that generally align with Christendom as the collective "King of the South".

  As a side point, ISIS may not give two hoots about JWs, but I suspect the WTS is acutely aware of how violent Muslim extremists can be.  In this past week's WT Study article, there was a photo of a JW preaching in what appears to be an Istanbul-like city.  The woman in the background was wearing a hijab, but her face was completely out of focus.  The man in the background was wearing blue keffiyeh, but his back was completely to the camera, so he too was completely unrecognizable.  The WTS has no problem posing a JW model in a Roman collar for a photo, but seem a little less bold posing a JW as a Muslim.
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  31

  Does anyone have the 2014 stats from the 2015 Yearbook yet?

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  does anyone have the 2014 stats from the 2015 yearbook yet?.

  (isn't it usually out by now - or are they waiting to celebrate new year's day?

  ).

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  respectful_observer

  Percentage increase 2.2 .
  But baptisms are -1%
  Interesting.

  
  

  I noticed that as well.  I suppose this is because the 8.2 (peak)/7.9 million (average) publishers being reported on includes unbaptised publishers?
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  24

  Emblem Takers Mentally Unstable?

  by Cold Steel in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  onthewayout wrote: of course, for quite awhile (and probably still), congregations have been viewing any relatively young (maybe under 50 or even 60) partakers as mentally unstable and watchtower ignores such people anyway and says they must listen to the elders.

  is this correct?

  ever since the emblem-takers were given emeritus status as members of the faithful and discreet slave, have they been relegated to standard membership?

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  respectful_observer

  Does anyone know of a partaker who does so continuously but has doubts?

  I believe there are a group of ex JWs that partake (on their own), and still believe they are of the anointed.

  anointedjw.org

  Is this the group you're referring to? I've followed it a little out of intellectual curiousity and for observational purposes only, but I am personally aware of several JWs who have become involved with this group. It includes former overseers at the congregation level and those who have had significant responsibilities in the past in Brooklyn (having been named by others on this forum as having influential roles there back in the 70s-80s).
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  18

  Could a JW be DF for celebrating Festivus?

  by Stealth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after all, it's a secular holiday not a religious holiday.. if i was still an active member, i think i would start a new tradition of celebrating festivus.

  most likely no jws would come, but that's okay, it's a famiily holiday anyway.. what grounds would the elders have to disfellowship you?.

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  respectful_observer

  I think it may be o.K to have Fractions of Christmas, just not all on one day ?

  You just got my vote for the best post of the day.
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  6

  When JW's say, "the farther we get from Adam..." to explain Autism, illness etc. is it just denial?

  by Wasanelder Once in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am so sick of hearing jw's blame everything from autism to hangnails on our proxemity to the existence of no-navel-man adam.

  they thereby betray their own lack of personal responsibility for their poor physical and mental health on adam.

  just maybe a little more work to afford a doctor visit once in a while wouldn't hurt?

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  respectful_observer

  When JW's say, "the farther we get from Adam..."

  A little off topic from the OP, but this past week's WT study talked about Adam and Eve "died" the day they sinned...even though they lived until 900+ years old. Several commenters mentioned that they lived so long beacause they were "closer to perfection". While sitting there, it dawned on me that JWs apply reverse logic to Adam & Eve's situation compared to survivers of Armageddon:

  Adam & Even (and other early-Bible characters, Methusulah, etc.):

  Physical perfection: Near perfect, lived for nearly 1,000 years

  Mental/Behavioral perfection: Far from perfect. After all, Cain was the first birthed generation from perfection and committed murder.

  Post-Armageddon:

  Physical perfection: Survivors will slowly "grow" to physical perfection.

  Mental/Behavioral perfection: Apparently*, all survivors will immediately think/behave perfectly.
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  102

  Bill Cosby - too much smoke for no fire?

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  it seems like the list of people who are accusing him of rape and sexual assault is growing every day.

  i'm skeptical of single accusations but the number of people and the similar stories seem overwhelming now.. it's not a conviction but to the court of public opinion ... guilty?.

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  respectful_observer

  Random side note about Cosby. He has kept a home in rural Massachusetts for decades and a local brother in the Shelburne Falls congregation ran the house for years. Not sure if the brother still works for him, but I wonder if he's ever had to turn a blind eye to Cosby's behavior.
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  41

  What really woke me up: I started noticing most JWS are weirdos..

  by kneehighmiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thankfully my parents are converts so they aren't wierd.

  seemed pretty popular by all accounts.

  they are "popular" jws even now.

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  respectful_observer

  The organization actively discourages utilizing critical thinking skills. Self-regulated analysis, reasoning, and judgement are only permitted within the confines of the current version Watchtower doctrine. As soon as your self-regulated reasoning hits that wall, the person only has two choices: 1.) cross that boundary (enter "apostate territory"), or 2.) reject your own reasoning, dismissing it for the logic imposed by someone else that runs contrary to what you've reasoned for yourself.

  As a result, the WTS will naturally only attract and retain those who assign little value to, and do not often use, critical thinking skills. I'd argue that the demographic slice of the population which do not value or often use critical thinking skills will tend to have a higher percentage than average of those with less education, less awareness of social/bahavioral norms, etc.

  I began to recognize in my childhood, that almost every "study" that came to a meeting was a complete weirdo. When I shared that observation with one of the more intelligent elders in the hall one day out in service, he replied with a laugh and said: "Have you heard this joke before? 'How is the Truth like a crescent wrench? Because it fits all the nuts!'"

  How true it is!
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  35

  Overlap what???

  by dugout in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just out of the blue i asked my wife whos been a jw for some 30 odd years can she explain the overlapping doctrine.

  she said to me she never heard of this and said she will have to look it up.

  i thought oh s#^%!.

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  respectful_observer

  0% understand it, because it is beyond comprehension. It makes no sense whatsoever. It is like asking "who understands the concept of 2 + 2 = yellow?"

  If you hear a JW express confusion/lack of understanding of how you can scripturally support multiple generations actually being 1 (overlapping) generation, you could always say:

  "It's really quite simple...although they are seperate generations from a human perspective, from a Bible perspective, they are 1. Sort of like when Jesus said: 'I and the Father are one.'...seperate from a human perspective, but a single being from...oh wait, that's the Trinity! Nevermind! The using that logic to defend the Trinity Doctrine never made any sense!"
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  52

  Changed: Head coverings for sisters, w15 2/15 QFR

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  does a female kingdom publisher need to wear a head covering if she conducts a bible study in the presence of a male publisher?.

  in a questions from readers item published in the watchtower of july 15, 2002, it was stated that a sister should cover her head if she conducts a bible study in the presence of a male publisher, whether he is baptized or not.

  further consideration of the matter suggests that a modification to this direction is appropriate.. if the male publisher who accompanies the sister while she conducts an established bible study is baptized, the sister would certainly want to wear a head covering.

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  respectful_observer

  "Alternatively, she could ask the brother to conduct the study if he is qualified and able to do so."

  Wait, so this brother has qualified as "an ordained minister" through his dedication and public baptism, yet may not be "qualified and able" to conduct a bible study? How exactly does that work?
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  8

  JWs, Rules, Laws and the Zone Meeting

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my takeaway from the zone visit and the reaction of some dubs i know and some i've read on here is this:.

  dubs don't care what their actual religious beliefs are or how they change but they do seem to care a lot about having any specific counsel discussed from the platform.. .

  i guess this makes them a lot like everyone else, and maybe now we know what the wts achilles heel may be.. .

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  respectful_observer

  skeeter1,

  ToMoIII just saw your post and has announced that all JW women must dispose of their breeches and only ride side saddle from this day forward.