Posts by Listener

15

Injustice In India Over National Anthem

by Iown Mylife in

jehovah’s witnesses will seek to overturn the apex court’s order .

Listener

They view a national anthem in the following way

A national anthem is, in effect, a hymn or a prayer in behalf of a nation

W 2002 9/15 explains some of their reasoning (rather than leaving it to an individual's conscience -

When national anthems are played, usually all a person has to do to show that he shares the sentiments of the song is to stand up. In such cases, Christians remain seated. If they are already standing when the national anthem is played, however, there is no need for them to take the special action of sitting down. It is not as though they had specifically chosen to stand for the anthem. On the other hand, if a group are expected to stand and sing, then merely standing up out of respect but not singing would not constitute sharing in the sentiments of the song.

They are right in saying that a person who stands up when their national anthem is being played is showing that he shares the sentiments of the song but they are not right in claiming that all who do so would be demonstrating these sentiments. Obviously new immigrants or those not even speaking the language could not do so. Then there are those who simply don't support it but do so rather than causing conflict or disrespect. Then there are those who do so simply to comply with the laws requiring them to stand and for no other reason.

The law does not state that by standing during the playing of the national anthem constitutes their support for the song, therefore the org. is wrong in claiming that, in effect, it does.

15

Injustice In India Over National Anthem

by Iown Mylife in

jehovah’s witnesses will seek to overturn the apex court’s order .

Listener

From the linked article -

The latest move by the Jehovah’s Witnesses will seek to overturn the apex court’s order on November 30, 2016, that all cinema halls in India would play the national anthem before the feature film starts.

The simple solution, rather than expensive court battles would be for JWs refraining from putting themselves in a compromising situation in the first place - don't go to the cinemas.

33

Leaving the jws is a "lifestyle choice" according to a counsellor

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

so i had my first appointment with a counsellor, of course i explained about being a born in jw, mentally leaving, the penalty of doing so and therefore the mental strain of pretending to be someone i'm not.

her response was that she couldn't help me with that because leaving a cult was a "lifestyle choice".

i tried to say to her that its a cult not a religion and how it brain washed me but no.

Listener

Surely it's not her job to tell you what is normal and what is not but to help you in working through what you personally find hard to deal with.

201

I am glad to have found the true religion

by A Believer in

jw
friends

it really is great.

i remember browsing this forum the day after i had joined it, and their was a knock on the door.

i thought it was one of my package from ups but instead it was two sisters.

Listener

A Believer - The elders know much more than I, or anybody else in this thread about the Bible. Really if their are lurkers they should talk to one in a local congregation if they need more answers on matters.

If I'm going to believe what you say then there's a bit of a dilemma.

In the OP you state

How saddening it is to see the wolfs in sheep clothing on this website that for some reason still go to the Kingdom Hall. Well atleast it was sad.

I've got no way of knowing that the Elder at my local KH is not a 'wolf in sheeps clothing'. Anyway, that's not my problem, it's yours.

2

Curious, was there a recent article about the flu vacciene

by nonjwspouse in

probably and awake but maybe a wt.

has anyone read something negative about the flu vaccine in a jw publication recently?

my jw mil is all the sudden against them because she read and "article," but then fails to give a source when i asked her.

Listener

There's this April 2011 Awake that encourages it

Avoid infectious disease. Avoid close physical contact or the sharing of eating utensils with any who have a cold or the flu. Their saliva and nasal secretions can pass the illness on to you. Such blood-borne diseases as hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS are transmitted primarily through sexual contact, intravenous drug use, and transfusion. Vaccination can help to prevent some infections, but a wise person must still take necessary precautions when with someone who has an infectious disease. Avoid insect bites. Do not sit or

44

Update to UK “Child Safeguarding Policy”

by wifibandit in

a known poster on this site (anon) says:.

i have just received a text from an elder i've known for decades in my circuit who has some sympathy for my feelings and who is aware of the arc, the uk charity commission, etc., etc.

here it is verbatim, and my reply.

Listener

ByIn the case of any discussion with a child abuse victim, an elder will not be alone with the child but will involve another elder and the child’s parent(s), not including a parent who is the alleged abuser. If the child expresses to the elders discomfort in discussing the matter in the presence of a parent, and the parent agrees, then the child may be gently told that he or she may choose an adult companion other than a parent, with whom he or she feels comfortable speaking about the matter, to be present during the discussion.

The victim is given no choice here, they are required to discuss all the worried details with the elders, not just one but two and more likely, three.

They also state this earlier in the policy

We believe that parents have the primary responsibility for the protection, safety, and instruction of their children. We do not separate children from their parents for the purpose of instruction.ii (Ephesians 6:4)

But when it comes to dragging out all the sordid details the child can be separated from their parents.

What happens if the child expresses discomfort or reluctance in speaking to the Elders and I imagine the majority of abused children would. Not one word is mentioned about this but rather the opposite, it is a given expectation. It is wrong and a form of abuse. It is sickening that a child is required to discuss sexually explicit details with inexperienced male Elders.

11

December 31, 2016 BOE Re: 2017 Annual Meeting and Warwick/Wallkill Dedication Program

by wifibandit in

december 31, 2016 to all congregations in the united states branch territory re: 2017 annual meeting and warwick/wallkill dedication program.

Listener

Is this really the good news that Jesus wanted preached throughout the earth and with Armageddon so near?

81

New simplified Watchtower

by alanv in

beginning with the july 15th 2011 edition of the watchtower, the society are producing a simplified version of the study copy.. this is apparantly for the many people whose first language is not english, and yet they live in a predominantly englsih speaking county.. the normal study edition will still be produced but it looks like the cong.

will be able to ask for a supply of the simplified version each month.. this simplified version can be downloaded from the watchtower site.. http://www.jw.org/index.html.

Listener

Therefore, the last simplified edition in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish will be the issue of May 2017. In the future, simpler language will be used in the
study edition of The Watchtower.

I don't think they have been very clear here. I think they are saying that for those languages specifically mentioned the only edition they will print is the simplified edition but instead of calling it simplified they will just refer to it as the study edition.

44

Update to UK “Child Safeguarding Policy”

by wifibandit in

a known poster on this site (anon) says:.

i have just received a text from an elder i've known for decades in my circuit who has some sympathy for my feelings and who is aware of the arc, the uk charity commission, etc., etc.

here it is verbatim, and my reply.

Listener

A report to the police or other appropriate authorities will be made immediately by the congregation elders if it is determined that a child is still at risk.

Do they mean any child or just the child that has already been abused? I think they mean the child that has already been abused but if taken to task on that policy they would probably claim that it means any child.

35

The Governing Body are doubling down on dogma!

by DATA-DOG in

in case you were wondering if the governing body we're going to become kinder and gentler, the answer is a big "no!!!

in the current study edition of the wt magazine, the sheeple are reminded of some very important key points.

1) god has an organization ( corporation ) that you must respect.. 2) only the gb/faithful slave can dispense spiritual food and only the gb/faithful slave can interpret the bible.. 3) individual dubs absolutely cannot learn "truth" on their own.. 4) god requires "unity of doctrine.

Listener

Just to add another spanner into their works is the January 2017 broadcast. It's mostly about the bible and advertising their 'Bible Tour' at Warwick in a few months.

The Broadcast goes into detail about how the Bible has been preserved over the centuries and commend those men that died faithful to Jehovah under extreme persecution and their determination to make the Bible available to the masses.

Yet, if we were to go along with their theory, why is it only at the end of the 19th Century that individuals are no longer able to understand the Bible on their own and need an organization to do it for them?