Quendi

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Posts by Quendi

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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

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  Quendi

  Thank you for your kind words, laverite. I have also sent you a PM.

  Quendi
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  4

  Supporting "Babylon the Great"

  by Quendi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  Quendi

  bttt
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  4

  Supporting "Babylon the Great"

  by Quendi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  Quendi

  I hope somebody can answer this question. We all know that for decades the WTS has said that supporting any activity or organization which was sponsored by or affiliated with “false religion” was the same as being a supporter of “Babylon the Great.” Persons found doing so were subject to being disfellowshipped. That even included giving money to charitable organizations or efforts.

  When I was still a Witness, like so many others, I looked forward to the March 15 th edition of The Watchtower each year because the times and locations of the summer district conventions were announced in it. I noted that one favorite location for them was the Athletic and Convocation Center in South Bend, Indiana. Being a sports fan, I knew this was the name of the basketball arena on the campus of Notre Dame University, the most famous Catholic university in the United States. I often asked myself if holding a convention at this site didn’t involve the WTS in violating its own policy against supporting other religions. After all, I’m sure the ACC was not provided rent-free so any money paid would go into the coffers of the Catholic Church.

  I never asked any Witness this question but kept it to myself. I wonder now if district conventions are still held at this location and if so, has anyone ever challenged the WTS on the propriety of doing this given its longstanding opposition to and hatred of the Roman Catholic Church in particular. Does anybody have further information about this? Also, are there other facilities owned by religious organizations which have been used to host Witness gatherings?

  Quendi
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  14

  Brothers who were held back from being elder for stupid reasons?

  by toto555 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  do you know of any cases where brothers didn't get to be elder for a stupid/bogus reason even though they otherwise qualified?

  do you think some/most appointments are politicially motivated?

  how much do you think politics plays in the appointment process versus merit?

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  Quendi

  I was appointed as a pioneer, but never as a ministerial servant let alone an elder. I was never given a reason for the denial even though the circuit overseer vouched for me. As it was, matters worked out better for me without the appointment. I was free to do other things which congregation officers would have found difficult to pursue as well as the freedom from burdens I would not want to assume.

  Quendi
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  85

  From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to say hello.

  i knew i was gay.

  i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

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  Quendi

  Thanks for sharing your story, laverite. It is truly an encouraging one. We have many points in common as I’m sure you have with other posters on this forum. The rabid homophobia of the organization is a subject which many of us have commented upon. But what I found also quite galling about your experience is the equally ferocious anti-learning, anti-intellectual stance the WTS has consistently taken over the years. This has been compounded by the myth it has perpetuated that its publications are the equal of a college education and by reading them a person can be just as well-schooled as any college or university graduate.

  You may be familiar with my own story so there is no need to rehash it here. Suffice it to say that I am glad that I corrected a mistake I made many years ago when I dropped out of college, convinced that “the end” was right around the corner. Returning to school and earning my diploma was one of the proudest achievements in my life, coming as it did when I had reached my mid-forties. I want to wish you continued joy and success.

  Quendi
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  88

  Former Long Time Elder, New Member

  by James Jackson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have served 20 years as an elder, 5 years as an ms. was on the district committee in 2010, held various positions on the district , circuit, and rbc level.

  probably been on more than 100 judicial committees and even an appeals committee.

  was the coordinator in our congregation and deleted because adult child was df ( i kicked him out at the time of his wrongdoing, but that wasn't enough for thr brothers).

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  Quendi

  I want to add my voice of welcome, James. I can’t think of better advice than what tornapart gave to you. I think you will find that as an elder, there were many aspects of the human condition you were not made aware of. You will find all of those and more discussed here and I don’t doubt you will learn a great deal. I look forward to your contributions and insights. Your two-year lurk has prepared you to take part in the exchanges here and I want to thank you in advance.

  Quendi
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  25

  Looking up scriptures during meetings

  by Stealth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  recently i attended a jw funeral after a 12 year fade.

  i did not bring a bible to the talk.

  i found it somewhat odd and distracting to the flow of the talk at how much time was spent by all the jws looking up scriptures in the bible that they have all have read 1,000s of times before.

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  Quendi

  Thanks for the locations you gave, jgnat. I don’t have a tablet or smartphone as of yet, but I will use these sites when the time comes. Back in the day when I gave TMS talks, I used to get commended for giving my listeners time to find a passage. It really wasn’t hard to do. I simply listened to the sound of people turning pages and soft as it was I knew when most people had located the scripture. That was when I would start reading.

  Quendi
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  36

  On What Date Did Watchtower Have THE TRUTH?

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if a jw tries to gather you back to the flock or debate with you, try these questions:.

  on what date did the watchtower arrive at the truth?.

  (a sharp jw will try to be fuzzy.

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  Quendi

  bookmarked
• 
  67

  Tech49 on HOURS, TIME, and REPORTS

  by Tech49 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i thought i would share some of my observations on counting field service time, reports, etc.

  and how those reports are viewed, to those that are still so fixated on numbers.. i served as secretary on the service committee for many years, and have seen it all!.

  i was really disheartened when wt changed the requirement for aux pioneering to allow for 30 hrs, instead of the 50 it has been for so long.

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  Quendi

  I can honestly say that I never turned in a false field service report in the thirty years I did the canvassing work, including my years as an auxiliary and regular pioneer. Were there months when I reported no time? Yes there were and I never received a secretary’s call asking for it. In fact, the only time I heard anything from the elders was when I told my congregation in Birmingham, Alabama that I was moving to Boulder, Colorado. Then they suddenly wanted my time for the missing months so they could put it on the publisher’s record card they were going to send. My response was they were a day late and a dollar short.

  When I began studying back in 1974, my teacher was a man who was heavily involved with the upper echelons of the WTS. He was quite capable in many areas including the canvassing work and I learned a great deal from him. Reporting service time was a bee under his bonnet, however. He used to say he saw no point in it whatsoever and that it was nothing the Bible discussed. Jesus directed the preaching work in the first century, even sending people to certain areas that needed help. If he could do that back then, he should be able to do the same now without input from his followers. The fact that the WTS wanted field reports made him believe they were relying on themselves and not Christ to accomplish the preaching work. As matters have turned out, he was absolutely right.

  Quendi
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  24

  CAN YOU BE AN 'APOSTATE' IF YOU WERE NEVER BAPTIZED?

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this subject came up with a friend of mine on facebook the other day.

  he was never officially baptized as a witness and i believe he is now a born again christian.. does crooklyn consider someone an 'apostate' if you were never actually a full-fledged member but ended up leaving?

  or are you just considered 'bad association'??

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  Quendi

  Yes, Oubliette, Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin is the one example of a judicial committee being convened in the New Testament and we all know the outcome. I’ll remember that example if this topic ever comes up for discussion with Witnesses again. Thanks, my friend. I’ll enjoy seeing the facial expressions when I draw the comparison.

  Quendi