The basic rule on beards or any other policy that has no biblical basis is this...you can do it if you want to, but you cannot have any "special" privleges in the organization. Conform and be promoted or rebel and be put in a box.
MrDarkKnight
JoinedPosts by MrDarkKnight
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84
BEARDS: Why JW men don't have them
by 00DAD ini know this has been dished over before, but when i was doing some research i discovered a couple of interesting points.
as far as i can find, there is only one wt article that implies that jw men should not have beards.
*** w75 8/15 pp.
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Do you think in time all jw's will leave the unbeliever?
by tif21 inwondering with all that has been said about the mentally diseased has anyone heard if a jw can divorce a disease mate?.
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MrDarkKnight
No they can't. My estranged wife would have tried by now.
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I have never felt at home at a bar
by sabastious inlast night i went to the casino for a friends birthday, we played blackjack and some slots, it was a 6.5/10 on the fun scale type of night.
i got up from the blackjack table to go to the bar to get myself a drink.
i sat down at the bar and ordered my favorite drink: a long island iced tea.
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MrDarkKnight
I have had a lot of fun at sports bars...going to some this weekend to watch the NFL playoffs!
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11,824 Memorial Partakers in 2011
by FrankWTower inthere were 11,202 partakers in 2010. and 11,824 partakers in 2011.. there was an increase of 622 or 5.5% in one year.. your thoughts?.
source: 2012 yearbook (in spanish).
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MrDarkKnight
Interestingly, the number of partaker hit a historic low at 8617 in 1994 just before the change in the sheep and the goats and the generations teachings.
The number then climbed 8760 in 2002. I remember that some stern direction was given on who should partake and the number dropped to 8565 in 2003.
The number has steadily increased to the current number of 11824. This an eyepopping number considering this comment in the 1981 Yearbook right after the so-called Great Apostasy in Brooklyn Bethel:
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yb81pp.31-321981YearbookofJehovah’sWitnesses"Over the past seven years, from 1974 to 1980 inclusive, Jehovah’s Witnesses have made steady progress. Their growth is healthy. Only as to Memorial partakers has there been a gradual decline, which is in accord with Scriptural expectations. Thus there is no doubt that Jehovah has been guiding his people unfailingly through Christ Jesus their leader. Observe the following graphic picture of the worldwide progress of Jehovah’s work on earth in these last days."
They will have to address the whole anointed, 144,000, doctrine soon. It was fairly week to begin with and now is becoming an albatross. I have been inactive for over year and found this information pretty easily. It won't take long for others still in to ask the question.
Look for a Question from Readers soon.
MDK
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WT Mar 15th 2012 - 144,000 no longer a literal number?
by dozy inreading idly through this magazine , i read the study article "rejoicing in our hope" which discusses the two "hopes" according to the wtbts ie heaven & earth.. a couple of points were of interest:.
(1) absolutely no mention at all of the 144,000 or rev 14. usually an article like this would be filled with references , but it isn't even mentioned.
it does discuss the "limited number" , but only in contrast with the "no man can number" great crowd.. (2) a much more laid back attitude towards the two hopes.
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MrDarkKnight
This was an question with me 25 years ago and now is a major issue. The teaching of the 144,000 will HAVE to be changed. They will soon have no choice. One of my best friends before I left now claims to be of the "anointed." Where will it end? The writers are guy I personnally know, drank beer with and partied with at Bethel. The thought they are now providing the reading material is incredible to me.
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The Crux of the Matter For Me
by MrDarkKnight init has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.
the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.
i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.
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MrDarkKnight
@palmtree67...I have serious doubts about the Bible...I am well aware of the whole Bible canon process...I don't trust it, I just did not want rile those on this board who believe the Bible and love it...
@jonathan dough...my time with the JWs has not been a total waste...I lucked out when I went to Bethel and expanded my training as an electrician by learning automation and controls...I now have a successful career as a security systems engineer for a prominent government contractor...I am dedicated to protecting the United States of America...and I am proud and well paid to do it!
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The Crux of the Matter For Me
by MrDarkKnight init has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.
the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.
i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.
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MrDarkKnight
@NancyDrew...I have taken the hit...my family has disowned me...my ex-wife continues to indoctrinate our son even though he is clearly struggling with it...for his sake I had not taken more radical steps...
@prodigalson...I am not sure what you mean perhaps you can PM me with a more detailed explanation...I welcome your observations...
@AGuest...I was using this thread to talk these issues out...Mankeli was just a prop...due to my previous responsibilities I will not be allowed to just walk away...I will have to be put out or quit...it has taken a year for me to get to this point, but I am finally ready...
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governing body salary
by leftchica inis this only known once you get to the position or is it something elders hope to reach one day?
with all the money being made in real estate who profits from this?
what i don't understand is why they own so much real estate and the rank and file are told to have meaningless jobs which many do, and reap financial crisis because of it.
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MrDarkKnight
@leftchica...I lived and worked with the GB and other WT officials for over ten years. They are not paid a salary. They receive the same monthly stipend as everyone else at the Branch Office. Of course all their travel, healthcare, etc are paid for by the WTBS. While the WTBS has millions of dollars but I have never seen any evidence that any WT officials benefit personally from the money. They live and work at the WTBS facilities. To escape the paying of taxes they all sign a vow of poverty.
There are individuals among the leadership who are focused on power and control...however most are sincere and believe what they are doing is right. They have suspended reality and handed their minds over to someone else...and that is the way most of them want it.
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The Crux of the Matter For Me
by MrDarkKnight init has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.
the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.
i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.
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MrDarkKnight
@thetrueone...In my early 20s I spent a lot of time reading the writings of Russell and that is when my doubts about what I was taught began to surface...I was discouraged from reading the old WTs because they were "old light". I agree that what started out as an honest evaluation of the Bible by Russell has morphed into the very thing the JWs criticize, a religous system with a clergy and laity, inumerable and ever changing rules and regulations and a stubborn adherence to beliefs that cannot be supported by Scripture but must just simply be believed.
@cptkirk...trust me people on levels of this organziation do what they want to do in private...
@aussie oz...in many cases you have to suspend reality and just believe what they FDS states...and that's the problem...
@startingover...the 607 thing has been discussed in great detail on this forum...the latest articles on the subject can be distilled into the WT standard for ignoring critics of their prophetic interpretations: "We are God's channel of communication and you are not. We are right and everyone else is wrong. We are sincere and historians are not. So there." Most JWs did not even read the articles and most of those who did could not explain the gist of the so-called defense of 607. The just believe.
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The Crux of the Matter For Me
by MrDarkKnight init has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.
the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.
i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.
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MrDarkKnight
@cptkirk...As a JW you are conditioned to believe that all non-JWs are evil, wicked, dishonest and hurtful people. In the past year I have learned that most of the people I deal with are kind and helpful, understanding and generous. When I needed a place to live and a job so-called "worldly" people jumped in and helped me. It helped me to see how insular the life of a JW lifer is!