cedars

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Posts by cedars

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  7

  Disturbing parallels between the Westboro Baptists and the WTS

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have just published a post on jwstruggle.com where i explore the disturbing parallels between the methods and attitudes of the westboro baptist church and jehovah's witnesses.. you may be aware of two recent bbc documentaries by louis theroux, one of which was called "the most hated family in america", the other "america's most hated family in crisis".

  i feel that both are excellent viewing for those of us with wives or loved ones who are trapped in the "borg" and wish to draw attention to the similarities between the society and other more obvious cults.. if you would like to read my post, it is on this link: http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/10/a-troubling-comparison-part-1/.

  i hope i haven't offended anyone by posting the link.

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  cedars

  Hello everyone

  I have just published a post on jwstruggle.com where I explore the disturbing parallels between the methods and attitudes of the Westboro Baptist Church and Jehovah's Witnesses.

  You may be aware of two recent BBC documentaries by Louis Theroux, one of which was called "The Most Hated Family In America", the other "America's Most Hated Family In Crisis". I feel that both are excellent viewing for those of us with wives or loved ones who are trapped in the "borg" and wish to draw attention to the similarities between the Society and other more obvious cults.

  If you would like to read my post, it is on this link: http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/10/a-troubling-comparison-part-1/

  I hope I haven't offended anyone by posting the link. It is to a non-commercial and "related" website after all!

  Thanks to all,

  Cedars
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  Franklin - It doesn't really make a difference whether you are an elder now or not. The main thing is, you now know more than most elders, and it is YOUR opinions about the Governing Body and its doctrines that count more than those who are completely in the dark as to the Society's subterfuge.

  It is sad that the Governing Body (or FDS, more accurately) claim a monopoly on Christ's mediatorship - and even sadder that most Witnesses don't even realise this.
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  Thanks James, perhaps we can have a question in the 2012 survey that deals with the "two-tier christianity" issue more 'head-on'. I'll give it some thought. I appreciate you flagging this!

  lamallcool - the DO and the Special Pioneer were one and the same person. He ticked that he agrees with the Governing Body's teachings, and left no comment. Evidently we have a DO frequenting the site, possibly on a covert basis, who can see no irony in his actions given recent admonition from the Watchtower.
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  Very well observed James. The two issues are atleast very closely related depending on your viewpoint. Possibly those that ticked only the latter of those two boxes hadn't considered the issues fully, and don't feel that being of a heavenly calling and having Christ as mediator are one and the same thing. It's also possible that many DA'd or DF'd didn't tick the first box simply because they no longer go to memorials.
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  Well-observed Doubting Bro. You could even split those stats to form two hypothetical "apostate" congregations, since the minimum number of elders to form any new congregation is 3, and we now have 9 active elders who have participated in the survey - although one of those 9 elders ticked that he agreed with the Governing Body.

  Here are the comments received from active elders (spelling mistakes not mine):

  • i appreciate them
  • They were sincere men just trying to do their best. But as Jehovah had to discipline ancient Israel - and her kings - for 'going beyond the things written', so today he will discipline the Governing Body. I am very sad to see how these once sincere men have become so filled with their own importance that they "strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel". (Matt 23:24)
  • People have made life decisions based on their writings - then things change. No apologizes or acknowledgement. The tone of the magazines is very harsh and unloving.
  • I wish and pray that the Governing Body will stop putting themselves in the place of Jesus. I am trapped. I want to leave the organization but cannot for fear of being disfellowshipped and losing my family. Thank you for this survey and I hope it reaches the ears of the media
  • I think they are sincere believing men, not able to see the mistakes of their precursors.
  • The GB has created an organization that represses individual expression and free thinking. Members are stifled and must conform to the many written and unwritten rules or be labeled weak or unspiritual.
  • Our Governing Body need to walk in our shoes for a while!
• 
  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  2011 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Results as of 5 th October 2011 (87 days remaining)

  Number of respondents: 600

  Current status of respondents:

  Active…………………..15.7%…..94

  Inactive………………..35.9%…..215

  Disfellowshipped….15%…..90

  Disassociated……….25.5%…..153

  Never baptized…….7.8%…..47

  “Calling” of respondents:

  Anointed*…………….3.5%…..14

  Great Crowd…………33.5%…..133

  Neither………………….63%…..250

  Note, of the 14 who claimed to be of the anointed, 6 are active witnesses.

  Reasons for leaving organization:

  I broke a bible command……………………….8.6%…..26

  I went against the policies of JWs………..14.6%…..44

  I disagreed with the teachings of JWs….70.5%…..213

  I would rather not say……………………………6.3%…..19

  Positions of respondents:

  Ministerial Servants…………………….6%…..30…..(17 are active)

  Elders…………………………………………..3.6%…..18…..(9 are active)

  Circuit Overseers………………………..0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  District Overseers……………………….0.2%…..1…..(1 is active)

  Branch Committee Members………0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  Gilead graduates / missionaries…0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  MTS (or BSSB) graduates………….0.8%…..4…..(1 is active)

  Bethel volunteers……………………….1%…..5…..(1 is active)

  Regular pioneers………………………..3.6%…..18…..(9 are active)

  Special pioneers…………………………0.2%…..1…..(1 is active)

  None of the above……………………..89.1%…..449…..(60 are active)

  Beliefs/practices disagreed with (most contentious in bold):

  Shunning…………………………………………………………….93.5%…..559

  Blood transfusions………………………………………………88.1%…..527

  Paedophilia – judicial matter rather than crime.92.6%…..554

  Paedophiles not barred from serving as elders…82.4%…..493

  Paedophiles – two witness rule………………………….88.6%…..530

  Paedophiles - names kept confidential……………..85.3%…..510

  Bible prophecy…………………………………………………….82.8%…..495

  Governing Body as God’s sole channel……………..90.5%…..541

  Governing Body – no contact with remnant……..75.1%…..449

  Increasing light concept……………………………………..89.8%…..537

  Stance on higher education…………………...94.8%…..567

  Stance on extra-curricular sports……………………….88.3%…..528

  Only anointed partake of emblems…………………….63.5%…..380

  Treatment of women…………………………………………..75.1%…..449

  Masturbation………………………………………………………..77.9%…..466

  Birthdays……………………………………………………………..89.5%…..535

  Beards………………………………………………………………….89.3%…..534

  Apostates = mentally diseased…………………………..90.0%…..538

  Fall of Jerusalem in 607 BCE………………………………83.3%…..498

  Christ only a mediator for 144,000……………………80.9%…..484

  Evolution……………………………………………………………..61.7%…..369

  Others not mentioned………………………………..………29.3%…..175

  Agree with Governing Body*………………….………….2.2%…....13

  *Of the 13 who ticked that they agreed with the Governing Body, 8 appear to be genuine, based on their other entries on the survey. 5 evidently ticked the box mistakenly.

  The UN / NGO Scandal:

  Knew about it………..73.7%…..435

  Didn’t know…………….26.4%..…156

  Of the 156 who said they didn’t know, 18 were active publishers.

  All comments are subject to review and will be posted separately if it is appropriate to do so.
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

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  cedars

  We're on 598 now, I'm just waiting for two more responses and then I'll publish the results so far!
• 
  118

  What does your user name mean????

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anything ???.

  .

  karter ...i race go-karts.

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  cedars

  My first post on the forum was related to the 1929 Cedar Point Ohio convention, which was re-enacted in the latest DVDs from the Society - but with some significant ommissions.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/214208/1/Watchtower-falsification-of-its-history
• 
  59

  I Called the Headquarters About the "Slaughter of Apostates" Quote

  by DT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in case you haven't heard, the november 15, 2011 watchtower, page 5 made this comment.

  "today, no servant of jehovah uses physical force against opponents of pureworship.

  "vengeance is mine," god says.

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  cedars

  The Watchtower's habit of quoting out of context to support its own twisted ideology is again ruthlessly exposed. Excellent work.
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  122

  It's BACK - the 2011 Global Survey of JWs!!

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm pleased to announce that despite some considerable teething troubles (of which many of you will be aware!

  ), the 2011 survey of jws is back on the road!

  there is no need for any donations, so none will be asked for in any way, shape or form.

  1. 
  2. 
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• 

  cedars

  Hi MeanMrMustard, thanks very much for your support! Hopefully the stats will get more and more interesting as the number of respondents grow. I'm really hoping we can atleast make it into the thousands before the end of the year.

  Cedars