Posts by pale.emperor

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

pale.emperor

Basically what I am saying is that putting stuff in writing projects them from frivolous lawsuits. It also prevents WT from reneging on their obligations if the applicant is not in breach.
This is just basic stuff.

I dont see anything in that contract that is of any benefit to the person signing it. You say volunteering is a two way street, I disagree (especially when it comes to this particular contract). Sure, they don't buy their own groceries etc but then neither do prisoners of your local penitentiary. Do they get to choose when/what to eat? Do they get to go home when they want? Do they get to mix with who they want? It's like the negro slave on the plantation say "we got it good here, we don't have to buy no groceries".

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

pale.emperor

Experience has taught them that putting stuff in writing protects against people who lie and make stuff up.

What sort of lies?

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

pale.emperor

Who is Howie Tran???

Howie Tran (now Rutledge Tran) was a personal helper to one of the governing body members. A great interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw36Kwbqh3I

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

pale.emperor

People will not agree with my above post, but jws have been around for 140 years.

No they haven't. JF Rutherford started the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931. The Bible Students founded by CT Russell still exist today and regard Rutherford as the apostate he most certainly is/was.

http://www.internationalbiblestudents.com/

http://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/category/jehovahs-witnesses-answers/j-f-rutherford/

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

pale.emperor

Former governing body assistant Howie Tran has shared his Bethel vow of poverty contract. It reads rather culty. I think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the BIBLE ALONE, but ALSO the Watchtower literature AND the governing body. But what if the GB contradict the bible? Then clause 10 will sort you out.

9

My New Found Patriotism

by pale.emperor in

i'm not entirely sure where this has come from, but these past few months i've found myself gradually becoming more and more involved politically and identifying myself differently.

we all remember what it was like as jws, no political involvement whatsoever, no national pride, no singing the national anthem or saluting the flag etc.

the watchtower literature always shown artists renditions of nationalism or politics like this:.

pale.emperor

Alex, I have a Welsh last name. Wales is only a 45min drive from me and, laughably, I do like to cling to the Welsh side when ruby is on or I see a nice castle in Conwy.

16

Are All Baptized Witnesses Still Considered Ministers?

by minimus in

jw
friends

or is that old light??.

many young men avoided the draft due to their being “ministers”.

if everyone who is a jw is a minister, women and kids should share ministerial status and even be able to legally officiate and marry someone....as long as they are baptized..

pale.emperor

They tell the rank and file this to make them feel special. But in reality only the elders are regarded by the Watchtower society and legal authorities as "real" ministers.

When I worked in immigration, we were always exasperated when we'd get visa or passport applications which had been countersigned by a run-of-the-mill JW rather than an elder. Because when a passport or visa application is verified by a "minister of religion" we had to ring them up and check out their credentials with the head of their church such as The Catholic Church in England and Wales,or LDS Administrative Office etc etc. whatever the religion was.

Almost always we'd get someone claiming to be a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses and we'd have to tell them that they're not officially recognized as one even by their own church.

They were never pleased and would be adamant that we were wrong and we surely haven't been speaking to the right people because "the society wouldn't say that".

25

What would you do or say?

by Butyoucanneverleave in

a brother who is not baptized ( so there's still hope for him ) had a sister recently run into him at a store.

show wanted to know if he's going to the kingdom hall.

she asked him to write a letter for her to give to his mother ( who's deceased) in the paradise explaining why he didn't make it.

pale.emperor

I would have loved this opportunity. I'd write a letter explaining exactly why I'm not a Jehovah's Witness with printed out evidence of the UN letter, stocks in cigarette companies, Gerrit Losch's distancing from Watchtower etc etc.

Coz you know they'd take a peek at a letter you'd written.

23

Anyone know the significance of the three days and nights Jesus is dead?

by Crazyguy in

in my studies i’ve come to realize that most dying and rising gods such as inanna, jesus and others all were dead three days and nights.

the moon is dead as far as man not being able to see it in the sky three days and nights but many of these gods are not associated with the moon, osiris maybe being the only exception.

have any of you in your research come up with a plausible idea on why there all dead just threes days and three nights?.

pale.emperor

Jesus being dead for three days is supposed to be anti-type for Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days.

Also, saying/doing something three times was used in bible times to signify something that is definite. Saying "i divorce you" three times made a divorce legal etc. So one being dead for three days would indicate that they are indeed completely dead.

Or in the words of Monty Python - passed on! is no more! He has ceased to be! expired and gone to meet his maker! a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! off the twig! kicked the bucket, shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!!

10

Id like to share a story

by scruffmcbuff in

as i spend more time here, things id forgotten come back, mostly bad and some i plan to share eventually.. but this one is happy, one of a sunday talk by a new elder from nigeria in our hall.

i remember the intro word for word.

id like to share it with you.. "brothers, sisters, newly interested ones.

pale.emperor

There was an elder in Speke (Bro. Wagenecht) that used to say "shit" and didnt think it was a swearword. He grew up on a farm apparently. He never said it from a platform, although that would have been brilliant!