Posts by pale.emperor

posted

84
Bethelites Vow Of Poverty
by pale.emperor in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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

Either that they are indoctrinated and have no choice, or they are not indoctrinated and have total choice.
That's not correct. Your black and white thinking is showing. We were all at one time indoctrinated, yet we didnt all apply for Bethel. Indoctrinated people still have choices. It's more correct to say that the indoctrinated can be "influenced" to go down a certain path. You know, like making your child carry an advanced medical directive to tell paramedics to let them bleed to death? I carried one as a kid. My parents were indoctrinated. They had a choice. But they were severely influenced to agree with the governing body's direction.
The fact is, a JW has the choice to leave the cult. But they know if they do they'll lose their family. So there's the coercion, the influence.
14
My stand up comedy two years later
by usualusername1 in
1. jw
2. friends
two years ago i started stand up comedy.

here is a recent video.

thx.
pale.emperor

I thought so. I'm in Liverpool. The resident comedian there, Paul Smith, isnt very funny at all. You're miles better.
14
My stand up comedy two years later
by usualusername1 in
1. jw
2. friends
two years ago i started stand up comedy.

here is a recent video.

thx.
pale.emperor

Very, very, very good. I laughed out loud a few times there. Well done mate.
Where was this?
84
Bethelites Vow Of Poverty
by pale.emperor in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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

Yep, and now you’ve just basically lost the discussing comparing volunteering with modern day slavery.
When people have no argument, they resort to hyperbolic cliches.
Doubter, volunteers still have freedom of association and freedom of speech. You (should) know that you don't get that with Watchtower.
If it's a two way street, can you tell me what one would gain by volunteering as a Bethelite?
84
Bethelites Vow Of Poverty
by pale.emperor in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
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
1. jw
2. experiences
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.