Posts by UnshackleTheChains

34

"we would never deliberately distort a quotation"

by ttdtt in

omg my head exploded!in this months broadcast - splian goes off on how much care the wt in making sure its facts are correct, and how they make sure their quotes are not taking from people who have a bad reputation or have an agenda.

and that the make sure its always in context!.

they are such liars!.

UnshackleTheChains

I think Watchtower writing department staff need to invest in one of these

3

'If you reason something out; you will be influenced to make the proper decision'

by UnshackleTheChains in

take a look at watchtowers reasoning in the first video from 46 minutes to 56 minutes regarding the 2 witness rule.

the scripture the watchtower representative refers to is perfectly fine in relation to situations within context.. but how can the 2 witness rule be applied to a sexual assault or child abuse allegation when only the victim and the perpetrator were present when the crime took place?

how can the 2 witness rule be applied if the perpetrator denies the allegation?..

UnshackleTheChains

Take a look at Watchtowers reasoning in the first video from 46 minutes to 56 minutes regarding the 2 witness rule. The scripture the Watchtower representative refers to is perfectly fine in relation to situations within context.

But how can the 2 witness rule be applied to a sexual assault or child abuse allegation when only the victim and the perpetrator were present when the crime took place? How can the 2 witness rule be applied if the perpetrator denies the allegation?.

Angus Stewart from the Australian Royal commission also puts across his point in the 2nd video about reasoning things out.

See if you can spot the difference

Remember

'If you reason something out; you will be influenced to make the proper decision'

https://youtu.be/kSZ0qifTSOk

https://youtu.be/dJE4_xGHs8E

35

In what decade was it clearly apparent that Watchtower was a high control religion?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i'm just curious to get people's views on this.. the bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under charles taze russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on.

obviously things began to change under rutherford.

but what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?.

UnshackleTheChains

Russell initially rejected calls from his many subscribers to form an organization. He said that they should stay in whatever church they attended and that Jesus knew his sheep

A quote from Charles Taze Russell

I confess indebtedness to Adventists as well as to other denominations.

Zion's Watch Tower, (June 1, 1916) p. 170

73

2 witness rule

by punkofnice in

i'm gobsmacked.. the 7 rock star popes in warwick know darned well that the 2 witness rule allows child rapists to get away with their crime.. geoff (whacko jacko) jackson was at the australian royal commission and should have seen first hand what a vile man made law the 2 witness rule is.. my question is, why do they still insist on this pervert protecting rule?.

i know it's a highly controlling cult but still...........................stuff my old boots, mate!.

the above is more a rhetorical question.

UnshackleTheChains

I think half banana may be on to something. Could there have been allegations involving some prominent figures within the organisation? Stranger things have happened!

Maybe Watchtowers 2 witness rule might just be the perfect get out clause to avoid one of the biggest scandals to potentially hit the organisation. I have read that there has been some allegations made about a past GB member.

83

True or False did the Watchtower Corporation create false doctrines intentionally to enhance the proliferation of their own publications ?

by Finkelstein in

much as been revealed over the years to the date setting doctrines made by the wts.

such as ( 1874, 1914, 1925 , 1975 this generation, the last days, the end times etc.... which were not created by other christian based faiths.. as to critically examine why might reveal a hidden agenda to all these date setting proclamations.. the point in question is did the wts and its leaders intentionally manipulate or exploit the preaching of the gospel to enhance the proliferation of their own printed publications ?.

i would say convincingly yes, no question.

UnshackleTheChains

They clearly sensationalised their writings especially in regards to prophecy. The proverbial carrot on a stick approach to their writings has clearly worked well for decades......until the age of the internet of course!!

27

Can all 7 members of the Governing Body ride in this elevator at the same time?

by Alfred in

in case the picture didn't load.... i'm referring to an elevator with a (quite common) weight capacity of 1,500 lbs.. would the 7 members of the governing body exceed this weight limit??

david splane: 195 pounds.

stephen lett: 205 pounds.

UnshackleTheChains

https://youtu.be/nlF3WxfeoSM

25

Can you be disfellowshiped for reading other religious materials?

by paradisebeauty in

i am having a conversation with a jw and they say you can not be disfellowshiped for this.

is this true?

i thought you can be disfellowshiped for this.

UnshackleTheChains

It seems to be when an individual promotes what they are reading. If you were going round other JW's promoting some other Christian interpretation and were quite adamant, you will quickly draw the attention of the elders.

Knowing their policies inside out. For example, I told my Mrs that I could guarantee her that I would be spoken to if I grew a beard. This I did. Within 3 weeks the cobe pulled me to the back of the hall and had a chat with me as to why it was important to follow the example of the brothers on the platform at assemblies when it came to grooming.

Another time an elder approached me asking if my niece (who was staying with us at the time) was getting serious with an unbaptised brother as the boe were a little concerned. There antennas are always on when it comes to their policies and rules.

35

In what decade was it clearly apparent that Watchtower was a high control religion?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i'm just curious to get people's views on this.. the bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under charles taze russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on.

obviously things began to change under rutherford.

but what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?.

UnshackleTheChains

Londo111

I'm intrigued. Why 1952?

35

In what decade was it clearly apparent that Watchtower was a high control religion?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i'm just curious to get people's views on this.. the bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under charles taze russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on.

obviously things began to change under rutherford.

but what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?.

UnshackleTheChains

I would say when they started disfellowshipping people, which I believe was the 1950's. I joined in 1969, they were a cult then, imo. Prior to that they may have had wacky beliefs, but people wouldn't necessarily loose their family if they chose to leave or simply choose not to buy into everything

Lisa rose

Yes, this was a big step towards tighter control when the disfellowshipping policy first came into effect....though I believe it was similiar to a degree with the Catholic excommunication policy whereby an individual might be frowned upon, but not shunned.

Perhaps the earliest signs that this was to become a high control autocratic organization occurred when Rutherford succeeded Russell. There was a huge falling away of Bible Students (as JWs we’re then known) who rejected Rutherford’s heavy handed attempts to control the brothers and sisters at the “company” level (as congregations were then known). And the lunacy of the 1920s hadn’t even fully materialised yet (e.g., the sloganeering and false predictions about “millions now living will never die” for starters).

All that happened after that miserably misleading decade were continuations and fine tuning of seizing control of brothers and sisters lives and minds until decades later it perfected that control, reframing it as a “loving” provision of Jehovah, the clean God. The Pharisees would be proud

Steve2

I think in a nut shell you put it really well. Things started to really change during the Rutherford era.

Also

No-zombie - makes a good point about the reviewed disfellowshipping policy of the early 80's. This I believe is the point when Watchtower firmly placed themselves in the spotlight as a high control religion, especially after the purge at Bethel that involved Ray Franz.

Thanks to everyone's input.

35

In what decade was it clearly apparent that Watchtower was a high control religion?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i'm just curious to get people's views on this.. the bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under charles taze russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on.

obviously things began to change under rutherford.

but what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?.

UnshackleTheChains

I'm just curious to get people's views on this.

The bible students seem to start of as quite a liberal group under Charles Taze Russell, albeit he had some whacky teachings going on. Obviously things began to change under Rutherford.

But what decade did it become abundantly clear that the society was indeed high control religion or even labeled a cult?

I know that when I first heard of the JWs in the early 80's, I was told they were a cult by some friends, which seemed a common view.