https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/governing-body.php .
here is an example how the wts has "adjusted" scripture.
the governing body has gone as far as to change the text of micah 6:8 in their 2013 new world translation of the holy scriptures (nwt) in order to be able to demand loyalty.
Remember that when you're tempted to think that the WT is pursuing a "kinder,gentler" approach. They've literally edited kindness* out of their bible in favour of loyalty. 🙄
*In the NKJV, it's "mercy", with "or 'lovingkindness''" as a footnote. I thought I'd better do an "other translations" comparison before commenting.
Im not sure if you are being serious here Vid"
I'm thinking: "sarcasm".
hello: i'm currently not yet a jehovah's witness but i'm seeking a friend to help me to better understand their doctrine.
thank you.
david.
David, most people here are not currently JWs.
on a trip to rome a few years ago i asked my friend (who is roman and jw) what the catholic faith thinks of jw.
he simply stated that jw is tolerated by the church but that really not much thought is given to them.
is there an official stance on jw by the catholics?
'We have holy spirit, but you are the ones doing the work.’
No Pentecostal would have said that*. It wouldn't have hurt the WT denial of the Trinity doctrine to accurately quote a purported conversation.
*The first clause, that is
I wonder what it did to their egos the second that the denial claims began to surface? 🤔😱
i scanned this article and i saw a theme throughout it.
when info like this shows up in the study wt, you can be sure the elders are doing it wrong and the wts hits directly on what it is.
older elders do it wrong and train by word and action the newer elders to do it wrong.
It's been gone into in great detail here over the years, but I'll raise it again. A smart JW who knows the issues might decide that since all the fractions that make up whole blood are allowed in any combination, logically whole blood should be allowed. They might argue with themselves about it, saying that the spirit, if not the letter, of that law would allow the use of whole blood. Since which fractions in what quantities are up to the individual JW's conscience, he may decide that his conscience is clear and allow whole blood within his medical treatment. Of course, he'd have to be REALLY smart and not let the HLC get a whiff of what's going on. And no-one at all within his family or social circle. It would be wise as a JW to not ever talk about any medical issue except to one's doctor, etc,. I'm guessing. Perhaps with regards to all medical treatment, not just where blood is involved. We know just from the article that spawned this thread that elders and their advice/judgement can trespass into areas which even WT HQ is covertly admitting is above their (the elders' and JC's) pay grade.
I doubt that any JW is going to go through the logical steps of reaching the conclusion: if Jehovah allows all the fractions of blood, in any combination, he must logically allow whole blood. They've been so exposed to and frightened by the blood issue that they wouldn't know how to follow the steps to that conclusion. Unless they lurk somewhere like here, of course, and do a lot of reading...
i scanned this article and i saw a theme throughout it.
when info like this shows up in the study wt, you can be sure the elders are doing it wrong and the wts hits directly on what it is.
older elders do it wrong and train by word and action the newer elders to do it wrong.
Blondie, TL;DR version, what do you think their point is?
The most prominent example in the article is of medical advice. Is the blood policy what is being obliquely referred to here?
Then there seems to be a hint that elders are looking too hard for examples of sin. When a behaviour or attitude is less than desirable, but hasn't crossed the line into being "sinful", perhaps?
At first glance it looks like they're encouraging kinder and gentler behaviour, but I've learned never to assume that to be the WT's motive. Is it about reducing the number of sins and crimes on the books (more secret files kept on the congregation?) so that governments don't become even more interested in the WT than they already are?
I figure that the less times people are taken into the backroom and the less corresponding paperwork sent to Bethel, the less controlling Bethel looks.
Katy Perry kissed the ground, and she liked it! 😳
i was doing some research on the taxable status of money being gifted to co’s and travelling missionaries and was surprised with what i found.
i had assumed that it was not taxable income in australia.. it is taxable income in australia and it‘s likely that the same rules apply in some other countries.. a registered religious institution only receives tax free status on donations because they have been endorsed by the australian tax office.
travelling overseas and missionaries are not in this category.. there’s a tax ruling that goes into great detail.
Just out of curiosity (any answer is going to be anecdotal and speculative, but here goes), just how much is a green handshake worth? Would it be $100 here and there per congregation, or would it be multiple envelopes stuffed with cash? 🤔
