rory-ks

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Posts by rory-ks

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  48

  a list of good movies/tv shows to get a JW to think

  by nonjwspouse in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  ones that have themes that come uncomfortabllly close to the cult dynamic.. i already got him to watch the obsolete man on twilight zone.

  he sauggested watching some old tz again tonight so i wioll pick where is everybody, and escape clause.. i have heard oters say the movie truman show was a good movie as is the matrix ( though i detest violence).

  any more suggestions for my personal handy dandy list?.

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  rory-ks

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  23

  Top 10: Apostate Power Rankings -Who are/were the best apostates?

  by kneehighmiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i only know a few like franz.

  i rank him #1. then theres that jwsurvey guy and jwfacts guy.

  and the silent lambs lady.

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  rory-ks

  I found Ron Frye's stuff very helpful. I'm sure Ray Franz references him in one of his books, but a search led me to his Christian Respondent series. It's a little bit dated now, but always relevant.

  Oh, and don't forget Luis Porretta - or as he was known on here, hillary_step. He was a heavy hitter on here up until about five years ago. Apparently he ruffled a few feathers in Brooklyn.
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  6

  Shameless self-promotion...

  by rory-ks in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was hoping that there would be some discreet corner of this forum where members could post about their own little ventures - but there is none, so i'll just go down the route of brash, shameless self-promotion.. after the leaking of the judicial committee videos, which had a (some word i can't think of just yet) effect on me, and in the spirit of jeni lundblomvaldez's article over at aawa.co, ex-jws: stop respecting the watchtowers wishes, i have decided to start my own blog, the carpenter's arms.

  the reason for the name will become apparent.. there is not much going on there at the moment - the doors have only just been thrown open - but feel free to come over and say hello.. .

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  rory-ks

  I was hoping that there would be some discreet corner of this forum where members could post about their own little ventures - but there is none, so I'll just go down the route of brash, shameless self-promotion.

  After the leaking of the judicial committee videos, which had a (some word I can't think of just yet) effect on me, and in the spirit of Jeni Lundblom–Valdez's article over at aawa.co, Ex-JWs: Stop Respecting the Watchtower’s Wishes, I have decided to start my own blog, The Carpenter's Arms. The reason for the name will become apparent.

  There is not much going on there at the moment - the doors have only just been thrown open - but feel free to come over and say hello.
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  16

  Yay! Apostates are no longer "mentally diseased!"

  by rory-ks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  original nwt reads: "if any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our lord jesus christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words.

  from these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions...".

  2013 revision reads: "if any man teaches another doctrine and does not agree with the wholesome instruction, which is from our lord jesus christ, nor with the teaching that is in harmony with godly devotion,he is puffed up with pride and does not understand anything.

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  rory-ks

  They are merely "obsessed."

  Original NWT reads: "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions..."

  2013 Revision reads: " If any man teaches another doctrine and does not agree with the wholesome instruction, which is from our Lord Jesus Christ, nor with the teaching that is in harmony with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride and does not understand anything. He is obsessed with arguments and debates about words. These things give rise to envy, strife, slander, wicked suspicions..."

  Now, however, they are also officially "puffed up with pride," instead of possibly being "puffed up [with pride]".
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  37

  Sledgehammer subtlety: The insidious reworking of Micah 6:8

  by rory-ks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  micah 6:8 might be - or have been - a favourite verse of many.

  the verse used to read:.

  "he has told you, o earthling man, what is good.

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  rory-ks

  Oh, and Clarity, the verse you're thinking of is Zephaniah 2:3, and it remains pretty much unchanged.

  Original: "Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger."

  2013 Revision: " Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, w ho observe his righteous decrees. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger."
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  37

  Sledgehammer subtlety: The insidious reworking of Micah 6:8

  by rory-ks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  micah 6:8 might be - or have been - a favourite verse of many.

  the verse used to read:.

  "he has told you, o earthling man, what is good.

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  rory-ks

  I don't think it is a question of, "Well, some translations do use the word require, the New World Translation is not wrong in using this word..." The fact of the matter is that back in 1958 the translation committee saw fit to word this verse, "What is Jehovah asking back from you." It presents the face of a kindler, gentler Jehovah - a Jehovah that can be in dialogue, like with Abraham.

  Today, the Society have taken the decision to alter this to, "What is Jehovah requiring of you?"

  ...and I think that says something.
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  16

  If I DA this way......

  by Jon Preston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if i wrote a letter of da to the congregation that only said i was da'ing with absolute zero reason.

  how do you think theyd respond?

  obviously an anouncement but im sure rumours would then start.

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  rory-ks

  What about this idea: Live your life as if you are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Don't disassociate yourself because that is something JWs do. JW rules say, "write a letter of disassociation," so we dutifully write a letter of disassociation. If, because of your actions, the organisation wants to assume you have disassociated yourself, let them think what they want to think. If they want to disfellowship you, let them disfellowship you in your absence. Let them carry on their charade without your cooperation because you are no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  If congregation members want to ignore you, shun you, whatever, that is up to them and it is on them. A love that is conditional is not a love that is worth having.
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  37

  Sledgehammer subtlety: The insidious reworking of Micah 6:8

  by rory-ks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  micah 6:8 might be - or have been - a favourite verse of many.

  the verse used to read:.

  "he has told you, o earthling man, what is good.

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  rory-ks

  Though I appreciate the kind remarks, I can't take credit for catching this change. It came out in the comments section of the article Love Kindness by Meleti Vivlon over at Beroean Pickets.

  I really can't recommend Beroean Pickets highly enough. It is like watching someone departing from "the truth" in real time. He's not out yet, but he damn well will be soon.
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  37

  Sledgehammer subtlety: The insidious reworking of Micah 6:8

  by rory-ks in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  micah 6:8 might be - or have been - a favourite verse of many.

  the verse used to read:.

  "he has told you, o earthling man, what is good.

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  rory-ks

  Micah 6:8 might be - or have been - a favourite verse of many. The verse used to read:

  "He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God."

  Notice the change in the NWT 2013 revision:

  "He has told you, O man, what is good. And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, a nd to walk in modesty with your God!"

  Jehovah is no longer 'asking back,' he is "requiring." No longer to "love kindness," but to "cherish loyalty." And all of this is now finished off with an exclamation mark!

  Now a verse of scripture beloved of many can be invoked whenever the Society wants to hammer home their insistence on loyalty.

  (Just as an aside, I also see that James 5:14 doesn't refer to "older men" any more but, " Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the congregation to him." Older men was always a beautifully vague term which could easily be taken literally. Not so any more. Instead the word "elder" is used - and the word "elder" is a Watchtower buzz-word.)
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  32

  Do You Honestly Believe That You Would Have Officially Left The JW Religion If They Didn't Shun You?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i left as an inactive person.

  i pretty much have been left alone by the elders and witnesses, as far as being hounded.. i know of many that either disassociated or got disfellowshipped.. i'm wondering if you think you would have remained a jw, in name only, if the religion (cult) didn't shun and penalize as they do..

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  rory-ks

  Surely their shunning policy is one of the things that sets them apart. Without it everybody could speak freely about what they think of certain matters knowing that there would be no recourse. There would be much less fear.

  It seems to me that the whole, "So-and-so is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses," schtick is a load of old balderdash. When you want to go back, you have to go through the whole re-instatement process, but you do not have to get re-baptised. You do not have to pledge your allegiance to the "spirit-appointed organisation". In that sense you are still one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you are simply one who is in a disfellowshiped "state".

  The only way out of it, as far as I see it, is to readjust your thinking and come to terms with the fact that baptism, and declaring "Yes" to the questions was all a meaningless ritual. It meant nothing. Having to be a witness for Jehovah is an illusion - it isn't real life, it is an unreality.

  They can carry on with the illusion if they want to, but you are no longer part of it.