leaving_quietly

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Posts by leaving_quietly

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  9

  The no voting/no political doctrine is very flawed!

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  you all know the doctrine, it's satan's system, can't participate, voting means putting faith in man instead of god, etc.

  if so, if god put them in place, then he put faith in them to handle things to an extent and so if you happen to live in a country where people vote on how that government does things, should they not be voting?

  now here is a real contradiction...... as the bible says, it's impossible to get outside of the world.

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  leaving_quietly

  Yeah... I wonder if anyone could actually vote without getting DF'd.

  I guess if I did that and the elders found out and read to me the fifth point about freedom of speech in the ministry, I guess I'd have to opt out of the ministry. LOL!
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  9

  The no voting/no political doctrine is very flawed!

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  you all know the doctrine, it's satan's system, can't participate, voting means putting faith in man instead of god, etc.

  if so, if god put them in place, then he put faith in them to handle things to an extent and so if you happen to live in a country where people vote on how that government does things, should they not be voting?

  now here is a real contradiction...... as the bible says, it's impossible to get outside of the world.

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  leaving_quietly

  Hang on... according to w99 11/1 p. 28-29, voting, even political is a personal decision. That doesn't mean it's not frowned upon, and the rest of the article shows the double-speak associated with it. Just sayin'

  *** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 Questions From Readers ***
  Questions From Readers
  How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?

  There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.

  What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.

  First, Jesus Christ said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14) Jehovah’s Witnesses take this principle seriously. Being “no part of the world,” they are neutral in the political affairs of the world.—John 18:36.

  Second, the apostle Paul referred to himself as an “ambassador” representing Christ to the people of his day. (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ Jesus is now the enthroned King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, and they, like ambassadors, must announce this to the nations. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 11:15) Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent. As representatives of God’s heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel a similar obligation not to interfere in the politics of the countries where they reside.

  A third factor to consider is that those who have a part in voting a person into office may become responsible for what he does. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:22, The New English Bible.) Christians have to consider carefully whether they want to shoulder that responsibility.
  Fourth, Jehovah’s Witnesses greatly value their Christian unity. (Colossians 3:14) When religions get involved in politics, the result is often division among their members. In imitation of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid becoming involved in politics and thus maintain their Christian unity.—Matthew 12:25; John 6:15; 18:36, 37.

  Fifth and finally, their keeping out of politics gives Jehovah’s Witnesses freeness of speech to approach people of all political persuasions with the important message of the Kingdom.—Hebrews 10:35.

  In view of the Scriptural principles outlined above, in many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote in political elections, and their freedom to make that decision is supported by the law of the land. What, though, if the law requires citizens to vote? In such a case, each Witness is responsible to make a conscientious, Bible-based decision about how to handle the situation. If someone decides to go to the polling booth, that is his decision. What he does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator.

  The November 15, 1950, issue of The Watchtower, on pages 445 and 446, said: “Where Caesar makes it compulsory for citizens to vote . . . [Witnesses] can go to the polls and enter the voting booths. It is here that they are called upon to mark the ballot or write in what they stand for. The voters do what they will with their ballots. So here in the presence of God is where his witnesses must act in harmony with his commandments and in accordance with their faith. It is not our responsibility to instruct them what to do with the ballot.”

  What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she present herself to vote? Well, she is subject to her husband, just as Christians are subject to the superior authorities. (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:13-17) If she obeys her husband and goes to the polling booth, that is her personal decision. No one should criticize her.—Compare Romans 14:4.

  What of a country where voting is not mandated by law but feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth—perhaps they are exposed to physical danger? Or what if individuals, while not legally obliged to vote, are severely penalized in some way if they do not go to the polling booth? In these and similar situations, a Christian has to make his own decision. “Each one will carry his own load.”—Galatians 6:5.
  There may be people who are stumbled when they observe that during an election in their country, some Witnesses of Jehovah go to the polling booth and others do not. They may say, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses are not consistent.’ People should recognize, though, that in matters of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God.—Romans 14:12.

  Whatever personal decisions Jehovah’s Witnesses make in the face of different situations, they take care to preserve their Christian neutrality and freeness of speech. In all things, they rely on Jehovah God to strengthen them, give them wisdom, and help them avoid compromising their faith in any way. Thus they show confidence in the words of the psalmist: “You are my crag and my stronghold; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me.”—Psalm 31:3.
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  25

  Another PR / marketing website for a JW international convention - this time Seattle

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is the link: http://seattledelegates.org/.

  i would guess this is the wave of the future.

  a secondary channel of business revenue for the wts - compensation for recommending restaurants, tours, etc.

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  leaving_quietly

  The hotels look very grand , by our standards anyway. Things have certainly changed along the way....

  I just wanna say that the Seattle hotels on the website must be reserved ONLY for the INTERNATIONAL delegates. The approved hotel list we all got does NOT have ANY hotels in downtown Seattle. Don't recall Bellevue. But definitely NOT Seattle. I looked several times. I've stayed at the Sheraton. Quite a nice place. A bit overpriced. When the President comes into town and stays over, it's at the Westin.
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  57

  I am Back on JWN and out of hospital

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey everyone,.

  thanks qcf and nugget for starting threads.

  thanks cofty for wondering where i was.

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  leaving_quietly

  Yay! (((Kate)))
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  25

  Another PR / marketing website for a JW international convention - this time Seattle

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is the link: http://seattledelegates.org/.

  i would guess this is the wave of the future.

  a secondary channel of business revenue for the wts - compensation for recommending restaurants, tours, etc.

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  leaving_quietly

  These are the International Conventions. Seattle is hosting one next weekend. I'll be there. Yay me!!!

  Actually, this site is very useful. The elders in my cong haven't explained things very well regarding parking. This site has done a far better job. So, for what it's worth, I'm grateful someone put it together.
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  25

  What do you think?

  by rosie70 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  it happened to one of my friends.

  what do you think of the guy's behavior?.

  a girl and a guy are coworkers.

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  leaving_quietly

  Tattoos are visible and could be seen by others. Too much risk. His behavior is secretive, and he's hedging his bets it will be kept secret. Just my opinion.
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  25

  Jehovah's Witnesses destroyed documents showing child abuse allegations against church elder

  by burnedout in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  mark sewell convicted of eight historic sex charges, including rape.

  .

  i can not copy the link, but go to walesonline.co.uk.

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  leaving_quietly

  Hmm. I question how good the lawyer was at getting information. The branch should have the original disfellowshipping info, even a minor record of it on the S-79a or S-79b card (whichever is applicable), even if the congregation fails to follow policy. That's according to a snippet reprinted in this thread. Of course, I don't know if that was the policy 20 years ago.
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  51

  Stupid paragraph in this weekends wt study

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  how's these comments in this weeks study?.

  i understood that i had neglected my children when they most needed my guidance and affection, admits eduardo.

  i had not been there to read them bible stories, to pray with them, to cuddle them, and to play with them.

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  leaving_quietly

  The WTS has a lot to answer for with this , they have failed to make clear that it is a personal decision that may at times be necessary

  BluesBrother, yes, you hit the nail on the head with this statement. This article made me really angry, even though I will probably never be in this situation myself. What really made me angry was paragraph 20, latter part:

  "He has given us his commandments--including those relating to family life and material needs-- for our benefit. When we follow them, we show that we love him and trust in him."This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome." -- 1 John 5:3"

  So, now, not going abroad for work is a commandment?

  Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because of "teaching commands of men as doctrines".
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  20

  Venus Williams ESPN Nude Religious Controversy

  by ChuckFire in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  venus williams espn nude religious controversy.

  by mike tuttle.

  june 24, 2014. article source: http://www.webpronews.com/venus-williams-espn-nude-religious-controversy-2014-06?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed%3a+webpronews%2fall+(webpronews%3a+index+feed).

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  leaving_quietly

  Ha ha ha... the "vow loyalty to the Governing Body of the corporation" links here to JWN!
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  5

  Unbiased sources for research

  by PrincessCynic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  can anyone point me in the direction of unbiased (or outside) sources for research.

  i'm particularly interested in anything showing the teachings or russell and rutherford and proof of what the wts society was teaching in 1919?.

  i don't want to direct my friend to an apostate site..

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  leaving_quietly

  Also, youblisher.com has lots of older Watchtowers on there. Not an "apostate" site. Just google "youblisher watchower 1913", for example, to get the WT for that year. A LOT of my research has come from there.