RunningMan

Joined

• started 101 topics
• posted 3,301 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by RunningMan

• 
  8

  Are JW Elders legally: CLERGY?

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  according to common law dictionaries, here is one definition provided by bouvier's:.

  clergy.

  all who are attached to the ecclesiastical ministry are called the clergy; a clergyman is therefore an ecclesiastical minister.. 2. clergymen were exempted by the emperor constantine from all civil burdens.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  When it suits their purposes, the Society claims that they have clergy. When it does not suit their purposes, they claim they have no clergy.

  I suspect that in this case, their own previous claims will come back to haunt them.

  As well, courts tend to look at the substance of the situation, not the label. Considering the duties and responsibilities of the elders, they are undoubtedly filling the same role as the clergy of other churches, with the possible distinction that they could be classified as lay clergy.

  If this is the technicality on which they choose to hang their hats, then they are indeed "week and pathetic".
• 
  17

  I blew off a 25 min. service meeting part tonite

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i told the presiding overseer that i'd probably be late getting home from work.

  but i actually spent my time driving around and enjoying the spring weather.. in other news i'll be going in for a job interview tomorrow within the company.

  i'm really hoping i land this job, because as soon as i can secure a new position (my old one is being phased out) i'll be exiting the stage of the jw comedy of errors.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  Back when I was a conciencious dub, if I ever missed a meeting or service (for a good reason), I would cringe around so that no one saw me. It was totally embarassing to be seen driving around on a Saturday morning by a car group from your book study.

  Well, I've gotten over that. Typically, on a Saturday morning, my son and I will go to MacDonald's for breakfast, then hit a few garage sales, or do something else fun. And if I run into a car group, I actually feel better, because I know how freakin miserable they are. They are just waiting for the coffee break, whereas my morning is nothing but coffee break. Yahoo!

  I feel like a free person, walking around the outside of a prison, while the inmates stare at me through the fence.
• 
  13

  Can I get your thoughts on this letter, please?

  by Deleted in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello folks.

  i have struggled for a long time trying to write something to my former friends.

  i have about a dozen people i'd like to send the following letter to.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  I think the letter is right on. You never know who might be beginning to think, and this might highlight a little crack in the wall for them.

  Send it.
• 
  22

  Possesed Smurf doll walks out of Kingdom Hall!!

  by JamesG in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey,.

  new to this site, yippee!!!!.

  has anyone heard the story about the possesed smurf doll that got up and walked out of the kingdom hall?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  Another Smurf story was posted here a while back, I can't remember by whom. It goes like this:

  As you know, like humans, there are some demons that are worse than others. Well, one particularly bad demon inhabited a smurf doll. He was not contented with simply disrupting meetings. No, this smurf was actually a rapist.

  One day, he cornered a sister in a private place, and began to rape her. She started to cry out, but he threatened her. Eventually, she submitted, and he finished his ugly business.

  The next day, he tried to rape another sister. This time, the sister yelled, screamed, kicked, and fought back, just as the Society recommends. She would not give in. Finally, the Smurf, not getting anywhere, stopped. He said to her, "Your integrity and faithfulness to your God has impressed me. Usually, women just give in. You can go."

  Well, the sister's integrity caused the Smurf to take an interest in the truth, and he is now serving as a Ministerial Servant in a congregation in Minnesota. One of the posters from this board personally met him at the last District Assembly.
• 
  15

  MILLIONS NOW LIVING

  by LDH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .....have already died.. they have given over any semblance of a normal life to a kult korporation that just continues to feed on their fears.

  they might as well be dead.. many of the millions who were alive when that statement was made *did* die, waiting in vain to get the don lapre shortcut to financial prosperity and happiness.

  they mistakenly thought if they just put in a little more time here, host another co there, they would get the house of their dreams in the real soon now paradise that is perpetually "just around the corner.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  Here are some of the specifically offending passages, that JW's are not told about:

  "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89)

  “...we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 88)

  "The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men and Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.” (Millions now living will never die, 1920 p 89-90)

  “Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old.” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89-90)

  "Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die." (Millions Now Living Will Never Die. 1920 p. 97)
• 
  15

  MILLIONS NOW LIVING

  by LDH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .....have already died.. they have given over any semblance of a normal life to a kult korporation that just continues to feed on their fears.

  they might as well be dead.. many of the millions who were alive when that statement was made *did* die, waiting in vain to get the don lapre shortcut to financial prosperity and happiness.

  they mistakenly thought if they just put in a little more time here, host another co there, they would get the house of their dreams in the real soon now paradise that is perpetually "just around the corner.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  The booklet was published in 1918, and continued to be reprinted until at least 1920. I believe the talk was also delivered in 1918.
• 
  15

  MILLIONS NOW LIVING

  by LDH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .....have already died.. they have given over any semblance of a normal life to a kult korporation that just continues to feed on their fears.

  they might as well be dead.. many of the millions who were alive when that statement was made *did* die, waiting in vain to get the don lapre shortcut to financial prosperity and happiness.

  they mistakenly thought if they just put in a little more time here, host another co there, they would get the house of their dreams in the real soon now paradise that is perpetually "just around the corner.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  A few years ago, I gave the instruction talk from the Proclaimers book, that covered the old "Millions Now Living" talk.

  The book, and my talk, focused on the instrumental, ground breaking talk in almost reverential tones. Here was part of our heritage. Possibly even some in the audience may have remembered the talk (no one did).

  Much to my surprise, I later learned that the gist of the talk was that armageddon was guaranteed to come in 1925, so that 1918 audience would walk straight into paradise. They would never have to die.

  It never ceases to amaze me that JW's can look back on an aspect of their history, and never realize the true events, or even question the accuracy of the reporting.

  Sickening.
• 
  10

  new massachusetts law

  by troucul in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone have any opinions on what effect the new massachusetts law will have on dubba's?

  (priests have 30 days to report any sexual abuse-or they will face criminal charges).

  if you ask me, i foresee the borg's defense as:'we don't have priests, therefore the law does not apply to us'(by altering their terminology they can create loopholes).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  The Witnesses will have a hard time claiming that they have no clergy. For years, they have adamantly maintained that every baptized JW is an "ordained minister", and therefore not elligible for military service.

  They have flip flopped on this a few times, but the current stand is that they are all ordained. They can't have it both ways.
• 
  6

  JW girl breaking the Canadian law

  by Aaac in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well there is this canadian girl (leuke)"mia" whose name can't be mentioned.

  the one who's refusing blood transfusions to save her life.

  but here is a jw girlie who's breaking the law:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  This story is absolutely nauseating.

  I have said it before and I'll say it again. I am embarassed to have ever been associated with this group.

  At least I now know the congregation - Willow Park, Calgary. In the late 80's, I was in Woodlands congregation. We shared the same hall.
• 
  24

  An End To Df'ing..Would It Satisfy You?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was just wondering if an end to disfellowshipping might be enough to solve some other major problems, as well as deflecting criticism away from the society.. people could act on their own conscience over blood, for example.

  sure, the wtbts could still say it was wrong to have a blood transfusion if they felt so inclined, but at least people would be able to make a decision based on a belief rather than acting out of fear of shunning.

  it would certainly take the heat off the wtbts.. it would also take away the rage that exs feel when their families are instructed to shun them, so that the ex becomes a major and formidable opponent against the witness religion.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  RunningMan

  Yes, an end to disfellowshipping would be enough.

  Disfellowshipping is their only means of controlling information and behavior. Without this to use as a club, there would be discussion and dissention. Look at how many people leave JWs, even under the threat of DFing. There are almost as many ex-Witnesses as their are Witnesses.

  The elimination of DFing would automatically make everything a concience matter.

  Unfortunately, DFing could never be ended in isolation. Without their enforcement tool, the Society could not control this group under the current doctrinal system. They would need to totally re-develop the organization, in order for it to survive in a voluntary environment.