ThomasMore

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Posts by ThomasMore

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  23

  Link between relationships and health/happiness

  by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  even though i’m agnostic so will not commit to either intelligent design or chance, i love being part of the congregation for the close personal relationships.. there is such a great atmosphere inside the congregation it really is like a family and you don’t get this anywhere else.. a real friend is someone you can rely on when you are in need.

  if things go wrong for you and you are going through a hard time you know real friends will be there for you.

  as long as you didn’t bring it on yourself by going against gods law then you have to prove you are repentant first of course.. there is a lot of research now saying that good friends is essential for healthy and happiness.

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  ThomasMore

  ExBethelitePima - please send me a one month supply of what you are taking.

  Just kidding my friend! If nothing matters, then what you suggest is A-OK. TBH - I admire that you feel the way you do. You probably sleep better at night than I do.
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  30

  Confirmed: CO Discourages Zoom

  by XBEHERE in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can confirm that the co during one of his service talks stated that zoom is a provision for elderly, infirmed, as well as people who might need it on occasion due to health reasons, otherwise you are expected to be in person at meetings and in the ministry.

  this had to come down from the top.

  maybe they do not want to put it in a gb update or broadcast since that would be too public i suppose.

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  ThomasMore

  They are still in "sell" mode so the drives will only be increasing for more of the flock. It is sad really.

  So many who paid for their KHs, built their KHs, maintained their KHs, worshipped in their KHs, and loved their KHs, lost their KHs because their attendance and donations ticked the boxes off for "Time To Sell". Now they have to drive further and be treated like they are spiritually weak for not praising the Organization for this new loving provision.

  I have often thought that we light the fire of our own discomfort and this confirms that it is true in JWdom.

  Cheer up all you honest-hearted ones! The end (of the religion) is SOOOOOOOO close. It is just around the corner (where a realtor is preparing to show your KH to another church).
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  19

  First post here. Inactive since January, making it permanent. Here is my intro

  by madisoncembre in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  new poster to this site.

  i've started blogging and would like to share my experiences with you.

  bear with me as i am completely new to this.

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  ThomasMore

  I would say that you have a difficult road ahead, and it sounds like you have already traveled a difficult journey. I can imagine that John will take advantage of all legal avenues soon if he has not already. You will need the pro bono services of attorneys who represent battered women. If you have not sought them out, please do. They can make pre-emptive recommendations that will stand up in court.

  You deserve child support NOW and they can also help with that. As for counseling, there are many resources for battered women. Most are not congenial with JW's so hopefully they will offer the support that strengthens you.

  You are in my prayers for a better life.
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  21

  Canada Bethel (Georgetown) to begin renovations early 2017

  by Richard_I in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a letter was just read at my midweek meeting that georgetown (canada bethel) will have renovations done on it beginning spring 2017. the letter asked for publishers who are electricians/plumbers/etc.

  and in good standing to apply to help out.

  those helping out will be considered "part-time commuters" and will only be at the property for about 3 days a week and must reside outside of bethel and pay for all their own expenses.

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  ThomasMore

  I wondered when they would stop milking that project for donations. It sounds like they may still think they can squeeze a few $$ from the R&F.

  That is an old tactic of WTC. They beg for money right up until they cancel a project and pocket the proceeds.

  What happens to the money - they take it all.

  What if R&F members loaned them money specifically for the project? Before they close it down, they ask all who did to consider forgiving the loans. They often do. Soon afterward, the project is cancelled.

  If land was involved, they sell it.

  If commitments were made, they break them.

  If anyone complains, they counsel and/or DF them.

  Ramapo what?
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  12

  Weasel Word Phrase--The Bible Does Not Say...but

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the bible does not say—the weasel word phrase that bugs me the most.

  note that though the wts says this, it then proceeds to add :.

  after jesus’ birth, why did joseph and mary remain in bethlehem instead of returning home to nazareth?.

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  ThomasMore

  Excellent exposure of WTC weasel words Blondie. I am happy to hear that you are enjoying the life that you have!

  The Bible does not say, but it is reasonable to that the gift of life should be enjoyed, even if doing so means ignoring rules and procedures put in place by those claiming to represent the true God.

  There - I hope that sweetens the coffee!
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  46

  Does the WTS have a clergy class (yes-no)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wt 2021 october p.20 "in contrast, true worshippers of jehovah have no clergy.

  although we respect those who are taking the lead, we accept jesus’ clear teaching: “all of you are brothers.”".

  ijbq article 92 point 6: in contrast, true worshippers of jehovah have no clergy.

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  ThomasMore

  The reason they say that they do not have a clergy class is because they criticized the clergy class of Christendom for so many decades. CLERGY was synonymous with false religion according to WTC.

  In civil (and criminal) litigation, they claim that they should be recognized as clergy because they hear the confessions of the flock, and they desire to have the same non-reporting ecumenical privilege that clergy have.

  However, as a number of judges have pointed out to WTC attorneys, ecumenical privilege has criteria under most state laws, and WTC appointed elders do not meet that criteria because:

  1. They share privileged confessions with other elders, sometimes with a Service Dept. Desk man, and sometimes with the Legal Dept at Patterson or another Branch. This invalidates their right to claim ecumenical privilege. As soon as they share a confession, they violate the mandate required for ecumenical privilege that all US courts recognize.

  2. WTC has stated many many many many times in their literature that they do not have a clergy. Plaintif attorneys are quick to cite WTC publications that state such. WTC attorneys have tossed the word salad saying that they don't have a "paid" clergy, but they do have an unpaid class of men that acts in such a capacity who deserve ecumenical priviledge. To that claim, plaintif attorneys are quick to point out that elders may hear confessions, but they typically share the 'confidential talk' with other elders, CO's, the Branch, and their Legal Dept.

  In most if not all cases now, WTC's claim for clerical priviledge has been denied by judges. In Russell and Rutherford's day, they claimed they were not a religion. They stopped saying that when relgions were exempted from taxation. Suddenly they wanted to be a religion.

  For many years, they claimed that they were not part of 'organized religion'. Now they often refer to themselves as "THE ORGANIZATION", claiming that they are well organized and deserving of the same considerations that all other religious entities enjoy.

  It's no wonder reasonable persons think they are yahoos. They reinvent themselves when the situation merits. They have NO INTEGRITY.
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  8

  CSA - An Offender Typology.

  by LostintheFog1999 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in relation to a study program being undertaken i came across this accredited article and thought it would be worth sharing with this group.. https://www.qualitativecriminology.com/pub/osa148h6/release/2.

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  ThomasMore

  The why IS important Vidiot.

  I think you probably know. There are also some aspects of CSA that WTC would rather no one know. They have dealt with things that even JW R&F cannot accept, so the why is because it is just too much to survive.

  LostInTheFog - that article addressed a broad range of immorality in the organization. The 36,638 DF'd ones mentioned was misdirection intended to lead the R&F to believe that all the immorality was outside Bethel. It was not. Wife-swapping was an issue among Special Full-time servants in missionary homes and at Bethels. The same was true for homsexuality and child molestation. There were other sins of course but they were not mentioned.

  Note that the paragraph stated that "the great tribulation will clear out all those who are disgusting in their filth." WTC did not and has not cleared out all such ones. Many were given a pass and continued to do more of the same. Chitti and Greenleas were not DF'd. They were 're-assigned'. The word salad of WTC is disheartening for those who once believed that they did indeed abhor such behavior, notably CSA.
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  8

  CSA - An Offender Typology.

  by LostintheFog1999 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in relation to a study program being undertaken i came across this accredited article and thought it would be worth sharing with this group.. https://www.qualitativecriminology.com/pub/osa148h6/release/2.

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  ThomasMore

  Vidiot - spot on.

  The cases of CSA in JWdom do indeed go back many many decades. The bean counters didn't really start organizing the data until the computer age came along. The filing method and the structure of the desk assignments (by state) of Service Dept. made it difficult to really see the expanse of the problem. As well, there really was an attitude that CSA was a moral shortcoming, not a crime to be addressed seriously. Some desk men hardly thought it was worth addressing.

  The effort to organize that particular occurrence of sin did not really get traction until 2014 onward. They had the cases digitally, but it was impossible to search effectively and to get statistics without meta data. They started that in earnest around 2015. I am aware that the effort to do that took it's toll on decent men who not only found that their religion had a huge CSA problem, but that they were also covering it up from authorities. AND, settling lawsuits out of court with such frequency that the trajectory of their bank accounts was shrinking faster than the contributions were coming in.

  Meanwhile, the word in litigation circles was spreading fast. WTC was a pocket that could easily be gotten into if one had a case they didn't want to go public. The few that went to court went because the plaintifs wanted too much to settle or just wanted to give WTC a black eye. I don't blame them.

  Selling the KH's to stay in the black was absolutely related to the exponential growth of CSA settlements. Now that some states have extended the statute of limitations for litigation, they are getting more organized to sell for the greatest effect instead of panic. All KHs have been appraised by LDC and they are positioned to sell when the situation merits. Criteria for selling/keeping KHs was implemented and seems to be the rule of the road. The Menlo Parks of the 90's are no more. WTC took ownership and any challenges are quashed immediately. They are much more methodical now to get what they need without decimating a region of sheeple by selling too many or the wrong ones.

  I am still amazed that they are falling on the sword instead of outing the abusers. It makes one wonder just who they are protecting? I am aware of cases from the 50's that were brushed aside as if the victims were inconsequential. Some good men followed the direction of the Service Dept with no questions, no objections.

  I think the gig is up now, and WTC knows the end could be near. Hello Pennsylvania!
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  2

  Ukraine violence against JW's - in 2019.....

  by BoogerMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .....wouldn't get the org to tell jw's to desist from preaching:.

  "threat of mob violence perehinske.

  on 26 march 2019, roman balahura, a local priest, assembled a mob and threatened 10 witnesses with violence, forcing them to stop their religious activity and to leave the village.

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  ThomasMore

  Russians never had the market cornered on religious intolerance. Thankfully, for JWs, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'.

  In Orwells 1984, the powers fought one war after another, often changing sides in a never-ending conflict that was necessary to keep people united by helping them focus on a diabolical enemy.

  JW's HATED catholics, but now they share the same legal firm and model their hierarchy in the same manner. JW's HATED charlatan televangelists, but they were quick to enter the court as 'friends of Jimmy Swaggert' when he ran afoul of the iRS.

  Rutherford told Hitler by letter that they agreed with him about the Jews. Hitler dismissed his cozy approach so Rutherford wrote again, calling the power of heaven down on the Nazis.

  There are seven days in every week so that WTC can take a different position for each.
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  20

  Awakening thoughts

  by aqwsed12345 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a "waking up", but still a member, jehovah's witness acquaintance of mine from eastern europe wrote the following lines:.

  "i count among the main sins of the watchtower society:.

  1. concealment.

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  ThomasMore

  aqwsed12345 - please add to the list:

  4. They totally lack a sense of humor.

  Ding - Dang! Brainwashing is such a strong term. And yet, "Most people could use a good brain-washing". THERE! Does that bring back memories of over-used, canned replies?!