I read "Crisis of Conscience" by Raymond Franz, a former member of the Governing Body. I think right now the corporation is running the organization, not the Governing Body.
sunshineToo
JoinedPosts by sunshineToo
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12
Is the watchtower run by 12 men or 1 leader?
by haujobbz in.
does anyone know this.is it run by 12 men or 1?and if so, is one of them the old guy who starred in panorama last night.there must be someone at the top who makes big decisions who probably has a fat wallet,1st class transportation,regular holidays(no sorry i mean visiting different branches and assemblys,stays in the hilton and smokes big cigars.
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What a month, I need help!
by Disposable Hero ini have not been on here for awhile, so much has happened.
some may remember my story in which i did a lot of research on the society and never joined.
i knew when i was dealing with the elders i had stumped them many times.
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sunshineToo
As I was reading your post, I couldn't help smiling. Why? Let me just say that I've been there and done that. Don't be too disappointed. It's not too impossible.
For my case I met him through my mom who was and is a witness. She thought he was a fine young man who wouldn't wait to be a witness. We only emailed for a while because I refused to see him in person. ;-) All the time he showed me deep understanding and patient. After our 2nd meeting, he emailed me that he would like to have a Bible study with brothers. I was so happy. He wanted to keep it secert for a while from his family esp. his mom. They were not witnesses. But soon she found out about me and what was going on. She had him check into the history of the WTS, and you know how that was going to turn out. ;-) He refused to become a witness. But at the same time he refused to stop loving me. No matter what, he wanted to stay with me. Of course he gave me some infos regarding the WTS, but at that time it was more like those infos were thrown at me. And I didn't get to think or examine them carefully. Just like any other witness, I was willing to overlook all the mistakes/misguidances by the WTS. But he kept studying. He said that he did it for me - because he knew that it made me happy. He wanted to make me happy. He began coming to the meetings and assemblies with me. Meanwhile I got to see some things within the organizations and in the congregation that bothered my conscience. Then, the Child Molestation Case came up. And I knew something was up. I did more research and found out the REAL truth about the WTS. I was very upset, and I told him all about them. Some info I found were new to him, but he wasn't quick to be excited because he knew the concequences of df/da. After I spoke to an elder over the phone, my attitude got softened a little. He noticed that, too. When I told him that I was going to meet with the elders again as an official meeting, he sent me an email. And here is a part of it:
Anyway, I just don't want you to get into a situation where you have no
control over what happens. I don't want you to be tricked back into the
organization. If you go back, I want it to be because YOU decided to go
back ON YOUR OWN, not because your were tricked into coming back. Don't let
them twist the truth around on you. I love you and I will still love you
and stay with you no matter what you do. If you go back to being a Witness,
I will be disappointed, but it won't be enough to make me stop loving you or
not want to marry you. I just worry that THEY might give you more pressure
about me ("he's of the world! see how he almost fooled you into leaving
us?"). I know you are strong and I probably have little to worry about,
but, hey, I love you, so I DO worry about you, okay? :-)
I love you! Be strong!As you can see, I had choices. He didn't give me any pressure. In fact I got so much pressure from my mother ( to be faithful to the WTS ) that I was going insane a little. Fortunately I got to be on business trip for a few days, and it calmed me down a lot. I'm sure the sister whom you love so much is also under a lot of pressure.
D.H., DO NOT PUSH HER! Just be patient and understanding. And don't forget to pray to Jehovah. If she is honest hearted and openminded, she will see the truth. Since she is a mother, have her look into the Child Molestation case. To the witnesses, outside of the organization could be very scary and devastating, not to mention the attitudes of "friends". If you really love her, show her that she is the most important person in your life through your support and love.
For my case, I'm disassociated since last week. Without his support I know I would be in a mental institution by now. ;-) We've been engaged since Jan. of this year. We are hoping to get married either end of this year or in spring.
See...it's not too impossible. I hope I have shed some hopeful light on you.
You mentioned that her smile "melts" your heart. Funny......he said the same thing to me, too. Good luck, and I hope things go well for you.
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9
Will Jacarz Be on C-SPAN?
by Francois inthe bbc interview, i mean.
or maybe it will be on the bbc america?
or on the bbc shortwave world service?
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sunshineToo
If Jacarz comes on C-SPAN, I bet he is going to take the 5th just like other CEOs.
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sunshineToo
Thank you all for your posts!
Support group in Fremont???????? What do they do? Enjoying BBQ?
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10
Numbers Not Meaningful?
by NeonMadman ini just finished watching the panorama report on jw pedophiles, and like many of you, i am thoroughly disgusted at the watchtower's lying, maneuvering and hypocrisy on this issue.
they are truly a wicked organization, deserving of the worst judgment of both god and man.. one statement they made that just leapt out at me was when the bbc reporter asked the person on the phone at brooklyn bethel how many names were in the society's database of pedophiles within the organization.
the response from the watchtower spokesman was that "focusing on numbers isn't meaningful.".
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sunshineToo
NeonMadman, WELL SAID!!!! I am eagerly waiting for that day, too.
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sunshineToo
Anyone?
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16
South Georgia 1980-1987 anyone?
by SpiceItUp in.
if the towns of eulogna, crescent, st simons island, brunswick are familiar to you then you may have known me.. please email me or respond here.
thanks.. spice
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sunshineToo
I don't know those cities, but I'm going to go to Atlanta this weekend.
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WOULD YOU BE AN ACTIVE WITNESS IF????
by minimus inwould you be an active witness or even an inactive one if you could change a few things?
for example: let's say the blood issue could be resolved, would you stay?
or if 1914 doctrine was dissolved or the disfellowshipping/ shunning view changed?
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sunshineToo
Regarding Stealth's :
Would you go back if by doing so you would be guaranteed to live a heathy live to the age of 90
however if you did not go back you would be dead within 5 years?
No, unless:
They apologize for their misguidances/mistakes that caused many heartbreaks.
Disclose all their "secret files" including molestation cases, and their involvement with UN.
Make a earnest effort to compensate and assist the "victims" to cope with the problems which they have made worse or caused.
And NEVER EVER say "being imperfect human being" and call themselves as "faithful and discreet slave(s)" the God's only annointed representatives on the earth today just to be excused from saying, "We are sorry".
If they can meet all the requests above, my answer would be,"Maybe". Otherwise I'd rather die within 5 years with clean conscience.
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57
Are any of you actually witnesses here?
by A_Revelation in.
how can all of you say that you are disgusted etc when you dont know any thing about the organisation?.
im sure you didnt really worry before but now you are all acting upset etc.. i stress to say that it is accusations not fact.. i am 16 and found the program annoying in the fact that we were portrayed completely wrong.. the bbc could say what they liked.. i think that people should be more sincere and less assuming.. thanks, mark
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sunshineToo
One more post before I go to bed.................
Yes, there are MANY superb elders. The two elders I talked to were very close friends of mine. Maybe the Witnesses are too good. Maybe they are just too nice to be suspicious about the Society. ( sigh......) I don't have any harsh feeling toward any witness. But I think the Society, at least on their part, should publicly apologize to the current and former witnesses whose hearts have been broken because of their misguidances whether intentionally or not.
That's all I ask. A public apology to our brothers and sisters. But I'm afraid the Society and many current Witnesses think that is not necessary because it is not their fault. They say that those mistakes/misguidances were due to their human imperfection; therefore, we have to overlook and they don't need to apologize.
"human imperfection", isn't it why we apologize to eachother for our mistakes as decent human beings? Where is Christian humility?(sigh.......)
Regarding the 9/11, in October we had a special assembly. A brother from Bethel came out and gave a talk. He talked about 9/11 and what they ( the brothers from Bethel ) did. He said that they didn't bring food or other rescue equipments to the Ground Zero, but only the Bibles and the Society's publications. He said that the people from Christendom brought water and food, and he also said, "They [ meaning the Christendom] should've known better." I just hoped none of the brothers ate or drank their food and water. Also I heard that the talks in the assemblies are pre-written by the Society.( sigh.....) You know, it doesn't hurt to be humble.
Good night, everyone!
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57
Are any of you actually witnesses here?
by A_Revelation in.
how can all of you say that you are disgusted etc when you dont know any thing about the organisation?.
im sure you didnt really worry before but now you are all acting upset etc.. i stress to say that it is accusations not fact.. i am 16 and found the program annoying in the fact that we were portrayed completely wrong.. the bbc could say what they liked.. i think that people should be more sincere and less assuming.. thanks, mark
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sunshineToo
I have talked to the elders in my congregation regarding the Molestation case.
It is confirmed that there ARE witnesses who are found guilty of molestation in the organization. Even the Society's letter to the all U.S. congregation in May says that. According to the letter some are even serving as elders and ALL of them are still going door to door. ( Mark, 16, if you don't believe me, go to www.watchtower.org ( the official website of the Watchtower Society ) and click on "media".)
If the State ( in U.S.) law doesn't require they ( the elders) don't report to police - confirmed by the elders!
If the molester brother ( sorry for mainly using a male figure ) moves to a different congregation in a different state where reporting the sexoffender is required by law ( for example California ), guess what? THEY ( THE ELDERS ) DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT REPORT EITHER TO THE AUTHORITY OR EVEN TO THE CONGREGATION MEMBERS!!!!!!!!! ---- This also was confirmed by the elders last week. I wonder how they would feel if their little son says, "Hey, dad, I'm going to play with the Molester Brother is weekend!"
Even if the victims were allowed to contact the police ( which I doubt ), they still have the policy that puts all the Witnesses' children and the children in the territory in the danger of becoming another "victim."
This is just one aspect. Mark, 16, don't ignore the negative signs. Look at both the positive and negative. I know that there are so many positive aspects among the Jehovah's Witnesses. First of all, most of them are really nice - at least the ones that I know. BUT SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL FACE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO EXAMINE OR CONTEMPLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE. If you can conform your thoughts and conscience with the Watchtower Society and have no problem, then it's you choice and I hope you'll be happy. But if you become deeply troubled by what you see and experience and cannot agree with the Society, esp. long after you got baptized, it's going to hurt you so much.
I know.......because I am going through it right now. I grew up in a culture where sacrificing your life for a good cause was valued as an honor. So whenever I saw a "victim" who tried to be faithful to God according to the guide lines by the Watchtower Society, it didn't bother me at all.
But I don't know. Maybe I'm getting old. I see the children and had to battle with my conscience with the Watchtower Policy. Have you read about a Canadian Brother who desperately tried to save his dying daughter by permitting blood transfusion? He got disfellowshipped, and with all those court cases, he is in debt with tens of thousands of dollars........and his little girl is dying. And the worst part is the Society is changing their blood policy....slowly. But until they make the public announcement, all "victims" have to die and all the hearts of parents have to be broken. It was like that for organ transplant. It was condamned by the Society in the 60s, but now it is a matter of conscience.
I had to battle with my conscience. Oh, also I found out about the 1975 Prophecy by the Society. Do you know about that? Did you know that so many brothers and sister sacrificed their lives ( either by selling their houses and businesses and refusing medical treatments) because the Society convinced them that in 1975 the Armageddon would come? Check out the Watchtower magazines in 1966 - 1975. And when it didn't come, did you know what the Society said? They said it was because the Bible didn't give them more specific information on the length of the 6th Creation Day. Well, you gotta read those Watchtower magazines to understand fully what I mean. Whenever I asked about that, all Witnesses told me that it was "an isolated case among a few brothers." But it happened in Asia and in U.S. I don't know about in Europe or Africa yet. I haven't talked to anyone from those places yet.
To the Society it wasn't their fault. It was of those "misunderstood" and of those who involved in "publication". Well, I guess it was the fault of little brother Johnny who worked at the shippping department and sister Salley who typed those materials.
Well, what I wanted to say to you, Mark who is 16, is that DO NOT RUSH TO MAKE DECISION BY LOOKING AT JUST "PRO" OR JUST "CON". LOOK AT BOTH and pray to Jehovah. Then make your decision. NEVER EVER IGNORE THE CRITICISM.
Oh, well, I've talked too much already.
Hello, everyone! I'm "shunshine", I mean "sunshineToo". I'm new and this is my first post.