Has not the Society's legal team forced certain websites to remove copywrited material from their site? Wouldn't this indicate monitoring?
TMS
Posts by TMS
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31WTBTS Monitoring Discussion Boards??????
by normie67 injust curious many say that the org monitors dbs, but anybody have concrete proof of this??
oh by the way at the recent ca dbs were mentioned from the platform!!!
the thought was "some jws were visting jehovahs witness discusssion boards and trying to correspond with some"...might not be exactly what was said(not an actual quote)...they mentioned put a doubt in your mind and start questioning your beliefs!!!
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106
new, nowhere to turn, ashamed & afraid
by azzazel inhullo everybody i'm new here, even though i've been lurking now for several months.. i have to say how afraid i am to post, afraid and ashamed but i feel if i dont tell my story, i honestly dont know what may happen to me or my children if they lose me, right now i feel like i've got nowhere left to turn and have my doubts about this place as well.. i know my story will shock you but i cant keep it in any longer.
i am recently disfellowshipped for immorality, the subject of a kingdom hall witch -hunt and subsequent congregational humiliation, .
during the process of the judicial committee meetings and proceedings no consideration was given to my real human circumstances nor to the spirit of survival nor human nature nor that of a mother seeking to protect her children from lack of basic fundamentals such as food, shelter and clothing.
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TMS
Hello Azzazel:
Your reluctance to bare your soul in this or any other forum is understandable. We're living in the "Hard World" Cat Stevens sang about years ago and personal agendas are rampant.
Your "judicial" experience parallels that of many, including my son several years ago. The "shepherds" almost become consumed with a "righteous indignation" at identifying a perceived ahhorrent sin, that they lose sight of the hurting lamb in front of them.
Without minimizing the profound sadness you must feel on the heels of these tragedies in your life, it must be some consolation knowing that your children are still very young and will greatly benefit from a loving, nurturing mother.
TMS
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Elders/former Elders, help with this?
by wasasister inactually, i don't care if you ever were an elder if you can find the appropriate reference in the wt for the following situation:.
with all the discussion lately about the need for "two witnesses" to make an accusation valid, i've been thinking about divorce (and ultimately, remarriage) on the grounds of adultery.
in most cases, an adulterous mate does not commit the deed in public.
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TMS
Your memory is correct. An "innocent" mate, whose partner had confessed adultery privately, could indeed take divorce action. Even, if unable to substantiate the charges legally, necessitating filing the divorce on alternate grounds, she could file a letter with the elders specifying the "real" reason her marriage was ending. The thinking was that the mate taking such action, would ultimately "answer to Jehovah" if her actions were fraudulent.
I'm sure someone will come up with the references, if you really need them.
TMS
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The Forbidden Top SeKret jWs Manual
by Tallyman inyou are not permitted to click this link:.
* http://www.intrex.net/tallyman/kultlaw.html.
...uhh, unless, of course you are "a elder".. .
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TMS
This was a fairly lame, superficial post, Tallyman.
Anyone who wants access to the Elder's Manual has long since perused the innocuous sentence outline publication.
Thought the tragic recent events occurring in your family would nudge you to lay low for a while.
TMS
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20
A New Nail in "FRIEND"'s COFFIN ;-)
by Focus ini know that honest-hearted ones here are thoroughly sick of friend's ill-disguised, legalistic, nitpicking, ground-shifting, form-over-substancing, necrophilia-inducing attempt to deny that the setup and conduct of the watchtower society serves excellently to encourage pedophilia... (of course, like all apologetics claim, he is not defending the cult, only attacking the poor argument of the opposer - lol!
lol!
lol!).
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TMS
Dear "Focus":
A careful, reasoned, polite, non-inflamatory post would indeed be more persuasive.
Perhaps, a little more poodle. less rottweiler.
Flooding the board with numerous mean-spirited threads, dumping reams of quotes in a single post strikes one as a "rule or ruin" mentality.
Would a kinder, gentler "Focus" be too much to ask?
TMS
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Another massive Watchtower FLIP-FLOP!
by Focus inthe great pyramid of giza (isa.
1880 - symbolizing jesus (1880wtwr 09 01 02).
1881 - commands respect but is a poor and weak foundation for hopes (1881wtwr 05 01 04-5).
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TMS
Try to post something current. The pyramid theology is "old light"!
TMS
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Elders- "Trained or UnTrained- WHICH IS IT??
by JT inthe biggest error wt has continued to make for the last 120yrs is they leave a wonderful paper trail behind - where a serious student of study will have no problem following and seeing that so many of their lofty claims simply don't fly .
case in point - are the elders trained or untrained clergymen as it were?.
well for those of you who have never served as an elder allow me to share with you what elders are told about their training.
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TMS
All fascetiousness aside, enlarging on spinmeister Moreno's words about the untrained clergy:
The skill level among JW elders is uneven, at best. Perhaps one or two elders per circuit are capable counselors. Their life experience, education, knowledge and personal interest enable them to be genuine encouragers. One elder I know starts with the premise that all dedicated JWs, whether inactive, reproved, stumbled, offended, etc. "love Jehovah". His positive approach almost always nets him shepherding calls that end positively. No spectacular results in the long run, but an "A" for effort. Another brother, now deceased, lost his son in an automobile accident in 1958. His wife never attended another meeting. He persevered, never lost hope for her, but continued to serve God as a JW. His contact with other witnesses exuded a genuine warmth and compassion, unmatched. He was used till his death in the mid-80's as a subtitute circuit overseer. His "service talks" highlighted family relationships, caring for aging parents, compassion for others, etc.
I have many examples on the other end of the spectrum, but I will table them for now as it is getting extemely late.
TMS
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Elders- "Trained or UnTrained- WHICH IS IT??
by JT inthe biggest error wt has continued to make for the last 120yrs is they leave a wonderful paper trail behind - where a serious student of study will have no problem following and seeing that so many of their lofty claims simply don't fly .
case in point - are the elders trained or untrained clergymen as it were?.
well for those of you who have never served as an elder allow me to share with you what elders are told about their training.
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TMS
Mr. Moreno meant to say:
Local congregation elders are unpaid volunteers with no specialized academic training under the auspices of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Said society is not civilly or criminally liable for misconduct by said volunteers.
TMS
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64
Family dynamics and the Org.
by LDH ini have made a couple of remarks regarding family dynamics on other threads, but i thought it's be nice to start a new thread.... i'm no psychologist, but suffice it to say i see some similarities here.
(please add to/comment on these thoughts).
the organization wishes to be seen as our mother.
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TMS
The application of several scriptural "principles" affect family stability, cohesiveness and longevity:
"seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to you."
"making use of the world as those not using it to the full"
"he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me."
No question in my mind that the application given these and other quotes has greatly affected families among Jehovah's Witnesses. How many times have assembly parts featured individuals who have allegedly turned their back on lucrative opportunites in this system to "pursue kingdom interests"?
How many times have parents been expected to turn their backs on teen-age or young adult offspring at the precise point in their young lives when they most needed adult guidance and understanding?
How many basically good kids have grown up with enormous guilt trips because they never measured up to the narrow JW definition of a "faithful son"?
Indeed, family dynamics are affected by Watchtower traditions.
I've listened to "personal responsibility" arguments presented far more eloquently than Xandit's expressions, and feel that point of view is expressed by non-witnesses or those on the fringe.
Having been in the org. over half a century, I've seen the end result of Wt. policies on the family.
TMS
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15
Waiting for an apology?
by LDH ini was recently talking to a friend, an ex-admin from witnet, who said that they felt i was 'owed' an apology because of an offensive remark made on this board.. i didn't give it too much credence, since from time to time we all say things we shouldn't, but it did start a dialogue between us about things we would apologise for if we could.. on a really 'general' note, i mentioned i would apologise to every householder to whom i might have came across as being god's finger on their doorstep.
for people who are supposed to be humble, when you are told every day of your life that you have the 'truth,' it becomes obvious that everyone else has a 'lie.
' therefore, it's not too hard to picture yourself being sanctimonious at the door while preaching the gospel of our lord jesus.. i really can't comment on what he said because i would reveal his identity and don't have his permission to do so, but suffice it to say he wanted to apologise for pushing off his personal preferences on others (which he didn't even believe but which were being taught as the word of god).
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TMS
Somewhat back to Lisa's original post.
Without apology, I've been a prolific apologizer my entire adult life.
My wife, for one, is not impressed with my apologies and often cites the old line: "Apologies are like a rubber eraser."In the mid-60's I made a rude and awkward exit from a conversation with an educated man, much my senior, with whom I was engaged in animated debate. . . . Feeling shame over the inappropriate handling of the situation, I returned a dozen or more times at all hours of the day to extend my apology. Finally, making contact, I extended my sincere apology. He, in turn, apologized.
Now deceased Joel Meeks, Circuit Overseer, made an obvious misapplication of scripture in a service talk to the congregation. A couple of elders approached him about correcting the point before leaving the congregation. He refused.
Eugene R. Brandt, District Overseer, made it a practice to stop everything at a circuit assembly, if he realized he had made an error of some sort. He begged humbly the audience's forgiveness. (Several years later, I found him not nearly so humble in real life.)
I had intended for this post to be a personal review of the things for which I should apologize, but my thoughts are convoluted and fragmented.
For now,
TMS