TMS

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Posts by TMS

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  73

  Joe Anderson's Letter

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  j. anderson

  june 5, 2002

  service department.

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  TMS

  The true value of this forum is that a "Joe Anderson-type letter" can be read here. One of the absolutely frustrating things for a Witness being put into a tight ideological corner is that there is no genuine Watchtower mechanism for hearing his/her grievance.

  Although nearly ten years past my own personal crisis point, my wife can always tell when my mind wanders back to those excruciatingly frustrating days. She hears the slap of my fingers on the door transom and even the occasional "damn!"

  "What are you thinking about, honey?"

  TMS
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  134

  THE DILEMMA FACING APOSTATES

  by You Know in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the dilemma facing apostate jehovahs witnesses, or apostate dubs, as i have dubbed them, (no pun intended) is the very fact of their seeming success.

  one of the great ironies of the apostate movement, that presumptuously boasts of "know the truth about the truth," is that apostates themselves are bound by the watchtower's own interpretive shortcomings, and hence are massively ignorant of jehovahs judicial decisions regarding his organization.

  in that the presumption in operation is that if enough scandal and error can be brought to light regarding the governing body, the watchtower society's teachings, as well as individual jehovah's witnesses, then that somehow means that jehovah's witnesses have no connection with jehovah god.

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  TMS

  . That point is lost upon those who abandon their faith merely because of the error and hypocrisy on the part of some of those taking the lead, as if that relieved any of us from standing before Jehovah in judgment

  YouKnow,

  Perhaps, you could expand a bit on your statement above. When you speak of "the error and hypocrisy on the part of some of those taking the lead" are you referring to individual Governing Body members, part of what you believe to be the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class?

  Would not such "error and hypocrisy" in and of itself disprove their claim to such a role in caring for Christ's kingdom interests?

  TMS
• 
  52

  to us...

  by teejay in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  very few people in life will ever understand the struggle that we have endured, conquered, and go on conquering.. i've spent long hours, choosing my words carefully, and my intelligent wife, i feel, still has no clue.. we're still here.

  living.

  moving.

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  TMS

  While not surprised that most concur with teejay's gallant words, it did not escape me that no one addressed the allegedly pagan ritual of toasting. I, for one, have always wanted to be a toaster, to speak from the heart in a patriarchal manner on some important occasion words that would inspire, comfort or tighten the bonds of an extended family unit.

  Although Watchtower teaching labels the toasting tradition as pagan, it has always seemed so civilized, manly and genteel. At one of the many Watchtower weddings I officiated the non-JW father of the bride stood up innocently and addressed his daughter and son-in-law-to-be. It was one of the most beautiful extemporaneous speeches I have ever heard. I envied that man.

  And so to teejay: "clink"

  TMS
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  9

  Is There a New Ex-JW?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this quote from another thread:.

  mr. brumley "the worst thing for us is a well educated balanced former witness" they are used to the foaming at the mouth rabid apostates of years past.

  they do not know what to do with reasonable well spoken individuals like you.. .

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  TMS

  This aside from Kismet:

  It was at that point Brumley made the comment, I am glad we haven't had any apostates like that...

  This is so ironic. A generation of JW's were schooled in "letting their reasonableness become known to all men." They stood at the door of the householder with a broad smile, patting the pooch on the head. For them, no question was inflammatory. Nothing rattled them. . . . Just, straightforward, well-illustrated Biblical replies to any question, always cognizant of leaving the householder in a good frame of mind for the next Witness. . . . . .

  Now, some of the best and brightest of these have seen through the veneer of "God's spirit-directed organization" and are just as unflappable in presenting what they know.

  TMS
• 
  9

  Is There a New Ex-JW?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this quote from another thread:.

  mr. brumley "the worst thing for us is a well educated balanced former witness" they are used to the foaming at the mouth rabid apostates of years past.

  they do not know what to do with reasonable well spoken individuals like you.. .

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  TMS

  SixofNine,

  Even without the specific origin and intent of the original quote, this seems like a valid observation.

  My experience with so-called apostates of the past was limited to "millennial dawners" or folks who had an unrecognized scriptural pet peeve.

  My gut feeling is that current exes pose a somewhat different and more articulate threat than in the past.

  TMS
• 
  9

  Is There a New Ex-JW?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this quote from another thread:.

  mr. brumley "the worst thing for us is a well educated balanced former witness" they are used to the foaming at the mouth rabid apostates of years past.

  they do not know what to do with reasonable well spoken individuals like you.. .

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  TMS

  This quote from another thread:

  Mr. Brumley "The worst thing for us is a well educated balanced former witness" They are used to the foaming at the mouth rabid apostates of years past. They do not know what to do with reasonable well spoken individuals like you.

  
  TMS
• 
  26

  Anderson Appeal Ltrs -Adversarial WT

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  may 23, 2002. mrs. barbara anderson.

  c/o jerre michael hood .

  37396. dear mrs. anderson,.

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  TMS

  Mr. Brumley "The worst thing for us is a well educated balanced former witness" They are used to the foaming at the mouth rabid apostates of years past. They do not know what to do with reasonable well spoken individuals like you.

  
  Barbara Anderson and many others are as described above. Their voices do not necessarily quiver with emotion as they are able to articulate what is good and what is bad with respect to Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Bill Bowen is another example of one who acquits himself well in interview.

  TMS
• 
  83

  Who Pays The Ferryman....?

  by hillary_step in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  french philosopher blaise pascal once noted, "men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.

  " a case study for this statement can clearly be evidenced by the governing body of jehovahs witnesses.. the gb present themselves as lovers of truth and righteousness who are the only persons on this planet who speak for god.

  this doctrine is at the very core of the beliefs of jehovahs witnesses and is one of the few that cannot be rationalized away by wts apologists.

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  TMS

  My personal hope is that JW lurkers read and reread what Hillary has written.

  This is not a rash statement made impetuously by a recently disenchanted individual. This synopsis has been carefully distilled over decades of service with and observation of the hierarchy of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  It is written with the grace and characteristic understatement of a person who would not intentionally defame without cause.

  TMS
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  18

  Benton Kentucky Press Conference

  by silentlambs in

  1. social
  2. current

  31 silentlambs were present for the press conference on the courthouse steps in benton, ky. reporters from five news media recorded information for various news sources.

  the weekend newspapers should be interesting to read.. silentlambs .

  press conference opening statement:.

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  TMS

  Bill,

  You handled yourself with dignity and forthrightness. If the "Dateline" story is half as powerful as this newscast, it will have an impact.

  TMS
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  32

  This place is FULL OF APOSTATES!!!!!

  by catfish in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...can i join in?

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  TMS

  I'm from Arkansas.

  Interesting, Catfish. I spent three decades in the "Land of Opportunity" and know a couple, three thousand JW's there.

  TMS