InquiryMan

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Posts by InquiryMan

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  9

  Why No Beards?

  by undercover in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have recently started to question everything i was taught, i started wondering about the grooming "laws".

  one that never really made sense to me was that the brothers could not have beards.

  where is that written?

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  InquiryMan

  Interestingly, in WT literature from the 50s, Jesus is even depicted without a beard, e.g. see Paradise Lost - Paradise regained book.

  This rule may vary within a country and from country to country, depending on the makeup of elders and sentiments of congregation, and perhaps also of brothers brave enough to introduce it.

  Goaties have become pretty common though.

  In some countries, e.g. Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland (as far as I have heard) beards are generally accepted, even for elders.
  (Denmark and the Netherlands being very open-minded, liberal countries).

  In Denmark, even brothers having beards may have talks in the assembly programs,
  whereas in a neighboring country, having a moustache might exclude a brother for even
  being a "microphone" servant.

  Edited by - InquiryMan on 2 October 2002 13:52:56

  Edited by - InquiryMan on 2 October 2002 13:53:46
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  9

  Approaching family- the specialist attack.

  by happysunshine in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm going to approach my family about the witnesses.

  i may only get one shot at this, so it'll have to be good.

  something short, fast, and effective, but with the possibility of further growth.

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  InquiryMan

  I would think twice before divulging facts on elderly ones. Also keep in mind that some have been content and also happy being in the truth.

  I guess being in advanced years, it would be best to be left "alone", but if possible, give them all the love and support they need (if youre permitted to do so).
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  61

  Are we wrong to attack the Elders?

  by MARTINLEYSHON in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i see a number of board members alluding to the elders as antagonists.

  this is amoral.

  there is an inference that these ones ( elders ) can think for themselves, they cannot.

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  InquiryMan

  That is why I finally resigned.

  However, most elders I know are decent, good people, although mentally stuck to WT mindset.
  There are various degrees of dependende though. some are very robot, whereas others (at least in private)
  are much more open minded.

  Elders are not necessarily a homogenous group.
  Please do not lump all into one category.

  But, I guess in the end, the decent, thinking ones will finally step down.
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  4

  Witness Passive Resistance?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wonder what happens to the watchtower if a quiet pattern of passive resistance develops.. the average witness might not even be aware of it - they skip more meetings, take up.

  college courses, pad more hours, and (the big one!

  ) fail to contribute!.

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  InquiryMan

  I am afraid your observations are correct.
  I myself testify to this fact.
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  12

  NEW RULES FOR PLAYING GAMES

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the latest question from readers shows a picture of kids playing poker for pennies.

  the bottom line: christians don't do this.it endangers spirituality.

  "christians who enjoy board or card games as recreation would be better advised to keep a penciled score or to play the game simply for fun without keeping score.

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  InquiryMan

  I read it too, and found it rather humerous. Even implying that giving points should be avoided, although it did state that points could be given. (Woow, what freedom).
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  6

  African Awake Cutbacks

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i note, in the latest km (u.s.), that certain cutbacks in.

  production of the awake were announced.

  specifically, that.

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  InquiryMan

  I remember being at another board asking someone specifically about this reduction of editions.

  To me it was stated it was due to lack of sufficient translators.
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  10

  THIS IS FOR ALL CURRENT WITNESSES!

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is for all of the current jehovah's witnesses who have questions about things they may have heard about on this website (or on dateline or other media), such as 1975, 1914 generation, blood policy changes, requiring women to scream when they are attacked by a rapist, and especially, the watchtower society's pedophile policy.. below are links to threads i have made that show clearly the answers to your questions about numerous topics, taken directly from the watchtower society's own publications: .

  armageddon was supposed to come in 1925: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=37072&site=3.

  armageddon was supposed to come in 1975: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=36961&site=3.

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  InquiryMan

  I back OldHippie on this.
  Whereas the quotations substantiate and expose errors made, the way they are presented or introduced might put some off otherwise inclined to read it.

  Edited by - InquiryMan on 27 September 2002 3:14:5
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  10

  We DO NOT FEEL SUPERIOR TO OTHER FAITHS

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wt.

  of oct. 15, 2002 states: "although we do not feel superior to those who profess other faiths,we avoid socializing with them or getting drawn into their worship.

  ".......jw's avoid socializing with anyone not a witness because all others are not as good as jehovah's witnesses.....how can they make such statements and not realize that even "worldly" people will feel insulted?

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  InquiryMan

  Please mention in what context the quote was taken.
  (the purchase of buildings owned by other denominations in order to convert them into Kingdom Halls).

  I guess the caution was made due to fact that having contact with actively religious people of other faiths in a non-witnessing context might pose a danger from a WT point of view.

  (BTW. Most witnesses I know have more contact with non-witness people than one might realize.
  But perhaps a more rigid view is taken elsewhere.)
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  6

  Are the R&F aware of the march?

  by Dia in

  1. social
  2. current

  please note, this is a different question than, 'how misguided or deceived are they?

  feel free to answer them both, if you like, but i'm just wondering, do most witnesses know that something is happening this week?

  or has the wts managed to keep them in the dark completely?

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  InquiryMan

  Those who have read news reports on it undoubtedly know.
  Otherwise, they most likely do not know, unless they are lurkers.

  I have only told some very good friends whats coming up.

  Edited by - InquiryMan on 26 September 2002 6:54:8
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  80

  Answers please

  by bigdaddysgurl27 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  can someone please tell me the beliefs of j w?

  do they believe that jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for us?

  do they believe that through jesus christ we shall be saved?

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  InquiryMan

  Just a few remarks to the first answer.

  I do know several witnesses who attend esp. funerals.
  I also know of witnesses attending church weddings, although that is more rare.
  Personally, I would not object to none.

  I did attend church funerals while being an elder.
  I even appreciated the sermons when they were good.

  Being interested in history and architecture, I have visited
  dosens (if not more than a hundred) of churches in various countries.

  Interstingly, while being on a witness-only tour once, a church was visited.
  1 third declined entering the church, whereas the rest did go.
  No one made a fuss about that.

  Generalizations do not do any good.