Posts by InquiryMan

17

Can witnesses now vote???

by shamus in

they can vote in elections now?

have i gone totally insane????.

is this true???????????????.

Interestingly, the new option given to witnesses in the QfoR in the Watchtower, does not seem to be taken into consideration, even in countries with severe opposition towards the JW stance, as seen from this news report on Eritrea (taken from AllAfrica.com) The Eritrean government has issued a statement on freedom of religion in the country amid criticism by human rights watchers that it is restricting the right to worship. In its statement outlining the "basic facts" of religious freedom in Eritrea, the government said "all religions are equal and no religion is more equal than others". It noted that according to the (still-to-be-implemented) constitution, "every person shall have the freedom to practise any religion and to manifest such practice". "No groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion," the statement said. "People are free to worship according to their wish, or to refrain from worshipping or practising religion." However, in a report on religious freedom in Eritrea, the US State Department said this had "deteriorated" during 2002 and the government had closed religious facilities not belonging to the country's four main faiths - Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian. It said members of the Jehovah's Witnesses were particularly subjected to harassment and discrimination. Many of them have refused to take part in military service or to vote "on religious grounds", despite the government's proclamation that no-one is exempt from national service on the basis of religion. In May 2002, the government issued a decree ordering all religious groups to register. "Comments from senior government officials indicate that groups without significant historical ties to the country will not be licensed to operate," the State Department report said.

3

Danish Newspaper

by Nordic in

.

http://www.stiften-aarhus.dk/

nordic

InquiryMan

This is the same case that is highlighted in the Danish TV programme on JW and pedphilia (transcript on www.silentlambs.org site). It is interesting to see this concluding remark of the Danish Bethel PR-brother: The Chief of Information does not mean that there is any reason to disfellowship Dorthe Tveiti from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, even though she publicly denounces the sect. We recognize that there is great doubt about repurcessed (?) memoris, and that this is a major problem for those having them. Therefor we have not disfellowshipped Dorthe Tveiti. Foremost, this case is between her and her parents, says Erik Jørgensen.

31

Is anyone going to the special talk today?

by dmouse in

jw
friends

there is a special talk today, evidently about our old friend babylon the great.

there is some speculation that it might be related to the possible new light on the un that undisfellowshipped spoke about in his thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/50250/1.ashx.

InquiryMan

When I read your summary, I was somewhat surprised that it was so different. When I had the special talk some years ago, it was like a regular talk, with an outline provided by the society. It is amazing how much a talk may differ, even when based on the same outline. It depends a lot on the individual speakers and what they emphasize. It also depends how much each speaker "dare" to deviate from the outline provided by the society. The brother giving the talk I summarized, did not mention lKing of the North, although the UN was mentioned a couple of times. It was also strange to listen the earthquake part, esp. since Awake! actually did state that there has not been a significant change of seismic activity, thus contradicting previous statements in the magazines. But, this is not the first time I’ve heard statements on stage, contradicting new information in the literature. I guess it is hard for many to catch up with all the ever changing information. I remember once, at a book study. We studied the old understanding, even though a new understanding had been given at an assembly. Still we should stick to the old understanding, giving erroneous answer. I guess it was too hard for the conductor to explain it when he did not have in explicit in writing in front of him.

31

Is anyone going to the special talk today?

by dmouse in

jw
friends

there is a special talk today, evidently about our old friend babylon the great.

there is some speculation that it might be related to the possible new light on the un that undisfellowshipped spoke about in his thread:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/50250/1.ashx.

InquiryMan

Small summary of special talk:

Babylon the Great defined to be the worldwide empire of false religion, christendom being the most prominent part. (that is false religion = all religions apart from the JW religion, which is defined as the true religion).

Interestingly, in the outset of the talk it was stated that Babylon the Great will be destroyed by the 10 horns and the Wild Beast, which is the United Nations, The ten horns empowers the UN to destroy religion, according to the talk.
(compare WT 1st june, 1. study articles, paragraphs 11-12).

All religions apart from JW, was branded as:
monstrous, a freak, a whore/prostitute. (almost like in the good old Rutherford era :-)

It was also blamed for all the people who have been killed on earth throughout history, since the murder of Abel.
This was substantiated by Revelation 18:24, which was taken very literary.

The Roman Catholic Church was also blaimed for being responsible for the Holocaust, and bringing Hitler to power.

It was also claimed that the acts of all non-JW religions require God to revenge (by using Jesus as His Blood-Revenger) their sins that reach up to the sky.

Then, the JW was then praised for their great love for their neigbhours and for having extraordinory love among themselves.

It was also made a claim that the 191 members of the UN show anti-religious sentiments, being judged by how they vote. (No proof, or quotations was given for this statement).
This was read in line with a statement that the UN will lead a unified attack against Babylon the Great.

Then "proofs" on the composite sign of the end was offered.
Interestingly, quite some time was devoted to earthquakes.
It was stated that there was extraordinary earth quake activitiy in our day, and that according to seismologists mankind is living in a time with extra seismic activity. Il Piccolo magazine was quoted (was quited in Awake 1981).

(However, Awake did acknowledge some time ago that the earthquake activity of our day is not extraordinary, cannot remember the quote though).

The emphasis in the final part of the talk was that in order to be saves on has to flee to the antitypical cities of refuge, being the org. of JW. It was emphazed the need for staying in the centre of the "city", by fleeing from worldly desires, thus proving worthy of being part of the Great Crowd that is to survive into the New World.

this was brief synopsis of my impression of the talk.

17

JW's in the cinema

by berten in

jw
friends

there is this funny anecdote i remember from my jw days that i would like to tell:.

in the mid seventies there was a french movie released over here about .

the story of david & goliath,and some jw's of our congregation wanted to see it.. now this movie of which i forgot the title was nothing special but as is usual .

InquiryMan

It def. seems that European witnesses are much more lax when it comes to entertainment than their American counterparts. Most of the films mentioned would be considered "dubious" by the majority of at least younger than 40 JW in Northern Europe. It is no fuss over "R"-rated films either.

8

Help me out, please. A statement has been made elsewhere on the Internet .

by berylblue in

...that.jws do not take delight in the death of billions of unrighteous ones at a. i was dumbfounded, but for the life of me i can't think of any solid examples of how the witnesses absolutely do gloat over the "baddies" dying at a. i no longer have any wt publications; does anyone know where such sick sentiments can be found?

the only example i could think of is the thunderous applaus at district assemblies when the bad guys bite the dust in one of their dramas, and that is not the evidence i am seeking.

while it certainly indicates their mindset, i'd rather have concrete, black and white examples of this disgusting attitude.. thanks,.

InquiryMan

See "You May Survive Armageddon Into God’s New Worl", chapter XXI, paragraphs 19-21. Also, the silver "Prince of Peace" book has a reference on how the flesh shall rotten on the bodies of those destroyed while they are still alive. And as to conclude that remark it is stated: Good riddance or something along that vein. Unfortonately I do not have the book at hand or a CD, but I remember it vividly, cause I conducted that book study at the time, and was somewhat horrified at the graphic description.

25

Theft of Identity from the Borg

by Yizuman in

jw
friends

i had a thought for most of the ex-jws who spent most of their lives in the borg.

for those who left the borg, has anyone stopped and think, "who am i really supposed to be apart from the borg?".

have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had never been a jw?

InquiryMan

I was also saddened to read your statement, Simon, especially since et echoes my own sentiments...
We’re right in the process of fading away, and it is a tough journey ahead.
Having been a lurker on this site for months have helped me tremendesly,
also realizing the struggles others are going through.

I have had many good times as a witness, had a good childhood,
nice parents who allowed me to make own choices
(the ones I regret now was mostly due to cong. indoctrination)
have met many nice friends in various countries, but
being honest to oneself outweighs these things.
Realizing that the WTBS is not as it was thought to be
(failed prophesy, dubious past, false quotations, the UN issue,
the pedophile issue, the shunning policy, gradually complex
and inconsistent blood doctrine etc,)
has made me setting out on a journey less predictable,
but still, more true.

The fruits are not entirely good anymore,
it does not help if two or three are palatable.