Seven,
I'm with ya! It was my first time voting in a presidential election, also.
Posts by TR
-
11You've finally got one!
by Angharad inso what does everyone think of bush finally winning.. is it a good thing?
-
-
-
15
Limiting our potential
by TR inthis is a quote from pathofthorns on that really long thread with several different topics.
i liked it so much that i thought to start a new thread about it.. instead of "hanging in" for the "end" to come, enjoy doing what you can to change things now in your life for the better.
do what you can and what you need to to be happy, and when the "end" comes, you'll have made the wait so much better in the meantime.. the society has oft told us that pursuing activities of charity other than the preaching of the good news(their version only)is a waste of time since it is not leading people to god's organization, and thus to god's kingdom.
-
-
TR
Helen,
Your welcome! I'll look forward to your visit. I'm sure I won't be going out of town until spring also. Come this spring I might buy me a new scooter to travel down there on. My eye is on a 1200 Sportster.
TR- who likes to ride the 2-wheeled steed of the road also.
-
35
Witnet closes its Door for good...
by Pathofthorns inkind of a sad but inevitable end to a special and unique place on the net.
free speech is severely limited in the truth, and the wide range of opinion and viewpoint between the old school and the new school i'm sure made operating such a site a challenge.. for me the most facinating thing was the way one could see thinking troubled witnesses contrasted with the ones who were the mindless products of an organization.
i think it was a valuable window into the worldwide picture of what is happening today in the religion.. the site was helpful to me, and for that it holds a special place with me.
-
-
TR
Hi RR and Nelly!
I hope we're not too friendly, and we don't really want your soul!
I could have sworn that Obed said he was going to shut down in January if he didn't find a buyer. I must be wrong. Anyway, like "Simon says", we're sort of laid back. He doesn't have a "sensitive issues" forum.TR
-
5
Double Standards
by thinker init seems to me that witnesses and the wtbts live by a number of double standards.
for example: witnesses are taught that they have a sacred duty to meet and talk to non-believers (field service).
yet if they meet and talk to a non-believer who happened to be a witness and disassociated themselves they face severe punishment (disfellowship).
-
-
TR
Thinker,
What you say is true as far as I can see.
Personally, I find the WTS to be the epitome of Orwellianism. The WTS once enumerated the marks of a true religion in a WT article, and urged it's readers to research their religion to see if it met these criterion. Unfortunately, they weren't talking about themselves.
Before a prospective JW convert is baptised, they can ask all the questions they want without fear of reprocussion. The JW study conductor can attempt to answer the questions to the new person's satisfaction, or the JW can drop the study as "not progressing" if the interested person keeps asking questions that can't be answered.
If, after baptism the new JW comes up with questions that were put on hold prior to baptism, or comes up with new questions that are deemed troublesome by congregation elders, that new person can be subject to judicial action by the congregation, and eventually removed if the elders perceive a threat to the congregation. If a baptised JW wants to remain in good standing and has troublesome questions, that person should keep quiet.
The WTS sees all people, institutions, religions, everything not JW, as under the control of Satan. A JW can perceive some non JW's as having a "good heart", but they are still under the devils influence. The WTS will not permit the same scrutiny they tell their members to give other religions. Oh, sure you can examine WT doctrine all you want, but you had better agree with it, no matter how many flip flops, failed predictions, changed life and death doctrines or "tacking" as the WTS puts it, that they do.
TR
Edited by - TR on 14 December 2000 3:25:17
-
15
hi-newbie here
by peaceloveharmony inhi all-this is my first post.
i've been reading some of the other posts here and i just want to say how much i enjoy the freedom of speech i find on this db.
what a relief and a breath of fresh air.
-
-
TR
Hi Peace, and WELCOME!
I think you'll enjoy the group here. I'm the resident non-intellectual of the bunch. Deep questions need to be directed at, well...anyone but me!
TR
-
35
Witnet closes its Door for good...
by Pathofthorns inkind of a sad but inevitable end to a special and unique place on the net.
free speech is severely limited in the truth, and the wide range of opinion and viewpoint between the old school and the new school i'm sure made operating such a site a challenge.. for me the most facinating thing was the way one could see thinking troubled witnesses contrasted with the ones who were the mindless products of an organization.
i think it was a valuable window into the worldwide picture of what is happening today in the religion.. the site was helpful to me, and for that it holds a special place with me.
-
-
TR
WOW!
I was just reading yesterday about those who were interested in buying witnet. Sad. Many JW's I believe, were finally able to muster courage to speak their true heartfelt feelings.
I certainly understand Obed's feelings. He's got problems with the WTS, and probably didn't feel right about leading a pro-WTS db.
TR
-
3
Thinkers wife
by thinker ini was raised as a witness.
i had many very bad experiences.
they changed the whole direction of my life.. has anyone ever wondered where the money goes.
-
-
TR
Hi Thinker's wife!
Welcome!
I don't have a clue where the money goes. The Society does fund KH building, but it's paid for by the congregations. So, the question stands: Where does the money go?
The Society has spent loads on Patterson, Stanley Theatre etc., they spend a minimal amount amount on the Bethel workers. There's a ton of money out there, and the recent structural changes of the WTS has helped to hide it in case of lawsuits. They don't give away money! I don't see new Halls in third world countries. Yet they do spend money on their corporate infrastructure.
Considering the millions of members, and others who are sympathetic to the WTS donate millions if not billions of dollars to the WTS. One elderly lady who did not even attend meetings, left $250,000 to our congregation. Yes, the WTS has major bucks, but I don't see them spending much of it. Any giving of money and resources is done mostly by individual members and not the WTS itself. I would LOVE to see their asset portfolio!
TR
-
15
Limiting our potential
by TR inthis is a quote from pathofthorns on that really long thread with several different topics.
i liked it so much that i thought to start a new thread about it.. instead of "hanging in" for the "end" to come, enjoy doing what you can to change things now in your life for the better.
do what you can and what you need to to be happy, and when the "end" comes, you'll have made the wait so much better in the meantime.. the society has oft told us that pursuing activities of charity other than the preaching of the good news(their version only)is a waste of time since it is not leading people to god's organization, and thus to god's kingdom.
-
-
TR
Hi Martini,
I guess I'm glad to be one of those "evil worldlings"!
TR
-
15
Limiting our potential
by TR inthis is a quote from pathofthorns on that really long thread with several different topics.
i liked it so much that i thought to start a new thread about it.. instead of "hanging in" for the "end" to come, enjoy doing what you can to change things now in your life for the better.
do what you can and what you need to to be happy, and when the "end" comes, you'll have made the wait so much better in the meantime.. the society has oft told us that pursuing activities of charity other than the preaching of the good news(their version only)is a waste of time since it is not leading people to god's organization, and thus to god's kingdom.
-
-
TR
Hi, Thinker, and welcome!
thanks for replying.
I appreciate you taking an interest in your wife's former religion. You must have got an earful!
I think the WTS is starting to rely on more generations of JW's than converts. Too much nasty info about the WTS on the net these days. I think you're right about the independent thinking thing. I was one busy JW myself. Non-JW wife, three kids, ministerial servant, preperations for meetings, field service, etc. Not much time for anything else.
TR
-
15
Limiting our potential
by TR inthis is a quote from pathofthorns on that really long thread with several different topics.
i liked it so much that i thought to start a new thread about it.. instead of "hanging in" for the "end" to come, enjoy doing what you can to change things now in your life for the better.
do what you can and what you need to to be happy, and when the "end" comes, you'll have made the wait so much better in the meantime.. the society has oft told us that pursuing activities of charity other than the preaching of the good news(their version only)is a waste of time since it is not leading people to god's organization, and thus to god's kingdom.
-
-
TR
Thanks, larc and Red. Those are great "you know you're a JW ifs".
hey Red,
If it's true that the WTS has set up this charity, it seems they don't want to advertise it, in the US anyway. One would think that there would be info on their website about it. But as we both know, the WTS makes these changes in strange and subtle ways.
TR