Posts by undercover

32

Grave Concerns Over American Drinking Habits.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

indeed, good people, and i am the one with the concerns!

as you may or may not know, hl and i are planning on visiting the land of the free next april.

however, i was deeply shocked to see an example of the nations drinking habits in a film shown on bbc 1 last night.

undercover

You really have to be stupid, obnoxious, harassing drunk before getting cut off most places I've been to. I've seen it happen though. I know one guy that is not allowed in 5 different bar/restaurants because he is such a sorry drunk. To get kicked out of Hooters for life is an accomplishment I wouldn't brag about.

The big thing here is do NOT drink too much and drive. Plan on getting a cab. Most states the "legal" limit of alcohol is .08. That ain't much. So if you're planning on several pints, keep the cab companys number in your pocket or have a designated driver.

59

What must I do to be saved?

by StinkyPantz in

first of all, i am agnostic.

maybe there's a god, maybe not.

so i wonder, do i actually have to believe in god in order to be saved?

undercover

Did you hear about the dyslexic agnostic with insomnia?

He laid awake at night wondering if there was a dog.

15

Brooklyn Assembly Hall

by worf in

jw
friends

i have been told that the brooklyn assembly hall located on flatbush avenue in brooklyn new york and otherwise known as the albemarle theatre, has been sold.. has anyone else heard this?

can anyone here confirm this?.

thanks for any info.. worf

undercover

It was only when the locals who attended sessions there raised a stink and began to question openly whether the Society really meant what it said about ``getting out Babylon" and ``avoiding even the slightly impression of any toleration of false religious practices and traditions" did we get serious about plastering these over.

Well, the locals or the R&F were taught well then. The Society keeps pounding "flee from Babylon", "Babylon the Great will be destroyed" and other information about service to Jehovah being uncorrupted by idols and images in the followers brains enough that this reaction should have been expected.

Personnally, I think it's great that historic buildings are preserved as original. Pagan influences and all. But for a group that pushes such high ideals and idealogy on it's member so as to not have any thing that can be taken as false worhip images(even when used for simple decor) in their homes but allows it in their buildings smacks of hypocrisy.

15

Brooklyn Assembly Hall

by worf in

jw
friends

i have been told that the brooklyn assembly hall located on flatbush avenue in brooklyn new york and otherwise known as the albemarle theatre, has been sold.. has anyone else heard this?

can anyone here confirm this?.

thanks for any info.. worf

undercover

...their work on the former Masonic Temple at 385 Broadway was praised by the commission's executive director, Michael Wing.
The Jehovah's Witnesses are cleaning up, repainting and refurbishing the temple in a way that meets their needs for worship but doesn't despoil the building's original intent, said Wing. A large Masonic symbol in ornate floor tile has been covered with a circular rug, he said.
Other symbols on the outside of the building have been covered with stucco, he said.
The congregation could have obliterated both, but they remain, he said.

The Masonic symbol was covered by a rug? Is this acceptable to Jehovah in his house of worship?

Does this mean I can hang Heavy Metal bands, movie star and sport star posters on my walls but just cover them with a curtain and that would be OK by the GB?

163

So, where DID the 1914 timeline go awry?

by Xander in

okay, i know that historical evidence is that jerusalem fell in 586/7 instead of 607 - as the wtbts would have.

however, that is not compelling enough to show a hypothetical jw.

they (generally) must not only be show that the opposition is correct, but that the wtbts is wrong.

undercover

I do not believe that the Society's application of 1914 is incorrect or that the foundation date for the Gentile Times is unreliable or without solid evidence. The dates of 586/587 are based on secular/historical evidence but 607 is also reckoned on similar evidence. It all comes down to,hermeneutics. One must decide what methodology and biblical exgesis for that historical period is reasonable. For myself, the choice of 607 is a useful date as it provides a starting point for the prophetic period of the Gentile Times.

Everytime this 607-1914 topic comes up, Scholar replys with his claims of there being secular proof FOR 607. And everytime someone asks for this secular evidence. And everytime none is ever offered.

So, keeping with tradition, I ask, Scholar: What secular evidence do you have for 607?

Undercover(of the put up or shut up class)

13

Another WTdouble standards

by Stan Conroy in

jw
friends

i had the misfortune of looking through the june 8 2002 awake, and stumbled across an article on hawaiian luahas (pardon my spelling as i don't have it here in front of me).

the footnote said something along the lines of it originating with false religion, but now it's just considered a banquet, so many christians participate with a clean conscience.. wait a minute!.

what ever happened to "if it had pagan origins it's bad"?

undercover

" Although the luau may originally have had some connection with false religious practices, the word has simply come to refer to a Hawaiian banquet. Many Christians may therefore conscientiously feel that they can participate."

What if it read this way:

" Although Christmas may originally have had some connection with false religious practices, the custom has simply become the celebrating the birth of the Messiah. Many Christians may therefore conscientiously feel that they can participate."

Or:

" Although birthdays may originally have had some connection with false religious practices, the custom has simply become the celebrating the anniversary of ones birth. Many Christians may therefore conscientiously feel that they can participate."

What's the difference?

84

Disfellowshipped for Being Raped!

by UnDisfellowshipped in

march 8th 1974 issue, pages 13-16:.

"scream!

scream!

undercover

It seems that the Society has lightened up on it's "scream or be DF'd" policy but yet nowhere in that new article does it say that if a woman is raped that it is NOT her fault. Even though they say Jehovah knows her heart they leave it open for the individual to feel regret that they somehow are responsible.

Rape is a violent crime. In some ways it is worse than murder. A woman does not seek to get raped. She does not ask for it. It is not her fault. Whether she is able to scream or fight has no bearing on the issue. This terrible crime was forced on her. This article does nothing to help a woman deal with having to handle this situation.

If you were held up at gunpoint, attacked, or someone attempted murder on your person there would be no judicial committee to see if you somehow are responsible or guilty of provoking this crime. But let someone be raped and there will have to be a committe meeting to decide if the victim was somehow responsible. This just makes it worse for the victim, to somehow be thought of as sharing in this guilt. I don't see how any caring person could sit in a meeting and accuse a woman of asking for this crime to be committed against her. It goes against all Christian principles.

24

Elders Spying on JWs

by Yizuman in

i hear crazy stories about elders spying on the congregational members.

i even hear of stake outs on member's homes.. anybody have any stories about elders doing crazy stuff that you have seen them do or even heard about from others?

meaning elders trying to catch members being in the wrong?.

undercover

So how do these elders who have been spying on people explain their absense away from their families late at night? Assuming they aren't telling their wives all the juicy gossip, I see a perfect setup for hanging out and partying, seeing other women, going to strip clubs, etc and then telling the Mrs. you can't talk about it, it's a judicial matter. Heh heh heh, maybe I'll go back and become an elder.

55

WT goofie phrases.

by Pepper in

jw
friends

i used to get into trouble for making light of the these phrases that some elders have told me are to be used only gods people.

lol that you all may know maybe:.

"well, brother that is very "commendable," just before the meeting ends the po says to those in attendance "brothers the time left is reduced," i once heard a co say to those seated during one of his talks "well now, we don't want to die at armageddon now do we, well of course not.

undercover

"...so, clearly then...." After every scripture read or point made.

"house over house" When walking door to door and we split up to cover more territory(get done quicker)

"headquarters" As when a visiting speaker from Bethel was in town, they would always refer to him as coming from "headquarters". I always wanted to ask if he was from heaven.

4

Employment

by Voyager in

jw
friends

an elder or ministerial servant is seeking a job, that will pay at least 5,000 a month.

using his watchtower credintials, in an effort to get it.

donald jay leske ll, seems to be quite proud of all of his experience as a jw.

undercover

What they don't consider though is that until you get vested in a company's retirement policy at a new job, the money you rolled over from, say, a 401(k) just sits there

JWs don't have to worry bout their 401k. Armageddon's comin. Won't need it.