Posts by Separation of Powers

7

if and when beliefs are "refined"(corrected) does that give me an out?

by ?me? in

jw
friends

did my baptism include "you will preach and accept any change, big or small, or we can call you an apostate?".

meaning, has anyone, or could anyone opt out of the org when they make changes that you did not originally agree to when you were baptized as a jw?.

i have basically refused to go out in service or support the org (with money or in the rbc) and i have a real hard time even conjuring up an answer at any meeting because of the 8 man "body " that put itself in power.

Separation of Powers

The answers to your questions are:

No, your response to the baptismal questions did not include the recognition that changing anything would be cause to nullify your dedication to the ORG, not God mind you, the ORG

and NO, no one that I have ever met has ever, ever, ever, ever, infinity...been able to cut the ties by stating that they didn't sign up for whatever.

When you are in...you are in. If you choose to leave, you must be aware of the impending ramifications. These will be swift and decisive. No army has ever tolerated dissension within its ranks.

Usually only two options. You leave or you stay. With one, you will be more than likely cut off by anyone and everyone. With the other, you can adjust it to your situation. Some will marginalize you due to their fear or superiority. Others will tolerate you because they won't know how to react. Others, still, will keep you in their good graces cause they simply won't care.

SOP

41

New Policy on Inactive Ones?

by Cynisister in

this may have been discussed, but i just recently was told that a km this past year stated that inactive ones are now to be treated as if they are df'd.

is this so?

cynisister.

Separation of Powers

Don't believe that to be accurate. The "strong" are always warned against fraternizing with the "weak."

Being inactive myself, I find it quite nice to have been written off so entirely. So, although there may not be a directive to treat inactive like DF'd, the reality is....when inactivity is considered spiritual illness, you are typically cut off. Once you get used to the fact that you are no longer "welcome" it is much easier to break even farther away.

SOP

21

Why are they still going door to door?

by Euphemism in

hey all, long time no see!.

a friend posted the anthony morris videos on facebook today, and the ensuing conversation got me wondering: why are the jws still going door-to-door in the developed world?.

it's clearly useless as an evangelizing tactic; the wt have recognized that for 20 years, with their "go where the people are" spiel, but they also insist that it's still necessary.. .

Separation of Powers

The D2D work is absolutely fruitless! I believe a poster on another thread mentioned that he had just one person baptized at his CA. If that is the case, and believe me it is not much different in my neck of the woods, then the preaching work isn't worth the effort. Other churches are growing much more rapidly than the JW's and they don't preach at all! In fact, if the ORG was SOOO concerned about preaching to the masses, they would have embraced TV, Radio, and the Internet long ago. Do what works people!

No, the purpose for the D2D is a little more insidious in my estimation. In order to fully understand it, one must return to the days when chalkboards were used at every KH. Every month the Bible Study servant would have the names of ALL the publishers along with the hours and placements and this would be displayed to the Congregation. It had a twofold purpose: #1-To openly praise those that served as the ideal JW and #2-To openly berate those that were not. It was a testament to your "faith" and "commitment" to the ORG.

In time, this particular aspect of the ministry was done away with. It was unloving and led to considerable issues with weaker publishers and, I imagine, the inevitable "padding" of time. What hasn't changed, however, is the same "praise" and "berate" philosophy. The D2D is a measuring stick. It is a barometer. Where Paul said a person is saved by grace (mercy) and not by works, the ORG says, Faith without works is dead.

No, the D2D is an act of humiliation. It serves to "temper" the ego and self-respect that all of us have. That is why the ORG states SOOO emphatically that the "apostates" are the first to question the need to preach. Funny, I have never heard an apostate once question the act of "preaching" only the message preached.

Just a thought,

SOP

27

Why are JW REQUIRED to report Field Service Time???

by JT in

jw
friends

if you ever wanted to know why this poster put it best

repost-------------------------------------.

in reply to: why do jw keep track of hrs?

Separation of Powers

Numbers don't lie. Numbers mean progress. Numbers mean money. Numbers mean Jehovah's blessing.

19

Appointed men & the 10 hour rule

by PlatinumFix in

dear all,.

could someone explain where it is written that mservants should be doing the congregation average/10 hours minimum?.

platinumfix.

Separation of Powers

Use to be close to the national average and a servant was expected to be doing at least the average.

53

If you wrote book about JW's what title would you give it?

by LogCon in

jw
friends

many, after leaving or being cast out of 'the society,' have felt so strongly so as to write a book.

some well thought out and good reading.. my questions are the following:.

if you were to write such a book what title would you give it ?.

Separation of Powers

Great Expectations Postponed Indefinitely

92

Question to atheists: if there is no creator/god---

by prologos in

jw
friends

if you are sure there is no god, do you then believe that we,our minds, are the highest intelligence?

not just of the universe, but the cosmos?.

Separation of Powers

I am not an atheist. I am, at this moment in my life, an agnostic. I believe, however, that there is some intelliegence behind the formation of the visible world. I do not, however, believe that man is in anyway shape or form as intelligent as he believes. We are like a speck of dust in this vast universe. To believe that we are the only intelligent life is not very intelligent.

If there is a god....then...why?

You know the what? of that Why?

SOP

41

Hell or no hell

by never a jw in

about a year ago i had an exchange of emails with an elder of a congregation where all my jw relatives attend.

i asked him all kinds of questions regarding blood, 607, shunning, evolution, higher education.

as anticipated, he either had no answer or provided an evasive one.

Separation of Powers

No hell. For some, how could life get much worse than what it is now?

SOP

34

Does cain get a bad rap???

by darth frosty in

this is kinda along the lines of my favorite who told the real lie in gen 3.. i was watching the movie 'the bible' the other night (couldn't sleep.

) i was looking at its depiction of cain and thought cain is being pigeoned holed.

now i am not condoning murder and the actions of cains rage.

Separation of Powers

First...you have to believe that the story in Genesis is about the ONLY humans that lived on the earth at that time. I believe that it does not say that. In fact, Cain's own comment lead the reader to believe that Adam and Eve and their children were NOT the only humans on earth. As it pertains to the story, if Cain killed his brother than he SHOULD be cursed. But, then again, what did his curse REALLY mean? Not much, God didn't kill him. The old eye for an eye and the divine justice didn't apply there now did it? Cain takes his wife, probably from a neighboring group of people and NOT his flesh and blood and goes off to the Land of NOD or the FUGITIVE. Well, the term "Land of" denotes that this was an existing place, now doesn't it? Anyway, I could go on all day. To answer your question simply, if he killed his brother, he got off light.

SOP

20

What's The Most Important Thing In A Relationship To You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

is it sex?.

simply getting along?.

someone that makes you laugh?.

Separation of Powers

#1- Trust- If you have trust, then you can talk about what needs to be talked about. The physical aspects of the relationship are good, even if the working parts don't work like they once did.