Posts by Separation of Powers

38

The experience that changed my life

by hijosdelawatch in

i have been lurking for a long time here and i think i'm prepared to speak about this experience openly.. .

i was born in a jw family and i grew up as the average jehovah's witness does.

even being very young, i helped with the territories and other work in the congregation.

Separation of Powers

I applaud your conviction. Many young people would have caved in to the pressure of the authority structure (i.e.the elders). I recognize how your mentality toward the blood doctrine (funny that it's a doctrine) changed. After the article in the May 1994 Awake! "Youths who put God First" I never looked at the blood doctrine the same again. And, I must add, I was livid and disgusted after the adjustments toward blood fractions were made and thought, "I wonder how many of those young people highlighted in that '94 Awake! would not have died if this change had happened BEFORE they were confronted with their decision?" A travesty! In fact, when you talk about bloodguilt....take a look at that magazine and tell me that someone isn't going to pay! These kids, kids not even old enough to drive, made a life and death decision based on a doctrine that has morphed to the point where in the near future (I hope) it will probably become a matter of conscience. I can simply imagine the coaxing and pressure they experienced and the fear that must have gripped them of being DF'd for accepting a blood transfusion.

By the way....Cool name!

SOP

8

DC "Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned"

by Separation of Powers in

several weeks ago, i had the opportunity to attend one of the dc.

the final drama was quite interesting as it depicted a "ban" on the jehovah's witness religion without an explanation as to why?

i'm sure many in the audience pondered on what they had learned from their previous studies i.e that babylon the great would fall and then that gog of magog would eventually turn his attention to the organization.

Separation of Powers

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of the DC. The final drama was quite interesting as it depicted a "ban" on the Jehovah's Witness religion without an explanation as to WHY? I'm sure many in the audience pondered on what they had learned from their previous studies i.e that Babylon the Great would fall and then that Gog of Magog would eventually turn his attention to the organization. However, that is not what the drama stated NOR did it infer that. It simply spoke of the "ban."

I found it funny (not silly funny but interesting funny) that they used the example of Esther as the basis for being "prepared." That, I must admit, was a bit of a stretch. Here we have a jewess abandon her belief system in marrying a heathen worshipper of Ahura Mazda (interesting that the drama used the name of the Persian god) and finds herself living within the harem. No one around her knows she's a jewess, obviously either scared or embarassed to say and not discussing her beliefs with others. Then, there is the whole retaliation aspect of the story where the Jews rise up to protect themselves and because they were SO succesful in vanquishing their enemies within the realm on THAT day, they even request another day to chase down those that got away to exterminate them! Definitely NOT the ideal story to apply to a modern day Christian.

In any event, I think the most interesting unanswered question in the drama is WHY are they banned? There are a myriad of scenarios other than the expected Wild Beast turning against the organization. It is not a stretch to expect that government will eventually crack down on religion, particularly as atheism continues to spread. But, what will be the cause of the "ban" if one does occur?

2

According to the understanding of parables in the "Insight Volume 1" book, is the hearer allowed interpretational freedom

by I_love_Jeff in

regarding illustrations (parables)-.

"because the hearer is left to apply the principles of the illustration to himself, it can carry to him a clear message of warning and rebuke, at the same time disarming him so that he has no ground to retaliate against the speaker.

in other words, as the saying goes, if the shoe fits, wear it.

Separation of Powers

The answer lies in this quote, " A lot of people out there pay good lip service to the idea of personal freedom...right up to the point that someone tries to do something that they don't personally approve of."

ADCMS says it well... Our opinion IS your opinion. that is...if you are a MATURE christian.

SOP

22

JW family trying to compensate for us being "spiritually weak" through increased activity

by cedars in

jw
friends

hi folks.

one of the things that has been most frustrating for my wife and i since beginning our fade as been the way certain family members have responded by ramping up their own involvement in the organization seemingly in a bizarre attempt to compensate for our lack of activity.. close relatives who were once doing precious little study and weren't going out of their way to attend meetings or go on the ministry are now studying every morning and busting a gut to attend "theocratic" arrangements.. it makes no sense to me, because salvation is supposed to be based on the beliefs and actions of each individual, not on those of his or her loved ones.

just what is the logic by which they think they can make things better by doing more themselves?.

Separation of Powers

Cedars,

I have noticed the same, both in my own situation and those that have been in the same position. It is akin to the human body favoring one body part over an injured body part. The guy whose left hip hurts so his right hip and leg have to compensate. That is the way it is for many family members. They recognize that one of the family is "failing" to live up to the "standard" so they feel they must compensate as they expect the eye of scrutiny will quickly peer in their direction. Additionally, it addresses the "holier-than-thou" aspect so prevalent among Witnesses and particularly prevalent among family members. Why? Because "he's gonna die at Armaggedon" is flying around in their brain and in order to solidify their own feeble expectation of reward and salvation they must appear to be doing more. Sorry...I am starting to rant.

SOP

4

Present Truth from 2000 A.D. onward ?

by Separation of Powers in

do not have access to the watchtower library, so i decided to research directly from the society's website.

noticed that volumes are only good dating back to the year 2000. with all that has ever been written, why provide only from 2000 onward?

sure, there are references made to items published before then, but they are not accessible.

Separation of Powers

Thank you for your post Searcher, I remember reading that quote and even then its implication confounded me. I realize now how much that simple comment alienates Christ and the Holy Spirit from the channel of truth. I did not, however, think of the spiritistic implications, i.e. the whole commentary regarding spiritism as mentioned in the Live Forever book and the witch of Endor.

SOP

4

Present Truth from 2000 A.D. onward ?

by Separation of Powers in

do not have access to the watchtower library, so i decided to research directly from the society's website.

noticed that volumes are only good dating back to the year 2000. with all that has ever been written, why provide only from 2000 onward?

sure, there are references made to items published before then, but they are not accessible.

Separation of Powers

Do not have access to the Watchtower library, so I decided to research directly from the Society's website. Noticed that volumes are only good dating back to the year 2000. With all that has ever been written, why provide only from 2000 onward? Sure, there are references made to items published before then, but they are not accessible. Now some might argue that all this data would cost a fortune to store for accessibility, but due to the fact that we're talking about only printed text, I don't find that position defendable.

SOP

123

1969 "fact": You will never grow old in this present system of things

by Ding in

awake!

"if you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.

because all the evidence in fulfillment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years... therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.

Separation of Powers

Had a family member that laughed any time a comment was made about the end. They would always bring up that article. They chose to plan for tomorrow. Now, they are in their 60's, and while others of their contemporaries are struggling to pay the bills, they have a fairly secure retirement, health care, a nice home. Whenever their name comes up in the circle of conversation, they are never applauded for their forward thinking, but rather, condemned for "lacking faith" or "appreciation." Envy is a green monster.

SOP

28

Do the WTS actually destroy all of your records if requested?

by Thoughtless in

hello, sorry for the multiple posts, but this has also been a question of mine to ask.. .

does the wts actually destroy your files if you request them to after you get df'd?

i honestly do not believe so, yet i feel as if you cannot call them on their bs if you do.

Separation of Powers

I have to agree with DOC on this one. Bethel files are pretty copious. Over the years, I have seen people move from congregation to congregation even outside their own country in an attempt to escape their past only to have the "file" pop up when they are recommended for appointment in some new congregation. That little "red line" that crosses out their name on the recommendation list or that little "red" check next to it typically means that the "file" caught up to them.

SOP

6

WW I, the Gentile Times, and the Last days...the not so exact science of chronology

by Separation of Powers in

essentially, the jw position regarding the end of the gentile times and the significance of 1914 revolve around a principal element, namely, that the "great war" (ww1) was an indication of the anger of the dragon, i.e satan, after being cast out of heaven per revelation 12:7-9 and the start of the sign of the last days.

this has always been a sticky point for the organization....why?.

because, based on their chronology, the gentile times ended in october 3/4 of 1914 with the last days commencing from that point on.

Separation of Powers

Essentially, the JW position regarding the End of the Gentile Times and the significance of 1914 revolve around a principal element, namely, that the "Great War" (WW1) was an indication of the anger of the Dragon, i.e Satan, after being cast out of heaven per Revelation 12:7-9 and the start of the sign of the Last Days.

This has always been a sticky point for the organization....Why?

Because, based on their chronology, the Gentile Times ended in October 3/4 of 1914 with the Last Days commencing from that point on. But, before turning his attention to the vicinity of the earth, Christ "evidently" cleansed the heavens of Satan and his cohorts. I believe the old Revelation book (published in the 60's) speaks to the duration.

If the "kingdom" wasn't established until October 3/4 1914 and the Last Days are said to have counted from that point on....How could World War I be considered a sign of the Last Days when it began on July 28 1914, over two months before the supposed end of the Gentile Times and prior to Satan having been ousted from heaven?

Go ahead, ponder

SOP

21

'Lamp' book by Ray Franz???

by AgentSmith in

jw
friends

my father, (still an elder) has suprised me last week with a simple text message.

"we (my mother & father) will be in your city this weekend, please come and have supper with us".

i was delaying my reply, thinking of what to say, when he phoned.

Separation of Powers

Absolute genius!!!

That is the first time that I have ever heard that argument. It is very imaginitive and addresses a lot of issues. It is, however, absolute nonsense!

The book "Lamp" may well have been written by Ray, just as the Commentary of James was probably written by Ray. That really doesn't matter. Neither book was the basis for 1975. The book, Life Everlasting and Freedom of the Sons of God, is the foundation for the 1975 debacle. Whether or not Ray was head of the Writing Committee or not is inconsequential. The contents of the book are purely FW Franz. As a kid, I remember FW's concluding comments at an International Convention...."TREMENDOUS PROBABILITY" were the words he used as they reverberated through the stadium...and people clapped, oh boy did they clap.

Back to the argument, this is a simple case of revisionism. The older crowd of JW's is replete with those who don't want to look foolish as they get closer to their ultimate end. The cognitive dissonance forces them to create a reason to believe they were not duped, otherwise, as many have said, "what was it all for?"

SOP