Posts by Separation of Powers

55

Letting go of Highly Qualified Men

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

i have been posting for a few months now and have read the life stories of tech49, confusedandalone, winston smith and other brothers who have held prominent positions in the organization who were dismissed not for any gross sins, but mainly for not keeping their child toeing the line.

they have been "cast aside", nit picked to death, and made to feel unworthy for their years of dedicated service.

even in my case, having my best friends treat me like the plague to jockey for position of recogntion.. is this what the organization is resorting to now?

Separation of Powers

I have found that most "highly qualified men" can remain in their positions as long as they have the support of the elder body they serve with. I recall a CO that traveled through a congregation I was in and he apparently decided that one of the elders simply did not qualify because his oldest kid, an adult, had rejected the "truth." I don't believe he knew the circumstances. It appeared that he simply wanted him out. He apparently wrote his letter along with his report and the elder body reportedly wrote one to rebut his position. He remained an elder.

I would imagine that if there was a finger pointer among the group, the elder would have been deleted. But, we all saw the wisdom of the "cast the first stone" portion of the Bible.

SOP

26

Should I ''respect'' Bible and Koran believers?

by ThomasCovenant in

believers in the koran/islam, that's all of them, not just so called extremists, believe that i, as an unbeliever, will be the fuel for the fires of hell.

that's nice.. they, along with all bible believers, worship a god who is, according to his written publications, a right bastard.

i despise their god/s.. i find that i do not respect their beliefs.. i cannot help but think that when all the philosophical talking of this, that and the other is done, they're just idiots.. i, on my down days, find that i do not respect them as human beings.

Separation of Powers

It depends on what your definition of "respect" is. If you mean respect in the sense of "tolerate" than yes, we should all be tolerant. If you mean respect in the classic sense, aka admiration, than you might be harder pressed. I have always "admired" people with other beliefs, particularly if they were "true believers" with regard to what their belief system required. In this day and age, it is difficult for anyone to adhere to any set of standards. So, I guess I "respect" those type of believers. Otherwise, I just tolerate them.

SOP

55

Marriage In The New World

by Cold Steel in

okay, here's the issue.

some people, even some jws, believe that in the new world they will be reunited with their spouses.

jesus, however, said that in the resurrection there would be no marriage or giving in marriage.

Separation of Powers

The story of Adam and Eve has nothing to do with marriage per se. It is a story about the beginning of a nation...Israel. So, God chooses a guy, Adam. Gives him a wife that he must regard as part of him, aka "the nation." They must work together to establish their landrights, aka "garden of Eden." Then, they must fill that land with their offspring, aka "little Israelites." It is part of the narrative in establishing a 'divine right" of "manifest destiny" similar to what every nation has done before and since the Jewish nation.

SOP

187

The reason behind why the ex-JW community can never match Jehovah's Witnesses' success.

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

an average of five kingdom halls being constructed daily, almost 8 million brothers and sisters, dissemination of bible literature in 595 languages, 111,795 congregations worldwide, distribution of 179 million bibles available in 116 languages, 239 countries where jehovah's witnesses have a presence, etc.. need i go on?.

on the other hand........... crisis of conscience, freeminds, the awaa, jw.net, ummmmmm........hmmm........idk six screens or something?

not exactly working out for you guys.

Separation of Powers

Every one of those items that you list SFPW is what some believe to be evidence of a well run publishing empire with a non paid work force that is trained to overcome objections and capitalize on the suffering of others so that they will conform when at their lowest human condition.

Ask yourself, "What evidence is there that they truly follow the 1st century christian model?"

I like the comment made in the movie Angels and Demons, "My church FEEDS the hungry, COMFORTS the SICK and DYING. What does YOUR Church do?"

Well, WHAT DOES IT DO?

SOP

66

New 1975? Jan 1st WT 2014

by notsurewheretogo in

this post was taken from reddit exjw but makes a very good point:.

these are two paragraphs of the watchtower of january 1st 2014.... .

i don't know about you guys, but in my mind, i'm seeing a deja vu of the articles before 1975 i've read.

Separation of Powers

@ Data Dog

I would have to say YES...they do believe this. After all, to say anything less would be to admit that they have wasted their lives affiliated with an organization that is NOT God's chosen channel. It would be to admit that they are not the elite as Rutherford once called them. They are all in...at least publicly.

I think about how difficult it is when one begins to wake up to the reality of this organization. Where once the explanations were clear and accepted as coming from an "elect" source. Now, one reads between the lines. For most, that only happens when you begin to pull away. It is kind of a surreal experience like floating above a forest to see where the smoke that had blinded your campsite originates. When you can see from afar, the topography of the organization is full of valleys and chasms with no paradise in sight.

It is my belief, that for those at the top, they have set up their tent in the middle of the forest. It is THEIR fires that are burning, so much so, that their own vision is obscured by the smoke they have created.

Just a thought,

SOP

66

New 1975? Jan 1st WT 2014

by notsurewheretogo in

this post was taken from reddit exjw but makes a very good point:.

these are two paragraphs of the watchtower of january 1st 2014.... .

i don't know about you guys, but in my mind, i'm seeing a deja vu of the articles before 1975 i've read.

Separation of Powers

I agree that this article has been fabricated in an attempt to generate urgency. Having lived through the 1975 debacle, much of the same sword rattling was used back then. Some ask, "didn't they learn anything?" My answer, " Yes they did." It is my opinion that they learned that although close to 250K left after 1975 had come and passed ( as demonstrated in the 1977 yearbook figures I believe), many of those new converts stayed. They had been assimilated into the fold and many chose not to return to their previous lives or circumstances. Their commitment was later solidified by the "purge" from bethel later that decade and into the early 80's which moved many to reexamine their loyalty to the organization and the cause.

Many of those for whom this urgency building is intended have no recollection of 1975 nor the urgency that existed prior to its arrival. It is my opinion that they choose to either dismiss it as unimportant or categorically reject it as untrue rebellious ramblings of the disgruntled who chose to believe the "suggestion" that the end "might" come in 1975.

I expect that many will jump on board with this new idea and its accompanying urgency. They will build up the expectation in their minds like a child whose father tells them that if he's good he will take him to the amusement park. And so, another wild ride begins. Buckle your safety restraints and keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times! Enjoy your ride!

SOP

20

How can I protect all the secret watchtower books and elder letters on my tablet?

by KariOtt in

jw
friends

i have a ton of secret watchtower info stored on my tablet.

is there any way with my tablet locked with a password, can someone do a factory reset on it so i lose all my pdf files?

the boe at hubbys hall are aware i am in possession of secret crap from the watchtower.

Separation of Powers

Ditto- DROPBOX, easy to use and password protected if you choose.

164

Did Cedars manipulate Lee into having a thread closed?

by cedars in

i will happily answer this question if there can be some guarantees this thread won't be deleted..

Separation of Powers

I am on the same page as ProblemAddict. I don't know what transpired, although by the tone of things...there appears to be some deep seated issue left unresolved....maybe a Skype over a Guiness might help.

I would like to state something for the record:

Simon: I applaud your efforts with this site. I do not know you, but I have a feeling that in time, I may have that opportunity. You have assisted in the awakening of so many people. This site has helped people address a lot of problems in their lives and NOT all of them due to their affiliation with the WT. You are to be commended.

Cedars: You have manifested a bravery and determination that is rarely seen by those that move on. Your affiliation with AAWA is simply a demonstration of that determination. I have appreciated your blog posts, your comments on this forum, and your candor. You are to be commended.

That being said, in the immortal words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" You are both on the same page with essentially the same desire. Let's not forget what your objective has been and continues to be. Let's not get swept away in the minutiae, because then it simply becomes alot of noise like some of the posts from one of our favorite apologists.

Just a thought,

SOP

41

Jan 2014 WT study - more vomit

by EndofMysteries in

articles such at "100 years of kingdom rule" in which jehovah has 'in a sense' begun ruling as king, and jesus in a sense was made king.

even though the kingdom hasn't actually come.

it's not clear if the 1,000 year reign has began or not, if so only 900 years left of jesus rule?

Separation of Powers

@ AnnoMaly....."Eighthly, Ninthly, Tenthly, Eleventhly"....Awesome quotes from an ancient text.

83

Stands For True Worship. I am turning myself in......

by DATA-DOG in

just answer this question in an honest and unbiased way, free from any circuitous reasoning or speculation.

if you do so, i swear to my heavenly father, that i will call the elders tonight and turn myself in.

any active jw may answer this question.

Separation of Powers

Don't do it DATA DOG! Don't do it I tell you! Don't turn yourself in! Oh, wait, "never gamble on a bet you can't win"...Oh, that's the strategy.