When I read paragraphs 11,12 and 16 I at first got the impression that the writing dept. was encouraging some type of reform without admitting their attitude and manmade rules are the problem. The end of paragraph 12 sums it up "self-righteous,faultfinding,judgemental and demeaning. Paragraph 16 "always looking for and highlighting the flaws in others(denominations)" The leadership are experts in this,undoubtedly they can't see the rafter in their own eye.
By not using modern day specifics within the congregations, but rather making broad generalities referring to the Pharisees and putting the blame on the elder bodies tells me the leadership continues their policy of denial(that they are the root of the problem). Won't see any apologies soon.
Allen
wokeup
JoinedPosts by wokeup
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14
For Those Recently DA'd
by hillary_step ini feel quite sure that the harangued and harassed souls on this board who this week were being mercilessly hounded by the gb in their cowardly guise as appointed elders looking for da signatures on pieces of paper, take great comfort in the following statements in the december 15th 2001 wt.
these da, letters of course are a requirement from god and have nothing to do with the solidification of any pharisaical legal position.. 11. from a study of biblical and secular evidence, we can conclude that the pharisees thought highly of themselves as guardians of the public good and the national welfare.
they were not satisfied that gods law was fundamentally clear and easily understood.
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wokeup
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Internet Service Providers knowing....
by BritBoy innot one for living in fear of "big brother" i was astounded to hear a young lady at aol ask me to verify some details and then procede to mention the site i last visited!.
the problem arose when i needed to update my billing info.
she asked all the usual questions and then when it got to the last 4 digits of my credit card... she said i did not have the right numbers... then it hit me, my card had expired and i was now using the new one with the new number across the front.
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wokeup
That reminds me of an incident about a year and a half ago when I first got online I signed up for a free trial at Mcafee.com for hacker protection and recieved an E-mail from a man that said he was a concerned JW that had a job that allowed him to know what sites I visited and knew I had been visiting apostate sites and that he could help me if I had doubts or questions about the WBTS and would "keep an eye on me." I sent a complaint to Mcafee that day mentioning his name and that he was going to do this. I never heard back from him or the Co.
I had a surprise visit a week later from 2 elders to warn me of the "dangers of the internet and the temptation to begin independant thinking,Satan Adam and Eve did it and look where it got them?" I asked them when did they get the ability to began policing my mind.That shut 'em up.They also had computers with internet service(3 out of 7 elders did) I was the first MS to go online.(small southern town)...Coincidence? Not long after that I stepped down as MS. -
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scriptural intentional distortions
by tosko inhi all!.
can anyone point out clear and intentional distortions in jws translations and interpretations?
dishonesty in translation?
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wokeup
One example in the NWT is found in Col.1:16,17 where the word (other) is inserted to change the context without support in the original greek. just look in the NWT greek interlinear.There's many others.
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Special Dub Words That Make You Go YUK!
by Englishman infor me, the word was "loving".. great "loving" kindness.. great undeserved "loving" kindness!.
disfellowshipping is a "loving" provision.. when the wtbts want their accolytes to swallow another bitter pill, another restriction, another rebuke, another demand on time, the buzz word is "loving".. the "loving" word, is, to the average jw, the same as the mccabe nod is to the salesman.
the mccabe nod is used by salesman all the time to get the prospective customer to agree to something that he doesn't care for too much.
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wokeup
"Kingdom Interest" aka... seek first the WBTS
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4
Guilt
by FreeFallin inthought i should post here as my problems are miniscule compared to what's going on in the world right now.
i feel so disloyal to jehovah by reading all the info on this web site, but what got me to post here in the first place was the information on the un.
i guess i'm trying to tell myself that it's reaally not that bad, that they had a very good reason for forming a slight alliance with the disgusting thing, etc.
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wokeup
Dear Freefallin, the fact you had the courage to post and express your feelings is commendable. It took me awhile myself. Don't let the rhetoric from the society to not think for yourself get in the way to express yourself. The society feels very threatened with the existence of the free flow of information on the internet. I can tell you personally it has helped free my mind from the thought stopping techniques in WT literature (Remember last weeks' study article? par.8)Group conformity and loyality to men and the ban on harboring private ideas on bible understanding? Welcome aboard. Becoming cognazant of the spiritual and emotional strings people use on us can be quite alarming at first, but in time can empower you to cut them when you're ready.And by the way,the WTBTS is in bed with the U.N. most of the R&F just aren't aware of it(YET):)
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Jay Dubs right about 1914
by FrightMare inplease study this chart very, very carefully: http://www.sru.edu/depts/artsci/ges/d-3-2.htm.
why has such an unprecedented boom in population and technology occurred during the specific time the bible points to the 'last days', 1914?
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wokeup
As far as technological advances in the last century are concerned, I give Thomas Alva Edison much credit. Whithout his historic contributions at the turn of the last century we probably wouldn't be here chatting now. In regards to population growth, the U.S. nuked the wrong country in WW2. Despite all that, many besides J.W's feel we are in the Last Days,remember,the Apostles thought they were too, they just didn't set dates. If no one knows the Day or Hour of our Lords' return anyway, 1914 is irrevelent.
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Witnesses instructed not to harbor private ideas
by cyberguy intoday's watchtower lesson instructs witnesses not to think for themselves when it comes to bible understanding:.
augest 1, 2001, p. 14, par.
first, since "oneness" is to be observed, a mature christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned.
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wokeup
Alarm bells went off in my head as well when I read this article. The 2nd paragraph makes the statement,"We recognize maturity in a person when we see discernment,insight,wisdom and so on." How can a mature person manifest this when he is 'encouraged' not to voice or harbor his conclusions? This is truly classic mind control technique. This reminds me of the previous weeks' study article on pg.9 par.8 where generalizations such as "they often,many feel and some" is concluded as 'all standards' in paragraph 10. another classic persuasion technique not discernable to most loyal dubs.
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New to the Forum
by wokeup inhi to all in the forum.
i am new here and would like to briefly share how i arrived here.
i was born and raised a witness.i'm in my 40's and married.i had some doubts as regards to some docrinal teachings and changes in the 80's.
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wokeup
Nice to meet you arkangel,welcome to the forum. You'll find the discussions here quite stimulating.From thought provoking to plain silly at times.I too disagree as well with aspects of WT doctrine.It is a shame that the WTBTS is intolerant with freedom of thought and freedom of expression from its' members. Simular to totalitarian societies. Vilify,label and excommunicate those with differing opinions who opening voice themseives. Undoubtedly there are countless others who feel the way I do. I'm also quite aware with the fact that participation here is also grounds for disfellowshipping. These efforts by them is to squash the transmission of the truth about the trooth. The elders at the KH know who have computers and internet access.Those here locally paid me a friendly visit a couple years ago out of "concern" I might "stumble across apostate propaganda". What really stimulated my thinking was researching persuasion techniques used in selling things.I then got interested in researching the pschological and socialogical methods employed by individuals and Orgs after I had read an article stating the Scientologists employed those methods. To my surprise, I realized the WBTS utilizes them all the time.I thought if I was ignorant of them, what about all those with much limited education or blinded by years of indoctrination? It's a mistake to openly challenge the WBTS unless one is ready and prepared to live with the consequences at that moment.By the way, my observations have helped me to put my faith not in manmade organizations but in my Lord Jesus Christ.Look forward to your posts arkangel.........Allenin
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5
Coming Clean
by wokeup ini have a question.
if for instant bro.ingoodstanding comes to an elder and says he wants to confess a serious sin, and says " i raped and murdered 6 boys 15 years ago and they're buried in the backyard.
would the elder(s) report it to the police wether or not the bro.
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wokeup
What if there's a lack of physical evidence, say perhaps he dumped the bodies in the ocean and says to the elder he asked for gods' forgiveness years ago but his conscience has been eating at him and would deny the allogation if ever confronted by the police. What would the elder or body of elders do in that senerio? Let it go? Have a JC meeting? Revoke privledges? Just curious. Maybe this would be more fitting.......Allen
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Coming Clean
by wokeup ini have a question.
if for instant bro.ingoodstanding comes to an elder and says he wants to confess a serious sin, and says " i raped and murdered 6 boys 15 years ago and they're buried in the backyard.
would the elder(s) report it to the police wether or not the bro.
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wokeup
I have a question. If for instant Bro.ingoodstanding comes to an Elder and says he wants to confess a serious sin, and says " I raped and murdered 6 boys 15 years ago and they're buried in the backyard. would the elder(s) report it to the police wether or not the Bro. tearfully says he's asked god to forgive him? I pose this senerio in light of the various threads I've read on the pedophile issue.......Allen