zev

Joined

• started 177 topics
• posted 1,919 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by zev

• 
  12

  Sunday's WT study

  by RunningMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i need some information, and i hope that someone on this forum can help me.. yesterday, my mother in law was telling my wife about the wonderful wt study yesterday morning.

  apparently, it was the one where they discuss the annual report for last year.. she mentioned that the article pointed to a 30% increase in baptisms.

  since we don't have the article, we have no idea what she is talking about.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev
• 
  12

  Is the Org a human org or is it God's org?

  by avengers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this question can really drive someone batty.we must show "deep respect and wholehearted obedience" to the "society, since it is controlled by the god's holy spirit" (watchtower, 15.10.1960).

  "doing what the organization says, means doing what he (jehovah) says.

  resistance to the organization means resistance to him.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  concider this logic from the wtbts.

  it baffles the mind.

  *** pe 191-202 23 God's Visible Organization ***
  Chapter 23
  Gods Visible Organization
  WHY CAN WE be certain that God has a visible organization? One reason is that he has an invisible organization.

  its a man made organization, and when you look back to its begining, ct russel, and read about him and the formation of the watchtower society, WITH AN OPEN MIND, it becomes crystal clear.

  he was a fruit loop, power hungry, and greedy. he got exactly what he wanted. millions of people to follow and give money for the "privledge" of "publishing".
• 
  16

  A Reason to Return to Sunday Meetings

  by dobby in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my hubby and i ran into a sister from the congregation we stopped attending a year ago.

  we were trying to run into a store out of the cold, our son in tow.

  that didn't stop her.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  interestingly enough, in one congregation i was in for a time our sunday meetings were at 7:30 AM

  also interesting was our attendence was 150%

  go figure!
• 
  20

  Did you destroy your records/LPs/Tapes?

  by RAYZORBLADE in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i am just wondering.

  for those of you who were jehovah's witnesses back in the late 70s and early 80s, did any of you ever destroy your records/lps or cassette tapes after one of those talks at an assembly about 'demonic music', 'backwards masking' and so on?

  i remember i had some records destroyed, but i couldn't do it.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  yup. i did. debasing music it was called.
• 
  13

  jw-media.borg

  by zev in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  again.. i don't often go to the web site of my former cult membership, and employer (after all i did publish for them)... but tonight i was surfing around and discovered this page.. http://www.jw-media.org/releases/bg_molestation.htm.

  here is the contents:.

  jehovah's witnesses office of public information.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  their at it. again.

  i don't often go to the web site of my former cult membership, and employer (after all i DID publish for them)... but tonight i was surfing around and discovered this page.

  http://www.jw-media.org/releases/bg_molestation.htm
  here is the contents:

  JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
  Jehovah's Witnesses and Child Protection

  Child abuse is abhorrent to us. This is in harmony with the principle recorded at Romans 12:9. Even one abused child is one too many. For decades The Watchtower and Awake! have featured articles to educate both Witnesses and the public regarding the importance and the need to protect children from child abuse. Among others, there was the article "Let Us Abhor What Is Wicked!" published in the January 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower ; "Help for the Victims of Incest" in the October 1, 1983, Watchtower, "Your Child Is in Danger!", "How Can We Protect Our Children?", and "Prevention in the Home", all in the October 8, 1993, Awake!, as well as "Child MolestingEvery Mother's Nightmare," in the January 22, 1985, Awake!

  When any one of Jehovah's Witnesses is accused of an act of child abuse, the local congregation elders are expected to investigate. Two elders meet separately with the accused and the accuser to see what each says on the matter. If the accused denies the charge, the two elders may arrange for him and the victim to restate their position in each other's presence, with elders also there. If during that meeting the accused still denies the charges and there are no others who can substantiate them, the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time. Why not? As a Bible-based organization, we must adhere to what the Scriptures say, namely, "No single witness should rise up against a man respecting any error or any sin . . . At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good." (Deuteronomy 19:15) Jesus reaffirmed this principle as recorded at Matthew 18:15-17. However, if two persons are witnesses to separate incidents of the same kind of wrongdoing, their testimony may be deemed sufficient to take action.

  However, even if the elders cannot take congregational action, they are expected to report the allegation to the branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses in their country, if local privacy laws permit. In addition to making a report to the branch office, the elders may be required by law to report even uncorroborated or unsubstantiated allegations to the authorities. If so, we expect the elders to comply. Additionally, the victim may wish to report the matter to the authorities, and it is his or her absolute right to do so.

  If, when confronted, the accused confesses that he is guilty of child abuse, the elders take appropriate congregational action. If he is not repentant, he will not be permitted to remain a member of the congregation. Even if he is repentantis cut to the heart and is thus resolutely determined to avoid such conduct in the futurewhat was stated in the January 1, 1997, issue of The Watchtower applies. The article said: "For the protection of our children, a man known to have been a child molester does not qualify for a responsible position in the congregation. Moreover, he cannot be a pioneer [full-time missionary of Jehovah's Witnesses] or serve in any other special, full-time service." He would not qualify Scripturally. (1 Timothy 3:2, 7-10) We take such action because we are concerned with maintaining Bible standards and protecting our children. Everyone in our organization is expected to meet the same requirements, namely, to be clean physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually.2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

  In a few instances, individuals guilty of an act of child abuse have been appointed to positions within the congregation if their conduct has been otherwise exemplary for decades. All the factors are considered carefully. Suppose, for example, that a long time ago a 16-year-old boy had sexual relations with a consenting 15-year-old girl. Depending upon the U.S. jurisdiction where he lived when this happened, elders may have been required to report this as an incident of child abuse. Let us say that 20 years have passed. The child abuse reporting law may have changed; the man may have even married the girl! Both have been living exemplary lives and they are respected. In such a rare case, the man could possibly be appointed to a responsible position within the congregation.

  Our procedures have been refined over time. Over the years, as we have noted areas where our policies could be strengthened, we have followed through. We are continuing to refine them. We do not believe that our system is perfect. No human organization is perfect. But we do believe that we have a strong, Bible-based policy on child abuse. Anyone in a responsible position who is guilty of child abuse would be removed from his responsibilities without hesitation. We certainly would not knowingly allow him to serve elsewhere, either because he moved or through a transfer.

  The Bible teaches that individuals can repent of their sins and "turn to God by doing works that befit repentance," and we accept what the Bible says. (Acts 26:20) Still, the safety of our children is of the utmost importance. We take it very seriously.

  Edited by - zev on 3 February 2003 19:23:11
• 
  39

  What REALLY Happens During A Judicial Meeting

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you're in front of 3 elders and are being asked all types of questions.

  you are afraid that you might get disfellowshipped.

  the elders tell you that you must speak the truth, since jehovah hears all and since jehovah hates a liar.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  What REALLY Happens During A Judicial Meeting

  what happens is peoples lives, relationships with their family and friends is ruined, right before their eyes. in minutes, even seconds.
• 
  39

  What REALLY Happens During A Judicial Meeting

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you're in front of 3 elders and are being asked all types of questions.

  you are afraid that you might get disfellowshipped.

  the elders tell you that you must speak the truth, since jehovah hears all and since jehovah hates a liar.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  outbackaussie,

  Then when you finally get the nod and your return to the fold is announced, you get to endure all the false smiles and hypocritical welcome-backs from sisters who gossiped that you fell pregnant (not) and brothers who knew they had tried to hit on you and were scared that you'd dobbed them in so never spoke to you again.

  
  the whole disfelllowshipping thing, in fact the whole organizational thing is about anything but love.

  your post said allot.

  how many times did we sit in judgement as full blown dubs, after hearing a disfellowshipping announcement, and try to figure out what the person did. how many of us thought THE WORST things?!?! how did we view these people when they did return to "the fold"? did we really open up to them and welcome them back in true christian "love" into the "brotherhood"?

  it makes me sick to even think back at how i saw things and people, life in general when i was fully indoctrinated.

  jehovahs people are loving? puuuulease!

  some people, were, don't get me wrong. some people really cared. i'm not saying every jw is unloving. that wouldn't be fair at all.

  look at what the watchtower, gods spirit directed visible earthly clean wholesome organization has done to real humans and their feelings, the real love of humankind that is show more with us "apostates" (worldly people) than inside the jw cult.

  i better hit that button again, i'm getting carried away......
• 
  39

  What REALLY Happens During A Judicial Meeting

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you're in front of 3 elders and are being asked all types of questions.

  you are afraid that you might get disfellowshipped.

  the elders tell you that you must speak the truth, since jehovah hears all and since jehovah hates a liar.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  judge.

  jury.

  and executioners.

  this is all bible based.

  spirit directed.

  having experienced what minimus shared with us, when my step son got into some trouble, i can tell you i was deeply disturbed at what i experienced, and what i saw happen right before my eyes. i only wanted some help, some guidence.

  instead i got an instant judicial commitee.

  just add water.

  when i think about things that i saw over the years, i get so damn mad at myself.

  why didn't i have the testicular fortitude to admit to myself something just wasn't right?
  why couldn't i have just walked away from the whole thing years ago and save myself years and years of stress and physical trauma?

  zev....now hitting the post button before i go way to far.
• 
  27

  improper conduct

  by zev in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  doubtless many of us have been to assemblies, and every may the km would come out with an insert about what you were expected to do and how to act.. reviewing the km's over the years , you can see the negative positve "councel".

  how to dress, how to act, howt to tip!.

  after reading this, doesn't it just want to make you run to attend the next d.c. ?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  gumby:

  I happen to know you are a nice looking man and that shirt is killing it.

  hmmm. i read that post at first and understood something different. when i re-read it i got the meaning.

  do i know you? have we met at an apostofest someplace? or maybe in a kingdumb hall?

  or did you see neckid pictures on the web of me? (OMG!)

  pray tell! inquiring minds NEED to know!.

  Edited by - zev on 2 February 2003 9:37:48
• 
  27

  improper conduct

  by zev in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  doubtless many of us have been to assemblies, and every may the km would come out with an insert about what you were expected to do and how to act.. reviewing the km's over the years , you can see the negative positve "councel".

  how to dress, how to act, howt to tip!.

  after reading this, doesn't it just want to make you run to attend the next d.c. ?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  zev

  Francois

  I feel that we had the right idea about these things and that the GB showed a startling lack of vision. don't you all agree with me that we, the young people of the time, showed an amazing and forward looking and adult viewpoint and outlook on these matters?