Posts by Roddy

69

Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult and here's why I think so

by B_Deserter in

when most people think of "cult" they think of the people's temple, the branch davidians, or heaven's gate.

many also want to put jehovah's witnesses, mormons, and scientologists into this group.

i don't agree with that because there is one main difference between true cults and high-control groups like jws:.

Roddy

When most people think of "cult" they think of The People's Temple, the Branch Davidians, or Heaven's Gate. Many also want to put Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Scientologists into this group. I don't agree with that because there is one main difference between true cults and high-control groups like JWs:
Cults (in the modern sense) not only isolate their followers mentally, but also physically. Cult members typically live in a communal setting. In extreme cases, they're relocated to an isolated patch of wilderness such as what happened in Jonestown. In addition to extreme social pressure to conform, menial day-to-day tasks are strictly monitored and rules are enforced.
Jehovah's Witnesses differ from this cult behavior because their followers live among normal society. The isolation is only mental, and even though there is still extremely strong emotional pressure to stay, no one is physically prevented from leaving the group. There are rules (or "principles") for minor facets of life such as dress, grooming, behavior, etc., in the Jehovah's Witness religion, too, but most of these rules are not (and cannot be) enforced in any physical sense.

I don't believe the JWs are a cult anymore. They are too big to be a cult now. They are just another major denomination with their own set of strange and peculiar beliefs. Like the Mormons or the Church of Scientology.

21

But WHY don't they disfellowship bloodtakers ?

by aligot ripounsous in

any jw knows that one of the very bad things that a christian must not do is accepting a blood transfusion.

respect for the sanctity of blood ranks highest, in jw theology, on the scale of christian standards, along with not being a murderer, an adulterer, a robber, etc.

in fact, it is the identifying feature of jws for the onlooker.

Roddy

In the face of the marked efforts that the WTS is developing in order to placate authorities, the honest JW feels this unthinkable question creep into his mind : is the faithful and discreet slave speaking double speech ?

As the WTS is increasingly run by her lawyers, you can expect more of that double-babble. In the one hand they'll say one thing, then in the other they will allow you to disfellowship yourself voluntarily.

Previously they would have to make you go through the drama of disfellowshipping which any JW would rather die than face -- and some have. This way the WTS can keep her hands clean

10

The official JW site is a joke!

by cultswatter in

last updated in 2003 !!.

http://www.jw-media.org/newsroom/index.htm?content=growth.htm.

furthermore i can't find the 2006 service report on that site - it was there a month ago!.

Roddy

Since the site isn't updated, there is no need for JW's to go to anything JW-related on
the evil internet. Many are going to the net, surfing, googling, but going to watchtower.com
would give them cause to google the "facts" they read.
That, and there is no money in giving it away free. At least with the hardcopies, there is
a chance they can get donations or guilt the jdubs into covering the literature they place.
Who's going to send money after the read the "truth" on the internet?

I have a feeling that with the cost of printing being what it is they will start to look for viable electronic alternatives.

They got the rank and file working as a free postal service. They have reduced the Awake to a monthly. More "simplification" for the Watchtower. Very little hard cover books now. And the list goes on.

I wouldn't be surprised if they offer online subscriptions for the magainzes where you can read online using your internet browser. For a modest annual donation, of course. LOL

It would save trees. Whether anything they publish would save lives is open to debate.

31

Christmas...pagan? or non-pagan?

by FreedomFrog in

i just read a thread where one of the posters was saying christmas is not pagan.

from my research and what i remember reading up on it, it was taken from the pagans.. let me explain.

first, i apologize because i researched this about 4 years ago and i don't have all of my research material at hand.

Roddy

Yep. I started re-evaluating and checking a lot of stuff for myself too. And as regards Christmas - it is of pagan origins. In fact, Christian denominations only started to "celebrate" Christmas just in the last three centuries or so since it was looked down upon as riddled with pagan and wordly customs.

6

Seven years left to 2014!

by Roddy in

i haven't been on the board for a while and i haven't been following the jws closely for a while either.

but it doesn't mean i'm not curious.

i've just been very busy.

Roddy

My answer: Eight years to 2015 and yet another potential embarrassment. Then they will wipe it out like they did for 1975 and focus on 2034. Then they will have that bust when 2035 comes without incident. And then they will have to think of some way to pull out another date, perhaps using 1971 instead of 1914 as the Beginning of the End date and plugging in 2051. From there, they could run this up to 2091, pulling dates out of their magic hat only to have the following year come without incident.

Yeah. I figure the infamous 1914 date will just no longer enjoy any air time and will just fade away. When I was really active with the JWs it was more you had to pay attention as to what was being said and notice what is not emphasised anymore. When a prior teaching is either superseded or quietly dropped, it's "old light". Every time that happened I just had a gut feeling something was wrong. Anyway, I was just wondering if the JWs are now evolving into the mainline. I'm also curious if the rank and file are a bit more tolerant, especially since the Old Guard are basically either died-off or have gone senile. It has to dawn upon them by now that the past predictions and teachings were not true. I'm curious. What are these new 2035, 2051, and 2091 dates all about? What's their background? Thanks in advance for such info. I'm sure there is a funny story behind each of them. Considering all the fiascos they had with date setting before, haven't they learned their lession yet?

61

How to stump someone that believes the noah's flood happened.

by 5go in

one of the key peices of evidence that people sight to try to prove the flood happen is the fact the most cultures have a flood myth or story as they put it.. i was just watching a program that also points out the most, if not all cultures believe in dragons.

even cultures that evolve in isolation have beliefs in dragons and they are all simular though not the same.

just like the flood myth.. so if they believe the flood happened because so many cultures have flood stories.

Roddy

So if they believe the flood happened because so many cultures have flood stories. Then by the same stroke they most also believe that dragons walk the earth.

Why not dragons? No one seriously denies that dinosaurs walked the earth.

Besides, let's suppose that smaller dinosaurs -- about the size of the very large mammals of today -- were represented in Noah's ark too. If we don't see these repitles today that means a number of reasonble things anywhere from they failed to adapt to their environment to they were all finally hunted to extinction by humans; perhaps by knights and other similar men seeking to prove their manhood by one of the most primordially fearsome creatures they knew of.

Too bad, really. Maybe if we had more dragons to slay today we'd spend less attention at killing each other.

6

Seven years left to 2014!

by Roddy in

i haven't been on the board for a while and i haven't been following the jws closely for a while either.

but it doesn't mean i'm not curious.

i've just been very busy.

Roddy

Hi

I haven't been on the board for a while and I haven't been following the JWs closely for a while either. But it doesn't mean I'm not curious. I've just been very busy.

I'm curious. With the 1914 prediction nearing the 100 year mark, what are JWs saying about 1914? And I'm also curious what has this done to the rank and file JW membership in general with regard to end-time teachings, their teachings in general, and their view of their Governing Body?

Thanks!

67

Oh MAN are they ever annoyed in Brooklyn!

by MinisterAmos in

i called the information dept politely asking if mr brown was still a witness after commiting verbal apostasy during the interview with ldh.. i got transferred to one of their legal staff and he dropped the "f" bomb and hung up!

i on the other hand was a complete gentleman.. i would call this a golden opportunity to play up what has to be one of the most embarrasing moments for the dub leadership but is actually an important issue that any current dubz should be concerned about.

what is the actual policy of the org?

Roddy

I called the Information Dept politely asking if Mr Brown was still a witness after commiting verbal apostasy during the interview with LDH.

Please excuse my ignorance but what is "LDH"?

16

Taped Call w/ JR Brown on Cano

by Synergy in

on the silent lambs site there is a taped call with a media person and jr. brown.

he stated that jw's don't proclaim or feel that they have special chosen ones to lead nor do they feel as though they are the sole organization to get to god.

what crap!

Roddy

I wouldn't rush to that conclusion. I saw how things worked at headquarters for 40 years, and I just can't imagine Ted Jaracz and some of the others in power stepping aside. If they did, it would be easily observed at Bethel, and the disillusionment of seeing "the anointed" no longer in control would be leaked to elders, circuit overseers, district overseers and the branches. That would give the worldwide organization a tremendous setback. No, I think headquarters is too tightly knit together for that to happen. For years the legal departments have experienced frustrations due to the limitations placed upon them by "the old men" of the ;GB. I really doubt that has changed.
I believe a lot of consultation continues to take place, but in the final analysis the GB and persons like Don Adams and Max Larson still have the final say.

I respect your 40 years at headquarters. But I think the GB powers are on the wane for some time now. No one will admit it. Just like they don't admit being a United Nations NGO or their compromise of the blood issue with Bulgaria.

When Franz died there was no strong president at the helm since. Nor a strong voice from the GB. The GB is interested in maintaining the status quo and are too old to take on the tough issues anymore.

16

Taped Call w/ JR Brown on Cano

by Synergy in

on the silent lambs site there is a taped call with a media person and jr. brown.

he stated that jw's don't proclaim or feel that they have special chosen ones to lead nor do they feel as though they are the sole organization to get to god.

what crap!

Roddy

> My thought on this is that any current Witness who is lurking here or even an active Witness who is involved but not out, needs to write the Governing Body and ask them when the change took place. Reference JR Browns quotes directly and tell them his words have stumbled you ..you need answers. Theocratic warfare is lying plain and simple. Call a spade a spade cos that's what it is. The Elder in alamb's court case lied opening in a court of law - this also flies in the face of what Brown stated, that they work with governments and so on. A lie is a lie is a lie...and doesn't Jehovah know that? sammieswife

>

Forget it!!!! The GB is not the power behind the WTS anymore. It's the Legal Dept that has the political clout for a long time now. The WTS is run by their lawyers! JR Brown gets his cues from the Legal Dept and not from the GB.

It is really interesting. When I first saw the "re-organiztion" of the WTS years ago I said to myself that the GB is over! I think the lawyers sold the GB into taking the back seat to "protect" them from liabilities and so they could 'concentrate on Spiritual matters' when actually it is to get these senile old men out of the way before they say or do something stupid.

If there is going to be a new generation of GB, they will be hand picked figure-heads and yes-men of the Legal Dept.