Posts by committeechairman

I read this letter four times when it came in. I cannot for the life of me understand what they are saying. This looks like a letter that got washed through a dozen committees and ended up saying nothing. I end up doing this a lot lately...I get a letter like this from the branch and I have to put it through a decoding sequence where I apply what I know about how the organization operates to try to decode what the original message actually was supposed to say.

In any case, I'm convinced by some things I observe right now that they are having serious cash flow difficulties. I'm not entirely convinced that it is as a result of child abuse litigation, although that contributes to the issue. I think that the donations are subtantially decreasing for two reasons. One is that people just don't have any money any more. The news folks can talk all they want about how the economy is getting better. It is not. The other is that some folks like me just stopped contributing. I have plenty of money. I refuse to give any to support any of this. I haven't contributed anything at any function at any time for about two years now. My belief is that this organization will disappear partially because it just won't be able to afford to continue and they have done away with the one mechanism that would have enabled the organization to survive if all of its corporations and properties are gone: people's homes. They took away the book studies and the field service groups are very poorly supported. So when this finally collapses from the big financial failure that is coming, logistically there will not be a mechanism in place to keep going.

Sorry for the rant. This was the worst letter ever.

CC

73

Active JW's and JW Lurkers- Especially JW Defenders and Believers: A Few Questions For You

by OnTheWayOut in

while there are not too many currently defending the watchtower in this discussion forum, it happens from time to time.

and quite often, there may be new people and lurkers reading these discussions.

i just wanted you to ponder these questions.

committeechairman

JW Gone Bad - As soon as I can do it safely, I'll post as much detail as I have. However, be advised that it was for the most part a giant rehash of existing material. Nothing really new or revolutionary. Some parts of the judicial part implied strongly that the GB believes elders are being too lenient in reinstatements and the length of time before someone is reinstated, but I think someone already posted on that.

CC

73

Active JW's and JW Lurkers- Especially JW Defenders and Believers: A Few Questions For You

by OnTheWayOut in

while there are not too many currently defending the watchtower in this discussion forum, it happens from time to time.

and quite often, there may be new people and lurkers reading these discussions.

i just wanted you to ponder these questions.

committeechairman

To be clear, I have reported every child abuse allegation to the police that I have ever come in contact with, legal dept permitting or not. And not anonymously either. I will continue to do so. The day that costs me my position as an elder or puts me out of the organization, well let's just say I will be fine with that.

i will comment on the rest later.

CC

19

Reinstatement - repentance - works - Can you explain how this is supposed to work?

by berrygerry in

nov 15, 2006 wt.

when requesting reinstatement, he should be able to give evidence that he has repented and is producing works that befit repentance.acts 26:20.. .

how possibly can someone "give evidence" or "produce works"?.

committeechairman

I think SloppyJoe comes closest to what, mechanically, will convince a committee to reinstate. This is not a comment on the disfellowshipping arrangement which I wish would just go away.

CC

43

does the wt always carefully phrase sentences so as to never take blame?

by sowhatnow in

im recalling a time when i sat and circled words in a watchtower article, indicating strongly the fact that it is in fact the writters opinion.. however just the suggestion in the sentence these words are ignored.. for example.

it is our understanding.

we believe this to be the case.

committeechairman

Since you all have a substantial portion of the letters to the bodies of elders, you can see the elevated level of obfuscation there beyond the regular published material. Some letters to the bodies of elders are almost impossible to understand and follow.

CC

73

Active JW's and JW Lurkers- Especially JW Defenders and Believers: A Few Questions For You

by OnTheWayOut in

while there are not too many currently defending the watchtower in this discussion forum, it happens from time to time.

and quite often, there may be new people and lurkers reading these discussions.

i just wanted you to ponder these questions.

committeechairman

I only get to post here once in a while because of my schedule but I do want to address some of the comments. I did say I was interested in your comments and you certainly did deliver and I found ALL of the comments very interesting.

GTTM: Your question about why I'm here is a good one. I find it refreshing to hear unfettered comments about what's going on with Jehovah's Witnesses, both from those who are still active and those who are inactive or even opposed. Believe it or not, I do understand very well why people would reject and even attack Jehovah's Witnesses. I try to answer questions here as an active elder so as to provide answers that might not otherwise be available either due to the extreme secrecy that is practiced within our organization or just because I want to be helpful. I know that not everyone is going to be ok with someone who is here on this board but doesn't reject the religion outright, which brings me to....

J-DUB: I asked for your opinion and you delivered. I don't think it is fair for me to ask for your opinion, whatever it is, then get upset becuase you gave it or because of how you gave it. I'm able to read through your tone and approach to what I think you really mean. I do believe I understand your point of view in that you believe that once something seems to be wrong then you should just leave it and I can respect that point of view. It may help (or not) to understand why I stay in (for the moment). I know that you believe I'm f-ing up peoples lives by serving as an elder, but I continue to hold on to this because I can help people behind the scenes by having this authority. I'm not the regular run-of-the-mill elder, though. I am selective about what direction I follow. I don't advertise my views. I understand that someday this might get me removed or even disfellowshipped. I have participated in many judicial committees, but since I've gained a "wider worldview" to euphemize waking up, I have been able to guide judicial committees (since I'm usually the chairman of committees I participate in - hence the user name) not to disfellowship, because I haven't seen a case yet since I have this new viewpoint where it is justified. Even though I'd love to engineer a walk-away (I will at the right time), for now I can try to help those I can who cannot leave - especially those who know what's really going on but that for some reason cannot bring themselves to go away. I know you'll probably disagree...that's ok.

Giordano - I really loved your comment and especially your description of me as a humanist. I do believe that religion is a very large misunderstanding of what books like the Bible were written to accomplish, and although I do believe in God (somewhat contrary to being a humanist entirely) I'm pretty sure that if and when we ever get direct communication from him he is basically going to do a head-slap and say "Guys, this is totally NOT what I meant in all of these books I caused to be written." To Jehovah's Witnesses, I'm afraid what he will say is "My son told you that the true religion would be known by the LOVE shown, not the reports gathered or how extremely organized or strict it was....it would just be known by how much love you for every human being and your brothers and sisters in faith in particular". I feel like the mission is clear in the beginning for most religions, then it is lost through its transformation to an institution.

CC

73

Active JW's and JW Lurkers- Especially JW Defenders and Believers: A Few Questions For You

by OnTheWayOut in

while there are not too many currently defending the watchtower in this discussion forum, it happens from time to time.

and quite often, there may be new people and lurkers reading these discussions.

i just wanted you to ponder these questions.

committeechairman

As I've mentioned before I'm active and an elder.

I think it is a mistake for us to attempt to control what people read or see. Hebrews 5:14 says quite clearly that Christians should have their perceptive powers trained "through use". The stricter the control of what people do - making a lot of rigid rules and regulations as the Pharisees did in Jesus day - does not allow them to use their perceptive powers. They are not trained to make good decisions.

In my mind, what you believe should stand up to outside information. As an example, I'm married. I would never tell my wife to not listen to what other people say about me. I want her to take in all points of view. If someone comes along with a highly critical, damning statement about me, she should use her perceptive powers to determine if she thinks it is true. She might decide to ask me about it. Imagine if I told her to ignore anything she heard about me and that I considered it disloyal to even consider it. Wouldn't that imply that my actions and reputation can't stand up to whatever someone says about me? If someone has a legitimate complaint, wouldn't it actually build credibility to say "You know, I never thought about that. I need to make a change and I apologize for any issues i've caused you." Of course, this only works if I do not claim to be the perfect person or husband. Also, it only works if I do not try to force my wife to stay no matter what using force, fear, threats and the like.

To draw the parallel then, if the Governing Body took the stance that they were just trying to do their best to lead Jehovah's people and they realize they could be wrong from time to time and did not shun people who decided this isn't for them, and if they actually acknowledged error and humbly repented when they made mistakes, then it would lend tremendous credibility for them and it would make it so much easier to follow their lead. As it is, however, the control increases. You can now be disfellowshipped for what you read and nothing more ("abhorrent" pornography), even if it is not generally known that you view or look at this type of material. There are signs that the Governing Body might be leaning toward much tigher control. All of this concerns me gravely. I believe that having "holy spirit" to guide the organization simply means displaying its fruitage in the way that we deal with the flock, but that isn't the opinion of the Governing Body, apparently.

In any case, I've probably written way too much here and I'm interested in your comments on it.

35

the new TV show, is it just me or is the guy really creepy??

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

committeechairman

I read in another thread here that if the governing body is going to get serious about tv.jw.org, they are going to have to get some real polished types on the camera. The governing body in general is not going to attract the broader audience these folks are used to. Even the rank and file are going to tire of watching governing body members after while because they are not effective in this medium.

I figure they will make adjustments along these lines soon into the tv.jw.org journey. I do expect them to stick with this for the long term because they have to do something just to try to keep everyone that is already one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and then to try to attract any newcomers. The formal field ministry and even the newer "public" ministry approach is just not working, no matter what they claim.

CC

25

JW TV - One Further Step Towards Making the Organization Soft & Cuddly

by steve2 in

one of the more astonishing developments within the organization in recent years is the muting of the more "out there" behaviors of this once fiercely confrontational and proud end-times religious group.. members were unapologetically no part of the world and couldn't give a rat's ar*e what you thought of them.

whereas the organisation fostered an outlook of warning the "wicked" world of the imminence of its destruction at the hands of the almighty - and spared no effort in doing so - nowadays the organization is sucking in its more "loose cannon" elements.

in the place of these elements is a sparkling, smiling, airbrushed group of worshippers who parade their wholesome settled lifestyle to win converts.

committeechairman

I do think after watching the first broadcast that this will be pushed very heavily as a complete substitute for regular TV. For example, I think it is quite likely that they will suggest in publications and the Branch Visit and other events something along these lines: "Why watch secular TV with all its violence and immorality when you have plenty of content to choose from 24 hours a day on tv.jw.org?"

What's funny is that this same approach has been used in years past with books. "Why read the world's publications when you have the Bible and all of the slave's publications to read? There's more to read than anyone can read!"

We all know how that went - so I don't expect this to go anywhere either.

CC