mark sanderson - here is some insight on his background taken from this site:.
http://e-watchman.com/congratulations-mark/.
congratulations, mark!.
I guess these gb members are dyed-in-the-wool organization groupies. Can you imagine the lack of perspective of someone that lived their entire life saying "how high" every time the organization said "jump". And they call apostate's mentally diseased?
Frankly he doesn't look intelligent. I think we all can agree on that. He looks dopey.
-TE
ok. let me first start by saying i am not a flat earther.
i like most on here will have the same view most will have here about our planet.
in saying that however, i am incredibly gob smacked by the book written by eric dubay called 'the flat earth conspiracy'.
Slimboy got ressurrected. Did Jesus return and is already performing miracles?
-TE
i worked a different shift.
i knew the people i worked with, but not as well as i could have.. anyway, religion comes up.
one guy mentions in front of another that i wrote a book about my religious experience.
That was ridiculous, entertaining but ridiculous.
I am starting to think atheists have stronger morals than the bible thumpers. At least an atheist has thought his or her standards through and has real convictions. Religious people are a moving target for fear and guilt. Can't bet on those emotions being consistent.
-TE
have you noticed the article entitled "watch your associations in these last days" in the new august 2015 study watchtower?.
unless i'm reading it wrong, or somehow misinterpreting it, it is saying that we should be kind to intentional breakers of god's laws inside and outside the congregation, including fornicators, but that we must not be close associates with them.. are they already preparing for a shift in their disfellowshipping practices?.
here are the relevant paragraphs:.
It's crap they can spin in court. Just like the website FAQ's.
Pure PR. No substance. ........Almost deceitful when you think about it.
-TE
i just wanted to introduce myself and say a big hello to all of my mentally diseased friends.. i say friends because i have been lurking for some time so it feels like home (us lurkers are a bit scared and cautious so it takes a while).
i won't bore you with too many details, but i am a born in, currently serving as the cobe of a congregation.
my wife and i have pioneered for the last 10 years and were shaken awake by that ridiculous 15th july 2013 wt about the generation and 1914.. my wife who is much smarter than me has questioned for years.
iwasblind,
Welcome. I too am still serving. It's a sumbitch. Lol. Being fully awake and having to go through the motions is torture sometimes. I take solace in the fact that I carry an understanding and level head into the elder responsibilities. I have protected a number of folks from overzealous elders. Not that it makes that much difference.
I can't bring myself to use phrases like "the truth" or "Jehovah's people" anymore. I am quite selective in what I say in comments or parts. Actually what I hate the most now is being assigned as reader (and yes elders are used as readers in my hall). I used to enjoy public reading, but you are obligated to say exactly what is on the page. Sometimes I literally cringe.
Be thankful your wife is on board. That is worth a million bucks easy. My wife is a slow work in progress. PM me if you want to compare notes. Take care.
-TE
for some background, i am still in.
still an elder.
very much awake.
Pete,
I see your point. I will say though, I respect the overall sentiment of Russell in that quote. Whether it was sincere or not, he acknowledged that God owns all the riches of the universe, and if an organization needs funds it means that organization is without God's backing.
Of course, I am sure there was a coupon or offer in the same journal for some subscription or books for sale by mail order (if not multiple offers), so it all boils down to how you define the terms like "petition" being used in the quote.
The point could also be made that the jw broadcast is the literature of today. It certainly is digital content straight from the horse's mouth.
I had a brief convo with the wife a few minutes ago. She asked about my demeanor lately. I told her I don't like what I'm seeing in the organization and mentioned the deceit and money focus. She listened pretty well, but rebutted along the lines of "Well God has had problems in his organization in the past" blah blah. Anyhow I don't want to say too much, but we are supposed to watch the broadcast when we get a chance. I get the feeling that she doesn't really want to watch it. Must be the CD kicking in.
-TE
for some background, i am still in.
still an elder.
very much awake.
Thanks everybody. Your posts help a lot. I think I will watch it with her and gauge her reaction like jwfacts said. I'll try to sit on my hands as much as possible and let her take the lead down negative road. I'll keep the Russell quote in my back pocket. Also will check out "Going Clear" for future viewing with her.
I'll post here after the deed is done.
-TE
for some background, i am still in.
still an elder.
very much awake.
Thanks for the good advice everybody. I would like to give individual responses but I can't right now.
I like the subtle approach mentioned and generally the outside take on things. It helps give me perspective.
Joe, to answer your question, it's borderline psychological torture if I'm honest. Not healthy. Can't do the elder thing much longer. I've planted some seeds so she knows it's coming. Just about timing and when I'm comfortable to take on the reactions and such.
Xanthippe, I thought about how some could take the title of the thread. I thought it made a catchier headline, though, if you will. I'm not that guy lol. Not by a long shot.
-TE
for some background, i am still in.
still an elder.
very much awake.
For some background, I am still in. Still an elder. Very much awake. Still trapped by family, spouse, employment, yada yada. I am trying to gently wake my wife up so she doesn't freak out and divorce me to stay in the Truman show.
(btw Wayward Pines is a new TV mini series that is eerily like being a JW)
Anyhow, we haven't watched a broadcast yet. She has barely mentioned them. I have, up until now, thought this was a good thing (which it is). Now, though, with this Lett money-grab episode, I'm thinking it may be a better move to get her to watch it to see what they're up to. I'm torn because I see the broadcasts as additional indoctrination sessions, so part of me doesn't want to go there.
Any thoughts? Your help is appreciated.
-TE
PS - Admittedly it will be hard for me to sit through it without pointing out the lies and deception. Hell I can print off the letter that has the additional instructions for elders concerning the new "no mortgage" program.
i saw a rumor a few weeks ago on reddit that the new imitate jesus convention is supposed to present new light and clarified understandings on the disfellowshipping/disassociation practices.. supposedly, if this rumor has any truth to it, there will be a talk given at the convention about how we should not be strict like the pharisees in how we shun people, loosening up some of the jw rules about this practice.. has anyone here heard anything about this or have more info on it?.
I realize that the left hand may not know what the right hand is doing, but the elders school (end of 2014) was about disfellowshipping quicker and reinstating slower. They had videos of staged judicial committee meetings and everything.
This hope for the regional seems exactly opposite of what was taught to elders in my area just 6 months ago.
-TE
