Why should Tobacco companies be held to a higher standard than the Watchtower?
That's a very good question, worth repeating.
willyloman
JoinedPosts by willyloman
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16
Propaganda and the WTS
by hillary_step inpropaganda and blatant liar can often be seen sharing a beer together in the local pub.
the observer can differentiate them quite easily as at the end of the evening propaganda stabs blatant liar in the back and steals his underwear.
the common element that bonds these two characters in this uneasy friendship is an agenda that recognizes that matters cannot be presented to a person or group without needing to adjust or manipulate the facts to serve their own ambitions.
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willyloman
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israel/judah the split, will it happen to wts?
by the mole injust as israel and judah split the org will also split.
it is time for those who love real truth break away.
can reformation happen?
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willyloman
The odds are slim of this happening, but the climate is right for it. Talking with another witness recently about problems in the organization, I asked: "If you heard that so-and-so (the names of three elders in the area who are good speakers and have the reputation for being humble, liberal and outspoken) were holding a meeting in a public place next weekend to discuss watchtower reforms, would you go?" The answer: "I'd be there for sure."
In other words, I believe many are looking around for some direction, some leadership from within, but it's just not surfacing. It's all about numbers. In suburban areas like mine, there are 2,500 JWs attending meetings at several halls. If they knew that 250 active, emotionally well-balanced brothers and sisters were meeting on Sundays at a community center, there would be a mass exodus. This is especially true if they knew the agenda was to openly discuss every doctrine and procedure, throw out all the stupid stuff, and start over. Of course, what happens after they get there is open to speculation but my point is if some JWs knew there was a community of friends out there, they'd take a risk. Right now, there's just no place to go.
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Non-believers......... Do they "bash" Believers too hard?
by gumby ini have been beginning to wonder if those that have come to disbelieve in the bible as god's word, and those who believe in no god at all............use the wrong verbage here.
is it disrespectful to those who believe.... for non-believers to say things against what believers hold so precious?
many have moved on, or..... mentioned they do not post their true feeling here on certain subjects for fear they will be harrassed by others here.. first off....i'll admit i'm a guilty one for doing this very thing but have been wondering if i'm out of line as well as others who post similar ideas in the same type of manner.
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willyloman
Was the remark really necessary? Was there a point to it or did you just feel the need to degrade others thoughts and feelings?
Xena: Happily, I was wrong, and no, it wasn't necessary. I'm sorry, I just over reacted to something.
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The New System of Things - How much longer?
by Nosferatu inthis post isn't about "how much longer until the new system of things" arrives.
i'm wondering how much longer people will buy this load of crap?
the society has been telling the r&f that armageddon is right around the corner for 124 years now, and they're still using this method.
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willyloman
The demise of the WT is a pipedream. It's now an entrenched religion with millions of adherents and billions of dollars in the bank and a sh**pile of real estate at its disposal. The operative model is 1914. When the predictions failed, that should have been the end of the WTS, but World War I came along and bailed them out. They've pointed to that event as vindication of their prophecies for almost 90 years. What future events will occur that will justify their end-time teaching? If you look around at the world we live in and read the headlines and watch the TV documentaries, it doesn't take a genius to realize we are living in perilous times.
How long before some catastrophic event, something that will make 9-11 look like a church picnic, triggers unparalled destruction and significantly thins the herd? Such an event appears more likely every day, and when it comes it will provide fodder for fundamental religious groups like the JWs that they'll feed on for generations.
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willyloman
Room: If someone is writing the unauthorized history of JWs, they should copy this and include it:
Ray recounts in COC about Knorr's often saying such things as ``1914-- I don't know.... we may be right and I hope we are," when in social ciricumstances with cronies like George Couch, Grant Suiter, and others. Although independent thinking clearly had its limits, when I was at Bethel in the mid-sixties, the unspoken rule was ``we accept the premise that you're a loyal JW and committed to the concept, otherwise you wouldn't be here donating the best years of your live to the work; so if you have `inpendent notions,' gripes or believe that much of what's printed is for public consumption, fine. Discuss it among yourselves, or in confidence with a higher-up, but don't cause problems in the local congregations or ortherwise lobby long and loud for change."
Your posts are really appreciated; they have that just-got-back-from-the-front-lines authenticity.
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Aging
by joelbear inadam lived 930 years methusaleh 969, noah 600 or so, but the psalms say a man's age will be 70 or 80. the explanation for shorter live span today is more imperfection, but why would man live so long for the first 2500 years and then drop to 70 or 80 in david's time and then stabilize at that age for the next 3500 years?
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willyloman
Panda: Thanks, I will look those up.
Pete: There must be SOME explanation for it. Those numbers can't be literal.
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The Watchtower Is Lying -- Yet Again! (Wt 9/15/03)
by metatron inin the sept. 15, '03 watchtower, an experience is offered concerning a man named.
rolf-michael, who apparently traded drug addition for cultish addiction.. (perhaps some of you recall a cheech and chong sketch in which an odd man.
announces that he "used to be messed up on drugs and he used to be messed up.
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willyloman
Meta: Once again, sharp insight, especially this:
...the CONTINUING FRAUD of encouraging Witness parents to strictly raise their children as Witnesses ALL WHILE THE SOCIETY KNOWS FROM THEIR OWN INTERNAL STATISTICS that it is nearly hopeless since the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of such kids are df'd - or leave the "truth". This kind of fraud would get a drug company sued...
Mary: Great job of exposing the JW doublespeak!
Panda: When I read your post, I couldn't help wondering if the sister had some ulterior motive. Was she (in a subtle way) going to offer herself as your replacement?
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Non-believers......... Do they "bash" Believers too hard?
by gumby ini have been beginning to wonder if those that have come to disbelieve in the bible as god's word, and those who believe in no god at all............use the wrong verbage here.
is it disrespectful to those who believe.... for non-believers to say things against what believers hold so precious?
many have moved on, or..... mentioned they do not post their true feeling here on certain subjects for fear they will be harrassed by others here.. first off....i'll admit i'm a guilty one for doing this very thing but have been wondering if i'm out of line as well as others who post similar ideas in the same type of manner.
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willyloman
Dave: Thanks for the brilliant post, unfortunately buried in a thread that appears about to be taken over by the smurf set.
There are things in life we don't quite understand because we were never allowed to learn and we make stupid and embarrassing mistakes because of it. We fumble through social settings trying to learn how to fit in and we walk away feeling awkward and maladjusted. We blame the screwed up religion for that. We also blame them for stealing the minds and hearts of our parents and siblings. We have been mentally and socially raped and to make it worse, we have been left alone in life to deal with our pain.
God, I hope you are wrong and that there is life after the watchtower. But you're so right about the awkward, maladjusted feelings. We're strangers in a strange land. -
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Aging
by joelbear inadam lived 930 years methusaleh 969, noah 600 or so, but the psalms say a man's age will be 70 or 80. the explanation for shorter live span today is more imperfection, but why would man live so long for the first 2500 years and then drop to 70 or 80 in david's time and then stabilize at that age for the next 3500 years?
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willyloman
Panda: Do you have a source for the 900 "moons" theory? Makes sense but I'd like to be able to prove it to someone...
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As an elder or MS, how did you NOT see it, or did you just fake it ???
by run dont walk ini find it fascinating, i never had a position in the congregation, .
how does an elder, who sees all the flipflops in doctrine, the special body of elders letters and publications, and jc, and elders meetings, not see that the watchtower is full of ----, .
did judical commitees, and elders meetings take a toll on you ???
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willyloman
Good question! Despite what Dimples said, above, it's not about money. Being an elder costs you money, in fact, because you're on display at all times and you have to "take the lead" in expending your energy and resources. There is some psychological "pay" in that you hold a position of authority and many look up to you because of it. As one brother said, if you're going to do this, you might as well be an elder; at least that way, you get something tangible out of it while you're alive.
I used to think that, too, but lately I haven't been getting anything out of it except a guilty conscience for having to verbally support what I now perceive to be a lot of crap. I've been hanging in because of some misguided belief that I can help others by being a buffer between the publishers and the hardline elders who rule most congregations. However, I am beginning to see the futility in that.
The answer to your question, how did you not see it?, is that I DID see it, but I explained it away. You do that, you know, if you are immersed in something and can't see the forest for the trees. Eventually for most elders, I believe, the explanations stop holding water but by then there are family and business/financial obligations that make it difficult or impossible to slip away. It's at that point, to deal with the rest of your question, that some elders begin to "fake it."
That's where I am now but I don't like doing it, so I plan to stop pretty soon.
Meanwhile, I hope you won't judge me harshly. I did some things I'm ashamed of, in retrospect, but I suppose we all have. I did the best I could and I always tried to be more of a comfort than a nuisance.