over the years the society vascillated on its position of the practise of water dowsing?
does anyone know it's present position?
Euphemism:
Thanks for the reference. It seems the Society still has not taken a firm stand on this issue. But it seems to favor the idea that it could involve the occult. It leaves it up to the individual to make the decision.
It's odd that on some issues the Society leaves no doubt as to its view. But on others it is ambivalent.
over the years the society vascillated on its position of the practise of water dowsing?
does anyone know it's present position?
Over the years the Society vascillated on its position of the practise of water dowsing? Does anyone know it's present position?
the meek shall inherit the earth.
what exactly do you think this means??
i was thinking about that line in the bible.
I've been out of the organization for many years now. But the official explanation of who the "meek" were that would inherit the earth was not the "other sheep." The Watchtower reasoning at that time was that the "annointed" would rule as "kings and priests" over earth. So, they would be the ones to "inherit" the earth.
I always found it strange that while this was the official view of the time, we were still encouraged to use the scripture "the meek shall inherit the earth" out in service to show "people of good will" that they could share this prospect and live forever on earth in a paradise.
Has the Watchtower changed this view in recent years?
once upon a time a broken down kingdom hall was in need of repair and extra donations.
so this lowly brother that was brain damaged happend to be at casino and won about five gran from a few slotts.
now as the case was this brain damaged lunatic was me, but i came home with my winnings and paid for my divorce and bought a few things need full man things.
Years ago, I knew a disfellowshipped person who left a good part of her estate to the Watchtower Society and the local Kingdom Hall. While they never gave her recognition as long as she was alive, they never hesitated a moment to accept the largess when she passed away.
It is sickening to see this sort of conniving going on in "God's organization." The "sister" no doubt felt that she would get some reward by her generosity. Sadly, the organization didn't care for her as a person but valued her money after she died. What a sad commentary on a sad organization!
i cannot go into great detail just yet, because a lot of what i have going with my family hinges on what will happen on the weekend of october 10th.
a short background of this topic before the question: at a very young age.
very young i was sexually abused, by more than one member of our congregation.
badoldputtytat:
I really think the Watchtower Society likes the vagueness of such charges as "causing dissensions among the brothers" because it allows no specific facts to be aired. All they need is a few members to say that they were troubled by the information and noticed a divisions among the brothers. This is usually the charge that is pressed when all else fails. It doesn't have to establish whether it was true on not...only the end results as it perceives it. It's a very deceptive but effective strategy.
It's almost as vague as the charge of "bringing reproach on God's organization." Often the two are linked together. "Divisions" and "reproach" has all the negative connotations that horrify conditioned Jehovah's Witnesses.
i cannot go into great detail just yet, because a lot of what i have going with my family hinges on what will happen on the weekend of october 10th.
a short background of this topic before the question: at a very young age.
very young i was sexually abused, by more than one member of our congregation.
obiwan:
I think the Watchtower Society always reacts to the pressures without admitting the problem. Often, one has to read "between the lines" to guess what is going on at the headquarters. The sexual abuse cases are lightly dismissed by Watchtower spokesmen and Jehovah's Witnesses. But I think, in fact, it has meant profound changes in the way the Watchtower will handle these cases from here on.
Now the Society reaches back to old articles discussing abuse to give the impression that it has always been a Watchtower policy to report these to the authorities. The latest letters and articles now put the reponsibility upon the local elders and members. The fact that they are now addressing the problem indicates that the problem has been noted by the leaders. What they have failed to do is to take any responsbility upon themselves for the problem.
those of us raised as jw's were taught that "it does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step".
we were repeatedly told that without god, humans were incompetent and doomed to fail at any endeavour.. i personally believe that this teaching, that we as individuals do not make a difference, is possibly the largest doctrinal harm done to jw's, and one of the toughest to overcome.. so, for those of you who were raised in the wts and left, what do you choose to do now to make a difference in the world?
why did you pick that avenue - or why do you think you've waited up till now?.
My wife and I have taken the counsel "love thy neighbor" to heart. We have provided meals for those sick in our over 55 community. We drop in to see the sick and infirmed. We have visited nursing homes when neighbors have moved there. We try to be sensitive to any in need.
Next year we hope to branch out and share in volunteer work in the community. The hospitals always have a need for volunteers. And COA does wonderful work and is always looking for others to help.
There is no lack of need in every community. We chose not to join a church or to get involved in politics. But there are many areas that need people willing to help. And many opportunites to speak about God and Christ without the motive to convert.
how can an organization... .
... that supposedly holds so dearly and so steadfastly to the teachings of a certain book (the bible) subvert and change that book?
isn't that not only hypocritical but heretical?
Any organization that claims to have "the truth" can teach, believe and change whatever it wants without considering the double standards and contraditions. Of course, the devise that the Watchtower uses is the "new light" coming from "God's organization." Jehovah's Witnesses don't even realize that some of this "new light" is merely "old light" rehashed. Like good robots, they accept whatever the Watchtower teaches.
Some of the fault lies with Jehovah's Witnesses. They willingly give up their ability to think and to act. But God holds each individual responsible in the judgment. The plea that they "were only obeying orders" will not stand.
sorry for the delay in posting these translations.
life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.
love, scully la presse - montreal - thursday, august 28, 2003. .
It is ironic that the Watchtower Society fights hard to secure its own religious freedom in these matters but ends up denying the same religious freedom to its members. It correctly states that one should have the right to discuss religion and religious issues in public without the restrictions of local rules and regulations. But woe to any Jehovah's Witness who dares to question or to doubt the Watchtower as "Jehovah's organization." This person would be censored, pulled before a judicial committee and disfellowshipped.
The Watchtower wants "freedom of religion" for itself...but not for its members.
i was reading on another website and found this post.
the poster said i could post it here.
it shows why it is hard to reason with anyone in the organization.. when individuals leave the organization for conscience reasons, it is evidence that god is shepherding and protecting the flock by doing a sifting work.
Blondie:
Perfect example of the double standards that permeate the Watchtower Society and Jehovah's Witnesses. Sadly, when a person thinks himself right he can say and do things that are wrong and justify it in his own mind. But the person who has his own standard of ethics will be bothered by these contradictions. Not all Jehovah's Witnesses are "spiritual robots" as evidenced by the thousands who left and continue to leave the organization. And the Watchtower Society continues to make mistakes that can not be hidden such as the sexual abuse problems that are currently sweeping the organization.
We can only hope that more of the members will wake up to the fact that they are following an unchristian organization that uses deception and lies to hold its members.
