Review and Comments on the New Elders Book

by MrDarkKnight 46 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  mochamint22

  yeah i read this book online too and brought it up to my pioneer mother to get her thoughts on it. i brought up those points mentioned in this thread and also the fact that its so secretive, especially against sisters and all that other crap. she had no knowledge of its existence in the first place (even earlier versions) and when i asked her what she thought about it and how ridiculous it was and that i felt it was just another way to have control over people mentally and emotionally she said that wasn't true. She argued that it wasn't real since it was on the internet and that if I am so concerned about it I should go ask an elder if it really exists and if the content I read was for real.

  BULLSHIT

  I said first, they'd probably drag my ass to the back room for viewing "apostate" literature --you know they'd never admit it's existence. 2nd, she totally missed the point- that being to probe her mind, forcing her to THINK as a FREE, SENTIENT BEING about what this means. Think of everyone that was/is IN thinking that the decisions these fools make when it comes to "spiritual discipline" really coming from God when it's just a group of dummies reading a stupid book before some stupid judicial hearing to decide the future of a "lost sheep." I never believed these stupid elders had holy spirit to do the right thing--you can read some of my other posts about when i was DFd if you want more info on that. But seriously....come on...

  same thing happened when i told her i had discovered that divorce/child custody packet printed by the FDS. she said it was reasonable they would have something like that since anyone would want to be prepared for a case in the court of law. She totally missed the point I was making with it's purpose being mainly to manipulate your child(ren)'s mind to spew words obviously not from a child's mind and also to win custody with the main intent to retain spiritual, mental, and emotional power over that child and to distance them from their other parent. A sort of disfellowshipping that child's other parent from their lives.

  yeah, again, she had nothing to say other than we should just accept whatever comes from the FDS as from Jah and not question it so as not to anger Jah and put ourselves in "precarious" position w/the Devil. Yeah she kept saying, "Satan is hearing what you're saying right now and he can act on that. If you just think it, he won't know since he can't read minds/hearts. But verbalizing it is DANGEROUS." I just laughed. perfect saying" you can't argue with ignorance" its so true.....

  UM, the foot job thing was freakin hilarious---really???? DFd for hand/foot jobs. ha ha
• 

  Mickey mouse

  Loose Conduct can include viewing porn - if it is nasty porn - playboy is OK .... but girl on girl is a no-no...

  I guess the governing body don't find girl on girl a turn on then.

  ETA: Thanks for the review. I also found the different rules for elders and the rest of the flock quite disturbing when it comes to the confession of past sins.
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  Sulla

  How can taking blood transfusion be an automatic DA offense, IF done without repentance? Isn't it a judicial committee that determines whether one has repented or not?
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  WTWizard

  And I wonder how many more rules are in that book that, though the people cannot read them, are still under "obligation" to obey. Could it be "brazen conduct" if a person is asked to pio-sneer and refuses to totally derail their lives and do it? What about a hounder that stupidly insists that someone quit their sustenance so they can pio-sneer, and then the person doesn't? Or does, but cannot get something brought up to presentable standards? Is that also "brazen conduct"? Or someone that invests in silver, thinking the dollar is going to become toilet paper soon, only to have a hounder insist that poverty is the only chaste lifestyle and requires this person to donate it all to the Worldwide Pedophile Defense Fund or sell it and assist others in the congregation?

  All this tearing apart what a word means--a waste. Trying to dissect "porneia"--just to decide whether a person can get disfellowshipped or the other person (who is probably tired of the routine with their mate) can divorce without being guilty of "adultery". Masturbation seems untouchable--for now. However, they could decide to get tough on that. All it takes is a single Washtowel article to lump it with "uncleanness", and judicial hearings for masturbation will begin. Or a hounder that insists that anyone that continues masturbating is guilty of "brazen conduct" because he is trying to impose a hard ban on it, and they will not listen. The one person in charge that has a reasonable viewpoint on this matter gets discredited--I don't think Raymond Franz would give a damn if a person masturbates in private, or looks at porn a time or two. He was the only one that actually attempted to abide by the Bible--which is silent on masturbation, and does not come out and ban oral sex between married people.
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  sabastious

  The thing that rocked me to my core as I read the manual was how much of it contains rules, regulations and procedures that are not directly from the Bible and only have validity if you believe that the WTBS is God's channel of comuunication.

  This is the most hypocritical apsect of the book. The Witnesses have been boasting for years that they let the Bible be there guide. This is not true with the Flock book. The citations are for show only. The book is undeniable proof that the Watchtower and it's leadership are a modern day Pharisees!

  -Sab
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  LostGeneration

  How can taking blood transfusion be an automatic DA offense, IF done without repentance? Isn't it a judicial committee that determines whether one has repented or not? I believe a lot of this has to do with the legal case in Bulgaria where the b0rg agreed to not DF people based on their personal decision to take blood. So instead they just say you DA'd yourself if you are bleeding out on the operating room table and agree to take blood. What a loving provision from Jehovah!
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  Mad Sweeney

  How can taking blood transfusion be an automatic DA offense, IF done without repentance? Isn't it a judicial committee that determines whether one has repented or not?

  Not in the auto-DA situations. There are four.

  From chapter 9 of the Flock book, "Making known a firm decision to be known no longer as one of Jehovah's Witnesses" is discussed first. "Joining another religious organization and making known his intention to remain with it" is second. "Willingly and unrepentantly taking blood" is third. And "Taking a cours contrary to the neutral position of the Christian congregation" is fourth - and it discusses joining a non-neutral organization or being a clear accomplice in non-neutral activities via employment.

  The announcement for any of the above is: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

  For comparison, the announcement for a disfellowshipping after a judicial committee has judged guilt and nonrepentence is: "[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

  To the rank and file JW audience, there is no difference in outcome.

  According to the book, "a committee (not judicial) should be selected to investigate matters." The auto-DA on blood is simply a legal loophole to protect the Borg, who claims there is "no judicial action" taken on a person who accepts blood transfusions. It is disingenuous because it is simply a word game and the result of DA is EXACTLY THE SAME as a DF, right down to the formation of "a committee (not judicial)."
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  NewChapter

  ETA: Thanks for the review. I also found the different rules for elders and the rest of the flock quite disturbing when it comes to the confession of past sins

  Can someone elaborate on this? I haven't read anything about this particular aspect yet. Thanks!

  NC
• 

  punkofnice

  As I understand it....12 chapters......8 on DFing!

  The end of chapter ! made me puke....I haven't got much further than this, it makes my skin crawl...

  9. To be an effective elder, you must care for Jehovah's precious sheep in the same way that he does-with loving-kindness, impartiality, and merciful
  judgment. Jehovah's people and, more important, Jehovah and his Son greatly appreciate your diligent efforts in behalf of the congregation. We pray for Jehovah's blessing to "be with the spirit you show." -2 Tim. 4:22.
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  Quendi

  Thank you, MrDarkKnight, for sharing your review of the new elders' manual. I am glad that you have expressed contrition for your role as an elder in this reprehensible organization. I am not trying to pile more guilt on you, but I am happy that you have realized that this elder arrangement has not in the past, does not now, nor ever will have divine sanction and support. It is an instrument to control Witnesses and rob them of their God-given free will and power of reason.

  As I have stated before, I do so again. No man with any kind of conscience should serve as an elder in any congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even if he personally never sits on a judicial committee, being an elder still lends aid, strength, and support to this criminal arrangement. It is a violation of basic human rights and no better than the kangaroo courts dictatorial governments set up or the Roman Catholic Church's Inquisition. Serving on a body of elders in any capacity links a man with the judicial committee arrangement regardless of whether he himself ever sits in judgment of his fellow man.

  Reading your post has made me realize how fortunate I am to have escaped the WTS. I was never considered elder or even ministerial servant material because it was felt that I 'thought too much' and had an 'independent spirit'. I am beginning to understand that not being appointed was a blessing in disguise. I can only hope that those men who still are elders will put aside their desire for power and control over others and resign. Men are told that being an elder is a privilege that allows them to serve their brothers and sisters for their good. Reading the manual should drop those scales from their eyes for this book makes it clear that there is no other reason to be an elder save to lord it over others.

  Quendi