by Billy the Ex-Bethelite 39 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
Variances on the "two witness" rule as it relates to child sexual abuse.
1. If there is abuse of another victim that discloses
2. "scientific" evidence (although this is not documented, only claimed by WT director O'Brien)
3. conviction in secular courts (however the KS10 stipulates that "plea deals" are not admission of guilt)
Thanx Billy, the WT has never held to "What's black is black, what is white is white"
Can we all remember the 'What does 3 1/2 mean?"
*** re chap. 27 p. 184 par. 26 God’s Kingdom Is Born! ***
26 How long did this respite for the seed of God’s woman last? Revelation 12:6 says 1,260 days. Revelation 12:14 calls the period a time, times, and half a time; in other words, three and a half times. In fact, both expressions stand for three and a half years, extending in the Northern Hemisphere from the spring of 1919 to the autumn of 1922. This was a period of refreshing recuperation and reorganization for the restored John class.
*** ts chap. 18 pp. 155-156 Why Many Now Living Have Opportunity Never to Die ***” For example, Revelation 11:2 speaks of a period of “forty-two months,” or three and a half years. In the next verse the same period is mentioned as being “a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Now, if you were to divide 1,260 days by 42 months, you would get 30 days for each month. A year of 12 months would therefore be 360 days long. On this basis, “seven times,” or seven years, would be 2,520 days long (7 x 360).*** re chap. 25 p. 168 Reviving the Two Witnesses ***Notice that in examining the experiences of God’s people at this time, it appears that while the 42 months represent a literal three and a half years, the three and a half days do not represent a literal period of 84 hours. Likely, the specific period of three and a half days is mentioned twice (in verses 9 and 11) to highlight that it would be only a short period compared with the actual three and a half years of activity that precede it.
Plus when the dubbies quote from Deuteronomy to confirm their 2- witness rule, notice that chapter 17.6 makes it clear that the 2-witness rule applies when someone is to be put to death:
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Good find in the OP, Billy.
Was this covered anywhere in the RC? - No, I don't think so.
This suggests to me that WT takes adultery/fornication more seriously than it does child abuse.
I agree with others, please email this info to Mr Stewart.
But this seems to be about the standard for determining the freedom to remarry, not the standard for finding guilt of porneia / adultery at a JC to allow disfellowshiping.
So, I'm not sure how relevant it actually is to the RC given it's the latter JC standard that is at question.
(Although it may demonstrate some flexibility with the scriptures).
How often in the past 50-odd years have questions very similar to the Commission's been asked by sincere JWs... for them only to be threatened with disfellowshipping for having asked them?
The Commission, whether they planned to or not, has become our voice, and as icing on the cake, the WTS is now compelled to answer those questions, whether they want to or not.
Publicly.
For the world to see.
And the world is actually paying attention.
