Posts by OrphanCrow

55

Are we pro-shunning or against it?

by Simon in

just to continue my theme about religious freedom and how we approach criticizing the wts, i've also been thinking about 'shunning'.. i think shunning is the most unifying complaint that most ex-members of religious groups that practice it have in common.

it is the layer that runs under every other complaint - whatever the reason for leaving it seems "... and i was shunned" can be added to it as the final rap on the charge sheet.. of course it seems like a no-brainer to many of us and we hardly ever stop to really think about it - shunning is bad, the watchtower believes in shunning therefore the watchtower is bad.

they need to stop it.

OrphanCrow

Startrekangel, you make a valid point.

I don't think the issue is 'shunning' per se, but, rather, whether 'official shunning' should be in place.

Of course we all make decisions on who to associate with - it is normal human behavior. And, in so doing, we all shun to some extent. I do. I have many people I have made a personal decision to 'shun' (family members included). It is called 'keeping my environment safe'. And I have the right to do that. Personally.

BUT - does an organization have the right to shun? Or the right to tell its members who to shun?

101

You will never grow old in this current system of things... - Awake, May 22, 1969 p. 15

by cappytan in

check this out.

got this bound volume from my dad.. .

OrphanCrow

You will never grow old in this current system of things.

Sweet. So that means that my mirror is lying. Maybe I am not getting wrinkles, after all.

Damn...I better buy a new mirror.

109

Happy at Bethel. Can't believe what I'm seeing.

by Pubsinger in

apologies if this has already been posted but i am speechless.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnbmyudrwgs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260#t=72.

OrphanCrow

vidiot: Sure, if they actually want to retain 7-8 million adherents.
I don't think that's as high a priority, these days.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say they'd rather the prune the R&F down to a more manageable size of, say, a million or so hard-core believers (maybe even less).

I would go that far, too, vidiot. I think the 'growth' propaganda is mythical. The WTS doesn't need a large following - they already are making a piss pot full of money in other ways like real estate and bloodless medicine investments. The recent push for donations from the membership quite simply separates those who are loyal to the organization from those who are not. The WTS would rather have a small, controllable membership than one that isn't loyal.

The WTS doesn't need a large membership.

16

The difference between old school dubs and modern dubs - and the GB 2.0

by TheListener in

old school witnesses thrived on the fact they were different and persecuted for it.

it was a point of pride.. i think the whole witness experience is much more social based for younger and newer witnesses.

that may be why so many newer ones that come to this board cannot understand or accept some of the information we present here about how things "used to be".

OrphanCrow

vidiot: The WTS is overwhelmingly reactive, not proactive.

Unless, of course, you factor in the WTS' undeniable proactive behavior in the 30s and 40s concerning first amendment rights.

*to add: and...what about the WTS' proactive stance on blood? How many millions have they invested in promoting erroneous material to the public and the medical profession with their production of noblood propaganda?

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

OrphanCrow

The WTS needs to keep the disfellowshipping policy.

Without it, the WTS could lose their status of religion (for tax purposes) in some countries. Disfellowshipping establishes that all members have a 'genuine belief'. It is this concept - genuine belief - that allows the WTS to qualify as a religion and subsequently, earn their tax status as one.

19

Scan Of Telegram To Hitler

by Bangalore in

scan of telegram to hitler.. .

bangalore.

OrphanCrow

sir82: And there you have the principal reason for WTS outrage - the government took their property!

And then Knorr and Rutherford went to Germany to negotiate the release of the WTS printing presses under terms of the Versailles Treaty which allowed foreign companies to operate within Germany.

The printing presses were released and then later confiscated again. There is no mention, in the history records that I could find, about what purpose those printing presses were used for during the war years.

6

Approached by a young JW on the street

by StarTrekAngel in

just a quick line, since this is the first time it happens to me and i could now see with my very own eyes.

the scene went like this, on the outside of a large store.. truck stops and a young boy, about 16, no more than 18 years old walks out.

comes up to me, pulls out a track and says.

OrphanCrow

Comes up to me, pulls out a track and says...

psssst, StarTrekAngel....the word is 'tract', not 'track'. A 'track' would be a little difficult to tuck into a pocket...

:)

15

This weeks meeting remarks

by StarTrekAngel in

just come here to vent a bit.

last night we had one of those meeting where i had a hard time keeping my eyes from rolling.

i tell you, sometimes i think they have a mind of their own, my eyes that is.

OrphanCrow

human organizations that are prone to rigidity and unreasonableness. Because of pride, men often refuse to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. Such rigidity has bankrupted corporations and even toppled governments. (Proverbs 16:18) How happy we can be that neither Jehovah nor his organization is anything like that!

It sounds like the WTS is justifying the recent changes in the organization.

It is interesting that they liken the organization to Ezekiel's chariot that has "...giant wheels were four-sided and full of eyes so that they could see everywhere." That sounds rather ominous - like something out of an Orwell book. Eyes that look everywhere. Surveillance at its finest.

19