Posts by amccullough

29

Searching for a Child Abuser

by YoYoMama in

i heard this weekend that a convicted child abuser was murdered in jail.

i knew him but i don't remember his first name.

we were in the same congregation together for a few weeks.

amccullough

Actually, it's been my experience that for the most part the decent elders have been 'removed' - or left from frustration. It's tough to remain a good apple in a barrel full of rotten ones. You either get out, conform to the rest of the power hungry, or at the very least sit quietly and take your lumps anytime you dare to cross the 'elite' 'glorious ones' ...

One of my points is that since I have observed the opposite of what you have observed, than we are all working with segmented views of what the entire elder body is like. Therefore we should refrain from demonizing them.

29

Searching for a Child Abuser

by YoYoMama in

i heard this weekend that a convicted child abuser was murdered in jail.

i knew him but i don't remember his first name.

we were in the same congregation together for a few weeks.

amccullough

The way I remember being taught, was that everyone who was resurrected would have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of everlasting life by their works after their resurrection. Even someone like Hitler.

I was taught that Hitler would most likely NOT be resurrected, but we can only guess. It is up to Jehovah to determine if a person has sinned against the holy spirit or not.

29

Searching for a Child Abuser

by YoYoMama in

i heard this weekend that a convicted child abuser was murdered in jail.

i knew him but i don't remember his first name.

we were in the same congregation together for a few weeks.

amccullough

LOL, I would REALLY like some proof that some elders cared MORE about Jehovah's "clean" congregation instead of getting their keisters sued all to hell for violating clergy confessional code!

Do you honestly believe that ALL elders are self serving and political to the degree you insinuate? I have known elders that were extremely loving, caring, good men and other elders who are self-serving, political, organizational men. But I would never mockingly categorize or attempt to demonize an entire group of men, many who sacrifice much to do what they believe is right and helpful to others.It really bothers me to see people take a negative experience in their life or a group of negative experiences shared between a group of people with an obvious bias and then apply it to an entire group of people. Its these same attitudes that, on a larger scale, lead to racism and nationalism.

1JahVSU writes:if Jah thinks he should be resurrected.
he will be.
According to JW theology, he WILL be.

It was always my understanding that this was a judgement to be made by God. I don't think any JWs believe that Hitler will be resurrected. Likewise in this case, I think a balanced JW would say that it is up to God if this man is resurrected or not.

29

Searching for a Child Abuser

by YoYoMama in

i heard this weekend that a convicted child abuser was murdered in jail.

i knew him but i don't remember his first name.

we were in the same congregation together for a few weeks.

amccullough

You talked toa friend of his wife and she never mentioned his first name?? Why are you so dumb?

Calling someone dumb because they forgot a first name? Geez, I must be really dumb then because I forget names all the time.

16

Help needed Re: Elders stepping "aside"

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

i have a vague recollection of elders who voluntarily took a break from their positions due to health matters or to take care of family situations.. in some of these cases it was possible for them to have some sort of understanding with the congregation that they would still be respected as elders but without the title and less assignments.. i realize this subject is somewhat stupid, but i have my reasons for asking and if anyone has sound information regarding situations where an elder can take advantage of something like this and how one would go about it, it would be appreciated.. path

amccullough

The direction from a service department is that an elder can remain an elder, whilst sorting out any personal problems, for an indefinate period of time
He would still attend elders meetings, seminars etc but could put his service privleges on hold such as talks, taking a group, sheperding etc this could even be announced at a meeting.

And if they do fully step down for reasons that do NOT disqualify them from being an elder, they can usually step back up rather quickly as long as they maintain their biblical qualifications. I don't think there are any secret agreements to continue giving them the "respect" of an elder. People will do that on their own accord if they still view him as a source of guidance. I've known elders that were removed against their will but many in the congregation still went to them with their problems because they were so approachable and always offered sound advice.

5

Greg Stafford's New Book - 3 Dissertations on JWs

by ros in

jw
friends

the book some of you have been waiting for, "three dissertations on jehovah's witnesses" by jw apologist greg stafford is published and will begin shipping in about a week.

if you're interested, it is available from elihu books at this url: http://www.elihubooks.com/.

stafford has done some additional study and research relative to watchtower chronology, and there has been some rumour that he may be advocating a softer organizational stance on it, although i have not read the book yet, so it will be interesting to see what he says.. here's the table of contents:.

amccullough

Thanks for the post, I've had my copy on order for months and was beginning to wonder if Elihu books was even still in business!

31

Just In: Andrea Yates To Be Executed

by Candle in

jw
friends

the state of texas will execute andrea yates for the murder of her children.

the jury decision was just announced.

she had choked and drowned her children to death, five in all.

amccullough

However one wonders if the views etc that he and his family were subjected to while at least he was a JW may have somehow contributed to this grave tragedy.

Or better yet, one wonders if Aliens came down and planted a killing microchip in her brain.

Trying to link her horrific actions to the rumour that her husband was once a JW has got to be one of the most ridiculous stretches I have heard of. Wait until you have some evidence before you make damaging insinuations like that. And for the other case of the parents beating their child, I seem to remember that it had nothing to do with a religous belief as much as being demented. And weren't they inactive JWs too? Those people could have been any religion. Is it not apparent to you how subjective you are to your dislike of the WT? Try and break free of that, otherwise you are not much different than any mind controlled cultist.

9

Easter, What Is The Real Truth

by Candle in

jw
friends

easter, what's the real truth: previously, and as found in most encyclopedias, most scholars took the view of "the venerable bede" who in 8th century england speculated that the name easter may have come from the name for the anglo-saxon goddess eastre.

but closer research shows several other possibilities.

one is that the name more likely came from the latin for "white week" that spring week when people wore white to be baptized as christians.

amccullough

Just normal everyday people who just happen to think there is a lot more divine in the world than most mainstream religions accept. (Buddhism, Hinduism, and most Eastern religions are also generally considered 'pagan', for point of reference).
Lots and lots of bad press, though.

And it's all because of that movie Dragnet!

21

Apostates, brighter than the average witness?

by sleepy in

jw
friends

apostates, brighter than the average witness?.

what do you reckon, are we brainer than people who remain witnesses?.

it may seem proud or boastful , yet i feel there can be little other expliantion.. or course people come across information at different times and in different ways and this will effect what they do with it.. but ultimatly to work out what you have been taught from birth is wrong when you are presented with false and baised information claiming to be true ,propergannda has been forse fed into your brain since a baby, your whole world of family and friends indoctrinated in the same ideas, man ,you've got to have brains.. no when i think of all those people i've left behind in the "truth" i think of people who don't question who like to be told what to do.. people who may have done a little research to justify their faith, but only just enought.. lets consider ourselves a lucky group of people, who have had the ability to look at our lives and what we belive and reject it due to unrefutable evidence.. we have reached an other level of human conciousness.. others have reached it from different routes, but we've been able to cean the mists of human emotion and desire from our minds to see clearly the error of wishful thinking.. how many people who belong to other religions or follow other base less ideas have been able to do so?.

amccullough

Yeah, I would have to say that by and large anyone posting that ex-JWs are brighter is very unintelligent. Hey, if everyone else is making generalizations, so can I!

Great points rhett and LB...

21

Apostates, brighter than the average witness?

by sleepy in

jw
friends

apostates, brighter than the average witness?.

what do you reckon, are we brainer than people who remain witnesses?.

it may seem proud or boastful , yet i feel there can be little other expliantion.. or course people come across information at different times and in different ways and this will effect what they do with it.. but ultimatly to work out what you have been taught from birth is wrong when you are presented with false and baised information claiming to be true ,propergannda has been forse fed into your brain since a baby, your whole world of family and friends indoctrinated in the same ideas, man ,you've got to have brains.. no when i think of all those people i've left behind in the "truth" i think of people who don't question who like to be told what to do.. people who may have done a little research to justify their faith, but only just enought.. lets consider ourselves a lucky group of people, who have had the ability to look at our lives and what we belive and reject it due to unrefutable evidence.. we have reached an other level of human conciousness.. others have reached it from different routes, but we've been able to cean the mists of human emotion and desire from our minds to see clearly the error of wishful thinking.. how many people who belong to other religions or follow other base less ideas have been able to do so?.

amccullough

...a spell check to catch words like "propergannda", it might add a little credence to your claim."
Intelligence is linked to reasoning abilty not knowledge of facts.

Intelligence is the ability to learn facts and skills and apply them, especially when this ability is highly developed. Having an 8th grade spelling capability would definitely be considered a requisite. Not saying that you are not intelligent, just that it might, again, add credence to your claim.

Unless you have done an extensive amount of case studies on JWs and why they remain JWs despite whatever falsehoods you can throw at them, then making statements like

It is showing a gross lack of judgement to become or remain as a Jehovahs witness.

is unfounded and an insult to the JWs, especially those who are much more intelligent than either of us.