Posts by Corvin

17

Check this illusion out...

by getting it in

jw
friends

or click this link... http://www.tekzoned.com/weird/weirdo.html

E-Watchman Has Sent NGO Letters to Over 5000 U.S. Congregations!

by Greenpalmtreestillmine in

e-watchman has sent over 5000 letters to congregations in the u.s informing them of the ngo debacle and a similar one to 101 branches around the world.

and according to his guestbook post he has signed his real name to the letters!

great work and great news!

Corvin

GREAT POST!

After reading all the linked info from the E-Watchman's site, the issue is ever clearer before me. This strengthens my stand and gives me courage and confidence.

Corvin

27

How have you changed since finding this forum?

by happehanna in

.

my friends and daughters say that i am more relaxed and i seem happier in my own skin.

which is just great, but when i first started reading stuff here i was a quivering mess, i was in shock, but spending more time researching things are now slotting into place.. .

Corvin

Most certainly I have changed, and for the better.

I remember when i was a teen, I broke down once and exclaimed to my mother and one of my brothers, "I am so tired of feeling guilty all of the time!"

My mother looked at me sympathetically, but my brother who was a self-righteous pioneer at the time shot back, "Well quit doing things to feel guilty about!"

I hadn't done anything wrong, that was the thing. The org, however, heaps mass amounts of guilt upon you and shames you for the smallest of things . . . what you listen to on the radio, the kind of clothes you wear, feeling horny and doing something about it, not spending enough time in field service, missing a meeting, not commenting at the meetings and it goes on and on.

The fear! OMG, the fear we learn to have! We fear to question, we fear to think for ourselves and reason when something in the org does not fit or make sense. We fear that we don't appear spiritual and conformative when we walk into the kingdom hall, we fear death as the penalty for not "keeping in step with Jehovah's organization" and disagreeing with unreasonable edicts from the GB. The fear is paralyzing and it prevents you from thinking, growing . . . breathing. The fear of being alone.

Of course there was the anger. All the time there was the rage that bubbled just 'neath the surface. I was always ready to explode, and I was pissed off all the time with an intermingling of frustration that came from the illusions created for me through the org, the lack of control, the pain of not being prepared for the real world because of the so-called "spiritual paradise" I was bound to.

How have I changed? I no longer feel the guilt, but instead, pride and dignity. I no longer fear, for the interpretations and predictions of the Almighty GB have proved false, and here I am, 37 now, still trying to make it in this system of things when I had been promised that I would never even reach adulthood in this system of things . . . that I would be petting my own pet tiger by that time . . . eating fruit off the trees of the earthly paradise. I oppose the organization and its headship, and as Dansk mention in response to one of recent posts, "the fear falls away in chunks" and it has been thus. The anger has all but evaporated and I can now form meaningful relationships with those I choose.

The support and love, the "common bond" of us apostates has been a far greater source of strength and encouragement for me. Finding those who have been through it all is a source of comfort and inspiration.

If there is an almighty god, the one the Bible speaks of, I can only say that it must have been He who delivered me and my children from the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. It must have been He who helped to open my eyes to the truth about "The Truth", and it must have been He who brought me to this forum.

Thanks to all for your love and support!

Corvin

11

Are the bloodcards being replaced?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

it is well known among those here, that there were no blood cards issued this year.

for the first time in years, it is now no longer necessary to wait an extra half hour after the meeting to get an elder and a friend to sign it.. at the book study this week, the book study overseer said that we will have to renew our dpi forms (i think that's the right abbreviation) and that we would prayfully consider our options on use of non blood treatments.. is this the way things are going?

if there are no bloodcards for a 2nd year in a row, what will this mean?

Corvin

"Also they sold "Not and home" slip holders carved out of sheet metal and field service bags and assortments of highlighters in rainbows of colours!"

Ha, ha, yes they did, and I use to have one of the sheet metal not at home slip holders. There was a brother in Tijuana, BC that made service book bags just for JW's.

32

A thought experiment

by logansrun in

jw
friends

have you ever stopped to consider that the best thing we can do for ourselves as recovering cultists is simply to move on?

i know that is impossible for some, as they have deep connections with the organization due to family.

but for many the best move is simply to refuse to let the jws occupy much of our time and energy -- mental, physical and emotional.

Corvin

"I know that is impossible for some, as they have deep connections with the organization due to family."

I have moved on, however, I cannot rest or forget the Org; I will not rest until I am certain that I have successfully and completely delivered my children from the clutches and influence of the WTBTS. It will be my daily mission until I see my beautiful kids living free and healthy and productive lives free from the guilt and hypocricy of the Org.

Corvin

27

WT answers to Apostate lies, half truths and deceptions.

by Black Sheep in

.

i am looking for the wt articles that contest the lies, half truths and deceptions used by apostates to weaken jws faith in jehovah's spirit directed organization.. can anyone help me find them?.

please?

Corvin

" . . . I notice that there haven't been any attempts to actually answer the original question though."

Umm . . . yes, the question has been answered. The WTBTS does not address any specific issue related to apostate lies and half truths; they only tell their members that whatever you hear that is contrary to what we are telling you, it is either a lie or a half truth. Therefore, you will not find any articles inthe WT publications that rebut the claims of so-called apostates.

Kind Regards,

Corvin

23

Question from Readers,WT MARCH 15, 2004 page 28

by badboy in

.

whose feet were touched when zipporah cut off her son's 4skin in an attempt 2 set matters straight?.

it was the angel of jehovah who had the power 2 put thew uncircumcised son 2 death.logically,then,zipporah would have caused the 4skin 2 touch the angel's feet,presenting it 2 him as evidence that she had complied with the covenant.. i understand from somewhere,possibly my niv study bible that the word used 4 feet can also mean genitals, there4 did zipporah put it on the angels thingy.. any comments?

Corvin

WHOSE FEET were touched when Zipporah cut off her son's 4skin in an attempt 2 set matters straight?
It was the angel of Jehovah who had the power 2 put thew uncircumcised son 2 death.Logically,then,Zipporah would have caused the 4skin 2 touch the angel's feet,presenting it 2 him as evidence that she had complied with the covenant.
I understand from somewhere,possibly my NIV STUDY BIBLE that the word used 4 feet can also mean genitals, there4 did Zipporah put it on the angels thingy.
any comments?

I have a couple questions: did Zippy's son have four skins or foreskin? Did Zippy's son have four feet? or four genitals? or four feet of genitals? and why was Zippy's son trying to cirmcumvent an angel? This is terribly confusing . . .

5

THE BLOOD ISSUE (FOR NEWBIES & JW LURKERS)

by Corvin in

do jehovah?s witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?.

they too refuse transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma.

if any medicine to be prescribed may be made from blood plasma, red or white cells, or platelets, ask:.

Corvin

If you are new to this board and do not fully understand why current and former members of the organization are taking exception to the WTBTS's stand on the blood transfusion issue, I have for your benefit, pasted excepts from recent WT articles about the issue. Read for yourself how the WTBTS has changed its view of taking blood.

To those who have a greater understanding of this issue, please feel free to contribute and comment on the articles below.

***
w00 8/15 p. 30 Do You Remember? ***
· Do Jehovah?s Witnesses accept medicines derived from blood?
We believe that the Bible command ?abstain from blood? rules out transfusions of whole blood or its primary components (plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets). (Acts 15:28, 29) As to fractions derived from the primary components, each Christian decides personally, bearing in mind what the Bible says and his relationship with God.?6/15, pages 29-31.

***
w00 6/15 pp. 29-31 Questions From Readers ***
Questions
From Readers
Do
Jehovah?s Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?
The fundamental answer is that Jehovah?s Witnesses do not accept blood. We firmly believe that God?s law on blood is not open to reform to fit shifting opinions. Still, new issues arise because blood can now be processed into four primary components and fractions of those components. In deciding whether to accept such, a Christian should look beyond possible medical benefits and risks. His concern should be what the Bible says and the potential effect on his relationship with Almighty God.
The key issues are quite simple. As an aid to seeing why that is so, consider some Biblical, historical, and medical background.
Jehovah God told our common ancestor Noah that blood must be treated as something special. (Genesis 9:3, 4) Later, God?s laws to Israel reflected the sacredness of blood: "As for any man of the house of Israel or some alien resident . . . who eats any sort of blood, I shall certainly set my face against the soul that is eating the blood." By rejecting God?s law, an Israelite could contaminate others; thus, God added: "I shall indeed cut him off from among his people." (Leviticus 17:10) Later, at a meeting in Jerusalem, the apostles and older men decreed that we must ?abstain from blood.? Doing so is as vital as abstaining from sexual immorality and idolatry.?Acts 15:28, 29.
What would "abstaining" have meant back then? Christians did not consume blood, whether fresh or coagulated; nor did they eat meat from an unbled animal. Also ruled out would be foods to which blood was added, such as blood sausage. Taking in blood in any of those ways would violate God?s law.?1 Samuel 14:32, 33.
Most people in ancient times would not have been troubled over the consuming of blood, as we can see from the writings of Tertullian (second and third centuries C.E.). Responding to false charges that Christians consumed blood, Tertullian mentioned tribes that sealed treaties by tasting blood. He also noted that "when a show is given in the arena, [some] with greedy thirst have caught the fresh blood of the guilty . . . as a cure for their epilepsy."
Those practices (even if some Romans did them for health reasons) were wrong for Christians: "We do not include even animals? blood in our natural diet," wrote Tertullian. The Romans used food containing blood as a test of the integrity of real Christians. Tertullian added: "Now, I ask you, what sort of a thing is it, that when you are confident [that Christians] will turn with horror from animals? blood, you should suppose them greedy for human blood?"
Today, few people would think that the laws of Almighty God are at issue if a physician suggested their taking blood. While Jehovah?s Witnesses certainly want to keep living, we are committed to obey Jehovah?s law on blood. What does this mean in the light of current medical practice?
As transfusions of whole blood became common after World War II, Jehovah?s Witnesses saw that this was contrary to God?s law?and we still believe that. Yet, medicine has changed over time. Today, most transfusions are not of whole blood but of one of its primary components: (1) red cells; (2) white cells; (3) platelets; (4) plasma (serum), the fluid part. Depending on the condition of the patient, physicians might prescribe red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Transfusing these major components allows a single unit of blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah?s Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God?s law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible-based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis and AIDS that can be contracted from blood.
However, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. How are such fractions used, and what should a Christian consider when deciding on them?
Blood is complex. Even the plasma?which is 90 percent water?carries scores of hormones, inorganic salts, enzymes, and nutrients, including minerals and sugar. Plasma also carries such proteins as albumin, clotting factors, and antibodies to fight diseases. Technicians isolate and use many plasma proteins. For example, clotting factor VIII has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily. Or if someone is exposed to certain diseases, doctors might prescribe injections of gamma globulin, extracted from the blood plasma of people who already had immunity. Other plasma proteins are used medically, but the above mentioned illustrate how a primary blood component (plasma) may be processed to obtain fractions.
Just as blood plasma can be a source of various fractions, the other primary components (red cells, white cells, platelets) can be processed to isolate smaller parts. For example, white blood cells may be a source of interferons and interleukins, used to treat some viral infections and cancers. Platelets can be processed to extract a wound-healing factor. And other medicines are coming along that involve (at least initially) extracts from blood components. Such therapies are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.
Some would refuse anything derived from blood (even fractions intended to provide temporary passive immunity). That is how they understand God?s command to ?abstain from blood.? They reason that his law to Israel required that blood removed from a creature be ?poured out on the ground.? (Deuteronomy 12:22-24) Why is that relevant? Well, to prepare gamma globulin, blood-based clotting factors, and so on, requires that blood be collected and processed. Hence, some Christians reject such products, just as they reject transfusions of whole blood or of its four primary components. Their sincere, conscientious stand should be respected.
Other Christians decide differently. They too refuse transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Yet, they might allow a physician to treat them with a fraction extracted from the primary components. Even here there may be differences. One Christian may accept a gamma globulin injection, but he may or may not agree to an injection containing something extracted from red or white cells. Overall, though, what might lead some Christians to conclude that they could accept blood fractions?
"Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of June 1, 1990, noted that plasma proteins (fractions) move from a pregnant woman?s blood to the separate blood system of her fetus. Thus a mother passes immunoglobulins to her child, providing valuable immunity. Separately, as a fetus? red cells complete their normal life span, their oxygen-carrying portion is processed. Some of it becomes bilirubin, which crosses the placenta to the mother and is eliminated with her body wastes. Some Christians may conclude that since blood fractions can pass to another person in this natural setting, they could accept a blood fraction derived from blood plasma or cells.
Does the fact that opinions and conscientious decisions may differ mean that the issue is inconsequential? No. It is serious. Yet, there is a basic simplicity. The above material shows that Jehovah?s Witnesses refuse transfusions of both whole blood and its primary blood components. The Bible directs Christians to ?abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from fornication.? (Acts 15:29) Beyond that, when it comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Christian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously decide for himself.
Many people would be willing to accept any therapy that seems to offer immediate benefit, even a therapy having known health risks, as is true of blood products. The sincere Christian endeavors to have a broader, more balanced view that involves more than just the physical aspects. Jehovah?s Witnesses appreciate efforts to provide quality medical care, and they weigh the risk/benefit ratio of any treatment. However, when it comes to products derived from blood, they carefully weigh what God says and their personal relationship with our Life-Giver.?Psalm 36:9.
What a blessing for a Christian to have such confidence as the psalmist who wrote: "Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; favor and glory are what he gives. Jehovah himself will not hold back anything good from those walking in faultlessness. O Jehovah . . . , happy is the man that is trusting in you"!?Psalm 84:11, 12.
[Footnote]
See "Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of June 15, 1978, and October 1, 1994. Pharmaceutical firms have developed recombinant products that are not taken from blood and that may be prescribed in place of some blood fractions used in the past.

[Box
on page 30]
SUGGESTED
QUESTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR
If you face surgery or a treatment that might involve a blood product, ask:
Do all the medical personnel involved know that, as one of Jehovah?s Witnesses, I direct that no blood transfusions (whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or blood plasma) be given to me under any circumstances?
If any medicine to be prescribed may be made from blood plasma, red or white cells, or platelets, ask:
Has the medicine been made from one of the four primary blood components? If so, would you explain its makeup?
How much of this blood-derived medicine might be administered, and in what way?
If my conscience permits me to accept this fraction, what medical risks are there?
If my conscience moves me to decline this fraction, what other therapy might be used?
After I have considered this matter further, when may I inform you of my decision?

Has the WTBTS changed it's viewpoint of blood transfusions?

***
w58 8/1 p. 478 Questions from Readers ***
Questions
from Readers
?
One of Jehovah?s witnesses who claims to be of the anointed remnant recently went to the hospital and took a blood transfusion, voluntarily. Should she be allowed to partake of the emblems of bread and wine at Memorial time??R. J., United States.
We, of course, regret with you that this sister who professes to be one of the anointed remnant took a blood transfusion voluntarily during her stay in the hospital. We believe that she did the wrong thing contrary to the will of God. However, congregations have never been instructed to disfellowship those who voluntarily take blood transfusions or approve them. We let the judgment of such violators of God?s law concerning the sacredness of blood remain with Jehovah, the Supreme Judge. The only thing that can be done in the cases of individuals like this is to view them as immature and therefore not capable of taking on certain responsibilities, hence refusing to make certain assignments of service to such ones.
Since an individual is not disfellowshiped because of having voluntarily taken a blood transfusion or having approved of a dear one?s accepting a blood transfusion, you have no right to bar this sister from the celebration of the Lord?s Evening Meal. As an anointed member of Christ?s body she is under orders and command by Christ Jesus to partake. Whether she is unfaithful as to what she professes to be by virtue of taking the emblems of the Lord?s Evening Meal is something for Jehovah God to determine himself. His judgment begins at the house of God. It is not for you or anyone serving the Memorial emblems to act as the judge, but to allow the emblems to go to anyone in the audience as these are passed along in the normal manner of letting each one have the opportunity to partake.

Today, or in recent years, would a Jehovah's Witness be disfellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion?

27

WT answers to Apostate lies, half truths and deceptions.

by Black Sheep in

.

i am looking for the wt articles that contest the lies, half truths and deceptions used by apostates to weaken jws faith in jehovah's spirit directed organization.. can anyone help me find them?.

please?

Corvin

It is very interesting and soooooooo telling that the Org does not ever address any specific issue it regards as "the lies of an apostate". The WTBTS only makes a blanket statement telling its members not to listen to apostates and to avoid them altogether.

" . . . Something we want to keep in mind, friends, is that we don't want to be personally refuting these untruths unless Jehovah's Organization assigns us to do that publicly. Now when we talk to people in our ministry and elsewhere and they bring up points about what they have heard or read, sure, then we can present the truth to them. But we don't want to be doing that publicly, because that very often just leads to worse reports about us." -"Give God Glory" District Convention 2003

Almighty Org-O-Jah! Speak with regards to what is a lie and what is truth! Did you become a UN whore or not??? Have you changed your intrepation of the Bible's view on blood, and therefore have the needless death of thousands of faithful JW members on your heads??? Have you been giving shelter to child molestors??? Are these reallllllllllly lies? Silence the apostates! C'mon! I dare you! Well . . . ?

Uh huh, just as I thought . . .

Bite Me,

Corvin

43

anyone now have an aversion to dress clothes?

by spike2 in

anyone else have an aversion to dress clothes, now that you aren't forced to wear a suit and tie (women insert their version here) to sit a stadium for 8 hours on a summer day?

being forced to do this as a young child traumatized me pretty good!

Corvin

I still have my suits, but rarely wear them anymore. They are good for job hunting, but I am not looking. They are good for formal dinner parties, but I never have been to one. They are perfect for Meetings at the KH and for field serive, but I haven't been in years. (I get the impression that I am not missed much).

So what can I do with suits I never wear anymore? Easy, I make my wife dress up in them and . . . . . . nevermind . . .

I hate tight collors and ties the most.

Corvin