Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  39

  ELDER BOOK to be HANDED OVER to Min.of Justice (FINLAND)

  by RagingBull in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  jehovah's witnesses to hand over top-secret manualon friday finland's jehovah's witnesses will give their religious rule book to the minister of justice and the minister of the interior so that it can be inspected to ensure that it's in line with finnish rule of law.

  jehovah's witnesses will hand over their secret rule book to the minister of justice, anna-maja henriksson, and the minister of the interior, paivi rasanen.

  image: heikki saukkomaa / lehtikuva until now, only senior members of the jehovahs witnesses committee have had access to the congregation's secret book of rules.. the disciplinary activities of the jehovah's witnesses committee have been criticised for violating human rights.. according to anna-maja henriksson, finland's minister of justice, the purpose of the handover is to examine the book and determine whether its rules and regulations run counter to finnish law.. henriksson and interior minister paivi rasanen met on thursday with the leadership of the jehovah's witnesses in helsinki.

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  Doubting Bro

  Are there really that many notes in the new flock book? Are there different versions for different countries? I think the unedited US book (at least in English) is enough to show that institutionally enforced shunning is practiced. I'm assuming that's what is against Finnish law.

  I have a hard time thinking that this would impact practices in most countries especially the US where religion can pretty much do what they want.

  I could see the WTS having a set of rules for Finland and another set for the rest of the world. They simply can't drop shunning, they would lose way too many people!
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  43

  New Atlanta Assembly Hall Has raised 3.4 million Dollars... GONE

  by James Jackson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they announced last week that the new atanta assembly hall has thus far raised 3.4 million dollars.

  my local told that will become the society's come may 1. i wonder how that will go over with the ones who have been contributing to this fund..

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  Doubting Bro

  The cash flow situation must be far worse than I had imagined. I agree that building work is just the premises to get the funds in the door but that RBCs will likely be directed to slow it down (at least here in the US). I really wonder if this isn't just the first step in a tithing sort of arrangement.
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  143

  Letter to BOE: Adjustment in process for appointing elders and ministerial servants

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hello, you read it here first!.

  governing body of jehovah's witnesses.

  to all congregations.

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  Doubting Bro

  I wonder if they think that by having the sign-off stop at the CO level, they are somehow reducing liability for the borg? I don't see that being the case at all because COs are full time employees (the branch directs their activity and provides financial support) and are still agents of the WTS.

  Now, if they moved the appointment to stop with the BOEs, that would likely break the agency relationship or at least make a good arguement since the branch wouldn't have as much control.

  I think that's why they stopped having the branch sign off on pioneers because they were afraid that someone would be able to make the arguement that they are agents of the WTS since they were appointed directly by the branch. Now, the BOEs appoint/delete pioneers and just inform the branch.

  It's really difficult for a high control religion to give up any control. So on the one side, you have the cult masters (GB) wanting to run every aspect of their members lives and on the other hand, you have the legal department attempting to reduce liability and protect company assets.

  Let's see who wins the arguement. I'll bet if they get a few more multi-million dollar judgements, the lawyers will win.
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  44

  Newcomers to TTATT: Beware of "New Study Mode"!

  by Londo111 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  weve all heard it.

  a person starts studying with jehovahs witnesses and love what they are learning so much that they cant stop talking about it.

  bubbling with enthusiasm, they spill everything they are learning with their friends and family...or anybody who will listen.

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  Doubting Bro

  Good point Londo!
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  63

  First Post...Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your help over the years!

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).

  i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.

  although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.

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  Doubting Bro

  Welcome! Look forward to reading your comments.
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  101

  The Last BOE!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is the last boe we will be able to provide.

  our informant or source, was caught, disfellowshipped, and thrown out of bethel.

  we knew that sooner or later the watchtower would find him out.

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  Doubting Bro

  Atlantis, please pass along my thanks to him as well!
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  41

  Do you think not having the book study in private homes has had much effect?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's been a few years since the organization ended the book study arrangement in private homes.. gone was the last opportunity to have tea and biscuits and a natter with the friends afterwards.. do you think people regret losing the book study?

  for some, it may have been the only time they were able to get some "associaton".

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  Doubting Bro

  In most places the CBS was the worst attended meeting. If you were going to eliminate anything, that's the one you had to eliminate. Plus, it really didn't make them any money since very few contributed there and caused extra work. I'm still convinced they "combined" the midweek meeting for 2 reasons:

  1) To allow the stacking of more congregations in KHs (less weeknights to schedule= maximizing the # of congregations you can fit)

  2) decreasing # of elders to conduct.
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  72

  CO's & DO's age 70+ to be laid off on 9/1/14

  by williamhconley in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in a private conversation with a c.o.

  friend from north carolina, he told me yesterday that they just got a letter that all traveling overseers (do's & co's) age 70 & up are going to be laid off on 09/01/2014.

  they will be asssigned to local congregations and further details are pending.. .

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  Doubting Bro

  Question, are COs & DOs legally considered employees in the US? I'm not sure they are. If they are, then this is outright age discrimination. If not, then it seems pretty heartless even for the WTS.
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  30

  International Conventions for 2014 - Landover, MD - What is an International Convention?

  by insearchoftruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  have been out of touch for a while, i see that there is an 'international' convention this year in landover, md (fed ex field) and there are no english conventions in either richmond or hampton, va. what is an 'international convention', is it merely a consolidation of all the other conventions meant to whip up some fervor amongst the masses?.

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  Doubting Bro

  So unfortunately I'm going to this one. Fed Ex in August! It's going to be absolutely miserable. My understanding is that most of the congregations from Richmond north past Baltimore are assigned. It's going to be more awful than normal since temps will easily be in the 90s and humid. And if it rains, ugh.

  I've heard that not many "international delegates" are going to be there. Mainly just missionaries coming home. Also, there are several in my congregation that are not going due to the venue. They've already decided to go to either Roanoke or Raleigh. Finally, I've heard (a family member told me and I believe that person) that there have been local needs parts in some congregations to quit mummering about the venue! I know of several people (including elders/ms) that have complained to me in no uncertain terms how much this sucks!! Of course, they'll still go and donate so the GB could care less.
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  84

  BOE Letter: New Adjustments

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  **this was predicted from some members here**.

  to all congregations .

  re: adjustments in organizational terminology and assembly arrangements .

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  Doubting Bro

  So the 2015 "Service Year" (fiscal year to other businesses) actually starts 9-1-14. So, those who have already had their 2 day CA this year won't have 2 days anymore! Overall, most JWs will be happy to hear this!!