There is no spiritual paradise amongst the dubs as promised in Isaiah in which the “wolf will reside with the lamb” in a spiritual sense. If there was, this pervert and others would not be allowed to even "think" about it. This pales with how my family was treated by so called "loving christians" but only reinforces that one of the teachings that attracted me initially was, in fact, a lie.
Simon Morley
JoinedPosts by Simon Morley
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Late breaking and local - San Antonio, TX - older man fondles pre-teen at Kingdom Hall on meeting night
by Jim_TX inthis is posted on the local tv news web site, i hope the link works.... http://www.kens5.com/news/local/police-say-sa-man-molested-girl-at-south-side-church.html.
police say s.a. man molested girl at south-side church .
by marvin hurst / kens 5. .
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Has anyone here been a 'chairman' for an assembly? Question with regard to the script for introductions
by ThomasCovenant indoes anyone know if the chairman's introductions and announcements are completely scripted?
particularly with the use of adjectives and adverbs when introducing talks and speakers.. 'as we listen intentedly....'.
'we eagerly look forward to bro so and so's talk'.
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Simon Morley
Chariman is always scripted. My family had a laugh when I used vocabulary that was "so not me" Word like "edifying" , "happified", etc.
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Watchtower Legal Dept.
by Think About It inare all wt lawyers jw's?
do they get paid high salaries because of being lawyers?
does the wts recruit young smart jw's to become wt lawyers?.
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Simon Morley
Blondie &NN: Thanks for the info and source location. Obviously, I need to get my hands on the books...
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A Question To All on this Board
by kes152 inhello,.
i have been reading this board for some time and would like to ask: why you come here and post?
what do you all hope to accomplish by being here?.
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Simon Morley
Keeps me from not taking myself too seriously, is an antidote to absolutist thinking that consumed me for 25 years, helps me see I am not alone in my fade and I look forward to Outlaws graphic appraisals and stellar minamalist use of words...
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Holy Spirit and Governing Body voting
by Think About It inhow in the world can a religious organization that claims to be god's true channel on earth and led my his holy spirit have a majority of it's gb members vote yes on something, but it not pass because 2/3's didn't vote yes?
why would these supposely "spirit annointed" leaders of the "only true religion" not all be lead by holy spirit to pass an important mandate or change?
in coc ray franz talks of jw life affecting voting not passing because although it was a majority, it wasn't 2/3's or a gb member was gone during the vote.
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Simon Morley
If they were guided by holy spirit there would be unmistakable evidence of such an influence.... I think there 2/3rd that vote for are actually going against the holy spirit - thats why we have generation flip-flopping, uneven neautrailty, stupid two witness rules, etc. If they voted with the other1/3 the dubs would be better off.
After all God does not have much to work with on the GB. God must look down and think "what a bunch of twats - when will they get it?"
Creed Bratton of the Office had a great quote: "I have been in cults as a follower and leader. Being a follower was a lot of fun, but being a leader is even better - more money".
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Watchtower Legal Dept.
by Think About It inare all wt lawyers jw's?
do they get paid high salaries because of being lawyers?
does the wts recruit young smart jw's to become wt lawyers?.
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Simon Morley
NN Re: Gary Botting: It does not say anything on his website that he was a witness, just that he and his wife wrote on the topic. Did I miss something or do you have inside knowledge?
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Local news article about JW's.
by JeffT ini'm sending an e-mail to the writer.
i hope to talk about pedophiles, broken families, shunning, blood and false prophecy.
that might make a more interesting story to the general public.
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Simon Morley
Chinese in our area are only interested in learning English - no interest in the bible. Many of them attend university - they rarely progress to baptism and many leave to go on to other locales or head home to China with a new degree and good mastery of the English language. A Chinese client of mine told me that students are encouraged to learn English in this way - attach yourself to a religion - a religion that studies books, are usually patient and always willing. - dubs to a tee!
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Watchtower Legal Dept.
by Think About It inare all wt lawyers jw's?
do they get paid high salaries because of being lawyers?
does the wts recruit young smart jw's to become wt lawyers?.
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Simon Morley
It does not matter if the lawyer is borg or non-borg. Both give the same answer to the question "what is 1 + 1?" they both answer "What do you want it to be?"
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How do you deal with shunning ?
by man in black inmy wife and i da'ed ourselves two years ago.
she left because she felt there was no forward momentum in the congregation.. me: because i really started to notice the lack of love and concern amoungst "true christians".
we have gotten to the point now where we will say hello to any jw's we run into, but the total avoidance thing is starting to get somewhat creepy to me.. example : my wife was in target several weeks ago, put her items on the belt and was getting ready to checkout.
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Simon Morley
I am neither DF'd or DA'd - just inactive. I can tell you that while I was active and an elder I would never ignore a DF/DA person I encountered, I would always enquire about their health, family, etc.
I was convinced the passage at 2 John 10 (often JW's mix the wording with 1 Cor 5:9-13) was more contextual to the fact that the fledgeling christian congregation used greetings as more paying respects or rejoicing with them that an actual verbalized "hello". Nataurally, the others were to be cautious - no different in their association with Jews, Romans, Greeks and other nationals found in the mid east of that time who did not share the "Way" as it was called. Its is also very interesting that Paul's comments on disfellowshipping are very, very close to those he made of marking.
There is nothing is John's 2nd letter, Paul's words to the Corinthians or even in the gospels to indicate being beligerent or uncaring when facing ones who had been DF'd or had DA themselves - to do so was uncaring and extremely unchristian. I honestly believed that by showing this genuine love for such ones I encountered was what was expected of me as a christian and an elder. After all, as I had a honourable motive, God would protect me from any potential harm if it existed.
I had numerous "discussions" with fellow elders who did not share my view. One elder repreatedly and deliberately mixed up 2 John 10 and 1 Cor 5:13 (just to piss me off I believe). However, I remember when the BOE recieved instructions to visit DF/DA at least once a year I enquired of the CO at the time of his visit - "so how do we apply 2 John 10 when we call them on the phone or go to their door? Do we make sure we do not say "hello", "Hi, how are you?". he replied to use our own judgement in such a matter.
It is sad that ones make a spectacle of themselves going out of their way to act in a way contrary to what the scrpitures state. An individual has the God given power of reason and freedom of choice to associate with whomever they want. It is not for me to judge such ones (part of my crisis was not wanting to be on JC's up to about two years before I left and a year before stepping aside as an elder) and it is certainly not for others to judge me if I choose to take a healthy, humane and sincere interest in the well being of those who are no longer a JW by choice or supposed action. Now it matters even less as I am no longer active or attending any meetings. I still enquire no differently of DF/DA, in fact there is a person who lives in the same building as me that was DF's 5 years ago. I treat him no differently now than then.
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Observations since the book study arrangement finished
by truthseeker indoes anyone have any interesting observations since the book study arrangement in private homes finished?.
are jws happier with the extra night off?
do they miss the book study?
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Simon Morley
An examination of the NT/CGS shows that many met in homes, proven by Paul's greetings. I was always under the impression that the Book Study was not only vital but modelled after 1st cent christians and a critical part of the final outwork during the great tribulation. I believe that the biggest reason why it was cancelled can be found in the following quote:
km11/82p.1par.2AMeetingtoFortifyUsSpiritually While you regularly attend all other congregation meetings and participate in them, enjoying and benefiting from these, never underestimate the value of the weekly Congregation Book Study. The fact that this is an organized meeting of a smaller group contributes to its spiritual value. It allows for greater individual participation. There is often more time for scriptures to be looked up, read and discussed. Newer ones and children find it easier to participate and they progress quickly as they gain confidence in expressing their faith. Comments made by mature publishers on the more weighty material help to strengthen and fortify all in attendance. The interchange of encouragement at the book study invigorates all who support it, and a closer bond of union results.
A few observations while I attended the fist year of the change:
1) "It allows for greater individual participation" - to the contrary, people who frequently commented in the book study I oversaw, stopped commenting at the revamped meeting. It made my fade that much easier.
2) "There is often more time for scriptures to be looked up, read and discussed" - big concern, encourages thinking and reasoning. Good luck getting your well researched thought out comment at the Bible Study or wasted on 30 sec soundbites at the weekly Bible Highlights.
3) "Comments made by mature publishers on the more weighty material help to strengthen and fortify all in attendance." The biggest reason - too much additional personal research, espcially by CBSO's - they were putting their own stamp on interpretation away from the majority. I often heard of squabbles over how one CBSO made statemnst contrary to anoth CBSO - the Revelation Climax book was a greate example, add to that the brain addled CBSO who asked me "when were the changes made to the Climax book? was there a letter?"
If the book study was so central to fortification of faith, encuragement, progress, confidence and understanding - why do away with it? the reason - everybody in one spot is easier to control than breaking them up into 6 - 7 groups without control. The gas issue was lame (no disrespect to those who travelled great distances) but an all knowing God would have seen that gas prices would have dropped shortly after peaking. Adding the Family Worship night was also stupid - people quickly ran through the smallest amount they could (if they did it at all) and then settled down for a night of "House" and "24". I would way barely 1% are faithful to this.