I see a difference in tone. It is obvious the WT does not want "appointed brothers" to lose their position unless they "should" because of a "scandal" in the congregation.
Wonderment
JoinedPosts by Wonderment
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16
"Dub"ble Standards!
by sabastious in3:8; it-2 pp.
whether the wrongdoer is weak or wicked.. weakness is not synonymous with repentance.. (w95 1/1, pp.
wrongdoing.
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Biblical expertise of the GB and WT writing committees?
by IsaacJ22 ini was just wondering if i'm correct about something; namely, that the society's leaders don't appear to know much about the bible from a secular, scholarly, or historical perspective.. i've seen quotes posted here where they claim you don't need to be an expert to interpret the bible's true meaning.
that's not exactly encouraging.
but does anyone know much about their real world, practical knowledge of the bible from a non-religious perspective?.
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Wonderment
What many don't seem to realize when the subject of WT writers comes up is that there is a dichotomy (division of two parts) between the Governing Body (GB) and the actual Writing Staff. Most GB members are not scholars per se, though some participe as contributors in some articles. The bulk though is done by the Writing Staff which is composed of better abled writers .
However, the Writing Staff is severely handicapped by the GB. Otherwise, we would see more scholarly articles. There are some within the Writing Staff competent enough for that. But the GB don't let them work to their potential. It's all about control, more than trying to impress the world with their info.
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Is this Stupid or is it Just me?
by Kensho incheck it out, i played with the band today (all brothers) at the hilton resort by the pool, nice gig but the mother of a 12 year old came up and asked us to sing happy b-day to him, wow very awkward the brother she approached said 'why don't you sing it to him" and shoved the microphone in her face, she refused about 4 or 5 times and was very frustrated we would not sing as this is a really common request of bands.
she was really put on the spot, so she did it and we just stood there, thank god the crowd joined in singing.
when it was over the brother turned to one of the band members and said we should remember to bring the b-day music on mp3 to play when this happens.
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Wonderment
Yes, Kensho, it is stupid, but that is what happens when we mortgage our mind to a religious entity.
In fact, the bible points out that when a Christian can't decide whether things are right or wrong without the help of others, it is a sign of christian inmaturity. (Hebrews 5:14)
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Democrat or Republican? Does it matter?
by Wonderment inelection year is approaching.
are we ready for the political campaigns?
for those who vote, does it really matter whether we vote democrat or republican?.
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Wonderment
I use to remember the good times of the 1960s. Fuel was low priced. The amount of mortgage and rent percentage-wise per householder was much lower than it has been since then, states had enough money to cover expenses and have money left. Health premiums were low and hospital care was easy for anyone to obtain without going through a screening process for financial ableness.
Then President Reagan put deregulation at the forefront as the savior of ills, and most administrations since then have followed some of those flawed policies, resulting in the financial meltdown of 2008. Now, everyone pays more than we need to. The country is broke and sustaining wars based on credit. We all are paying for those policies, and barrels of oil are being toyed with for financial gain. The states have no money for road construction, bridge maintenance, education and health support.The judicial and the criminal system with its many prisons do not work. Immigrants have become the scapegoat of our frustrations, and most people in this country don't have the guts to do what other people of other countries often do, that is, protest loud and clear, make politicians pay for their greedy behavior and upturn policies.
We have not learned from Iceland's troubles when deregulation was implemented bringing the country down financially and otherwise.
In the financial meltdown of 2008, some of the criminals of the largest financial institutions walked away with millions and millions, and we had to bail these companies out. President Obama in his campaing talked about having those responsible for our country's financial mess pay for their criminals activities, but nothing has been done. In fact, Obama hired some of the same people responsible for this mess, back into his administration. It seems like a case where "if I can't fight them and win, I might as well join them."
Back in the 1960s, there were only a couple of hundred lobbyists in place. Nowadays the number is somewhere around 40 thousand and growing. The real name of lobbyists are bribers. And it is legal to lobby (bribe) our legislators. What a mess! It matters little whether they are democrat or republicans. They have sold out our country to corporations who would sooner pollute our land than do what it is right. The 2008 financial fiasco will happen again because nothing is being done to change the status quo. The question is not if is going to happen, but when.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is a democracy where people rule. No sir! The Fed Bank does and the Corporations behind them do. This is more of a plutocracy or oligarchy than a democracy at play. They bought Congress a long time ago, and they are not ready to relinquish power without a big fight.
Have any of you seen the movie INSIDE JOB?
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Democrat or Republican? Does it matter?
by Wonderment inelection year is approaching.
are we ready for the political campaigns?
for those who vote, does it really matter whether we vote democrat or republican?.
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Wonderment
Election year is approaching. Are we ready for the political campaigns?
For those who vote, does it really matter whether we vote Democrat or Republican?
Corruption is so rampant... should we engage in politics and still be Christian? What is your take?
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The magazines didn't used to be so dumb and boring
by Lore inhere's an excerpt from this weeks watchtower study in 1950: .
*** w50 6/15 p. 180 a victory dedicated to jehovahs honor ***.
the strategy, and the attack.
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Wonderment
Thanks Lore for the excerpt.
I am one of those who thinks that earlier WT writers had a bit more leeway than writers today. Earlier writers were allowed writing articles which displayed more depth and imagination, at least perceptibly more than today.
Some of WT writers are obviously potentially capable enough to write well. But they are so restricted by the controlling-prone Governing Body. It must not be easy being a WT writer, and having this ability to write ideas well, but not allowed to do so. They write withing very rigid guidelines, thus are hampered by WT theological agenda. WT study articles of the last few decades show this restrictive tendencies very well.
On the positive side, I have seen a polishing of some of their articles, where they seem more refined than earlier articles... less depth, and more tendentious, but more polished.
I was a Watchtower study conductor for some time, and I became increasinglly annoyed at the WT tactics of indoctrination. I remember that for some articles, I would ask another elder to conduct the WT meeting, because I could not conscientiously do so, until I decided to resign as an elder.
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Morning worship comment from Bethel
by Smoky ini received this email from a friend of a friend:.
'comments made by brother lett at morning worship today.. the comments were about the work we have of bearing witness of the truth.
" again, the angels make note of it.. we knock at the fifth house and again no one is home.
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Wonderment
I too like the newer more realistic versions.
Notwithstanding, Mr. Lett and his buddies at Brooklyn know too well that most people at the doors don't answer the door, but the cycle of money turning doesn't stop. We know that publishers have to contribute for the literature whether they collect for it or not. It's a senseless treadmill for most everybody except for the WT bank accounts. This system has sustained the WT for what, twenty years or so? Boy, I am glad I don't have to put up with that scheme any longer.
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I joined a new cult
by skeeter1 inanother ex-dub was talking to me about nutrition and healthy lifestyle, natural remedies, etc.
i've been getting into it.. i came across dr. fuhrman.
he's an authority (board certified family physician).
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Wonderment
ziddina:
Didn't realize I was following a diet, per se. You may be right. Anyways, I feel comfortable to the point that it does not feel like one advertised diet.
Oh, I enjoy moderate drinking... beer and wine, mostly.
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I joined a new cult
by skeeter1 inanother ex-dub was talking to me about nutrition and healthy lifestyle, natural remedies, etc.
i've been getting into it.. i came across dr. fuhrman.
he's an authority (board certified family physician).
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Wonderment
I suggest caution to anyone going vegan 100%. I know of cases where vegans ended up with cancer and/or death prematurely. Close to me had two co-workers die prematurely and one could say they were fanatic vegans. Another had her tongue removed because of cancer. She kept up with everything healthwise.She avoided meats altogether.
My father hardly ever ate veggies, didn't exercise, was overweight, ate lots of meats, (pork, etc), and still lived to a "normal" 82. He died of a stroke, due to high blood pressure, because he didn't keep up with medication. He outlived some of the vegans I know by decades of lifetime. He was still strong and active when he had the stroke. Perhaps, my Dad lived a normal life because he ate homemade meals, though he had bad practices.
Like others stated here, balance is the key. I like my wine with meals, love x-virgin olive oil, and I eat my veggies. My wife is a SDA, so she does not cook pork, so I eat pork less than before. I don't take any diets, because they are for me an irritation. I avoid sodas and try to eat homemade meals. I cannot emphasize that enough. HOMEMADE meals. Avoid anything processed, at least, keep it to a minimum. Just the basics. I don't follow warnings that I should not use salt, or eat eggs. No, I enjoy the salt moderately. I love eggs a few times a week. Nutritionists change their theories every few years, a few decades at most. So what they preach today as true nutrition may be wrong science 10 years from now. It reminds me of WT doctrines where they change at whim.
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I have a question on the Circuit Accounts Scam thread
by gubberningbody ini didn't want it to get buried and i'd really like to know.. so i knew pretty much what he was saying was true, but what i don't get is how the creative accounting works.. i mean you have to show expenses on the ledger - and i mean real expenses, like the co/do expenses along with receipts.. you have actual costs for the power coming into the building.
the paper supplies and cleaning supplies.
the vacuum cleaners and mops and other sundry items, and you have to have receipts for all that.. i also know that when you made a "donation" it was off the books at the circuit level as far as accounts were concerned.. but how is money not being accounted for?.
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Wonderment
I don't trust their accounting methods anymore than I do of their application of scriptures such as Acts 20:20 (house-to-house) and Matthew 24:45 (faithful and discreet slave).