Posts by MrMonroe

10

Article and pictures of JW's paradise

by compound complex in

jw
friends

http://www.unc.edu/~elliott/icon.html.

this is really good; please click on.. coco.

but surely the utopian hope that nurtures the vision of the total resolution of all evil and injustice in a millennial paradise on earth is precisely the consequence of the witnesses' obdurate refusal to accept "life as it is.

MrMonroe

Andrew Holden's "Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement" book (pg 92-3) noted the stark contrast between imagery in their literature of the paradise ("deliriously happy faces with surrounding emerald green slopes, clear blue skies and bright sunshine ... an exaggerated vesion of contentment") with life on the outside ("pictures of people being murdered, thieves breaking into houses, couples acting promiscuously, all of which show life outside the organisation as debased and riddled with moral danger. These images are presented in dark colour and portray characters with unattractive features.")

He added: "This contrast of salvation on the inside and risk on the outside implies that not only can there be nothing in between the two systems but that morality cannmot exist outside the Watch Tower community."

40

You will no longer be disfellowshipped for associating with a disfellowshipped person.

by shepherd in

"if members of the congregation are known to.

have undue association with disfellowshipped.

or disassociated relatil'es who are not in the.

MrMonroe

Page 60 of the Shepherd the Flock book notes that "Brazen conduct" may warrant the establishment of a judicial committee. The definition of "brazen conduct" includes "an insolent, contemptuous attitude made evident by a practice of these things:
• Willful, continued, unnecessary association with disfellowshipped nonrelatives despite
repeated counsel."

Bottom line: anyone who ignores the directive to shun a DFd or DAd individual is guilty of brazen conduct, displaying "an attitude that betrays disrespect, disregard, or even contempt for divine standards, laws, and authority." The GB is undeniably acting on God's authority, hence anyone who ignores their ruling must be expelled and shunned.

I can't help but wonder if Jesus would have condemned as a "wrongdoer" someone who simply spoke with someone who had been expelled from the local Jewish congregation by the Pharisees.

31

KS10 Chapter Six Discussion

by yknot in

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/200524/1/ks10-chapter-one-discussion.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/200527/1/ks10-chapter-two-discussion.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/200581/1/ks10-chapter-three.

MrMonroe

Link gone.

40

KS10 Chapter Five Discussion

by yknot in

reiteration that the below is a discussion of chapter 5 from 'shepherding the flock of god' which is published by the wts of penn/ny.

the wts is a non-profit that distributes it's publications free of charge worldwide.

this particular publication while not for sale (well none of the wts publications are either technically) is not distributed broadly but is still nonetheless part of their bible educational work, while not required donations are joyful accepted by all jws for the purpose of this work....... here are the previous discussion threads:.

MrMonroe

According to paragraph 9, a judicial committee may be formed to investigate the "offence" of "brazen conduct", which would include the "Willful, continued, unnecessary association with disfellowshipped nonrelatives despite repeated counsel". The book cites three scriptures in support of this: Matthew 18:17b (referring to repeated counsel) 1 Cor 5:11, 13 which is Paul's appeal to quit mixing in company with a brother Christian who is a fornicator, a greedy person, idolator, reviler, drunkard or extortioner, and 2 John 10:11, which appeals to Christians to steer clear of a person who (v.9) "pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ."

In none of those scriptures do I see any scriptural command for a Christian to shun someone who chooses to reject the peculiar teachings of a religious denomination, namely the Watch Tower Society. If a Witness told the judicial committee they still believed in Christ and God but did not believe the whole FDS backstory and was subsequently expelled, doesn't that mean the Watch Tower's decision to (a) expel that person and (b) command others to shun him would be "pushing ahead and not remaining in the teaching of Christ"?

Without a doubt, the WTS commands elders to expel and shun members of the religion on its own set of rules. Its profession that it is all based on scripture is pure bunkum.

17

Any of you have one of these?

by bottleofwater in

do or did any of you ever have those super emotional brothers and sisters (typically older) who think that every little thing will cause armageddon?.

example - when the pilot landed the plane on the hudson river... oh my god!

it's a sign of armageddon!

MrMonroe

An elder I know spends his whole shaking his head and looking sad about what the world is coming to. And yet every passing milestone of mankind's descent into deeper degradation fills him with a greater sense of satisfaction. Sad, really.

66

KS10 Chapter Two Discussion

by yknot in

continuing onward into chapter two (as directed by the boe ltr dated aug 23, 2010) of "shepherding the flock of god" a publication by the non profit organizatin known as the wts of penn & ny as part of their for donation only bible educational work.. for those of interested in chapter one discussion please see: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/200524/1/ks10-chapter-one-discussion.

chapter two discusses the various titles within the boe.. subtitles are:.

2) elder's meetings.

MrMonroe

Are you sure this is the full version of the book?

Among the duties for Congregation Secretary I don't see any bullet points for:

"Drop broad hints to brothers about confidential matters while witnessing" or
"Foolishly leave highly sensitive documents lying on your desk so one's wife accidentally reads the whole thing and spreads the word on the Sisters' Network."

28

WT Jan 2011 - Grieving Holy Spirit Defined?

by sabastious in

could alex do?

he might lovingly approach.

steve again and lay bare his fault.

MrMonroe

Pleasing our greatest Friend, Jehovah, is always the right thing to do. When we put him first, others who love him will respect us for our loyalty and become true friends.

So I get it now. I keep a close eye out for the failings of my brothers. When I see any transgression, perhaps his failure to walk out of a movie because there's some bonking in it, or he got really pissed and stupid when I was round at his place one night with a few beers, I inform the elders to show I am putting Jehovah first. The wrongdoer get counseled, reproved or possibly disfellowshipped. When my brothers in the congregation see that I helped keep the congregation clean by informing the elders, their respect for me grows and they become my true friends.

This is an organization I want to be part of.

And let's face it. Jehovah sees all, right? He knows my brother got a bit of a woody watching that movie, or got so smashed on those beers that his prayer before our meal was a bit wobbly and rambling. Now Jehovah can't tell the elders, can he? He's using me, correct? I am God's eyes and ears. I must do this more often. Possibly there are more of my brothers erring. Respect for me within the congregation must surely grow.

9

Dec 2010 Awake: Recycled Well-to-Asians WT "Commentary"

by Red Piller in

*** w94 12/15 pp.

3-4 what does christmas mean to you?

what does christmas mean to you?.

MrMonroe

James Penton in Apocalypse Delayed noted: "Numerous Witnesses who have visited the Writing Department at Brooklyn report that very often they have seen Watchtower writers research material for new articles by going back through old volumes of the society's official journal published in the 1920s and 1930s." (p.232).

I became tired of attending meetings and conventions that recycled the same old material and gave up reading the magazines because it was the same old tripe. When I did go out to offer them, more than often I was asking them to take magazines I had no intention of reading myself.

11

looking for quote about research own religion

by Aussie Oz in

i am looking for some sort of quote to show the kids that its ok to investigate their own religion.

something from a recent book or watchtower would be great!.

like... nothing to fear, we have nothing to hide, truth can stand investigation, make sure of it foryourself sort of thing i guess!.

MrMonroe

The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life (1981):

“

We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.

32

Disappointed by JW Visit

by Cold Steel in

okay, i wanted to know more about the jws, so i went to the website and filled in my name and other info.

i was finally contacted, set up an appointment and visited.

the first two people came and they were nice, but one of the fellows looked uptight and avoided eye contact.

MrMonroe

My guess is that they went and sat in their car for an hour or so with furrowed brows and eventually decided that you weren't really searching and weren't really deserving. They probably guessed you wouldn't be convinced easily and figured they'd just end up becoming frustrated by not winning you over. If you're raising questions they've never considered before, the problem for them is they have only one "research" source they're allowed to turn to. If the Watchtower has never addressed your points, it all becomes just too hard.