00DAD

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Posts by 00DAD

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  47

  Islam More Lenient on Apostates than the WTBTS!

  by 00DAD in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  islam more lenient on apostates than the wtbts!.

  this morning i came across this thought provoking comment in a cnn news article:.

  harris zafar, national spokesperson of the ahmadiyya muslim community usa, does not mince words on the subject, stating in a huffington post opinion piece that "islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy.".

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  00DAD

  dgp: Probably other muslims view Mr. Zafar as an apostate. I really wouldn't know nor do I care because this thread was/is supposed to be about what the WTBTS and JWs would be like if they didn't have any disfellowshipping!

  I suggest YOU start a thread about Islam and let it go where ever your little heart desires. Rant at will!

  Have a pleasant day,

  Daniel

  PS - Since you think so highly of JT why don't you make a play for her? Just don't tell her she comes from a nice country. While your at it, would you mind asking her when they moved the University of Washington to Uzbekistan?
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  35

  So-and-so is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  with all of the legal mumbo jumbo and technicalties that the organization uses (recently brought to light in the australian case), i couldn't help but wonder what power the "no longer one of jehovah's witnesses" really has or even means from a technical standpoint, since the organization is so technical.

  we know what it means when the announcement is made, but in reality, so-and-so never really belonged to any of the groups in the first place.

  the law says that association or membership is voluntary, therefore the organization has the right to expel and shun someone for not following the guidelines expected of members.. what are the rank and file members of?.

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  00DAD

  BOOKMARKING - I've been working on a thread like this for a while and will respond later when I gather my thoughts. That may take a while as some days they are rather scattered! ...
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  10

  That crazy FDS and the GB connection...or lack thereof.

  by Aussie Oz in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the whole fds and the gb representing them is a huge jump of impossible logic.... if the wt do not by their own admission, count the annointed nor know how many real ones there are, if they dont consult the remaining ones, the faithful slave how the hell can the gb 'represent' them?.

  i mean, how can i for example tell the world that i represent the people of my town in parliment if not only have they never met me, i have never so much as asked one single towns person anything?

  if i don't even know how many people live in my town?

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  00DAD

  Aussie Oz: I am amazed at how gullible i was in the past life to have swallowed that crazy crazy idea!

  I can't tell you how many times I've had that same thought over the past couple of years since I left the WT Cult. And I like to think I'm smart! Apparently not smart enough.

  You might want to take a look at this recent thread where we've been bouncing around similar ideas/questions regarding the FDS & GB:

  The Faithful and Discreet Slave - A JW Myth

  There are a lot of really good comments and observations. In particular I'd encourage you to read those by:

  • wobble
  • compound complex
  • cedars
  • TimothyT
  • Leolaia - Extensive research & historical background!
  • MrMonroe
  • blondie
  • jwfacts - more research
  • much, much more!

  Enjoy!

  Daniel
• 
  47

  Islam More Lenient on Apostates than the WTBTS!

  by 00DAD in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  islam more lenient on apostates than the wtbts!.

  this morning i came across this thought provoking comment in a cnn news article:.

  harris zafar, national spokesperson of the ahmadiyya muslim community usa, does not mince words on the subject, stating in a huffington post opinion piece that "islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy.".

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  00DAD

  dgp, thank you for finally commenting on what was the direction of this thread from its inception. I imagine you're right, that if there were no punishment by the WTBTS for "apostasy" then there would be fewer JWs. Finally, something we can agree upon.

  Fear is absolutely what keeps many from leaving, as so many different threads on JWN evidence. If you haven't already seen this thread, you might find it informative:

  • An Open letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses

  It was started by user stuckinamovement. I think his username says it all.

  I was also intrigued to see that you've changed your position on Mr. Zafar recognizing that he wasn't lying, but merely stating what he believes. (BTW, it was HIS opinion which I found intriguing and--as mentioned before--got me thinking "what if" the WT had no sanctions ...) For some reason I still can't understand, you seem to think I agree with him. I don't and I never did. Whatever, I've already tried to make that point repeatedly, apparently unsuccessfully.

  Next, so where was it exactly you saw the picture of JT? You speak of her so adoringly it's almost as if she's a kindred spirit of yours, an alter ego!

  Finally, I would respectfully request you refrain from referring to me as "Mr Zero Zero". It is disrespectful to say the least, although I suspect you know that. It will be telling to see how you respond to this request.

  Cheers,

  Daniel
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  92

  The Faithful and Discreet Slave - A JW Myth

  by 00DAD in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  probably this topic has been dealt with before, but i'm relatively new here, so perhaps y'all will be willing to indulge me in my pursuit for clarity.

  regarding the anointed, the gb recently said this: .

  "we thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know.

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  00DAD

  Things that make you go, hmmmm!

  Interesting, as shown previously: the WTBTS says it does NOT keep track of the anointed ones that make up the FDS, but ....

  The Watch Tower does keep records of people accused of molestation, but the number in the database is far fewer than 23,000, he [J.R. Brown] said, declining to give a specific figure. Watch Tower officials use the database to ensure that a person against whom a credible allegation of molestation is made won't be elevated to positions of authority. Also, Brown said, if a person is accused in separate incidents, Witness officials have a record of that history and will look into the matter seriously. - St. Petersburg Times Newspaper, August 22, 2002

  Thanks to OUTLAW who posted this on the related thread: The real identity of the F&DS revealed...any news yet?
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  57

  The real identity of the F&DS revealed...any news yet?

  by Aussie Oz in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recently barbara posted the update on the unthank case and mentioned that more would be revealed soon on the real identity of the faithful slave.. has it been revealed yet?

  have i missed it?.

  been looking, hoping!.

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  00DAD

  Yeah, isn't is ridiculous! We all know the GB wants to know about every single magazine placement and even the 15 minutes of Field Service from Sister Oldenweary, but we're supposed to accept the fact that they have no idea who the individuals are that comprise the FDS, supposedly the most important group of people in the history of mankind and the very group that gives them their theocratic authority and legitimacy: the appointment by Christ is to the FDS, not the GB. The GB just claims to represent them.

  It's just so stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

  Oh, I get it now, without the FDS, they're just a bunch of illegitimate bastards!

  Come to think of it, that's exactly right. The fact that they don't know who are the individuals that comprise the FDS is kind of similar to a child not knowing their biological father. The term for that is: Bastard!
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  89

  Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  this is a preliminary summary only.

  i hope to obtain more details later.. .

  all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.

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  00DAD

  Yes, we all now know that the FDS does not exist. But I doubt there would be such a straightforward admission from a Society lawyer. Can you imagine the Society's lawyer telling the judge:

  Well actually your Honor, the FDS doesn't exist. We just made it up. But please don't tell anyone, especially all the faithful JWs because they really, really believe in it and finding out there is no FDS would just break their little hearts. It's kind of like Santa Clause. You remember how you felt when you found out there isn't a Santa Clause don't you? Now you wouldn't want to do that to them, would you? Have a heart.

  I suspect it is more likely this web reference from jwNews.net summarizes something more along the lines of the fact that, from a legal perspective, the FDS is a non-entity. This would be in contrast to of course individuals and also the well-established principle that corporations are recognized as legal entities. The FDS naturally has no legal status. Rather it is a "religious concept," albeit a false one. But again, I'd seriously doubt they would admit that in court. But then again there is always the Walsh Court Case ... you never know!

  The New Pharisees strike again!!!
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  30

  Now what do I do?

  by outsmartthesystem in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you that know my plight....i need to know your opinion.

  summary - i developed a piss poor, combative, rebellious attitude toward the society many years ago.

  my wife saw it and hated it.

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  00DAD

  You say your wife "is a very good woman that loves truthfulness". Then be truthful with her. But be kind and gentle too! She'll probably get upset at first, but be patient. Truth will out. Tell her you love her. Tell her you have something very important to tell her and that you need to talk, alone! Be kind, but be firm.

  On the other hand, if your wife actually will not talk to you without an elder present, then--I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but--your marriage is over. Been there done that.

  Either way, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT ALLOW THE ELDERS TO BE INVOLVED. Regardless of WT indoctrination and "teaching" that the elders are "spiritual counselors" there to help, the exact opposite is true. Involving the elders is the worst possible thing you could do. I did and now I am disfellowshipped.

  Simply put, it's none of their business. This is between you and your wife. Man up. WWJD?
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  57

  The real identity of the F&DS revealed...any news yet?

  by Aussie Oz in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recently barbara posted the update on the unthank case and mentioned that more would be revealed soon on the real identity of the faithful slave.. has it been revealed yet?

  have i missed it?.

  been looking, hoping!.

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  00DAD

  ziddina, don't know if you saw this or not, but the FULL QUOTE explains--from the GB's point of view--why they "have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth".

  "Memorial partakers. This is the number of baptized individuals who partake of the emblems at the Memorial worldwide. Does this total represent the number of anointed ones on earth? Not necessarily. A number of factors-including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance-might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling. We thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know. The Governing Body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones." - w2011 8/15 p. 22, full paragraph [Emphasis added]

  Mama, they're all CRAAAAAAZZZZZZEEEEEE now!

  Can anyone explain how this corresponds with Jesus words, "I am the fine shepherd, and I know my sheep and my sheep know me"? - John 10:14.

  I guess Jesus isn't telling the GB who his sheep are. Why not? Well, evidently it's on a "need to know basis" and as the GB freely admit, "We thus have no way of knowing … nor do we need to know".

  They said it, I agree with it, that settles it!
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  47

  Islam More Lenient on Apostates than the WTBTS!

  by 00DAD in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  islam more lenient on apostates than the wtbts!.

  this morning i came across this thought provoking comment in a cnn news article:.

  harris zafar, national spokesperson of the ahmadiyya muslim community usa, does not mince words on the subject, stating in a huffington post opinion piece that "islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy.".

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  00DAD

  glenster, I agree. And the OPENNESS would be very good for the organization as a whole. If and when people feel free to express an opinion and have it heard respectfully, when people are allowed to dissent, when freedom of speech is real and not just an imaginary right given lip service, then people are way more likely to coexist in peace and harmony.

  If I think you will listen to me respectfully, then I am more willing to listen to you.

  Perhaps we can come closer to the truth this way. Me may never actually get all the way there, but maybe, just maybe we will get close.