Posts by konceptual99

15

Is everything that doesnt add ud explained as a vision, a parable or a "poem" ?

by Bolthof in

hi.. i meet up with a couple of jw once a week and it seems to me that every time i show them a verse that says something that contradicts their doctrine they say that it is a parable, a vision.. or a poem of some sort.

what are your toughts about this ?.

konceptual99

At then end of the day we were all taught to rebuff difficult texts with a "this is what was really meant" argument. Sometimes the context and original language allows for more subtle or alternative interpretations but I long since gave up trying to twist others up in knots over texts from a book that is essentially a bunch of folklore.

Trying to convince a JW they are wrong based on texts like Phil 1 is an exercise in futility. The only time a JW starts to examine these details critically is when they are already receptive to re-examining far more fundamental teachings.

43

The Modern Exodus: Perception or Reality?

by Hadriel in

i'm completely new at this however just in my joining this forum and of course interacting with others i can't help but notice what appears to be a significant exodus from the organization.. for those of you that have long been in this game have you seen this before?

i'm really curious and we should refrain from the sensational, but is what we're seeing different than in years past?.

it sure seems like so so many are waking and leaving.

konceptual99

I think Simon's point is well made. The generation teaching is a big thing for me but for many they simply do not care. The GB play the game very well and change doctrine in a way that people can digest with very limited collateral damage.

The organisation is held together with the glue of cognitive dissonance and it takes something very strong to start to break that down. In my experience, for long standing Witnesses it's injustice and personal matters that generally allows any dissatisfaction with doctrine to turn into progressive and open minded questioning.

I would not underestimate the leeway the GB has to be able to change huge amounts of doctrine with very little real damage to the faith of the vast majority.

12

JW Broadcasting: How to make memorial bread

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

i don't believe it, but it is on jw broadcasting: how to make memorial bread.. it is just like the 24/kitchen broadcasting.. http://tv.jw.org/#en/video/vodministry/pub-jwbrd_201603_2_video.

konceptual99

Hey, I love the way it reinforces a bunch of gender stereotypes.

Women. Know your place.

95

Evolution is a Fact #31 - Ten Questions for Creationists

by cofty in

i thought this would be a good time to pose some questions based on the series so far.. if creationism is true these should be easy.

answers that don't involve copy-paste would be really interesting to read.. ... .

1. since some proteins can be assembled in more ways than there are atoms in the universe why do the sequences of amino acids and bases vary between species in exactly the way evolution predicts?

konceptual99

Er..... God done it?

35

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

konceptual99

I think this development is inevitable. Every other charity organisation in the UK who works with children has mandatory DBS checks for volunteers. It is outrageous that the Watchtower gets away with ignoring basic child welfare procedures.
You can only imagine the implications of every elder - and possibly MS - being made to have a criminal records check. How many thousands would just resign rather than reveal their past?

The org would argue that the meetings are held in open, public sessions with no specific teaching of children away from their parents. Whilst I would love to see this development as it would have a big impact on the running of congregations as the MS/elder roles become poison chalices and are basic child welfare processes but actually I don't think it does much to safeguard kids. The biggest danger to kids in the congregation is the procedural loopholes that can allow abusers to remain in close contact with kids. That's where the formal investigations coming up can really help force change on the organisation.

39

JWs win 2015 Bronze Telly Award in the “Online Video News Feature”

by OrphanCrow in

jworg is carrying a "news" article concerning their recent win of a telly award.. i don't need to add to the jworg website hits, so here is the award listed on the telly award website:.

https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/list/?l=jehovah%27s&event=16&category=3&award=b.

2015 online video bronze winners.

konceptual99

Getting an award you have paid for is a bit like saying the Bible is true because it says so itself.

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/45/866929

25

To Scully--A Tribute!

by Atlantis in

if you are a new person to the board you might want to send scully a pm thanking her for her hard work and dedication.

the boe project owes her for helping it to get started.. example:.

several years ago there was a website called (dirtclod.com) who had the courage to display the boes right out in front of everybody.

konceptual99

Thanks!

37

am i overreacting?

by freeandcontent in

hi, new here but have been lurking for a while.

some background first, i am from the uk, 3rd gen born in, dad, grandad elders etc.

17 years ago i left, no df or da just left, 18 years old and alone but i did it and have had no regrets.

konceptual99

Welcome. Another UK member!

+1 to all the points above btw.

32

Hello Everybody

by Thomas the Bill Engine in

jw
friends

i didn't see an introduction forum anywhere but i thought it would be weird to start posting without first introducing myself so, here we are.

i'm 15, and i've been looking for a place to discuss my thoughts on the religion that i'm pretty much stuck in at the moment.

my mom and dad divorced over their different beliefs over a year ago (my mom is jw and my dad is an very knowledgeable apostate, so you can see how they would fight over it), and since then i've stopped believing altogether.. just thought i'd say hello.

konceptual99

Welcome

34

The Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body are Elitists (Here is why)

by Terry in

an "elite" group is one which has special privileges not granted to others.. and obscurantist elite, is a group which hides information by virtue of its own claim to be special and a sole source in dispensing necessary truths.. to wit:.

the gb's elitism shines through in articles such as this:.

“thus the bible is an organizational book and belongs to the christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals , regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the bible .

konceptual99

Any group, club or organisation has rules and expectations for it's members. When you sign up or join then you accept these. It's the same when you become a Witness. There can also be consequences for leaving. For example, leaving a job with nothing else to go to will have a financial consequence. Generally, however the consequences of leaving an organisation are limited.

Leaving the Witnesses is a completely different story.

You do hear Witnesses say "if you don't want to do it then you can just go. No one forces you to be a Witness". True to a point however the consequences can be huge.

There is virtually no way of stopping attending meetings that leaves your personal and social relationships intact.

If you become known as someone who disagrees with things then you are in for a world of pain. Anyone who thinks leaving is easy, especially if you are born in, is in cloud cuckoo land.