zophar

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Posts by zophar

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  70

  Any funny stories of when a"brother" giving a talk, said something "funny" or "questionable", and didn't even realize it?

  by Dunedain in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  there were always all types of speakers in the org.

  myself, growing up a "witness", must have heard all types of talks, and given by all manner of speakers, especially on sundays, when almost every week we would get a "visiting" brother giving the public talk.. sometimes, you would have a "great" speaker, all fluent and animated.

  other times we would get a comical speaker, one who would maybe purposelly get a few laughs outta the audience.

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  zophar

  ....and the illustration used in a DC talk about a Squid with giant testacles instead of tentacles!
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  101

  My mom passed away yesterday....

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thank you all for your sincere encouragement during these last few weeks.

  finally, she is at peace.

  i was with her , holding her hand when she died.

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  zophar

  Very sorry to hear that. Hope you can reflect on pleasant memories of happy times together.
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  31

  Has anyone noticed how in the October JW Broadcast, Losch encourages good works towards ALL people?

  by Tenacious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i can't help but notice how this past year alone has seen the gb start to turn more towards the teachings of the christ instead of peddling their falsities.. study articles have talked in length about the fine works of christ.

  assemblies have been dedicated to speaking about christ.

  and this month's broadcast is about doing good to others copying the example christ left for us.. what's more shocking is that losch actually says kids should speak, share, and even give food and clothing to non-believers!!

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  zophar

  Good observation!

  I noticed the same thing. It reminded me of the big controversy in the late 70's and early 80's about "Sacred Service" and what it is. For a while there they had it right, Sacred Service was everything you did as a Christian. This included good works toward thy neighbor. No doubt, this was, in a large part due to the influence of Dunlap and Raymond Franz and the research they did on the subject. They even re-named the Theocratic Ministry School to the Theocratic School. (They changed it back a few years later, but people still say Theocratic School instead of Theocratic Ministry School to this day.) And renamed Kingdom Ministry to Kingdom Service.

  The big idea was all put to rest once Ray and Dunlap left and they went hard line that Sacred Service was only things related to direct worship. Being a good neighbor was not sacred service. Going in field service was.

  In fact, early on, Rutherford came down hard on what was called Character Development, saying the preaching was what should be stressed instead. Now, Losch gives this long rant about basically, Character Development! It was very striking to me.

  But that is how New Light works don't you see. You are going one direction, then you switch to a new direction, then you switch back to the old direction, then back again to a new direction..........
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  44

  Who Qualifies for TTATT?

  by John Aquila in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i first learn ttatt i started telling every one.

  ttatt will not help him, it will destroy him.

  all his family are jws.

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  zophar

  There are millions of people in "Christian" and "Non Christian" religions who receive great comfort from their "Faith" or religion. Of course, they can't all be "the truth" if any of them are. Nevertheless their religion gives them a certain comfort. Is it our responsibility to enlighten them an try to convince them they are wrong? I'm in line with your thinking John. In fact, isn't your mother sort of one of those, if I remember your story correctly.

  Recently, a close friend lost his wife to a prolonged and painful illness. I would feel wrong about trying to show him the flaws of JW's and take his hope away. Of course, should he indicate a curiosity in the future it might open itself to share something with him, but I think you are on the right track with your thinking. It is a kindness to deal with a friend that way.
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  37

  On the realization you will not "live forever"

  by problemaddict 2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something struck me last week.

  i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

  i'm not old and not in bad health.

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  zophar

  Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil, 15 and that he might set free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

  As JW's we always applied this to the poor people we called on in the ministry. How sad to live their lives in fear of death. But we had a real hope and no fear of death for us.

  The 1969 Awake! about never getting old in this system was published my last year of public schooling. Social Security is next! Now that Scripture is the reality of many JW's of my generation.....overlapping or not. In fact I heard a Public Talk recently and that Scripture was used as a warning to JW's that they should not fear death since they were still alive in this system that was supposed to be over by now.

  It is a sad reality to come to grips with late in life. So many things that were promised never came true. Still, they hold on and rejoice with new light. So glad that I can now allow myself to think for myself.
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  14

  help me to readjust my thinking about my hypocritical ex....

  by losingit in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am really struggling with this particular situation in my life, and i really need your help to readjust my thinking.

  i am recently divorced from my ex-jw husband.

  we were both disfellowshipped at around the same time about 2-3years ago.

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  zophar

  So sorry you are experiencing this.

  Learning TTATT can have a different affect on each of us. Remember how we go through different stages on our way to a more normal life. Add to that a recent divorce, a lot of emotional changes for both of you.

  Things might be very different in a short time. Do you still love him? Are you wanting to try to re-establish your relationship, or are you just resenting his current lifestyle? If the latter, then your feelings will adjust with time. However, if you still have hopes of a relationship it will be more difficult and probably demand more communication with your ex.

  Examine yourself and see if you can figure out why the resentment. I remember Wayne Dyer (Author) said: "You can't should have done anything." In other words, the past is the past. Easier said than done. If you have a decent relationship with the ex, you might in time find you could discuss your feelings with him in a way that might prove helpful.

  Sure proud of what you have accomplished in a short period of time. Hope things get better and better for you and the girls!
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  73

  Everybody loves Raymond

  by Saintbertholdt in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a while ago the user vinman started a forum thread called: "ray franz was an idiot".

  the reaction to it was quite negative but i have to admit that the title of that thread was intriguing to me.

  by nature i am an iconoclast.

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  zophar

  If there was a takeover conspiracy and if it had succeeded, I'm wondering what reforms we would have seen and if those reforms may have caused a mass exodus? i.e. partaking of emblems, d/f policy changes, etc

  Excellent observation. There had already been an easing of how DF were treated and what constituted a "greeting" Saying hello was not what the Scriptures had intended. Also, what constituted "sacred service" was much more reasonable at that time.

  Then in 1981 the Pharisaical rules came back. As usual, The Society way over compensated. Strict unChristlike behavior toward DF or DA.

  They were definitely taking steps toward a kinder gentler organization before Ray and Ed Dunlap left.
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  9

  The morning after I KILLED myself...

  by Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a very thought provoking poem.... .

  the morning after i killed myself, i woke up.

  i made myself breakfast in bed.

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  zophar

  Thanks so much.
• 
  73

  Everybody loves Raymond

  by Saintbertholdt in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a while ago the user vinman started a forum thread called: "ray franz was an idiot".

  the reaction to it was quite negative but i have to admit that the title of that thread was intriguing to me.

  by nature i am an iconoclast.

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  zophar

  Great post by the way!
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  73

  Everybody loves Raymond

  by Saintbertholdt in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a while ago the user vinman started a forum thread called: "ray franz was an idiot".

  the reaction to it was quite negative but i have to admit that the title of that thread was intriguing to me.

  by nature i am an iconoclast.

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  zophar

  The immaculate documentation presented in CofC was one of the first things I noticed the first time I read the book. It spoke to me of someone who was prepared for an exposé. Which would add credibility to your way of thinking.

  I was an elder during that time and had a fleshly brother at Bethel. I remember hearing of Spanish Brothers imploring ALL present at the Memorial to partake as they were all Anointed. This leads me to believe there was a coup type mentality of some. It certainly would not have gone unnoticed by Ray. Remember, Ray was one of the principle ones to advocate for less power of the WTBTS presidency. Of course, no one can read Ray's motive. A friend who had a very responsible position at Bethel at that time and knew Knorr well, has told me that Knorr felt that Ray had designs on the presidency. Of course, that is just his opinion, but knowing him and his demeanor, I believe it to be true.

  When I resigned as an elder I had a number of letters that had been written regarding elder matters on my computer and I had made copies of some policy letters from the Society that I would refer to, but nothing like the documentation Ray presented in his book. AND it is this documentation that, perhaps more than anything else, convinced me that Ray's claims were true and verifiable. It shouts to me that he had an agenda when he left Bethel. Doesn't bother me except that it suggests "he was gathering evidence while on the inside" as you mention in your post.

  Ray's books had a tremendous effect on my thinking, and his way of writing, without the flaming apostate attitude I was led to believe I would find by WTBTS, impressed me greatly. However, I believe he knew what he was eventually going to do when he left if he could not make reforms from the inside.