I'm not putting them in such position. I only used that example as an example of "stealing hearts" - which is how their modus operandi strikes me.
Eden
EdenOne
JoinedPosts by EdenOne
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8
Say what you will, but I like this article.
by DATA-DOG inhttps://www.anointedjw.org/beware_apostates.html .
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Say what you will, but I like this article.
by DATA-DOG inhttps://www.anointedjw.org/beware_apostates.html .
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EdenOne
In various dictionaries, "insidious" is defined along the lines of "w orking or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner; Alluring, intending to entrap."
I find what they write to be very interesting, even outright bright sometimes.
However, the TONE of their writing, while they write things that are blatantly different - even downright opposing - the views and doctrines of the WTS, they keep it so smooth, so buttery, even so ... respectful ... towards the Governing Body, as if they had any illusions that their work would bring the WTS to doctrinal changes. I personally don't think they are that naive. They obviously know enough about the inner workings of the WTS to not be so naive. They write open letters to the Governing Body. Letters that are never, ever responded. And yet they insist ...
The purpose of it all is not to persuade the Governing Body; Their purpose is to attract the Witnesses to THEM while giving the impression that it's OK to follow their doctrine and still remain in good terms with the hard liners of the organizational structure. You'll forgive me the raw comparison, but it's a bit like the pedophile that allures the child with candy. The child may think: "I wish my parents were as cool as this nice gentleman"; Many Witnesses will no doubt think: "I wish our Governing Body was as open-minded and easy-going as these brothers".
I respect these people for their solid bible research and pretty convincing arguments in many areas, and they've been smart enough not to get involved in prophetic interpretations. I enjoy reading most of their doctrinal articles.
However - the devil is in the details - they are sneaky in their promotion of the Book of Urantia, a pseudo-revelation work produced by means of spiritistic channeling, claiming it shouldn't be discarded because it just might have been produced by the Holy Spirit (WTH??) They also clearly have an untold "political agenda" towards the organization, as if they wanted to take control of it from within. To me, they act like Absalom, third son of David, who paciently spent years "stealing the hearts" of the Israelites in hopes to usurp the throne. That's the feeling I get from them. They're trying to generate a movement within the Witnesses. The problem is that they don't call a spade a spade. They say it without saying....
Also I find it very doubtful and unsubstanciated their reports of "mass conversions" of entire communities to their teachings. Something smells fishy about that.
Nevertheless, kudos for them for some of their articles. They're powerful and well reasoned on Bible grounds.
Eden
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Say what you will, but I like this article.
by DATA-DOG inhttps://www.anointedjw.org/beware_apostates.html .
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The Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses (AAWA) [WARNING]
by Simon inuncensored discussions and information for anyone interested in the advocates for awareness of watchtower abuses or 'aawa' http://aawa.co/ (previously known as "the association of anti-watchtower activists http://jwactivists.org/) and how it's handled and responded to privacy issues and put people at risk:.
aawa is here!!
(the association of anti-watchtower activists)an invitation to a new effort- aawawhy when i logged onto aawa did it go to facebook ?in regards to aawaaawa - every generation needs a new revolution - thomas jeffersonnotice how the introduction of the aawa has brought out the loonies lately?will aawa become another cult?
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EdenOne
What you said, Marvin.
I wonder if a Facebook group was a wise choice to start with, no matter what privacy settings were used. It was the route of least effort.
Eden
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Simon has stated the AAWA facts with exact precision
by james_woods ini think the problem is, as before, how the aawa is handling things and refusing to answer your critics makes things worse.
critics are not people out to get you, they are critical of something that you have done or given the appearance of doing and pr is the job of responding to address the criticisms.. this is the internet people, you can't just pretend that things didn't happen by deleting the comments!
especially not with a group that wants to claim to offer support and be open and honest.
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EdenOne
For once I agree with you, James Woods.
This fiasco shows that it takes more than volunteerism, enthusiasm, and ideological substractum to make an enterprise like this succeed. It takes labor, dedication, knowledge, wisdom, pacience, stringency and bullet-proof honesty. Not to mention courage.
Over the time I have been coming to this forum i came to appreciate some of the people that formed AAWA. But the fiasco of their take-off and the breach of trust that it has caused among the ex-JW, faders and active dissenting JW's (like me) should be a powerful lesson. Do it right from the start, or don't do it at all. Listen to the community. If you really want to HELP others, don't make it your goal to "take down" the Watchtower. Teach people to see right from wrong. Teach people how to think for themselves. Expose the doctrinal flaws and the wrongful practices. Offer a support network for those who have suffered abuse and help them to recover. But don't go into warfare mode. Remember that those who are in are the same ones that you once considered your brothers and sisters. And, if you still count yourself as christians, THEY STILL ARE.
May I remind everyone the wise words of Gamaliel: "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." - Acts 5:38, 39
If the Watchtower is the work of men, it will fall on its own demerits. Same to be said about the AAWA.
Eden
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226
The Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses (AAWA) [WARNING]
by Simon inuncensored discussions and information for anyone interested in the advocates for awareness of watchtower abuses or 'aawa' http://aawa.co/ (previously known as "the association of anti-watchtower activists http://jwactivists.org/) and how it's handled and responded to privacy issues and put people at risk:.
aawa is here!!
(the association of anti-watchtower activists)an invitation to a new effort- aawawhy when i logged onto aawa did it go to facebook ?in regards to aawaaawa - every generation needs a new revolution - thomas jeffersonnotice how the introduction of the aawa has brought out the loonies lately?will aawa become another cult?
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EdenOne
Thank you for posting this, Simon.
It is more than necessary to make an informed decision. The leadership of the AAWA doesn't seem to be aknowledging of the risk they have exposed those who have willingly or unwillingly joined their facebook group.
Eden
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So...why is taking blood essentially viewed as unforgivable by the WT?
by sd-7 inbeen hearing about this 'grey's anatomy' episode, and while i didn't see it, it brought up a question i wanted to throw out there, albeit a long-winded one, as is my usual nature.. the fact that people would rather die than take blood, as if...if they take it, they're doomed for sure to not make the new system--it doesn't make sense to me.
people both in the organization and the bible stories are forgiven for heinous crimes, murder, adultery, child sacrifice, everything up to and including denying jesus altogether.
(let's not forget child molestation and rape, apparently...) so why does it seem like this one act is presented to jws as one that's never to be forgiven?.
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EdenOne
While I can understand the interpretation of "abstain from blood" as a total prohibition of intaking foreign blood by any means (understanding being different from agreeing), what I simply cannot understand is the prohibition of storing one's own blood for later use during, for example, a surgical procedure.
The only scripture support given for that prohibition is one in the Law that stated that the blood of a slaughtered animal should be poured to the ground, and by those means, wasted - Deuteronomy 12:16 ; 15:23; Leviticus 17:13. You may read the WT's stand on "autologous blood" in The Watchtower, March 1, 1989, p. 30, 31.
However, since blood is a symbol of life, wasting the blood to the ground was symbolic of returning that life to Jehovah. But if I am ALIVE and therefore, in full posession and control of my LIFE, why should my own blood be "wasted" and "returned to Jehovah", if my life continues to be in existence? Makes no sense at all. There's absolutely no logic, no doctrinal basis, to ban the storage and use of one's blood for ones's own benefit. Besides, if we are no longer 'under the Law' and it was rendered 'obsolete', how come we justify this ban on the grounds of the Law?
I think that will be the next doctrinal change regarding blood. It's even more obvious than the change regarding blood fractions, which seems completely ilogical to me.
Eden
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The United Nations will attack Christendom
by Doug Mason inthis is a serious question and i hope to receive intelligent explanations.. .
the wts says that the great tribulation lies in the future.
they write that it will start when the united nations attacks christendom.. .
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EdenOne
In WT terminology, "Christendom" = All [false] christian religions other than the [true] christian Jehovah's Witnesses. It's a non-biblical concept, anyway.
Eden
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50
The United Nations will attack Christendom
by Doug Mason inthis is a serious question and i hope to receive intelligent explanations.. .
the wts says that the great tribulation lies in the future.
they write that it will start when the united nations attacks christendom.. .
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EdenOne
That would be feasable only IF :
a) The "beast" is the UN; and
b) The "harlot" is meant to represent the false religion as a whole.
If any of these isn't true, then the prophetic interpretation is wrong.
Now, from a theoretical point of view, is it likely that some day, the political powers of this world get antagonical towards religion in general? I would say that isn't entirely impossible, and not to be dismissed as a probability. But it would take a radical change of heart, and unless there's a global, shocking event that causes such, I don't see it happenning overnight.
Eden
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EdenOne
Committee Chairman,
From one active JW with a background of responsability within the organization (but currently serving as a MS) to another, I welcome you. I'll be interested in reading your comments and sharing some points of view with you. This ain't the easiest place to be, for an active JW. But where there's civil mutual respect, people can coexist and share even if we sometimes disagree.
Welcome aboard.
Eden