Posts by mizpah

7

They haven't changed at all!!

by Pistoff in

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=101603&id=s1425313

jehovah's witness elder abused girl

nina culver

mizpah

Just 90 days in jail?

No wonder it is called "Opportunity Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses."

8

I'm looking for info on military service....

by Wolfgirl in

...and the flip-flopping of doctrine when it comes to conscientious objecting.

i'm coming up empty.

or rather, i should say, i'm coming up with a bazillion threads about iraq.. can someone help me find it?

The Watchtower Society seems to be vascillating on this issue primarily because it has been a barrier to their activity in certain countries of the world. Even a slight moderation indicates a change that was unthinkable a few years ago when alternate service was considered "a compromise" by the leadership. Many JWs in the past have been imprisoned or even killed for their "stand" on this issue. Now, it seems that this may have been needless.

We've seen similar small changes in the Watchtower's views on blood. At one time, no blood, fraction or otherwise, was permitted. Now, a list of permitted and forbidden has been posted. In time we may see even more changes.

It is really obscene the way the Watchtower Society has played "games" with people's lives. The Governing Body members sit in their "ivory towers" pontificating while the unfortunate members pay with their lives.

4

How Many Vehicles does the WT own in New york?

by Gerard in

.

i bet more than you think...there is a fee of $5 for each search that you make with the dial-in service.. http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dialin.htm

mizpah

It really doesn't bother me that the Watchtower maintains a fleet of transportation vehicles at its disposal. Any large corporation does the same. But what does bother me is that the Watchtower has condemned other churches for becoming a "big business" and exploiting their members to their own end. Remember the slogan: Religion is a snare and a racket?"

Now the Watchtower doesn't seem to apologize for doing the same thing. Quite to the contrary, it uses the expansion of its printing empire as "proof" of God's blessing upon its organization. Yearbooks and articles will often show pictures of the new facilities as evidence of God's approval. I'm afraid that the Watchtower Society itself has become a "snare and racket!"

36

Announcing that Elders are no longer Elders

by Spudinator in

in the past year or so a local congregation has had several announcements that "so-and-so is no longer serving as an elder.".

one of these elders has served in the watchtower organization since the 1940's.

one thing apparent is the "organization's" lack of recognition and/or appreciation for its own.

mizpah

While Luke 17 speaks of the attitude that a person should have within him, it's always nice to hear the commendation from others:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share my master's happiness." (Matthew 25:21)

14

Matthew 27:46=Pslams 22:1

by Beans in

about the ninth hour jesus cried out in a loud voice, "eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?

"--which means, "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?".

my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?

mizpah

siegswife:

I agree. Psalm 22 was written by David who experienced similar circumstances of feeling abandoned and forsaken. But the rest of the psalm expressed his confidence in God's restoration and deliverance. What better Psalm to quote under the circumstances that Jesus faced?

14

Matthew 27:46=Pslams 22:1

by Beans in

about the ninth hour jesus cried out in a loud voice, "eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?

"--which means, "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?".

my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?

mizpah

peacefulpete:

I believe that it does require faith regardless of the sources one quotes. As you know "scholarship" is always in flux. What might be considered gospel (excuse the expression) today can be rubbish tomorrow. Critics in the past have dismissed portions of the Bible as "myth" until archeology uncovered proof that certain kings and nations existed.

As an example: Several years ago I read an article that dismissed the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah as a "tale" and a "myth." It went on to list the lack of evidence as "proof" of the fallacy of the Bible. But in the last few months, several programs on TV were about the recent findings of some archeologists of ruined cities in the southern part of the Dead Sea that could very well fit the description of the twin cities. They have dated the destruction between 4 & 5 thousand years...about the same time as the Biblical account.

A person has a choice. If he has more faith in the "scholars" who have rejected the Bible based upon their own "scholarship" they will not accept any findings. It will be dismissed as "unproven." On the other hand, a person who has faith in the Bible will accept it as "evidence" of the validity of the Bible. Scholars on either side usually have an agenda even as do those who post on this site.

18

The things that went on...

by shamus in

the things that went on behind closed doors in kindumb halls appalls me.

i just can't even put into words the things that i have found out over the years... how horribly elders treated people, how everything was kept secret... .

it disgusts me.

mizpah

There were often two personnas in many Jehovah's Witnesses. There was the Hall one and the Home one. And some cases, there were wide differences between the two. I remember one "brother" who had the reputation for being "kind and helpful" to the brothers. At home, he was beating his wife and kids. I'm sure that this kind of things is still happening in the congregations.

Many of the "secrets" that the elders were aware of became public knowledge when they shared the information with their wives. The proverbial "grape vine" of gossip was widespread in all the congregations I attended over the years. The prime source of it was the elders' wives.

I think the reasons for this was the limited sphere of most Jehovah's Witnesses. Since the organization is the whole life of most of them, the petty and mundane events (occasionally the scandalous) in the congregation became a topic of gossip. Whether it was out in field service or at the Kingdom Hall, gossip was a vital part of the lives of Jehovah's Witnesses.

32

SECRET INFO FROM ANNUAL MEETING.

by integ in

i received this e-mail from a friend of a friend of a friend who was at the secret annual meeting.

hi brothers and sisters,.

our 2004 year text, matt.

mizpah

integ:

Thanks for the posting. It confirms what we have heard for sometime now. There seems to be a general slacking off in recent years. Could this reflect an attitude of disbelief about the "urgency of the times?" As in the story of the boy who cried "wolf." He did it so many times that people didn't pay attention to him when the real event occurred.

The Watchtower has been crying "wolf" for so many years that even their members are not paying attention any longer. The "wolf" that may devour the Watchtower Society may come from within.

36

Announcing that Elders are no longer Elders

by Spudinator in

in the past year or so a local congregation has had several announcements that "so-and-so is no longer serving as an elder.".

one of these elders has served in the watchtower organization since the 1940's.

one thing apparent is the "organization's" lack of recognition and/or appreciation for its own.

mizpah

The shameful thing is that often when an elder steps down for health or other family reasons members in the congregation often think that it was due to some infraction rather than reasons above. Then, he is often treated as a second class citizen in spite of his many years of faithful service.

I knew of a elder who voluntarily stepped down because he felt his children (four teenagers) needed his time and attention. His duties as elder kept him from home and involved in many activities in the small congregation. When the announcement was made he became somewhat of a pariah in the congregation. Members avoided talking to him. And he was made to feel that he had done something terribly wrong...when, in fact, all he did was to put his family obligation first.

This brother should have been admired for his decision. And his reasons should have been made clearly known to the congregation. But, alas, that is not the way the organization works!

10

1874 v. 1914 date change?a masterpiece of forgery and deception!

by MacHislopp in

[page 257] .

r2359 : page 259] .

1926. from the book : " creation " published in the year 1926, page 312.

mizpah

I have no doubts that Russell sincerely believed his time table and the dates that he set. He was willing to admit that if he was in error then the time table could be off by as much as a century. But it is worthy to note that he did not abandon his firm belief that he and the other Bible Students were living in the time of the end. Nor did he abandon his belief of Christ's invisible presence.

On the other hand, I do doubt the sincerity of Rutherford. I think he had the devious mind of a shrewd lawyer. The failings of Russell's predictions were clearly evident by the time he took over the organization. His task was to keep some semblance of the teachings of Russell and, at the same time, try to explain away the errors. Since 1914 was a critical date in all Watchtower theology, he lifted the application of 1874 (Christ's presence) and put it on the date 1914. I also think that he came up with the idea of the return of the "ancient worthies" to distact whatever members were left in the organization after the defection and focus them on a new prediction. I have no doubt that this was a calculated move on his behalf.