watchman another idol - 2005/03/11 13:47I am posting this here because I believe it was removed from paradise cafe on purpose. I don't think watchman is the admin here so he can't act like the dictator.
Watchmans says; I feel, personally, that I may have taken a false step myself last year, when, in my indignation and over-zeal, I encouraged the friends to write to the branches about the NGO affair. As it turns out some of those Friends have faced a backlash from their elders. Some have even been DF'd--which I deeply regret. I just don't see that as the way to go. Does that mean your going to remove the open letters or rewrite them to remove the reform spirit that is in them?
Of course, you are welcome to write all the letters you want, but here's the deal: To date I have spent about $30,000 on developing e-watchman.com. You see, I well know it is not easy getting a website listed in the front page of a search engine. So I have used pay-per-click promotion, at times spending well over $1,000 a month just on that aspect of promotion. Your website has virtually zero chance of being highly ranked on the search engines unless you are willing to spend some money. So, the way I see it, you are not entitled to recruit people into your reform movement at my expense. I have to admit you have spent alot of money on advocating your interpretations. Even if your interpretations prove wrong your too invested to see it just like the WTBTS.
Re:watchman another idol - 2005/03/11 15:51Yeah, Polemotheos, they weren't liking the thread over there. Sonofcomfort just locked the whole thing down. We were having a nice discussion too. No one was upset except the powers that be. Oh well. They're real big on the no-hope-for-the-Society-so-don't-even-try doctrine.
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Phi
Admin Admin
Posts: 278
Re:watchman another idol - 2005/03/12 05:55They locked a second thread?????
There is a specific agenda at EW.com which is to promote a specific personal interpretation of prophesy, anything which conflicts with that interpretation or looks like it might actually undermine it is seen as a threat and has to be eliminated. So the discussion can never truly be free. Though there is a good deal of lattitude given to many other JW related subjects, including those which EW fully supports the WT on and considers vital Scriptural truth. You can insist that blood transfusions are OK till the cows come home at the Cafe, for instance, just don't consistently question or undermine EW's prophetic interpretations. Unfortunantely, according to that very specific interpretation of prophesy, the WTBTS, along with the rest of Christendom, is utterly doomed. The thought of reform undermines the EW prophetic interpretation. If the Watchtower actually cleaned up it's act where would that leave EW? And the desire for reform among the posters there is seen as a danger too, because EW does not desire reform. He wants to see what he believes must be fulfilled be fulfilled. It is dangerous to have posters starting to want something that EW doesn't want. And he wants it passionately.
I thought one of EW comments in that thread was very interesting....and revealing. He said something like 'if the WT could be reformed, then it wouldn't be worth reforming, because that would prove that it was just a human institution', and, 'the fact that it won't be reformed proves it is the true religion'
LOL Am I the only one who finds that line of reasoning a little strange?
So, the WT must be the true religion because it is so corrupt? (It has always been corrupt BTW, and so are most, if not all, other organized Christian religions)
And so, if it were not corrupt, but pure, (or were to become so through reform) it would then merely be a 'human institution' and therefore not used or approved by God?
Well that scenario might fit one of the thousands of possible interpretations of Hebrew prophesys, but it just doesn't make any spiriitul sense IMHO.
Much Philia.
Phi.
Post edited by: Phi, at: 2005/03/12 09:53
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polemotheos
User Platinum Boarder
Posts: 530
Re:watchman another idol - 2005/03/12 10:32Well looks like I have been disfellowshiped for questioning walter. Maybe paradise cafe has seen it's usfullness expired.
I wonder If the situation was reversed and someone was pointing out my hypocrisy would I also disfellowship them? Seems this is what happened in my local congregation and what has now happened in paradise cafe. Am I really better then the governing body and walter? Maybe not, but I hope I would prove more noble in responding to criticism.
I am going to stop encouraging brothers and sisters and intrested parties to visit paradise cafe. There is no need for them to go to another prison.
phi and other administrators here set a fine example for us.
Re:watchman another idol - 2005/03/12 10:56You have been E-DF'd from the PC DB?
Sorry to hear that Bro. I know how it feels. It's not much fun. Especially for those who have had similar experiences in 'real life'. Glad to have you here tho.
Oh, and I'm not an administrator here, if you check my name next to my post, I'm not even a Mod on this particular forum (just the research forum). LOL So if I don't behave myself I might get told off LOLOL. But thanks anyway. And yes, the Admins official presence is light and unobtrusive here, which I find very refreshing. I think we all co-op pretty well here governed by the law of love.
Much Philia.
Phi.
Post edited by: Phi, at: 2005/03/12 14:25
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donbodo
User Platinum Boarder
Posts: 125
Re:watchman another idol - 2005/03/12 11:29So far I haven't been ousted from Paradise Cafe, but I think it's coming soon. How can I talk about right and truth without talking about what needs to change in the organization's policies or about giving the organization the chance to change? Seems like ancient Israel was given a looooooong time to reform itself before Jehovah brought judgment on it. E-watchman thinks the NGO affair is good enough reason to bring the whole thing down.
Forum 
So if I don't behave myself I might get told off LOLOL. But thanks anyway. And yes, the Admins official presence is light and unobtrusive here, which I find very refreshing. I think we all co-op pretty well here governed by the law of love.