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Srecko Sostar

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  1. Good day to every visitor of my profile.

    Although something should have been said and put here, when I joined this Forum, I will do this today with my Letter about my leaving the JW Community as introduction. I am living in Zagreb, Croatia (Europe). Perhaps it is not enough, in words, but i also give you a smile :) .... 

     

    1. To Society Watch Tower, Watchtower and corporations

    2. To Jehovah's Witnesses and all assemblies

    3. To all whom this concern

     

    Declaration on termination of membership to a religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses

     

                I was baptized in 1977 at the age of 17, then a minor. But, in good faith I answered the following two questions just before baptism, which is symbolized my dedication to God in terms of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses religion.

    At that time (before the change of June 1 1985) questions have read as follows;

    A)    Have you repented of your sins and converted, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

    B)     On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?

                Since I have over decades closely followed the changes in various aspects of activity of this religion, I noticed some frequent collisions (1 John 4:1; 1 Th 5:21). It is visible in: a) the content of the various interpretations; b) in the theory and practice of action in everyday life issues. Overview of many historical aspects of the spiritual heritage, which the organization has, since its inception in the 19th century, left to its members-followers, and wants to cover it up, revise and incorrect display, is astounding. Who wants to drink a water from a cup in which there is a single drop of dangerous substances?

                The purpose of my statement is not to explain doctrine and practices of society and the board of directors, who are disturbed my conscience and reasoning within the love, faith, knowledge and understanding that I feel and I have to God and Jesus Christ and to the people, so I will taxatively single out only a few of them (Rom 14:4). These are obvious example, on the one hand, theological acrobatics from the main church body of Jehovah's Witnesses, and on the other hand, their dishonesty and practice in which one they are learns, and other they are works;

    1) Confusing conceptions about their own identity (Who shared spiritual food? One servant, all 144 000, a composite body or the governing body ...,)

    2) Pragmatism in changing dogmatic interpretations before the change was "firmly biblical established", such as a series of explanations about the "generation" ...,

    3) Speculation about the meaning of biblical statements and how they should be understood. More than once the revised interpretation were in style of YES-NO-YES-NO; then this year's "changed approach to the interpretation of reports from the Word of God" ...,

    4) Switching of responsibility from the governing body and their representatives on the ordinary believers in respect of the decisions and attitudes that members should be carried out, when it becomes apparent that they were endangered spiritually, mentally and literally health of fellow believers  (eg, multiple expectations of Armageddon, Malawi and Mexico of the 1970's, questions about blood, juvenile members / Bulgaria /, neutrality ...,)

    5) Co-operation and association with political organizations such as the UN and the OSCE.

    6) Increasingly open calls for financial donations and contributions to the funds of the corporation.

    7) Careless and unkind treatment of victims of pedophilia within the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses

               Regardless of how, as collective or personal, members of the Jehovah's Witnesses will treat me after this letter of resignation, considering the worldwide-known practice of ignoring and avoiding (shunning) that Jehovah's Witnesses apply to all who are outside of their religion ("worldly" people, dissociated and disfellowshipped) - I with fully conscious and reason declare still this; My relationship with the people / persons in the Jehovah's Witness religion and those who are not, is based on the words of Jesus; "Love your neighbor as yourself"; "Love those who hate you"; "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them." 

    I expecting from you, that any kind of information which is stored anywhere, in connection with me and has my full name, such as personal files, or any other files you immediately destroy!

     

    Zagreb, July 27/2015                                          Srećko Šoštar -------------

                                       Verified by notary public    

  2. Oh Billy, I understand the difference. But we are not making issue of Motives here. We have disagreement is it lie A Lie in all circumstances and space and time, or is it permissible to talking lies because someone thinking how he has "justification" to tell the lie. First of all, here you talking about colors. Your perception of traffic lights and wrong vision can be reason to talking wrongly to others. If that is not the case, than we can start to discuss about your motives about why you told me fault fact about color of traffic light. Anyway, with no interest to enter into your motives now, dry fact loudly saying to all of us - You told lie (or more politely wording: you have been in wrong) when you spoke about traffic light color. As result, I don't respect you in this color issue. People hate lies. God hate lies. But we still lying?! :)) The Bible’s Viewpoint - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102000087 Lying—Is It Ever Justified? “A LITTLE INACCURACY SOMETIMES SAVES TONS OF EXPLANATION.” THIS comment illustrates how many people feel about lying. Their rationale is that lying is not wrong if it does not harm anyone. Such reasoning even has an academic name—situation ethics, which says that the only law you need to follow is the so-called law of love. In other words, explains author Diane Komp, “if your motivation is right and your heart is right (then the) fact that you lied . . . is no big deal.” Such a viewpoint is common in today’s world. This part in article for Public said how lie is a lie and how Situation Ethics is worldly viewpoint, not God's. But still, Secret Elder's Instruction Manual told different- if lie is not intentional and not made big problems, you are not in problem. If lie is intentional but said in Court that is also not big deal. I am blind, but you acting worst when agree with statement and promote idea how lie is not lie if is justified by Elders Ethics based on WTJWORG Manual.
  3. Once again The Shepherd book quote: Lying that justifiesjudicial action involves more than just exaggerationsor petty, misleading statements of relativelyminor consequence or lying because of momentarypressure or fear of man. Is it lying lying when you give misleading statement? Intentionally or not intentionally? No matter are consequence is minor on not minor? With 3 elements WT and you darkening and fogging issue: Again, Is lying sin or not? Elements in the book are: 1) deliberately and malicious lying 2) minor consequences of lie 3) lying to worldly people Shepherd book instructing elders that if JW member deliberately lying to Court about something (especially connected to other JW member) is not lie at all. So, if they give you free hand to lie about your Brother in Secular Court how would be if you would lying about some "worldly" people in the Court? That would be not so bad and of no concern?? According to some WTJWORG interpretations if you tell lie to "secular" people about organization and brotherhood, and did that deliberately, it is not lie?!
  4. Understanding each other, to some level, yes. To explain my thoughts about WT list of sins and separation inside that list, and how that is not good, a little more. For example: Shepherd book 2012 21. Deliberate, malicious lying; bearing false witness: (Prov. 6:16, 19; Col. 3:9; Rev. 22:15; it-2 pp. 244-245) Though all lying is bad, judicial action is taken only if there has been a practice of deliberate, malicious lying. “Malicious” means deliberately harmful, harboring ill will or enmity. Lying that justifies judicial action involves more than just exaggerations or petty, misleading statements of relatively minor consequence or lying because of momentary pressure or fear of man.—Matt. 26:69-75. 22. Generally, elders should not consider administering discipline if a Christian charges another Christian with making false statements in a court dispute. For example, this may involve divorce, child custody and support, and so forth. The Christian making the charge can express his concerns to the court that has the responsibility to determine what is truthful when rendering a judgment. Bible verses used in Elders book: 16 here are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil 19 false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. In this and other WT Instructions about that how JW member are NOT ALWAYS OBLIGATED to TELL THE TRUTH, in other words how LIES are GOOD sometimes and not needed to be Judicially Processed is 100% opposite of what God has said in Bible. As I can remember what was written in Bible in other places too, God has never said (or gave that impression) how, for certain lies there is a license, and that for some other lies there is a punishment. WT Elders by this given rule, as new moral principle, have free hand to establish illusory justice, illusory truth based on perverted idea how lie is truth and truth is lie. Isaiah spoke about that also.Woe to those who call evil good and good evil who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. When JW Church leaders are ready to justify lies and not want to take disciplinary measures against liar than they are in opposition to God and to His words in Proverbs. Words they put in print in WTJWORG publications to explain how lie is not always a lie. Terrible!
  5. I made fun just for fun. But, in history there was at least few situation when money and gold worth nothing in specific part of world and in specific situation. People already trowed material thing verbatim and figurative in the past and present time.
  6. Maybe this picture is Photoshop Propaganda from those who prefer Electronic Money aka Bitcoin :))))))
  7. No, Billy. Sin is sin. Only consequences/aftermath/aftereffects of particular sin/crime are DIFFERENT.
  8. Of course, your idea is very good, but you know very well, as me too, what Bible say about Human Wisdom :)))
  9. Disciples were looked at him in stages from visible to invisible moment, so if this verse speaking of the same way, and if we can use this sort of logic, His RETURNING (COME AGAIN) would mean how His coming will be FROM INVISIBLE to VISIBLE. Now, people who love CONTEXT, have chance to explain this verse with some Context from other part of Bible. :))
  10. Hi James. If Jesus has already come, than Celebrating should be stopped: For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. If He has already come, according to WTJWORG this celebrating loses meaning ... IF 1 Cor 11:26 are Inspired and Prophetic words. But because WTJWORG introducing few sort of such COMES, JW people can not be sure about Jesus factual position in spiritual and physical influence on Earth and on Church. Well, because JW Church still celebrating and proclaiming His death (but in the same time celebrating Him as Living King) it seems how one part of JW theology is not sure did Jesus came in 1914.
  11. ... some bible scholars explanations about word clouds says how clouds means invisibility, but that must not be true with this verse. It can be just about Jesus who coming from Heavenly Space, or about his as King, with Divine Origin, who coming to change things on Earth, Earth is under Clouds and Heaven. They will be forced to recognize him? This idea is strange. People today has understanding how exist possibility that people on Earth are not only civilization in Universe. By that, many people believe of other advanced civilizations out there. What if people RECOGNIZED global destruction not in this religious answer with Jesus Kingdom, but about how Aliens coming to conquer the Earth or as some Cosmic Event? What interest would God has to Force you TO SEE how your violent end in death is caused by HIM? If this have to mean something, it would be about those who will survive such attack. For survivors that big event can be reminder how they must obey God for not to be destroyed. BUT THAN we have next problem; Does God have interest to holds you in Fear of Recognition about some future destruction that may come on you as were on those who you previously watched how they died in Armageddon?
  12. yeah i remember well, these were very problematic decades :)))) for all Bethel's around the world and volunteer workers of those period has been special piece of work :))))
  13. Jiminy, purpose of this forum is not to promote local supermarket with cheaper prices :))))) ................Perhaps admin will make new topic with your comment! .... ahahha... or worst ...give you "last warning"
  14. 30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 Well, we have here two different claims: 1) Jesus told that all tribes of the earth WILL SEE the Son - source is Bible 2) Only Jesus' true disciples have discerned composite sign of his invisible presence - source is Wt magazine w94 2/15 p. 20 par. 21 3) Bible say - all people will SEE 4) Wt magazine say - only few have DISCERNED So, who making (people to feel stupid) fun of people here?
  15. Some JW people say how leaked BOE letters are apostate's fraud, are not true and that are falsification ?! So, whom we shall trust now? To leaked BOE letters or to your statement how exactly these leaked BOE letters are testament to prove something? Are you able to provide ORIGINAL BOE letters for purpose to resolve this dilemma?
  16. When wise man asked Jesus what is the greatest God's Command, Jesus not say what He say (Love God and Love Neighbor) and than continue to talking another few hours to talking about CONTEXT from Hebrew Scriptures. YOU DO NOT NEED MORE of CONTEXT THAN IT IS GIVEN BY JESUS' WORDS --- LOVE GOD, LOVE NEIGHBOR. Scribes and Pharisees would like some more explanations and context, as in question, "Who is my neighbor?" AND LITTLE REMINDER FOR YOU DEAR BILLY. JESUS VERY WELL EXPLAINED WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR. This is not only your JW brother from congregation. Same is with Mathew 18. If Jesus personal words inspired by JHVH need more "context and understanding from the REST of Scripture" .... than i can't do nothing more for you :))
  17. Partially you are right, .......BUT do not forget fact that eliminate your logic. All sin against God are also sin against all things what God has created (in this case your brother). All sin against things what God has created (in this case your brother) is also sin against God. Because God created your brother/neighbor, He as his Creator is also sad, injured, stricken with injustice act you done against your neighbor or brother. So, all "general" sins are sins against God. All "personal" sins are sins against God too. I made two terminology ("general" and "personal" sins) because of for your way of thinking. Sins are sins no mater who doing it or to whom is directed. God is Judge for all sins of all people, not just for your JW brother. Jesus' teachings are possible to using in every religion and in every society, not only inside JW congregation. By that, i think, have an opinion, how God will not measure JW sins in different way than sins from Catholics, Mormons or Atheists. :)))
  18. Of course that problem is sensible in every way and angle. For example: I get drunken (to what level drunk?), once or in few occasion. And others witnessed to that. And because it is easier, they comment that in their group and rumors start. Let say, one of them decide to report my behavior to elders because he is "righteous one" and his conscience not allowed any more to see me in congregation having public talk, with knowledge i love to drink. After that elders decide to speak with me. Now you have this position. Elders and few of others know about your "problem". How you look like in their eyes? Let say how only 2 elders know that and few witness of my drinking, and perhaps few more because people love to talk. Well, one part of congregation already know something about me. And they take some position about me in that sense. If whole congregation get to know about me and my drinking, what is difference? Number, only that. What is important, is not the number of those who know or not know about my drinking. Important is, what congregants would, will thinking and feeling for me after introducing, knowing me in this way. Real "division" inside congregation would come not because of public knowledge what i have done, but because of "division" inside people hearts and minds, who will be able or not be able to endure, bear with - not me - but with themselves, with own hearts and perceptions about life and all inside them and around them. "Spiritual Paradise" would collapsed. An unrealistic, distorted picture of "reality" would have to come to an end. Love your imperfect neighbor, even love your enemy, love your fallen brother is at stake - not artificial unity of congregation! :))
  19. Open question for those, as Billy, who disagree with said opinion and understanding on Mathew 18 verses: Which one is minor, which one is gross? Eating forbidden fruit from the tree in the garden? Killing a man? Adultery with a woman or a man? Idolatry? Put people in various sort of slavery? Manipulation with thoughts and emotions of people? Lying? Overeating? Insincerity? Pride? Stealing? Hate? Unfriendliness? Over drinking? Selfishness? What of this would you as JW member report to elders? :))
  20. First of all, I thank Librarian for he/she making a new topic (not by my will) from my simple, small, almost insignificant comment which purpose was for different thing and different problematic. Mentioning US Constitution and 1 Amendment was generally made for some other purpose, connected with context about comment made by @Witness and @The Librarian response on that. But all this (Asked by....) lead me, motivated to ask further, just for fun of course (and please do not make new Topic from this question :)) ; Do the Forum rules here have to be in Harmony with Bible as Constitution?
  21. In the religious explanation of what is sin and how to deal with the person who makes the wrong things, the application of Jesus' words within the JW Church says that "minor" sins should be solved between the parties involved, but "greater" sins need to be reported to the elders at the assembly/congregation. This is the official WTJWORG doctrine. The first dilemma that we are immediately noticed in the theological approach to these biblical paragraphs is seen in the unfounded separation of a certain human act into a small aka minor sin versus great aka big sin. WTJWORG had made a list of sins that were put in to two category by its nature; minor sins and gross sins. And of course there is third element in this issue of sins, and that is when something is questionable to such extension, that at very moment no one of Bible Scholars inside WTJWORG doesn't know the right answer, and as solution such issue is putted into so called "gray zone". If we agree in idea how Jesus Teaching/s is/are Sufficient for all "dilemmas" we might have in life than we can see from this Bible verses as follow: 15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. - NIV 15 “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go and reveal his fault* between you and him alone.n If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.o 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, so that on the testimony* of two or three witnesses every matter* may be established.*p 17 If he does not listen* to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen* even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nationsq and as a tax collector.r - NWT 1) Jesus not have a list of sins, either not making categorization of sins into minor, middle, gross, and so on. 2) All sins have to be resolved firstly between involved parties (in our days this have to be viewed from other angles in cases of child molestation, for example) 3) Because there is no list of sins: What is viewed as sin in your eyes perhaps is not also a sin in the eyes of your neighbor. So, this first approach to other person may help to established some mutual foundation on someones act. 4) Speaking about unresolved problem in a wider circle of people can be helpful if involved persons are in capacity to be involved in discussion. Word "witnesses" here refers of people who are able to testify about all what was said between you and him/her, you two who have problem. These are not witnesses of "wrongdoing". 5) Making issue public is third step here. Public. Congregation is that public, not 1,2 or 3 elders. In front all congregation. 6) If things are not resolved and you as plaintiff, claimant are not sattisfaied, or if whole congregation is against "sinner", how such person have to be treated? As man of nation and tax collector. How Jesus treated men of nation and tax collectors? Answer is clear to me. Is it to you?
  22. John 18:36 "Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now, My kingdom is not of this realm.” In JW Broadcasting for March 2019 moderator used this verse and explained in 11:17 of video: Because the Kingdom of Jesus is not of human origin, it does not need human defenses. After such bold claim of GB Helper i need to ask: Why Jesus' "Earthly Part of The Kingdom", in the form of a WTJWorg organization, having lawyers and the Legal Department? WT lawyers dealing with defenses, actually, of various kinds. They are engaged in defending the Kingdom's interests here on Earth, representing the King and his Kingdom in front of the secular authorities and courts, leading legal battles for the freedom of religious expression in the name of Jesus, defending individuals or groups of JW believers, and the like. The Legal Department has the task to preserve, to defend all material goods allegedly belonging to the King of Jesus, from those who oppose the Kingdom and the Kingdom. So, this word, to defend, nowadays takes on, obviously, a different meaning from what Jesus was said and showed in the words and in practical event, quoted at the beginning. It seems that some people feel the need and the obligation to defend Jesus by defending all the things that they think is related to Jesus and what supposedly belongs to Jesus. If Jesus Kingdom IS NOT from this World, why believers aka JW Lawyers have strong need to do, in fact, OPPOSITE of Jesus' Teaching revealed in Bible? Why to defense Persons, Church, Organization, Material Possessions, who/which all IS FROM this World? Jesus' Kingdom EXISTED already in 1 Century, because Jesus gave claim: "My Kingdom is not of this world". He is not speaking about His Future Kingdom, but about that one that existed in His days. If He was King, and He was, because he claimed that he had Kingdom while He was said this in front apostles - MY KINGDOM. Jesus told Peter, DO NOT DEFEND ME, and DO NOT DEFEND MY KINGDOM, ....... BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO DEFEND MYSELF AND MY KINGDOM!
  23. Just friendly observation on terminology you used - last warning ! I think how, with this warning, you can easily find yourself on the path of the violation of the First Amendment. The First Amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, .... Well, your Forum Rules have to be in Harmony with US Constitution. :)) If participants of this topic find no interest to make any response to "out of topic" comments, than the Group alone will make Natural Selection of things they will or will not speak. "Market Law" will bring own "Rule" or "Warning" and perhaps some of comments will not go further, and by that will stay alone and lonely as they never been said.
  24. .... viruses and spyware and ex JWs or apostates :)))))
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