Posts by darkspilver

Sorry, you asked just for the actual article..... here's the meeting item instructions, again from the fantabulosa website that is jw.org - your answer to answer to life, the universe and everything:

In English:

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/202014324

Or select another language - wayyyyyy too many too list ;)

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/sysl/r1/lp-e?url=/en/wol/sydp/r1/lp-e/{rsconf}/{library}/r1/lp-e/202014324/null

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

96

Chile and the flag: It's true!! Undeniable evidence!!

by ILoveTTATT in

jw
friends

joe, sorry, you'll have to eat some humble pie.. .

thank you so much for the poster on extj.com who sent these pics!!

can't have been better!!.

darkspilver

No replies yet? Maybe too deep....

Well, let's go even deeper... and personal... ;)

Take the quote above from the 2002 Watchtower: "What is significant here is, not the presence of a flag or a replica thereof, but how one acts toward it."

The 'bottom line' would appear to be that a JW would be respectful (including not being disrepectful) towards the flag, but would not venerate it.

But remember, a person simply displaying a flag does not in itself mean that they are acting respectfully towards it, how so?

Let's take the USA flag as an example - what does the law in the USA tell us?

The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display - http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

Section 8, part i: The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard.

In view the above Law, how would you view using the items below?

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Converting-Pride-Luncheon-Napkins/dp/B001GQHNWA/

http://www.amazon.com/Artstyle-Liberty-Patriotic-American-Independence/dp/B00KDNHC6O/

And that isn't a rhetorical question....

That's all folks!

DarK SpliveR

96

Chile and the flag: It's true!! Undeniable evidence!!

by ILoveTTATT in

jw
friends

joe, sorry, you'll have to eat some humble pie.. .

thank you so much for the poster on extj.com who sent these pics!!

can't have been better!!.

darkspilver

OK, don't believe this has been highlighted by blondie yet, but the following two quotes are interesting to review:

Watchtower 2002, September 15, page 25:

“Hold a Good Conscience”

After describing the ineffectiveness of man-made objects of veneration, the psalmist said: “Those making them will become just like them, all those who are trusting in them.” (Psalm 115:4-8) Obviously, then, any employment that directly involves manufacturing objects of adoration, including national flags, would be unacceptable to Jehovah’s worshipers. (1 John 5:21) Other employment situations may also arise when Christians respectfully show that they worship neither the flag nor what it represents but only Jehovah.

An employer, for example, may ask an employee to raise or lower a flag displayed at a building. Whether an individual would do so or not depends on his personal view of the circumstances. If raising or lowering the flag is part of a special ceremony, with people standing at attention or saluting the flag, then performing this act amounts to sharing in the ceremony.

On the other hand, if no ceremony accompanies the raising or lowering of the flag, then these actions constitute nothing more than performing such tasks as preparing the building for use, unlocking and locking the doors, and opening and closing the windows. In such instances, the flag is simply an emblem of the State, and raising or lowering it among other routine tasks is a matter for personal decision based on the dictates of one’s Bible-trained conscience. (Galatians 6:5) The conscience of one person might move him to ask his supervisor to have some other employee put up and take down the flag. Another Christian might feel that his conscience would permit him to handle the flag as long as no ceremony is involved. Whatever the decision, true worshipers should “hold a good conscience” before God.—1 Peter 3:16.

There is no Scriptural objection to working in or being in public buildings, such as municipal offices and schools, where the national flag is displayed. A flag might also appear on postage stamps, automobile license plates, or other government-produced items. Using such objects does not in itself make individuals participants in devotional acts. What is significant here is, not the presence of a flag or a replica thereof, but how one acts toward it.

Flags are often displayed on windows, doors, cars, desks, or other objects. Clothing with the motif of a flag imprinted on it can also be purchased. In some countries, it is illegal to wear such items. Even if doing so would not violate the law, what would it indicate relative to a person’s position with regard to the world? Concerning his followers, Jesus Christ said: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) Not to be overlooked is the effect such an action could have on fellow believers. Could it injure the conscience of some? Might their resolve to remain firm in the faith be weakened? Paul counseled Christians: “Make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others.”—Philippians 1:10.

(The above is partly a 'reprint' from the Questions From Readers, Watchtower 1977, January 15, page 63: "May a Christian raise or lower a flag at his place of work?")

Yearbook 1989, pages 100-101, regarding events in Austria during April 1938:

"To express their solidarity with the new regime, people were required to decorate their windows with the flag bearing the swastika. In the small town of Knittelfeld, Sister Altenbuchner lived in an apartment that faced the street. Time and again, local representatives of the regime approached her, demanding that the swastika flag be displayed in her windows. They made it known that if she declined to do so, she would reap the animosity of all her neighbors. Apparently she faced a united hostile front. For reasons of conscience, she decided that she would not hang the flag. The consequences? She was given a court order to vacate her apartment facing the street and move into one assigned to her at the rear of the house, where no display of flags was required — a solution that she never had expected."

The Yearbook quote above is interesting - Altenbuchner appears to be the only one mentioned NOT displaying the flag, which leads to the question: what did the other witnesses do that lived in apartments where it was required to display such a flag - or was she the only one... which seems unlikely?

That's all folks!

DarK SpliveR

80

" Do not ask permission, just play the video--" service meeting instructions.

by prologos in

jw
friends

this statement startled me out of the pleasant mental absence during this week's "service" meeting.. pushing the org.

explanation: "the listener has time to interrupt, if they want--" .

together with an incredible boring "study" of an hand held device, or it's stored content, i will be a totally new crop of orgies at the halls,.

darkspilver

@Londo111: Can someone paste the KM article in question? Thank you!

It's available on the jw.org website ;)

In English:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/202014325

Or select another language - wayyyyyy too many too list ;)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/sysl/r1/lp-e?url=/en/wol/sydp/r1/lp-e/{rsconf}/{library}/r1/lp-e/202014325/null

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

34

"Jehovah's Witnesses do better after surgery without transfusion" - Article (July 3, 2012)

by Da.Furious in

this article from 2012 published by the birmingham news showed up on my facebook page.. what i would have liked to see in the statistics is the inclusion of total jws refusing blood transfusion and their survival rate not only the ones taht surviced, taking about only survivors is not like for like comparison in my opinion with patients who take blood transfusion and then dont survive.. .

.

darkspilver

@jwfacts: The other factor not mentioned is that the preparation done on JWs and operations are far more costly and intensive in order to reduce the need for blood.

I understand that that's an accepted principle - blood transfusions can often be avoided by careful operative technique

@jwfacts:If such level of care was taken for all patients, then survival rates are likely to have been higher across the board.

Which surely begs the question why such level of care isn't taken for all patients....

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

34

"Jehovah's Witnesses do better after surgery without transfusion" - Article (July 3, 2012)

by Da.Furious in

this article from 2012 published by the birmingham news showed up on my facebook page.. what i would have liked to see in the statistics is the inclusion of total jws refusing blood transfusion and their survival rate not only the ones taht surviced, taking about only survivors is not like for like comparison in my opinion with patients who take blood transfusion and then dont survive.. .

.

darkspilver

@BU2B: I would not be suprised if the writer was a JW working at the paper.

Ask her ;) .... Nicole Ostrow: [email protected]

(Email address as publicly available via Bloomberg website - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-02/need-for-transfusion-in-heart-surgery-questioned-in-study.html - btw it looks like it's another version of the same story by her, presumably regurgitating the same press release for multiple outlets, that's fairly standard practise)

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

80

" Do not ask permission, just play the video--" service meeting instructions.

by prologos in

jw
friends

this statement startled me out of the pleasant mental absence during this week's "service" meeting.. pushing the org.

explanation: "the listener has time to interrupt, if they want--" .

together with an incredible boring "study" of an hand held device, or it's stored content, i will be a totally new crop of orgies at the halls,.

darkspilver

@bohm: By the way, there is nothing new to this. About two years ago I was approached [snip] I can't see how this will work well, the situation of looking at a video on a small screen someone is shaking is just so out of place.

Except for now, two years later (almost a lifetime in digital years) we've reached (and passed!) the 'critical mass' needed for acceptance of viewing vids on cells

I mean, gotta get hip! Sharing (youtube) videos with friends and collegues on mobiles is second nature for digital natives - we're all doing it, literally.

Aparently as of January 2014:

40% of YouTube's traffic now comes from mobile. Compare that to just 25% last year and a paltry 6% only two years ago.

About 50 million people in the U.S. now watch video on their mobile phones.

YouTube accounts for nearly one-fifth of all mobile data traffic.

http://www.businessinsider.com/mobile-video-statistics-and-growth-2013-12

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

80

" Do not ask permission, just play the video--" service meeting instructions.

by prologos in

jw
friends

this statement startled me out of the pleasant mental absence during this week's "service" meeting.. pushing the org.

explanation: "the listener has time to interrupt, if they want--" .

together with an incredible boring "study" of an hand held device, or it's stored content, i will be a totally new crop of orgies at the halls,.

darkspilver

@WTWizard: If they are streaming, it is a waste of data. I wonder how many plays it would take a gigabyte of data. True, it can be stored on a SD card that needs to be updated every few months [snip]

But surely you just use the super duper 'all-singing-all-dancing' JW Library App! After all it is the bestest app in the world isn't it ;)

At bottom of app screen, click 'Publications', then the last item out of of four on the left hand side is 'Videos' - click on this and you currently get the option to download and save four videos in a choice of resolution to suit your device:

Why Study the Bible?

What Happens at a Bible Study?

What Happens at a Kingdom Hall?

Using JW.ORG to Share the Bible's Message

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR

34

"Jehovah's Witnesses do better after surgery without transfusion" - Article (July 3, 2012)

by Da.Furious in

this article from 2012 published by the birmingham news showed up on my facebook page.. what i would have liked to see in the statistics is the inclusion of total jws refusing blood transfusion and their survival rate not only the ones taht surviced, taking about only survivors is not like for like comparison in my opinion with patients who take blood transfusion and then dont survive.. .

.

darkspilver

Hi Da.Furious

Ah there's a blast from the past, the Pattakos study

Originally released online on 2 July 2012:
http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/study-examines-outcomes-patients-who-refuse-transfusion-following-cardiac-surgery/

And published in the magazine 'Archives of Internal Medicine' August 13/27, 2012 Volume 172, Number 15, pages 1154 to 1161:
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx?journalid=71&issueid=24751

Use the search facility at the top of this page for more discussion ;)

That's all folks!

DarK SpilveR