Scientifically speaking, I believe that the reference to and belief in the “holy spirit” is really a self-hypnotic mechanism which has the effect of aiding the person’s own memory recall and putting the person in a more receptive mental cognitive mode (i.e., alpha brainwave range) so as to be better able to think objectively and logically. And, of course, any positive results which may arise from such an improved state of clarity would be attributed to some existential and divine type of source – in effect becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Posts by SAHS
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93Appointed by holy spirit
by Ben57 ini have been reading the posts on who is and or had been an elder.
it amazes me at what many have said.
perhaps i have misunderstood what they were saying.
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93
Appointed by holy spirit
by Ben57 ini have been reading the posts on who is and or had been an elder.
it amazes me at what many have said.
perhaps i have misunderstood what they were saying.
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SAHS
The Watchtower makes it so that you could support either viewpoint simultaneously depending on exactly which portion of their literature you wish to quote from.
Even though they explicitly say that their decisions and appointments are merely guided by the holy spirit in that they supposedly follow the spirit-inspired Scriptures, they nevertheless seek to subtly lead people into assuming that there is some kind of direct, supernatural connection with the holy spirit in their case. And, of course, this easily-concocted assumption made by many from “reading between the lines” really plays right into their hands. In other words, people are led to assume that their literature does, in fact, naturally make this assumption of divine revelation – but if you were to try to call them on it, they could simply point to those other statements which admit that they are, in reality, just being guided by the holy spirit through prayer and Scriptural meditation (as well as their own local deliberations).
They promote either perspectives, and it’s sort of like using the various facets of a physical diamond or prism – you can conjure, or highlight, any color you want to appear just by the angle you hold it at. And just like they say, in tennis or skipping stones, . . . it really is all in “the flick of the wrist.”
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75
Christmas is WRONG!
by thesaint inyou all should be ashamed of your egotistical selves.
how can you leave god's organization to celebrate the work of satan the devil?
it just goes to show you how jehovah's christian witnesses are correct about how persons will leave the truth for their own selfish desires.. first off, christmas is a pagan holiday and it proves no spirit with the almighty jehovah and his son, the christ.
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SAHS
“thesaint”: “All the doctrines in our holy WatchTower publications are correct, as evidence from deep study of the bible, so there is no reason to try to go against the publications from the faithful and discreet slave because it is from he who is above.”
Well, “thesaint,” it would appear that you have neglected to check out an overview of the precepts your “holy WatchTower” with such basic history as:
http://www.freeminds.org/history/key.htm
http://www.freeminds.org/history/part1.htm
http://www.freeminds.org/history/part2.htm
http://www.freeminds.org/history/part3.htm
http://www.freeminds.org/history/part4.htm
Happy reading, hon.
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11
QUESTIONS TO ASK JWs
by NAVYTOWN ina good question to ask a jw is: do you follow what the bible teaches or what the watchtower organization says?
then ask them to give you just one example of a doctrine in the bible, that they have ascertained through their individual bible study, that is different from what is taught by the watchtower.
of course, they cannot honestly answer without admitting that they do in fact follow the watchtower and not the actual bible.
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SAHS
“DesirousOfChange”:
“Just as they did not understand that the soul dies, or the promise of everlasting life is on earth, or the pagan origins of Christmas on their own, but needed the direction of the Jah's Org, so too they admit that they cannot even begin to understand this mumbo-jumbo about the Generation changes or the identity of the F&DS.”
Exactly. It’s a bait-and-switch technique, used by magicians and swindlers alike. The Watchtower is, indeed, correct regarding their logical understandings of certain basic things, such as the immortality of the soul, the pagan origins of many religious customs and celebrations, etc. . . . HOWEVER, they try to get people to think that if those things are true, then all the other beliefs unique to Jehovah’s Witness, such as “God’s organization” and its supposed divine authority, must also be true.
It’s really simple misdirection. (Remember when you were a kid – just exactly how did grandpa pull that quarter out of my ear?) David Copperfield, Chris Angel, and other gifted masters of illusion can do it, and so can the masters of deception we know as religious charlatans – and they are very good at their own “trade.” Cults can be very talented in their enigmatic tools of persuasion, but just like the masters of physical illusion, when we ask ourselves “just how did that elephant disappear,” the secret answer to the trick is so elegantly simple that when you discover it, you just want to kick yourself! So-called mystical – or divine – “power” is gone in a flash with just a little bit of knowledge.
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75
Christmas is WRONG!
by thesaint inyou all should be ashamed of your egotistical selves.
how can you leave god's organization to celebrate the work of satan the devil?
it just goes to show you how jehovah's christian witnesses are correct about how persons will leave the truth for their own selfish desires.. first off, christmas is a pagan holiday and it proves no spirit with the almighty jehovah and his son, the christ.
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SAHS
To “thesaint”:
The conclusion regarding Christmas (or any other holidays people celebrate), when you think of it – when all is said and done, really – is, WHO CARES!
The net result is that the children have something to look forward to, and everyone is reminded of humble and higher-order social values which are mutually beneficial based on natural and moral principle. Even if there are “technical inaccuracies,” the fact is that, being on a Scriptural theme, Christmas is something that at least makes people think about Jesus in some way. Instead of being something disrespectful or blasphemous, it should really be thought of as being rather complimentary. If I were Jesus (which I’m not), I would actually be somewhat flattered that the most significant financial boon of the year is something relating to my name. Good or bad, it nonetheless is something that reminds everyone of unselfish and philanthropic, Christian-like endeavors, even if some of the gifts involved happen to be exchanged the next day (Boxing Day).
And speaking of technical inaccuracies, or falsehoods, I personally think of this: there are Egyptian mythology, Babylonian mythology, Greek mythology, Roman mythology, Hindu mythology, native Indian mythology, etc., . . . . and there is also what I call “Christian mythology.” When you stop and look at the whole forest of religious beliefs and customs, they always involve people or demigods going back and forth between the earthly and “heavenly” realms, performing some kind of magical feats (miracles), and purveying some kind of mystical or “divine” knowledge from the gods. Looking at it from a modern scientific, logical, agnostic perspective, I think it’s all mythology (of one bent or another).
So, as to which customs or celebrations anyone would, or would not (or should, or should not) indulge in, if it’s basically all just bunk, then, . . . . well, like I said, Who cares anyway! I.e., just shut up and drink your eggnog. And remember to enjoy yourself, and help others do the same. Merry . . . . Just be merry, okay? That’s really what it all boils down to.
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Beware Of Fakery On The Internet
by metatron inhttp://www.businessinsider.com/reputation-management-2013-12.
the above will explain how so many awful people and organizations can look ok on internet searches.. when judging reviews on the internet, i always read the most negative first.
then, i ask myself, "is this opinion really a deal breaker?
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SAHS
“Beware Of Fakery On The Internet”
Absolutely. Case in point: http://www.jw.org/
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Do the WTBTS monitor this site?
by quellycatface inbeen reading some back posts.
just wondered if the borg monitor this or any other sites.wouldn't that make them apostate as well?
?typical double standard through and through.the scumbags.hope you all have a crap week.
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SAHS
Hopefully the Watchtower will get more of their poeple lower down in the ranks to monitor sites like this because undoubtedly it would result in even more people turning to a course of personally questioning their long-held Watchtower dogma and getting to finally open their eyes. At the end of the day, there is probably more power in TTATT than the tenuous framework of lies.
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Wait!wait! But I DO want people to have a merry Christmas!
by stillin inis it really sharing in their wicked ways to bid people well wishes on their holiday?
i mean, i'm not doing christmas myself, but if they want to have it, what's wrong with saying "enjoy!".
witnesses extend best wishes to newlywed pagans all of the time, even though they know that the marriage is a godless, heathen, false-worship-filled union of sex-driven materialistic people.
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SAHS
“. . . she was proud to report to my aunt her cold and rude response . . . She honestly thinks she is bringing honor to Jehovah by being snobbish with strangers who probably have innocent intentions and then by further belittling them in private.”
The holiday season should be a time of joy and love, regardless of one’s religious, political, ethnic, or social affiliation or status. And, of course, the way to make it a time of joy and love is to express to others sentiments which are joyful and loving. Everyone has their own style and manner of expression, but it never does any good to anyone – including the one speaking as well as the one listening – to promote bad feelings. The holiday season may mean different things to different folks, considering their own beliefs and background, but, regardless of any of that, it should be a time of sharing joy and love – I mean, it can’t hurt, can it? After all, like it is said, “Love never fails.” Perhaps your mother should take a little peak at that expression in 1 Corinthians 13:8 for a little refresher.
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SAHS
I’m currently still a member considered in good standing in my congregation along with my strongly JW parents, and I want you to know that that means a lot to me . . . . a whole lot of nothing, that is! (I still get dragged to the Kingdom Hall and out in field service, but, on the upside, I do get the perks of room and board, and the opportunity to be able to occasionally give electronic-type presents to myself.) Even though I’m a born-in/stuck-in, that doesn’t have to stop me from having some Christmas good cheer. I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year (whether you like it or not)! No matter what physical or financial situation you are in right now, hell, it’s still Christmas time, and there’s always some kind of simple good cheer to be had by all. Now drink it up! (The good cheer, that is.)
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Elders at the door
by Gorbatchov inyesterday at 10 am the doorbell was ringing.
thank god we were upstairs bussy with the kids.. they left a litle note with the text "we, __ and __, found you not home, see you in the kingdom hall.
cellphone number xxxxxxx".
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SAHS
But maybe instead of just leaving it like that, you could copy and past a link into the text message which directs to a pertinent Website such as http://www.jwfacts.com, http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk, or even some choice sections of, say, http://www.jehovahs-witness.net. Don’t just do a simple disconnect – go for a disconnect with a little strike back. They are asking for it!