Posts by Tenacious

41

If You Were God How Would You Prove You Existed

by Pig in

i ask this because obviously everyone has different criteria, hence why we have muslims who think quran is the more than enough proof, christians who think the bible is perfect proof and atheists who believe that nothing yet has been proof enough of gods existence.. living with humans we all must have a good idea of human nature (god should certainly know) so what would you provide as proof if you were god to convince the masses of your existence?.

if you were a christian would your proof surpass that contained in the bible, would you provide less proof?.

if you are atheist would you provide a mathematical equation or a series of supernatural events that fulfill prophecies every 100 years?.

Tenacious

At night, in your respective timezone, I would turn the moon into the Sun for 1 hour. Then after the hour have it return to being the moon.

If that doesn't get someone's attention, perhaps nothing will. :-)

31

Obama to speak from the Oval Office tonight (8:00 eastern)

by Coded Logic in

this will be only the 3rd time he's spoken from the oval office in his seven years so it's probably going to be something pretty big.

combat troops being sent into syria?

unilateral movement on gun control?.

Tenacious

It's actually tomorrow night when he'll be speaking.

23

Awesome New Books on JW's, MUST READ!

by johnny depp in

hey, i just thought i let you guys know about these two books i read:jehovah's witnesses, what lies behind the truththe watchtower society, organizational misbehaviorboth books by gabriel h ibarra.

awesome!

Tenacious

$50 seems more like he's in it for the money instead of the well-being of current, former, and soon to be former members.

If he intends on recouping some of his publishing costs, his target audience is way too small for that. A person should never write a book for profit when the affected audience has suffered and some have even died for the cause that is now trying to be exposed and/or eradicated.

My two cents of course.

39

New GB video: Why Reduce the Number of Special Full-Time Servants?

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

watchtower released at tv.jw.org a new gb video with samuel f. herd, with the theme:.

why reduce the number of special full-time servants?.

it seems there is a reason to release this special message.. http://tv.jw.org/#en/video/vodstudio/pub-jwbrd_201511_4_video.

Tenacious

Samuel "Krusty the Clown" Herd read from a script meant to influence your subconscious mind which is the driving force in a person's life.

Before you read the entire scripted speech by Krusty (yes, I wrote it down word-for-word), consider the following bit of information on the use of specific words meant to bypass the critical factor part of our mind and go straight through to the subconscious. Besides the two words that we examine here, notice other sentences and other words that are used in conjunction to make the message much more effective. Due to time constraints, I'm unable to also break down how these additional words, phrases, and sentence structures, are also used. However, reading them, instead of listening to them, should kind of give you an idea of how they are subconsciously used.

First let's look at the use of two words; You and Imagine.

On the use of the word "you" note the following information:

Why it’s hypnotic

You is a placeholder for your name.

But the word you is different. It’s natural to use it in conversation, so you don’t need to worry about being heavy-handed. Yet it encapsulates the same basic self-obsessiveness that makes your own name so powerful. We’re all self-obsessed. It’s just the nature of being human.

The reason words that refer to us are so hypnotic has to do with a psychological effect called Fundamental Attribution Error. Basically, while we are naturally critical of other people, our critical minds take a break when we evaluate ourselves. That analytic part of us just doesn’t kick in. You may not have noticed this about yourself—but I bet you’ve noticed it about all those oblivious inconsiderate jerks constantly making your life miserable.

So when people talk about us, we tend to be lulled. What they’re saying bypasses the critical factor—and all that’s left then is to stimulate the unconscious mind.

And guess what? There’s nothing as stimulating to us as our own interests, desires, ambitions, goals, yearnings and emotions. For our whole lives, that is all we really have. So as long as your copy addresses those things for your prospect, it is guaranteed to carry them along in a rapt, semi-torpid daze of introspection.

***Now let's look at another hypnotic word used by Krusty***

On the use of the word "imagine" note the following information:

Why it’s hypnotic

Two factors are at work here.

Firstly, you may have noticed that if you ask a stranger to do something—especially to buy something—they tend to balk. Their natural reaction is to question the instruction. To find a reason to disagree with it. The critical mind throws up objections.

What’s interesting, though, is this doesn’t happen if you just ask someone to imagine something. Especially if you ask them to imagine the outcome of the sale, rather than making the purchase itself. There’s no resistance to that.

This is because we don’t see imagining as a “real” task. It’s just a mind-game. Indeed, an enjoyable game; a distraction from life—as with fantasies.

So by asking your prospect to imagine something, you bypass that critical part that throws up objections, and “sneak in” to their mind through the back door of their imagination. And bypassing the critical mind is the second of three crucial steps to achieving hypnosis. The first is attracting the person’s attention, which is assumed.

The third step is to stimulate the unconscious mind. That is exactly what imagining something does. As strange as it may sound, the brain literally cannot tell the difference between imagining reality, and actually experiencing reality. As far as your brain is concerned, there’s no difference between visualizing a tree, and seeing a tree.

This makes your prospect’s imagination a deceptively powerful ally to you. Remember—the fear of loss is far stronger than the desire for gain. So if you can get your prospect to feel a sense of ownership for your offering, you invoke a much stronger desire than by merely offering benefits. By getting them to imagine owning it, they become as if they already have it. As if you have already given it to them. And the natural thing to do then is to keep it…which means making the purchase.

This sense of ownership over what we imagine is surprisingly deep-seated. It should be. Our youngest years are ruled by our imaginations. Kids are highly possessive of their make-believe ideas and characters and worlds. They don’t like to be told they aren’t real. And although as adults we’ve managed to conceal that affection for our fantasies under a veneer of pragmatism, the same effect still governs our behavior at a subconscious level.

***Now let's read the message from Mr. Herd a.k.a. Krusty***

The governing body would like to share with the Bethel family some information on the reasons behind a number major decisions affecting the world-wide work particularly those in special full-time service. As you know in the next few months, a good number of special full-time servants will be returning to the ranks of the regular pioneers. Why is this necessary? First, we would like to make clear that we are confident Jehovah is richly blessing the world-wide work. Also the financial support of our brothers, has in no way, diminished. In fact, we have even seen a fine increase in contributions since the May 2015 program on JW broadcasting. However, as the global preaching work has expanded over the past several years, our expenses have greatly increased. For instance, we have experienced a tremendous growth in personnel. As of September 1, 2015 we reached 83,790 in special full-time service. Can you imagine the cost involved in caring for so many full-time servants?. At the same time, many of our major branch facilities are more than 30 years old. These offices require extensive maintenance and renovation. In some cases new branch facilities are needed. Also consider that we will soon have literature available in some 850 languages. This translation work requires additional facilities and personnel. Finally consider the thousands of kingdom halls that we need to construct not just in lands with limited resources but in Europe and the United States, where one kingdom hall may cost more than a million dollars. It was obvious to the governing body that we could not expect our brothers to continually increase their donations. We needed to reduce expenses. To accomplish this we would need to reduce personnel, reduce the number of publications we were printing, put some non-essential projects on hold. And reduce or eliminate various services at Bethel. What has been the response to these adjustments? We have been overwhelmed by the positive willing spirit of all you dear brothers and sisters to make these adjustments a success. We have truly felt your wholehearted support. Therefore, we now look to Jehovah to bless these adjustments so that we can move ahead with the all-important preaching work. All to the glory and praise of our magnificent God. We trust that these comments will help you to understand our current situation and to know that we truly love and appreciate each one of you. With all good wishes your brothers, governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One last bit I would like to add. Notice how hard Herd tries to get members to identify with the governing body and vice-versa by continually using the word "we"? I find the entire message repulsive and despicable. They insult people's intelligence by deliberately using these methods and techniques. Notice how he also tries to convince the members that Jehovah is blessing them. How pathetic.

19

Question for Cofty about God and Bible defences

by slimboyfat in

i thought about sending you a pm but it might make an interesting open discussion.

i've seen you express the lack of good pro-god ex-witnesses to engage with.

i don't know about ex-witnesses, but there are a few witnesses who've written on these issues.

Tenacious

Let's wait for cofty and his rebuttal. Heck, we might get a bonus and get Viv as well.

29

A Seal Ring bearing King Hezekiah's found in Jerusalem excavation, with ankh symbol and winged sun

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

from a story in the jewish press:.

quote: "the city of david excavations of the jerusalem hebrew university on mount ophel, at the foot of the southern wall of the temple mount compound, have yielded a sensational discovery: a seal (bulla) with the name of king hezekiah (727-698 bce).".

"king hezekiahs bulla was discovered in a garbage heap that was dumped during or shortly after hezekiahs time, from a royal building that was used to store food.

Tenacious

Why are people going through my trash without permission?

77

Feeling rejected

by Esmeralda001 in

just a little disclaimer: english isn't my first language (i'm from france) thus the poor writing skills.here is the situation: i'm not a jw.

however, i'm in the process of becoming one.

in fact, i'm studying with the jw's, and i'll proceed to become an unbaptized publisher as soon as i finish the first book.to make a long story short i was introduced to the truth when i was 18een.

Tenacious

Esmeralda - It may or may not have been said to you but my personal opinion would be to reassess your commitment to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Ask your study instructor to answer questions that can be posed now and not later. You appear to have a good heart and good intentions toward finding God and His Son and all that entails. You are smart and very capable and should be able to discern truth from falsity.

I strongly encourage you to visit sites like jwfacts.com.

If your study instructor or any other brother or sister tells you to avoid coming to sites like this one or sites that are critical of the Jehovah's Witnesses ask them that if their religion is the truth, nothing or no one can pollute that and the facts will always come through.

The actions from the elderette you mention is typical of many sisters in a position of prestige and/or power. You have barely scratched the surface as you will see many more actions and tactics from other Jehovah's Witnesses who claim to be spiritual yet they "prove false to its power."

Never be afraid to research the truth before you make a life-altering decision of becoming baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

You are attending a university and this, in itself, will make you look "spiritually weak" if you ever decide to become a member.

Best of luck to you.

27

Why didn't Jehovah know the flood wouldn't work?

by OverlappingGeneralizations in

this has been something that is bugging me lately-.

jehovah is all knowing.

he knows that to do away with evil, he has to do away with satan.

Tenacious

I was thinking about this the other day. Specifically I was thinking how Jehovah said he was going to wipe out every single human. Yet, somehow, of the thousands upon thousands of people living then somehow Noah and his family gained God's favor?

Had Jehovah wiped everyone off the map, through who would the Messiah come from?

Questions like this drive me nuts. Yet, they plant seeds of doubt about the veracity of some Biblical stories.

What about if some passages have been completely corrupted? What if some books were purposely omitted to fit a Church narrative? What determined if a book would be included or excluded from the Canon?

Definitely something I continue to meditate and research further.

8

In That Hour

by berrygerry in

looks like wt didn't like getting schooled by angus on the no-witness rape in deut.. geoff later sent in a written statement:.

329 it was suggested to mr jackson that this scripture provided the basis for the governingbody not to apply the twowitness rule in the case of sexual abuse, or that it called into question the proper foundation to the twowitness rule in the case of sexual abuse.

mrjacksons answer was to say that the jehovahs witnesses believe that there is a properfoundation to the rule because of the number of times that it is emphasised in thescriptures.607 mr jackson did not say that there is no prospect of modifying theapplication of the twowitness rule within scriptural requirements so as to make itinapplicable to cases of sexual abuse.330 in a statement provided to the royal commission after the close of the public hearing,mr jackson offered an alternative explanation of deuteronomy 22:2327 to that whichhe had accepted in oral evidence.608 in his statement mr jackson explained that themans guilt had been judged at an earlier stage in deuteronomy, and that the referencedverses dealt only with establishing guilt (or absence thereof) on the part of thewoman.609 in his statement, mr jackson did not seek to explain the reason for thedifference between his oral and written evidence as to context of deuteronomy 22:2327.331 it is submitted that there is little utility in attempting to resolve the conflict between mrjacksons oral and his subsequent written evidence on the subject of the relevance ofdeuteronomy 22:2327 to the flexibility of the twowitness rule.however, it is open tothe royal commission to note the difficulty experienced by even a member of the governing body in arriving at an interpretation of deuteronomy 22:2327 which renders it irrelevant to the application of the twowitness rule.. .

Tenacious

@ prologos - Hahaha. I never took notice of the door. That's hilarious!! LOL

8

In That Hour

by berrygerry in

looks like wt didn't like getting schooled by angus on the no-witness rape in deut.. geoff later sent in a written statement:.

329 it was suggested to mr jackson that this scripture provided the basis for the governingbody not to apply the twowitness rule in the case of sexual abuse, or that it called into question the proper foundation to the twowitness rule in the case of sexual abuse.

mrjacksons answer was to say that the jehovahs witnesses believe that there is a properfoundation to the rule because of the number of times that it is emphasised in thescriptures.607 mr jackson did not say that there is no prospect of modifying theapplication of the twowitness rule within scriptural requirements so as to make itinapplicable to cases of sexual abuse.330 in a statement provided to the royal commission after the close of the public hearing,mr jackson offered an alternative explanation of deuteronomy 22:2327 to that whichhe had accepted in oral evidence.608 in his statement mr jackson explained that themans guilt had been judged at an earlier stage in deuteronomy, and that the referencedverses dealt only with establishing guilt (or absence thereof) on the part of thewoman.609 in his statement, mr jackson did not seek to explain the reason for thedifference between his oral and written evidence as to context of deuteronomy 22:2327.331 it is submitted that there is little utility in attempting to resolve the conflict between mrjacksons oral and his subsequent written evidence on the subject of the relevance ofdeuteronomy 22:2327 to the flexibility of the twowitness rule.however, it is open tothe royal commission to note the difficulty experienced by even a member of the governing body in arriving at an interpretation of deuteronomy 22:2327 which renders it irrelevant to the application of the twowitness rule.. .