I have read the book, watched what I believe to be the same show you watched (on History but a few weeks ago called The Real DaVinci Code) and just received Holy Blood Holy Grail and the companion book (to be read within the next couple of weeks). I have also watched several other documentary programs on similar "Holy Grail" subject matter.
Do I believe the theory presented in the DaVinci-code, not fully but it is an interesting theory. At the very least it makes you think about the history of religion. All of the concepts presented can be factual, whether they are or not remains to be seen.
I look at it like this, knowledge we take for granted today was at some point in time considered "out there". Is this the same? Could there be some truth? Challenging our perceived notions of truth can't be all that bad in the end, that is how we as a species advanced in our knowledge.
Is this all just fantasy, the Earth being round was labeled just that at one time. Makes you think.
Jahna
I also just received and am currently reading In Search of Christian Freedom. WOW!!!! More about that one later
Posts by Jahna
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12davinci code!
by cyborgVision ini'm just watching da vinci code programme on history channel.
... wondering what you guys make of it all.
does it make any sense or is it wt-like publisher's stunt....
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Jahna
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JW work situation
by pratt1 ini work for a rather large financial institution in nyc.
i run a large profit center and manage over 100 people.
on of my best workers is a dub doing a slow but progressive fade.
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Jahna
In Canada there is a lot of law protecting the fading JW that will get the company in a hoot of trouble and legal suits. I am not sure about the US but I am sure there is something.
I believe who ever is directly in charge of the JW employee should have a heart to heart about their conduct towards a fellow employee. What they are doing is equal to extreme sexual harassment! And we know how people react to that. Even JW?s have acknowledged that work is at work and outside work is a different story. I would say that the JW?s job is/should be on the line for misconduct. Religion has no business in a work place period and you don?t even have mention which type of religion for this to apply. -
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Watchtower continues relationship with United Nations in some way
by Dogpatch into find that the watchtower continued (another) type of u.n. relationship even (after) they disassociated from the (ngo dpi) sections, these are the instructions i was given: 1. go to the home page of (who) world health organization 2. type in these numbers into the search engine at the top: (10184) and click go 3. when the next page comes up, you will receive one pdf listing of information.
click on it.
4. when the pdf file comes up, go to page 3 and you will find that the watch tower of jehovah's witnesses is listed as a (new idp site) and (participant center).
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Jahna
"IDP is short for "internally displaced person". Some 25 million people worldwide currently live in situations of internal displacement as a result of conflicts or human rights violations. They were forced to flee their homes because their lives were at danger, but unlike refugees they did not cross international borders (full definition). Although internally displaced people now outnumber refugees by two to one, their plight receives far less international attention." Source http://www.idpproject.org/who_is_IDP.htm
Hope this helps understand the thread a bit better
Jahna -
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New CO final Talk
by stillajwexelder inanybody heard this new talk going around at the moment - it is the last talk on sunday afternoon and it is about depression?
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Jahna
"You need to read your bible more, get out in service more and be at all the meetings."
That is the cure from everything from a hangnail to death. Geessh and you wonder why people are depressed!
Jahna -
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Do JW Parents intentionally extort their children with baptizm?
by Elsewhere injw parents will do just about anything to get their kids to be baptized as jws.
do they do this with the full knowledge that they will have to shun their children if they leave the organization?
is this a tactic that parents use to trap their children in the cult, basically using baptism as an form of insurance or guarantee that their kids will stay in the cult?.
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Jahna
My mother made many comments about me getting dunked. Once I did, (to make her and everyone else happy) she laid off.
Jahna -
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Baptize 'em young, keep 'em outta Sports - My notes from the last assembly
by jgnat ini had heard of accounts of young baptisms, but i figured it was the exception rather than the rule.
now i wonder, after viewing the models of youth paraded at the last assembly.
i took note of the ages and age of baptism of the five young men (no girls this time) who were interviewed as models of jw youth at this last week's assembly.
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Jahna
I heard there were simular experiences at the assembly my folks went to. Of course they mom had to rave about it. I wonder if these same nice kids would say the same thing in a court of law for custody hearings?
Jahna -
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A Little Help Here -- Heard Something at Work Today about JWs
by Gretchen956 inour union rep at work said she was very sure that jws were not allowed to belong to unions.
actually i don't belong, but she'd really like to get me to join (i am not anti-union, i'm just ambivelent)... anyways, i have been out for 13 years, but i do not remember this being the case, nor do i really remember it being a topic here (please don't post a link, i'd rather just hear the answer!).
anyone know whether this is just an urban legend or if it is truly the case?
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Jahna
I don't think they are allowed to join willingly, but in many jobs just being employed is being part of a union. While I know most witnesses in that kind of position would be a paying member, they never actually functioned in any union sponsored events, like voting, or strikes.
Jahna -
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1 John 4:1
by mjl inwent to the meeting this morning and stayed for the talk.
the speaker used a text that i thought was very ironic, 1 john 4:1 which reads " beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they origanate with god, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
" i found this ironic becuase we were trained not to test anything in the publications and never question what we hear from the platform.
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Jahna
I was reading Quotes site yesterday and came across this:
Watchtower 1967 June 1 p.338
?First, study: We may think of study as hard work, as involving heavy research. But in Jehovah's organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to do that very thing, to help you who do not have so much time for this, these preparing the good material in The Watchtower and other publications of the Society. But you do not study enough? Take this suggestion: Often the very best and most beneficial studying you do is that done when you read a new Watchtower or Awake! or a new book with the joy of getting the new truths and a fresh view.?
While written in 1967 in the 80's and 90's it was still a very popular opinion, often touted from the platform. I have also heard it said, from the platform, we shouldn?t spend to much time doing research, our brothers at bethel have done it for us, better to be out in the ministry. Basically it is narrowing the research that is ?approved? by the society to society based publications, and even then, not delving in too deep. To do otherwise was to scorn the fine spiritual food given to us by the society. (List a bunch of scripture here that may or may not have any relation to the comment/idea presented. This makes it look more biblical.)
QUALIFIED 1955 p.156
?If we have love for Jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious, but shall, as the Bible says, 'believe all things,' all the things that The Watchtower brings out.?
Again written many years ago, the principle still very much applies, as shown by the talk and Watchtower study mentioned in this thread. If we never question what is written in the societies publications, then we are good little slaves, yet, research always leads to questions and answers. It is in finding out what those questions are, and the final answer to them that leads to deeper understanding. Being spoon fed knowledge is about as sustaining as baby food to an adult.
It is interesting that over the years, the principles remain the same, yet the method used to bring across the principle has become more sly. Blunt statements as used in the past, simply do not work in the present, as it is far to narrow minded and fails to live up to it?s own grandiose ideals when faced with scrutiny. The society can?t afford to ?appear? narrow, one track minded, while at the same time, proclaim freedom for it?s members to the media.
Jahna
Thanks Quotes for the bounty of spiritual food *wink* -
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Watchtower Jan,15 2006.??????
by integ infrom watchtower jan 15 2006.
" another fine example for our youths is that of 4 year old "jessica", who wrote to the society to express appreciation for the faithful slaves' counsel regarding what to do if one is tempted to read any of the "poison" of apostate literature; "i am writing to you dear brothers to express my sincere, heartfelt appreciation to those of you entrusted with the administration of carrying out our master jesus' spiritual directive to supply us with our 'food at the proper time'.
as a young one, it is sometimes difficult to resist the great deceiver: satans' crafty acts.
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Jahna
I bet if this "letter" leaked out to the rank and file, it would be on the platform in no time, if not hit the magizine. It's a perfect urban myth in the making!
Jahna -
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1 John 4:1
by mjl inwent to the meeting this morning and stayed for the talk.
the speaker used a text that i thought was very ironic, 1 john 4:1 which reads " beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they origanate with god, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
" i found this ironic becuase we were trained not to test anything in the publications and never question what we hear from the platform.
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Jahna
Hello JWBen
Without a doubt publicly the society has had to openly allow research into their belief system. Many times JW?s are told to examine the scriptures etc. yet, using what research material and to what end.
If in 1990 you ran around your own congregation and said, ?this generation" apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways. Not a literal generation of people.? Not the normal ?this generation means those living in 1914? What do you think would have happen? What if you sat down with the elders and went through all your research that allowed you to come to this conclusion. Wouldn?t your elders say your getting ahead of the organization? Wouldn?t you be on the edge of apostasy?
While it?s ok to research, it?s not ok to challenge standard norms in the societies belief system. No matter how right you are today, with the generation example in 1990 you were DEAD WRONG! Even if you used the same material the society used to add a new light to the generation dogma, you would have still been wrong until it became approved dogma from the society. You would have to wait 5 long years before what you were so wrong about, to become right. By then you may well have been disfellowshipped for your independent thinking, if you strongly believed your view, not the Watchtower's.
Think about it.
Jahna