Posts by Amazing1914

49

Very Bad Apologetics For Honest Seekers

by AlanF in

god had no beginning, so god did not need to be made.. .

if our local space-time universe is uncreated, then of course it is meaningless to ask who created it.

of course, everything that had a beginning had a beginner.

Amazing1914

Hi Alan,

Excellent material and good discussion. Thanks. It is refreshing to read rational and reasonable material.

Jim W.

354

Watch Tower sues Quotes for $100,000 plus plus plus...

by Quotes in

court file no.

superior court of justice.

watchtower bible and tract society of .

I looked at your site, and did not see anything that should have upset the Society. I agree with you that they have a weak case, if at all. As others have already said, I am with you on this, and anyway I can be of help, please include me. Perhaps media coverage may be a way to get some attention on how mean-spirited the Society really is.

Thanks, Jim

97

Greatest Storm in History Coming Today

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

hurricane katrina is heading for new orleans, la, and will hit it by this afternoon.

it is the largest hurricane known in history.

the entire storm range covers more than 50% of the gulf of mexico.

Amazing1914

Talesin and Terri,

First, Talesin:

"Jim, does this give you pause? ... I'm curious. After debunking the JW faith, how do you reconcile blind faith in a doctrine which you admit has no convincing arguments in its favour? ... (not being sarcastic or malicious, I really don't get it, and you are such a good 'reasoner')"

Yes, it does give me pause. I do not have blind faith in Jesus Christ, nor do I say it has no convincing arguments. Rather, I am having difficulty understand and explaining destructive nature that is outside human causes. The "man caused it with global pollution" that some profer is utter nonsense, and reflects very poor understanding of science. Of course, human causes are bad enough, but we can put the blame where it belongs. I am just not able to understna dsome aspects of God's will. I have to be itellectually honest and admit this, and then seek answers, ragardless of the ultimate conclusion(s) I have to reach.

Terri / Sunnygal:

Thanks for the warm wishes. I am not in harm's way, as I live in Illinois ... about 1800 miles away from the hurricane. Locally, I am more concerned about drive-by shootings than the weather ... well, except when it gets colder than hell in Chicago. I am not sure how to respond to your "Mother Earth" views, as I know so little about them. The closest I can relate would be from Eccelastes 3:1-8 which says,

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Perhaps in these verses is where we see the answers to our human difficulties.

Jim W.

97

Greatest Storm in History Coming Today

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

hurricane katrina is heading for new orleans, la, and will hit it by this afternoon.

it is the largest hurricane known in history.

the entire storm range covers more than 50% of the gulf of mexico.

Amazing1914

Qcmbr,

As a side note, human pollution does not cause earthquakes and their resulting tsnumais. Pollution does not cause volcanic eruptions, which of themselves, can cause more pollution than all human pollution combined over the last 100 years. Pollution does not cause lightening and its resulting fires, which have burned down hundreds of thousands of acres of forest, destroying sensitive eco-systems, and killing many people. Lightening is our number one killer. God created these systems. So, are you saying that the death and destruction caused by his works is okay with you?

Just so you know, I am Christian and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I just don't know how to answer with convincing arguments these issues for myself or others.

Jim W.

97

Greatest Storm in History Coming Today

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

hurricane katrina is heading for new orleans, la, and will hit it by this afternoon.

it is the largest hurricane known in history.

the entire storm range covers more than 50% of the gulf of mexico.

Amazing1914

Hurricane Katrina is heading for New Orleans, LA, and will hit it by this afternoon. It is the largest hurricane known in history. The entire storm range covers more than 50% of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to flood the entire city of New Orleans and areas beyond. People are evacuating in droves. The storm will undoubtedly kill people before it is over.

God created our planet and its weather systems, which include hurricanes. These ferocious storms are so bad and intense that they can kill massive numbers of people. Only in modern history have human weather forcasts been able to help save many people from death.

We object to human wars, and in particular to Christians participating in war. The reason is that Christians should not kill, even if the war seems justified. I have to include police actions in such so-called just wars. Explain, then, why we Chrstians condone our God killing hundreds, thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of people from earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, lightening, tsunamis, volcanos, floods, fires, and the ocassional astroid-comet hitting the earth?

We cannot make excuses. God designed and created these forces and systems. God has the power to mitigate their effects, to control them, make them less severe, or even end them. Therefore, he is clearly and completely responsible for them and what happens to us because of these forces. Were a human to cause such a force, such as a fire that killed people, he/she would be sent to prison or, in some places, executed for such criminal acts.

Why do we let God off of the hook? Why can he get by with mass murder, and not be called into account? Why does our God instruct us as Christians not to kill, but he himself, continues to kill thousands of people each year? Is there a reasonable explanation, or is there something wrong with our picture of God and our interpretation of his will for us? See the Hurricane Tracker of present and past hurricanes. It is very interesting how they work: Click here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7845030 Jim W.

43

I'm off to the Big D!!!

by ohiocowboy in

jw
friends

i am finally ready to move to dallas!

i pick up the moving truck friday morning, load up and head out of ohio about 1 a.m. monday, which will get me to dallas monday evening.

i'm moving from a 4,200 s.f.

Amazing1914

Hi Ohio,

I worked in Houston many years ago, staying there for weeks at a time. The winter is mild, but can get cold. It also rains like hell at times. I imagine that Dallas, about 300 miles to the north, is somewhat similar ... but you can expect some serious cold at times.

Why are you moving? Or is that personal. Hope you have a good trip. You will find that gas prices are better in texas, as they don't tax their own gas the same as other states. Texas, being an oil producing state, gets more revenue from exports of oil ... or at least they used to.

Jim W.

24

Is Clairvoyance evil or a human trait?

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

the society taught that psychic ability and clairvoyance were of satan and the demons.

they equated these characteristics as unchristian and to be avoided.

therefore, they are linked to ouiji board, wiccan activities, and even the seer that saul visited to conjure up samuel in a vision.

Amazing1914

The Society taught that psychic ability and clairvoyance were of Satan and the Demons. They equated these characteristics as unchristian and to be avoided. Therefore, they are linked to ouiji board, Wiccan activities, and even the seer that Saul visited to conjure up Samuel in a vision. The Society’s basis for this teaching is that any extrasensory perception had to be for Jehovah’s purposes, to extol his name, and bring about fulfilled prophecies, etc.

There is scientific work going on that connect quantum theory with these capabilities. There are tests being done to try and determine if there is scientific evidence for such capabilities. In one case over 100,000 tests demonstrated such a basis. The book, The Heart’s Code, by Paul Pearsall (1999) is absolutely fascinating and quite impressive. I truly appreciated the science being employed in the studies. You can find the book at Amazon.com, or you can click on the following link to see a brief book summary:

The Heart Code

What are your various opinions?

35

OMG - Part 18 of my exit story EXPLODES !!!

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

i am in the middle of publishing my book on my exit from the jws.

it is still hosted on freeminds, but is undergoing revision to clean up grammar, spelling, split a couple of chapters and add a couple of chapters.

i will also be adding an appendix of correspondence with the watchtower society.

Amazing1914

Hi sKally,

You did not address the other post I submitted right before that one. Any comments? ... You can go private if you like. But is that his son?

It could be, but it seems that his son is straying from the organization, if he is. William (Bill) the dad is 40 years old by now, so the possibility is there that this is his son. I have never met the man, so I don't know exactly what he looks like. I had involvement with the State of Oregon and the Columbia County District Attorney because of him. However, I was out of the congregation by the time he came along and started his activities in St, Helens. I was asked by a person in the congregation to help them out because he took the man's money for investments. The man became concerned because he had no contract, no prospectus, and no reports on where his money went.

Jim W. PS: Skally, somehow, when I replied, my post erased yours, but my comments were posted on your screen name. So, I deleted that post and reposted under my name, but somehow it deleted your post in between. Sorry for that ... it must be one of those weird admin mysteries.

35

OMG - Part 18 of my exit story EXPLODES !!!

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

i am in the middle of publishing my book on my exit from the jws.

it is still hosted on freeminds, but is undergoing revision to clean up grammar, spelling, split a couple of chapters and add a couple of chapters.

i will also be adding an appendix of correspondence with the watchtower society.

Amazing1914

Hi SF,

Copyright owners can give permission to print something for one's own personal reference, and still protect their material from open public dissemination, such as being reposted on a discussion forum. A small quote is normally permitted under copyright law. But, a wholesale copy of an article is in violation of their copyright claims posted below their article.

They the following which made me use caution and avoid a direct and total copy:

Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises

However, they also stated after that:

Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law. Full copyright retained by the original publication. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

So, I guess since we are using it for research and educational purpose and not for profit, then I suppose that it is okay. However, when I put information into my book, I will have to use public domain sources, such as the Dept. of Justice case files, etc.

Jim W.

35

OMG - Part 18 of my exit story EXPLODES !!!

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

i am in the middle of publishing my book on my exit from the jws.

it is still hosted on freeminds, but is undergoing revision to clean up grammar, spelling, split a couple of chapters and add a couple of chapters.

i will also be adding an appendix of correspondence with the watchtower society.

Amazing1914

SF / Skally,

Thanks for the additional links. I could only post the link In used above in the last post because of strict copyright claims. Your material, howevr, mentioned Warren, Oregon. The folks in that territory are assigned to St. Helens, Oregon congregation. That is the congregation where my story takes place.

Cool ... thanks again.

Jim W.