hi all,i left the org in the late 90s.
not because of beliefs or the 1914/generation fiasco.
just thoughtlessness, hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance.
Welcome bitsbob. If you enjoyed Ray Franz's book Crisis of Conscience let me recommend his book In Search of Christian Freedom.
I'm not much into Bible history but I would recommend Out of the Dessert? by William Stiebing. It's about the likely origins of the ancient Israelites.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
Finkelstein,
"I suppose if someone wanted to re institute slavery based from what they've read in the bible , you would stand behind that person 100 % , being that the bible is the true word of god and all."
There are in my estimate hundreds of thousands perhaps a few millions of Christians who want all the Old Testament civil laws to be enforced in this society. They are referred to as Reconstructionists (They call themselves Theonomists).
A seemingly small number but politically powerful out of proportion to their size.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
Perry,
"The Watchtower brainwashed us into believing that consciousness stops at the separation of the soul and body."
Perry, you should know that the Witnesses do not teach that there is a separation of soul and body. They believe that the soul is the body.
greetings, folks: so, it's been 40 years since 1975. and, if you were actively involved with the witnesses back then, the mindset of many was, that by early autumn of 1975, it would mark the anniversary of 6000 years of human existence.
and, the hope was then, that it would mark the start of the 1000-year of christ, from the heavenly realm.
but, looking back now, 40 years ago, in june of 1975, only 3 more months remained until early autumn.
Ding, "I guess Adam waited 40 years (and still counting...) before Eve was created..."
I remember, in 1974, Frederick Franz telling an audience of over ten thousand witnesses that the Adam and Eve gap could have been months or a few years but not decades because that would have tempted Adam into bestiality.
because of the may broadcast about how funds are down, our elders have been in their talks "encouraging" or pressuring everyone to donate more to the world wide work.. it freaks me out how we already give them a set amount of $600 a month, plus what is contributed by the congregation(usually $400 to $500 a month).
heck, our local congregation bank account even got below $500 for the first time this past may since i have been doing the accounts(4 years now).
for june, we raised a whopping $2400 to send into the branch.. the most amazing part, is that only a select few contribute on a regular basis every month.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
"Which brings me to a question, have they found the 'gay' gene? I don't recall a news story about this, but it seems probable they will if they haven't already."
Their brain has been found to be different. This article on Scientific American has some interesting points to make.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
StrongHaiku,
"The more and louder these people speak, the more they make themselves known so they can be mocked, challenged, and dismissed as they should be."
Unfortunately no. Reasons being that:
1) They're preaching to the choir who will believe anything.
2) Mainstream media rarely puts out these imbecilities so that the general public could be made aware.
3) Only liberals through their media are aware of these types of statements. For example, I got this video from Right Wing Watch a liberal organization. Moderates do not watch this.
after mentally awakening to the idea that jws don't have the truth i strangely found myself delving into all encompassing conspiracy theories.
not that i believed them but something about them seemed quite fascinating.
i was especially drawn to the idea of a new world order/one world government.
child murder, sodomy & corrupting the human genome are not new sins, they are old ones.
what is new is their institutionalization.
but even that isn't totally new.
Perry, this is your soul mate, Tom Delay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HUhoTzJ5Rvc
