Posts by Athanasius

158

Older posters check in...just post your name...we need to hear from you!

by restrangled in

i am not the oldest but have 3 years here!

restrangled.. how about you?.

Older posters check in...just post your name...we need to hear from you!

by restrangled in

i am not the oldest but have 3 years here!

restrangled.. how about you?.

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-us</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val=" " /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!

[endif][if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

/* style definitions */ table.msonormaltable {mso-style-name:"table normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"times new roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} [endif].

Athanasius

What color is the new Songbook?

25

The Future of Jehovah's Witnesses

by The Berean in

jw
friends

historically, not all religions survive over time.. .

will the organization of jehovah's witnesses:.

a) eventually evolve into a mainstream religion.

Athanasius

I also see the Witnesses going mainstream. However, it will be caused a several factors, internal and external. Of course monetary considerations will be the most important. Their shunning policy, which denies basic civil rights to the rank and file Witnesses, could cause the Watchtower to lose their tax exempt status. Some day it might even be considered a "hate crime." The Watchtower is quick to compromise on issues when money is involved. The length of the District conventions have been shortened because the 8, 5, 4 day conventions don't bring in the money like they used to.

The Watchtower may never adopt the Trinity doctrine and will continue to teach "soul sleep;" but these are not doctines unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. However, I would never go back to the Watchtower no matter how many changes they make.

87

What would it take for you to conclude that the WBTS is not God's channel?

by Mickey mouse in

jw
friends

i wondered if you could answer this question for me?

you seem to be fine with the fact that they are false prophets, that they have changed the bible and that they have entered into an agreement to "uphold the aims of the un".. what is the deal breaker for you?.

i suspect that there isn't one, and that is not a reasonable position.. please tell me there is something they could do that would make you question their legitamacy?.

Athanasius

Hi Reniaa,

As an Anglican you would call me a Trinitarian Christian, nevertheless, I respect your right to reject the Trinity and hold another set of beliefs. However, you must admit that the Watchtower is in a bit of a flux these days in that they have recently changed some major doctrines and made several changes to their organizational structure. With the eventual passing of Ted Jaracz, the Governing Body may make the Witness religion more mainstream. Will they reject Arianism, adopt the Trinity doctrine, and become like the World Wide Church of God? Only time will tell.

But it is encouraging that your set of beliefs are independent of the Watchtower Governing Body. So whatever they do will not affect your spirituality.

You might be interested to know that there is a group of Jehovah's Witnesses here in the United States that have published a report exposing the apostasy of the Watchtower Governing Body. I obtained a copy of this report several years ago. My copy is packed away somewhere in storeage so I can't give you their email address. Perhaps someone here has acess to more current information on the "Report" and this special group of Jehovah's Witnesses. You may have more in common with these Jehovah's Witnesses than with those who blindly follow the changing teachings of the Governing Body.

9

Blood and Acts question

by Wicaugen in

okay, so, i dunno if this has been brought up before, it probably has, but i have an in depth question.. acts 15:20-21 - but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

for from anchient times moses has had in city after city those who preach him, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.. okay.

here's my question.

Athanasius

From what I have read in a number of Bible commentaries, including the Anchor Bible, the dietary restrictions listed in Acts 15:20 has to do with table fellowship among Jewish and Gentile Christians. Gentile Christians, while being free of Old Testament dietary laws, were to abstain from certain dietary practices for the sake of the Jewish Christians.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 9, page 448 says: "These prohibitions have often been viewed as a compromise between two warring parties, which nullified the effect of James's earlier words and made the decision of the Jerusalem Council unacceptable to Paul. But in reality they should be viewed not as dealing with the principial issue of the council but as meeting certain practical concerns; not as being primarily theological but more sociological in nature; not as divine ordinances for acceptance before God but as concessions to the scruples of others for the sake of harmony within the church and the continuance of the Jewish Christian mission."

The Watchtower as usual takes Acts 15:20 out of context.

25

What is the Organization Trying to Acheive?

by The-Borg in

jw
friends

i don't understand their mode of operation.. if they want lots of growth, why don't they just lighten up a bit and dispense with the whole charade of harshness and disfellowshipping.

encourage charitable works, social gatherings, education, freedom of speech, having a family etc etc etc.

this would greatly increase their numbers and their bottom line $$.. they seem to be shooting themselves in the foot at the moment.

Athanasius

I think that the Watchtower is at the same place the former USSR was in the final decade of its existance. Currently the ailing Jaracz, the Watchtower Brezhnev is calling the shots. But once he dies someone else will take his place. Will Jaracz's replacement be the Watchtower Gorbachev?

The recent layoffs at Bethel, the switch to distributing cheap paperback books, and the million dollar pay outs to sexual assault victims indicate cash flow problems ahead for the organization. The exodus of members from the industrialized countries and the increase in third world JWs will further stretch the Watchtower's financial resources. If the Watchtower is to survive it will have to bring in affluent converts by broadening its religious structure to appeal to educated people.

Therefore, it is possible that a Watchtower Gorbachev, in an attempt to save the organization, will force through reforms that will make the Jehovah's Witness religion more mainstream.

42

Friday DC Releases

by Billy the Ex-Bethelite in

end of morning program, dvd video released: "the wonders of creation reveal god's glory".

end of afternoon program, announced upcoming release of a new songbook: "sing to jehovah".

excuse me while i go barf now.. b the x.

Athanasius

What color is the new song book? When will it replace the baby sh_t brown song book?

2

about mormons

by megaflower in

jw
friends

does anyone know how they treat a house when they get someone home.

do they consider it a retun visit as the jw's do.

my nephew encountered some mormons today(got a call from sis) as she saw him talking to them when she returned home.

Athanasius

Two Mormon Missionaries called on me today. They asked if I had the Book of Mormon, and I told them that I did and though I appreciated their call I told them that I was Episcopalian and my wife is Russian Orthodox and that we are both satisfied with our church families. They weren't pushy like the JWs and didn't try to leave me any literature. Interestingly they asked if I needed any help around the place, as I own almost 4 acres. This is something the JWs would never ask. In fact during the ten years that I've lived here the JWs have never called.

25

What Is Your Favorite TV Program?

by minimus in

jw
friends

is there any show you try to make sure you don't miss?.

when the sopranos was on, i religiously watched that show every sunday night.

is it me or has tv become mostly boring?.

Athanasius

Lost.