Arliss Hughes said that it is unfortunate that Bethany's father "cannot come to grips with the reality that Bethany's tragic death was due to her terminal leukemia."
What a jerk!
ezekiel3
JoinedPosts by ezekiel3
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6
WTBTS Tries To Have Lawsuit Thrown Out
by Ianone in4. overcast classifieds?
find a home.
obituaries.
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ezekiel3
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Comments You Will Not Hear At The 2-27-05 WT Study
by blondie incomments you will not hear at the february 27, 2005 wt study (january 15, 2005 issue)
end in 1925. christ completes his conquest.
are jws the only ones who think we are living in the time of the end?.
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ezekiel3
Thanks for the 101 on WT reviews Blondie, I have never studied WT as well before you.
Shall we discuss 2 Peter 1:19, one of the NWT creative comma placements?
(2 Peter 1:19) . . .Consequently we have the prophetic word [made] more sure; and YOU are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar rises [COMMA] in YOUR hearts.
Yet another example of how the WTS separates Jesus from the Christain. There is no question that the "daystar" refers to Jesus. So why insert a comma?
Another egegrious mistranslation. NWT is the only Bible translation is to place a comma here.*** w91 2/1 p. 29 Questions From Readers ***
ยท Why is the rendering of 2 Peter 1:19 in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures different from that in other Bibles?
Stressing the value of God?s inspired word, the apostle Peter wrote: "Consequently we have the prophetic word made more sure; and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar rises, in your hearts."?2 Peter 1:19.
Notice that the phrase "until day dawns and a daystar rises" is set off by commas. Most Bible translations do not do this.
For example, Dr. James Moffatt renders the latter part of the verse: ". . . it shines like a lamp within a darksome spot; till the Day dawns and the daystar rises within your hearts." Renderings like this one lead to the view that the rising of the daystar occurs within the hearts of believers, such as when they experience some sort of spiritual illumination. (Yeah, no duh..)
However, even back in Moses? day, there was indication that ?a star out of Jacob? would arise. (Numbers 24:17; compare Psalm 89:34-37.) Jesus clearly identified himself as that "offspring of David, and the bright morning star."?Revelation 22:16.
This identification of the "daystar," or "morning star," fits the context of what the apostle Peter was discussing. He had just referred to the transfiguration vision that he had seen some 30 years earlier. (Matthew 16:28?17:9) That brilliant vision pointed to the time when Jesus would ?come in his kingdom,? or be glorified in Kingdom power. What Peter had seen emphasized the value of God?s word; similarly, Christians today need to pay attention to that prophetic word.
While the hearts of mankind in general were?and still are?in darkness, that need not be so with true Christians. It is as if they have a lamp shining in what otherwise would be dark, their hearts. Peter knew that by paying attention to the illuminating prophetic word of God, Christians would keep alert and enlightened to the dawn of a new day. That would be the time when the "daystar," or "bright morning star," would actually reign in Kingdom power.
It is interesting that E. W. Bullinger wrote on 2 Peter 1:19: "Here, it is clear that there must be a parenthesis, for it is prophecy that is the light that shines, and Christ and His appearing are the Day-star and the Day-dawn. Surely, the meaning cannot be that we are exhorted to take heed to the prophetic word until Christ is revealed in our hearts! No; but we are to take heed in our hearts to this prophetic word, until the fulfillment comes in the appearing of Christ?the rising of Him who is called ?the Morning Star.?"?Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, 1898.
Accordingly, a number of Bible translations employ parentheses at 2 Peter 1:19. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures maintains the basic order of presentation found in the original Greek. But it [NWT] uses commas to set off the phrase "until day dawns and a daystar rises" from the admonition to pay attention to the word ?as to a lamp shining in a dark place, in your hearts.?
[Footnotes]
See for example The Twentieth Century New Testament (1904 edition), The Emphatic Diaglott (1942 edition), Concordant Literal New Testament (1976).
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does anyone share my dream?
by candidlynuts inhitting the road in something like this: .
chase the sunshine and warm weather... see the good ole usa in style... i wanna travel!
waaaaaaaaaaaa
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ezekiel3
Oh, I can see the Apostabus now, loaded with evil slaves and tailgating CO's in their Oldsmobiles...
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ezekiel3
He rejected the defendants' contention that a trial on this count would involve a review of ecclesiastical procedure, noting that "the plaintiffs find fault with the defendants' conduct, not their belief."
Critical counterpoint to the "freedom of religion" defense.
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The Myth of Unconditional Love
by frankiespeakin in.
i here this a lot all the time.
i think it is one huge myth,,based on a self-biased view.
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ezekiel3
The argument of conditional vs unconditional love is largely a western vs eastern argument of religion.
In the most general terms:
Western = distinct personal god/s with power of judgement and execution, your classic Jehovah.
Eastern = nonpersonal god who is actually the sum of existance, in effect we being part of the body of god.
For those of us who understand the Eastern side, unconditional love makes sense, because we are the same thing.
And, please, please, please do not confuse pure love with babies and sex. It is instinctual to care for our children unconditionally, we are hard-wired for it. And the glow of attraction between two "lovers" - sorry, just more instinct and a little hormone for spice. Maybe a bit brutal, but if you do not believe in the interconnection of all things, that's all you have.
Sadly, this English language provides only one word for all of the above, and so we are left to argue the semantics of "love."
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Do you know of any "apostates" or "evil slaves" that went back to JW's?
by booker-t ini remember years ago when i was a "devout" jw there was a co-worker of mine that spent every waking minute trying to convert jw's to born-again christianity.
i was abit afraid of him because i thought he was demon-possessed.
he had all of the old wt publications and spent many hours debating with jw elders.
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ezekiel3
Yes I do. They are out there and some are posting on this board.
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The Myth of Unconditional Love
by frankiespeakin in.
i here this a lot all the time.
i think it is one huge myth,,based on a self-biased view.
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ezekiel3
Zen: when I came to see that everyone was part of me, I realized that I dont need to love or not love anyone
James: "Love" can also be used to point to the truth of our Being: the underlying Oneness of all.
I'll join with this crew.
A note for XJWs: Conditional love is part of the force feeding we all knew as JWs. It was going beyond this programming that enabled me to unplug. Please consider that unconditional love is not just a feeling or motivation, it is the only thing that is real.
Our need for ego and separation (mine and yours) keeps unconditional love out of reach. It is fear of loss that makes us run a balance sheet on our relationships - and call that love.
JWs spit on unconditional love as a sappy feel-good philosophy. Of course they do, because their god is conditional: he gives free-will to make the 'right choice', if not he kills you. JWs serve with the same conditions: they'll preach and sacrifice their children for everlasting life.
If love is only playing favorites with those who benefit you or inflate your sense of self because they happen to share your DNA, then I pity you.
Is "conditional love" programming still a part of your mind-set?
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Mass. High Court Makes Landmark Child Abuse Ruling--JW
by blondie inhttp://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localregional/view.bg?articleid=91413&format=text
high court makes landmark church abuse ruling.
by michael kunzelman / associated press.
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ezekiel3
Hawk: They really won't have a clue that they could lose their house and other assets all because they followed the Watchtower's policy to ensure they would fail to notify the authorities and congregations of this dude's background.
You have a valid point here. But it won't take but a few martyrs to have the elders running for cover. Also this may have a marked effect on the "shepherding" style... "Please complete this hold harmless agreement and then we can meet..."
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Paradox: Are Faithless Watchtower Leaders Reform's Best Hope?
by metatron inwhile many among the watchtower's leadership are no doubt sincere, there is no proof.
more than this, in examining the life of a man like rutherford - complete with.
his habits involving cruelty, alcohol, greed , reviling others, neglect of his family and contempt.
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ezekiel3
Gary: Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe what the Watch Tower Publishing Corporation prints, the Witnesses I know don't even know what the publishing company prints. To think they do is a delusion.
The active JWs do indeed know what the WTS prints and hangs on every word. I'm not quite sure of your impression, but this is definitely not the norm among the R&F.
True the gruel being released today is ho-hum, even the zealots are scratching theh bottom to find something interesting.
However, more and more the FDS is getting more mention than Jesus in the prayers and talks, "how thankful we are for.." "What a blessing we have..." etc.
Inside the bubble the 'Publishing Corporation' is a alive and well.
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Mass. High Court Makes Landmark Child Abuse Ruling--JW
by blondie inhttp://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localregional/view.bg?articleid=91413&format=text
high court makes landmark church abuse ruling.
by michael kunzelman / associated press.
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ezekiel3
What will be interesting to watch is to see what happens when some elder realizes he's being hung out to dry and starts hollering about it, and has a box of correspondence to prove his point.
Bingo. I know so many elders who won't go near a house with a "Private Property" sign for fear of getting sued (in actuality a person would have to post a "No Trespassing" sign to have a case).
I imagine this news is going like fire among the elder and above crowd. Say good bye to your houses/property elders!