Hey gang, let's all go out tonight and decorate the local Kingdom Hall with beautiful Christmas lights!
Won't the brothers and sisters be de-lighted at the NEW light?
Posts by Terry
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7Deck the Kingdom Halls
by sparrowdown ini have discovered why the gb-rinch canceled christmas.
(apart from them being fun-sucking assholes and "christ" is in the name.).
the christmas carol deck the halls clearly gives the command to:.
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The best book on biblical archaeology I've ever read
by marmot ini'm referring to "the bible unearthed : archaeology's new vision of ancient isreal and the origin of its sacred texts" by israel finkelstein and neil asher silberman.
i think it should be required reading for anyone who deigns to defend the historicity and literal interpretation of the bible.
(i'm looking at you singlecell).
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Terry
Ex-J-dubs have to be very cautious of confirmation bias.
When I was working at Half-Price books in the religion section I began to notice a trend.
Debunking books were followed by apologist books.
Each respective side remained convinced.
All I would urge is that Ex-JW's read BOTH sides of each argument to remain aware of ALL the particulars.
Why?
If you get into a discussion and you don't know what ammunition the other side has--you can be whipsawed.
Remember, intellectual honesty is the willingness to be wrong when presented with the facts.
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When academics (experts) disagree and each side has credentials, I have to back out of a debate because I'm not
as smart as either party. My bias pushes me too far in a certain direction. I would easily allow myself to become
convinced of the argument which emotionally satisfies me.
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The best book on biblical archaeology I've ever read
by marmot ini'm referring to "the bible unearthed : archaeology's new vision of ancient isreal and the origin of its sacred texts" by israel finkelstein and neil asher silberman.
i think it should be required reading for anyone who deigns to defend the historicity and literal interpretation of the bible.
(i'm looking at you singlecell).
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Terry
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Let's face it--some topics cannot be discussed. Why? The opposition won't allow it.
Instead of an open debate about X, pretext of bias, prejudice, and malice is used to derail.
A strawman Y replaces X, and off we go!
This is true of race relations, as we all know.
Well, it is definitely true of Israel.
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I would strongly advise you to read Alan Dershowitz's rebuttal book( The Case for Israel) so you don't
find yourself in a trap inside of an argument with fingers pointed at you as Anti-Semitic
for quoting Finklestein!
This happened to me--and it was NOT pleasant.
http://www.jbooks.com/interviews/index/IP_Dershowitz.htm
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An academic war broke out with Dershowitz on one side and Finklestein on the other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dershowitz%E2%80%93Finkelstein_affair
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Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-semitism and the Abuse of History
Norman G. Finkelstein
University of California Press 2005
343 Pages $22.50
ISBN: 0-520-24598-9Review by Noel Kriftcher
(Short excerpt of much larger Review)
"Finkelstein plainly reveals his bias: “In some quarters anger at Israel’s brutal occupation has undoubtedly spilled over to an animus toward Jews generally. But however lamentable, it’s hardly cause for wonder.” By excusing any wrongs done to Israel while lamenting all wrongs done by Israel, he weakens his standing as an objective analyst and thus, the persuasiveness of his argument.
Nor does American Jewry fare any better than Israel in his eyes: “...from this lethal brew of formidable power, chauvinistic arrogance, feigned (or imagined) victimhood, and Holocaust-immunity to criticism has sprung a terrifying recklessness and ruthlessness on the part of American Jewish elites. Alongside Israel, they are the main fomenters of anti-Semitism in the world today.” Evidently, we have met the enemy and he is us!
Once one reviews the “facts” surrounding Israel’s actions and considers Finkelstein’s rebuttal to Dershowitz and others, one is left with an anti-Israel, anti-American Jewry, pro-Palestinian polemic, which makes this a most difficult book to read dispassionately. Professor Finkelstein challenges conventional views of the Middle East but he is so intemperate in the animus he displays toward his various bêtes noires, that unbiased examination becomes virtually unattainable."
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UNDERSTANDING WHY THE ORGANIZATION is a false idol and a BLASPHEMY
by Terry indo we understand these three words: worship, idolatry, and blasphemy?.
most christians have a vague notion of worship, idolatry, and blasphemy already, but.
a clear definition is necessary.. we must take care to differentiate, however.. how the words appear in original language and how they are defined today might be at odds.. ____________________.
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Terry
In my lifetime, I've seen this happen.
It is like watching a really fine magician do street magic!
No matter how carefully you observe the gestures and movements--the moment the trick happens is INVISIBLE.
THE MAGIC HAPPENED.
Worshippers of Jesus were forbidden to worship Jesus.
Worshippers of Jehovah were directed to worship ORGANIZATION.
Disagreement with organization was demonized.
Ex-JW's were silenced and full loyalty without question became the marching orders for eight million people.
ALAKAZAM!
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Terry
Is it grown in volcanic soil, OnTheWayOut?
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Terry
I bought my first pocket knife. Such a simple thing, really.
But suddenly I realized what a vast number of little chores are made so much easier every single day!
How did I get through a week without one all these years?
Now I'm in love with this thing--it is so useful. It is also quite beautiful, too. It is a 'Gentleman's knife" which
won a design award. I got a real bargain at $15. The retail price is $79.99!
Sharp as a razor blade, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL32Vny9ouE
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New forum 'parousia' is upon us! (software version)
by Simon inthe time has nearly come to switch over to the new forum software.
of course it's not completely finished yet (and never will be) but i think it's good enough to go live with and probably already better than the current one.
i'll give you a quick overview of what to expect and post more detail about the changeover process later.. cloud platform.
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Terry
Will there be a notification feature such as an e-mail prompt or iPhone Message indicating
a response/post on a discussion topic I've started?
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DirecTV -- why also Roku, Chromecast, etc.?
by FatFreek 2005 inwe already have directv as one of its earliest subscribers (1994).
we have always had their latest dvrs(where we can skip commercials, pause, slo mo, resume, etc), have their premier insurance for all our hardware, and have their basic entertainment package, including movies, sports, family and music channels -- some over 150 channels that include local channels.
no premium channels.. i hear folks talking how they love those set top boxes (sticks, dongles, etc) that don't cost an arm and a leg -- a one time charge -- and can forever stream movies and programs.
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Terry
Me like my Roku. Yes me do.
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WATCHTOWER NINCOMPOOP BLOOD fetish
by Terry inthe inhumane hunters in pagan tribes who felled an animal in the wild with an arrow and immediately began.
hacking off body parts for roasting, gave zero attention to the pain or suffering inflicted upon the poor creaturedying in front of them.
animal rights activists were unknown in ancient times!
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Terry
The inhumane hunters in pagan tribes who felled an animal in the wild with an arrow and immediately began
hacking off body parts for roasting, gave zero attention to the pain or suffering inflicted upon the poor creature
dying in front of them.
Animal rights activists were unknown in ancient times!
Surely, however, there were more civilized people than the barbarians--right?
Right! The Jews. In fact, compassion found its way in to the religious ritual slaughter for sacrifice.
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What would assure the faithful Jew the animal still contained LIFE or not?
_____Gen 9:4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with
its life, that is, its blood."
According to Martin Luther's commentary to Gen 9:4 says exactly the
same thing as what the Rabbincal scholars still say.
Rabbi Raschi (living 1040-1105), a well-known Jewish Bible and Talmud commentator
said that these words meant that 'as long as the life is in the flesh you shall not eat it.'This is the rabbinic traditional understanding of these words,
and considering their expertise you would need awfullygood arguments to believe the opposite.Enter the Watchtower 'scholars'!
The amateur Watchtower view reflects the education of its practioners as it rips away
historical and traditional context immediately.
This scripture becomes about BLOOD TRANSFUSION and the EATING OF BLOOD.
No consideration is given to the suffering of the animal in Watchtower thinking!
Blood is a fetish taboo without reference to anything more practical than
offending Jehovah's penchant for rulemaking!Gen 9:4 is *not* about eating blood.
It was illegal to eat meat which still had *life* in it.
In other words, the animal was still alive!The motive is the principle of compassion.
See also:
Many commentators based the prohibition on humanitarianism. To cite
Abraham Joshua Heschel:YOU SHALL NOT BOIL A KID IN ITS MOTHER'S MILK (Exodus 23:19)
Vol. 32, No. 2, 2004
[T]he goat . . . generously and steadfastly provides man with the
single most perfect food he possesses: milk. It is the only food
which by reason of its proper composition of fat, carbohydrate,
and protein can by itself sustain the human body. How ungrateful
and callous we would be to take the child of an animal to whom
we so indebted and cook it in its very milk which nourishes and is
given to us so freely -
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From 1 to 10, how do you rate the value of the Internet in your awakening?
by Hidden-Window inas we all know, the internet is a real game-changer in allowing us to know the truth about the watch tower and its history.
i always had doubts and it was the internet that presented me with the ever-growing number of individuals who were going through a similar struggle.. i give the internet a 9 in my awakening.
what about you?.
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Terry
SIMON: I can't imagine how anyone can remain blind to the WTS reality now the internet is available. I know they hammered the "internet is evil" message pretty hard but heck, it's the internet
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Circa 1995, Jan S. Haugland entered a University in Norway and began posting criticism of the Watchtower interpretation of
"Generation" teaching as it related to the 1914 DATE and generation. He was DF-d for this, and months later--BEHOLD!--the Watchtower changed their interpretation!
(Note: Even the masthead of the Awake! changed with this new teaching. Until 1995, it said: "This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 pass away.")
Haugland continued to post criticism of the Blood policy, etc.
Jan's computer account was summarily closed down!
Two of the directors at the University were JW's!
Jan roused the Internet community in a protest of CENSORSHIP.
Apparently it proved effective. Shortly afterward, the Watchtower Society forced the shutdown of even the Pro-JW groups and
cautioned against any JW's using the Internet!!
This was the beginning of the battle which the WTS has arguably lost.
The JW.ORG is a counter-offensive, to be sure. But, Jan S. Haugland can be very proud of himself, indeed.
P.S. He once was a regular poster on the original version of Simon's discussion group here!
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TAKE A LOOK AT THIS:
