Balsam

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Posts by Balsam

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  8

  Did Christ and the Jews commonly speak Aramaic, Hebrew, or Greek?

  by Daniel Michaels in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  did christ and the jews commonly speak aramaic, hebrew, or greek?

  greetings group

  ever since the movie on the passion of christ, i have been interested in why it is that the majority of scholars have thought that aramaic was the language that jesus mostly spoke and taught in.

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  Balsam

  Terry,

  Have you read Karen Armstrongs book, "The Battle for God". I imagine you have. "101 Bible Myths" was good too.

  Ruth
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  81

  Is God able to help everybody all the time?

  by Gopher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  let's assume that there is a creator of life who gots things started eons ago.

  that's my persuasion, although i am not actively religious.. one major problem with belief in a creator is that he/she/it is supposed to be benevolent, loving and caring.

  many evangelical christians feel he has helped them personally in various ways, emotionally, even financially.

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  Balsam

  Terry post #12 is just outstanding.

  This is how each and every person should evaluate what they believe. Perhaps if they did then fundamentalist religions would lose their power over people. Fear would not rule over them.

  I have found the same things Terry has in his quest, one worth taking.
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  19

  ...they neither marry, nor are given in marriage...

  by Tashawaa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the hardest doctrines of the witnesses that i couldn't wrap my little brain around, was the teaching that the resurrected would not marry.. i remember one assembly, a whole talk was spent on the resurrection, and emphasis was placed on the fact that they would not marry.

  the couple sitting in front of me (obviously a happy couple, 'cause this distressed them) whispered how they just couldn't believe it.. here's the scripture they use to back their doctrine:.

  matt 22:22-33 specifically vs 30 "for in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven...".

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  Balsam

  Yes I always thought that was a cruel comment, and that the scriptures was likely mis-applied. For those had wonderful marriages and actually loved their mate being separated from them in the new system, if they died in this one, was just heart breaking. Also the fact that no children would be born to those who died and were resurrected was upsetting to many sisters I knew. I remember seeing loving couples being tore up over comments like that at the conventions.

  The other thought that upset me was this:

  That married couples would go through Armeggedon together and be married to each other forever. The thought of being married to my husband back then who was a witness also, just sent chills through me. I did not like being marriged to this man and living eternity with him as my husband was enough to make me puke. I did not want to live on into the new system, better to die and be resurrected. I once almost decided to take my own life just to be rid of him. Then a very dear worldly friend said, hey just leave the jerk. If you get disfellowshipped, just get through it and in the future return to the religion if that is what you want. Your God can't be that terrible that he wouldn't forgive you for leaving the abusive husband. Well I got to thinking about that and it seemed like a smarter thing to do. So I did, and was so happy, that I was just plain high at my disfellowshipping. I copped to Adultery to be free of that horrible man. The Elders thought I had lost my mind. I had, I was filled with pure joy. Thing was, getting disfellowshipped was the best thing that ever happen to me. Being cut of from the brain washing of the WTS gives at all meeting and through the literature freed me to think for myself.

  Now I would never consider returning. Free from the nonsense the Watchtower Society taught us is great. They should disfellowship more people as fast as they can. The more they kick out the better off they will be once they see how free they can be to really live.
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  55

  I'm thinking about attending a Unitarian Universalist service this Sunday

  by DanTheMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thoughts?

  opinions?

  experiences?

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  Balsam

  Hi Everyone,

  About 8 months ago I came across information about Unitarian Universalist Church on the interenet and was intrigued. I have joined their adult religious studies discussion group. Currently they are discussiing "How To Know God" by Deepak Chopura. It is interesting. In the groups are Christians, Buddhists, Hindu's, Sectarian Humanists, Wiccan practicer, and atheists. We talk about the book for 2 hrs each Monday evening.

  This is the most liberal, most inclusive bunch of people I've ever known. Yes there are Homosexual couples among those who attend, and there are celebrations of their unions if they chose. Marriages, funerals, are also given and arranged according to the the individuals believe system. Since leaving the JW's 3 years ago. This is the perfect place to heal, have friends, and come to know some wonderful caring folks. They do things for the community around them, and lots of educational programs.

  I am not a member yet, but I can see myself joining them at some point and time in the future. I love all the freedom to chose what you want spiritually. What an incredible variety to explore when it comes to thinking of the creator of the universe.

  Ruth
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  20

  I don't play their game any longer

  by Dawn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've posted a few times about the troubles with my poor mom and the &*!

  @# elders telling her she can't talk to her daughter.

  being that i'm the only family she has here to take care of her.. anyways - i've kept my distance out of respect for her....that is...until a few weeks ago.

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  Balsam

  Good for you. My oldest son was disfellowshipped last month. Well we all didn't know what his active JW Dad would do. Well he said he talked to the Elders, and they told him he could call his son, talk to him visit him he just couldn't talk about religion to him. Well that is just great with my son. So his Dad call and checks on him even helped him move a new TV into his apartment, and is not acting weird. The Step-Mom though does not speak to Drew, but will speak to his girlfriend. So maybe his Dad isn't a total jerk. Good thing his Dad made that choice to talk to Drew or my son said he would never allow his Dad to see his wife and kids when he had them.

  I knew of an active JW gal who lived in a nice little house on the property of her disfellowshipped son. She loved him and talked to him all the time. She even bragged about him to everyone. No one every bothered correcting her. She was content living with her son right up to the end of her life, and he took perfect care of her.
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  20

  Did The Elders Try To "Police" You??

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are some that seem to have been bothered by the meddlesome elders and their constant inquiries.

  were you one of those that the elders were always checking on??

  ?

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  Balsam

  NeonMadman,

  I had to laugh about yours experience. There was a 20 year old pioneer brother who was always eager to take my sons out in the door to door work. Well I was suspicious of him but he proved harmless thank goodness. Well what it turned out to be is he wanted to have fun, so he would take them to malls or Walmart shopping and let them buy toys or something with the money I gave them. Or he would take them for ice cream, or just killing time riding around pretending to do return visits between breaks. Well my sons then 13,10,8 thought this was great fun. Said that was the best times they ever had in field service. Even now their grown they talk about the fun times with David. No he never laid a hand on them, he was just trying to pretend to pioneer to keep up apprearences. He said the adults were just too boring to go out with. They also would visit his worldly friends and their families under the pretence of preaching. When their Dad or I went it was not as fun, but David would try to add a little fun to it for the boys. The kids in the congregations loved him, he was just a kid at heart

  Actually it was this odd pioneer that introduced my oldest son the the first girl my son had crush on and she was a worldly girl. It was one of many small steps out of the witnesses. Funny thing is my sons and I are out, but he is still in. Still looking for a simi JW wife. He is a bit odd, but nice guy. David had others go with them that didn't mind the goofing off, usually other teens who were Aux. pioneering for the summer. But he was selective in who he let in on his little secret pioneer trips. They would go out spend all day and perhaps only spend one hour preaching. They even went to a carnival one time, counted time they gave magazines to the people working in it. I once talked to him about it, but didn't have the heart to tell the Elders, my kids liked him so much. Hey counting say 8 hrs and only doing 1 hrs of preaching wasn't bad idea. LOL

  Balsam
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  28

  Jehovah's Witnesses Seek To Expand Presence In Brooklyn

  by Larry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  august 05, 2004

  on ny1 now: news all day

  weather: wet & cloudy, high 79

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  Balsam

  I printed up the letter and addressed the envelopes. Lets flood the NYC area with protests. I'm glad to do my part even through I don't live there. The WTS will not improve the area if they are allowed in there.

  Balsam
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  28

  Jehovah's Witnesses Seek To Expand Presence In Brooklyn

  by Larry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  august 05, 2004

  on ny1 now: news all day

  weather: wet & cloudy, high 79

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  Balsam

  I don't live in New York City, but I sure hate to see the WTS expand any further anywhere in the US or abroad. Since I don't live in NYC would my letters be of any value to them in the neighborhood. If the WTS is allowed to follow through with this planning they will certainly end up with a really uninviting area.

  Hope it doesn't happen.

  Balsam
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  13

  Mother Withdraws Permission for Transfusion After "Support" from JWs

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/opinion/full_story/did-sgbn3qtsldbicsg0aewfbadppk.asp

  you need to register to logon

  irish examiner.com

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  Balsam

  I know to well the pressure and fear this Mom is feeling. The JW all showing up to support her just made it worse for her to do what she needed to do to save her child. Hope the kid survives.
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  56

  JW SINGLES site shut down due to GUILT!

  by Survivor2004 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi folks.. i have been lurking on and off for about 2 years now and before i did post a couple threads under my old alias but it wont accept it for some reason so i had to re-join.. anyway there was a singles site called jwsingles.net by a nice fellow who wanted to help other lonely jw single folks meet but he is about to shut it down despite some success stories which i guess makes the elders upset.. i had joined two years ago and was on the mailing list(i,ve been inactive for about 5 years now)thats the short version,anyway,i got this e-mail from him the other day and it really infuriated me because he did nothing wrong but again the organization wants to control every aspect of their lives,including not letting jw,s put up harmless websites for singles to meet.after all in many many congregations there is a severe shortage of available singles right?and,if they dont even want you to look for a mate in their own organization (on the net) then they will look outside of the organization but i guess they are too dense to understand that.. his letter wreaks of guilt and he hangs his head in shame at congregations.i fail to see how he has stumbled others here.its none of others business what adult jw,s want to meet someone.. i understand the heartache of being all alone for many many years with no one and no suitable mates there as they were too stuffy and i felt like i could never match up no matter how hard i tried.i shed too many tears to count as im sure many here have as well.. anyway here is the e-mail.. greetings friends.. this will most likely be the last message you recieve from jw singles.net.. the site has been running for several years now with its main goal to help those of like faith find and if they wish contact each other.we,ve met that goal with several success stories.im very glad to say that an old friend of mine from a congregation in maryland met a wonderful sister from california.after months of phone calls and trips and bible studies over the phone,they were married.both are extremely happy with their new mates.. there are other stories the friends have shared when asking to have their profiles removed.. however i cannot continue to justify the site against the councel of the wbt society.i am tired of sinking in my seat at assemblies and conventions when they mention websites to avoid.it is also not my place to second guess the faithful and discreet salve and the connection they have with jehovahs spirit in guiding the organization in these last days.while i believe that with proper theocratic guidelines this site can be used ,like many have demonstrated to a good cause,i will not possibly stumble my brothers and sisters.. i have thought of selling the site to help recoup the expenses i incurred while developing and running the site ,but again i dont want the responsibility of passing it off to someone else,possibly a wordly company or person.. after the last paying members subscription has run out,i will open the full site with access to every member .this will be the last chance to try and contact some of the 2000 members we have.right now im targeting september as the final month the site will run.our information on the site will be deleted as the database of users is erased.if you care to make a donation of any size while the site is still open to everyone our paypal address is _________ or contact me for a mailing address.. thanks to all those who have tried to help and build the idea i had into a functioning and useful program.i wish you all well and continued strenght in this time of the end.all of the friends are tired and are struggling just to make it to meetings instead of staying home with a headache or working a little late.be upbuilding to each other ,help to show love amongst ourselves and continue to walk with god until the end.. agape.

  brian.

  jw singles.net'.

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  Balsam

  The WTS does not encourage marriage anyway, having families either. They think that everyone should remain single dedicate themselves to pioneering and have no kind of life outside of meetings & service. It is not necessary to be happy it is important to slave for them (faithful discreet slave). So they have no interesting or pride when young men like Brian try to do something good, by allowing JW's across the world find other singles they can partner up with. Frankly I thought that was a nice idea for those active JW to find like minded folks to get to know in order to marry one day.

  So many of the congregations are just totaly devoid of other singles young people. Even the mature ones that have been through divorce or a death of their spouse wanted to find someone they could be happy with. What is wrong with JW's seeking a little happiness in marriage. People are not drones though the Watchtower Society wants to make them such. It is just abnormal.

  I have an ex-sister in law who waited till she was 42 years old before she ever married because she could not find a mate that suited her. Yes a virgin all those years, because she wanted to please Jehovah. I often felt sorry.

  Sure way to kill out the religion is to stop people from marrying and having children. Perhaps they should take some lessons on this from the Mormons, they have as many kids as possible and now they are neary 10 million of them through out the world. Of course few converts, but many are born into it.

  Wonder if anything will change when those old farts called the Governing boy or faithful and discreet slave die off?

  Balsam