Big Jim

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Posts by Big Jim

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  12

  PARANOIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  by JW72 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just had a really paranoid thought that maybe there's only a few people here pretending to be lots of people!!.

  please tell me it's not true coz it makes me feel sick!!.

  chris.

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  Big Jim

  I think Fredhall is posing as multiple people on this board.
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  4

  Witnessing Tip (how many true gods are there)

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  witnessing tip of the month: jehovah's witnesses - how many true gods are there?.

  the next time the jehovah's witnesses come to your you may ask them, "does your organization teach more than one true god?".

  almost without fail the sharp witness will reply, "we only believe in one true god, jehovah.. explain that you agree with this statement saying, "i also believe in only one true god and all other gods are false gods.. the ask, "how do you understand john 1:1 that teaches, the word [jesus] was god?.

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  Big Jim

  Witnessing Tip of the Month: Jehovah's Witnesses - How Many True Gods Are There?

  The next time the Jehovah's Witnesses come to your you may ask them, "Does your organization teach more than one true God?"

  Almost without fail the sharp Witness will reply, "We only believe in one true God, Jehovah.

  Explain that you agree with this statement saying, "I also believe in only one true God and all other gods are false gods.

  The ask, "How do you understand John 1:1 that teaches, the Word [Jesus] was God?

  Usually they will quote their own New World Translation saying that the "original Greek" states the Word was "a god."

  Rather than debating the proper Greek translation you can simply respond, "Well if Jesus is 'a god,' is He a true God or a false god?"

  From this discussion the Jehovah's Witness can be shown that Watchtower theology forces them to have two true Gods in John 1:1, or teach that Jesus is a false God.

  The Witness can not say that Jesus is a false God, and because the Watchtower's well know stance against Polytheism [the belief in more that one God], they cannot say that Jesus is also a true God.

  The proselyte may try to answer this problem by showing you others in the Bible who were called God or by saying that Jesus is a lesser God. Their book, Reasoning From the Scriptures teaches that Jehovah is the "Almighty God" while Jesus is simply a "mighty god." (p. 413-14).

  Simply point out that while some are called gods (i.e. Satan, wicked Judges etc.) they were certainly false gods not true Gods.

  Also, if Jesus is a "lesser god" is He a lesser True God or a lesser false god?

  This dialogue can be used by itself to quickly plant a seed at the front door or as an spring board for further discussion on the Deity of Christ, other problems with the New World Translation, or additional reasons you do not follow the Watchtower Society.
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  6

  We Are Free (some quotes on freedom)

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of god's children, black men and white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old negro spiritual, ''free at last!

  free at last!

  thank god almighty, we are free at last!''.

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  Big Jim

  When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Negro spiritual, ''Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!''

  Men are free when they are in a living homeland, not when they are straying and breaking away. Men are free when they are obeying some deep, inward voice of religious belief. Obeying from within. Men are free when they belong to a living, organic, believing community, active in fulfilling some unfulfilled, perhaps unrealized purpose. Not when they are escaping to some wild west. The most unfree souls go west, and shout of freedom. Men are freest when they are most unconscious of freedom. The shout is a rattling of chains, always was.

  We must determine whether we really want freedom -- whether we are willing to dare the perils of... rebirth... For we never take a step forward without surrendering something that we may have held dear, without dying to that which has been.

  Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of fear is a freedom.

  People who exercise their embryonic freedom day after day, little by little, expand that freedom. People who do not will find that it withers until they are literally ''being lived.'' They are acting out scripts written by parents, associates and society.

  Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.

  There are always risks in freedom. The only risk in bondage is breaking free.

  It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you (a) become really committed to winning, and (b) become a genuine ally of other people struggling for their freedom.

  Everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedom -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

  Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

  Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.

  Prosperity or egalitarianism -- you have to choose. I favor freedom -- you never achieve real equality anyway: you simply sacrifice prosperity for an illusion.

  The strongest knowledge (that of the total freedom of the human will) is nonetheless the poorest in successes: for it always has the strongest opponent, human vanity.

  The fly that touches honey cannot use it's wings; so too the soul that clings to spiritual sweetness ruins it's freedom and hinders contemplation.

  Freedom Know this, that every man is free To choose his life and what he'll be. For this eternal truth is given, God will force no man to heaven. He'll call, persuade, direct aright, Bless with wisdom, love, and light; In nameless ways be good and kind, But never force the human mind.

  None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.

  If we wish to free ourselves from enslavement, we must choose freedom and the responsibility this entails.

  Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.

  Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.

  Freedom consists not in refusing to recognize anything above us, but in respecting something which is above us; for by respecting it, we raise ourselves to it, and, by our very acknowledgment, prove that we bear within ourselves what is higher, and are worthy to be on a level with it

  Freedom, then, lies only in our innate human capacity to choose between different sorts of bondage, bondage to desire or self esteem, or bondage to the light that lightens all our olives.

  The higher one climbs on the spiritual ladder, the more they will grant others their own freedom, and give less interference to another's state of consciousness.
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  21

  How do you define spirituality?

  by Sunchild in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's a general question for anyone, and it's a very personal one that requires personal answers.

  i'm not asking what the bible says, what science says, what the dictionary says, or what your mother says.

  i'm asking how you, as an individual with your own ideas, feelings and perceptions, conceptualize spirituality.

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  Big Jim

  For me it is to have unconditional love for your neighbor as well as your family. Showing love in all that you do and say in everything.
  I believe if you can do that you will reach a very high level of spirituality.

  (famous quote)

  Nothing is more repulsive than a furtively prurient spirituality; it is just as unsavory as gross sensuality.
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  16

  My Daughters Babtism6-9-01(my letter to her)

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear carley.

  i just thought i would give you this card on this very important day to let you know my feelings about your decesion.. first of all i want you to know that i am very,very, proud that you have made a choice in your life to be a person of good clean moral standards and a person that has a regard for there creator and one that wants to be respected and looked up to.

  that makes dad very proud.. you are probally wondering why i no longer go to meetings with the family and no longer speak of spiritual things.

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  Big Jim

  Dear Carley
  I just thought I would give you this card on this very important day to let you know my feelings about your decesion.

  First of all I want you to know that I am very,very, proud that you have made a choice in your life to be a person of good clean moral standards and a person that has a regard for there creator and one that wants to be respected and looked up to. That makes Dad very proud.
  You are probally wondering why I no longer go to meetings with the family and no longer speak of spiritual things. I don't know what Mom has told you are what you may have overheard us talking about so let me give you some closure on the matter.
  The fact is I really believe that JW'S have good intentions and for the most part are good people,also I believe that the years that I was actively involved did help me to be a better person.
  However I have done a whole lot of research and studying and have discovered some things that really bother me and that have raised some questions in my mind. The last thing that I would ever want to do is to burden you with these things because I know you are proud of the stand you have taken and I am proud of you also.
  So I will leave you with this last thought, if you ever have any questions in your mind are you want me to show you what I have found I am here for you and will always be, just ask.

  Keep on being the wonderfull person you are and you will have a great life, I know you are smart and I know your going to always make me a very proud Father.

  Love Always

  Dad

  Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.
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  46

  What Caused Your First Doubt ?

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me it was when i was about twelve years old and my best friends dad was disfellowshipped from the congregation.. i could not understand how a god of love would treat someone so coldly.. i used to think what if that was the way my parents would treat me if i had done something wrong, that would be so hard and cruel.. as i got older another thing that bothered me was the beard issue.

  it may sound pretty trivial however the society has always refused to make a good arguement as to why they would give you the old cold shoulder if you were to grow one.. two more items; first i could not understand why all the congregations and all the assemblys would give income reports.

  and the society never did.

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  Big Jim

  I thought I would list a few more items that gave me I should say reasonable doubt, isn't that all you need to be saved from being prosecuted by the borg.
  I do not even remember the name of the assembly hall that was built up north where they did all the elaborate paintings and murials.(forgive my spelling)
  Then here in Rosenburg TX they were building a assembly hall and they were running behind on schedule and budget, I was assigned the responsibility of heading up security for the project which gave me access to all the administrative buildings, well to make a long story short I found out through my snooping around that certain brothers were being paid a pretty handsome salary to give there complete attention to the project,I could not believe this was happening.

  I spent many long nights away from my family working security detail because no one would volunteer and never even got a meal because by the time I got there the food service was shut down,why would the borg pay some for there services and not others.

  Then one last thing I have to mention is the Birthday issue, I never really agreed with it based on the borgs reasoning. I would think the lesson to be learned from birthdays is that you should not kill anyone on your birthday.
  I am sure if enough research were to be done you would find out that there has probally been thousands of murders that have taken place over the years on wedding anniversarys and they still celebrate them.

  That's all thanks for reading.
• 

  Witnessing Tip of the Month:how many true Gods

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  witnessing tip of the month: jehovah's witnesses - how many true gods are there?.

  the next time the jehovah's witnesses come to your you may ask them, "does your organization teach more than one true god?".

  almost without fail the sharp witness will reply, "we only believe in one true god, jehovah.. explain that you agree with this statement saying, "i also believe in only one true god and all other gods are false gods.. the ask, "how do you understand john 1:1 that teaches, the word [jesus] was god?.

• 

  Big Jim

  Witnessing Tip of the Month: Jehovah's Witnesses - How Many True Gods Are There?

  The next time the Jehovah's Witnesses come to your you may ask them, "Does your organization teach more than one true God?"

  Almost without fail the sharp Witness will reply, "We only believe in one true God, Jehovah.

  Explain that you agree with this statement saying, "I also believe in only one true God and all other gods are false gods.

  The ask, "How do you understand John 1:1 that teaches, the Word [Jesus] was God?

  Usually they will quote their own New World Translation saying that the "original Greek" states the Word was "a god."

  Rather than debating the proper Greek translation you can simply respond, "Well if Jesus is 'a god,' is He a true God or a false god?"

  From this discussion the Jehovah's Witness can be shown that Watchtower theology forces them to have two true Gods in John 1:1, or teach that Jesus is a false God.

  The Witness can not say that Jesus is a false God, and because the Watchtower's well know stance against Polytheism [the belief in more that one God], they cannot say that Jesus is also a true God.

  The proselyte may try to answer this problem by showing you others in the Bible who were called God or by saying that Jesus is a lesser God. Their book, Reasoning From the Scriptures teaches that Jehovah is the "Almighty God" while Jesus is simply a "mighty god." (p. 413-14).

  Simply point out that while some are called gods (i.e. Satan, wicked Judges etc.) they were certainly false gods not true Gods.

  Also, if Jesus is a "lesser god" is He a lesser True God or a lesser false god?

  This dialogue can be used by itself to quickly plant a seed at the front door or as an spring board for further discussion on the Deity of Christ, other problems with the New World Translation, or additional reasons you do not follow the Watchtower Society.
• 
  46

  What Caused Your First Doubt ?

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me it was when i was about twelve years old and my best friends dad was disfellowshipped from the congregation.. i could not understand how a god of love would treat someone so coldly.. i used to think what if that was the way my parents would treat me if i had done something wrong, that would be so hard and cruel.. as i got older another thing that bothered me was the beard issue.

  it may sound pretty trivial however the society has always refused to make a good arguement as to why they would give you the old cold shoulder if you were to grow one.. two more items; first i could not understand why all the congregations and all the assemblys would give income reports.

  and the society never did.

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  Big Jim

  Hello Mulan
  That story also made me really think about the way the JW'S treat people who have sinned. As well as the way my own father who was the PO treated me when I ran away from home and came back.

  He did not slaughter the youngest calf, are get me a nice robe.
  He asked me where was my home, and why I came back to his.
• 
  46

  What Caused Your First Doubt ?

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me it was when i was about twelve years old and my best friends dad was disfellowshipped from the congregation.. i could not understand how a god of love would treat someone so coldly.. i used to think what if that was the way my parents would treat me if i had done something wrong, that would be so hard and cruel.. as i got older another thing that bothered me was the beard issue.

  it may sound pretty trivial however the society has always refused to make a good arguement as to why they would give you the old cold shoulder if you were to grow one.. two more items; first i could not understand why all the congregations and all the assemblys would give income reports.

  and the society never did.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Big Jim

  For me it was when I was about twelve years old and my best friends Dad was disfellowshipped from the congregation.

  I could not understand how a God of love would treat someone so coldly.

  I used to think what if that was the way my parents would treat me if i had done something wrong, that would be so hard and cruel.

  As I got older another thing that bothered me was the beard issue. It may sound pretty trivial however the Society has always refused to make a good arguement as to why they would give you the old cold shoulder if you were to grow one.

  Two more items; First I could not understand why all the congregations and all the assemblys would give income reports
  and the Society never did.
  Last but not least, why dosen't the Society help with widows,orphans and homeless people.

  What were yours?
• 
  1

  More Contradictions In The Bible ???

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  introduction.

  it is a central dogma of all fundamental christians that the bible is without error.

  they teach this conclusion by "reasoning" that god cannot be the author of false meaning and he cannot lie.

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  Big Jim

  INTRODUCTION
  It is a central dogma of all fundamental Christians that the Bible is without error. They teach this conclusion by "reasoning" that god cannot be the author of false meaning and he cannot lie. Is this true? If written by a perfect being, then it must not contradict itself, as a collection of books written by different men at different times over many centuries would be expected to contradict each other.

  With this in mind, let us have a look at the Bible on several subjects.

  ON THE SABBATH DAY
  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." -- Exodus 20:8

  "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." -- Romans 14:5

  ON THE PERMANENCY OF THE EARTH
  "... the earth abideth for ever." -- Ecclesiastes 1:4

  "... the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." -- 2Peter 3:10

  ON SEEING GOD
  "... I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." -- Genesis 32:30

  "No man hath seen God at any time..."-- John 1:18

  ON HUMAN SACRIFICE
  "... Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God..." -- Leviticus 18:21

  [In Judges, though, the tale of Jephthah, who led the Israelites against the Ammonoites, is being told. Being fearful of defeat, this good religious man sought to guarantee victory by getting god firmly on his side. So he prayed to god] "... If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).

  [The terms were acceptable to god -- remember, he is supposed to be omniscient and know the future -- so he gave victory to Jephthah, and the first whatsoever that greeted him upon his glorious return was his daughter, as god surely knew would happen, if god is god. True to his vow, the general made a human sacrifice of his only child to god!] -- Judges 11:29-34

  ON THE POWER OF GOD
  "... with God all things are possible." -- Matthew 19:26

  "...The LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron." -- Judges 1:19

  ON DEALING WITH PERSONAL INJURY
  "...thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. " -- Exodus 21:23-25

  "...ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." -- Matthew 5:39

  ON CIRCUMCISION
  "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised." -- Genesis 17:10

  "...if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." -- Galatians 5:2

  ON INCEST
  "Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of this mother..." -- Deuteronomy 27:22

  "And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter...it is a wicked thing...." -- Leviticus 20:17

  [But what was god's reaction to Abraham, who married his sister -- his father's daughter?] See Genesis 20:11-12

  "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sara thy wife...I bless her, and give thee a son also of her..." -- Genesis 17:15-16

  ON TRUSTING GOD
  "A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD..." -- Proverbs 12:2

  Now consider the case of Job. After commissioning Satan to ruin Job financially and to slaughter his shepherds and children to win a petty bet with Satan. God asked Satan: "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." -- Job 2:3

  ON THE HOLY LIFE-STYLE
  "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart..." -- Ecclesiastes 9:7

  "...they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not..." -- 1 Corinthians 7:30

  ON PUNISHING CRIME
  "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father..." -- Ezekiel 18:20

  "I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation..." -- Exodus 20:5

  ON TEMPTATION
  "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." -- James 1:13

  "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham..." -- Genesis 22:1

  ON FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
  "Honor thy father and thy mother..."-- Exodus 20:12

  "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. " -- Luke 14:26

  ON RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
  "...he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. " -- Job 7:9

  "...the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth...." -- John 5:28-29

  ON THE END OF THE WORLD
  "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. " -- Matthew 16:28

  "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. " -- Luke 21:32-33

  "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." -- Romans 13:11-12

  "Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." -- James 5:8

  "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." -- 1 John 2:18

  "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." -- 1 Peter 4:7

  These words were written between 1800 and 1900 years ago and were meant to warn and prepare the first Christians for the immediate end of the world. Some words are those supposedly straight out of the mouth of the "Son of God." The world did not end 1800 or 1900 years ago. All that generation passed away without any of the things foretold coming to pass. No amount of prayer brought it about; nor ever so much patience and belief and sober living. The world went on, as usual, indifferent to the spoutings of yet another batch of doomsday prophets with visions of messiahs dancing in their deluded brains. The world, by surviving, makes the above passages contradictions.

  CONCLUSION
  What is incredible about the Bible is not its divine authorship; it's that such a concoction of contradictory nonsense could be believed by anyone to have been written by an omniscient god. To do so, one would first have to not read the book, which is the practice of most Christians; or, if one does read it, dump in the trash can one's rational intelligence -- to become a fool for god, in other words.

  To be an Atheist, one need only be able to laugh when such obvious nonsense is offered as being "divine" truth. If you are laughing, then you belong in the only organization dedicated to determined Atheist activism -- dedicated to doing something about the intrusion of religion into all areas of our government and our private lives.

  All Bible quotes from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible