Posts by blondie

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

blondie

The WTS has a history of rewriting their publications to conform with current teachings. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/failed-1914-predictions.php

Studies In the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come pre 1914

Studies In the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come post 1914 editions

"That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished. With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance."
Click here for scan of 1911 edition

"That the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long after 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished."
Click here for scan of 1923 edition

9

Russia's FSB Raids Jehovah’s Witness Office in Occupied Mariupol

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

russia's fsb raids jehovah’s witness office in occupied mariupol.. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/15/russias-fsb-raids-jehovahs-witness-office-in-occupied-mariupol-a83726.

blondie

Beth Sarim: I doubt that secular governments will not use the same practices on all religions and will be financially devastating for all of them. Time will tell. I am not just concerned about the hiding of child sexual abuse (CSA) better to say it for what it is, but in all religions and secular institutions. Only then will CSA be confronted head on in more situations. CSA is not exclusively a WTS problem, so all children can be protected more comprehensively. For me, it is the protection of children that is the most important thing, not bringing down anyone one religion or institution.

(The issue I was directly commenting on is that the WTS considers all human governments under Satan's control directly or indirectly)

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

blondie

One thing I thought was a big change in the WTS blood doctrine was the approval (by individual conscience) of the hemoglobin-based products. bloodchart2004

Products being developed from human or animal hemoglobin could be used to treat patients with acute anemia or massive blood loss. KM 1/06 p.5 "Products being developed from human or animal hemoglobin could be used to treat patients with acute anemia or massive blood loss." Quote from https://www.ajwrb.org/watchtower-approves-hemopure

For Jehovah’s Witnesses who are evaluating these issues we would simply point out the kind of tortured logic the WTS is employing by taking the largest single component of blood from an animal (hemoglobin) and saying that a Christian may use it in good conscience while at the same time arguing that a tiny component of human blood like platelets are not permitted. This is certainly not something that can be substantiated with the Bible or even science for that matter. We believe the only reasonable position is to allow individual Jehovah’s Witnesses a free choice in their medical treatment." That link to ajwrb.com is an ex-jw site with good info on the WTS blood doctrine.

8

Fleegle Calls The GB Meeting To Order

by NotFormer in

i still can't believe that fleegle is a member of the gb!.

here he is in prime form:.

https://youtu.be/o0ow8rzc8i4?si=b4wulfd1hpkqhfop.

blondie

Sounds right, Biahi. late sixties. I still loved that show but pretended to watch it with my younger brothers. How things have changed in child shows.

34

JW profit from disasters

by enoughisenough in

some time back i questioned about jw making money from doing relief work for disasters.

i found this story on reddit and also noted some of the replies.

it makes me wonder how many would have left their own jobs and paid their way, giving free labor and some supplying free materials if they had know what was going on behind the scenes.

blondie

Yes, any funds sent to the WTS are put in a general fund (even disaster relief) and the WTS decides where "best" use the money. Yes, charlatans.

15

The New Busy Work

by NotFormer in

for a hundred years the slaves were kept from having the time and energy to question anything and associate anywhere where they might be exposed to alternative views by having to keep up the busy work of going door to door.

that avenue is drying up.

and policy is changing.. the wt needs new busy work to keep the sheep engaged without thinking.. the wt fancies itself as an up and coming movie studio.

blondie

What do they do? Go to the beach.

19

I have some questions about the Org.!

by KerryKing in

are any or all of the gb from jewish descent?.

why are they so fascinated with following ancient jewish 'principles' ?.

isa 43:10, 44:8 ' you are my witnesses ' which they based their religious identity on, jehovah's witnesses, yet those verses address the jews, not christians, which they profess to be.. jesus said in ac 1:8 'you will be witnesses of me ', .

blondie

As a sidepoint, in the New Testament, no where can you find "witnesses of Jehovah" "Jehovah's witnesses" but you will find "witnesses of Jesus" and "witness to Jesus" all over. The WTS in the past has said that in Isaiah 43:10-12, literal jews were being talked about, but that it "foreshadowed" the anointed members of the WTS, as spiritual Israelites.

1950 At this time there is only a small remnant of spiritual Israelites (that only they are of the "Israel of God."

1950 He is not only preparing his remnant of spiritual Israelites for membership in the heavenly kingdom of the new heavens. He is also preparing, the great crowd of “other sheep”, for the visible society of the new earth.

Gradually, the WTS started calling the non-spiritual Israelites (or the great crowd of other sheep) Jehovah's witnesses, and left out the part that there were no witnesses of Jehovah in the New Testament, only witnesses of Jesus. The WTS has gradually put "Jehovah" to the forefront and made Jesus only an object used for the ransom sacrifice. I compared how often the name of Jesus appears in WTS publications compared to using Jehovah, and it was amazing, about 20 to 1 difference, especially in their "kingdom" songs. Even in Acts it says that Jesus' followers came to be known as "Christians" not Jehovah's witnesses. (Acts 11:26) After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

17

Has The Interpretation of the Beast Changed?

by NotFormer in

my understanding* is that the un is supposed to be the wild beast of revelation.

the un only came into being after wwii, so what was the beast before the new light came about?

i can't see a speculative organisation like the wt not having an interpretation of the beast before the un came into being.

blondie

Consider how the United Nations and its predecessor, the League of Nations, have fulfilled the Bible’s prophecy of the scarlet-colored beast. (ijwbq article article 100)

WT May 2022 p.10 Yes, Jehovah will motivate the nations to use the scarlet-colored wild beast, that is, the United Nations, to turn on the world empire of false religion and completely destroy it

23

When The 'Tower Is Mentioned In A Will

by NotFormer in

i assume someone from wt attends the reading of the will.

an elder, a co, some especially selected person from the branch under whose purview this sort of thing is maintained?.

what is the procedure?.

blondie

Wills (WTS directions)

WILLS: Property or money may be bequeathed to the Watch Tower Society by means of a legally executed will. A copy should be sent to the Society. (w88 12/1, p.28)

34

JW profit from disasters

by enoughisenough in

some time back i questioned about jw making money from doing relief work for disasters.

i found this story on reddit and also noted some of the replies.

it makes me wonder how many would have left their own jobs and paid their way, giving free labor and some supplying free materials if they had know what was going on behind the scenes.

blondie

Donations for relief do not go directly to the people affected by the disaster; all funds must go to the GB/WTS, all, not just for disaster relief, then the WTS/GB decides what the money will be used for, not just disaster relief. "Donations for a specific relief effort are gratefully accepted. However, it is preferred that such donations be made to the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, since monies are drawn from this fund as the need arises." WT August 2006 p.23-25 Endnote