this topic is to focus on status updates & advice (no opinion or politics please).. status.
latest status is that it's serious, probably isn't going to be contained and most large companies are making contingency plans, cancelling large events etc... which i don't think would happen if it was just people being alarmist.
the incubation period means it may have already spread further and infected many more people than are currently known, so expect jumps in the numbers over the coming days and weeks.. tracking.
"There have been a further 616 coronavirus-related deaths in UK hospitals, the Department of Health has said.
It takes the total number of COVID-19 patients to have died in UK hospitals to 18,738. That is the lowest weekday increase in the last three weeks - since 2 April "
Dare we hope ?
how do you think the congregation would react?
No way would a prayer offered at a meeting include such a comment. Don't forget that they are " No part of the world"
my sister sent me this text a few minutes ago.
what does she know about my relationship with jehovah?
it was followed up by a bunch of links to jw org problem is dialog is not possible her side is the only one to be heard.
Nobody can write a reply for you, but I would see her as a victim of a false ideology rather than seeing her as being aggressive to you.
The poor soul is still where we were. No doubt her concern for you is genuine.
I would be polite, warm and friendly, but say that she does not seem to understand why people leave and offer to enter a deeper discussion if she wishes.
quite the contravening question to contemplate for any self avowed devoted jws, which no doubt takes some uncomfortable thinking to consider.. yes back in 1919 the then president of the jws j. rutherford proclaimed that the organization (ibsa, jws) had been selectively chosen by jesus for their unique preaching and evangelical work.. there had already been a proclamation by the past leader of the (wts) ibsa c. russell that he was the faithful slave doing the lords work, will and purpose, but his professing doctrines were also false bible interpretations based upon the theology of pyramidology.. might it be that these men made these proclamations out of the intent of self validating themselves and the literature that they had published and were trying to proliferate ?
making these kind of claims was easy since there was no higher governing body to evaluate these men's endeavors from a theological standing, the american government had opened the door for any individual's self expression of a religious nature.
so anyone in that country could build up their own religoius following unimpeded, even more so if that religion was christian based.. so the real critical question remains how or why would jesus pick these men when their doctrines were so obviously false and probably devised more so from a commercialization agenda ?.
For me, that is still an open question....” Yes, why would he? “
A WT answer would be because they had honest hearts and were seeking the correct doctrines although they had not yet worked it all out.
As my dub wife told me this morning, they had already the truth about the soul, they had ‘turned the hose on hell’ .... oh and I was told they knew 1914. .......after all these years I know when to speak up and when it is wiser to keep silent.
[edit..to say that I love her and we have a great relationship, and have both learned to give and take, over the years]
mcl responded in part, in an earlier post about the hypocrisy in religion even the true religion.
making dumb guesses about god's cryptic prophecies makes them foolish and indiscreet- not false prophets who claim god gave them the message.. two questions—.
1) what is the “true religion‘s” definition of a prophet?.
The WTS claims not to be prophets, but there is no doubt that they have made predictions... What is the difference ? I have just looked up the difference and it seems , according to dictionaries, that
A prophecy is tributed to a divine revelation as if God spoke to the prophet for him to pass on to followers.
Predictions on the other hand are human calculations using the information available to say what is likely to happen. E.g. a sports pundit will predict the result of a horserace or football match.
Now the Society has said, in 1920, “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”
in 1969 “ If you are young, you will never grow old in this system “
we all know about 1975
around about the 1970 - 1974 they wrote that the preaching work would be completed during that century.
Now, what do you think? Are they failed predictors or false prophets?
just read article today blood plasma from recovered corona patients to be transfused into the seriously ill to see if antibodies in the blood can help.. i guess if your a witness you can just pray and write your will..
They could change the rules of course but the clear "decision of the Governing Body" is that the word blood includes whole blood, red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets.
Violating this can lead to disfellowshipping, or involuntary disassociation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/us/politics/coronavirus-jehovahs-witnesses.html.
the pandemic has put a stop to the activities of one of the nation’s most visible religious groups, jehovah’s witnesses.. read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/us/politics/coronavirus-jehovahs-witnesses.html.
"People would be so receptive right now"
Oh, I doubt that, around here anyway. It is true they hate the virus &are scared of catching it but to relate it to Bible prophecy is never considered. Anyway, nobody wants to talk . They just avoid conversation. That much has been dinned into us by the government.
2020-04-15 english encouragement for elderly.
https://docdro.id/chmzmpj.
2020-04-17 spanish .
Well, of the oldies I know well enough to hear their honest comments, they are not feeling "vigourous and fresh" as the letter puts it. Instead I hear grumbles about the Org. How they feel left behind in the techie world they have to embrace, the changed doctrines, lack of help from elders.... etc
Is this being sent to the cong? It would better sent to the old ones individually. Easily done, just get the congregation to organize it
We all know the J W answer to the above question and ,like me , have stated it many times on people's doorsteps.
We can either accept that of allow the above "paradox " to turn us into atheists. Nobody can come up with a better answer so we either accept it , or something like it , or not ......it is up to you.
2020-04-addendum letter.. https://docdro.id/n0hm6tg.
2020-04 shepherd the flock of god elder manual.
https://docdro.id/llechtz.
Excellent ! Thank you Atlantis and Petra
