Posts by Raphael

19

I just called the new 800# for da Dubs...

by upside/down in

i left a brief message with my # - they actually called me back, in less than 24 hours.. we talked for about 30 minutes.

i laid all my "gripes" right out on the table.

the brother listened only offered me 1 scripture and even dignified me by saying i probably already knew it, but he would like to read it anyway.

Raphael

I had a similar experience awhile back...thought I'd test the society web site...sent a request in for a visit. Three weeks later a phone call from an elder in the local congregation .

A few days after , he and another elder visited...I did not mention that I had been disfellowshipped.

They were both decent fella's , until I decided a few weeks into a couple of discussions to confess all...suddenly the attitude changed and once again was treated like a leper...

So much for the prodigal son returning and his father running out to meet him.

48

Jehovah's Witness family wanted for "Trading Spouses"

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

this is legit, i got this email and called cat.

she is looking for jws who might do this.

wouldn't that be a scream?

Raphael

JW's are far to insular ...they would consider taking part, in the same light they do "bad association"

Should anyone come forward, I would seriously question their being in good standing in the congregation or even bone fide Witnesses.

32

"Your Reports HAVE To Be Turned In By The 6th of the Month!"

by minimus in

jw
friends

do you miss not getting that phonecall or that announcement?

I really enjoyed going out in service...it's the one thing I miss most about my time as a JW.I was meticulously honest in my reports. Hard to believe that so many lied about what they were doing...just shows what an absolute farce it all was.

The fruitage of man-made systems of worship, where members become bogged down with uneccassary rules and traditions...they loose their joy and spirit.What should be an act motivated by deep love and free will is now a task that is a burden.

13

www.jwgift.org

by Ozner2 in

friends, whats your opinion about www.jwgift.org ?

first creditcard acceptpoints in congreshalls in the netherlands, now an internet creditcard donationsite, official of wts brittain.

just see this as using only new technics for getting donations or is it big business now?

Raphael

I have to agree with Logansrun on this one...while the vast majority of Christendoms religions almost expect their membership to tithe i.e 10 percent of gross annual monthly income goes to the church ...JW's leave it to each individual to decide on when and how much to contribute.

All faiths rely on contributions and donations from members, they couldn't survive otherwise.

While not a WTS apologist , I think criticsm on this issue is unfairly biased against the society.

20

great tribulation or no great tribulation that is my question

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

so, what's the deal?

are witnesses now expecting a tribulation to precede armageddon or are they expecting armageddon without a tribulation?.

because in the last couple of years some of the things i am hearing and reading, lead me to believe they are phasing out the concept of a tribulation.

Raphael

The new brochure released at last summers "Give God Glory" district conventions makes the point that the destruction of Babylon The Great, will occur suddenly - without any warning whatsoever - Jehovah will in an instant put the one thought into the minds and hearts of the political wild beast to suddenly turn on the religions of the world...it will not be a gradual development. It will catch all , including Witnesses by surprise and that it will be a shock and awe attack.

Not sure what has happened to the cry of "peace and security" , it seems to have faded into obscurity - some saying it may already have been made, however they still believe in a period of great tribulation culminating in Armageddon and that if you are not in the organisation when Babylon The Great is destroyed - you can kiss your ass good bye!

20

great tribulation or no great tribulation that is my question

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

so, what's the deal?

are witnesses now expecting a tribulation to precede armageddon or are they expecting armageddon without a tribulation?.

because in the last couple of years some of the things i am hearing and reading, lead me to believe they are phasing out the concept of a tribulation.

Raphael

They have just come round to what the bible has taught for almost 2000 years..."that day will come as a thief in the night" and "no-one knows the day or the hour"

Their new light has just caught up with what the scriptures have always taught.

14

Catholic organization donates $25 million to tsunami relief

by seattleniceguy in

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/110444609128.htm

it's amazing how as witnesses we used to just rip on other religions and organizations, not the least of which was the catholic church.

i was reading another article listing donations from various organizations and companies, and it looks like we're going to have a record outpouring here.

Raphael

A drop in the ocean for the Catholic Church, If they donated a dollar for each member they could afford a billion dollars...we're talking about one of the wealthiest organisations in the world....I'd like too see the give a heck of alot more.

52

My Phone Conversation With Watchtower on Tsunami Disaster!

by Voyager in

jw
friends

my telephone conversation with the watchtower society, was a sincere attempt to find out what active role the watchtower is taking to help the tsunami victims.

thursday dec. 30, 2004 / approx.

watchtower call on tsunami disaster.. 1-718-560-5000. wt-recording--thank you for calling jehovah's witnesses.. wt rep--jehovah's witnesses, may i help you?.

Raphael

To be fair on the WTS...they are not a relief organisation...they have a relief department , however it does not operate on the same scale as other dedicated charities or organisations do.

Also ...organisations cannot legally fly into and out of countries without authorised permision and in many instances government red tape even in the face of a disaster of this magnitude can take weeks if not months to arrange.

If the WTBTS do have any relief arrangements in place then it is the course of wisdom for them to distribute funds to the branches to use as they see fit ...as local branches would be in a far better position to assess needs in communities they serve than say Brooklyn would be.

I know from past association and relief work undertaken by the society in some African countries, that branches are reasonably well organised for relief work and local Kingdom Halls have often been turned into distribution centres in times of crises...

Witnesses, I admit are good at organisation and discipline in these situations and it is in times like these that the training they receive is of benefit for the greater good of others.

9

Who was Charles T.Russell really?

by anonymouslyyours in

let me know what you really think and who he was...and i will inform you.

Raphael

Reading and studying his writings, I get the impression that he was actually a decent fellow...I sense that he was deeply sincere in his search for truth , but that he was also very naive and easily influenced by others, hence his involvement with pyramidology and to some degree the occult and spiritism i.e the book "Women and Angels" as an example.

Unlike his successor J.F Rutherford , there is no evidence to suggest that he deliberately set out to deceive others.To the contrary his writings (STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES - VOLUME 1) clearly indicate that he did not believe in the wholesale conversion of the world, but that God was only calling his church and that eventually the vast majority of humankind would eventually gain salvation ,during the 1000 year reign of Christ. A very liberal view and a far cry from the fire and brimstone, that was being preached from the pulpits of most Protestant and Catholic churches.

From many of those associated with him - who ceased association with the society after his death in 1916 , there seems to be consensus that he was a very compassionate and caring man , that if he could see the organisation now - he would turn in his grave and condemn the society in the strongest possible terms. Russell was not and never would be a Jehovah's Witness - they are the very antithesis of what he believed in.

23

The Awake magazine: In A Realm Beyond Dumb?

by metatron in

jw
friends

i hold in my hand a typical awake magazine (jan. 8, 2005) - entitled "can planet earth be.

saved?".

of course, it trots out the usual formula of half truths that has brought the watchtower.

Raphael

Most articles in Awake are great if your aged 7 - 13 or live in a third world or developing country and I gather from what is happening with recent statistics that this is the market the society are catering for.