Good quotes ... thanks.
Interesting the 1971 quote is also validating (indirectly) and feeding the 1975 hype ....
Bastards.
-ithinkisee
we know that in all fairness the governing body claims from time to time, that they are not phrophets and they are merely men and make mistakes.
this admission usually follows a blatant and embaressing failure of some englossed speculation that proved false.
but do they clearly not claim the role of a phrophet or do they like to ride the fence, hence double standard example 2. they have their followers believing two contrasting beliefs at once.
Good quotes ... thanks.
Interesting the 1971 quote is also validating (indirectly) and feeding the 1975 hype ....
Bastards.
-ithinkisee
wanted to write another topic entirely, but after quite some thinking i thought that one particular topic should be addressed.
especially, for people still feeling confused.
we often wonder why so many dubs looks like zombies, why it is hard to make them see the real truth about the truth, why cant they discuss any topic in depth without resorting to reasoning book or other wtbs literature, why it is that they are so easily manipulated, why it is that they are filled with apostate state of mind fears (fearing to question anything), why, why, why?
Funny you posted this Zagor,
One time a couple years ago John Stossel (not a big fan of him, but that's another story) did a special - about preconceived myths about common stuff and how they were not true - everything from natural disasters to old wives tales.
During the whole show my wife was blown away. He did a "top ten" misconceptions and broke eache one down in little 2-3 minute segments.
Anyways, the LAST one was "Are things REALLY worse today than they were in the past?"
The answer was "No." He then went on to quote stats and candid, realistic observations of things in the past. It was awesome. Although I had not even come close to "apostate" status at this time I had already come to John Stossel's conclusion by then.
I watched my wife carefully, and when it was done she said, "Well, I'm not so sure about that LAST one."
Then we never talked about it after that.
Cognitive dissonance at work. Not blaming her or saying she's stupid (because she's not). It is just sad that so many are like that. (Including myself at one time.)
-ithinkisee
as a jw child, i learned to use the following "logic":decide what you want to believe before you research or learn about it.
(at the time, it was whatever the wts told me to believe.
)when you come across anything that supports your belief, accept it.when you come across anything that refutes your belief, reject it.repeat steps 2-4 indefinitely.. as far as i recall, i pretty much realized this faulty thought process before i left the jws and stopped doing it.
I still have a hard time with thinking on my own. Even when I research stuff now I often look to apostate sites to see what the "real" answer is. Now I often try and stop myself and read the scriptures on my own and try to get the sense of it. Then I start poking around for clarifying info. Sometimes it is an "apostate" site ... sometimes a Christian apologetics ... sometimes a bible archeology site, science site, history site, parallel translation site, and so forth.
Anyways ... yes, it is hard to rid yourself of that stuff. One time I remember a pastor schooling me on the original Greek and the NWT and I ran home to "look up what I should have said".
How embarrassing.
In my case it was nothing more than immersing myself in the journey of learning again and making a conscious effort to look up and get a feel for the scripture/principal in question before going for source material.
-ithinkisee
one of he paragraphs in yesterdays watchtower lesson spoke of brothers presumptuously reaching out for positions or privileges within the congregation to which they are not entitled.
the indication was that doing this shows arrogance and lack of humility.
no one commented on this wt statement when the paragraph was covered and my guess is because it made no sense.
Ha ... they didn't reappoint me as a ministerial servant in my new hall (no I wasn't bitter either ... I laughed at their ridiculous standards).
So here I am ...
-ithinkisee
finally, the dubs pried themselves away from the coffee shop this morning and 'worked' my neighborhood.
i saw them coming so i had to decide what topic to discuss.
well after the intro, i decided to explain, that yes i have read the bible, and i feel the god portrayed in it is very brutal and cruel to his creation.
Regarding the "I'll have to research that and come back" you can say this:
"Please do that. But if you don't come back I'll know you're religion is lying to me about God."
That burns them up because they do NOT like to be called liars. So they'll likely come back.
(That is ... if you want them to.)
-ithinkisee
PS: I got that idea from one of those Dr. Walter Martin MP3s
tonights episode of the simpsons was about homer's prophecies for the end of the world.
in classic simpson's style they bash apocalyptic cults and the idea of an upcoming armaggedon.
it was great when they showed homer coming up with his date for the end of the world; it sounded a lot like the watchtower's version.
The great part was when God told Homer "Here ... just read these pamphlets."
-ithinkisee
.
i got an original 1/1/89 wt - which says that the end would come before 2000 - before they changed it in subsequent bound volumes and cd-rom w/out telling anyone.. i also got a 1969 (purple cover) kingdom interlinear.
it is the one with the blatant mantey misquotes - you know - the ones that he fired off a letter regarding and demanded they remove mention of him and a public apology.. just thought i would share .... -ithinkisee
I got an original 1/1/89 WT - which says that the end would come before 2000 - before they changed it in subsequent Bound Volumes and CD-Rom w/out telling anyone.
I also got a 1969 (purple cover) Kingdom Interlinear. It is the one with the blatant Mantey misquotes - you know - the ones that he fired off a letter regarding and demanded they remove mention of him and a public apology.
Just thought I would share ...
-ithinkisee
i wonder what i am doing wrong posting this?
i will try later..
There were many things insulting with that WT article.
The part that talked about how the timeslips helps to keep tabs on who is "slacking off".
The part about not giving undue honor to those that have more "privileges". Can anyone say "pioneer picnic"?
And of course ... the fact that they omitted the most important part of the them text - about how "undeserved kindness" is a "gift from God".
Also, how they slyly changed from "not due to works" to "not due to works alone" by the end of the article.
Sneaky bastards.
-ithinkisee
one of he paragraphs in yesterdays watchtower lesson spoke of brothers presumptuously reaching out for positions or privileges within the congregation to which they are not entitled.
the indication was that doing this shows arrogance and lack of humility.
no one commented on this wt statement when the paragraph was covered and my guess is because it made no sense.
There were many things insulting with that WT article.
The part that talked about how the timeslips helps to keep tabs on who is "slacking off".
The part you mention about reaching out ... yeah RIGHT.
The part about not giving undue honor to those that have more "privileges". Can anyone say "pioneer picnic"?
And of course ... the fact that they omitted the most important part of the them text - about how "undeserved kindness" is a "gift from God".
Also, how they slyly changed from "not due to works" to "not due to works alone" by the end of the article.
Sneaky bastards.
-ithinkisee
i made an interesting find last evening.
i stumbled across a site purporting to be a jehovah's witness reform movement.
while it sees value in jehovah's witnesses, its primary purpose is to reform the governing body.
I have been studying the history of Christianity lately and I find that after time a reformation of a new strain of religion does happen.
It might be too early for a successful reformation group to break off yet - but I imagine it will come someday.
Naturally, I will not be a part of it ... but it is interesting. Thanks for the link.
-ithinkisee