i was reading e-watchman today and someone there is saying that after studying the what does the bible really teach book at bookstudies the next book will be the revelation book!!!.
there isn't any real proof, but the poster claimed a letter from bethel stated this.
perhaps some here can dig around and confirm or deny this new rumor.. we've studied it 3 times in the past and it's been awhile.
On the one hand I think it is awesome when I think of the sheer mental exhaustion my wife undergo to force this "ugly-step-sister foot" into the "glass slipper" of reality....
On the other hand it makes me sick to think my wife might still be in the org when it comes time to study this garbage.
what is your favorite fictional literary character.
which character do you identify with most?
i was a well-read kid and my favorite series of books were the elric saga by michael moorcock.
I always liked Atticus Finch, Samwise Gamgee, Cyrano DeBergerac, Kira Argon-something or another (from We The Living), One of the main rabbits- I can't remember his name- from Watership Down...
All I can think of right now...
CYP
so,... i'm new here...how does this site work?
can anyone give me some hints?
your sis,.
IP, I hope you are right... in which case I am the DOTT (dick of the thread). But at any rate, nice pick up even if the rest of the jwd community couldn't keep the welcome mat open for more than a few posts.
A thread I started on this very subject....
so,... i'm new here...how does this site work?
can anyone give me some hints?
your sis,.
somos todos apostatas
Yeah good idea.... scare 'em off before we get a chance to do some good.
No big deal. It was probably the only opportunity she will have to hear a free thought for another ten years or so.
But at least you got to talk smack about the jw and impress us all with your language skills. That is the most important thing.
CYP
end times.
before 1874 to present, the watchtower has missed dates after dates on when the lord will come again.
and when the date comes and goes away the watchtower either ignores it or blames someone else.. scripture speaks clearly on this issue.
Hey you better watch it buddy! We are all devout JW's here, and we don't appreciate you false Christians coming in here with all your talk about false prophecies, and salvation through grace.
We were bought at a price, now we want to be slaves of men. We want to sell magazines to earn our points to pair-o-dice earth. Right now I have enough points for a really cool kayak!!! Oh wait, that is my marlboro points. Oh crap. I just outed myself as a smoker.
I hope no elders are reading this.
CYP
so,... i'm new here...how does this site work?
can anyone give me some hints?
your sis,.
Yes, tell us about your congregation!
ut up - shay about the ostate - apay milieu we inhabit
CYP
.
next week my wife and i are going to see, .. and visit, .. her aunt and uncle who are regular pioneers.. being regular pioneers they are, i just know it, .. get into it with me.. what do i say if they pull this scrip on me, ....... of not forsakeing the gathering together bit????.
so far i am preparing myself with all kinds of info, .. if it comes up.
Why don't you look up the word, "forsake".
Basically it means give up or reject entirely... not exactly a 5 meeting a week mandate is it. It isn't exactly a loud proclomation that salvation comes through affiliation with a group of imperfect men.
Especially when compared to the rest of the NT that repeats over and over again that salvation is through faith in Christ plus nothing! Maybe rent the Gospel of John. It is a verse by verse rendering. Ask them where in this movie you see any emphasis placed on salvation through an organization. Ask them to count how many times Jesus says, "come to me".
Then contrast that to a meeting. All emphasis is on regular meeting attendance, regular field service, and study of the wt.
The Bible makes it clear that Christianity is about Jesus, not about the wt.
CYP
i have a rather lengthy question/statement, so please bear with me.
i would like to apologize in advance if i offend anyone with this post.
i dont mean to judge anyone here.
Bonnzo,
Those are great questions. I probably don't have real good answers for you right now, since I just haven't had time to form MY OWN OPINION on how to apply those principles in my everyday life.
The important and refreshing thing is that you are willing to honor truth wherever you find it. Furthermore you are humble and teacheable. These are all elements of "good faith".
I find the question of "where else can we go" to be an interesting one (aside from the fact that it is hardly a ringing endorsement). What it implies is that the essential doctrines regarding the nature of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the human soul, and eternal punishment are sound. So even if there are other problems, "we know this stuff is true, and nobody is as prolific as the jw in diseminating these truths, we must have Divine direction". (apparantly the JW's prolific dissemination is important because actually the Christadelphians and various Armstrong denominations have identical views on these "essential truths") So I have some questions for you. These are rhetorical, I don't expect you to explain yourself to me. I would like to hear what you think of the questions though... if you feel like it.
How did you arrive at your conclusion that these "essential" teachings are correct? Did you seek out other evidence and lines of reasoning BESIDES those offered by the wt?
Are you sure there aren't things that you don't realize you don't know about these theological questions? aka unknown unknowns.
If those "essential" teachings were incorrect would you want to know it? What I mean is, suppose there were verses and reasoning that support the orthodox view of these theological questions that you are unaware of. Then suppose you took all those verses and reasonings, and compared them the the WT theology. And finally suppose that the orthodox view seemed more reasonable. Would you accept the orthodox view?
How did you decide that those teachings are "essential"? Is there a place in the scriptures that lists these as "essential" teachings?
Why do you have to go to somewhere or someone? Why do you need a fleshly place or a group of people to have eternal life? Peter was only speaking of Christ? Isn't it a stretch to take a reference to the son of Jehovah, and apply it to imperfect humans?
Thanks in advance for any input you give me on the quality of these questions.
Now that I have thought some more about the questions you asked, maybe it would be a good idea for you to read some books that defend orthodox Christianity against JW refutations. One good book I read was by Randall Watters called, Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses available at freeminds.org. In that book he addresses issues like the cross, holiday, soul, trinity, and war.
Randy is an "apostate" and he posts here under the name dogpatch. I figure someone with a "good faith" like yours isn't afraid of things like that. If the JW are right on these matters, then their beleifs will withstand ANY scrutiny. The truth is never afraid of questioning. The truth relishes and invites it, because it knows it will be bourne out by such examination.
Another book that isn't to bad for dealing with many of the theology questions is Reasoning From the Scriptures with Jehovah's Witnesses by Ron Rhodes. That one asks some pretty good questions. There is a JW apologist that wrote a book as an apparant answer to that book called Jehovah's Witnesses Defended by Greg Stafford which is available at elihu.com I beleive. I haven't read that book yet, so I can't give any feedback on it.
Hope this helps.
CYP
what if i asserted the following as true?
the watchtower bible and tract society has no interest in an effective evangelical program of conversion.. would that sound silly?
disfellowshipping would lead to having a big target placed on the ex jw's back at armageddon.. .
Terry,
Great insight and info.
I think the preaching work is 1% recruiting, and 99% keeping the faithful indoctrinated. One of the strongest principles of persuasion used by compliance professionals throughout the ages is the human need for consistency. If a person does something, they have a need to have subsequent behaviour be consistent with the original act. The need for consistency is GREATLY increased if the original act is difficult, since a person will not want to rationalize that they endured for nothing. The need for consistency can be increased as well by making the original act somehow public. The person will not want to have his behaviour seen as inconstent to those around them.
The preaching work harnesses both of those aspects of consitency, and I have found from my personal experience that it has a powerful effect on the thinking of the individual JW.
I was thinking some more about what you said about the corporation and it's land investment. That is the one that always gets me. There is this insatiable drive for money, but no lavish lifestyles. JW's will swear to you that nobody is profiting. Is the drive for money simply one present in all organizations? The simple desire for self preservation that all organizations posses. For instance I always wonder about organizations like the American Cancer Society. DO they really want to cure cancer and put themselves out of a job?
Ok, even if nobody is living it up... someone is getting paid! Someone is selling the ink and paper.
CYP
well my lily turned 4 today *sniff*..... she got many many toys....what to do with all this crap!.
all the food.......i must work out tomorrow..... .
getting a new barbie doll(like she needs a new one)..... .
Awesome Brooke!
I am going to celebrate my youngest daughters birthday in April. I can't wait!
Hope you used alot of hand sanitizer! I was at target and they had those keychain dispensers at the checkout line.
See ya!
CYP
