Since so many of you are picking on the GB and their obvious overuse of the word "soon" I decided they need an ally, someone in their corner. I therefore submit to them a list of alternative words and expressions that could be substituted for "soon". While the below list is in alphabetical order I further suggest that they make some arbitrary decisions (they're good at that sort of thing) and place the list in order of quickness.
before long
directly
early
expeditiously
fleetly
forthwithy
hastily
just around the corner
lickety-split
pdq
posthaste
promptly
pronto
quickly
rapidly
short period of time
shortly
speedily
First, we all know that the list has to be headed by "fleetly". Anyone who has ever taken that drugstore purgative by the name of Fleet knows what I'm talking about. It doesn't mean next week, it doesn't mean two days -- it means you'd better not be far from the nearest porcelain comfort station.
With the top one decided upon let's settle on the bottom of the list. That's also easy. It has to be "soon" since they've used it so long -- therefore, soon must mean long, or at least "longer than anything else". My suggestion to them is to stop using "soon" since it certainly is obsolete by now. There are plenty of other choices. Just use my list. One more thing while we're on the word "soon". The GB needs to tell Webster he was all wrong with its original definition and see what he says. Get back to us on that one.
For sequencing the others on the list -- the ones between "fleetly" and "soon", I recommend that the GB use deductive reasoning (they know how to use that, just ask them) and proceed to place them all in their relative positions of "soon-ness".
Then announce to the minions that the above "is reasonable to conclude".
Fats
Fatfreek
JoinedPosts by Fatfreek
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46
WHAT DOES THE WORD...."SOON"....MEAN???
by Terry inthe watchtower magazine has used the word "soon" on many an occasion to point out to its readership how near armageddon really is.. a word that can mean anything, in effect, actually means nothing.
consequently, let's examine what "soon" actually means by definition and use.. there can only be three stages of time:.
wouldn't you agree with that?
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Fatfreek
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50
New JWD members on the Horizon!
by Sign oTimes insoon (if they haven't already) local congregations of jws will welcome newly disillusioned former members of the bethel family.
the most potentially dangerous have been paid off already (but what do you mean?
weren't we all given severances equally proportionate to our years of devoted service?
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Fatfreek
I talked to one on the phone recently. He lives in So Carolina. He was sent home before this recent exodus because of dental problems. They told him that when he got his medical problems resolved he could reapply (that was before this latest shutdown news). He subsequently fell away but is still convinced he left the truth. Sad.
The time? 1955
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The Point of No Return
by JW_Researcher inin your experience, at what point will a jw bible student become a convert?
what is the tipping point?
for example, is it the number of studies?
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Fatfreek
Okay, JW_Researcher, your turn.
In my personal case, I know it took some major convincing.
What was your tipping point?
Fats
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10
Family business after 27 year Dub Snub
by Fatfreek inone of my sons (never a jw) lost his wife several weeks ago.
he and i have always had a good relationship even after i severed my ties with the wt.
my other son (a jw) attended.
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Fatfreek
"... that is exactly the same reasoning that made the WTS change taking a blood transfusion from being a DF offense to DAing yourself."
Excellent memory, Blondie. I thought there was another example where their cowardice prevailed. "We surely don't want some broken-hearted and litigious family member try to get even with us inside one of those evil courts of law after his defenseless child is denied some life-saving blood. That would surely sap some of the funds needed for the Worldwide Work. Let's go to Plan B -- disassociation in the event they weaken and try to save that child."
Fats
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10
Family business after 27 year Dub Snub
by Fatfreek inone of my sons (never a jw) lost his wife several weeks ago.
he and i have always had a good relationship even after i severed my ties with the wt.
my other son (a jw) attended.
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Fatfreek
I'd like to expand on that thought of "cowardice", when referring the the governing body.
Some 30 years ago when I attended the ministry school for elders in Des Moines, I will never forget the answer to my question while there, "What is the difference between disfellowshipping and disassociating?"
Good question, brother. The answer, plain and simple, is war strategy. We must prove "... ouselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves". The governments of this world, our enemy, cannot possibly understand our position when we cut off one of our members by disfellowshipping that member when he joins a branch of military service. By disfellowshipping that "turncoat to Jehovah" we could make ourselves vulnerable to their evil laws. We could be placing ourselves directly in their line of fire, those of sedition charges if we disciplined a member who has decided to sleep with the wicked enemy by joining it. That could severely disrupt the work in our country. It could shut down headquarters.
No, brothers, a far safer way is to provide a different avenue of cutting off by telling the congregation that the offending member has cut himself off. We, instead use the term, disassociation. The evildoer, we tell the congregation, "has disassociated himself from the Christian congregation". The treatment of that person by the congregation is no different, he will be shunned the same as being disfellowshipped, and we protect ourselves from the evil and wicked governments of this world from their sedition charges. "Oh no, we didn't cut him off for joining your military. We didn't disfellowship him. He cut himself off by disassociating himself from our group."
Cowards.
Fats
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Family business after 27 year Dub Snub
by Fatfreek inone of my sons (never a jw) lost his wife several weeks ago.
he and i have always had a good relationship even after i severed my ties with the wt.
my other son (a jw) attended.
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Fatfreek
Hmmm .... it had never occurred to me that "family business" had a thing to do with money (honest) but it kinda makes sense that the GB would relax one of their major rulings because of it.
I always attributed the exception thing to their taking the easy way out, an act of cowardice in a sense.
"GB number 1: Yeah, let's invoke the snubbing policy -- no matter what."
"Wait", says GB number 2, "How would this look to outsiders (potential customers) attending, say, a funeral. Here, a father attempts to hug one of his sons but is rejected and snubbed -- in front of everyone. These onlookers can't possibly understand how evil this father was when he walked away from our teachings 27 years ago. I say provide a temporary window of leniency to prevent the above scenario and we can call it Necessary Family Business. Son can accept the hug gracefully and onlookers can be greatly impressed."
Fats
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10
Family business after 27 year Dub Snub
by Fatfreek inone of my sons (never a jw) lost his wife several weeks ago.
he and i have always had a good relationship even after i severed my ties with the wt.
my other son (a jw) attended.
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Fatfreek
One of my sons (never a JW) lost his wife several weeks ago. He and I have always had a good relationship even after I severed my ties with the WT. My other son (a JW) attended. I, the only apostate in the bunch, and my wife (not their mother) attended the funeral.
On the one hand I was pleased that we all got to spend some time together after 27 years of snubbing. During relaxed moments, he (the JW) gladly answered every question I asked him about various people we mutually knew, their health status, what they're up to, his work, his hobbies, my grandchildren, his wife, etc. On the other hand he never asked anything about me or mine -- but I accepted that and appreciated what we did talk about.
We actually had some great and enjoyable moments despite the sad event. Never was there any mention that he was using the "family business" leeway the society allows at such functions. I suspected in advance this would be the case based on what I've learned here on JWD but I didn't want to embarrass him by asking the hard question.
Which brings up my question, one which I haven't seen posed here. What scriptural argument do they use for selective shunning. Yes, I'm familiar with the "not even eating with" BS they misuse -- but what scriptural grounds is there for exceptions, like a "family business" clause that allows for dialog, hugs and greetings at certain family events, while proceeding to shun at all other times? Do they think the Apostle Paul had some mental lapse in the heat of the moment and forgot to mention the exceptions?
I'm of the "don't do me any favors" mentality and I was somewhat angered as I saw my son act as a pawn at the behest of the jerks of Brooklyn.
Fats -
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memorial partakers
by darth frosty in.
not to long ago i talked to an elder and he was telling me how 4 people had partaken at the past memorial.
so all of you who were worrying about the governing body die'ing off ,dont there is a new batch waiting to take their place.
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Fatfreek
Such refreshing news, Darth. I had no idea on how the GB could spin themselves out of that replenishment dilemna. They are so creative.
And it came at such a good time when I was about to get a refill on my Lunesta. I'll now be able to sleep without it.
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Things JW's write: "It is reasonable to conclude"
by under_believer inquestion for y'all--do you think that the person on the writing committee who writes something like: "it is reasonable to conclude, then, <wild speculation>" suffers any kind of ill effects?
do they momentarily shudder?
do they even realize what they're doing?
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Fatfreek
In the late 70's a fellow elder and I studied together just before we made our simultaneous exit. Toward the end, "it is reasonable to conclude..." became a stock and humorous tension breaker in every discussion we had. I'm glad the GB still uses it as the world needs a little comic relief more often than not.
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2
My favorite slogan -- what's yours?
by Fatfreek in"the passion for freedom of the mind is strong and everlasting, which is fortunate, because so is the passion to squelch it.
" am rosenthal, former executive editor of the new york times.
he died this week and to my knowledge it's the only thing of his i've read.
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Fatfreek
"The passion for freedom of the mind is strong and everlasting, which is fortunate, because so is the passion to squelch it." AM Rosenthal, former executive editor of the New York Times.
He died this week and to my knowledge it's the only thing of his I've read.
It's been one of my supporting cornerstones during my exodus from the JW's and you can probably see why.
What's your favorite saying?
Fats