Posts by Jeffro

110

Rudds new asylum seeker policy

by barry in

jw
friends

to the aussies out there what do you think of the government policy to send asylum seekers to png and have them settle there if they are proven to be refugees and if not to be sent home or to a third country.

i believe this policy will definately stop the boats.

barry.

Jeffro

Julia Orwell:

Consider that a relatively small amount of people come here via boats but they're visible and easy to be for political target practice. Less visible are the ones who come on holiday, students or working visas and simply don't get back on the plane. They disappear into the cities and get cash jobs.

Both sides of politics in Australia play with the whole issue like it's a political football, which is kind of pathetic.

Seeking asylum is not illegal, and isn't the same as illegally remaining in the country after arriving on a travel visa. However, most genuine asylum seekers arriving in Australia do come by plane.

But something should be done to discourage people from getting on boats arranged by people smugglers. Not because it's illegal. And certainly not because Australia is being 'overrun' by 'boat people'. But because it is dangerous.

The alternative offered by the conservatives to magically "stop the boats" is incredibly naive, and ignores the fact that other international factors quite apart from lame political slogans are the cause of people taking the risk on a leaky boat. And the claim that they'll just 'turn the boats around' (but "only when it's safe to do so") is another meaningless catchphrase, because it's basically never safe to do so.

smiddy:

And to be fair it will put a brake on the amount of boatloads of people coming here , and of course the potential danger of drownings that we have seen in the past.

I don't think it would be improper to settle people in PNG instead of Australia (though nor do I think it would 'stop the boats'). And Australia's territorial waters go just about to the beach of PNG, so if they are escorted that far, they'd be far less likely to drown than being marooned at Indonesia's boundary.

doofdaddy:

It appears (if we can trust the media) is that these people fly into Indonesia, which obviously requires a passport, get a Visa On Arrival which is basically a stamp for $25 US, burn their passports and any documentation and pay to be taken by leakey boat which gets a sympathy vote from the media and wait for the Aust navy to "rescue" them.

Ah, you mean the 'politically neutral' Australian media?

33

So I Went back to my old Kingdom Hall Today...

by cofty in

jw
friends

...because it's now an art gallery.. it was really strange to have a look around the building and see what they have done with it.

a lot of the old kh features are still there.

they have kept the old platform, it gets used as a music venue on occasions.. i went up on the platform and faced the hall to bring back memories of the hundreds of times i stood there giving talks.. they have quite a few of the old chairs and the magazine/literature counter is still there but it has been moved beside the stage and painted.. all those huge windows have been restored and the place is full of light.. you can see a lot of pictures at their website, they have called it "the berwick watchtower".. the owner asked my wife and i if it was our first visit - hahaha.

Jeffro

Turrets? Seriously?

24

Fastest growing Religious group in the USA is "None of the above" it is "No Religion'.

by jam in

have anyone read this report published by jonathan.

turley in oct. 10, 2012 ?

don't know his credentials or.

Jeffro

Got a link?

24

Jehovah Will Put it in Their Minds

by ctrwtf in

jw
friends

just mulling over the demise of religion in general as we humans progress away from fear of the unknown.. i was wondering when some country or group will try to outlaw religion.

then i recalled how an all out attack on religion is what is supposed to trigger armageddon.

after 9/11 the first thing george bush said was that islam is not the problem, extremist terrorists are the problem.

Jeffro

Brother of the Hawk:

Revelation 16:19 is over looked by the WTBT$.

If they were smart, they'd overlook the rest of Revelation too. Or at least recognise it as having no relevance to the present (or future).

"And the great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: ( past tense)and Babylon the Great was remembered in the sight of God,( current tense) to give her the cup of the wine of the anger of his wrath". NWT. Notice he progression of these events, first the cities fall, then Babylon the Great. Think about it. My thought is this, both are destroyed at the same time by God. If the U.N. destroys Babylon the Great before God destroys the cities ( Nations) then why would God even remember Babylon the Great if she has already been destroyed by the U.N.? If you look at the U.N. charter, they are about peace, and If the U.N.is going to destroy religion as the WTBT$ states then riddle me this?

You might as well try to work out how McDonalds fits into the plot of Star Wars.

Why is the WTBT$ a member of the U.N. as a NGO?

The Watch Tower Society was never a member of the UN. It was an NGO associated with the UN. NGOs can't be UN members.

That tells me that they do not even believe what they teach!!!

I hope this doesn't surprise you.

25

30 JWs baptized every hour

by Calebs Airplane in

i just came across this gem on "the chatanoogan"... it was an ad/article about the 2013 dc at the nw georgia trade & convention center arena .... what i found most interesting was the fluff at the end of the article.... fast facts - jehovah's witnesses worldwide.

6 - new congregations formed each day30 - people baptized each hour on average239 - lands where jehovah's witnesses currently preach595 - languages in which they publish bibles and bible-based literature111,719 congregations worldwide7,538,994 - ministers who teach the bible19,000,000 - people who attend their meetings or conventions179,000,000 - bibles published by jehovah's witnesses in 116 languages20,000,000,000 - pieces of bible-based literature published by jehovah's witnesses over the past 10 yearsare you kidding me?

6 congos formed each day?

Jeffro

According to the JW 2012 and 2013 Yearbooks, the increase in the number of peak publishers from 2011 to 2012 was 123327.

Yet they report that the number baptised was 268777.

This means that about 145450 stopped reporting.

Also, the reason the increase in the number of congregations is not proportional to the increase in baptisms is because most of those baptised are children of current JWs, and are already attending a JW congregation. (A similar trick is used for attendance of JW meetings kept in congregation records, where '100%' is considered to be the number of publishers, but the total number of people are actually counted, including children of JWs. So '100% attendance' isn't actually 100% of those assigned to the congregation.)

272

A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC

by Londo111 in

this is the main series playlist:.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.

this is the accompanying video appendix:.

Jeffro

Doug Mason:

An interesting clue lies in the fact that Cyrus' decree as recorded by Ezra bears no semblance to the words on the Cyrus Cylinder.

It is unsurprising that the Bible frames the decree as something magically arranged by the deity of the Jews. In reality, the decree came from Cyrus as part of a broader practice in the treatment of vassal nations in general. What's your point?

9

The lonely skull of a wandering European, found at Taree, NSW

by fulltimestudent in

this is believed to be the skull of a white (european) person, who should not have been where the skull was found.

that's because, australians generally want to believe that the first europeans to live in australia came after captain cook.

that view, is likely to be a bit of jingoistic rubbish, but it serves the cause of white nationalism.

Jeffro

zeb:

and serve the cause of 'white nationalism'? piss off.

Oh, and yeah, what he said.

272

A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC

by Londo111 in

this is the main series playlist:.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.

this is the accompanying video appendix:.

Jeffro

It is my contention that no one, whether the WTS, you, or I, is able to positively date that event.

I disagree. However, you are correct that if I'm right the WTS is wrong, and if I'm wrong, the WTS is wrong.

It could have taken place in any year from 538 BCE to 535 BCE, depending on the assumptions being made.

I see no possibility that it could be as late 536 let alone 535. Unless you start ignoring sources altogether.

Comparative analysis of Daniel, Ezra, Josephus and the Nabonidus cylinder fits perfectly with what I've said.

Comparison of Ezra with Josephus only allows for the temple reconstruction in May of Cyrus' second year.

Comparison of Nabonidus cylinder with Daniel only allows Darius the Mede a brief term as governor before Cyrus arrives and takes the throne.

These factors combined restrict the period of Cyrus' decree to early 538.

As you point out, no one knows the timing of Cyrus’ Decree; it could have been made at any time during his first year.

You are making a conclusion that I did not 'point out'. The period is reduced by deductive reasoning. Unless you ignore what Josephus says.

Nehemiah used the Tishri calendar,

Indeed. And going back to my notes, I have indicated as much.

(see Theile, discussing Neh 1:1 and 2:1, as well as the period in question)

Thiele is wrong at various times, including, notably, his assessment about 586 for the fall of Jerusalem. This is probably for his own theological reasons.

In any case, there is no indication Ezra and Daniel used Tishri based years. I will, however, further analyse the various alternative theories.

It's also worth noting that Nehemiah 1:1 doesn't mention Artaxerxes. (For example, it could have been Eliashib's 20th year, following on from Ezra chapter 10, though that can't be said with any certainty.)

The writer of Daniel ascribes to Darius a rule that reached its first year,

Darius was a governor. Governors don't have accession years.

If, as you say, Darius and Cyrus were not coregents, that moves the start of Cyrus’ first year to 12 March 537.

Actually, I said they occupied different positions, and that even if those periods overlapped, Cyrus still took the throne in Babylon in late 539.

Again, the WTS is wrong anyway, and this is only one of many problems for their superstitious numerology.

9

The lonely skull of a wandering European, found at Taree, NSW

by fulltimestudent in

this is believed to be the skull of a white (european) person, who should not have been where the skull was found.

that's because, australians generally want to believe that the first europeans to live in australia came after captain cook.

that view, is likely to be a bit of jingoistic rubbish, but it serves the cause of white nationalism.

Jeffro

Australians generally want to believe that the first Europeans to live in Australia came after Captain Cook.

The skull isn't evidence of earlier white settlement in Australia, which likely would have been found before now. This doesn't discount the possibility of earlier exploration or camps.

It could have been brought to Australia as part of someone's personal collection else after the person had died.

Or a person may have come ashore from a a vessel to find a watersource, and was then murdered.

24

Jehovah Will Put it in Their Minds

by ctrwtf in

jw
friends

just mulling over the demise of religion in general as we humans progress away from fear of the unknown.. i was wondering when some country or group will try to outlaw religion.

then i recalled how an all out attack on religion is what is supposed to trigger armageddon.

after 9/11 the first thing george bush said was that islam is not the problem, extremist terrorists are the problem.

Jeffro

The whole idea that 'Jehovah will put it in their minds' is entirely stupid.

Supposedly, in JW land, god is 'giving mankind the opportunity' to prove whether 'rule without god' is beneficial.

But in the Christian storybook, the 'god' keeps interfering.

People learn the difference between 'good' and 'bad'? Stop them getting near the magical tree of life!!

People collaborating to build a tower? Confuse their languages!!

Human society is doing well? 'Put it in their minds' to 'ban religion'! (Though the Bible actually says something a great deal more ambiguous.)

Idiots.