loosie, that ad is the only ad I've been seeing on here at all for the past few days, regardless of the page content.
Posts by thom
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22
Current Bethel Requirements?
by caligirl inwe jsut found out that my step son is planning to apply to bethel when he turns 19. does anyone know what they currently require, what the current "salary" is, amount of time off per year, etc?
he hasn't turned 18 yet, but is already regular pioneering so he can qualify.
we are just curious.
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39
So whats the longest road trip youve been on? or farthest you've driven?
by doodle-v inwe just got back from spending two weeks in denver, co. call us crazy (yeah i dont know what the hell we were thinking) but we decided to drive.
from seattle to denver and back is over 3,000 miles.
we had both kids and a crap load of stuff.
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thom
Through the 80's I drove Phoenix to NY and back about twice a year to visit some relatives. Through the 90's I lived in IN and KY and would drive to Phoenix and back 2 or 3 times each year.
Now I drive Phoenix to Wisconsin about every 6 weeks as my gf lives there. I love to drive. Maybe I'm strange, but I really like the trips in the winter in ice and snow. Takes longer but it's more interesting.
My family told me about 20 years ago that the thrill of driving across the country would wear off, but it hasn't yet in the slightest. -
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Start my trial for the new job on Mon...wish me luck
by Es inhey all.
a while ago i posted that i may have a job, well i start my trial on monday, neither one of us know how long this will be, he knows my plans for the next year and he and i are a bit up and down on the hiring of me, as i have repeatedely told him im not a long term asset for his company.. but he still wants to give it a go, and if we work well together he is willing to work round me and make it so i can come in for two days a week and do all the admin side rather than the accounting.. the best thing bout it at the moment is his office is upstairs of our unit where he lives so i dont have far to travel.
anyway im rather scared havnt worked for 3 years pls wish me luck.
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thom
Good luck Es!
That's great he's willing to work around you're schedule. If you do your best hopefully you'll have a great job that you enjoy too :) -
21
Looking forward to Armageddon?
by Gill inmy eldest daughter (21) said something that stopped me in my tracks yesterday.
we were busy wrapping christmas presents (yes, we've started early this year) for her younger siblings.
then she started laughing and said: 'isn't it nice to have christmas, birthdays, easter, bonfire night, halloween etc to look forward to instead of only looking forward to armageddon!'.
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thom
I did look forward to the new system, but the thought of Armageddon always sickened me. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that either it can't be right, or God is cruel.
How can someone look forward to the killing of so many people, many of whom never even heard of Jehovah, just to get them out of the way. What makes their lives so worthless that it's ok to wipe them out so a select few can enjoy their view of paradise? -
16
House-to-house confusion
by robhic ini know i've seen both sides of the house-to-house argument.
of course, jws say it is approved in the bible while non-jws say it is the opposite.
but on reading in another topic i happened upon a quote implying paul wrote in favor of house-to-house preaching so i looked it up in the american standard version bible.. the ones i usually see that speak against going house-to-house are the following:.
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thom
---"Luk 10:7 And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (Pretty specific.)"---
I understand this to mean not going from house to house to stay at different houses. When you get to a town, stay in the same house. I don't think it means DON'T PREACH house to house.
---"1Ti 5:13 And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. (Kinda less specific but "dogging" house-to-house, anyway.)---
I think this is talking about going from one house to another or one person to another spreading gossip.
From my understanding, the bible DOES support preaching from house to house for the first century Christians. A time when there were far fewer people in the world. A time when people would answer the door and talk and you had a chance to get through to them. I DON'T think it applies to our time as it seems innefective now and I think JW's use Acts 20:20 to support it in OUR time. -
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JW's are they really a cult?
by Evanescence inmany people would say they are a cult, what are your reasons for thinking they are a cult?.
a created a thread a while ago on an idea of what a cult is http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/96309/1.ashx.
do you think it is the jehovah's witnesses as a whole a cult?
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thom
Good points Gill.
What strikes me is:
"It is precisely because of this close adherence to Bible teachings that the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic of cults today is not to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject the concept of a clergy-laity distinction. The Encyclopedia of Religion aptly states about Jehovah’s Witnesses: "A clergy class and distinctive titles are prohibited."
From my view it doesn't take very long being a JW to see that there is quite a hierarchy. Everyone knows their place in a KH and the org. You know better than to question those who rank above you. As a publisher I knew my place. As a MS I knew my place. Those comments on the literature shipments about my orders really put me in my place a few times (and pissed me off). -
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JW's are they really a cult?
by Evanescence inmany people would say they are a cult, what are your reasons for thinking they are a cult?.
a created a thread a while ago on an idea of what a cult is http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/96309/1.ashx.
do you think it is the jehovah's witnesses as a whole a cult?
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thom
Oops, the second article didn't paste for some reason:
Same Watchtower -- February 15, 1994
Cults—What
Are They?FEBRUARY 28, 1993—more than a hundred law-enforcement agents raided a compound of buildings housing dozens of men, women, and children. The object was to search for illegal weapons and to arrest a suspected criminal. The agents, however, were caught by surprise when a hail of bullets came flying toward them from inside the buildings. They returned the fire.
This confrontation left ten dead and several wounded. During the following 50 days, hundreds of government agents laid siege to the compound with enough guns to wage a small war. The standoff ended in a showdown that left 86 dead, including at least 17 children.
But who was the enemy? An army of drug-dealing mobsters? A guerrilla faction? No. As you may know, the "enemy" was a group of religious devotees, members of a cult. Their tragedy made an inconspicuous community on the plains of central Texas, U.S.A., the focus of international attention. The news media flooded the airwaves and the printed page with a barrage of reports, analyses, and comments on the dangers of fanatical cults.
The public was reminded of previous instances in which cult members were led to death by their leaders: the 1969 Manson murders in California; the 1978 mass suicide of cult members in Jonestown, Guyana; the 1987 murder-suicide pact engineered by cult leader Park Soon-ja of Korea, which resulted in the death of 32 members. Significantly, most of these people claimed to be Christians and professed belief in the Bible.
Understandably, many who respect the Bible as the Word of God are appalled at the brazen misuse of the Scriptures by these cults. As a result, over the years hundreds of organizations have been established for the purpose of monitoring cults and exposing their dangerous practices. Experts on cult behavior predict that the coming of a new millennium in a few years may trigger the proliferation of cults. One news magazine noted that according to anticult groups, there are thousands of cults "out there poised to snatch your body, control your mind, corrupt your soul. . . . Few are armed but most are considered dangerous. They’ll seduce you and fleece you, marry and bury you."
What
Is a Cult?The term "cult" is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations. To prevent confusion, some theologians actually avoid using the term.
The
World Book Encyclopedia explains that "traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance." By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word "cult" has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that "since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices."Endorsing the popular usage of the term, Newsweek magazine explains that cults "are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual." Similarly, Asiaweek magazine notes that "the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God."
The language used in a joint resolution of the 100th Congress of the State of Maryland, U.S.A., also conveys the derogatory connotation of the term cult. The resolution states that "a cult is a group or movement exhibiting excessive devotion to a person or idea and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the goals of its leaders."
Clearly, cults are generally understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes. Their devotion to a self-proclaimed human leader is likely to be unconditional and exclusive. Often these leaders boast of having been divinely chosen or even of being themselves divine in nature.
Occasionally, anticult organizations and the media have referred to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a cult. A number of recent newspaper articles lump the Witnesses with religious groups known for their questionable practices. But would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a small fringe religious group? Cult members often isolate themselves from friends, family, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are the Witnesses using deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members?
Cult leaders are known to use manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers. Is there any evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses do this? Is their worship cloaked in secrecy? Are they following and venerating a human leader? Pointedly, are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?
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46
JW's are they really a cult?
by Evanescence inmany people would say they are a cult, what are your reasons for thinking they are a cult?.
a created a thread a while ago on an idea of what a cult is http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/96309/1.ashx.
do you think it is the jehovah's witnesses as a whole a cult?
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thom
Gill, maybe one of these articles:
Watchtower February 15, 1994
Are
Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?JESUS CHRIST was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of God, and a messenger of Satan. He was also accused of being subversive.—Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples were likewise the target of serious accusations. One group of first-century Christians were dragged to the city rulers by people crying out: ‘These men have overturned the inhabited earth.’ (Acts 17:6) On another occasion the apostle Paul and his companion Silas were taken to the authorities and charged with greatly disturbing the city of Philippi.—Acts 16:20.
Paul was later accused of being a "pestilent fellow and stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth" and of trying "to profane the temple." (Acts 24:5, 6) The principal men of the Jews in Rome accurately described the situation of Jesus’ followers when they acknowledged: "For truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against."—Acts 28:22.
Evidently, this new group established by Jesus Christ was considered by some to be a religious group with radical views and practices that clashed with what was accepted in those days as normal social behavior. Undoubtedly, many today would have considered the Christians a destructive cult. The accusers were often prominent and respected members of the community, and this seems to have added weight to the allegations. Many believed the accusations against Jesus and his disciples. Yet, as you probably know, every one of these charges was false! The fact that people said these things did not make them true.
What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?
What
the Evidence ShowsA government official of the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, explained: "Jehovah’s Witnesses were presented to us as some kind of underground sect sitting in the darkness and slaughtering children and killing themselves." However, the people of Russia have recently become better acquainted with the true nature of the Witnesses. After working with Jehovah’s Witnesses in connection with an international convention, the same official observed: "Now I see normal, smiling people, even better than many people I know. They are peaceful and calm, and they love one another very much." He added: "I really do not understand why people tell such lies about them."
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not hold ritualistic meetings, nor is their worship cloaked in secrecy. Non-Witness author Julia Mitchell Corbett notes: "When they meet, usually more than once a week, in Kingdom Halls (their meeting sites are not called churches), most of their time is spent in Bible study and discussion." Their meeting places are clearly marked with a sign. The meetings are open, and the general public is invited to attend. Unannounced guests are more than welcome.
The "Witnesses have earned the reputation of being honest, courteous, and industrious," adds Corbett in her book Religion in America. Many who are not Witnesses readily acknowledge that there is nothing freakish or bizarre about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their conduct does not clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior. The New Encyclopædia Britannica accurately states that the Witnesses "insist upon a high moral code in personal conduct."
The director of news and special projects for a television station in the United States wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses in response to a biased report about the Witnesses on the TV news show 60 Minutes. He said: "If more people lived the way your faith does, this nation wouldn’t be in the shape it is in. I am one newsman who knows that your organization is founded on love and a strong faith in the Creator. I want you to know that not all News people are as biased."
A
Well-Known ReligionIs it fair to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a small fringe religious group? In a sense, Jehovah’s Witnesses are few in number compared to some religions. However, recall what Jesus said: "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it."—Matthew 7:13, 14.
At any rate, the Witnesses are far from being a small fringe cult. In the spring of 1993, more than 11 million people attended the Witnesses’ Memorial of Christ’s death. But more important than their number are their moral character and exemplary behavior, which have brought them worldwide commendation. Undoubtedly this has been a factor in countries that have given them official recognition as a known, bona fide religion.
Outstanding is a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. It declared that the Witnesses should enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and that they have the right to speak about their faith and teach it to others. This would hardly be the case if Jehovah’s Witnesses were known to use deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members or if they used manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers.
Multitudes around the world are well acquainted with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Of the millions of non-Witnesses who are studying the Bible with the Witnesses or who have studied with them at one time or another, we ask, Were there any attempts to brainwash you? Did the Witnesses employ mind-control techniques on you? "No" would doubtless be your frank response. Obviously, if these methods had been used, there would be an overwhelming number of victims in contradiction to any argument in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
"Absorbed in Humanity"Cult members often isolate themselves from family, friends, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? "I do not belong to Jehovah’s Witnesses," wrote a newsman in the Czech Republic. Yet he added: "It is obvious that they [Jehovah’s Witnesses] have tremendous moral strength. . . . They recognize governmental authorities but believe that only God’s Kingdom is capable of solving all human problems. But watch it—they are not fanatics. They are people who are absorbed in humanity."
And they do not live in communes, isolating themselves from relatives and others. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that it is their Scriptural responsibility to love and care for their families. They live and work with people of all races and religions. When disasters strike, they are quick to respond with relief supplies and other humanitarian assistance.
More important, they are engaged in an educational program that has no comparison. How many religions have an organized system to pay personal visits to every individual in their community? Jehovah’s Witnesses do this in more than 200 lands and in more than 200 languages! Clearly, Jehovah’s Witnesses are "absorbed in humanity."
Strict Adherence to the BibleAdmittedly, the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are different from those provided by the churches. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah is the almighty God and that Jesus is his Son, not part of a triune deity. Their faith is anchored in the belief that God’s Kingdom alone can bring relief to suffering humanity. They warn people of the imminent destruction of this corrupt system of things. They preach about God’s promise of an earthly paradise for obedient mankind. They do not venerate the cross. They do not celebrate Christmas. They believe that the soul is mortal and that there is no hellfire. They will not eat blood, nor will they accept blood transfusions. They abstain from involvement in politics and participation in warfare. Have you ever asked yourself why the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are so different?
A Massachusetts newspaper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, explains that Jehovah’s Witnesses’ "strict interpretation of the Bible forbids many activities others take for granted . . . , all in an effort to follow the example of first-century Christians and the word of the Bible." The Encyclopedia of Religion agrees that "all that they believe is based on the Bible. They ‘proof text’ (that is, supply a biblical citation to support) almost every statement of faith, taking for granted the authority of the Bible, which entirely supplants tradition." The book Religion in America states: "The group has never wavered from its focus on Bible study, and its teachings are supported by an elaborate system of references to scripture."
Who Is Their Leader?It is precisely because of this close adherence to Bible teachings that the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic of cults today is not to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject the concept of a clergy-laity distinction. The Encyclopedia of Religion aptly states about Jehovah’s Witnesses: "A clergy class and distinctive titles are prohibited."
They follow Jesus Christ as their Leader and as Head of the Christian congregation. It was Jesus who said: "Do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, whereas all you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for your Leader is one, the Christ."—Matthew 23:8-12.
It is clear that Jehovah’s Witnesses are as far from being a cult as Jesus was from being a glutton and a drunkard. Admittedly, not everyone who was influenced by the false reports about Jesus and his disciples fell into the trap of slandering him. Some may simply have been misinformed. If you have questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their beliefs, why not get to know them better? The doors to their Kingdom Halls are wide open to all who seek truth.
You can also benefit from their careful search for accurate Bible knowledge and learn how to worship God in harmony with Jesus’ words: "The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him."—John 4:23.
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When/Where did the society ban birthday observances?
by Buck ini know it was probably during the change over from russell to rutherford.
is there a specific wt article that i can point to when reviewing this topic.
ive been reading reasoning from the scriptures and i cant find nothing banning birthdays.
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thom
---"one reason early Christians never celebrated birthdays"---
And they know this how? Because a birthday celebration isn't recorded in the bible? I guess they never cut their toenails or went to the bathroom either, as I don't remember reading about them doing such things.
So not only do we KNOW they did not celebrate birthdays, but we KNOW their reasons too. Amazing what you can learn from nothing. -
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so what are the "anointed" you know/knew like?
by nowisee inthere were two quite old females in my congregation.
sweet.
but then they died.. i met several members of gb.
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thom
There was an old brother in my grandparents KH that was "anointed". He was always nice to me and I liked him. When I got older I would sometimes do something I knew was wrong and then I would think of him watching me and be ashamed (after he died of course).
When I was a teen there was a younger guy (maybe 35 or so) that claimed to be of the anointed suddenly. For a couple of years there was talk that he couldn't really be, but he's been claiming so for now probably going on 25 years so most everyone agrees with him now. He always seemed quite normal (for a JW) to me. I never noticed anything particularly odd about him. He had a good sense of humor too.