Posts by Severus

11

In Honor of the "BIG NEWS," Put Your WTS Anecdotal Metaphor Here!

by Frannie Banannie in

i was thinking about the "big news" concerning the wts blood policy and the legal ramifications to the wts re: the child molestation-rape-physical abuse issues.

i considered how the scriptures address babylon the great as a harlot and how the ot shows a harlot will have her skirts raised and be exposed for what she is.. i recognized that the wts has usurped the mediator's place and given themselves the title as the only mediator between god and mankind, and the fds (feminine deodorant spray?

) is the "bride class" and how they are now being exposed as the cancerous pimple on the butt of humanity that the wts is via the media's turning their attention to the legal issues surrounding the abuse and denial of blood transfusions for their members, causing loss of lives.. i thought of the children's movie, "the little mermaid," wherein the sea witch had stolen the voice of the little mermaid and was manipulating her way to the altar as the prince's bride when the bird's attacked, causing her to be exposed as the wicked sea witch that she was.

Severus

Earth-shattering scene for me (The Truman Show):

The Truman Show

64

Question for JWs still on the "inside":

by Hellrider in

just a question: if you are still jws (for any reason, many just can`t leave because their entire families are wrapped around it, etc), but don`t believe in it, and lead a "double life", how do you cope with going door to door?

i just can`t imagine how it must feel like to go out there and try to tell people at the doors or in the streets things you know are just bs!

how do you deal with that?

Severus

Very easy. First I don't actually go that much. Just enough service to catch the elder's attention.

Actually I purposely work with the Service and Book Study overseers enough that they don't notice my hours are inflated.

When I get to the door I simply say:

"Hi, I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses..."

That usually ends the conversation right there. If it continues, I ask:

"Is there ever anything you wanted to ask a JW?"
"Do you ever wonder why we come to your door?"
or the like, basically a viewpoint question that gets away from pushing books.

This is also my grass-root gauge to find out what the average person knows about JWs (not much).

Sedition in the field...

41

Here We GO - Can't Fade No More

by unique1 in

ok, a little update on my story.

i told him yes.

i told him, i just couldn't do it.

Severus

For the record, here are the three references, yes, the only three references to "unconditional love" in the WT Library CD:

***

g03 6/8 p. 4 Are Values on the Decline? ***

AMONG the greatest gifts parents can give to their children are unconditional love and a set of values that the parents live by and do not just lecture about.

Without proper values, life is little more than a crude struggle for survival. Values give meaning to life. They establish priorities. They set moral boundaries and define rules of behavior.

*** g92 5/22 pp. 11-12 Help for Adult Children of Alcoholics ***

"My father’s behavior was so shameful that his shame rubbed off on me. To compensate I tried to be perfect. I gave and gave, trying to buy love, never feeling worthy of unconditional love. My life became a performance, with feelings frozen. Years later my husband and children told me I was a robot, mechanical. For 30 years I had slaved for them, sacrificed my emotional needs for theirs, given to them as I had always given to my parents. And this was my thanks? It was the ultimate wound!

***

g82 3/22 p. 24 Psychiatry Goes to the Dogs ***

Dr. Calabro explains: "Dogs give love—unconditional love. They ask for attention, and when someone responds, they give love and security and warmth in return, with no strings attached." Some psychiatrists resist pet therapy, Calabro says. "They say, ‘Here we are, spending 10 or 15 years in school learning all about psychiatry and drugs, and all these people do is bring a dog in and look what happens. There’s got to be more to it than that!’"

135

WALKING IN THE PATH OF INCREASING LIGHT - WT STUDY

by Mary in

jw
friends

for those of you not "keeping up with the organization"botchtower deals soley with all the bullshit instances of "increased light" on this joke of a religion god's organization.

it asks many drone-like thought-provoking questions as i've listed below.

incredible that these guys claim to be the sole ownership of what is absolute "truth", yet change doctrines like i change lipsticks.

Severus

While there may be something to the speculation here, remember that this is just the rehashed outline of the DC 2004 talk

Walking in the Path of Increasing Light.

The Watchtower has been reviewing topics from the 2004 DC lately including the Hosea series

36

Biblical beliefs that are similar to older pagan beliefs

by M.J. in

i'd like to list some beliefs within judaism and christianity that bear a resemblance to older pagan beliefs.

the wts is deceptive when they selectively point out such parallels, but only with respect to beliefs they reject.. for example, the wts argues that the origin of the concept of the immortal soul is in egyptian and babylonian mythology, both of which espoused such a concept.

but they neglect to also point out that babylonians wrote flood accounts similar to the noah story before the writing of genesis, or that baptism was practiced in pagan religions before the birth of christ.

Severus

Amen to that!

Oh, that's pagan too...

Catholic Commentary

Finally, we may note that the word Amen occurs not infrequently in early Christian inscriptions, and that it was often introduced into anathemas and gnostic spells. Moreover, as the Greek letters which form Amen according to their numerical values total 99 (alpha=1, mu=40, epsilon=8, nu=50), this number often appears in inscriptions, especially of Egyptian origin, and a sort of magical efficacy seems to have been attributed to its symbol. It should also be mentioned that the word Amen is still employed in the ritual both of Jews and Mohammedans.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01407b.htm

Muslim Commentary

A traditional Muslim may argue that although "Amen" is not mentioned in the Quran, the Prophet did ask us to say it in our prayers. Moreover, since there is nothing wrong with it's meaning it should be acceptable. However, this assumption can have serious implications if we trace back this word's origin in history, for we find that the word "Amen" has pagan idol worship connotations. In the Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Edition 2001it is written
"Amon or Amen, Egyptian deity. He was originally the chief god of Thebes; he and his wife Mut and their son Khensu were the divine Theban triad of deities. Amon grew increasingly important in Egypt, and eventually he (identified as Amon Ra; see Ra) became the supreme deity. He was identified with the Greek Zeus (the Roman Jupiter). Amon's most celebrated shrine was at Siwa in the Libyan desert; the oracle of Siwa later rivaled those of Delphi and Dodona. He is frequently represented as a ram or as a human with a ram's head."
The Egypt Travel and Antiquities Guide in their article about "Amen" describes the meaning of the name as follows
"Of the attributes ascribed to Amen in the Ancient Empire nothing is known, but, if we accept the meaning "hidden" which is usually given to his name, we must conclude that he was the personification of the hidden and unknown creative power which was associated with the primeval abyss, gods in the creation of the world, and all that is in it. The word or root amen, certainly means "what is hidden," "what is not seen," "what cannot be seen," and the like, and this fact is proved by scores of examples which may be collected from texts of all periods. In hymns to Amen we often read that he is "hidden to his children, "and "hidden to gods and men," and it has been stated that these expressions only refer to the "hiding," i.e., "setting" of the sun each evening, and that they are only to be understood in a physical sense, and to mean nothing more than the disappearance of the god Amen from the sight of men at the close of day. Now, not only is the god himself said to be "hidden," but his name also is "hidden," and his form, or similitude, is said to be "unknown;" these statements show that "hidden," when applied to Amen, the great god, has reference to something more than the "sun which has disappeared below the horizon," and that it indicates the god who cannot be seen with the mortal eyes, and who is invisible, as well as inscrutable, to gods as well as men."
It may be conjectured that this "hidden god" is no other than Satan who has managed to successfully elude not only the Muslims but also the Jews and Christians as well to this day!
http://www.free-minds.org/articles/history/amen.htm

Japanese Commentary

So Amen was originally the name of a pagan god, who was considered a form of God the Creator. But he was certainly not considered God, or Christ. Interestingly, most pagans today tend not to use the word, preferring instead to say "So mote it be", an old Anglo-Saxon term. Perhaps they see the word Amen in the Bible and the Tanakh and don't want to be associated with Christianity or the like. Indeed, in the Bible we see Jesus Christ referred to as "The Amen". Christ is God's Amen to all that he has spoken. Thereby the name used for an old Egyptian god is replaced by the same name used for Christ.
http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/amen.html

Jehovah's Witness Commentary

Insight Vol 11 pp. 90-91 Amen

AMEN

This word in both English and Greek is a transliteration from the Hebrew ´a·men´. The meaning is "so be it," or "surely." The Hebrew root word from which it is drawn (´a·man´) means "be faithful; be trustworthy."

In the Hebrew Scriptures the word is used as a solemn expression to obligate oneself legally to an oath or covenant and its consequences (Nu 5:22; De 27:15-26; Ne 5:13), also as a solemn expression to subscribe to an expressed prayer (1Ch 16:36), to an expression of praise (Ne 8:6), or to an expressed purpose (1Ki 1:36; Jer 11:5). Each of the first four books, or collections, of the Psalms concludes with this expression, perhaps indicating that it was customary for the congregation of Israel to join in at the end of the song or psalm with an "Amen."—Ps 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48.

The Hebrew word ´a·man´ is applied to Jehovah as "the faithful God" (De 7:9; Isa 49:7) and describes his reminders and promises as "trustworthy" and "faithful." (Ps 19:7; 89:28, 37) In the Christian Greek Scriptures the title "Amen" is applied to Christ Jesus as "the faithful and true witness." (Re 3:14) Jesus made singular use of the expression in his preaching and teaching, using it very often to preface a statement of fact, a promise, or a prophecy, thereby emphasizing the absolute truthfulness and reliability of what he said. (Mt 5:18; 6:2, 5, 16; 24:34) In these cases the Greek word (a·men´) is translated as "truly" (KJ, "verily") or, when doubled, as throughout the book of John, "most truly." (Joh 1:51) Jesus’ use of "amen" in this way is said to be unique in sacred literature, and it was consistent with his divinely given authority.—Mt 7:29.

However, as Paul shows at 2 Corinthians 1:19, 20, the title "Amen" applies to Jesus not merely as a truth speaker or as a true prophet and spokesman of God but also as the one in whom all of God’s promises find fulfillment. His course of faithfulness and obedience even to a sacrificial death confirms and makes possible the bringing to reality of all the promises and declarations of God’s purpose. He was the living Truth of those revelations of God’s purpose, the things to which God had sworn.—Compare Joh 1:14, 17; 14:6; 18:37.

The expression "Amen" is used many times in letters, especially those of Paul, when the writer has expressed some form of praise to God (Ro 1:25; 16:27; Eph 3:21; 1Pe 4:11) or expresses the wish that God’s favor be manifested in some manner toward the recipients of the letter. (Ro 15:33; Heb 13:20, 21) It is also used where the writer earnestly subscribes to what is expressed.—Re 1:7; 22:20.

The prayer expressed at 1 Chronicles 16:36 and those contained in the Psalms (41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48), as well as the expressions contained in the canonical letters, all indicate the correctness of the use of "Amen" at the close of prayers. It is true that not all the prayers recorded show such conclusion, such as David’s closing prayer for Solomon (1Ch 29:19) or Solomon’s dedication prayer at the inauguration of the temple (1Ki 8:53-61), although such expression may well have been made. (Note 1Ch 29:20.) Similarly, its use is not recorded in Jesus’ prayers (Mt 26:39, 42; Joh 17:1-26) or in the prayer of the disciples at Acts 4:24-30. However, the weight of the prior evidence presented strongly indicates the rightness of the use of "Amen" as a conclusion to prayer, and Paul’s statement at 1 Corinthians 14:16 in particular shows that it was customary for those in Christian assembly to join in the Amen to a prayer. Additionally, the examples of those in heaven, recorded at Revelation 5:13, 14; 7:10-12; and 19:1-4, all give support to its use in subscribing to prayers or solemn statements and thereby, through the use of this one word, expressing the confidence, strong approval, and earnest hope that is in their hearts.

Jesus Commentary

YOU must pray, then, this way:
Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. Give us today our bread for this day; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one. (Matthew 6:9-15)
No "Amen"??

11

God will "implant" retardation!

by Atlantis in

.

wt-63-4-15-p.-242.

god will implant the exact impressions and memories of all things that happened during the persons previous consciousness, his power of recognizing people and scenes and locations, and all his personality traits, and everything that displays his mental growth or retardation.

Severus

Here is the paragraph in its entirety. Notice they pick up Russel's "convolutions".

Watchtower 1963

4/15 p. 242 Identifying the Resurrected

God knows all this. At his time for resurrecting the earthly dead souls under the kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ, God can consult his records of each one or his own memory of each one. He can give each person resurrected to life on earth a "body just as it has pleased him," with its distinct type of blood. That body will have a human brain, not made, of course, of identically the same atoms or molecules that the person had in the brain with which he died. Yet it will be the same brain. How? In that God will exactly reproduce the brain that the individual had at death. He will repeat its convolutions and implant in them the record that the individual made of himself in the former life. God will implant the exact impressions and memories of all things that happened during the person’s previous consciousness, his power of recognizing people and scenes and locations, and all his personality traits, and everything that displays his mental growth or retardation. This will be because, when he died as a soul, he experienced no mental or personality changes afterward in death. At what state of attainment his personality and mentality fell in death, there they remained.—Eccl. 11:3.

12

Rutherford's Cadillacs

by Lady Lee in

recently i read a post somewhere (not even sure if i read it here) about rutherford and his cadillacs.. where ever it was they said the cars cost $600 at the time.

well i thought that was a little odd.

since then i have read on 2 separate sites that rutherford's car cost a lot more than $600 each.. here is a picture of rutherford with one of his cars.. .

Severus

Yeah, and Circuit Overseers only get Buicks!

Russel had his own private rail car too.

Modern WT heads play it more discreet, but there are the private planes...

45

Richie's Elders: Deaf? Dumb? Both?

by RichieRich in

jw
friends

let me preface this by saying that i in now way mean to insult to the deaf/mute community by comparing them to leaders of a very prevalent cult, the jehovah's witnesses.

you see, in the service meeting last night, there was a talk based on an article in the january 2006 our kingdom ministry entitled "young ones: shining as illuminaters".

the brother who gave this part is my book study overseer, and a member of the "richie taskforce", i.e.

Severus

Fellow "sneak" here.

First off Richie, I bow to your prowess.

You prove over and over again that dispite your sneaking "double heart" Jehovah just keeps on lavishing you with praise by means of his spirit directed elders.

Nina needs to review a few of your past threads regarding your elder's meetings, your plans to DA and your direct nature, including posting your own picture all over this site.

Come to think of it Richie isn't a sneak at all.

59

Jehovah KILLED Jesus before he came to earth

by VM44 in

in another thread the question of a person's memories being placed within a re-created body has been discussed.

the possibility was raised that what if two bodies were created, and the person's memories were placed in both bodies?

which re-created person would be the continuation of the original person?.

Severus

From the Society (notice there are no scriptural references for the highlighted statements):

Watchtower 1990 10/15 p. 12 Appreciating Why the Messiah Was to Come

Thus, Jesus applied to himself the prophecy at Psalm 40:6-8, which foretold Jehovah’s purpose to bring an end to animal sacrifices offered by Aaronic priests at Jerusalem’s temple. Jehovah did not "delight" in those offerings, in that they were only typical and unable to atone completely for human sin. Hence, Jehovah prepared a perfect human body for Jesus to sacrifice. God transferred the life of his heavenly Son to the womb of a Jewish virgin. Jesus was thus born uncontaminated by the sin of Adam. He was a perfect human Son of God, whose life could atone for the sin of mankind. (Luke 1:30-35) As Psalm 40:8 foretold, it was Jesus’ heartfelt desire to do his Father’s will. "By the said ‘will’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time."—Hebrews 10:10, 11.

Watchtower 1990 1/15 p. 12 A Sacred Secret Unfolds

10

At Jesus’ baptism the first feature of the sacred secret became apparent: Jesus "was made manifest in flesh" as the anointed Son of God. Jehovah God had transferred his Son’s life from heaven to the womb of Mary so that Jesus could be born in the flesh as a perfect human. Thus, as 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 shows, Jesus became a second, or "last," Adam, a perfect human soul corresponding exactly to the first Adam. For what purpose? First Timothy 2:5, 6 refers to "the last Adam" as "a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all." On this legal basis of a perfect human sacrifice, Jesus mediates the new covenant toward the 144,000 humans who become joint heirs with him in his Kingdom.—Revelation 14:1-3.

Reasoning

p. 199 par. 4 Jehovah’s Witnesses ***

(3)

Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

43

IDEA regarding my mother.

by RichieRich in

its richie again.. i was thinking last night about my inevitable, fast approaching exit from the wtbts.

i guess that out of common courtesy, i will provide a copy of my disassociation letter to my mother, however, it is nothing more than a baptism nullification / gag order / i'll sue all of you letter.

its not one of those lengthy numbers that some have chosen to write.

Severus

They say life is wasted on the young, except for our far-sighted Rich.

Have you considered that

You were baptized as a child
You are not yet a legal adult (18 years)

1 + 2 = you can annul your baptism.

All you have to do is claim you were baptized "as a baby" and therefore is was not valid. Now that you have grown older, you have a different, wiser, viewpoint.

If you wait until after you are 18, the Society will claim that you carryed your dedication into adulthood. Now is the time to act!

Your mother will thank you for not having to shun you.