Posts by Nate Merit

3

The Chapter 12 above is NOT from Jehovah Unmasked! New book entirely

by Nate Merit in

i'm just posting it to get some feedback.

the typos have already been taken care of.

i noticed them after i posted.

Nate Merit

I'm just posting it to get some feedback. The typos have already been taken care of. I noticed them AFTER I posted. Thats life.

21

A letter from Mr.Elder...

by Lilycurly in

okay, to give a bit of background....i have posted my da letter on this board awhile ago.

of course, sent it to a elder.

and i get a call weeks later telling me they were gonna announce my daing to the cong.

"3) Separate s from goats according to their attitude about his annointed brothers (meaning the WTS) "

How typical of the GB to arrogate unto themselves the role of Jesus Christ himself! LOL!

I'm glad you DA-ed yourself.

Nate

19

Vatican acknowledges evolution theory

by skinnyboy in

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17162341-13762,00.html

evolution in the bible, says vaticanfrom: by martin penner.

november 07, 2005 the vatican has issued a stout defence of charles darwin, voicing strong criticism of christian fundamentalists who reject his theory of evolution and interpret the biblical account of creation literally.

Nate Merit

Hey TS !

The RCC is definitely not the RCC of my youth. This embracing on their part of science is a grand development.

However, I would join the Eastern Orthodox Church, whether Russian, Greek, Romanian, etc. The Liturgy is much more beautiful, confession is not mandatory, the people tend to be better educated, more affluent, and lacking in fanaticism. As you said, you can pretty much do as you please.

But, since there is no gun to my head, I'll stay unaffiliated, just as you are.

Nate

40

How to destroy the Watchtower Organization

by saved in

jw
friends

.

destroyed like bankrupt, unable to function as an organized religion, or whatever that will make all jws really wake up and think that this organization isn't what they think it is.. ideas?

Nate Merit

Hello Saved!

Please call me Nate. All of my friends do.

Zen Nudist mentioned a Class Action Lawsuit. This is definitely doable. We're adults and can make things happen. I have time and energy to commit to this, as well as unlimited long distance calling. I can also email and snailmail and address groups of people.

I would love to wring every last dime from the greedy grasp of the WTBTS and distribute it among all those harmed in any way by the WTBTS.

Yours in Christ,
Nate

40

How to destroy the Watchtower Organization

by saved in

jw
friends

.

destroyed like bankrupt, unable to function as an organized religion, or whatever that will make all jws really wake up and think that this organization isn't what they think it is.. ideas?

Nate Merit

ZEN NUDIST

If you are serious, LETS DO IT. I would love to get involved in a class-action suit againt the WTBTS. It would include all those whose lives and minds and families were destroyed, including victims of sexual abuse.

I have no legal expertise, and have no lawyer friends, but am willing to put in time. I have unlimited long distance calling.

Pop me a PM on this please. Thanks.

Nate

40

How to destroy the Watchtower Organization

by saved in

jw
friends

.

destroyed like bankrupt, unable to function as an organized religion, or whatever that will make all jws really wake up and think that this organization isn't what they think it is.. ideas?

Nate Merit

"Didn't God say he was going to destory all false religion? I am willing to let him do what he must do. That is his promise."

Two questions Tophat:

Where did you get this idea?

What is a false religion?

Where did "God" say all 'false' religion would be destroyed? Is this a Bible verse? Are you referring to the supposed statement of Gamaliel? If that were a true statement it would actually work out in real life. Yet, relgions of all colors shapes and textures continue to flourish. Then, finally, they die. It may take thousands of years, but they all die. Judaism is still around, yet they reject Jesus Christ.

If you really think about it Tophat, a "false" religion is simply one that we disagree with and do not like for various reasons. I personally dislike the Watchtower religion, but do not think it "false." It's simply a species of religion. As all religions do, it gives one a worldview and a structure for ones life. Most religions seem to go through the highly authoratarian phase the JW's are enduring. It will lessen a great deal as the religion matures, the old farts die off, and a generation that "knew not Joseph" arises.

It's popular to think in terms of "religion" and "cult." The cult is always the others guys religion and vice-versa. If you would look in a dictionary you will discover cult is a synonym for religion, and is so used by sociologists and anthropologists. The popular misconstruing of the word cult began in the sixties when hung-up stultified fearful middle class white people were confronted by religions they were unfamilar with and ignorant of. So they glommed onto the perfectly good word cult and began to use it as an epithet. Or a theological cuss-word for religions that didn't fit their own socially imbibed ideas, their own sacrosanct mental ruts and fossilized dogmas.

I was victimized by such a mentality when I was a Jehovah's Witness. Self righteous fundiot Bible tumpers did some pretty nasty things. I have also experienced the fundiot reaction to Buddhists, having been one myself.

I am in sympathy with you to an extent. I would love to see the demise of the GB of the WTBTS, but not Jehovah's Witnesses. I love them. I always will, all of my jokes notwithstanding. I wish to see them back away from their stand on blood transfusions, covering for sexual predators in their midst, and a number of other issues. However, the basic doctrinal structure instituted by Charles Taze Russell I wish to remain intact. No, I don't mean his pyramidology.

I would like to see each Kingdom Hall owned by the congregation, and the congregation be independent and self-governing, as are Bible student congregations. The WTBTS should return to simply publishing literature for the JW's, not ruling them. This is how Bible Students are organized.

Have you ever looked closely at the various Bible Student groups? They partake of the gentle spirit of Russell. I find them to be delightful little bands of very pleasant people. Its sad that JW's have been inculcated with a knee-jerk negative reaction to them as the "evil slave." Even former Witnesses who claim to be free of WTBTS influence still have a superstitious wariness of Bible Students.

Thats sad, because they're the perfect home for former JW's who do not wish to give up the basics of their faith. Nate

8

Bread for tomorrow

by peacefulpete in

this topic deserves more space than i am able to make time for but here is an interesting take on the lord's prayer (lp).

a number of prominent scholars over the past 80 years have understood the lp as eschatological, that is referring to end times and judgment rather than concerning daily life and needs of christians as it is popularly understood.

further many have recognized the intertexuality of matthew with exodus.

Nate Merit

Dear Leolaia

That could have been lifted right out of the Gospel of John! What a beautiful piece of literature. So many meaningfil allusions. I love John's Gospel. :) Thank you for this post.

A great deal of the Nag Hammadi Library is quite lame compared to choice texts such as these.

But you know that already.

Nate

13

HAHAHA! New "Organized" book.

by Odrade in

i just finished looking over the .pdf of the new organized to do jehovah's will book.

at the end, like the others, are the "questions.

and the answers!

Nate Merit

Hello Odrade

Back in MY day the questions were printed at the bottom of each page of the publications. I'm surprised ANY change was ever made by the WTBTS. Innovative in doctrine, yes, innovative in practice, no.

I frequent a large number of used book stores and one can always count on a plethora (oh dear...a plethora! grab the uzi!) of Watchtower books to be piled high. Often they're free because the proprietor simply wishes to be rid of them. I've acquired a number of WTBTS publications this way, as well as a number of Gideon Bibles. The Bibles I give away, the books I feed to the Fire Monster in the brick cave in my rec room.

Besides, there will never be a book as good as the 'Truth' book. If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.

Nate

19

Vatican acknowledges evolution theory

by skinnyboy in

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17162341-13762,00.html

evolution in the bible, says vaticanfrom: by martin penner.

november 07, 2005 the vatican has issued a stout defence of charles darwin, voicing strong criticism of christian fundamentalists who reject his theory of evolution and interpret the biblical account of creation literally.

Nate Merit

I would have asked at one time "Can anything good come out of the Vatican?" yet this intelligent admission on the part of Rome makes me smile. There is yet hope that Christians will embrace reality.

Nate

47

If 'Intelligent Design" Is True, Why So Many Lies?

by Nate Merit in

if true why so many lies ?

the following is a snippet from a new york times article on the closing arguments in the intelligent design trial.

closing arguments made in trial on intelligent design .

Nate Merit

I hate to have to continue to point out your factual errors, lies, and acts of insipidity, however it was not I who posted the cover and intro to Jehovah Unmasked here. Someone else did. So kindly quite beating that dead horse and find something else to do.