Posts by moggy lover

5

Use of [Brackets] in the NWT......

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

in the introduction to the nwt with references edition it is stated on page 7 - under the subheading "the translation into english" - "brackets: single brackets [ ] enclose words inserted to complete the sense in english text.

many of these 'insertions' change the entire doctrinal view, as we have seen discussed before.

since the nwt is not an accuarate translation, and has been used to indoctrinate members with biased views that harmonize with the wts doctrine anyway, i was thinking it might be good for them to make a few momentous changes that would eliminate the need to even bother publishing articles in the watchtower that bends and twists these scriptures to fit.

moggy lover

Coming to think of it, AKJ, you have actually hit upon something here. That insertion into Jo 14:6 is not without its significance.

This is because the entire objective of the induction program for the prospective recruit into WTS ranks, somewhat amusingly called a home "Bible study" is to teach the validity of that insert. During the course of his/her 6 month Bible Study, the recruit will be reminded that the information he/she is receiving, is provided by the FDS, who, while on the way to bringing him/her to the Father, have other baggage to carry. In fact, the recruit is not recognized as a suitable candidate for baptism till he gives evidence of accepting, not what Jo 14:6 says, but what the FDS says it says [which includes the insert]

Incidently, the JW recruit is not baptized in the name of the Father, Son , and Holy spirit. Its the name of the Father, Son, and the SPIRIT-DIRECTED ORGANISATION. Shame on you for having missed that point. I'm sorry, but you simply are not ready for baptism yet. My recommendation is another 6 month intense indoctrination till you get it right.Meanwhile, repeat after me "Our mother, the FDS, who art in Brooklyn may your authority be supreme, may your will in my life take place. I promise never to contact those horrible, horrible apostate fellahs again, especially the ones on JWD " Now write that down five thousand times and submit it to the body of elders by the next WT study.

Good post.

Cheers

8

Rip it apart: A Letter from a First Century Christian

by serendipity in

jesus or paul?

" he gives his opinion and has the nerve to say that he thinks he has god's spirit in what he says.

well, i have jesus telling me what is the good news and i will listen to him and his father, not men who committ apostasy and flip flop back and forth and misinterpret prophecy and do not show love and want all the glory for themselves.. .

moggy lover

Good post, Serendipity.

Sorry for appearing a bit thick........but what the hell's H2O???

Cheers

18

Now we have change the damn anacronysm..........

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

we use df'd = disfellowshipped and da'd = disassociated.

the new term has to be - inloojw = "_______ is no longer one of jehovah's witnesses" to be correct.. let's get on the band wagon kids.

not as crisp and easy i know.

moggy lover

Bugger me, I have trouble spelling DA'd and DF'd and now you want me to spell - what's it again - INLOOJW??

Crumbs.....I dunno......Let me outta here somebody

Cheers

40

Relationship with God

by dozy in

jw
friends

just a general question , really.. i'm an active witness who is questioning & researching - unsure of any conclusions yet.

i've spoken to a couple of former apostates who have been reinstated as to why they returned (as i know that very few do) and the summary of their conclusions is given below.

i would appreciate your comments.. ...essentially they had a strong relationship with god and felt that this was the paramount purpose in life.

moggy lover

Hi, Dozy and welcome to the forum. Your question is a valid one and needs to be adressed in a full, and I hope, a spiritually satisfying way.

Oddly enough, many feel comfortable with the structured and ordered way of life offered by the WTS. In this system one knows where everything is, because everything has it's place. For instance you know exactly what you are going to do Sunday morning without any need for thought. And in this way, all things going well, one can even allow a feeling of spiritual warmth to permeate the soul. But this condition is only predicated on all things going well. Which includes the supression of even a modicum of curiosity.

Suppose, just suppose you DID have a question. Remember that the WTS exists in a paradox. On the one hand, they display themselves as an open and free society, yet on the other they are in reality a closed and fortified one. They neither invite nor encourage scrutiny. The answers they provide, based on systemized explanations, MUST be accepted. No debate is tolerated. The problem is that anything can be "explained" even a flat earth. It is when the "explanation" is non-negotiable, that the trouble starts.

But someone may ask: "Why ask questions? Why not just accept what the Organisation says?"Thats the catch. Those are the people that the WTS is made for. In this way one "finds one place" - and can even, in some way, convince oneself that one is in a "relationship" with God.

However, there are some, who will not abdicate such responsibility to a bunch of secretive, imperious despots who rely on the gullible. We feel that there is a different profession of faith that is more relevant to the needs of the human psyche.

Faith is an indominable quality of the human spirit that is nurtured in devotion, and developed in intangibles. It is not a physical reality that can be measured by any material conceptualization. Submisson of a 10 hr monthly report, reflects, not a devotion to any "god" but an acquiescence to a largely unresponsive system, devoted only to the maintainence of its own authority, and the exacting of its own demands. If one can measure one's relationship to "god" in those terms then one has a niche in the WTS.

Our God is not like that. He does not require, nor does He impose a forced need to pronounce a "name" - though there IS a name that is above every name [and it sure as hell ain't jehovah] - He inhabits a realm that is beyond infinity, farther that the imagination can ever encompass, yet He is as near as an outstretched fingertip. You dont need to read about Him in any tightly controlled, and anonymously written magazine because you can see Him in the beauty of a butterfly's wing, or a child's teardrop.

Everytime you feel your heartbeat for a loved one, you experience the power of God. An inspiring melody, or an awesome sunset are His signature. But - and this is big but - you need to recognize this.

All else is a non essential ingredient of faith. A church. A bunch of pals. In a funny kind of way they tell who, or what, God really is. You [and others] will find buddies like that right here

Cheers

6

For those of you with kids and/pets....

by FreedomFrog in

jw
friends

we have a monitor for our little one and i was awoken pretty early with "music".

ok, this isn't quite unusual because she'll wake up and then put her music thing on that's in her baby bed then go back to sleep.

but this time it started singing "rockin to the music...1,2,3...rockin to the music 1---2---3" ok, that is when it got my attention.

moggy lover

I had to see my vet about this one.

Moggy goes absa-bloody-lutely crackers every time I answer the phone. Initially I thought she was simply trying to get my attention, because I was talking to someone else. But a phone?? What does she know about phones? The vet put me right. First he asked me if I fed her while I was eating. I had to shamelessly admit that I did. She has a little stool near me and I pass along some titbit or other. Anyway, that was the problem.

Would you believe, she thinks that when I answer the phone, that I am eating something, a sausage perhaps [one of her favourites] and she wants a bit.

The hussy. And here's me thinking she was jealous

Cheers

51

Hello everyone

by zerimar in

i'm not sure if this is the right place to introduce oneself, but i just, well, wanted to introduce myself!

i'm 29, raised in the truth.

i'm an ex-ms. my dad is still an elder .

moggy lover

Hi Zerimar, thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum you are among friends

Cheers

11

New here. ?? for one time elders or co's

by lost_light06 in

a thought of a question this weekend and was hoping a former cong.

elder or circuit overseer could answer it for me.

what exactly is contained on a publishers card?

moggy lover

Thanks geevee good to get the latest info. Gawd...... takes me back it does. Those heady days of power, those seasons of authority, more protracted than even the medieval Catholic Church!!

But I hated the meetings. Gawd !!! some of them went on for bloody hours. I was damn certain that the reason the meetings went on for so long was that the guys simply did not want to go home to their wives, which was something that I, a batchelor, never could understand.

Cheers

11

New here. ?? for one time elders or co's

by lost_light06 in

a thought of a question this weekend and was hoping a former cong.

elder or circuit overseer could answer it for me.

what exactly is contained on a publishers card?

moggy lover

Sorry Lostlight 06, I don't have the latest information for you since I was an elder during the 70s - 80s.

Your publisher record card only has the basic information regarding your service record. From what I can recall, the thing that they felt most important was whether you would have claimed to be of the "annointed" If that was on your card, you would need to have your head examined by the next CO visit. A session of Counselling was your due.

However a record of any transgressions needing a judicial hearing IS kept, but not at the local congregation. A report is submitted to the CO, who, having initialled it, then passes it on to the Branch Office. I am not sure how long these records are kept, but I think it was 10 years.

The reason for this is because of the elder review. The record of the propective elder is consulted, and this may either impede his appointment or approve it. Actually, this exacting degree of record keeping, not to mention the "grapevine" keeps the staff at Branch HQ remarkably well informed of even the most insignificant of publishers

Cheers

32

News flash for Watch Tower!

by Quotes in

jw
friends

(since i suspect i am being watched to ensure my compliance to the terms of the settlement agreement, i thought i would take advantage of the captive audience) .

hey!

watch tower!

moggy lover

Actually, Quotes and the rest of you guys, you are on to something here. A subtle way the WTS uses to inflate the figures. In the 2003 Service Figures which is the last ones I have, the WTS lists 234 lands where they are operating in. Wow!!! impressive is'nt it???? - the problem is that the figures are exaggerated by at least 15 including the ones you listed and which I missed.

I submit the following for your approval:

1 There is a "land" that has all the hallmarks of a geo-political unit - Head of State, one currency one flag. It is called the Netherlands Antilles. It comprises 6 administrative units all united into this one land: Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten. However the WTS lists all these administrative units SEPERATELY, as if to imply that they are more widespread then they are.

2 Then there is the US Territory [notice the singular?] of The Northern Marianas. This ONE geo-political unit is listed seperately by its three individual areas: Saipan, Tinian, and Rota

3 The Federated States of Micronesia is also one independant country, but made up of 4 seperate states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, and Chuuk [or Truk] Yup, you guessed it - the WTS lists them all seperately, as if to suggest that they are in four "lands" instead of one

4 The Federation of St Kitts And Nevis is also one united country but is treated seperately.

I think we can safely conclude that either the WTS is woefully ignorant of the world they live in, or they are phoneys trying to impress us with false figures. Perhaps the truth lies in both places - they are ignorant AND phoney!!

Cheers

24

Did Jesus Really Die on a Cross? Awake 4/06

by lostlantern in

jw
friends

this is a recent article in the awake 4/06 issue.

its funny because my husband and i were just discussing this yesterday.

i was having misgivings as to whether or not wearing a cross is bad.

moggy lover

The most difficult problem I have had with the WT explanation for the "torture stake" teaching, is their use of the word "impale" or "impalement" Evidently they are giving to these words meanings that just are'nt there.

For instance, Nuttals Standard Dictionary gives this meaning for impale, impalement: "a putting to death by thrusting a stake into the BODY" [not a putting to death by thrusting nails into the HANDS and FEET" In order to fulfill the WT use of "impalement" Jesus would need to have been pinned to the "stake" by another stake thrust into his stomach, or chest. Hands and feet dont count as "impalement" - at least not in any conventional dictionary that I know of.

There is one authority that the WTS tirelessly uses to try and uphold their position. This is WE Vine. In his Expository Dictionary Of NT Words, he does allow for the word "stake" to translate the NT Greek word "Stauros" - but even he categorically emphasizes that Christ was "crucified" not impaled.

Incidently, the latest edition of Expository words, "The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words" edited by Prof Steven Renn, Dean of Language Studies at Innaburra Bible College, Sydney, NSW, stipulates that "Stauros" means -'' cross throughout the nearly thirty occurrences of the term" Pg 223, Pub by Hendricksons of Peabody, Massachusetts in 2005.

By inventing meanings to words, I submit that the WTS can indeed prove anything. That God's name is Izmee even.

Cheers