Posts by alanv

41

"we don't need holidays as an excuse to give gifts to our children"

by Sour Grapes in

before my mother became a jehovah's witness i remember.

the fun of christmas and opening the beautifully wrapped.

gifts under the christmas tree.

alanv

I used to say that when I was a witness as well, and I can remeber practically never giving anyone a present again.

13

Knocking on Doors vs. Televangelism

by Band on the Run in

i was watching a tv show that made me think about why the witnesses insist on door-to-door work "in this age of mass communication," to quote jesus christ superstar.

did they not have a radio station at one time?

i remember hearing about it and about the dj becoming too popular so he was axed.

I believe it is all about keeping the sheep busy. Door to door work also has the benifit of making every individual think they are sharing in God's work, and this gives them brownie points to getting God's approval and everlasting life. It also underlines what the society say will happen when you preach, namely that you will get persecuted. As most people have no interest at all in JWs, this simply makes the sheep sure that they must have the truth.

21

Discussion With Friends After The CA... Generation Demo & Blood

by BroMac in

jw
friends

well the 'standout' for me was the generation demo.

you cant have a red blood cell treatment, but you could have a haemoglobin treatment, haemoglobin is a conscience matter.

red blood cells treatment.

alanv

Hi Bro Mac,

I too believe that there are many things that the org say, that the witnesses have no idea about. My JW son constantly finds me telling him things that he had no idea about.

Certainly they no little about the recent controversies, i e child abuse, UN and the downsizing in many aspects of the org.

33

You are all wicked Apostates!!!

by iamwhoiam in

this is nothing new obviously, i'm just using this as a sounding board to see if i'm looking at this thing correctly.

your thoughts are greatly appreciated.. watchtower july 15, 2011 p 15 paragraph 4 under the title "will you heed jehovah's clear warnings?".

4 to elders of the ephesus congregation, paul said: from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things.

alanv

September 1, 1980

TO ALL CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT OVERSEERS

Dear Brothers:

Keep in mind that to be disfellowshiped, an apostate does not have to be a promoter of apostate views. As mentioned in paragraph two, page 17 of the August 1, 1980, Watchtower, "The word 'apostasy' comes from a Greek term that means 'a standing away from,' 'a falling away, defection,' 'rebellion, abandonment. Therefore, if a baptized Christian abandons the teachings of Jehovah, as presented by the faithful and discreet slave, and persists in believing other doctrine despite Scriptural reproof, then he is apostatizing. Extended, kindly efforts should be put forth to readjust his thinking. However, if, after such extended efforts have been put forth to readjust his thinking, he continues to believe the apostate ideas and rejects what he has been provided through the 'slave class, then appropriate judicial action should be taken.

Kid reading COC

by Aussie Oz in

jw
friends

my daughter is 80 pages into coc.. it will probably take a few visits to get through it.

i let her know that it speaks of things before her time, but that i was 'in' back then and remember some of the things written about.. any heads up on what to expect from her?.

oz.

alanv

Hi Oz. You didn't say how old your daughter is, but providing she understands what is written I am sure it will have a profound affect on her.

The good thing about the book, is not only is it written without any bitterness, but also most things that are written can be verified.

Well done for getting her to read it. If only more witnesses would read it, there would be a mass exodus from the kingdom halls all round the world.

31

It's my birthday today and i did NOTHING.

by Aussie Oz in

jw
friends

do you find that years after leaving the jws birthdays just don't matter?.

i just can't get into it.

in years past the inlaws have made an effort and given a little party but now we are out country its just not a big enough deal to be bothered with.. no presents, no cake.

alanv

Hi Oz, yes I feel exactly the same way. I have now retired, so you can imagine I would rather forget I am another year older.

However I do feel some birthdays are worth celebrating. My mother was 90 last birthday. I felt that was definately worth celebrating.

Children too. It is a big thing for them to reach their next birthday.

And certainly if someone is very ill and they make it to their birthday, I think that is worth celebrating.

14

Curious: How Does 1 Tim 6:4 Appear in the Interlinear Greek (aka "purple bible")?

by DarioKehl in

we've all seen the line-by-line comparison of john 1:1 with the addition of "a god" when "was god" is visible in the left margin under "theos" in the infamous grimace/barney/grape crush purple bible book.

i'd check for myself, but unfortunately, i hastily rid my house of all things wt in a purging fit while beginning my fade.

and let me tell you, the fire was spectacular!

alanv

The expression 'mentally diseased is not taken from the bible (any bible). It is from the July 15th 2011 Watchtower.

There it is being applied to people (they call apostates) who leave the organisation and actively speak against the governing body, to the extent of gaining followers for themselves.

However in the past the society view as apostates, anyone who just speaks out against the org. It has not mattered if they had followers or not. In fact in 1980 they said in an elders letter that just believing something different doctrinally could make someone an apostate. See below

September 1, 1980

TO ALL CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT OVERSEERS

Dear Brothers:

Keep in mind that to be disfellowshiped, an apostate does not have to be a promoter of apostate views. As mentioned in paragraph two, page 17 of the August 1, 1980, Watchtower, "The word 'apostasy' comes from a Greek term that means 'a standing away from,' 'a falling away, defection,' 'rebellion, abandonment. Therefore, if a baptized Christian abandons the teachings of Jehovah, as presented by the faithful and discreet slave, and persists in believing other doctrine despite Scriptural reproof, then he is apostatizing. Extended, kindly efforts should be put forth to readjust his thinking. However, if, after such extended efforts have been put forth to readjust his thinking, he continues to believe the apostate ideas and rejects what he has been provided through the 'slave class, then appropriate judicial action should be taken.

I too got rid of most of my books when I left. However most are available on line now. Just google the one you want.

5

Watch Iran

by JWdaughter in

i live in qatar, which is about 150 miles from iran.

iran is up to some things which the west is largely poo-poo-ing.

people here are not-and i'm not talking al-jazeera only, but a lot of the local arabic stations are really paying attention.

alanv

Most years in different places on earth there are some sort of major changes happening. We have seen that in the North African countries in the last year. Many times things change for the better, other times they change for the worst. Either way we have to deal with it. Iran is a big worry to many people, but again we have to deal with it in the most appropriate way. Some times a situation can be sorted before it is a problem, and other times we have to deal with the consequencies.

2

This remarkable guy has no arms or legs. Yet he's happy

by jean-luc picard in

jw
friends

he says his strength comes from god.

he believes!.

but has he really succeeded in his life because god has helped him.. .

alanv

IF there is a creator, then he certainly is not helping individuals, which is why this guy ended up as he has. Many have amazing faith that they are helped by their own god. JWs are no different. They have trials and tribulations like everybody else. All religions can relate expeirences where they feel that God has helped them.And all religions have stories about their god not helping them.

JWs live in their own bubble and so do many others who have a strong faith. Providing it does not have any bad effect on others then it can be a good thing for an individual. Some need something to hang on to, to get them through their life. Others do not.

12

Has the Watchtower ever made a correct prediction?

by Fernando in

in 1889 the wbt$ predicts in detail the spiritistic scheming priestcraft it would come to embrace (due to the harlotrous gb's insatiable lust for graven unnatural spiritual intercourse or prostitution with demons):.

"the underlying principle of the great reformation, to which all protestants look back with pride, was the right of individual judgment in the interpretation of the scriptures, in opposition to the papal dogma of submission to clerical authority and interpretation.

on this very point was the whole issue of the great movement.

alanv

I used to think that their explanation of the image of the wild beast in Revelation going into the abyss and then coming out again was real proof that they had the truth.

That is until I realized that the UN (the image of the beast) was already spoken about by world leaders, before the society said that the league of nations would come back in a different form.