Posts by Arthur

10

Is the "MS" just another hoop?

by hamsterbait in

jw
friends

i have not been a member of the "theocrappic misery drool" for the last eleven years.. recently i was approached by a toddler and asked "why not?

" because of course it is for training us in public speaking.. i said it's not compulsory is it?

no, but you need the guidance and teaching to put your points across effectively.. i said - but my job involves standing up in front of literally hundreds of people on a regular basis and delivering policy and instruction.

Arthur

I found the TMS to be quite a misnomer. As a long time member of such, I found it to be something that refines public speaking skills (i.e. giving talks) but, it did nothing for helping me to converse at the doors.

I got really good at speaking in front of a captive audience, but when I had to actually interact with a person at the doors; where the discussion jumps around in dynamic fashion; I just couldn't do it.

For a brother; speaking to a silent audience from a lecturn does nothing in the way of preparing him to go toe to toe with someone at a door who is firing off questions left and right; and where the dialogue can meander from topic to topic. At least, this was my experience.

Oh, by the way hamsterbait - the answer to your question is yes; it is another hoop. Consider yourself a literal hamster running on it's little hamster wheel.

40

What Message is the GB Giving Mature Ones at Bethel With a Massive Lay Off?

by frankiespeakin in

jw
friends

i wonder how this is effecting the morale of those mature ones still at bethel?

the governing body is in effect telling every one there you are all just pieces of shit to us(gb) and we can get rid of you any time we want because you are all just pieces of shit to us.

Arthur

It reminds me of a certain song:

"Hit the rode . . . Jack"

"And dontchya come back no more, no more, no more, no more"

"Hit the rode . . . Jack"

"And dontchya come back no mo . . . . . . "

"Whatch you say ! "

18

Exorcism...........

by ButtLight in

i have always wondered since i was a kid, why, say catholic priests, can do this, if they arent directed by gods holy spirit.

and of course we were tought they were false religions, and that its satans work to mislead us.

do you believe that they can actually cast demons out of someone, or that a person can even become demonized?

Arthur

I do believe in mental illness, which you'll find is the basis for most of your "based on true events" movies or shows. Some stories, Like the Amityville one, seems to have been completely fabricated.

Seeker4 makes a good point here. It has been noted by many in the psychiatric community; that mental illness in children has been often mistaken as demonic possession. This tends to happen more in third world counntries, or in isolated populations where the people are uneducated.

When uneducated and superstitious people observe a child with ADD, autism, or Tourettes Syndrome; their first thoughts will usually be demonic influences. When most people in advanced societies observe the same syptoms in their children; they take them to physicians and psychiatrists; not priests.

13

Photos of Beth Shan

by why144000 in

jw
friends

i have posted this link before but decided to put it up again as there are a lot of new(er) members who may be interested.

the area around beth shan is now a gated community so it is a bit hard to get there.

there has been a lot of discussion regarding beth shan with ed gruss(?

Arthur

Interesting piece of history, I diddn't know the dubs had built two super mansions.

Beth Shan, and Beth Serim. The two illegitimate daughters of a theocratic tom cat.

18

Apologists - how should we treat them here?

by AK - Jeff in

a point of great controversy at times.

sometimes posters are restricted or even denied privilage of this board.. some are quick to condemn such actions, others are quick to applaude it.

this is after all a former witness board.

Arthur

Some have argued that they are hit with too many questions to answer.

This is one argument where I do agree with thirdwitness. In debates between thirdwitness and AlanF, I have noticed several other posters jump in with questions that are related to the topic, but not necesarilly relevant. In all fairness, I wouldn't expect thirdwitness to have to answer questions from 15 different posters all at once. I would rather see him focus on answering the questions that AlanF raises.

I think that JW apologists should have the same posting priveleges that the rest of us do (provided that they don't break the rules). Where else could a JW lurker go to see a debate between a JW lackey, and an apostate? These debates are excellent for revealing the fallacies of many JW doctrines.

As far as other apologists are concerned, I do agree that they should be given the freedom to express their views. I think that it adds a wonderful flavor to the mix. It is thoroughly enjoyable to see a sanctimonious JW apologist get knocked off of their high horse in a discussion; provided that posters do not resort to nasty personal attacks or name calling.

5

What I would like

by avengers in

jw
friends

is peace.. everywhere i look i see fighting, arguing, inconsiderate people, selfishness, cruelty, etc.. when i left the dubbs i fell into an empty hole.

noone to turn to.

the dubbs shunned me and treated me like garbage.. two years after i left i was introduced to this forum by my son.. this forum gave me some peace because the people here had experienced the.

Arthur

We don't need people here that create an atmosphere similar to the atmosphere within the WT Org.

Hi avengers.

Were you talking about people on this forum being personally insulting to one another in their posts, or about the debates that go on in the political threads?

I can see your point if you are talking about people being abusive to one another in their threads. As far as debates go; I think that it's something that can be refreshing to some people; given the fact that there is never any open discussion or disent allowed in the JDub world.

By the way, I'm really sorry to hear about your cat. I love cats, and understand how sad it can be when you lose one of them.

Best Regards,

Arthur

30

More US lies to talk up case for war

by Simon in

at it again just as they did with iraq.. no doubt this report was preparation to have something to quote when trying to drum up support for a war.. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5346524.stm.

.

Arthur

Yes, we all know that the Iranian regime has the moral high ground. I certainly have no problem trusting a president who says that Israel "should be wiped off the map", and who supplies arms to Hezbollah.

21

Class-Questions for JW's

by Emma in

a woman i work with is going to a class at her church on how to talk to jw's.

i told her one question to ask when they come knocking is if jesus is their mediator since most dubs don't know he isn't according to their own teachings.. any other simple questions one might ask?.

Arthur

The question can be answered and the scriptures provided, but will you recognize the truth? Will you accept the answers or scuff at them? Will you ignore the answers because they don't conform with you? Will you discredit the one answering because to accept the answers would mean you have to accept to be wrong?

I must compliment you. You chose a perfectly appropriate alias. Bravo.

21

Class-Questions for JW's

by Emma in

a woman i work with is going to a class at her church on how to talk to jw's.

i told her one question to ask when they come knocking is if jesus is their mediator since most dubs don't know he isn't according to their own teachings.. any other simple questions one might ask?.

Arthur

Regarding the 144,000

1) If the 144,000 is a literal number, then why do the scriptures in Revelation chapter 7 and 14 say that there would be 12,000 sealed from 12 tribes. How can they split those specific passages into half; rendering half of it literal, and half of it figurative?

2) Where specifically is there any indication in the text of Luke 12:32 that the 144,000 of Revelation chapters 7 and 14 are being spoken of?

3) Where do the scriptures indicate that entrance into this so-called "little flock" of anointed believers would be closed in the year 1935?

22

here the picture

by Ancientofdays in

ok.. i can post the picture.

i was not aware that using firefox there are some limitation, now with explorer works fine.

http://i9.tinypic.com/2nqgqjm.jpg.

Arthur

Yawn.....................so what? Seeing faces and animals and hot fudge sundaes in clouds has been pretty standard since the dawn of time. Or at least since the dawn of whipped cream. Get over it.

In a previous thread that was similar to this, I said that I decided to pick up a National Geographic magazine and glance through it to see how many seemingly hiddedn faces and skulls I could find in photographs. In just 2 minutes, I was able to find about 3 skulls, and two faces in random images of clouds, clothing, and rocks. It's important to note that the WTS's art department renders it's drawings from actual photographs of clouds, rocks, trees, etc. ( I know, because I have visited the Art department several times in Bethel ). So, it's not surprising that with enough imaginative searching and speculation, faces and ghoulish images can often be found.

I am like you BizzyBee. I have gotten rather bored seeing this conspiratorial pap over and over again. It's about as amusing as a fat Elvis impersonator.