with comparing what other experts have to say, just as the witnesses did?".
"well, what have you found wrong with the nwt?".
' without comparing and .
Actually, I am encouraged by the "spin" the brothers handling this part are putting on this QFR. It shows progress that most are not willing to speak in terms of an outright "ban" on research. This leaves me free to continue to use these secular sources in my comments, which I present not as being "negative" or "critical," just "interesting."
...isn't it interesting what (insert expert opinion) says on this subject...
Justitia
corollary to the often discussed religious shift from polytheism (including henotheism) to monotheism is a literary shift from mythology to theology.. mythology is essentially narrative.
the gods and goddesses are good story characters.
they act, and things happen to them.
....sorry...double post. Whenever I am using my laptop and I hit "enter", I get a double post!
corollary to the often discussed religious shift from polytheism (including henotheism) to monotheism is a literary shift from mythology to theology.. mythology is essentially narrative.
the gods and goddesses are good story characters.
they act, and things happen to them.
"Zeus, whoever he is, for I know him only by report"--Euripides from "Melanippe the Wise." Zeus, as a transcendent and unknowable "cause" is much less emotionally edifying than 'God as my personal friend and protector.' But, Christians have long sought to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
I suppose the question is whether or not substituting Jehovah for Jesus in any way enhanced the perception of a personal relationship for prospective converts, thereby leading to growth?
I suspect it could have, because their perception was that they went from having a relationship with the #2 God (Jesus) to having a relationship with the #1 God (Jehovah).
Justitia
Absolutely breathtaking! Thank you for posting it.
Justitia
they had, what, an 1.6% worldwide annual publisher growth increase last service year?
contrary to many predictions, i think they will better that this service year (ending 30 september).
and i think there will be ongoing increases for the next few service years.
I expect that JWs will continue to grow, but not for the reasons you have stated. That average JW that pays very little attention to world events and understands them even less. Whenever I try to discuss with them the most remedial socio-geo-political events, all I get is a glazed look.
I disagree with your conclusion that possible nuclear capabilities, not oil, is the root cause of the war; I suggest you read "American Theocracy." It was recommended to my daughter by her boss in D.C., and she then recommended it to me. It is a very detailed book, but it is well worth the time spent.
Iraq is hardly the first "resource" war, nor will it be the last. In fact, Mr. Phillips (and others such as James A. Paul of the UN-based Global Policy Forum, Williams Engdahl and Stephen Pelletiere) makes a compelling case that we are in the "Hundred Years' Oil War."
And yes, terrorist groups already have dirty bomb capabilties. This last summer, my daughter performed an internship in Washington, D.C. dealing with nuclear nonproliferation for Pacific Northwest National Labs, a subcontrator for the Department of Energy. As such, she worked closely with the NNSA, and she had a high security clearance and daily read classified documents. While she could not tell me the specifics, she did strongly encourage me to have emergency supplies to last several weeks.
She was heavily involved in the "Russian/Putin" equation this summer; when I would try to explain the intricacies of the situation to others in my congregation, they were largely uninterested.
So, I do believe there will be growth simply because the organization has reached an adherent level with a certain amount of "critical mass."
Justitia
forgive me if someone has already answered this, but i'm new on here and am not trawling every page to check.
ok, now why does acts 20:28 in the nwt have the son in brackets?
did they insert it themselves?
This scripture recently was discussed on another DB.
http://www.christiandiscussionforums.org/v/showthread.php?t=62893
been a long time since i've posted.
just thought i would stop in, say hi, and get your thoughts on this.. since leaving the jws i have tried to be open to all ideas regardless of how different it is from the way i was raised.
i am having trouble with one issue, though, the trinity.
I agree with other posters. I don't feel this is a 'critical' belief, but I have researched it. I found this book particularly helpful.
When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome (Paperback) by Richard E. Rubenstein
Happy researching,
Justitia
q7) although some are afraid to speak in public or to attend a meeting, how do they show endurance?.
q22, 23) of what can you be sure as you await jehovah's day with endurance?.
official encouragement comes from the pages of the wts publications such as this fine example.. how would you respond?.
They really have their nerve! The temple? which one? earthly Bethel or individual Kingdom Halls? Now, are members saying that they are going to the temple?
Hmm, Jehovah at the temple why not at Jehovah's temple?
Well I guess I better get dressed to go to the temple! See you at the temple!
You found something! In the past JDUBS did not call a place of worship,Kingdom Hall, a temple!
Luke 2:36-38
maybe we are the crazy ones!
but, after a chat with the po of our congo, we felt a little better with the knowledge that we are not alone on the inside.
let us explain .... today we went to the ministry as every saturday :(.
Several weeks ago, a sister in the congregation I have attended for over 20 years told me she doesn't really believe in "1914." I was STUNNED to hear those words come from this woman's mouth!
Justitia
this is my cat thomas on day 13 of his training (the video).
right now he is still using a training device called the litter kwitter and is starting to master the act of hopping up on the toilet to use it!
watch the video here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xiqwmrwnlm.
They think the cat poop may be killing whales!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/aug/30/3
The following correction was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Friday August 31 2007
The article below should have referred to cat faeces, not cat litter, throughout. This has been corrected.
Pet owners who flush cat faeces down the lavatory may be responsible for the deaths of whales, dolphins and porpoises around Britain's coast, according to academics and public health experts.
They have found evidence of a common parasite in dead marine mammals and say family cats could be be the unwitting source. Cats are essential to the life cycle of toxoplasma gondii, which can infect most mammals and birds but only as part of the food chain.
The possible link to dolphin deaths has been raised by staff from Swansea and Glamorgan universities and the National Public Health Service for Wales in a letter to the Veterinary Record. They say that in California concern that cat faeces have contributed to sea otter deaths has led to disposal warnings on bags of cat litter. But little is known about infection in marine species around Britain.
Blood samples from dead stranded cetaceans revealed infection in one in 70 harbour porpoises, in six of 21 common dolphins and in the only hump-backed whale tested. Nearly one in eight Swansea University and health service employees admitted flushing cat faeces away.
