At the meeting I attended, the PT speaker went about 10 min over (guess he didn't get the memo about the PT being reduced from 45 to 30 min) and they spent so much time bashing "higher education" that by the time they got to the "don't listen to anything negative" portion, time was running out.
Doubting Bro
JoinedPosts by Doubting Bro
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-01-08 WT Study (VALUELESS)
by blondie inrepudiate "valueless things" .
does this mean that secular work done as to jehovah is part of our sacred service?.
may we always repudiate valueless words and cling to valuable words of truth.. ot example--moses.
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-01-08 WT Study (VALUELESS)
by blondie inrepudiate "valueless things" .
does this mean that secular work done as to jehovah is part of our sacred service?.
may we always repudiate valueless words and cling to valuable words of truth.. ot example--moses.
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Doubting Bro
This one really got to me. What a piece of cult propaganda!
8.Similarly, money has its place. We need it just to survive, and we can use it well in Jehovah's service. (Eccl. 7:12; Luke 16:9) But if we place the pursuit of money ahead of our Christian service, money becomes, in effect, a god to us.
In other words, give your money to the WTS but to do anything else would be to view it as a god. Jehovah’s service, Christian service = supporting the WTS. What about this scripture? James 1:27 (NIV) 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
10. What, though, of higher education, received in a college or a university! This is widely viewed as vital to success. Yet, many who pursue such education end up with their minds filled with harmful propaganda. Such education wastes valuable youthful years that could best be used in Jehovah's service.
Insane. As a current student (business major), I am insulted that my business courses are being labeled propaganda. While I agree that some professors may have an agenda to push their ideas (Cal-Berkley professors comes to mind), isn’t it propaganda to paint a whole profession with such a broad brush?? Please, I listened to these idiots when I was a kid and didn’t go to college when I had the chance which is why I’m doing it now. The conductor actually went further to say that not only was going to a 4 year university not recommended, it was WRONG and intimated that you could not serve in a position of responsibility if you encouraged ANYONE to go.
12. Some may literally have overindulged in food or drink to the point of gluttony or drunkenness. (Prov. 23:20, 21; compare Deuteronomy 21:18-21.)
Read Deut 21. These two sins were punishable by the DEATH PENALTY. Even my JW wife was thinking “why would Jehovah kill someone because they had that kind of weakness. Doesn’t he understand that people that overeat and overdrink usually have something that is pushing them to that point?” I honestly didn’t have much of an answer for that one.
14. Those false prophets claimed to speak in Jehovah's name, but they were promoting their own ideas, their own wisdom. Thus, their words were "a valueless thing." They were worthless and posed a real spiritual threat.
I’ll hand it to them, it takes balls to write that! Hello, you guys are the very definition of a false prophet.
17 Another example of valueless words is found among the religious leaders of Christendom. These claim to speak in God's name, but most of their utterances are not based on the Scriptures, and what they say is basically worthless. Apostates too speak valueless words, claiming to have greater wisdom than the appointed "faithful and discreet slave."
Again with the name calling. Propaganda includes making sweeping, generalized statements about others. What utterances specifically are not based on the scriptures and how many utterances has the WTS made that are also not based on the scriptures?
18, lf any statements come to our ears that are critical of the truth or that cast aspersions on the congregation, the elders, or any of our brothers, we do not accept them at face value. Rather, we ask: "Is the one spreading this story acting in harmony with what the Bible says? Do these stories or allegations further Jehovah’s purpose? Do they promote the peace of the congregation?" Anything we hear that tears down the brotherhood rather than builds it up is a worthless thing.-
First, 1 John seems to be talking about doctrine, not about “stories or allegations” The conductor mentioned slander. Do you know what the legal defense for slander is?? TRUTH. The most important defense to an action for defamation is "truth", which is an absolute defense to an action for defamation. http://www.expertlaw.com/library/personal_injury/defamation.html
So, the only question we should ask when presented “stories or allegations” regarding ANYTHING is “Is this allegation true?” Isn’t that the only thing that matters? Apparently, all the stories we hear about the WTS are true since they are not denying them!19. Elders do not go beyond the things that are written in the Bible. And by extension, they do not go beyond the Bible-based counsel written in the publications of the faithful and discreet slave.
Outright blasphemy if you believe in the Bible. And, spending almost a decade as an elder, I know that they most certainly do “go beyond the things written in the Bible” since the Bible is not the main book consulted (the Flock book and the binder with the letters to the BOE are).
I don’t know why this study pissed me off so badly, but I appreciate all the comments. Thanks for doing this Blondie. -
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Spirit medium/KIT/John S. Thompson/--by request!
by Atlantis inspirit medium/kit/john s. thompson-by request!.
request from researcher:.
a favor please!
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Doubting Bro
Marking this for later. Great stuff Atlantis! Thanks
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Kids Trump Religious Beliefs-Canada Wins Against The WTB&TS!
by jamiebowers inthis article is from googlenews:.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/comment/2008/05/23/5646826-sun.html.
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Doubting Bro
This week, the Supreme Court of Canada heard the case of a former Winnipeg teen who was given a blood transfusion against her will in 2006 when she was 14.
I don't think they've ruled on the case yet. They're in the process of hearing arguments. I'm assuming this must be an editorial since its obvious what the writer thinks. Hopefully the Supreme Court will set down some guidelines for minors similar to what Japan has done (I think its either 15 or 16 before the age of "mature minor"). If they rule that way, it could give some hope to US courts taking the same position.
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Ben Franklin said that beer was proof that God loves us and wants us to...
by nvrgnbk inbe happy.. i say that beer is proof that people love people and want people to be happy.. what say you?
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Doubting Bro
Nothing special. It was supposed to be a Scottish Ale but with the hops shortage I had to make some substitutions. Basically, I've got a Belgium style pale. I'm way down south, so its already getting hot and it hits the spot after being outside in the heat for a little while. I also have an Imperial Stout ready to be tapped!
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Ben Franklin said that beer was proof that God loves us and wants us to...
by nvrgnbk inbe happy.. i say that beer is proof that people love people and want people to be happy.. what say you?
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Doubting Bro
Ben's one of my favorite founding fathers! And a wise man he was...
Here's to you NVR (toasting whoops I mean raising my glass without CLINKING a pint of my homebrew)
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DC 2008 Releases
by JWFreak injust to update you all on the this summers releases from a very good friend / source .
totally confirmed .
i just love to annoy the borg......and no i am no longer a witness .
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Doubting Bro
JWF - Good to see you again!!
Thanks for posting this. I'm somewhat shocked that there are 2 books being released. Seems the trend was to release one at the most.
I'll give the WTS credit that they at least reconize that they are losing their future, the kids. I'm pretty sure the leaders realize that the big A isn't coming in their lifetime and that if they don't do something to stem the tide, the religon will continue to get older and older and will eventually fade out. However, producing a YPA 2 book isn't going to cut it. To me, it shows just how out of touch leadership is with the rank & file.
Once again JWD scoops the local BOEs!!
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Our CO gave a talk to kids. Stay OUT of school!
by easyreader1970 inhe wanted to talk to the young ones in the congregation.
the main theme of the talk had to do with avoiding higher education.
basically the main idea was this: witnesses are losing alot of young people here in the last few years.
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Doubting Bro
We just had the same exact talk. I know that the COs have specific outlines (I think they used to be able to come up with at least one of the parts by themselves based on their perceived need of their particular circuit) and this is clearly one from the WTS. The problem here isn't that kids are going to school, its that they're getting pregnant way too young. These kids aren't going to college because they're locked in a vicious cycle. If the WTS wanted to help them, they could focus on making smarter decisions.
Ours went into some detail about that crazy Timothy drama where Timothy decided not to go to the "University of Athens" in favor of being a "pioneer". As if Roman society of the first century had the same educational set-up that the West has today. He hammered the youth pretty good, yet when I looked around, most of them seemed not to be paying much attention. Unfortunately, some of the parents were. I'm concerned about one kid who is very smart and whose father is not a JW (but mom can be quite a zealot). Dad is already pushing for college and mom is pushing back. For the kids sake, I hope dad wins.
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no more bible study slip reports. WHY?
by wannaexit ini apologize if this has been discusses before.
a few months ago publishers were told not to hand in individual study reports for bible studies.
remember, we had to hand in a separate report for each bible study with name and address of bible student.
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Doubting Bro
OM,
Most of the servant body didn't turn them in for their family studies either.
Those were the only ones the CO really reviewed. I had one CO who would compare the publisher record card with the study reports and question me about any differences. I would point him straight to the publisher in question, he was extemely anal. But, many of the COs would have a list of the servant body and would check to see if they were reporting any family studies (if they had unbaptized kids).
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no more bible study slip reports. WHY?
by wannaexit ini apologize if this has been discusses before.
a few months ago publishers were told not to hand in individual study reports for bible studies.
remember, we had to hand in a separate report for each bible study with name and address of bible student.
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Doubting Bro
It happened very quickly. I think there was an announcement in the KM a few months ago. Usually, they phase in changes, but not with this one. It went in immediately.
I thought it was just to save on printing costs. However, there may be some privacy issues as well. Remember, those reports just went to the secretary. The secretary kept them for 6 months, the CO would review them, and then they would be disgarded. They never left the local congregation (at least in the US)