Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  16

  Why are the British football team so useless?

  by highdose in

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  last nights match was humiliating.

  and lets face it... if they even make it to the semi's it will be amazing!.

  ok you could say well they are playing agianst the best teams in the world... but other teams manage!?!.

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  Doubting Bro

  USA USA USA
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  32

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-13-10 WT Study (HOLY SPIRIT)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  comments you will not hear at the 06-13-10 wt study (april 15, 2010, pages 7-11 (purpose).

  as we have seen, jehovah used his spirit in the past to protect individuals as well as the nation of israel as a whole.

  why doesnt god protect individuals today?.

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  Doubting Bro

  Couple of interesting observations from the meeting I attended:

  1 - As others have commented, the opening song about the "light getting brighter" was blantant and set the stage. I thought, "wow, they wrote a song to be sung everytime they change something"! Guess it will be sung quite a bit.

  2 - The WT conductor was gearing up right at the beginning. When he asked the question regarding the change in generation, no one had their hand up. Reluctantly, one of the elders raised his hand to answer. Stammering, he put it out there. Then, followed up with an illustration of his own. He said, that his grandfather fought in WWI and his life overlapped with his grandfather's for about 15 years. So, he was able to learn from him and knew what type of person his grandfather was and some of what he experienced. Same with the annointed who were old enough to recognize the sign of 1914 and the annointed who came along a little later. It's an accurate description of what the WTS is saying, BUT, would anyone claim to be the same generation as your grandfather???? Uh, it renders the word generation useless.

  3. The WT conductor really hammered on the point that was brought out in the CO talk but missing from the explaination in the WT where the WTS is saying that the annointed old enough to witness the events of 1914 and recognize the sign are the beginning part of the "generation". The CO specifically mentioned Franz who was born in the late 1800s and was a young adult when 1914 came around and already baptized and thus "annointed". So, the WTC used the same illustration and held up a piece of paper. Then, he said that many on the GB were annointed prior to Franz dying and personally knew him so that their lives overlapped. A second piece of paper was held up. He made sure to then say that the two parts of the generation didn't run consecutively so that their was two entire lifetimes but concurrently, overlapping for some period and then the final part going on a little longer. He said it was a significant change because it meant the end was closer since some of the annointed will be on earth for the great tribulation.

  4. Much was made of the other changes. The number of partakers was discussed at length and the WTC said that that really didn't matter because the overlapping was only for those who were already annointed when the first part of the generation was still here.

  5. My wife, who never leaves for the bathroom during the middle of the meeting, left for the discussion?! We haven't talked WTS stuff in a long time but she was clearly uncomfortable because she knew this made no sense whatsoever. I decided to not bring it up but rather let her mull it over for a few days. I would rather her bring it up so it doesn't look like I'm picking on the WTS.

  It's obvious that they're grasping at straws. Clearly a direct reading of Matthew shows Jesus said that all this stuff would happen in his disciples lifetimes. And, some of the apostles survived to see Jerusalem destroyed. So, if you think it has a second meaning, logic would dictate a similar pattern. So, instead of admitting that the "composite sign" didn't start in 1914 (thus making the appointment as the faithful and discreet slave in their theology a point in the future and taking away the whole "God's organization" claim), they decide to reword what Jesus said.

  They have to revive a sense of urgency because the change in 1995 had the effect of removing the end from something that could happen tomorrow to something that will happen sometime in the future. This change bought them maybe 20 years? Of course, it doesn't make any sense but the WTC did his best to sell it. He's a bright guy and did a good of trying to make it fit. But, there was an air of uneasiness and afterward only one person made metion of it to me and he said he would need to reread it because his head was spinning.
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  39

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-06-10 WT Study (YOUNG PEOPLE) TEST PLEASE FORGIVE ME

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  young people strengthen your desire to serve jehovah.

  what invitation was extended to children in the christian congregation?

  serve god or the wts?.

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  Doubting Bro

  paragraph 13 went over like a lead balloon at the meeting I attended yesterday. Many of the elders and ms are college graduates. In particular, there is a MS there who JUST gradutated with honors after attending on a full scholarship. Everytime I look at him, I feel a sense of pride that he decided to take care of himself and not listen to those who would have told him to turn it down.

  Only 1 person commented on the paragraph and it had to do with something that happened 20 years ago. No discussion, just moved on. My wife later said that "Cherie" was crazy to turn down the scholarship and that she knew I wanted our kids to go to college and said the elder conducting was definately going to send his teenaged kids to college! I pointed out that he may lose his eldership based on what I had been told about a CO visit a year or so ago. I still don't know if that's a hard and fast rule about reviewing privleges but I sense it depends on the body. Her response "no way, that doesn't make any sense". Exactly, unless you're in a controlling cult.

  The point about "Cherie's" participation in sports was also not unnoticed. Since when is it OK for JW kids to participate in organized sports?? I thought only the "spiritually weak" did that? Does this mean it's now ok?
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  26

  What's Next For The Watchtower Organization?

  by minimus in

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  any predictions?.

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  Doubting Bro

  Beth Sarim - First, welcome!

  OTWO & Tuesday were just throwing predictions out there! I'm actually suprised they haven't reduced the DCs to 2 days already. Remember they used to be what 7 days? I'm old enough to remember the 4 day, then the shift to 3.5 days and finally to the current 3 day. I agree with OTWO that they will move to a 2 day DC sometime shortly under the theory that they can get a similar donation amount but reduce their expenses. I guarantee that NO ONE will complain about it either. The Friday attendance is usually 20-25% lower than the Sunday peak so it really makes sense. I theorize that the reason they haven't done this sooner is they get such great deals on the various venues that are used around the country that the costs savings isn't enough. Of course, in some cases (such as in the NYC area), they're using the existing assembly halls for DCs (albeit smaller gatherings). If that trend continues, they may not reduce it to 2 days since they will want to make sure the buildings are being utilized as much as possible.

  Whatever the case, it will come down to money. That is the number one concern of the organization from my point of view.
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  101

  All I can say about thr finale of "Lost" is...

  by changeling in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wtf???!!!.

  they are all fucking dead!.

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  Doubting Bro

  The show was never "about" the island. Figuring out "what it all means" never was the point.

  Right which is why I was very frustrated after watching the ending last night. I spent the last 6 years trying to figure out the island. I do think the island was some sort of mystic porthole to the great beyond and that when Des pulled the cork, he opened the "gates of hell". Smokey wanted to destroy everything not because he was pure evil but because he couldn't accept his fate. Yet, the cork getting pulled allowed Smokey to actually regain his human side. Richard as well. I thought it was interesting when Miles pulled out the gray hair that Richard was so excited that he could age and now actually wanted to live!!

  hemplover - thanks for posting that blog. Very interesting take.

  I would have been happier since I'm more a "man of science" as opposed to a "man of faith" with an explaination of exactly what the island was, why it was there, and what purpose Whitmore wanted it for. But, the character story of redemption leaves you with a good feeling and I guess I'm ok with that.

  BTW - I thought the sideways reality being limbo was actually a great stroke. We saw the island at the bottom of the ocean at the beginning of this season which started the sideways reality. All the passenger's desires in this reality were met although not perfectly. This limbo allowed the characters go come to grips with what happened each in their own time.
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  29

  Now a college graduate!!!

  by Doubting Bro in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

  ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

  i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

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  Doubting Bro

  Thanks again everyone!

  mentallyfree31 - You can do it!! I took most of my classes online and while it actually seemed like a little more work than going to class, it was good. The online (or even some online) route is 1) cheaper, 2) easier to schedule, and 3) can be done a bit faster. The downside is 1) you have to be an independent learner, 2) if you get stuck it can be tough to get an explaination and 3) none of the social aspect which means no networking.

  For me, it made sense and I have plenty of networking in my chosen field since I've been in the industry for 20 years so I wasn't concerned about that. If you want, send me a PM and I'll give you the information on the university I went to. I'm still a little worried someone could figure me out so I'd rather not post that on the board.
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  29

  Now a college graduate!!!

  by Doubting Bro in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

  ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

  i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

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  Doubting Bro

  Thanks guys! Gayle - You have every reason to be very proud of your kids! Good job. Jefft - Business Administration OTWO - You Tube is blocked at work, so I'll have to check out the video later! awildflower - I've got a decent job that I enjoy, so from a career perspective nothing really changes except that I'm now on a level playing field for the first time. Previously, I was one of the few folks in my position that didn't have a degree. I was always a bit self conscious because of that. I did it mainly for personal reasons. OM - LOL - yeah for some reason I didn't bother attempting to get credit for reading the Awake or participating in the Ministry School! out4good3 - congratulations to you! That's how I did it. Keep up the good work.
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  29

  Now a college graduate!!!

  by Doubting Bro in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wanted to let everyone know that i've finally graduated college with a bachelors degree!

  ended up earning magna cum laude.. it's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment.

  i still kick myself for listening to the wts when i was a kid and forsaking "higher education".

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  Doubting Bro

  Wanted to let everyone know that I've finally graduated college with a Bachelors degree! Ended up earning magna cum laude.

  It's difficult to describe the sense of accomplishment. I still kick myself for listening to the WTS when I was a kid and forsaking "higher education". But, rather than just complain about it, I did something about it. Those who were never JWs can't really understand what a passive agressive statement against the WTS going back to school really is. So not only did I gain additional knowledge and critical thinking skills, I also get to flip off the WTS at the same time! It's a win-win.
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  10

  PROFILE OF MY CONGREGATION

  by onemore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it was mentioned in another thread that gb is struggling with the lack of zeal from many active jws.

  i thought of the real attitude and behavior of the active jws in my congo.

  this is what i really really see..... profile of my congregation and people close to me: married couples from their mid 30s to early 40s planning to and having children, saving for retirement and going back to college.

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  Doubting Bro

  It pretty similar here. Former elders outnumber current elders and the pipeline of MS is pretty poor. The WTS is well aware of this issue but they believe the solution is to beat the flock. That just leads to more apathy.

  I think the WTS will die by a thousand cuts rather than go out in a big bang.
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  57

  Is the GB setting up to dump 1914?

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the "generation change" and them changing it all the time it would make sence to dump it all togeather.. lets face it ,it can be disproved easly.. they dumped 1975 in a heart beat .. this would buy them all the time they wanted as they would just find another date to start the generation from ie: "the u.n year of peace and sercurty'',1986 i belive or whatever else they could think of.. they could sell it to the r&f as easly as they sold 1975,then dumped it when it did'nt happen .. anyone questioning them would be told they are running ahead of jehovah or lacking faith in his earthly org that feeds us food at the proper time .. what do you think?.

  karter..

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  Doubting Bro

  Prior to the latest generation teaching, I was inclined to think they were looking at putting 1914 on the backburner. Maybe Adventist style where they believe the last days started in 1844 (or whatever) but again the problem is the appointment in 1919. They can't drop that because they will lose the designation of "God's Organization".

  But now that they've changed to the crazy Jesus meant two very long, overlapping generations by saying "this generation" I think they are fully intent on keeping the 1914 date.

  They will eventually need to drop it or make it mean something a little different but may opinion is that we're at least 20 years away from that. A new "generation" of GB members will be left to make those changes.

  I think it's actually pretty funny watching the twists and turns of "logic" to attempt to patch up the crazy prophesy legacy of Freddie.