Zico

Joined

• started 69 topics
• posted 1,217 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Zico

• 
  31

  Hello

  by letsgetout in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi everyone, i have been a longtime lurker to this website, but i have never posted.

  so here is a little bit about myself:

  i was raised a jw, got baptized at 13, became a regular pioneering right out of high school, i was used extensively at the hall and on assemblies, came from a nice jw background.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  Welcome Letsgetout! Congratulations on your soon-to-be-marriage. :)
  
  It's a real shame the Organisation robs us of our families and doesn't allow them to share in our joy. I think most on this board know how that feels, so you're in the right place.
  
  I hope it all works out for you.
• 
  4

  Now this is an example of a Christian Cult

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. social
  2. current

  many of you (even ex-jw's) object to wts being called a mind-control cult.. you feel that it is necessary to live at a compound and be starved or stuff .

  like that.. i don't say that wts is the worst cult, but it is a cult.

  want to see that there are worse ones out there, take a look at .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  One of the links was to this video, which made me laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJI9xDUYV8&feature=related
• 
  52

  My wife says "They miss you at the Hall"

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she comes home with "sis.

  curious says she misses you.".

  "tell her i am right here, a phone call away.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  Think yourself lucky. When they do bother to phone, it can be very awkward.
  
  I hate the phone.
• 
  5

  Live by faith

  by bite me in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  (2nd topic started today, so it will be my last .

  so, in romans in nkjv bible i come across the vers romans 1:16 which states for i am not ashamed of the gospel of christ, for it is the power of god to salvation for everyone who believes..".

  the nwt states this: romans 1:16. for i am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, gods power for salvation to everyone having faith...".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  Hi bite me,
  
  I checked this verse on bible.cc. Most, but not all translations use 'of Christ' or 'of the Christ' According to the Greek lexicon on bible.cc 'Christos' meaning 'Christ' is used in the Greek text, so I don't know why some translations leave it out, maybe it depends what manuscript they use? Not sure, I'm not an expert! Here's some other translations of the verse:
  
  New American Standard Bible (©1995)
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  
  GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
  I'm not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well.
  
  King James Bible
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  
  American Standard Version
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  
  Bible in Basic English
  For I have no feeling of shame about the good news, because it is the power of God giving salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first, and then to the Greek.
  
  Douay-Rheims Bible
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek.
  
  Darby Bible Translation
  For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is God's power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek:
  
  English Revised Version
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  
  Tyndale New Testament
  For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe, namely to the iewe, and also to the gentile.
  
  Weymouth New Testament
  For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power which is at work for the salvation of every one who believes--the Jew first, and then the Gentile.
  
  Webster's Bible Translation
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
  
  World English Bible
  For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
  
  Young's Literal Translation
  for I am not ashamed of the good news of the Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to every one who is believing, both to Jew first, and to Greek.
• 
  60

  JW IQ's. Below average? (Includes SM anecdote.)

  by Open mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are dub bulbs just a little dimmer than the general population?

  here's a little highlight from this week's local service meeting that prompts my question.. it's the annual, 20 minute, robotic hand-pumping session conducted by the secretary trying to get everyone all hyped/guilted up for this summer's district convention.

  anyway, towards the end of the q&a, there's a paragraph that talks about offering a ride to the elderly/infirm ones in your congo.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  Most Jehovah's Witnesses hate the Convention/Assembly reminders item. They all know what's going to be said, and it bores them all. I feel sorry for the secretary who has to give the talk 3 times a year.
• 
  20

  Ridiculous comments re: new meeting time and reduced public talk.

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my hall shares with 2 other congregations.

  we went from an early morning 10am start to 4pm.. the elder giving the local needs part asks us the benefits of a later public talk/wt study, here are a sample of stupid, typically dub comments:.

  1) we have more time for field service.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  4pm? That must be awful. It would break up the whole day.
• 
  10

  Too busy being JWs to be Christians!!

  by strawberry cake in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  some jws are so busy being jws, they have forgotten how to be christians.

  the wts obsession with hours has led to the sick, elderly and depressed receiving rare visits because the time can't be counted.

  if the wt allowed the time to be counted - i wonder how many visits these ones would suddenly start receiving?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  The JW organisation is an impressive one. Imagine the good they could do if they refocused their efforts. Think of all the orphanages they could build based around the quick build procedures. Think of the poor people they could help if they each spent 10 hours a month working in soup kitchens, or visiting the elderly, or other needy people instead of doing Field Service. The message of peace they could promote and publicise if they really did take an anti-war position, instead of their 'conscientious objector' rubbish.
  
  Instead, they waste their time delivering magazines nobody reads, and somehow convince themselves this is better than feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, helping the sick, and promoting peace.
  
  It's the greatest travesty of their Organisation. Such a shame.
• 
  60

  The Problem with Atheism by Sam Harris

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the problem with atheism(this is an edited transcript of a talk given at the atheist alliance conference in washington d.c. on september 28th, 2007).

  to begin, id like to take a moment to acknowledge just how strange it is that a meeting like this is even necessary.

  the year is 2007, and we have all taken time out of our busy lives, and many of us have traveled considerable distance, so that we can strategize about how best to live in a world in which most people believe in an imaginary god.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  Interesting article, I don't agree with everything, but understand the "atheist" viewpoint.
  
  Example, on using Stalin et al as a response to religious crimes, I think the response from the "atheist" side is to say it wasn't atheism that caused these crimes, and whilst I understand that, I personally do think it's a good argument when responding to people who seem to think religion causes all the world's problems, as it shows evil people don't need religion to do bad things. This is why you'll keep hearing it. ;)
• 
  40

  For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead...

  by Chalam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this one bugged me for a while.

  i will quote the nwt for all the ex jws here ;) .

  ecclesiastes 9 nwt .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  The text in Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 is a Sadducean view that not only contradicts Jesus' own viewpoint, but is even mocked by him. Ecclesiastes 9:6 clearly says there will never be a resurrection, a scripture JWs ignore, the scripture right after the one that the dead are conscious of nothing. It's a classic example of how the Society pick and choose what scriptures they like and form their doctrines around it no matter how clear the bias.
  
  AO,
  
  One of the songs in the Jehovah's Witness song book is actually based on Matthew 10:28, with the chorus 'Fear not those who kill the body, but cannot destroy the soul' It's an odd song to have in their book, as it highlights an obvious contradiction, and often leads to questioning after it's sung at meetings. The explanation I've usually heard, is that the soul here refers to Jehovah's memory of each person. Don't fear the person who can kill you, as Jehovah will remember you, and resurrect you in Paradise Earth. Like many of their explanations, it's not really adequate, the obvious question this would lead to is, how can Jehovah destroy his memory of you?
  
  I'd expect the Society have tried to explain this scripture in their literature, though I don't have access to a WT library CD where I could check.
• 
  9

  ...and why would God only want to create just ONE THING?!?!?!?!!?

  by oompa in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  give me a break!

  dubs teach that jesus created everthing in the universe, except himself.

  now how does that sound for a life or job.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Zico

  It's odd that Jehovah's Witnesses often refer to Jehovah as the creator, when their own theology says Jesus is the creator, it's a bit like saying your grandmother was the one who gave birth to you! But that is because they only pay lip service to everything Jesus is.
  
  Anyway Oompa, other religions! The Jehovah's Witnesses would say the word 'firstborn' in this text shows Jesus was created, however, there is a Greek word for 'first created' and the Apostle Paul did not use this word, he used the Greek word for 'firstborn' which I believe the majority of scholars agree means 'origin of' and does not suggest being created by something else, and that would explain why Paul didn't write 'other' in the first place. (As there is a Greek word for 'other' as well) Most denominations do not believe Jesus was created, but is eternal like the Father.