This better not be eventually circling back around to anti-Semitism. I will be very disappointed.
under_believer
JoinedPosts by under_believer
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under_believer
Again, you shouldn't worry about what I think. But because you seem determined to press this point, I offer the following:
I was raised in a cult. One of the residual effects of that upbringing is that I can't accept statements without proof. You are making a bunch of statements, which is fine, but then you're expecting me to accept them without proof. Provide that, and we're cool, ok?
In the case of the three prominent gentlemen you name, there are much simpler explanations for their success, mundane explanations, that don't require the Pentaverate to pull strings for them. None of them were unlikely candidates for success; it's not surprising that they are successful. Prove to me that they wouldn't have succeeded without the Masons.
As far as "most judges are Masons", as far as "widely known Masonic judges", where are they? Who are they? Name some. And provide proof that they're Masons. And also provide proof that there are a higher percentage of Masonic judges than there are Masonic members of any other section of upper-class society. -
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My DC invitation is delivered today
by Wasanelder Once ina car full of sisters whom i've known for years showed up today.
one got out of the car and asked if i got my "invitation".
she let me know that they were supposed to give one to everybody.
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under_believer
They may honestly miss you; but what they miss more, in my opinion, is the implicit affirmation of their beliefs that your presence provided. When someone respected (like an elder) leaves, it's hard for them, even if they don't like to admit it. They previously trusted your opinion. Even if the thought doesn't become conscious, there's still an undercurrent that, well, if W.Once left, maybe there really is something wrong with this organization...
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under_believer
I am sorry to have offended you. I disagree with your viewpoint; but you needn't take this personally. At the end of the day, who cares what I think?
In any case, look carefully at what the BBC reports: they only talk about the man's claims. They don't discuss in that article whether any judges actually are freemasons or not. Nor does the gentleman in question, for that matter, offer any proof.
What you've found is a report from a reputable news source, saying that someone somewhere believes the same way you do. This doesn't bolster your case, though--six million plus people believe that the Society is God's Channel, and that doesn't prove that claim, either.
Again, though, don't worry about what I believe or disbelieve. You must follow your own path. -
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I accuse my wife of apostacy. Hilarity ensues.
by under_believer inthis one ranged all over the place.
i post these because i am hoping someone can give me additional advice.
wife: why didn't you want to read the daily text to the kids?
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under_believer
Darth Elohim, I know you're not serious, but honestly if I ever even mentally thought about slapping my wife, she'd telepathically sense it from across the room or house, fly instantly to my side using telekinetic powers unknown to man or beast, and rearrange my organs in such a way that they are no longer internal. THEN she would serve me papers, papers she'd drawn up after travelling through time.
Seriously, she is an extremist when it comes to physical abuse. Totally and completely deplores it in every way. And that is one point on which we are united. -
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I accuse my wife of apostacy. Hilarity ensues.
by under_believer inthis one ranged all over the place.
i post these because i am hoping someone can give me additional advice.
wife: why didn't you want to read the daily text to the kids?
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under_believer
Serendipity, I suppose it was partly out of frustration. She is among the sizeable group of JW's who believe that they can pick and choose their beliefs from the JW smorgasboard, and yet still call themselves JW's as long as they keep quiet about it. In reality, anyone who doesn't implicitly accept everything from the Governing Body cannot, by the GB's own declaration, remain a Witness.
This presents a cognitive problem for me; it does not for her. She says that I take it all too seriously and I need to relax. Isn't taking it seriously the very point?
I wish she'd post on here, but that would necessitate my admitting that I do, and I'm not totally convinced she wouldn't turn me in. She's a wonderful person and I make no doubt that she'd get along famously here (though not in a doctrinally profound way--she's more of a community builder.) -
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Interesting people met....
by Justice-One ini have met and shook hands with four famous people in my life so far; tom cruise, cher, (at the same bar) robert wagner, and bo gritz.
bo was nice enough to give me a photo.
i must say bo was the most interesting to talk to by a long shot.
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under_believer
He's an interesting guy. Such a mixed bag for me, it's hard to pin him down.
On the one hand he got excommunicated from the Mormon church, so I have to hand it to him for that.
He also tried to investigate that one abortion clinic bombing, good on him.
On the other hand, though, he's a right wing conspiracy theory nutjob.
The worst thing about him, though, is the fact that he wanted to prolong Terri Schaivo's nightmare, and actually tried breaking into the place to physically prevent them from mercifully ending her suffering. -
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I accuse my wife of apostacy. Hilarity ensues.
by under_believer inthis one ranged all over the place.
i post these because i am hoping someone can give me additional advice.
wife: why didn't you want to read the daily text to the kids?
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under_believer
IP_SEC, that if I am not mistaken is an early Jim Whitney piece. I have read it and it is good; it is definitely time to read it again. Thanks for the link, I had all but forgotten about that.
bebu, as for the "only Witnesses will survive" citations, generally any time the Society talks about the "mark on the forehead" they are talking about baptism as a JW. Clearly Revelation indicates that only people with this mark will be spared God's wrath--so making it equal to JW baptism is a convenient way of tying the two concepts together. Here are some citations:
*** kl chap. 18 p. 180 par. 21 Make It Your Aim to Serve God Forever ***
21 A dedicated, baptized person faithfully endeavoring to follow Jesus is special to God. Jehovah examines all the billions of human hearts and knows how rare such individuals are. He considers them to be treasures, “desirable things.” (Haggai 2:7) Bible prophecies show that God views such ones as marked to survive the execution of his judgment soon to come upon this wicked system of things. (Ezekiel 9:1-6; Malachi 3:16, 18) Are you “rightly disposed for everlasting life”? (Acts 13:48) Is it your earnest desire to be marked as one serving God? Dedication and baptism are part of that mark, and they are essential for survival.Note that dedication and baptism are essential for survival?
*** w88 9/15 p. 14 par. 18 Listen—Jehovah’s Watchman Speaks! ***
18 The antitypical ‘man in linen’ is the class of anointed Christians. They go from house to house to put a symbolic mark on those who become part of the “great crowd” of Christ’s “other sheep.” The “mark” is the evidence that such sheep are dedicated, baptized individuals with a Christlike personality. They ‘sigh and groan over detestable things’ done in Christendom, and they have come out of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 18:4, 5) Their “mark” will make it plain to God’s executional forces that they should be spared during the “great tribulation.” They can retain that “mark” by sharing with the anointed ones in marking yet others. So, if you have been ‘marked,’ share zealously in the ‘marking’ work.—Ezekiel 9:8-11.This last one is some of the equivocation I spoke of earlier. Note that while baptism is required for survival, it does not guarantee it.
*** w89 1/15 p. 20 pars. 20-21 How Baptism Can Save Us ***
20 By our works, we can show that “we belong to Jehovah.” Why, salvation depends on working faithfully as his dedicated slaves! (Romans 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ‘man clothed in linen’—the remnant of Jesus’ anointed followers—is ‘marking’ those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the “other sheep.” (Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the “mark”? It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus’ baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.
21 Especially now is it vital that we have the “mark” and retain it, for we are deep into “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) To be saved we must ‘endure to the end’ of our present life or of this system. (Matthew 24:13) Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us. -
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I accuse my wife of apostacy. Hilarity ensues.
by under_believer inthis one ranged all over the place.
i post these because i am hoping someone can give me additional advice.
wife: why didn't you want to read the daily text to the kids?
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under_believer
I want to stress a couple of things here:
* All viewpoints are welcome, including (perhaps especially?) critical ones.
* I was using the word "hilarity" in an ironic sense. I am not being harsh with and then laughing at my wife. I love her very much. If I didn't I'd be out of here and we'd be discussing custody at this point.
She did need to realize, though, that what she was saying technically qualifies as apostacy. -
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NO BENEFITS TO BLOOD TRANSFUSION...?
by Gill inthe august 2006 awake, makes the claim that there is no benefit to blood transfusion except in trauma, according to proffessor bruce spiess:.
there are few if any (medical) articles that supposrt transfusion actually improving outcome.
" in fact, he writes that many transufusions 'may do more harm than good in virtually every instance except trauma,' increasing 'the risk of pneumonia, infections, heart attacks and strokes.'.
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under_believer
TD and Scully, I just wanted to salute you for responding in a very polite, nonconfrontational, knowledgeable way. Class act.