Posts by smellsgood

97

Secret Santa 2007 (forum gift exchange !!)

by Angharad in

jw
friends

well christimas will soon be here !!.

for those that are new we have done this for the last few years, what it involves is that those who want to join in will post to this thread and then pm me their name and address.

i will then collate the names and addresses and assign everyone a person to buy a gift for.

smellsgood

I am so in!

22

"How Cults Work" -- A Comparison with Jehovah's Witnesses.

by B_Deserter in

these are selected comments regarding the article posted here: http://people.howstuffworks.com/cult.htm.

there is no meaningful difference between a cult and a religion in terms of faith, morality or spirituality.

the primary differences are that a "cult" operates outside of mainstream society, often calls on its followers to make an absolute commitment to the group and typically has a single leader, whereas a "religion" usually operates within mainstream culture, requires varying levels of commitment from its members and typically has a leadership hierarchy that, in practice, can serve as a series of checks and balances.. jws definitely operate outside of mainstream society.

smellsgood

<<<<<I disagree that a cult needs ONE charismatic leader. JWs do NOT have ONE charismatic leader. Plenty of Witnesses don't even now who the president is. Yet, JWs are a cult. The definition needs to be broadened to say a cult can have a charismatic or authoritarian ENTITY. That ENTITY coud be a person, or it could be an ideal (Concept perhaps?) or a BODY or Council (GB n FDS.) To say that a cult requires one PERSON as its leader is to miss the point of what a cult is. A cult is a cult for many different reasons, and a leader can be many different kinds of things, including A BOOK. Having one PERSON as a leader is not necessarily an element of cults. Many organizations heve one charismatic leader and are not a cult.>>>>>>

No doubt Shawn! Rethinking the WTS being a CULT because they do not have a SINGLE leader?? Are ya kidding me. It was started basically by CT Russell, who was considered the "faithful and wise servant."

Mormonism today has the President and the "twelve Apostles" etc. Not "one single leader" of course it was founded by a single nutcase, Joseph Smith.

The biggest characteristic of a Cult to me is that YOU MUST BELONG TO THEIR CHURCH/ORGANIZATION/GROUP to be saved. That and no questioning the leaders. Let's call a turnip a turnip.

Anyone have a spare Crisis of Conscience?

by smellsgood in

jw
friends

for one thing, i gave mine away awhile ago.

for another, i'm working at this coffee place now where my boss has two bookshelfs full of books that are just for taking (take some, bring some).

i can't think of a better book to bring than crisis of conscience, but i'm poor and don't have a way to get like five or six or eight of them.

smellsgood

For one thing, I gave mine away awhile ago.

For another, I'm working at this coffee place now where my boss has two bookshelfs full of books that are just for taking (take some, bring some). I can't think of a better book to bring than Crisis of Conscience, but I'm poor and don't have a way to get like five or six or eight of them. So, is there anyone who has an extra or would be willing to part with their copy. We get alot of customers :)

You can p.m. me if this at all interests you.

19

Need Help Again! Article About "Pinatas" ...origins...what they mean today

by smellsgood in

do you guys know which one i'm thinking of?

the one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

i'm meeting with a jw in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

smellsgood

Atlantis, yeah, it's the

*** Awake! November 22, 1984 p.3-4 An Open or a Closed Mind—Which Do You Have? ***
An Open or a Closed Mind—Which Do You Have?

*** Awake! 1984 November 22 pp.4-7 Six Benefits From an Open Mind ***
Six Benefits From an Open Mind

Also on the watchtowerinformationservice.org there's this one that says scan available, but the scan won't load on my computer

*** Watchtower May 1, 1934 p.131 ***

[Scan available: page 131]

If you find that a doctrine or teaching is a lie, you should quickly forsake it, regardless of who teaches it or how long you have believed that teaching to be true. Your own welfare and your duty to God demand that you abandon lies,no matter who teaches them, for the reason that the end of the maker and supporter of lies is eternal death.–Revelation 21:8, 27

Is it possible you would have a scan of a 1963 article??

*** Watchtower November 15, 1963 p.688 Execution of Divine Judgment upon False Religion ***

3 Can there be false religion? It is not a form of religious persecution for anyone to say and to show that another religion is false. It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.

Or a 1965 article??

*** Watchtower March 1, 1965 p.151 Basis for Reliance on Prophecy ***

The best method of proof is to put a prophecy to the test of time and circumstances. The Bible invites such a test.

How about a 1966 article?

*** Watchtower March 1, 1966 p.132 Should Falsehood and Corruption Be Exposed? ***

Therefore, how will you respond when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices? Will you immediately condemn the person or organization making the exposé? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God’s Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.

Thanks so much for all your help Atlantis!

19

Need Help Again! Article About "Pinatas" ...origins...what they mean today

by smellsgood in

do you guys know which one i'm thinking of?

the one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

i'm meeting with a jw in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

smellsgood

Atlantis!! Thank you once again! I hate to trouble you, but by any chance would you happen to have a scan of the WT "keeping an open mind" or being open minded??

15

The most IMPORTANT preaching work ever

by darth frosty in

jw
friends

is being carried out by two old women standing on the street corner looking like they are either waiting for a bus or lost.. .

i was at work today and drove past a couple of 'sister's' doing street work.

to my trained eye, i could tell that they were indeed witnesses.

smellsgood

Still doing my Mormon mirror WT investigation,,,Mormonism says same thing *sigh*

“Our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a precious thing. It isn’t a simple or ordinary thing; THIS IS THE CHURCH AND KINGDOM OF GOD. This is the kingdom of God on earth. This is His work in which we are engaged,AND THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT WORK IN ALL THE WORLD THAN THIS WORK. It concerns the eternal salvation of the sons and daughters of God, those living, those who have lived upon the earth, and those who will yet live. No people have ever been charged with a greater, more inclusive mandate than have we, you and I. Our work, given to us by the Lord, encompasses all of mankind. We need to stand a little taller, be a little kinder, be a little better, each of us, than we have been” (Houston, Texas, regional conference, priesthood leadership meeting, 19 Sept. 1998).

“Recurring Themes of President Hinckley,” Ensign, Jun 2000, 18

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f219a1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

19

Need Help Again! Article About "Pinatas" ...origins...what they mean today

by smellsgood in

do you guys know which one i'm thinking of?

the one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

i'm meeting with a jw in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

smellsgood

Any chance I could get a scan? :)

19

Need Help Again! Article About "Pinatas" ...origins...what they mean today

by smellsgood in

do you guys know which one i'm thinking of?

the one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

i'm meeting with a jw in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

smellsgood

Yes! that's the one! Thank you guys!!!!!

<<<<A main concern is, not what the practice meant hundreds of years ago, but how it is viewed today in your area.>>>>

Wonder if this writer got sacked.

19

Need Help Again! Article About "Pinatas" ...origins...what they mean today

by smellsgood in

do you guys know which one i'm thinking of?

the one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

i'm meeting with a jw in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

smellsgood

Do you guys know which one I'm thinking of? The one that flies in the face of all their other reasoning of banishing other celebrations/practices?

I'm meeting with a JW in the next week, so sorry for all the requests, but it's most helpful :)

47

Did You Ever Think The Demons Were Bothering You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i was younger i used to have terrible convulsions and hear "voices".

my mom was convinced that it must be "the demons".

the congregation prayed over me and eventually i went to a doctor that was able to figure out why i was so sickly and presto: everyone's prayers were answered..

smellsgood

When I was younger I used to have terrible convulsions and hear "voices". My mom was convinced that it must be "the demons". The congregation prayed over me and eventually I went to a doctor that was able to figure out why I was so sickly and presto: everyone's prayers were answered. >>>>>>

Minimus, so what was going on with you?