Pahpa

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Posts by Pahpa

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  16

  My cousin has left the morons... all on his own!

  by dawg in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my cousin has left the borg, all on his own and he sounds like a recording of me!

  i'm no longer alone after 17 years; now i have someone to talk to and his experiences are alot like mine.

  to think, he refused to talk to me for over 17 years!

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  Pahpa

  You're a lucky "dawg"....
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  16

  MICHIGAN PEOPLE!!!...Multi-millionaire witness Pat Patterson.....

  by integ in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone heard of this guy?.

  he built up an insurance agency in michigan, and sold it for over 10 million dollars.. apparently, at his big office in novi, michigan, he only hires witnesses and they are all making big bucks.. i know an agent who was going to work for him in another state (they do business in 10 states i think), but declined to sign up when he found out the organization was owned and operated by witnesses.. he said: "that explains the ridiculously low commissions they pay their agents".

  they sell alot of life insurance.. why would this witness owned agency push life insurance if the end is so near???.

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  Pahpa

  JWs have always looked up to their successful and wealthy members as something "special." Elders usually like to "cozy up" to them undoubtedly because of the favors they receive. And the other members like to point out how successful or educated these members are. It's strange how the Watchtower discourages spending time on business and education when one should be in the ministry preaching....yet, its members seem to boast about those who have!
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  21

  A former "Bethelite" JW's friend of mine wants to "Disassociate".

  by booker-t in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a friend of mine that was at bethel when the "change" came out about the "generation of 1914" in 1995 wants to "disassociate" himself but is terrified that his family especially his mother(who is of the annoited) will totally shun him.

  his whole family are jw's his uncle an elder, his sisters pioneers, etc; any advice i could give him?

  i know what it is like since my mom has been a devout jw's since 1967.

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  Pahpa

  Trying to "fade" can be difficult depending the on concern of family members and the zeal of the local elders. I know of many cases where the family initiated the calls of the elders to "help" the weak one. Even if one moves to a different area, family members can notify the elders of the nearest congregation. But it is probably easier to "fade" in a new area as one can use the excuse that he is busy trying to establish himself in a new job, new home and new surroundings. He can hint that he will start attending once he has settled in. However, the elders will probably periodically check in especially if the family expects a response from those elders.
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  6

  After reading "Ex-Born Again" websites, they say many things like ex-jws

  by booker-t in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was curious the other day and just wanted to see what born-again christians that left the fold had to say about their former churches and religions.

  it was amazing to see that they say many similar things like ex-jws.

  many of these people were ex-pastors, ex-ministers, ex-missionaries.

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  Pahpa

  There is a lot of fanaticism in many of the smaller fundamentalist religious groups. My cousin who is a "born again" Chrisitian has joined and left several of them because they weren't accepting some of her views with regard to doctrine. Although they didn't excommunicate her, they were cool and indifferent. (Similar to the old JW policy of "marking"?) She felt uncomfortable until she found a group that was accepting her for what she was....not for what she believed.
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  30

  JW CONFUSION

  by logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  this is real doublespeak: watchtower april 1, 2007 pg 21 par.

  1 "you must not let people call you leaders-- you have only one leader.

  matt 23:10 .

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  Pahpa

  Only God and Christ will decide who are Christians. We shouldn't make this judgment ourselves. Remember the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. In spite of the deplorable conditions in those congregations, individuals could take a course that would be pleasing to God. The admonishment to the individuals in those churches was to "overcome" and remain faithful to receive God's reward. Personally, I think there are still many good people associated with the Watchtower.

  The church systems all have serious flaws that don't meet up to the Christian standards. But we shouldn't condemn everyone in them because of this failure. Remember, Christ will separate the "wheat" from the "weeds" and the "sheep" from the "goats" when he returns.
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  77

  The Question Non-Jws hate to hear! (Unless they're athiests)

  by Mad in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  did jesus have a god that he worshipped?

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  Pahpa

  Mad

  While the majority of churches accept the trinity doctrine as "orthodox", there are a number of sects that do not. (Some Pentecosts, WWCG, Bible Student groups, etc.) And a number of scholars down through history argued against it. One of the most famous Bible scholars who lost his life over the controversy was Servetus during the time of the Reformation.

  The Trinity teaching has been a controversial one from the very beginning. It's worthy to note that even in Arius' time certain prominent bishops did not accept it. (Ex: Eusebius of Nicomedia, Eusebius of Casearea) Constantine even vacillated over the issue. He exiled Arius for a period of time. Then, he exiled Athanasius and restored Arius. So, the doctrine was not "a given" in this period of history.
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  3

  One Parable, Two Appearances

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  block 1 of teaching material.

  block 2 of teaching material.

  block 3 of teaching material.

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  Pahpa

  Doug

  Could it be that Jesus used the same parable on more than one occasion?

  While it is generally recognized that Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, it must have been for Christian Jewish believers. Just how much these Jewish Christians were following the Jewish customs when it was written. The idea that it was written "in accordance with the Jewish festivals" is pure speculation.

  Many modern scholars base their findings on certain assumptions. For example, the theory that Mark was written first and the material was borrowed in Matthew and Luke. This has not been proven. But it is now generally assumed. The traditional views are now mostly ignored even though the traditions came from much earlier times... closer to the actual writings than these modern theories.

  So, Christians have to decide what to believe even in regard to scholarship. Since the "higher critics" of the Bible seem to be motivated to destroy faith in the Bible, one is suspect of some their findings.
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  6

  The WTBTS... A FALSE PROPHET?

  by Honesty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  see for yourself:.

  http://www.uq.net.au/~zzmstefa/wt97-8.htm.

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  Pahpa

  The Watchtower is rather ambivalent on its position as "a prophet." On the one hand, it claims that its predictions were not prophecies but, rather, observation and comments on Bible prophecy. But on the other hand, it has claimed to be a "modern day" prophet organization. It is typical of the "double speak" in the organization.
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  31

  2007 "Follow the Christ" DC of JW

  by bobld in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  are you looking forward to the 2007 dc?it will be the best ever.will you be there for fellowship and association?have you started making preparations?have you requested time off work?have you booked your hotel room?what will your goal be at the dc this year?

  all very good questions.. why is the 2007 convention special?

  because you are invited.you will be given a special invitation.in fact,there is a worldwide campaign to advertise this convention with a special handbill.per km02/07 is the fallowing presentation"this is your invitation to an upcoming important yearly event.you will be warmly welcomed.

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  Pahpa

  I think free2beme has an important point. The Watchtower has been criticized for not putting the proper emphasis on Christ and relegating him to a minor role. One has to consider that this theme "Follow the Christ" is a reaction to this criticism. Now JWs can point to this as a rebuttal. Of course, it won't convince anyone who really knows how the organization is a substitute Christ for JWs.
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  142

  Trinity?

  by BFD in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i am reading the bible for the first time.

  i was df'd in 1976 and lived my whole life thinking the jws have the truth and i just could not live up to the standard and was doomed to die at the big a without question.

  until i found jwd 31 years later.

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  Pahpa

  Kenneson

  Evidently, Paul didn't think equality was involved...

  "Now when it says 'everything' has been put under him, it clear that this does not include God himself who put everything under Christ." Note "God" not "Father" is used.