Posts by Pahpa

49

Jesus between age 12 and 30. . .

by Mad Sweeney in

i'm thinking he traveled east and learned the wisdom of the orient.

no way the watchtower line about him being a carpenter's assistant all that time is possibly true.

he was way too learned about the ways of people to not have been educated and his ideas seem very eastern to me.. anyone got any good books, articles, blogs, websites on the topic?.

Pahpa

With the current trend toward eastern mystical religions, some have

tried to link Jesus by filling in the scriptural void of his youth. But

it is quite evident that Jesus grew up in a Jewish household and

followed the Mosaic law of his day. His knowledge of the Jewish

beliefs, good and bad, is easily read in the New Testament.

The lack of eastern influence is also quite clear. When Matthew

noted that his contemporaries were "amazed at his teaching,

because he taught as one who had authority and not as their

teachers of law" (7:28,29) it was in the context of the preceding

material based upon Scripture.

123

Translating the NWT in the Shadows

by JuanMiguel in

note: the following is not meant to be construed as a recommendation but to demonstrate the sharp contrast between any authentic bible translation and the new world translation.

for those of us who participate and or read the threads on this board, i understand and appreciate that all here have different views on religion, the existence of god, and of the catholic church.

i believe each individuals convictions should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

Pahpa

The wide use of the tetragrammaton in the Old Testment would seem to

argue against the disuse of it in modern translations. If the motive was

done because of Jewish reluctance to have the pronunciation of the

name commonly known, then the translators are following a custom

created by Jewish superstition....not by Biblical use. Every translation

reflects the personal beliefs of the translator. Where there is choice,

the translator uaually favors his own religious conviction.

6

some may fall away or slink off to something new, but when your worldview is apocalyptic in nature, a failed doomsday doesnt leave you easily shaken, he says.. instead, what religious people generally do, he says, is write off the end-that-wasnt as an interpretation hiccup.

with deeper study and prayer, theyll be lucky enough to find another doomsday around the corner.. although this comment was not directed at jw's but apocalyptic religions in general it really does fit their world viewpoint perfectly..

Pahpa

Sects like the Watchtower usually thrive during times of trouble, economic or

otherwise. People see a failure of the present system and search for something

that has the answers. The promise of a "new heavens and a new earth" is

very enticing to those that have become disillusioned or disappointed. And

the Watchtower is able to capitalize on this situation. Many other religions

have prospered after the initial failure of their forecasts. (Mormons, SDAs

etc.) So, undoubtedly the Watchtower will continue too. But the price

that is paid is the increased number of defectors and the critical analysis

by former members and other researchers.

33

How can they claim that every prophecy in the bible has a greater fulfilment today???

by highdose in

seems that the gb take every story they can in the bible and claim that although it happened then, it will also happen now.

although this time it will be the gb who is jehosophat, david, paul, jermiah... etc etc take your pick.

what scriptual basis do they have for this belief??

Pahpa

Of course, there is a large difference between "instruction" and prophecy.

One is for encouragement and comfort. The other is for specific revelation.

The lessons drawn from instruction are beneficial. But prophecy is a test

of the authenticity of the prophet. (Deut. 18) In the latter, the Watchtower

has been a miserable failure in spite of its disclaimers.

33

How can they claim that every prophecy in the bible has a greater fulfilment today???

by highdose in

seems that the gb take every story they can in the bible and claim that although it happened then, it will also happen now.

although this time it will be the gb who is jehosophat, david, paul, jermiah... etc etc take your pick.

what scriptual basis do they have for this belief??

Pahpa

The Watchtower Society has been very arbitrary in its use of "type-antitype"

applications. Some of them have been outright ridiculous. Remember the publication

that gave sundry examples of the anti-typical "other sheep" class? None of them had

a scriptural basis. All were created out of the attempt of the Watchtower to push its

own doctrine. And one of its worst explanations of prophecy was the "trumpet blasts"

of Revelation applied to announcements made at various assemblies between 1922 and 1928.

We were gullible in those days. Anything from the Watchtower was accepted as "truth."

40

Who converts and Why? SURVEY - Please contribute

by Murray Smith in

i've read some random articles of late and have found a recurring factor which could well be answered effectively by many of the posters here.

basically the notion relates to what makes one vulnerable to indoctrination into a high-control religious cult and goes lke this .

while most, if not all humans seek group approval and association to some degree .

Pahpa

There are probably many reasons why people join a sect. One of the

leading ones is vulnerability because of some emotional event in

one's life. A person in this stage seeks out answers and turns to a

source of comfort. Often, a sect provides for these immediate needs.

The support of the members who have had similar experiences tend

to fortify the whole belief system upon which it is based. It becomes

"the truth."

60

Jehovah's Witnesses Are NOT Under Mind Control

by PublishingCult in

how would you respond to the assertion that 7.2 million members of the jehovah's witness religion are not under any sort of mind control?.

the argument being that every one is responsible for their own actions and cannot blame the indoctrinator for what he says and does.

how could they possibly be under mind control?.

Pahpa

Watchtower Society: "You are not under mind control.....you are not under mind control...."

102

Finished Mystery (1917)... The book that Jesus approved...

by Alfred in

so a few months ago, a friend sent me an actual copy of finished mystery which was published in 1917 (not a pdf download... the actual book).

i must say, this was the most disturbing book i have ever had the displeasure of reading.

but i only read it because this was the main publication that was being distributed worldwide when jesus supposedly chose the watchtower in 1918 and i basically wanted to see for myself what jesus saw in the wt that would compel him to choose this religious corporation over all other religious denominations.. anyway, if anyone is interested in knowing the actual contents of this book, here are some bullet points i put together from some of the notes i took as i read the book:.

Pahpa

It is rather ironic that the book, The Finished Mystery, that caused such a great

stir at Bethel upheld the exalted view of Russell even though its publication

was strictly against the wishes of Russell. It was one of the major

factors that led the Bible Students to leave the organization and organize

their own groups. Now, the Watchtower would like to forget the contents

and the history associated with this publication.

101

The Danger of Credulous Research of Jehovah's Witnesses on the Internet

by Spade in

http://www.watchtower21.org/2011/02/danger-of-naive-and-credulous-research.html.

it's been my experience so far, that anything a person wants to find out about jehovahs witnesses, they can find out from jehovahs witnesses.

any and all information ever published by jehovah witnesses is accessible to all.

Pahpa

It is interesting that "apologists" are closely related to "revisionists." They

must excuse past infractions at any price....even by revising the known facts.

Like a good lawyer, they use argumentation to justify their clients. They may

know in their hearts that they are guilty. But they have a vested interest

to defend at any cost even when it means ignoring the truth. But the truth

prevails. One can not ignore the truth in the sincerity of Ray Franz or the research of

James Penton. Their books speak louder than all the Watchtower apologists combined.

14

Fading vs. D'F'd

by Band on the Run in

i don't know the details.

is it true that if you slowly withdraw, you are free to go but if you are active and do an offense, you are shunned.

is their principle whether you are appropriating and blemishing the name vs. severity of the actual offense.

Pahpa

If you are an active JW and try to "fade" it is much more difficult to avoid

a visit from the elders. In many cases, well meaning family members or

friends will notify an elder and request a visit to help one "adjust his

thinking." But in fact, the only concern the elders have is whether or not

one accepts the Watchtower as "God's channel."

The most successful "fade" is when one moves completely out of

an area and no longer attends the meetings. As long as a person

is not "legally" disfellowshipped or disassociated JWs usually feel they

can associate regardless of the circumstances even if it may involve serious

moral lapses.