zarco

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Posts by zarco

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  46

  Hostility to God's "name"

  by AwSnap in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i was given the brochure the divine name that will endure forever, and was pointed to page 20 which is entitled "hostility to god's name?".

  it says that the word jehovah was originally in the hebrew scriptures but was taken out.

  is this true?

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  zarco

  Narkissos,

  Basically (and contrary to a widespread misrepresentation in popular "Bible studies") names don't mean. The function of a name (either of person or deity) is to point to someone, not to mean something.

  Even when names are identical with nouns with a clear meaning you don't normally think of the meaning of the noun when you use the name. If you have a friend named Rose, you will not think of the flower every time you call her name. And when you do, you will make it clear that you do by special expression. Functionally, "Isaac" only means "laughter" when the context explicitly recalls the meaning of the noun behind the name. In most cases where Bible texts (e.g. Genesis) play on "names meaning" what they do is actually a pun, or an artificial (popular or not) etymology projected on a name, not its "true origin" (if that means anything).

  This I believe is the case with Exodus 3, which "explains" yhwh by the distinct root hyh, "to be(come)". It is a late and artificial etymology. From what meaningful word (in which language?) the name actually derived is a matter for guesswork. One of the most common suggestions is that it might have originally been related to the idea of "blowing" (wind, storm, breath), which has a number of echoes in the Yhwh texts.

  Outstanding post!

  Thanks. zarco
• 
  39

  So you're out - first thing you did was.....

  by wantstoleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did you 'break the rules' full force?

  did you go celebrate a birthday?

  buy xmas decorations?

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  zarco

  We didn't change a lot. Before we outwardly faded, I got involved in the Obama campaign on a local level and voted for him. I think the only thing that really changed is that our evenings are wonderfully free for meaningful activity and we take hikes/walks on Saturday mornings instead of you know what.
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  105

  What exactly are JWs unique in?

  by isaacaustin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the wt will make the assertion that the witnesses have the truth (i.e.

  are god's org) due to a huge laundry list of items.

  of course, this ignores the fact that their teaching is that they were appointed over jesus earthly belongings in 1919. but, lets roll with it...the witnesses have the truth because they do not:.

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  zarco

  AE wrote "Remaining calm when under persecution and when being lied about"

  I do admire the many individual Witnesses who stood fast to what they believe when under tremendous pressure. It is profoundly sad when the beliefs that such ones are standing firm for change or are proved false. A couple of examples, (1) the change in the blood doctrine, (2) the change to allowing organ transplants , (3) the change in allowing civil service, (4) the discrepancy in how the Witnesses in Malawi and Mexico were directed and many more.
• 
  105

  What exactly are JWs unique in?

  by isaacaustin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the wt will make the assertion that the witnesses have the truth (i.e.

  are god's org) due to a huge laundry list of items.

  of course, this ignores the fact that their teaching is that they were appointed over jesus earthly belongings in 1919. but, lets roll with it...the witnesses have the truth because they do not:.

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  zarco

  lepermessiah - regarding the faithful steward you might find the research by Leolaia thought provoking.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/67457/1/Who-is-the-Faithful-and-Wise-Servant-Its-JOSEPH-of-course

  zarco
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  50

  Could WTS Become a Mainstream Religion?

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i read threads about reform and needed changes.

  i don't like the idea.

  i personally think that a harmful dangerous mind-control cult should not find some way to moderate slightly to keep their membership.

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  zarco

  I don’t think so. The Witnesses will always focus on the “end”. It is one factor they use for motivation.

  Focusing on the end and relying on god to fix everything does awful things to people. It shortens their perspective and seems to limit the motivation to make things better. If one thinks the end is coming soon and god will usher in a paradise, then that person typically does not (1) educate himself, (2) take care of the earth, (3) build businesses and relationships that last a lifetime and (4) live life in a way that strives to make things better now. I think this list could go on and on...

  A key difference between Mormons and Witnesses is – while both think it is the time of the end – is that the Mormons strive to be successful in this life because success in this life carries on to the next life. It lengthens their perspective. The results of a long term perspective are the exact opposite of that which are typical for Witnesses- businesses are built for the long term, they focus on education and live life based on good deeds that make things better now. I realize that the motive for doing such things may not be altruistic, but the results seem to make Mormonism more palatable to people in general.

  A change in perspective that leads to changing the current mindset and behaviors of typical Witnesses would be so profound that I don’t think it could be done in even a generation (a real generation).

  zarco
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  40

  Oct.15th WT- " Wanna Be Jesus Friend? Have to Support the Faithful Slave"

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  under the study article " you are my friends " ( indicating jesus naturally by his quote ) the wt society makes it very clear that the only way to be jesus friend is to come through them or else you won't be approved by jesus or god.

  translation : friendship with jesus = treating the " faithful slave " kindly = jesus approving you.

  our jw relatives will be studying this in december at their meetings.. under the subheading on pg.

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  zarco

  Mr. Flipper,

  Thanks for staying after these issues. Your post on the generation was excellent as well. It is amazing how bizarre these teachings are when you step back just a step or two.

  zarco
• 
  42

  Jury, err, Judicial Committee Nullification

  by Open mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just had a brain fart and i don't think i'll actually try this, but see what you think.. .

  i made myself a promise that i was done serving on jcs roughly 2 years ago.

  and, with the exception of a rubber stamp reinstatement charade, i've kept that promise.

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  zarco

  Please do not take this in the wrong way. But the sooner you live in accord with what you believe the better person you will be. Life is too short.

  Best,

  zarco
• 
  94

  Tribute to Kim Clijsters

  by Leolaia in

  1. social
  2. physical

  today is kim clijsters' birthday and a month ago she announced her retirement from tennis.

  i remember the week she was born very well.

  i have watched tennis since the late '70s, and i remember when billie jean king was a star, when jimmy connors was a hot new thing, and when "virginia slims" matches were shown on wtbs.

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  zarco

  Go Kim! Unseeded and a mother of a two-year old. Go Kim!
• 
  63

  Yay for Womanhood! Female Min.Serv's under consideration.

  by cattails in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the "priscilla" deliberations.. gb subcommittees now re-considering role of women in the organization.. example of phoebe as "diakonos" revisited.. could women be appointed to ministerial servant positions in view of the need in congregations?.

  what's your take on latest rumors?

  http://www.extjforo.com/foro/showthread.php?t=14821.

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  zarco

  Cool!
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  22

  Selling Sacramento, CA Convention Deal to Skeptical Public

  by dannyboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i live near sacramento, ca and earlier this week the local convention authority held a big deal press conference announcing a "deal" with jehovah's witnesses (see clip below).

  based on comments to local news media on their websites, more than a few people are not too crazy about the idea..... i heard an interview on a local station where the head guy [of the convention authority] was defending (sounded very defensive) the city's deal with the dubs, by saying "well, they'll bring hotel dollars, food dollars, and they'll be visiting all of our local museums, evening life, and entertainment attractions.....so the monetary impact will be huge for us...".

  specifically discouraged from doing any of those "extra" things..... hope those attractions aren't hiring more employees to handle the witness "crowds"........ also, during the interview, he said that the convention authority would be able to select the dates for the various conventions.

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  zarco

  Open mind,

  Downtown and Midtown Sacto will surprise you. Since the Capital is so close and the lobbyists in California are so numerous the restaurants in the area are outstanding. The park around the Capital is nice. And if you want a really long walk (20 blocks), you can go from the Convention Center toward Midtown and all the way to McKinley Park, which is very nice. Along the way you will see many Victorian homes, many of which are fully restored. Past McKinley Park is the fabulous 40s – a wonderful area with beautiful homes and small shops.

  zarco