as with the scribes and pharisees, there are a number of unwritten rules that witnesses are supposed to follow.
here's a couple : "worldly" kids in society depictions are shown quite often wearing their baseball caps backwards.
jehovah's witness youths would not want to imitate that "look".
If a brother gives a "comment" during a Q&A discussion at the meeting(s) and gives the incorrect answer. A sister cannot be called on to give the correct answer as she could very well be considered as "teaching" in the cong. A brother must be called on to give the correct answer or the brother from the platform must answer correctly.
Don't know if it is an "UNWRITTEN Rule" or not, but it makes me sick none the less.
IW
when i was 17 i got pregnant (omg)!!!
i was in a meeting with 3 elders from my nj cong.
and the questions they asked:.
Welcome to the board!
Good for you! You should be happy that you didn't give into them and answer their perverted questions.
They totally get off on this! I trully feel they get off when they disfellowship people as well. Perhaps not physically but it certainly is power trip for them.
The elders in our cong love to df people. My hubbie was df'd and certainly shouldn't have been as is/was the case for many in our cong.
Sick Bastards!
IW
i wish to remove myself from the tms.
i can't stand it any longer.
i am never out in service (i still turn in "informal" time) i still attend the meetings.
Thank you so much everybody!
I can't use health problems as an excuse. However anxiety would work. I loose sleep and and get so nervous about my talks that I can't eat and when I do eat. Well.... I will save you the details!
I really like the idea of just asking to be removed as well.
Thanks for the ideas, it really helps!
IW
i wish to remove myself from the tms.
i can't stand it any longer.
i am never out in service (i still turn in "informal" time) i still attend the meetings.
I wish to remove myself from the TMS. I can't stand it any longer. I am never out in service (i still turn in "informal" time) I still attend the meetings. I feel this is the nest step for me. Is there any way for me to quit the school with out making a big stink? I was just wondering what all of you thought.
Thank You,
IW
dear friends,.
i am taking some time away from posting.
i don't really know if or when i will be back.
Bye Lil! I will miss you here! I wish you the very best in all that you do. Hope you come back soon.
Brightest Blessings,
IW
after lurking for who knows how many months now, i finally did it.
i posted!!!!
i'll have to share my story at some point, but here's what made me do it.
Welcome!!
Thanks for de-lurking, I recently did so myself and am soooo happy I did. You will find tons of support here.
What ever you decide to do I wish you and your family the very best!
IW
my wife has been keeping me up to date on what goes on in the forum.
i finally decided to join myself.
i am not as knowledgeable in the scriptures as my wife.
Welcome to the board ROC!
IW
what do you find physically sexy or hot on a man?
i need this info for my wife's sake, as she doesn't think 6 pack abs are that sexy.. .
abr.
Six-pack abs are very nice. I have never liked the big muscles of body builders. I prefer a leaner build. However looks aren't important at all. What I find truly sexy is a man that respects me and values me as a part of his life. I personally feel that nothing could be sexier!
IW
new to this list so i am not aware what has been discussed perhaps i am requesting for repete answers forgive me if this is the case.
i am very interested in the christ michael argument.
could i be directed to all watchtower arguments where this belief is set out.
HEY POSTMAN!!
Welcome to the board!!
I rember this subject being discussed here before but I don't have the links. However here is some info from the WTS. I am sure others here will have alot more info to share with you.
In the publication "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" in the appendix on page 218 it says:
Who Is Michael the Archangel?THE spirit creature called Michael is not mentioned often in the Bible. However, when he is referred to, he is in action. In the book of Daniel, Michael is battling wicked angels; in the letter of Jude, he is disputing with Satan; and in Revelation, he is waging war with the Devil and his demons. By defending Jehovah’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies, Michael lives up to the meaning of his name—"Who Is Like God?" But who is Michael?
At times, individuals are known by more than one name. For example, the patriarch Jacob is also known as Israel, and the apostle Peter, as Simon. (Genesis 49:1, 2; Matthew 10:2) Likewise, the Bible indicates that Michael is another name for Jesus Christ, before and after his life on earth. Let us consider Scriptural reasons for drawing that conclusion.Archangel. God’s Word refers to Michael "the archangel." (Jude 9) This term means "chief angel." Notice that Michael is called the archangel. This suggests that there is only one such angel. In fact, the term "archangel" occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. Moreover, Jesus is linked with the office of archangel. Regarding the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states: "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice." Thus the voice of Jesus is described as being that of an archangel. This scripture therefore suggests that Jesus himself is the archangel Michael.Army Leader. The Bible states that "Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels." (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16) And the apostle Paul specifically mentions "the Lord Jesus" and "his powerful angels." (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 16:27; 24:31; 1 Peter 3:22) So the Bible speaks of both Michael and "his angels" and Jesus and "his angels." (Matthew 13:41) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.
[Footnote]
More information showing that the name Michael applies to God’s Son is found in Volume 2, pages 393-4, of InsightontheScriptures, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Here is the reference from the "Insight on the Scriptures" Vol. 2 pages 393-4:
*** it-2 pp. 393-394 Michael ***
MICHAEL(Mi´cha·el) [Who Is Like God?].1. The only holy angel other than Gabriel named in the Bible, and the only one called "archangel." (Jude 9) The first occurrence of the name is in the tenth chapter of Daniel, where Michael is described as "one of the foremost princes"; he came to the aid of a lesser angel who was opposed by "the prince of the royal realm of Persia." Michael was called "the prince of [Daniel’s] people," "the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people." (Da 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1) This points to Michael as the angel who led the Israelites through the wilderness. (Ex 23:20, 21, 23; 32:34; 33:2) Lending support to this conclusion is the fact that "Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body."—Jude 9.
Scriptural evidence indicates that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return. Michael is the only one said to be "the archangel," meaning "chief angel," or "principal angel." The term occurs in the Bible only in the singular. This seems to imply that there is but one whom God has designated chief, or head, of the angelic host. At 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the voice of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is described as being that of an archangel, suggesting that he is, in fact, himself the archangel. This text depicts him as descending from heaven with "a commanding call." It is only logical, therefore, that the voice expressing this commanding call be described by a word that would not diminish or detract from the great authority that Christ Jesus now has as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Mt 28:18; Re 17:14) If the designation "archangel" applied, not to Jesus Christ, but to other angels, then the reference to "an archangel’s voice" would not be appropriate. In that case it would be describing a voice of lesser authority than that of the Son of God.
There are also other correspondencies establishing that Michael is actually the Son of God. Daniel, after making the first reference to Michael (Da 10:13), recorded a prophecy reaching down to "the time of the end" (Da 11:40) and then stated: "And during that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people." (Da 12:1) Michael’s ‘standing up’ was to be associated with "a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time." (Da 12:1) In Daniel’s prophecy, ‘standing up’ frequently refers to the action of a king, either taking up his royal power or acting effectively in his capacity as king. (Da 11:2-4, 7, 16b, 20, 21) This supports the conclusion that Michael is Jesus Christ, since Jesus is Jehovah’s appointed King, commissioned to destroy all the nations at Har–Magedon.—Re 11:15; 16:14-16.
The book of Revelation (12:7, 10, 12) specifically mentions Michael in connection with the establishment of God’s Kingdom and links this event with trouble for the earth: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled. And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down . . . On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea.’" Jesus Christ is later depicted as leading the heavenly armies in war against the nations of the earth. (Re 19:11-16) This would mean a period of distress for them, which would logically be included in the "time of distress" that is associated with Michael’s standing up. (Da 12:1) Since the Son of God is to fight the nations, it is only reasonable that he was the one who with his angels earlier battled against the superhuman dragon, Satan the Devil, and his angels.
In his prehuman existence Jesus was called "the Word." (Joh 1:1) He also had the personal name Michael. By retaining the name Jesus after his resurrection (Ac 9:5), "the Word" shows that he is identical with the Son of God on earth. His resuming his heavenly name Michael and his title (or name) "The Word of God" (Re 19:13) ties him in with his prehuman existence. The very name Michael, asking as it does, "Who Is Like God?" points to the fact that Jehovah God is without like, or equal, and that Michael his archangel is his great Champion or Vindicator.
2. The father of chieftain Sethur of the tribe of Asher who was one of the 12 sent to spy out Canaan.—Nu 13:2, 13.
3. Forefather of Asaph; of the family of Gershom, the son of Levi.—1Ch 6:39, 40, 43.
4. One of the heads of the tribe of Issachar; of the family of Tola.—1Ch 7:1-3.
5. A chieftain of the tribe of Manasseh who deserted to David at Ziklag.—1Ch 12:20.
6. The father of Omri, the head of a paternal house of Issachar during David’s reign.—1Ch 27:18.
7. One of the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah who, together with his brothers, received costly gifts and fortified cities from their father. However, when his older brother Jehoram became king, Jehoram killed all his six younger brothers, including Michael.—2Ch 21:1-4.
8. A Gadite and descendant of Buz; an ancestor of No. 9, at least five generations removed.—1Ch 5:11, 13, 14.
9. A Gadite, first of seven sons of Abihail, a descendant of No. 8 and a head of a house of Gilead enrolled genealogically during the days of Israelite King Jeroboam II and of Judean King Jotham.—1Ch 5:11-17.
10. A Benjamite; descendant of Shaharaim by his wife Hushim through Elpaal and Beriah.—1Ch 8:1, 8, 11-13, 16.
11. Father of the Zebadiah who went up to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra in 468 B.C.E.—Ezr 8:1, 8.
Hope this helps some.
IW
i was raised as a jw from the age of 4, my father was an elder for 18 years, was a auxillary pioneer for years, been there done all that and decided to leave at age 30, i have chosen a pagan path and am very happy but sometimes i feel guilty for no reason, does anyone else ever have this problem?
if you do, how do you handle it?
Hi amara!
Yes I have feelings of guilt as well! I am still "in" the borg (for family). I do on occasion drop by some pagan dicussion boards. I do not claim to be pagan but I do lean towards more pagan beliefs, always have even as a kid.
To deal with the guilt I just remind myself that the JW religion is based on fear and guilt. Since both of those things are/were hammered into us as dubs it will take some time to free ourselves of those feelings.
When I feel guilty or afraid I chalk it up to the "de-programming" process. I'm giving myself time and space to deal with it. Be gentle with yourself and in time those feelings will subside. I feel for you amara, I wish you the very best!
IW
