Shepherd Book
JoinedPosts by Shepherd Book
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7
New Books: The Origin of Life & Was Life Created?
by ForbiddenFruit inso family forced me into accepting the two new pro-creation books released at the convention.
i haven't had a chance to read them properly yet, but i expect to be drilled to death by friends and family on how brilliant the book is.. anyway, i was wondering if anyone was working on a critical analysis?
or could join me in putting together a list of flaws in the books?
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Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
Thanks again, everyone, glad you liked it.
I've just learned that I will be discussing this brochure during the next episode of Atheists Talk (it airs in the Twin Cities, MN). I plan to elaborate on some of the things I touch on in this video. I'll post that episode to this site if it becomes available online.
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Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
Thanks guys.
Rocketman - I wasn't trying to say that God came from a single cell, merely that any given god is far more complicated than any cell, and therefore far less likely to have not come from pre-existing life.
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14
Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
I recently completed making this video:
It's a quick look at the Watchtower's new brochure. I try to:
-point out their sad reasoning,
-show how Witnesses actually believe in evolution - a ridiculous version of it, in fact
-let one of the quoted scientists tell how she feels about the Society's use of her quotes.
Hope you find it helpful/useful/funny.
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Newspaper Letter (use as template)
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Shepherd Book
Below is a letter I sent to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, which is the largest newspaper in Rochester, Minnesota. That's the city where the Witnesses' Convention will be held this year. I don't know if my letter will be published (it's a little long for their liking), but I'm attaching it here in case anyone wants to copy it and send it to their nearest convention city. Just be sure to alter location (I specifically mention the city and convention center a couple of times) and the dates (e.g., July or August or both?).
Also, I know some of you already have this, but here's a link to one of the new brochures: CLICK THIS LINK (hope it works).
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It's that time of year again. Jehovah's Witnesses will descend upon the city of Rochester for four consecutive weekends this July, as they’ve done for the past 21 years. They certainly help the local economy – especially the restaurants and the hotels, and they seem harmless enough: this year, their conventions (held at the Mayo Civic Center) will include the release of a video detailing their early history, an explanation of their revised definition of the word “generation,” and two brochures designed to prove the creationism over evolution.
But beneath this economy-boosting and literature-distributing comes a seedy underside: every single loyal member of the Witness religion practices full shunning of former members. Far from being relegated to a by-gone era, shunning will be vibrant and thriving in downtown Rochester this July.
My wife and I have the pleasure of being shunned by dozens of friends and relatives. We left the religion with no grudges, and without having committed any of their “sins” (these include the usual, such as extra-marital relations and interfaith activities, but also mundane activities such as voting and smoking). Still, Witnesses are trained to believe that any dissent is worthy of complete shunning.
Thankfully, this is a watered down interpretation of the stance the religion’s members wish they could take. Witnesses, in particular, have a palpable nostalgia for the days when conscientious objectors, instead of being shunned, were simply killed: “We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy … Being limited by the laws of the worldly nations in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates.” (The Watchtower, 15 Nov 1952)
This relational aggression is immediate and total. Once a member states they no longer believe, they are shunned by all. Friendship and relationship doesn’t matter; my wife is shunned by her own sister, and many of my relatives no longer talk to me. They’ll all be in Rochester this summer, though, so if you come across a clean-shaven, smiling face walking to and from the Civic Center, ask them whom they are shunning: their childhood friend? Their mom? Their grandson? Then ask them if they believe theirs is a religion of love. Then ask them to reconcile this dichotomy. They may squirm, they may run. Either way, they’ll think. It’s never too late to start.
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Day 2 of the Convention is over ... what's missing?
by wannabefree inday number 2 is done.. there was an audio drama, sure, it adds some excitement, hey, its different.. final talk "stay close to jehovah, as jeremiah did" ended with the release of the book ... god's word for us through jeremiah ... not a verse by verse consideration of prophecy, rather, what we can learn from jeremiah's life as a prophet, considers information from jeremiah and lamentations.
(of course informed readers of this site knew of this release already.).
noticibly missing ... jesus christ ... to me it was painfully obvious.. one talk i think was numbing our mind to accept the generation bomb tomorrow.. i couldn't help but realize that throughout the convention so far, the vast majority of scriptural references are from old testament (yes, it was hard not to say hebrew scriptures, so i just did).. i didn't realize it so much in the past, but it seems like jehovah's witnesses are trying to accomplish what the nation of israel couldn't, follow laws.
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Shepherd Book
Wannabefree- You have a PM.
Also, let me throw my gratitude in with everyone else, thanks for enduring this so we don't have to.
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17
New Creation Book
by God_Delusion ini was recently informed (on jwn) that plans to publish a new creation book were well ahead.
is this true?
if so, can anyone clarify this for me?.
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Shepherd Book
Serenitynow, thanks for the offer, but I have a pretty complete "theocratic library". I am just hoping to score the new releases. My Witness dad is coming for a visit in a few weeks, and it would be hilarious if I had the brochures before he did. Also, I think a YouTube video will be in order once I have time to "study" the publications.
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New Creation Book
by God_Delusion ini was recently informed (on jwn) that plans to publish a new creation book were well ahead.
is this true?
if so, can anyone clarify this for me?.
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Shepherd Book
Yes, a PDF would be most welcome. If anyone has an actual copy and would be willing to part with it, I'd be happy to pay more than it's worth!
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77
DC 2010 Releases and info
by JWFreak insorry i have been very busy and forgot.
as promised.
friday afternoon.
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Shepherd Book
@bohm:
I tried to answer those questions at my blog a few days ago: http://zimmerscope.com/Verbisaurus/2010/04/earth-day-doomsday/ (albeit a little tongue-in-cheek).
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Shepherd Book
Mindmelda- Thanks for your further explanation. I enjoyed reading it. Didn't mean to start an argument, so I'm glad none was forthcoming.
Terry - Appreciated your analogy.
Everyone - Interesting post from an ex-JW friend on not believing in theists: http://www.ryansutter.net/blog/2010/02/25/i-dont-believe-in-theists/