Posts by Cold Steel

13

Quotes where Watchtower claims inspiration

by krismalone in

http://www.eaec.org/cults/jw/jw5.htm.

Cold Steel

I've often wondered if, not only GB members but leaders of any exclusivistic religion, ever question if they're on the right track. If they really believe in Jehovah as the ancient Hebrew God who led the Israelites out of Egypt by miracles, how could they know they've been chosen by the same God to leadership roles in our day? What would happen if a group of reformers within the Church (and it is a church) decided to break away and start a new movement, teaching essentially the same doctrines, but reforming the mind control aspects, abandoning the policy of creating dates, reversing the blood doctrine, introducing love into the shunning policy, opening the bread and wine to all members and reforming the faithful and discreet servant doctrine, perhaps even changing it from a prophecy and changing it to parable or metaphor status?

Why would the reformed movement be any less legitimate than the one existing now? After all, when Charles T. Russell founded the sect, he was not operating under any heavenly directive, was he? Nor was Joseph Rutherford. If the core doctrines are the important thing, why would a reformed movement be any less legitimate? When Jesus inspected all the world's religions and the JWs say he chose theirs, how do we know? We're taking their word for it.

If such a thing happened, do you think it would negatively affect the present system?

13

Quotes where Watchtower claims inspiration

by krismalone in

http://www.eaec.org/cults/jw/jw5.htm.

Cold Steel

They can't have it both ways. Either the GB claims divine appointment and inspiration, or it doesn't. On their website, they say they aren't inspired like the ancient apostles nor are they infallible, so how inspired are they? And how many degrees of inspired are there? If Elisha can call down fire on fifty, can a GB member call down a summer day in the middle of July?

I'd think only two levels. They are or they ain't. But it seems that if they're right about something, they want to take credit for it and if they're wrong they want to chalk it up to human error.

28

If You Question The Governing Body, You're Like Korah

by pale.emperor in

anyone who questions the governing bodys authority is labelled as an apostate and almost always they bring up the story of korah and his revolt against moses.. watchtower august 1st, 2002, the article loyally submit to godly authority paragraphs 8-15.. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002563.

in not so subtle hint, the gb likens themselves to moses, and those who disagree with the gb are korah.. paragraph 15 is actually quite damaging to the gb's argument though:.

it was so unnecessary for all those people to lose their lives.

Cold Steel

Actually, Moses and Aaron didn't risk their lives. If I recall correctly, God told them to go and not to be afraid. In other words, they were under the protection of God. How could they be risking their lives. According to the story, it was the Pharaoh who was the one in danger.

30

Those who DO NOT get a resurrection?

by stuckinarut2 in

so we know that by jw logic, the idea is that everyone who dies is acquitted of their sin and will get a resurrection in the "new world".

however, those directly destroyed by god, or at his command will not.

(for example, those destroyed in the flood.

Cold Steel

The Bible doesn't teach that anyone will be denied the resurrection. "For in Adam, all die; even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive." It doesn't say that all except the unrighteous or "the judged" shall be made alive. At the end of the thousand-year reign comes the resurrection of the unjust; and that means that both the just and unjust will be resurrected in the course of things.

The JWs get in trouble when they attempt to use logic in interpreting scripture. If Jehovah has already judged the people, they reason, why would he need to judge them again?

If Jehovah is the Father, as they surmise, one reason is that he won't be judging anyone. For "the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son." (John 5:22)

Acts 24:15 Paul says, "There shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked."

John 5:28-29 says, "For an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment."

The Bible, they say, is their standard and, if so, they should know what it says; however, they frequently resort to using their own logic to deny what the scriptures say. If they want to believe their own stuff, fine by me, but they shouldn't turn around and claim to base their beliefs on the Bible. If they're right about them being the only true and operational earthly organization of Jehovah, fine, I'd prefer not to be resurrected but to just never regain consciousness. The same thing's true if cows turn out to be running the universe; however, they seem to have their doctrinal wires crossed on the resurrection.

19

JW.ORG logica: I don't get it

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

a dutch saying is "am i that smart or are you so stupid".. watching this jw.org movie about god's name made me use it: .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njtimafdp7m.

jw broadcasting june 2015, 15 seconds cut.. geoffrey jackson is proud that jw.org is using god's name.. then he convinced that jw.org does not know exactly what god's name is.. then he convinced that jw.org uses the name jehovah because it's most common recognized in english.. is this reasonable, asks geoffrey... yes!

Cold Steel

Earnest » Why? Why not use the version commonly understood in our language, as you would with John, Juan, Jacque or Jack?

That actually was the point I was trying to make with them -- that if a name is so important, then why isn't it important enough to be precise with? God has never been known to His people by His name, right? Even the prophets didn't call Him by His name. And in the scriptures when the Lord references his name, it's used as an idiom. For example, in Ezekiel 39 where the Lord says that "they shall no longer pollute my name," He's not speaking literally about a name; He's saying they will no longer blaspheme him in any respect. JW theologians, however, have always taken the term literally. Thus, they address Him as "Jehovah" in their prayers, which has always seemed a bit disrespectful in my view.

Thus if it's so critical that we be so familiar with Him that we use His name, perhaps we should do it precisely, otherwise Jehovah becomes just another placeholder like GOD or FATHER.

20

Joel Osteen's Church is a Cult too ??

by ShirleyW in

jw
friends

it's being said all over social media that joel osteen hasn't opened his mega church for refuge during the storm, pictures are showing this area is not flooded.

i made a few comments myself saying that the jws only help their own in time of need but this god fearing man isn't helping anyone.. just what religion is he and his followers, i guess it's one of those non-denomination churches that collect a shitload of bucks to him and wife so he can afford the glamorous life, nothing new of course, i thought he was just a bit different than the others, fooled me..

Cold Steel

VV101 » [Osteen's] church is very involved helping others with no membership requirements unlike the Mormons and JWs.

Not to toot our own horn, but the LDS (Mormon) church has no missionary requirements, and it's often on-site in stricken areas before the federal government. Key humanitarian initiatives include not only disaster relief, but clean water, vision treatment, wheelchair provision, neonatal resuscitation, immunizations, family enrichment programs and family food production. In 2008, LDS Humanitarian Services provided aid to 3.3 million people in 122 countries. We not only collect monetary contributions in addition to what the church gives, we sign people (Mormons and non-Mormons) up for labor, medical, plumbing personnel on-site.

Osteen, by the way, though his dad was a preacher, engages in what is referred to as the prosperity gospel. It's based on the idea that when you are happy, God is happy. People donate wildly to the cause, but it's definitely not centered in Christ. As far as I know, he's never taken a stand against anyone.

19

JW.ORG logica: I don't get it

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

a dutch saying is "am i that smart or are you so stupid".. watching this jw.org movie about god's name made me use it: .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njtimafdp7m.

jw broadcasting june 2015, 15 seconds cut.. geoffrey jackson is proud that jw.org is using god's name.. then he convinced that jw.org does not know exactly what god's name is.. then he convinced that jw.org uses the name jehovah because it's most common recognized in english.. is this reasonable, asks geoffrey... yes!

Cold Steel

YHVH = YHWH = Ja-Veh = Ja-Weh-Veh = Jahovah = GOD

I remember in the early 70s a JW told me that if we didn't use God's name then He would not hear our prayers. "If you were out in a crowd and you saw your friend Jack, if you yelled out, 'Hey, you!' then you shouldn't be surprised when he doesn't answer you. Likewise, we call God by His name and thus we identify Him, and thus He knows when we call out to Him."

But there's a big difference between pronunciations. Shouldn't we get as close to His name as possible? For someone who's omniscient, wouldn't He know when we're addressing Him? There also doesn't seem to ever being a time when His people called him by name. In fact, wasn't it punishable by death? Abraham didn't do it. Moses didn't do it. Peter, James and John didn't. So why should we? Even if we call out to our friend, "Hey, John!" -- it might be John, Juan, Jacque or Jack. If it's important to call HIM by name, we should get the name right, or as close to the Hebrew as we can get.

But seeing that Jehovah was actually Jesus just adds more confusion.

34

The org tightens the noose on J.W.'s thinking.

by The Fall Guy in

the manipulative use of language by the org in the upcoming circuit assembly talks is as good - or better - than any advertising conglomerate could devise.

the mind-shaping wording is clearly used in order to deter critical thinking by the sheep.. face bad reports as jesus did (9 min.

note to the speaker: explain why spiritually mature people do not become ashamed of the good news or dismayed when faced with negative propaganda.

Cold Steel

Clyde had looked forward to his summer vacation for months. But now as he lay in his hospital bed, staring intently at the slowly rotating fan overhead, he reflected on the shark attack that had landed him there. Clyde now felt remorse at having disregarded counsel. After all, Elder Duit had urged him to remain in Pittsburgh that summer and carry on pioneering work as one of Jehovah's Christian ministers. And if he'd only taken that counsel, Clyde knew he wouldn't be faced with his present dilemma: to anger Jehovah by receiving a soul destroying blood transfusion or making Jehovah happy by refusing it.

It weighed heavily on Clyde's mind. Inwardly he knew that obeying Jehovah was the right thing to do. He knew that while the blood transfusion would most likely save his life, selfishly availing himself of it would be wrong. Sure, his wife Clara would be burdened with raising Clyde Jr. Isabel and the twins, and caring for his mother, now suffering from dementia, but he knew that if anyone could do it, she could. He also knew she could fit another part time job into her schedule. She could even rent out part of their house if need be. After all, the federal prison on the outskirts of town had a steady stream of people leaving it, and these ex-prisoners needed places to stay.

DISCUSSION: What decision do you think Clyde made in receiving blood? What role did Clyde's not receiving counsel play in the shark attack? After reading how God disciplined Jonah, do you think Clyde's shark attack was a coincidence? What are you doing this summer? Do you plan to go in the water?

45

Just A Thought Regarding The Bunker Video

by pale.emperor in

as ridiculous as the bunker video was, a few things popped into my consciousness as i was riding the train today.

firstly, why did they go to all the expense and effort to not only create a bunker, but to furnish it like a living room complete with coffee table, armchair, shelves etc?

i mean, a bunker should be a bunker... boxes of tinned food, tools, medical supplies, emergency gear etc.

Cold Steel

The reason the guy has a Bible is because the government has stopped production of the Watchtower and confiscated remaining copies. The Governing Body is in hiding and some are in prison or have been executed. All the Jehovah's Witnesses are being hunted down and either imprisoned or shot.

I'm not certain why they're after JWs, but they're also after Seventh Day Adventists because they're in violation of the New World Order's stiff blue laws. Meanwhile, factions of JWs are bitterly engaged in combat with SDAs over who's version of Armageddon is correct and casualties are mounting on each side.

At the bunker, Brother Smith has learned that he's been betrayed into the hands of the NWO by the one the Secret Police know only as "the Babe" -- an attractive Hispanic woman working undercover and who had avoided suspicion despite maintaining a perfecf perm on the run.

20

Joel Osteen's Church is a Cult too ??

by ShirleyW in

jw
friends

it's being said all over social media that joel osteen hasn't opened his mega church for refuge during the storm, pictures are showing this area is not flooded.

i made a few comments myself saying that the jws only help their own in time of need but this god fearing man isn't helping anyone.. just what religion is he and his followers, i guess it's one of those non-denomination churches that collect a shitload of bucks to him and wife so he can afford the glamorous life, nothing new of course, i thought he was just a bit different than the others, fooled me..

Cold Steel

The Osteen church is all about making money and helping no one. In his defense, such that it is, he really stops short in making any claims. He never says he hears from God or that he heals anyone. He never makes prophecies or really even preaches Christ. He'll toss Jesus' name in once in awhile, but he's very careful not to include himself in the "body of Christ" or make any claims that might get him in trouble should he have to answer for it later. I'm not sure he even has to ask for money; people seem to just give it to him. He has his own jet and then there are the books. I'm sure if public pressure persists, they'll open the sanctuary.