Posts by humbled

3

Is God Really Omniscient?

by cantleave in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6-zi25ggve&feature=em-uploademail.

humbled

If I were omniscient, then I would know.

8

Letters to HQ

by Kool Jo in

jw
friends

so i've heard of cases where individuals got df'd for writing to the wtbs...but are their cases where individuals have written and actually got a reply to their questions without any repercussions?.

humbled

I wasn't df'd for writing them. They didn't disagree with the research I had done. But I was forbidden to discuss anything that diverged from their litrature even if it was incorrect.

Kinda like the case with JWchildren molested by a JW: headquarters won't deny it happened, but without 2 witnesses they will tell the victim to shut up. If they persist in complaining then THEY-the victims- are df'd.

Make sense now?

34

"Do not be called teachers"--Doesn't Jesus OUTLAW all organized religion?

by humbled in

jw's and other churches all set up housekeeping in different theological areas.

some one person can't believe any more what their church is saying, gets a different "take" on god, and......starts trying to convince others to follow them and everything they teach.. nothing new about that.

but why are so many of us blind to this scenario: we allow that some people get to contemplate other thoughts and others are not allowed.only some lead and everyone else must follow or be thrown out.

humbled

Lost--this is where we tell our story of personal faith--and we do find support and also ridicule and also valid critism. All good. All good. If Jesus says where 2 or more are gathered together in his name.... might he be in the midst of THEM? It would be himself to know if we are gathered together for him or for an organization.

Fernando--I realize this kind of post from a person who tries to listen to the teaching of Jesus and mistrusts the destructive-corroding imposition of orthodox-authoritative-domineering-capricious Church veer close to the edge of the abys--(whatever may be there---the real Truth?) But go there we must if following the lamb takes one there.

Still thinking, Satanus and Mr Freeze--I agree that the Judeo-Christian god I was taught is not superior to Zeus or Vishnu. I don't see the OT Jehovah clearly at all as the god of love that Jesus spoke of.

I have said elsewhere that I have had experiences of supernatural nature that make me wonder at what we call God. My experiences force me to examine my prejudices and my sanity, my own fallibility. I am so limited by my circumstances in life that I suppose a kind powerful being must therefore be very generous toward me because I refuse to yield to those of greater scholarship and mental abilities if I sense they are strong-arming me to conform to their views and against my conscience. I take comfort knowing that I am precisely in the same condition as the poor to whom Jesus first preached the good news.

I admit that I am trying to fathom the teachings of Jesus in order to learn who God is through following him. All good things I hear from other faith traditions do not detract from the good things I've learned from him. I don't care whether or not there is a Trinity. What practical reason is there for it? If it had mattered Jesus would have made it clear. But love was the main thing.

36

Dat da da da: Justitia Themis Law School Graduate

by crmsicl in

jw
friends

congratulations to justitia themis on all her hard work at putting herself through law school.

after being raised in the watchtower organization and having survived all of what that entails she has picked up the pieces, analyzed her strengths and has made choices to better herself and the community.. .

i am so proud of her.

humbled

Good for You!

Glad someone let us in on your accomplishments!

I'm sure you will ace the exam.

Maeve

7

The address to send questions for the U.S. Branch

by sosoconfused in

if one has a question that they need to present to the branch for clarification e.g.

- info regarding a teaching that one does not understand, where should the letter be addressed to and to whose attention should it be presented?.

humbled

Letters that may hold your JW life in its contents are basically farmed out to a branch of the Corp. and, if they answer you, has no signature on it when you get a response.

You are answered by a Corporation not by the FDS.

It is an experience that will put a fire under you, though. (Burn at the stake?)

Go for it, it helped me a lot.

Maeve

37

I think my wife is going to open the can of worms...

by sosoconfused in

jw
friends

so over the last 5 - 7 months as some may know i have resigned as an elder and just came to a cold stop going to the meetings.

brothers call i wont answer the phone.

if they come by i just wont answer the door.

humbled

Still waters run deep!

Wow! What a firecracker. Makes me happy for you both! Happy Sunday!

Maeve

34

"Do not be called teachers"--Doesn't Jesus OUTLAW all organized religion?

by humbled in

jw's and other churches all set up housekeeping in different theological areas.

some one person can't believe any more what their church is saying, gets a different "take" on god, and......starts trying to convince others to follow them and everything they teach.. nothing new about that.

but why are so many of us blind to this scenario: we allow that some people get to contemplate other thoughts and others are not allowed.only some lead and everyone else must follow or be thrown out.

humbled

My 1990 Strong's Concordance published by Thomas Nelson doesn't editorialize as much as your edition does on the definition of ekklesia. It does what is proper however by supplying the rerivation of the word parts so that I can think about it.

I want to know what the word meant as it came to the ear of each person hearing it when Jesus spoke it--Not what James Strong, a Methodist churchgoer supposed 2000 years later. I agree with your comment--the word congregation doesn't fit any more than the words synagogue or assembly.

1577.ekklesia; from a comp. of 1537 and a der.of 2564; a calling out

The parts of the word ekklesia remind me of the admonition to come out of false religion, especially because 2564, kaleo, to call, is akin (says Strong) to the base of 2753:to incite by word.

So the scriptures you mention I looked up to be sure I have your sense of them.

It seemed after thinking about it, that a quibble on the meaning of church or ekklesia isn't a waste of time but can't get us off high center.

Since the idea of church authority and the extent of that authority among the ones Jesus "calls out" is where you and I differ.

The scriptures you present can only be understood if we look at Matt.23:8,10. Actually the original word Jesus used. If I understand how a Christian should view official doctrine, universal authority only then would I come to grips with having Church Fathers (oops! Jesus warned us of them in this scripture) tell me what I can or can't believe instead of having Jesus guide me.

I had to find the Old King James translation to reference the original language word--It is a Greek word that, as far as I know is never used anywhere else but this passage of the bible: kathegetes (KJV "master") is the word sometimes translated as "rabbi" or "teacher".

So that where I am. Can we obey Jesus, being a part of his ekklesia by having an orthodoxy determined by a group of men.

Thanks for talking.