Posts by Doug Mason

5

Conditions during the 1000 years

by Doug Mason in

the recent discussion about the timing of resurrections associated with the 1000 years has shown me that i really dont understand what jws have been taught about that period.

it has also shown me that there are people who have a detailed understanding of the period in question.

additionally, frequent pictures in wts publications of happy families shows a degree of understanding by the wts.

Conditions during the 1000 years

by Doug Mason in

the recent discussion about the timing of resurrections associated with the 1000 years has shown me that i really dont understand what jws have been taught about that period.

it has also shown me that there are people who have a detailed understanding of the period in question.

additionally, frequent pictures in wts publications of happy families shows a degree of understanding by the wts.

The recent discussion about the timing of resurrections associated with the “1000 years” has shown me that I really don’t understand what JWs have been taught about that period. It has also shown me that there are people who have a detailed understanding of the period in question. Additionally, frequent pictures in WTS publications of happy families shows a degree of understanding by the WTS.

I have never been a JW, so I have limited understanding of their teachings on the “1000 years”. So I am hoping that the people at JWD will help me to understand.

I think JWs are told that following the “Great Battle” and the start of the “1000 years”, only the “Earthly-hope JWs” will be left alive on earth. These JWs will then have the responsibility for training the rest of humanity on The Truth concerning “Jehovah’s Kingdom Government Arrangement”.

Since the WTS is very anti-education, these “Earthly-hope JWs” who are left will have a lower level of technical skills and knowledge. Further, since all FDS members and its GB are “Heavenly-hope JWs”, there will be no FDS on Earth to provide training and guidance. Is this the reason that the “Earthly-hope JWs” have now received “holy spirit”?

Presumably, because of this situation, will the provision of “added light” have reached its pinnacle, ceasing at the start of the “1000 years”?

Will the “Earthly-hope JWs” conduct a secret ballot to determine a “Big Boss” on Earth? If so, where will this “Big Boss” be located? Will he be near the oil wells in the Middle East?

How long will the “1000 years” last? Are they solar, luni-solar, or prophetic years? Is the Julian Calendar or the Jewish Calendar used (our current Gregorian Calendar was not in use at the time John wrote his vision)? Does this mean that the “1000 years” begins on April 21, January 1, or on Tishri 1. In calculating the “1000 years”, is inclusive reckoning used to fill out the time to the start of the New Year? Or does the “Great Battle” finish on the last day of the year according to the Julian or the Jewish Calendar?

Which language will people speak? Would it be Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek? How will the people learn to read and write in their new language? Will the “Earthly-hope JWs” have to teach a new language to themselves and then to others?

Presumably the NWT will be cut down to only those parts that are relevant, probably to about the size of a Watchtower magazine. In fact this sort of thing could be done now, given the small range of the Scriptures that the WTS refers its readers to.

Will the “Earthly-hope JWs” have the skills and ability to print and distribute their material? How will they manage to get them to people as they are being resurrected all around the globe? Will the “Earthly-hope JWs” have the ability to generate electricity? Will they be able to operate telecommunications systems?

Will there be money, or will everything be open to bartering and trading?

Who will operate the essential services? (Who will repair my computer or my plumbing?) Who will own the oil wells? Who will rebuild the infrastructures, communication systems, etc. that have been destroyed by the “Battle of A”? Imagine trying to teach Ben Hur to drive a car! Will the “Earthly-hope JWs” know how to manage the dangers posed by defunct and damaged nuclear power stations? Will the “Battle” have an effect on Global Warming?

What happens when a person decides to reject the lovely message from the “Earthly-hope JWs”? Will they be shot at dawn? Who will have the skill required to manufacture the guns and ammunition?

Will an injured “Earthly-hope JW” be permitted to receive a life-saving blood transfusion? Will a person have to be an “Earthly-hope JW” to be recognized as a doctor?

Has the GB done any planning to get everything ready for the events during the “1000 years”, when they will no longer be here to control people’s minds? Have they printed the “Guide Book” already?

I am sure the collective knowledge at JWD will clear up my concerns.

Doug

45

Resurrection soon after armageddon or 1000 years after it?

by greendawn in

can anyone explain why the wts claims that faithful dubs will be resurrected soon after armageddon when to the contrary the book of revelation plainly states that the resurrection of anyone other than the saints will occur after 1000 years?

that is 1000 years after the saints begin ruling on earth which will occur at or shortly before armageddon.

let's remember that rightly or wrongly most dubs do not believe that they are in the class of the saints or anointed as they call them.

Doug Mason

Does it really matter?

Doug

17

when did "new light" teaching start. What goof was covered?What a CYA idea!

by oompa in

i am so sick of jw's thinking all past errors (false teaching) are no big deal cause we have "new "light " on the matter now.

recently even my elder/dad said he wonded at times if some of our past teachings that did not pan out could be considered "false teaching!!!

" i got excited and instead of saying "duhhh", just said it seemed like it could be, and that is how/why we examine the pasts of other religions as well.

Doug Mason

It is my understanding that the average JW follows the GB because of WHOM it claims to be, regardless of WHAT the GB is saying.

This has significant ramifications when trying to reason with the GB's followers.

Doug

31

Christmas...pagan? or non-pagan?

by FreedomFrog in

i just read a thread where one of the posters was saying christmas is not pagan.

from my research and what i remember reading up on it, it was taken from the pagans.. let me explain.

first, i apologize because i researched this about 4 years ago and i don't have all of my research material at hand.

Doug Mason

Froggy,

My mother (born Vienna 1911) told me that the children celebrated Christmas on December 5 and 6. You will need to research words such as Grampuss, Black Peter and such. I think this is the case in some European countries today.

Here is one reference I got some years ago:

The history of the celebrations is complex and reflects the conflicts between Protestantism and Catholicism. Since Nicholas was a Catholic saint, Martin Luther replaced the Catholic festivity with a "Christkind" (Christ child) celebration on Christmas Eve. The Nicholas celebrations still remain a part of tradition among many Protestants, however, albeit on a much lower scale than Christmas. The Protestant Netherlands, however, retain a much larger Saint Nicholas tradition. Many Catholics, on the other hand, have adopted Luther's Christkind. (www.wikipedia.org/wiki /Saint_Nicholas.htm).

Here is another reference I dug up those years ago:

SINTERKLAAS
The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, December 6th, is observed in most Roman Catholic countries primarily as a feast for small children. Towards December 5th, St. Nicholas poems pop up everywhere in the Netherlands: in the press, in school, at work and in both Houses of Parliament. On the day of the 5th, most places of business close a bit earlier than normal. The Dutch head home to a table laden with the same traditional sweets and baked goods eaten for St. Nicholas as shown in the 17th-century paintings of the Old Masters. Large chocolate letters - the first initial of each person present - serve as place settings. They share the table along with large gingerbread men and women known as "lovers". A basket filled with mysterious packages stands close by and scissors are at hand. Early in the evening sweets are eaten while those gathered take turns unwrapping their gifts and reading their poems out loud so that everyone can enjoy the impact of the surprise. The emphasis is on originality and personal effort rather than the commercial value of the gift, which is one reason why Sinterklaas is such a delightful event for young and old alike. (www.thehollandring.com/sinterklaas.htm)

It is interesting to see the Catholic/Protestant divide on this. In addition, Scotland plays more interest on New Year's Day (the January 1 date, not the new year's day in April by the Julian calendar).

In his book "The Watchtower Files", Duane Magnani provides some interesting quotes re Xmas (X is the first letter of Christ's name, when written in Greek):

The Watchtower, Dec 15 1903, page 457; Dec 1 1904, page 364; Nov 15 1907, page 351; Jan 15 1919, page 31; Dec 15 1926 page 371

Doug

59

Has the Watchtower ever officially LIED?

by Dead Man Joaquin in

no, i'm not here to defend them.

but you know how they love to get off on technicalities.

i'm sure all here would agree that the wt is extremely evasive, misleading, and intellectually dishonest (i.e.

Doug Mason

A few of their lies:

Altering words in Studies in the Scriptures and continuing to sell them. (see: Shadduck's booklet "Seven Thunders of Millenial Dawn")

Misquoting authorities such as Julius Mantey on John 1:1 and Hislop on "Trinity". (see the booklet "Scholastic Dishonesty of the Watchtower")

Misrepresenting authorities in its booklet "JWs answer questions about blood". (I produced a study on that some 20 years ago).

Misrepresenting historical sources, such as on chronology (such as on the Adda-Guppi stele in Pritchard's "Ancient Near Eastern Texts")

Many other examples are given in "The Watchtower Files", by Duane Magnani.

Its biggest lie: "the Kingdom of God is a government". And on top of that lie, to claim that it has the key role in that government.

Doug

153

MY DAD MIGHT DIE DUE TO THE 'NO BLOOD' DOCTRINE

by Mary in

i don't have much time to post as i'm headed back to the hospital, but my father collapsed this morning and had to be rushed to the hospital.

in a nutshell: he needs a blood transfusion as his hemoglobin is dropping (bleeding internally), but thanks to this fucking cult, that's not an option...........he'll accept the fractions but those bastards from the blood liaison committee have already shown up to ensure he doesn't cave............... for those of you who still believe, i'm asking you to say a prayer for my dad........and if anyone from crooklyn is reading this: you better hope my father doesn't die due to your fucked up rules, .

Doug Mason

Mary,

I have written a study that is deliberately aimed at lawmakers and medical administrators regarding JWs and blood.

It is my conviction that the HLC and others MUST be kept away from the patient and from their medical records!

go to:

http://au.geocities.com/doug_mason1940/Loyalty_Test.pdf

My heart goes out to you!

Doug

25

JW's to be glorified at Holocaust event

by Apostate Kate2 in

read from the bottom up.

i sent them an email.http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20070923/news/709230304/1018/services03/news/center_for_diversity_education_brings_anne_frank_a_history_for_today_to_asheville thanks for writing kathleen.

it is helpful to recieve a variety of viewpoints on this.

Doug Mason

Hi Apostate Kate2,

My ancestry is Jewish too and I have been researching them for some years.

There is any amount of information at www.jewishgen.org, with a Special Interest Group (SIG) for each country, such as for Germany (Gersig).

When you join (no cost necessary) you can post questions and these people will be only too happy to oblige. They are a wonderful lot of helpful people.

All of their posts are moderated before being made public, which is important given the strength of anti-Semitism.

They have large databases, including the names of people who were murdered by the Nazis.

The names of JWs who were murdered at Auschwitz is also available (ask the Auschwitz museum for the details of the book).

Doug

5

Where is the post from earlier this year about Nazi's and WT?

by Wasanelder Once in

there was a post about the holocaust museum considering some info about the jw's and the declaration made in the thirties.

rutherford made anti=semitic remarks etc?

need that info and can't find it.

Doug Mason

I asked Jim Penton about his articles in his "Quest" magazine where he described the relationship between Rutherford and the Nazis. Here is his reply:

"My latest book 'Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich' contains a great many documents and gives a picture of how Rutherford and the German Branch tried to cozy up to the Nazis. Then, when the Nazis refused to pay any attention to them, Rutherford went on a rampage and caused the Witnesses in Germany to become martyrs by attacking the Nazis rather overtly. The information in 'Quest' is a bit dated."

Doug

19

Found= Rose Ball's Bible Students group! Still going in Australia 2007!

by Witness 007 in

rose ball was russell's "step-daughter," his wife later claimed in divorce court, that russell had an "inapropriate" relationship with her.

before this rose had married australia branch servant hennings and moved to melbourne...however.

{yearbook 83 p.40-43} "in 1908 there was upheaval in australia {watch 1910} branch organiser hennings defected and carried the bulk of the melbourne class with him...brother russell apionted r. nicholson as branch servant.".

Doug Mason

Tyrone,

Yes these descendants of Henninges still meet, and I have been in email contact with them.

They are very cautious, so I do not know what success I will have.

Doug Mason