Posts by skeptic1914

34

Watchtower increases pace of accelerated change

by truthseeker in

it's not even april yet, and the watchtower society is revving up it's change at an alarming pace.. this year, the changes have all been big.. first, they announce that there will be two editions of the watchtower - a private edition for members only with only the study articles in and a public edition with no articles.

the 24 elders may be involved in communicating divine truths to the governing body.

the long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 generation change in a convenient "questions from readers" article.. you cannot wear casual clothes after the convention, even if going out to eat.. .

skeptic1914

Here is the scan: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/129876/1.ashx Skeptic1914

34

Watchtower increases pace of accelerated change

by truthseeker in

it's not even april yet, and the watchtower society is revving up it's change at an alarming pace.. this year, the changes have all been big.. first, they announce that there will be two editions of the watchtower - a private edition for members only with only the study articles in and a public edition with no articles.

the 24 elders may be involved in communicating divine truths to the governing body.

the long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 generation change in a convenient "questions from readers" article.. you cannot wear casual clothes after the convention, even if going out to eat.. .

skeptic1914

Starting in Jan 2008, the 1st of the month issue of the WT will be for the public (no JW lingo,etc). The 15th of the month will have all the study articles for the month and be talking just to witnesses. Their was a scan here of the actual letter read at the service meeting about a month ago, but I don't know whre it is.

Skeptic1914

288

Did the heavenly calling cease in 1935? Not anymore!

by AnnOMaly in

watch out for the questions from readers in the may 1st 2007 watchtower.

"when does the calling of christians to a heavenly hope cease?

" it's a good'un.. included are the statements:.

skeptic1914

Ringo5 earlier in this thread posted this quote from a 1970 Awake:

Yes, millions of persons have been shocked to learn that things they were taught as being vital for salvation are now considered by their church to be wrong. Have you, too, felt discouragement, or even despair, because of what is happening in your church? A businessman in Medellín, Colombia, expressed the effect the changes have had on many.
“Tell me,” he asked, “how can I have confidence in anything? How can I believe in the Bible, in God, or have faith? Just ten years ago we Catholics had the absolute truth, we put all our faith in this. Now the pope and our priests are telling us this is not the way to believe any more, but we are to believe ‘new things.’ How do I know the ‘new things’ will be the truth in five years?”

Replace "their church/your church" with the organization, "Catholics" with Witnesses and "the pope and our priests" with GB/DO/CO/Elders and this could be the expression of a thinking witness. Unfortunately very few dubs think this way and to them it will be no big deal about 1935 or who is on the GB. BTW, an interesting article in the WT 7/15/03 - "Think Straight-Act Wisely". I (and my xjw employer) felt at the time some statements in that article could be used to pave the way for a major doctrinal change. Such as:

***w037/15p.22ThinkStraight—ActWisely***In fact, it may be very difficult to give up or even question deeply cherished opinions. Why? Because we become emotionally attached to our views. Then we may deceive ourselves by rationalizing—by manufacturing reasons to justify what are really mistaken and misleading beliefs.

And if necessary, let us be prepared to abandon even strongly held points of view when it becomes evident that they are mistaken.

Some very interesting thoughts, though, in this thread about future changes this might lead to. I agree with the prediction that they will soon stop counting partakers.

Skeptic1914

14

Photographs and Illustrations in WT Publications

by RubyStevens in

this is i guess geared more toward bethelites or those in the know.

in the endless sunday meetings i was always facinated by the photographs and pictures in the books and magazines.

is there a large photo studio at bethel were the pictures are taken?

skeptic1914

Many years ago they used the wife and daughter of an elder in my cong in a picture in the Young People Ask series in Awake. The 3 elders on the Service Committee (I was SO at the time) had to sign off on a form indicating they were in good standing. BTW, the elder and his wife were married by Harley Miller of the Service Dept.

My son was also filmed for a video to be used by the legal dept. This was like 20 years ago. It was very hush-hush but still needed the approval of the Service Committee.

Welcome Ruby Stevens...Skeptic1914

10

My Journey-1975

by truthsetsonefree in

well, after a hiatus i pick up my story.

btw-i have been enjoying others who have been writing like "new boy" and "junction guy.

" between the lurkers who read these stories and our sorting out our thoughts, a lot of good is and will come out of it.

skeptic1914

Thank you TSOF. I've been on the edge of my seat for weeks it seems waiting for the next installment.

I'm sure this will be helpful to many people.

Skeptic1914

31

Define your spiritual side

by JH in

although i don't go to meetings anymore, i'm inactive, never was disfellowshipped, i still have a "spiritual side to me", something that is deeply rooted in.

on one side, i see errors the watchtower makes, and on the other side i take what's good about them, and that's why i don't fit in with them.

i don't meet their standards, nor do they meet mine.

skeptic1914

Even when I was active as a JW, I considered spirituality to be connectedness to God, a genuine relationship with God. It has NOTHING to do with religion and in fact is difficult to achieve in a works-oriented religion like JW. The Scriptural concept in Gal 2:20 about Christ "living in" the believer is the essence of what I'm talking about. Two of my best friends are former JW and, to me, they are living examples of people who are spiritual, who are "connected" to God. They have joined a small community church (in fact he is now the pastor) and their lives are dedicated to advancing the gospel in their area. They are happy and radiate love and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a way they never did as JW. It is a beautiful thing to see.

Skeptic1914

25

Qaulifying for life in the new world

by skeptic1914 in

attended co public talk today, "will you qualify for life in god's new world?.

the essence in this quote: "it is essential that we cooperate with the fds, that we conform to bible standards and that we ourselves share in preaching the good news of the kingdom.

" not once was faith in jesus christ mentioned.

skeptic1914

Thanks for the references, Blondie.

Skeptic1914

25

Qaulifying for life in the new world

by skeptic1914 in

attended co public talk today, "will you qualify for life in god's new world?.

the essence in this quote: "it is essential that we cooperate with the fds, that we conform to bible standards and that we ourselves share in preaching the good news of the kingdom.

" not once was faith in jesus christ mentioned.

skeptic1914

How many of you, after realizing that the GB was basically the wizard of Oz, still went to meetings kind of secretly hoping you would hear something that would let you believe the fairy tale? That somehow it really was the truth. I'm past that now, in large part due to talks like the one given by the CO yesterday (a representative of the GB remember). The very premise of the talk, "Qualifying for Life.." cannot be reconciled with Scripture....

How does one qualify for a gift? A gift that's already been paid for and presented to the intended recipient.

Skeptic1914

25

Qaulifying for life in the new world

by skeptic1914 in

attended co public talk today, "will you qualify for life in god's new world?.

the essence in this quote: "it is essential that we cooperate with the fds, that we conform to bible standards and that we ourselves share in preaching the good news of the kingdom.

" not once was faith in jesus christ mentioned.

skeptic1914

Attended CO public talk today, "Will You Qualify for Life in God's New World?. The essence in this quote: "It is ESSENTIAL that we cooperate with the FDS, that we conform to Bible standards and that we ourselves share in preaching the good news of the Kingdom." NOT ONCE was faith in Jesus Christ mentioned. Contrast this with Gal.2:21,

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law [or ANY set of rules and regulations], Christ died for nothing."

Or Gal.3:11,12,

"Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law [or for that matter qualifying for life in God's "new world" according to the JW] is not based on faith; on the contrary, "the man who DOES these things will live by means of them."

Skeptic1914

30

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 3-4-07 WT Study (OBEY BIBLE)

by blondie in

then the end will come.compare matthew 10:23.. how you can start a bible study.

how is this done?matthew 24:45-47; luke 12:42.. *** w05 8/15 p. 22 par.

[picture on page 29] what can you do to direct the student's attention to the bible?.

skeptic1914

Like nvrgnbk I've been benefitting from your WT analysis for some time but this is my first post thanking you for your efforts. I'll be heading to the KH w/my wife in a few minutes. Fortunately it's CO visit so I won't have to sit thru reading of paragraphs.

Thanks...Skeptic1914