Mustard seed, drag-net, whatever, the vast majority of the rank and file are confused about what the WTB&TS acually believes. Another classic, the difference between New Jerusalem and the Jerusalem above - 9 out of 10 won't have a clue.
Regards
Mike
eyeslice
JoinedPosts by eyeslice
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9
New meaning of Seed Parable
by unique1 ini haven't been to a meeting in months.
but, i recently found out my father has cancer and he came to the hall in my area and asked me to go with him, so i did.
it was the co visit.
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1
Islam ? is it even more rules based that JWs?
by eyeslice inthe passage below is an extract from salman rushdie's satanic verses.
as you well know, he is not the greatest of religion, in particular islam, and by way of a return compliment, the world of islam is not his greatest fan either.
in this extract, salman the persian reflects on the multitude of rules and regulations this purveyor of new religion, the prophet mohammed, has laid down for the faithful.
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eyeslice
The passage below is an extract from Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses. As you well know, he is not the greatest of religion, in particular Islam, and by way of a return compliment, the world of Islam is not his greatest fan either.
In this extract, Salman the Persian reflects on the multitude of rules and regulations this purveyor of new religion, the prophet Mohammed, has laid down for the faithful.So my point? JWs are not the only ones captive to dogmatic, rules-based, inflexible religious institutions.
Amid the palm-trees of the oasis Gibreel appeared to the prophet (Mohammed) and found himself spouting rules, rules, rules, until the faithful could scarcely bear the prospect of any more revelations, ??. ,rules about every damned thing, if a man farts let him turn his face to the wind, a rule about which hand to use for the purpose of cleaning one's behind. It was as if no aspect of human existence was to be left unregulated, free. The revelation - the recitation - told the faithful how much to eat, how deeply to sleep, and which sexual positions had received divine sanction, so that they learned that sodomy and the missionary position were approved by the archangel, whereas the forbidden postures included all those in which the female was on top. Gibreel further listed the permitted and forbidden subjects of conversation, and earmarked the parts of the body which could not be scratched no matter how unbearably they might itch. He vetoed the consumption of prawns, those bizarre other-worldly creatures which no member of the faithful had ever seen, and required animals to be killed slowly, by bleeding, so that by experiencing their deaths to the full they might arrive at an understanding of the meaning of their lives, for it is only at the moment of death that living creatures understand that life had been real, and not a sort of dream. And Gibreel the archangel specified the manner in which a man should be buried and how his property should be divided, so that Salman the Persian got to wondering what manner of God this was that sounded so much like a businessman. This was when he had the idea that destroyed his faith, because he recalled that of course Mahound (Mohammed) himself had been a businessman, and a damned successful one at that, a person to whom rules came naturally, so how excessively convenient it was that he should have come up with such a very businesslike archangel, who handed down the management decisions of this highly corporate, if non-corporeal God.
Eyeslice
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46
Jackson's and Boy's Prints Found on Porn Mags
by Elsewhere inhttp://apnews.myway.com/article/20041212/d86tr8sg1.html
report: jackson prints found on porn mags.
dec 11, 10:01 pm (et).
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eyeslice
Sally - exactly - but none here are the police, the defense, the prosecution or the jury.
The story is in the public domain but that does not mean that any of us have the facts. I am merely saying that we risk being judgemental if we come to conclusions without the facts.
you and me are free to view a person HOWEVER we choose...we as free thinkers can presume a person is anything we want
There is the grave danger of bigotory and prejudice in the above words. Truely free thinkers are very careful with their words and opinions
Eyeslice
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22
I think I wanna go to the kingdom hall this sunday...
by Sweetp0985 inyes you read that correctly, but first let me say that i'm not going to learn anything (as if that would happen anyway), but i'm going to gloat.. the last couple of times i went there a few months ago was because i was being forcedstrongly encouraged (http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/74780/1202255/post.ashx#1202255) and i felt intimidated when i went.
now that i have become a regular reader of various discussions here, i know i can walk in there with my head held high and look at them with just as much disgust in my eyes as they have in theirs because i haven't been begging to come back to such a unloving and hateful organization.. i also want to take a good look at my step-mother.
i know for a fact that things on the homefront have been much less than a "loving theocratic atmosphere" between her and my father.
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eyeslice
There is a word of caution here, particularly if you were a baptized publisher. If you go to the meetings, even only occassionally, the elders will regard you as being under their authority.
I was totally regular in meeting attendance and field service, etc. right up to the last meeting attended. But since then have only stepped back in to the hall once at the memorial (there are reasons for this). Hence, I consider myself no longer under the authority of the congregation. The longer this goes on, the freer I can become to speak my mind and not risk being disfellowshipped for apostacy (would cause family problems) - I am no longer under their authority and show it by not associating at all. Gloating does not come into for me. If you are free, then enjoy it.
Eyeslice
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Anyone read Philip Pullman?
by eyeslice ini once managed to weave a long passage from the firework maker's daughter into the introduction of a public talk (the bit about uncle rambashie's river taxi) and so was hooked on philip pullman long before he published his 'dark materials' trilogy.
i have since read all three dark materials books which seem to me to be pretty hard on god and organised religion.. forget harry pooter, they're kids stuff, these books are very dark!.
eyeslice
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eyeslice
I once managed to weave a long passage from the Firework Maker's daughter into the introduction of a public talk (the bit about Uncle Rambashie's river taxi) and so was hooked on Philip Pullman long before he published his 'Dark Materials' trilogy.
I have since read all three Dark Materials books which seem to me to be pretty hard on God and organised religion.
Forget Harry Pooter, they're kids stuff, these books are very dark!
Eyeslice
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25
The Worst Watchtower I've Ever Read
by MungoBaobab init wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back.
that back had already broken.
it was more of the last nail in the coffin for my allegiance to the wts.
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eyeslice
No not the worst - they are still getting even worse!
Take a look at the article on Xmas in the current Watchtower. See the loaded language and lack of any substance. An article on is the 144,00 of Revelation a literal number had no reason or logic behind it either. The theology is worn out.
Eyeslice
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8
blood, and how publishers are not to know what rules are really made
by DaCheech in.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/16/81637/1.ashx
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eyeslice
The average publisher is clueless about the rules. That is why, up until now, the publishers have to sign the cards in front of an elders. The elders and hospital liaison committe members are just as bad. As an elder, I once asked a liaison committe member about the treatment of minor children with leukemia, and was told not to worry that they would be made wards of court anyway.
Eyeslice
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38
Are people intrinsically good or bad?
by eyeslice inone of the things we were constantly taught as jws was that the vast majority of the world are intrinsically bad; wicked enough to warrant destruction at armageddon.. last xmas, a film "love actually" (sentimental tat really but who says we don't need sentimentality occasionally) was based on the idea that everywhere people are in love and being loved.
also, a couple of tv documentaries shown recently in uk, michael palin's 'himalaya' and ewan mcgregor's 'long way round' had these intrepid travellers visiting remote corners of the earth.
it was striking just how friendly and helpful people can be to strangers.
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eyeslice
My contention is that the majority of people are 'decent' folk who are interested in other. My guess would be that this is partly genetic (survival of the species) and part nutured (our parents bring us to be respectful of others). Those who do not conform to this 'norm' are a rarity and generally are ostrasied by society.
Eyeslice
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7
Bumper Sticker
by BrendaCloutier ini saw this the other day and really like the sentiment.
god bless the whole world.
no exceptions!.
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eyeslice
Nice one Brenda
Eyeslice
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10
The elders wanted to study with my son.....
by Dawn in...so i just found out.
apparently, the last time my son went to the kh with his grandma (which was quite some time ago), a couple different brothers asked him to study and he turned them down.
not suprising - but what did suprise me is that my mom said the brothers then went to her to talk with her about it.
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eyeslice
I am waiting for the elders to come round and ask me to have a study!
Not sure how they re-activate someone who was in for 50 years, served in every position and knows the Bible and WTB&TS theology inside out. Could be interesting.
Eyeslice