Posts by Faraon

46

IQ and JWs

by Freedomrules in

jw
friends

do you think there is any correlation between intelligence and membership?

most jws i've known aren't that bright, and it seems that most that leave are really intelligent.. just an observation.

any thoughts?.

I read somewhere that the average IQ of a JW child is 101, which is slightly above normal. The researchers for this study, if I remember correctly, attributed this slight variation to the greater than normal amount of reading they do.

Maybe because I am a teacher, I subscribe to Howard Gardner’s definition of intelligence to seven (now eight) divisions: logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. He added recently the Naturalist. You can read about them at

http://ericae.net/digests/tm9601.htm

http://proto.scrtec.org/~adams/epr300/resources/gardner.shtml

I do agree that IQ tests do what they are supposed to predict: academic achievement. The reason for this is that they mainly measure the logical-mathematical and linguistic aspects of intelligence, which is what most educational institutions rely on.

My personal idea of an intelligent person is:

One that can survive and adapt to changes,
Is ethical in that he will not harm self or others, but will work to their benefit.
Can enjoy life and bring this joy to others.
Is a life-long learner in a broad range of interests.

47

Fred Franz and high IQ

by petespal2002 in

jw
friends

i recall reading somewhere that in his lifetime fred franz was listed as one of the most intelligent men in the usa.

can anyone think to what i am referring?

Faraon

I recall reading somewhere that in his lifetime Fred Franz was listed as one of the most intelligent men in the USA. Can anyone think to what I am referring?

I agree.

How many people did he fool and had under his control?

29

What was the funniest counsel/encouragement you rec'd from an elder ???

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

kind of similiar to minimus question, this one got me thinking.. the funniest for me has to be the elders telling me i should buy a 4-door car for field service and not to buy a camaro.

i almost believed them.

telling me in would not be proper to drive that in field service.

Faraon

Gordy - Here in the states, it is considered a sign of "spiritual weakness" to purchase a 2 door car because a 2 door car is not easy to use in service.

Yeah, and because some "brothers" cannot "counsel" the young ones in the back seat comfortably.

14

King of Swaziland blames the world's problems on women wearing pants

by seawolf in

mbabane (reuters) - swaziland's absolute monarch has singled out women wearing trousers as the cause of the world's ills in a state.

radio sermon that also condemned human rights as an "abomination before god".. .

"the bible says curse be unto a woman who wears pants, and those who wear their husband's clothes.

Faraon

Swaziland's absolute monarch has singled out women wearing trousers as the cause of the world's ills in a state radio sermon that also condemned human rights as an "abomination before God".

I agree with the king, at least the good-looking ones should not be wearing anything. Bible tells us that only when they sinned, they had to be covered.

Let this country show a state of innocence.

11

interesting!!!

by free will in

moscow--on may 22 the golovinsky district court ordered the russian government to pay for a philological-psycho/linguistic expert study to be conducted on the literature of jehovah's witnesses published in the past ten years.

"this is nothing more than a determination to find experts who will support a ban on jehovah's witnesses," stated artur leontyev, defense attorney.

good for moscow!!!!!!!!

Faraon

One sociological study entitled The Family and the Bible, conducted by A.I. Antonov, head of the Department of Family Sociology at the Lomonsov Moscow State University, established that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses "plays an important role in strengthening the institute of the family." In particular it shows a divorce rate among Jehovah's Witnesses of less than 5 percent compared with 40 percent among the general population of Moscow. The study also revealed a much higher level of education among Jehovah's Witnesses (when compared with that of the average Muscovite), which tends toward independent rational thinking and decision-making. "Tolerant attitudes and conduct improve the longer a person is a Witness," said Professor Antonov.

Either he is a liar, this is the usual propaganda of the WT, or suffers from delusions. In order to make a study like this, the WTBTS should open their membership files, past and present. I'd like to see really the results then. I could say that Catholics have 0% of divorce rates, if they excomunicate 100% of their divorcees.

11

interesting!!!

by free will in

moscow--on may 22 the golovinsky district court ordered the russian government to pay for a philological-psycho/linguistic expert study to be conducted on the literature of jehovah's witnesses published in the past ten years.

"this is nothing more than a determination to find experts who will support a ban on jehovah's witnesses," stated artur leontyev, defense attorney.

good for moscow!!!!!!!!

Faraon

I hope that remark doesn't mean what I think it does. It would be truly ironic if a poster named "free will" actually supported the government banning a religion with which he/she doesn't agree.

I support Russia’s decision to check up on destructive cults. Human rights advocates should take the stand against those who abuse people and control them mentally. JWs claim to have obtained enhanced freedoms for people, but keep their own people in chains. A cult should be automatically banned once it curtails its members from having the same liberties that a nation at large has or is responsible for deaths through neglect.

The majority of attorneys in America also do not get the point that in a divorce court against a cult, it is not about religion, but about the physical and mental welfare of a child that is in the balance. I am not against their religious beliefs, they can keep on worshipping their mythical Jewish god of war, or worship a chair. The problem begins when those beliefs work against the physical and mental health of the citizens of a country, and destroy the family bonds. Would you support a religion that kills and burns other human beings just because it is a religion? I am an agnostic, yet Catholics, Buddhists, Baptists, and others do not order the shunning of their own relatives, or let them die because of a blood transfusion.

Look, I dislike the Watchtower as much as anyone, and I think the things they do are reprehensible. But the way to fight them is not by restricting freedom of religion, because that "solution" can quickly be extended to all faiths. If you'll recall, that was the case in Russia not so very long ago. It wasn't just JW's who suffered there, it was all believers in all religions!

This order was to pay for a philological-psycho/linguistic expert study to be conducted on the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses published in the past ten years. I support this. I wish more governments had the guts to follow suit. I agree that best way do it would be to educate the public. Make public their wrongs, have debates with their representatives on radio and television, and after that, ban them also, but after the reasons for their banning have been understood by the majority of the people.

No, the way to fight the Watchtower is the same there as it is here - expose them! Expose their lies, hypocrisy, unscriptural teachings and false prophecy. Help JW's to start thinking for themselves. Expecting governments to act against false religions is a dangerous row to hoe; all to quickly, everyone's freedoms can be lost.

I partly agree. Educating is the best way. But a nation has a duty to all citizens. It is time to protect them all and not allow their protection for the sake of their being a religion. They should be sued for breach of contract. In their baptism it should be specified all the dangers of belonging to them, and the right to give their free will once baptized, such as having to change their beliefs once the GB changes its mind.

Blondie,

Thanks for the link.

What bothers me is that I cannot find an email to the Russian Gov. supporting their decision.

11

interesting!!!

by free will in

moscow--on may 22 the golovinsky district court ordered the russian government to pay for a philological-psycho/linguistic expert study to be conducted on the literature of jehovah's witnesses published in the past ten years.

"this is nothing more than a determination to find experts who will support a ban on jehovah's witnesses," stated artur leontyev, defense attorney.

good for moscow!!!!!!!!

Faraon

MOSCOW--On May 22 the Golovinsky District Court ordered the Russian government to pay for a philological-psycho/linguistic expert study to be conducted on the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses published in the past ten years. "This is nothing more than a determination to find experts who will support a ban on Jehovah's Witnesses," stated Artur Leontyev, defense attorney.

Do you have a link for this?

A question that arises is why they would limit this to the last ten years.

Another would be which literature will be included, and statements in their meetings, which sometimes are more revealing than their written comentaries.

7

The WTS will tell you what Jehovah left out! (Worship book, chapter 5)

by ozziepost in

are there things that god doesnt know?

do we constantly have to be proving ourselves to god?

that seems to be the thinking in chapter 5 of the recently released book worship the only true god.

Faraon

He is aware of thoughts and conduct that can spoil a person's relationship with Him and with fellow humans

Are “apostates” the ones spoiling a relationship with fellow humans, like the humans telling the JWs not to mix with people who don’t believe like them, and therefore ruining a person's relationship with fellow humans?

17

who gave isreal to Jehovah?

by peacefulpete in

i thought this was discssed before but i couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious.

at deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of moses" the text says the "most high" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave judah to yhwh/jehovah as his "allotment".

this "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the moses character.

Faraon

I recently (in the last week) came into an online translation of the LXX.

Does anyone know what this link is?

I'd like to know because I also believe that a mistranslation of the mythological phoenix is properly translated there.

Another comment: Joseph Wheless says in is book "Is It God's Word" that El Shaddai actually means "god my demon" instead of god almighty. Any truth to that?

6

Watchtower Society 13 Step Survival Guide for 21st Century

by gitasatsangha in

congrats watchtower.

you've survived the 19th and 20th centuries.

no mean feat.

Faraon

Questions:

Institute a department of internal affairs strictly for elders and other persons in positions of responsibility

So what happens if the elders have their affairs with “worldy” women?
Would this positions of responsibility include the missionary position?

Communalize the witnesses. Not necessarilly Amish style, but have these poorly educated suckers share what they got and not have to worry as much about "the world". Isolate them.

Does that mean all witnesses will be concentrated in broethels around the world?