Posts by tenyearsafter

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Earnest, I understand that you are defending Reniaa's right to believe what she feels is right, and I doubt anyone on here would try to deny her that right. The bigger question on this thread has to do with the authority that the WTBTS claims as theirs uniquely. You use Abraham as an example and ask why was he chosen? Unlike the WTBTS, the bible very specifically identifies Abraham as God's friend...by name. The fact that his unique status as God's friend is not self-proclaimed is enough to differentiate him from the WTBTS. In addition, Jesus' lineage can very clearly be traced back to Abraham without need for "interpretation" or change in understanding as to how that can be shown.

The line of reasoning that since JW's have the least number of incorrect teachings is a red herring as a means of accepting their claims. It would be like saying that this glass of water contained the least amount of poison as compared to other glasses of water...the fact remains that it is still poison! The reality is that ALL religions are imperfect, so it is more important to look at salvation issues (if you believe in that) rather than the typical legalistic approach of this that or the other...do we really think that Jesus woud have condemned someone for having a beard, not wearing a tie, saying "good luck" or the many other other offenses that JW's will discipline over.

Believing is one thing...being an apologist without using your own rational thought is disingenuous. I think that is why most people here are frustrated with Reniaa...not because she believes differently than they do.

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

bttt

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Well, I for one am worn out from this discussion...Reniaa, I appreciate your answers but I am a bit disappointed by them. I am having a very difficult time with your explanation of the difference of the cross and the watchtower logo. Outside of a Catholic or Orthodox church, I have never seen worship, incense burning or any other adoration of a cross. In any Christian churches I have seen, the cross is seen as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and a symbol of what he did for mankind. To make more of it would be a bit of a stretch...and the reality is, what difference does it make whether it was a cross or a stake? The issue is that it was the sacrifice, not the instrument of death that was important.

As to the dates and your willingness to just accept that because other things seem right...I guess there is nothing more that can be said about that as it sounds like you are willing to compromise to the lesser of evils.

I find it ironic that JW's try to complicate what was originally a very simple message. If such complex analysis of scripture was required to gain salvation, the eunuch baptized by Phillip, the Roman centurion and others of that time would have never become Christians since they had such limited time for study before they made their commitment by baptism.

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Reniaa...I would be very interested in your answering my questions, but you have ignored each one of them in favor of "shooting it out" with Outlaw or arguing semantics and decorum with Possible-san. Let me try one more time:

The problem I have, and I may not have been clear, is that if Jehovah chose the FDS in 1919 (as claimed by the WTBTS), why did those chosen people continue in "false worship"? The Bible Students still used the cross, celebrated holidays, worshipped Jesus, accepted military service and believed in aspects of Pyramidology and Astrology at the very time they were "chosen". They did not abandon these practices until many years later...would it make sense that the religions of the earth were examined at that time and God would choose a people who engaged in the same practices as the ones God rejected.

Reniaa...does the Watchtower logo constitute a graven image like a cross? It is looked to as a symbol of the Organization. If it doesn't have any special meaning, why does it appear on the buildings, publications, etc.? Reniaa, since it seems to be a detestable practice to you, why was it ok for the FDS to use the cross at the time they were appointed?

I await your response...

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

and Reniaa, since it seems to be a detestable practice to you, why was it ok for the FDS to use the cross at the time they were appointed?

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Reniaa...does the Watchtower logo constitute a graven image like a cross? It is looked to as a symbol of the Organization. If it doesn't have any special meaning, why does it appear on the buildings, publications, etc.?

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

BTW Reniaa, many religions have preached the Gospel...and have been much more penetrating worldwide in their efforts than JW's or Mormons. This is a huge fallacy perpetrated by JW's to try and show themselves as the only ones following the commission of preeaching. Rather than do any fact checking for yourself, you just are regurgitating what you have heard from the WT. Preaching involves more than just knocking on doors...

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Reniaa...not to beat a dead horse, but I think you are fooling yourself if you think you can be a JW and not believe the FDS being chosen in 1919. If you are a baptized witness, I challenge you to tell the BOE that you accept 1919 but don't believe it...I guarantee that you will not slide on that, but risk being accused of apostasy. That is where the difference lies...you can't publicly think outside the party line.

49

How Many Here Had To Go Into "The Backroom"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

were you ever called into "the backroom"?

why??

?.

tenyearsafter

I made it to the backroom when I was 18...it had been reported (by a friend) that I was watching TV in my fiancee's parent's bedroom. I was told that it was inappropriate to be in a bedroom with the opposite sex...even if there were several people in the house (including her parents!). Before it was over, I felt like I had been involved in wild monkey sex with my future ex-wife...maybe I should have made it worth my while!

389

WANTED ! JW Apologist

by wobble in

this must have been mentioned before,but now reniaa is back it could be fun.. if jw's are even part way to the truth,and all other religions are false, then they must have a doctrine that is unique to them,given by holy spirit, but plainly taught in the bible,without resorting to fancifull exegesis and bouncing around from verse to verse out of context etc.. what is that doctrine?.

love.

wobble.. .

tenyearsafter

Earnest...no one says that everything JW's teach is inaccurate from a biblical standpoint. If people were allowed to accept what made sense to them and reject what didn't, as you suggest, then I doubt anyone would have an issue with the JW's. The fact is as mentioned above:

Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Watchtower April 1 1986 Pg 31 Question From Readers

Your comment that "The only reason to accept their beliefs is if they are in scripture" supports what is being said here...and doesn't support Reniaa's comment that there doesn't have to be a yes or no answer. The WTBTS doesn't allow for opinion or "maybes"...you accept it and be a part or you don't and are rejected.