Francois

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Posts by Francois

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  21

  The WTs Biggest Deceptions

  by individual in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was just wondering what do the members of this board think the biggest deception in the teaching of the watchtower society is?.

  one of the biggest deceptions for me, one that stuck like a thorn in my side was their deception on earthquakes, hence my previous thread on the last days.

  the wts, as i recall, published supposed proof of the increase in earthquakes since 1914. i was so angry when i found out that this was an outright lie.

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  Francois

  607 was a biggie for me, too. Especially when I discovered that Ray Franz was sent out not to discover the truth, but to find evidence that would support the pre-conceived notions of the WTB&TS. As a highly scientifically oriented person, this was the livin' end for me. I really do think that it's only appropriate in ANY field to do your research and let the chips fall where they may. Picking and choosing among competing facts in support of a favored outcome isn't the search for truth, it's a justification for lying. Lying from an organization that claims to speak for God. Shit.

  But, ya know, there's so many deceptions perpetrated by this twisted cult, it's hard to choose a favorite.

  The un-scientific position taken on such things as innoculations, aluminum pots, and I forget what all else bespeak ignorance of the most egregious kind, redneck ignorance: ignorant and damn proud of it.

  Too much for me, thanks,

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  23

  The Last Days in the 14th Century

  by JanH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the last days in the 14th century .

  all through recorded history there have been people who have pointed to the calamities, horrors and disasters in the world, and preached that this signified an imminent end of the world.

  this isnt even unique to christianity, which started off with strong millennial expectations in the 1st century, and for the most part retains the same expectations almost 2000 years later.

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  Francois

  A well done and impressive presentation of facts, Jan.

  Since the mind is like an umbrella, and only works when it's open, I doubt those who have an emotional attachment to the idea of the imminent end of the world will be impressed. But they should be.

  Francois

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  40

  Are These the Last Days?

  by individual in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone who has left the organisation still feel that these are the last days?

  all down through history people have wanted to feel that they live in special times - are jws just an extension of this?

  for me the biggest problem with this theory of the last days has been the distinct lack of earthquakes since 1914, a quote from the book signs of the times revisited says "as more and more seismographs are installed in the world, more earthquakes can be and have been located.

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  Francois

  I really feel that appeal to the appearence of various natural phenomena discloses continuing regard for a God of natural forces; a primitive concept of God.

  The human race originally, it would seem, worshipped all sorts of things: rocks, trees, fire, wind, the sun, you name it. Worshipping things, especially those it couldn't understand, was even more pronounced: lightening, thunder, volcanoes, and earthquakes. We don't so much worship these things anymore as we tend to use them as ancillary items in certain forms of worship, especially superstitious, cultic worship.

  The plain fact is that as the earth cools off, as it has been doing for millions of years, there will be less convective pressures in the mantle and thus less volcanoes, and less tectonic movement, thus less earthquakes. It's just the nature of things. One day in the unforseeable future, the earth will be cool enough so that no plate tectonic-type movement will occur at all. And perhaps this will happen before San Francisco is opposite Juneau .

  However, earthquakes and such are phenomena that were once attributed to the action of God, not plate tectonics, so sure enough, when God is ready to kill off the human race (except for Jay-Dubs, of course) he is scheduled to engage in all sorts of these kinds of phenomena.

  IMO, this and so many other of our philosophical/religious problems arise from an inability to shed the dead skin of olden, primitive and savage concepts of who and what God is.

  Getting to your question, no, I don't personally believe that these are the "last days." Nor do I believe that there is any such thing as any last days for life on this planet, not in the sense you mean. There may be the last days of our slow progression toward that species of spiritual maturity that will elevate our thinking to realize that God is not the savage spirit-demon of Horeb who is just a cut above a Chemosh or a Baal, but instead is a loving father who does not desire the death of any one of his children (even the misguided ones like the Jay-Dubs, who lust after the violent destruction of all who don't share their quaint beliefs).

  My $0.02.

  Francois

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  29

  Accuracy of Bible Translation

  by ruffian in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am trying to find out more on the translators of the jw's bible.

  they claim and so it claims in the front of their bible that it was translated by experts in greek and hebrew.

  what training if any did these people actually have in these ancient languages.

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  Francois

  IMHO, the NWT is to truth what Stalin was to freedom.

  Francois

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  36

  homophobia is a mis-nomer

  by sawthelight in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since phobia means "afraid of", i think the term homophobia should be clarified.

  to most people i would be considered homophobic, howeve, i'm not afraid of homos, i just don't like them.

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  Francois

  Joel, ol' man, you put a nail in it when you said, "I do find it odd that people have a need to publicly state their feelings about homosexuality."

  That goes for homosexuals in particular for me. I really don't care one way or another what people want to do in the privacy of their own homes (or where ever). I just don't want it in my face all the time. I frankly wish gays would just shut up about it, and that straight folk would do the same. Give it a freakin' rest for chrissake.

  I live in Georgia, so some of the things I do behind closed doors as a straight guy are illegal in this state. But I don't go around rubbing what I do that's illegal in this state in other people's faces, and proclaiming with obvious pride that I engage in muskrat love, or paw dipping every time I get a chance. I don't put on my muskrat costume and insist they let me in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah.

  Maybe I just can't see the point in making it a political cause celeb from either perspective.

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  45

  How do the anointed know they are?

  by jayhawk1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a question that no elder has given me a good explanation on.

  how do the anointed jehovah's witnesses become that way.

  i heard that somehow their spirit is born along with the holy spirit.

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  Francois

  Does all this really mean that a dove doesn't descend one day and whisper it in your ear like I thought?

  Damn

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  34

  Why did you get baptized?

  by NoLongerAjw in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was it for love of the kingdom hall and jehovah?

  pressure .. felt like you had to?

  for me it was because all my friends my age had gotten baptized.. and it was left up to me to do it too.. to fit in i guess.

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  Francois

  I thought I was going to be the first to admit to my bone-headed reason for getting baptised, but nytelecom1 beat me to it: It was all about a girl I wanted to date whose father (ex-Navy and wise to the ways of us evil guy-types) wouldn't allow it because I wasn't baptised. So I took care of THAT little obstacle. Damn.

  Wasn't worth it in the end. Had ice water in her veins.

  She married someone else and eventually had a child. Only the one, I presume.

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  32

  Which meeting was the hardest to attend for you ?

  by NoLongerAjw in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me i think it was the sunday meeting.. just wanting to stay home and sleep in.. but i think the watchtower study was the hardest to sit threw... you had to have it studied before hand.. and highlighted.. then sit there and listen to it all over again..

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  Francois

  Which meeting did I hate worse? Easy. The Saturday meeting just prior to field service, 'cause it meant that field service was next on the agenda.

  F

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  28

  A Question for You

  by individuals wife in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just a couple of quick questions, the first directed at exjws - could you ever see any reason for you to return to the organisation?

  what would have to happen for you to return?

  under what circumstances would you ever go back?

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  Francois

  Will I ever return?
  No, I'll never return,
  And my fate will be unlearned.
  I may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston,
  I'm the man who'll never return.

  Ooops. Sorry. Got carried away there for a moment. With apologies to the Kingston Trio and "Charlie & the MTA."

  Seriously, nothing could induce me to return to the JWs. Not changing the shunning policy. No changing the blood policy. Not changing any policy dealing with any thing.

  Why?

  Cause it ain't the truth. None of it. They don't speak for God.

  I prefer the approach of an earlier poster: If God wants me to know something, he'll tell me himself. No more middlemen.

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.
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  17

  Singles Sign-in

  by Prisca in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  this is a friendly little thread for those who want to pop in and say hi.

  some of us are single, and might even be looking, and with the large number of great people on this board, there may be a chance where a couple or two might meet up!.

  so if you are single, don't mind sharing a little about yourself here, and perhaps curious as to who else is single, then reply here!.

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  Francois

  Well, Introspection, I was just vacationing in SF for the last week and passed through Marin County about six times on my way to various places. Just think - we could have had a beer!!

  Is this place open to, um, mature people Prisca? How 'bout people who are single now but haven't always been?

  Franc

  Where it is a duty to worship the Sun you can be sure that a study of the laws of heat is a crime.