Posts by LiveLife

35

Death to the Pixies: A few questions, just for you...

by AuldSoul in

as an able apologist for jw dogma, i am wondering whether you give me answers with scriptural backing for a few questions.

in other words, whatever your answer is i would like scriptures to support the answer.

i hope that is not too much to ask.. (1) was charles taze russell ever the "faithful and wise steward" assigned to give people their "portion of meat in due season"?.

LiveLife

Death to the Pixies,

But mostly, I am pained by the one question you repeatedly refused to answer from my initial post. I know why you really chose not to answer it. And that is my answer to your inference that Hebrews 13 should apply to the lead of Jehovah's Witnesses. You can't establish that your religion has any authority, you can't demonstrate that they are legitimately taking the lead. It was this unanswered question that caused me to bypass yours, since "those taking the lead" have not been identified by you as yet.

March 2006 ... and you have yet to Scripturally identify "those taking the lead".

Why is it taking so long? My suspicion is that you have no answer to the question.

59

AURAS......

by freedomloverr in

jw
friends

without elaborating at length, there has been a lot going on in my life of late and i have sought out some therapies that i have used in the past.

they've helped a lot.

they are more along the lines of *natural* therapies.

LiveLife

Care to venture what percent of speakers didn't believe what they were saying?

None of the speakers believed everything they said. Most believed the majority of what they said.

As far as I know it can't be useful as a truth detector, it can only be used to tell whether the person believes what they are saying.

37

Arguments against Disfellowshipping

by TheListener in

i would like a simple step by step explanation that refutes the disfellowshipping policy as practiced by jehovah's witnesses.. obviously, i don't agree with the policy but i have had trouble making my explanations clear and straightforward.. any help would be appreciated..

LiveLife

Jesus is even recorded as speaking with Satan. Surely the Bible portrays Satan as an apostate. Yet, Jesus only discussed spiritual matters with Satan—the very thing JWs are forbidden to discuss even with immediate family who are disfellowshipped/disassociated.

Live Life

101

I've been studying with JW's for a few months..

by MichaelM in

jw
friends

i've been studying with the jw's for a few months and i've attended a few meetings but things are feeling somewhat strange...i don't quite get the jist of things but i feel that i'm learning more of what the watchtower teachers and less of what the bible actually says.. i never open my bible.. i'm always reading the watchtower pamphlets.

i really like the people i've met in the congregation and the guy thats been doing the studies with me has been an awesome friend.. .

but i'm just having some issues.. i mean.. they translated their own bible to suit their own doctrines it seems.

LiveLife

MichaelM,

They believe that labeling the OT as "old" makes it seem outdated and less relevant to Christianity. Of course, in terms of Christianity the OT is outdated and less relevant, but has quite a lot of useful information nonetheless.

Since much of their societal models are built upon OT "antetypes" they can't very well draw attention to the fact that they are still working largely from a system that was done away with in the New Testament.

6

It finally occurs to me: The JWs are 100% correct!

by LiveLife in

jw
friends

i really am no longer one of jehovah's witnesses!.

did i getchya?

i bear witness to three: the father, the son, and the holy spirit.

LiveLife

I wonder how many JW lurkers popped their heads in to see whether they had reclaimed one.

Oh, and Ian ... is Jamesson 100 proof?

59

AURAS......

by freedomloverr in

jw
friends

without elaborating at length, there has been a lot going on in my life of late and i have sought out some therapies that i have used in the past.

they've helped a lot.

they are more along the lines of *natural* therapies.

LiveLife

I also told exjdub that I don't talk about it publicly...but I guess he forgot that part. I get tired of skeptics (and skepticism) and I generally don't even mention it if I think that will be the response.

Insomniac, I used to get chastised for not coloring inside the lines, and for making people "too fat", and for using the "wrong colors" for their skin. As a JW I was very confused because the subject of auras never even came up. I had no language to use to describe what I experienced.

I used to have fun at public talks; I was often praised for paying such rapt attention, but that was the only way you could see when the person speaking didn't believe what they were saying. It is a very helpful skill when working with kids.

Now I don't care so much what other people think, I just...
...LIVE LIFE

6

It finally occurs to me: The JWs are 100% correct!

by LiveLife in

jw
friends

i really am no longer one of jehovah's witnesses!.

did i getchya?

i bear witness to three: the father, the son, and the holy spirit.

LiveLife

I really am no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses!

Did I getchya?

I bear witness to three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They only bear the name of Jehovah.

I'm gonna go away for tonight; I have to go...
...LIVE LIFE

37

Arguments against Disfellowshipping

by TheListener in

i would like a simple step by step explanation that refutes the disfellowshipping policy as practiced by jehovah's witnesses.. obviously, i don't agree with the policy but i have had trouble making my explanations clear and straightforward.. any help would be appreciated..

LiveLife

Listener,

My friend, I think it would be much easier to make a clear Scriptural case against specifc grounds for JW disfellowshipping.

For instance: Where is there any Scriptural support for disfellowshipping on the grounds of not heeding the counsel of elders, or on the grounds of disrespecting "Jehovah's arrangement", or on the grounds of failure to repent of conduct that is Scripturally left up to the conscience of the individual?

The only instance in the Bible where Paul recommends something even remotely similar to what Jehovah's Witnesses call disfellowshipping the man in question was flagrantly carrying on behavior that Paul described as shameful even for the nations; Jerry Springer type shizzny. In the rest of the Bible, only rejecting the Christ as having come in the flesh and having been resurrected is ever used as grounds for putting someone outside the 1st Century Church. Paul didn't even recommend this step be taken against those superfine apostles who were actively trying to get people to ignore what Paul was teaching.

When it comes to matters of conscience, it is easy to show that no human authority has any business doing anything beyond friendly and loving counsel. This plainly includes the celebration of certain days. It also plainly includes associations and visiting of temples and synagogues of religions other than Christianity (Paul and others spent much time in Jewish temples and synagogues). The decision in such matters is left between the individual and God, who never errs in judgments and is conditional in the enforcing of rules; not between an individual and a human organization full of supercilious human judges who use a rule book including such toilsome specificity of errors it would put the Talmud to shame. "Did you see her breast? Did you touch it? For how long? Did you kiss it? [etc. ad nauseum]"

I agree with Narkissos that the easiest way to Scripturally address the practice itself is through the secrecy angle but, I believe, initially taking on the meddlesome and intrusive nature of the Investigative Committees and Judicial Committees is somewhat easier still. They pry into many things that are well beyond none of their concern.

Live Life

101

I've been studying with JW's for a few months..

by MichaelM in

jw
friends

i've been studying with the jw's for a few months and i've attended a few meetings but things are feeling somewhat strange...i don't quite get the jist of things but i feel that i'm learning more of what the watchtower teachers and less of what the bible actually says.. i never open my bible.. i'm always reading the watchtower pamphlets.

i really like the people i've met in the congregation and the guy thats been doing the studies with me has been an awesome friend.. .

but i'm just having some issues.. i mean.. they translated their own bible to suit their own doctrines it seems.

LiveLife

That I should trust Jehovah God and his Organization instead of my own heart.

They can show you in the Bible that you should trust God. But they put a rider on it that is totally unscriptural. They have no Scripture to show you as to why you must trust an organization.

They will tell you that the Faithful and Discreet Slave is an organization, but they have no Scripture to show you to prove it.

They will tell you that there was prophesied "an administration" that would appear at the fullness of days, and they will tell you that we are living during the fullness of days. But, they have no proof that this "administration" was to be earthly.

However, there are Scriptures showing that the Faithful Slave can become the Wicked Slave. How could you ever be expected to put complete confidence in a Slave that could become evil? (Matthew 24:45-51)

There are Scriptures showing that there is a heavenly administration that affects the earth. But it it is administered by Jesus, through Holy Spirit. (John 14; 16; 1 John 2:26-29)

1 John 2:26-29—These things I write YOU about those who are trying to mislead YOU. And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU; but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union with him. So now, little children, remain in union with him, that when he is made manifest we may have freeness of speech and not be shamed away from him at his presence. If YOU know that he is righteous, YOU gain the knowledge that everyone who practices righteousness has been born from him.

Even in the New World Translation it is easy to see that they take from the Holy Spirit a role that belongs to no other. Once someone was born of spirit they did not need another person to be teaching them.

They will teach you to spend your time and energy serving an earthly organization when you could choose to
—Live Life

12

How true it is - at least in my humble opinion!

by AK - Jeff in

world?

what about the president who took.

the president.

LiveLife

I definitely agree with the overall theme. However, I balk at accepting any commentary that would suggest failing to ask for a full accounting from our President for his or her choices.

Either We the people are the ones for whom the President works, or we work for him. In the case of the current President, he believe this is his government. He doesn't believe this is our government, where he just works for a while. I don't have a complaining spirit about this nation. I don't believe that excuses any President of ours invading a foreign country for the express purpose of regime change when that foreign country had shown no capability or desire to attack our country.

Either way, however things turn out ... until I die I will

LIVE LIFE