Interesing points. What was Paul? What did he and the other apostles develop in the first century? How can the message that Jesus said would be preached be delived by individuals on their own? How can you come together with no rules? Who makes up the general rules of conduct so necessary for orderly meetings?
I suppose my question boils down to: Can you be a Christian apart from the group?
Frenchy
JoinedPosts by Frenchy
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67
Purgatory, Limbo or the Twilight Comfort Zone
by SolidSender inno offence meant but is this place some kind of waystation inhabited by beings neither in nor out of the lie?
this is not a criticism just an observation.
i know it can take time to make up your mind-solidsender
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Frenchy
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Looking for One Night Stand
by Seven inoops.
correction.
looking for 1 nightstand,cherry with porcelin drawer pulls, dovetail joints, to match 1920's dresser with mirror.
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Frenchy
Three couples are in a terrible accident and find themselves at the pearly gates. Peter beckons the first couple and promptly tells the man he's not getting in.
"Why"? He asks
"Your're too greedy, in fact, you are so greedy you married a woman named Penny."
The next couple steps up and he tells the guy that he's not going in either.
"You are a lush. You like to drink so much you married a woman named Brandy"
The third guy looks at his wife as says: "Let's go, Fanny, we ain't got a chance!"-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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Frenchy
Thanks, Seven, great site...
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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first century events
by George ineven so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of god is nigh.
verily i say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
- luke 21:31, 32.. verily i say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom.
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Frenchy
Prove it.
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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The Dalai Lama said it all!!!
by Zep inwhat attracted me to the wt....i read too many of their magazines from 15-19 basically....it almost got me buying into their stuff, but then, just when i had just started getting into it all, i stopped and dropped it with the idea that i'd look into it later.. i remember reading the book of revelation at age 15 and wondering what it meant, all those dragons and horned beasts...then i got hold of some jw literature and there it was...it was all explained, nice and simple.all those prophecies about the end time seemed so good to a kid....i mean, i never really could understand their blood doctrine but you can over look that...after all, the truth is a powerful weapon, you can make people do anything when you have "the truth"...even murder!..
another thing attracted me to it.....they seemed not to be preaching that bad people would burn in hell for all eternity, that there was no hell, that there was going to be a resurrection of the good and bad......yeah, seems pretty good, a caring religion eh!...everyone is going to be given ample chance to learn the truth and change.
but things change, i started questioning as i got older...gave the bible study guy a hard time with all those questions, then we had an argument and i just cut it off....decided to look at it later.... but their stuff was always in the back of my mind.. well, later is now....6 months ago i wander into h20 rather casual like, couple that with the fact that i find out a friend has fallen in with jw's and i get sucked into studying up about it all.....its very interesting.its amazing how much you chance your world view from age 19 to 27......things are all different now, jw's look like nothing more than a high control totalitarian cult with some rather wacky world views and prophecies??????????
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Frenchy
Zep: You must have gotten in pretty deep in those two weeks. I believe I understand what you're saying now. I know what it is to be of 'two minds'on this. There is something there that is difficult to let go. The longer you are in it, the greater the difficulty.
Thanks for your reply. If you ever truly find 'the truth' let me know, will you?-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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Looking for One Night Stand
by Seven inoops.
correction.
looking for 1 nightstand,cherry with porcelin drawer pulls, dovetail joints, to match 1920's dresser with mirror.
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Frenchy
Ah, Seven, you know we love ya' baby!
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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The Beginning of the End
by SolidSender ini've got my own opinion on this but i'm very interested to hear from anyone who has viewpoints on what impact they think the internet is going to have on the wtbs say over the next 5 - 10 years.-solidsender
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Frenchy
Just a side note here. A Circuit Overseer that I grew to respect once told me that the truest barometer of the sentiment of the congregation was the contribution box. He said that when the flock is happy and satisfied, they show it with contributions. When they are unhappy with the way thing are, they punish the powers that are by witholding contributions. I have observed this very closely over the years and you know, he was right!
Perhaps the money crunch is not a drop in numbers as much as an attitude change.-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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Looking for One Night Stand
by Seven inoops.
correction.
looking for 1 nightstand,cherry with porcelin drawer pulls, dovetail joints, to match 1920's dresser with mirror.
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Frenchy
No wonder she's still single! Should I tell her?
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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The Dalai Lama said it all!!!
by Zep inwhat attracted me to the wt....i read too many of their magazines from 15-19 basically....it almost got me buying into their stuff, but then, just when i had just started getting into it all, i stopped and dropped it with the idea that i'd look into it later.. i remember reading the book of revelation at age 15 and wondering what it meant, all those dragons and horned beasts...then i got hold of some jw literature and there it was...it was all explained, nice and simple.all those prophecies about the end time seemed so good to a kid....i mean, i never really could understand their blood doctrine but you can over look that...after all, the truth is a powerful weapon, you can make people do anything when you have "the truth"...even murder!..
another thing attracted me to it.....they seemed not to be preaching that bad people would burn in hell for all eternity, that there was no hell, that there was going to be a resurrection of the good and bad......yeah, seems pretty good, a caring religion eh!...everyone is going to be given ample chance to learn the truth and change.
but things change, i started questioning as i got older...gave the bible study guy a hard time with all those questions, then we had an argument and i just cut it off....decided to look at it later.... but their stuff was always in the back of my mind.. well, later is now....6 months ago i wander into h20 rather casual like, couple that with the fact that i find out a friend has fallen in with jw's and i get sucked into studying up about it all.....its very interesting.its amazing how much you chance your world view from age 19 to 27......things are all different now, jw's look like nothing more than a high control totalitarian cult with some rather wacky world views and prophecies??????????
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Frenchy
Thank you for your reply, Zep. I'm not questioning your candor here, just explaining my difficulty with understanding your reasoning. You expressed your view of thier literature as:
..an interesting study of propaganda and mind manipulation at the moment
And then you say right after that:
...i'm still not resolved in repsect to JW's
I don't know, it still seems odd to me that one can make those two statements back to back.
What is "truth"...where should truth spring from
I believe I have run across that question somewhere before! Ah, yes, Pilate. Are you asking that question rhetorically? I would like very much to know what your definition of truth is, however. Really.
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-
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Qualified to be elders?
by Andyman inthis is an issue that really bothers me.
the elders are supposed to be looking after the well being of the congregation.
they are supposed to be helping those in need.
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Frenchy
"Worldly wisdom" changes and, as history has shown, is not always correct as has been pointed out time and again in the Society's publications. 'Expert' opinions sometimes vary depending on the particular 'expert' you ask. The Bible's counsel, on the other hand, becomes a matter of interpretation. And interpretations change from denomination to denomination and even within the denomination over time.
There was a time when an elder would have to advise a sister to stay with an abusive husband because she had no scriptural grounds for leaving him. Today if he beats here severly she can divorce him but she can't re-marry. The Scriptures never changed. Incidentally, this change came without the usual tooting of 'new light'. There was a time when bestiality was not grounds for a scriptural divorce. Now it is. Then there is the matter of telling a married couple how they can have sex. There is also a strong warning now about vasectomies. A brother who has one may not qualify for 'exemplary privileges' under certain circumstances.
What are the elders to do? They are not allowed to read the Bible and interpret what it says on their own. You know, 'independent thinking' and all that. They are limited to what is published in the magazines and what is published there is interpretation and we already know that it changes. What is the solution? Whatever is offered will have to be an opinion...and we all know the value of that!
That's what I'm asking you now. What would be your solution to the problem? Please be specific and be constructive and positive. We know at least some of what is wrong, we want to know what would be right 'in your eyes'. At least I do!-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-