Gopher

Joined

• started 209 topics
• posted 10,871 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Gopher

• 
  13

  Are they looking for "Rice Christians"?

  by Gopher in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm trying to get a clear "take" on this:.

  the wts has often implied that their form of missionary work, concentrating on "preaching and teaching", is superior to that of christendom's.

  christendom often starts out by bringing food supplies, hospitals and the like, supposedly "enticing" the natives with material goodies.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Agape,

  Thanks for bringing back the topic. But you really didn't want to discuss the topic, eh? I appreciate your interest in where I am at spiritually.

  What I was trying to 'sort out' related to how the JW's passed up opportunities to help their neighbors, along the lines of what Jesus preached. I thought they always did, at least a little. That was a bit stunning to me.

  It's all part of my learning process. All the posts here have helped me a little, except for Trevor's. Comic relief.

  It may take a while for me to reach your level of total disengagement from the WTS indoctrination. Some issues, like love (or lack thereof, as highlighted in this post) are subject to a 'shortcut' key. Christ's teachings are painfully obvious. Other topics (identity of Jesus, etc.) are deeper and will take me longer. (Can't help it.)

  Sorry to the readers for another gopher outpouring.

  Gopher, trying to head the right direction
• 
  2

  Scribes and pharisee question to Jesus???????

  by nogs in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  well i think everyone will know this one, remember the scriptures when the scribes and pharisee's tricked questioned jesus on resurrection???

  the wife of a man who had seven brothers and whom died and married all of them until she died herself whom would she be the wife of in the ressurrection and jesus said that they would be no marrying of the ressurrected ones.

  one day when i was on the ministry with an elders wife and we talked about and her thoughts were that when the earth was finally filled then they would be no need for marriage and having sex etc as the earth would be filled and children wouldn't be needed anymore and then man and woman would live as brothers and sisters platonic, noone has ever explaned the scripture properly to me and if that was going to be what it was like to live forver with no marriage than i'm glad im going to die at armaggeddon!!!.

  1. 
  2. 
• 

  Gopher

  Naomi,

  Well phooey on that sister! I had a presiding overseer (2 congregations ago) tell me the same thing. This stuff is just mere speculation!! Nothing like what they are saying (no marriage, no sex) is stated in publications printed during my lifetime that I remember.

  It's hard to understand exactly WHAT those verses mean. Some of us had fun guessing last night on the following thread. Go down to Moxy's very funny post and read down from there.

  * http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=3836&site=3

  BTW, some others have speculated that the universe is so large, why couldn't God create new earth-like homes "somewhere out there" after earth is all filled up?

  I like that (fun) kind of speculation rather than the no marriage, everyone platonic thoughts. The only other (really weird) possibility I can think of is that God would somehow "turn off" the reproductive process in humans once earth is filled. Have sex, but can't have kids. My thoughts only, just for fun.

  Gopher
• 
  1

  holidays

  by gnambersmom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  could someone please tell me why it is wrong to celebrate thanksgiving?

  1. 
• 

  Gopher

  Um..... because it's a "holiday". Because the "world" does it, and true Christians must maintain "separateness" from the world.

  Or it could be just to irritate non-JW's.

  Woe betide any JW who buys a turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce because "it was on sale", and eats it on the 4th Thursday of November in the USA! You're supposed to be out in service anyway. Just pack a sandwich.

  Gopher
• 
  10

  spreading WBTS deceit and lies door-to-door

  by somebody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she misses him so very much that she still cries sometimes for him when she has a bad day.. about 2 months ago, my husband was at her house working on his car.

  when he came home, he told me that jehovah's witnesses came knocking at her door.

  she invited them in the house.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Great point, Moxy.

  The resurrection is supposed to 're-create' the whole person, with their personalities, intellect, weaknesses, and desires, including those for emotional attachment and for sex.

  So since marriage will not be allowed for 'resurrectees', your scenario (much sex as they want) is the next best logical conclusion! The "resurrectees" will be properly instructed by the WTS, owner/interpreter of the said "new scrolls", so as not to be a bad influence on the great crowd.

  Gopher, making up rules for paradise as needed
• 
  10

  spreading WBTS deceit and lies door-to-door

  by somebody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she misses him so very much that she still cries sometimes for him when she has a bad day.. about 2 months ago, my husband was at her house working on his car.

  when he came home, he told me that jehovah's witnesses came knocking at her door.

  she invited them in the house.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Hi Somebody,

  I can understand your upset, that JW's seem to target emotionally vulnerable ones, anything to try to increase the membership numbers.

  Having recently left Borg-land, I remember the teaching on the resurrection seems to have been softened: If you die BEFORE Armageddon, you will get a resurrection, no matter what your religion. Unless you were hideously evil & worked against God (like Hitler, for example).

  Then they say, if you die DURING Armageddon, then that is your final judgment.

  On your second point about whether resurrected ones could get married: The JW teaching is plain, they WON'T and CAN'T. That doesn't personally bring me much comfort, the thought of being a eunuch in paradise.

  It doesn't seem that too many rank-and-file JW's have examined the emotional impact of that teaching you pointed out, Somebody. It doesn't sound like "good news" to me.

  Gopher
• 
  37

  Isn't the tie a phallic symbol

  by hippikon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i seem to remember reading somewhere that the tie is a phallic symbol.

  can anybody shed any light on that.

  if this is so it should go the way of beards, birthdays, the cross, rock music, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Lol @ Java for point 6.

  7. The cross itself is said to be a phallic symbol. Something similar to a cross had been used in "apostate" worship in Jerusalem, and it was called "a thing causing jealousy" or something like that.

  (Something funny to think about each time you pass a church with a big old cross!!)

  Gopher
• 
  37

  Isn't the tie a phallic symbol

  by hippikon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i seem to remember reading somewhere that the tie is a phallic symbol.

  can anybody shed any light on that.

  if this is so it should go the way of beards, birthdays, the cross, rock music, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Hippikon & others,

  We have the Croatians to thank for the tie. Somebody is right. The tie was spread by soldiers. The linked site below has a few more details, FYI.

  * http://www.dalmatia.net/croatia/history/cravat/tie/origintie.htm

  Gopher (Who hasn't worn a tie for months, now)
• 
  6

  What do you all mean by btw????

  by Freenow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  good morning my friends, i hope everybody is doing ok today.. i am very new here and even though i enjoy reading all the posts i am very confused when i see the word btw.

  what do you all mean by btw anyway???.

  pardon my ignorance, iam sure i will get wiser if i keep reading all your information.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  This link may help. It contains definitions for LOTS of acronyms, some of which you'll see on this board and in chat.

  These include LOL, BRB, and my favorite...ROTFLMAO.

  * http://whatis.techtarget.com/WhatIs_Definition_Page/0,4152,211776,00.html

  Sorry, the link didn't work quite perfectly. You need to copy and paste it into the 'address' box on your browser. Sorry. [>:(]
  Gopher
• 
  8

  Doom and despair.

  by Norm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  warning!

  to all of you, who live in the awful illusionary realities of the watchtower world, where everything has gotten so much worse since 1914, will hate the following information so i recommend all faithful jehovah's witnesses not to read any further as this could seriously harm your ability to maintain the doom and gloom mindset so carefully projected into your minds by the watchtower literature and at the meetings.

  statements like this:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Very interesting post, Norm. Thanks for bringing that to light.

  Usually when I see a long post with quotes, I move on. But I couldn't stop reading this one!

  Also, loved this emotional WT appeal:

  The effects of dealing with the realities of this 20th century can be profound indeed—bewilderment, fear, and depression are common.

  So... if you are not bewildered, afraid, or depressed, then you are uncommon! You are not normal! Get afraid, and then read this article to soothe your fear!

  I for one am grateful that the world is a healthier, more prosperous place to live than it was earlier last century.

  Gopher
• 
  41

  THE TEST WAS POSITIVE

  by LDH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am preggers.. just left the doctor's office and my hubby's office.

  i dropped the little plastic thing-a-ma-jig off, and he said, "what's this?

  are you pregnant?!?!?!?".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Gopher

  Congratulations. Best wishes! Hope your child turns out to be just like you! (What did he mean by that?)

  Take care!

  Gopher