Posts by Jeremy C

35

WT: Dumbing down the message; no intellectuals allowed

by Hiddenwindow in

have you noticed that the most recent publications by the watch tower, and particularly the study articles of the watchtower magazine, contain less and less references to secular sources?

there is not doubt that the society was always making efforts to provide us with a historical and quasi-intellectual perspective of the world.

i am sure all of you can think of books by the watch tower that contained extensive information on history, biology, and even philosophy (insight, creation book, the bible -god's word or man's?

Jeremy C

Utilizing secular sources has become much riskier in the information age. The Watchtower has a long history of taking scholars out of context, and using old outdated sources to bolster their doctrinal claims. But today, this kind of shoddy research is not so easy to foist on people who are intellectually curious and Google-savvy.

We must remember also, that the general public (particularly Evangelical ministries) still read and critique Watchtower publications. Their evaluations are also available online. Because of the massive growth of Bible research websites, the Watchtower cannot so easily get away with taking scholars and commentaries out of context; especially when it comes to their key doctrines.

It is safer to just print simplistic material which makes sweeping generalizations and grandiose assertions; while appealing to the lofty authority of the "Slave Class". Hopefully, the rank and file are indoctrinated enough to just swallow their teachings without asking too many questions.

But, I believe besty really hit the nail on the head. Most of the growth is in third world countries where most of the people don’t even know their multiplication tables. The Watchtower has no choice but to radically dumb-down the material in order to appeal to these ones.

I think the Watchtower finds itself in a dilemma. They must publish sophomoric and simpletonian material to reach many of their new converts. But with this new trend, they will continually bore those in more educated countries who hunger for something a little more esoteric. Many of the more intellectually curious minded friend will begin to explore outside sources more and more; and discover facts that are quite different from what is in their Reasoning From the Scriptures books.

The Watchtower’s attempt to shield its teachings from scrutiny by bulwarking them with platitudes, slogans, and catch-phrases just isn’t going to cut it anymore; not in the information age.

77

JW runs when he hears the word "Jesus"

by Honesty in

this morning i was in the office of a company that i do business with.

3 women were in the office and they all asked me how i was doing since i had major surgery last month.. i told them that i was recovering but it was kind of disappointing when i woke up in the recovery room instead of at the pearly gates.. one of the women said, "god must have more for you to do here.".

at which i replied, "yes, there are so many lost people who don't know jesus.".

Jeremy C

The Watchtower has cynically used the Jehovah vs. Jesus issue as another way to differentiate themselves from other Christians. They are simply carrying the torch of Judge Rutherford. The Watchtower movement has thought that it was something new; something revolutionary with it's new gospel. But, there isn't anything new. They have simply reverted back to the Old Covenant whereby the Governing Body in Brooklyn serve as the Witnesse's priestly class.

The Watchtower uses the name Jehovah like a magic charm. They still think of themselves as Elijah challenging other pagan priests to a dual between Baal and Jehovah.

But, they're fighting the wrong fight. They're like a crazy homeless guy in the park who repeatedly punches himself in the face and then claims to win the fight.

15

Dude, this is awesome.

by BurnTheShips in

jw
friends

and just in time for the next ice age.. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/science/20mammoth.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1.

regenerating a mammoth for $10 million by nicholas wadescientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million.. the same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for dna.

though the stuffed animals in natural history museums are not likely to burst into life again, these old collections are full of items that may contain ancient dna that can be decoded by the new generation of dna sequencing machines.

Jeremy C

We had mastodons and giant sloths here in Florida

I saw the fossils (full body) of one of those giant sloths at the Smithsonian. It's size blew me away. The skeleton that I saw on display was about the size of a minivan.

15

Dude, this is awesome.

by BurnTheShips in

jw
friends

and just in time for the next ice age.. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/science/20mammoth.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1.

regenerating a mammoth for $10 million by nicholas wadescientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million.. the same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for dna.

though the stuffed animals in natural history museums are not likely to burst into life again, these old collections are full of items that may contain ancient dna that can be decoded by the new generation of dna sequencing machines.

Jeremy C

thats great.... but that dipwad guy from the band "Mongomery-Gentry" will pay to shoot that wooley bugger in its corral.

LOL - I wouldn't want to hunt them, but I would certainly pay to watch mammoth rodeos. The "running of the mammoths" through the streets of Spain would be even more entertaining. If you thought a bull horn in the butt was bad, how about a mammoth tusk?

Also, how soon do you want to bet that people will begin selling mammoth jerky?

15

Dude, this is awesome.

by BurnTheShips in

jw
friends

and just in time for the next ice age.. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/science/20mammoth.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1.

regenerating a mammoth for $10 million by nicholas wadescientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million.. the same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for dna.

though the stuffed animals in natural history museums are not likely to burst into life again, these old collections are full of items that may contain ancient dna that can be decoded by the new generation of dna sequencing machines.

Jeremy C

The same would be technically possible with Neanderthals, whose full genome is expected to be recovered shortly, but there would be several ethical issues in modifying modern human DNA to that of another human species.

LOL ! Could you immagine if they pulled that off? For one thing, it would put that cave man actor in the Geico commercials out of work. Second, the NFL would begin clammoring for draft picks at the laboratories instead of Nebraska State.

156

The Sigh Thread

by Farkel in

jw
friends

sigh.

i'm tired, folks.

worn out, actually.

Jeremy C

I just stumbled upon this thread. I was rather amused with what Farkel wrote:

It is tough being me. I think I have so much to say, but I have such a small audience to say it to. Sometimes I feel I did something worthwhile, and that which I worked so hard to piece together gets buried in 30 minutes and goes 5 pages back in that amount of time. At the same time, someone else who writes something about a song or a movie or a "feeling" stays on the front of the board for days. I guess I understand what people like to see. I just don't have that to offer those folks.

It has just tired me out, and I thought I was fearless in dealing with idiots, morons, apologists with no arguments and just plain stupid people.

Well, Farkel here is how I see it - for whatever it’s worth. I know that I don’t know you personally, all I can go by is what I see in your posts. I have an inkling suspicion as to why your threads and posts don’t gain much traction. I have noticed that your posts are some of the most caustic and cantankerous outbursts of insults I have ever seen on this board.

True, you are comical and clever at times, but I have noticed that you routinely resort to calling other posters "idiots, morons, and stupid people" when you don’t like what they post. This may just be me, but that is not very endearing to most civilized people. I have noticed many posters on here who are willing to engage in discussions (where there is fierce disagreement) without falling back on name calling and snappy insults. You would do well to follow their example. You may find that more people will warm up to you.

All of us get frustrated and emotional at times and post things we regret, but you have demonstrated a pattern of name calling toward posters even when they have not done so to you. After you do that enough times, people just get tired of it, and no longer want to enter your threads anymore. It reminds me of a school yard bully who begins to lament that none of the other kids want to play ball with him.

Maybe you are so tired because of engaging with people in such a uncivil manner on the board. Perhaps trying to think up clever insults takes more mental energy than just being nice.

Or then again, maybe you really are a victim, and I am just another one of those idiotic morons that you always write about.

26

should i post my apostaphone # before jwd closes?

by oompa in

jw
friends

can we do stuff like that here?.......oompa

Jeremy C

unless you want every bot on the internet to start spamming your Virgin mobile phone with Viagra ads and penis enlargement offers, it's probably best not to put it in the public domain.

That is unless Oompa feels he might benefit from such merchandise.

4

just a boring observation on rusting skills...

by Gregor in

jw
friends

some basic mental skills seem to get rusty from lack of use.

like doing math in your head, composing thoughts on paper, knowledge of geography and others.

it is obvious that our calculators, computers and instant voice communication especially have made the mastery of these things somewhat unneccessary.

Jeremy C

Much agreed, Gregor.

I had to study and practice a lot of math last weekend for a test. I did not realize how many basic rudamentary math skills I had lost over the years. It was an eye-opener.

Personally, I do tend to lament the general direction our society is headed in whereby gadgets are doing much of our thinking for us. One day, I realized that after seven months of being together, I had never memorized my girlfriend's cell phone number; as I was so accustomed to speed dialing it on my cell.

12

I wonder why do the "society" not call themselves "The Way"?

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

there are several places in acts saying that christians in the first centry called their form of worship the way.

a very good name, the right way of living, found in the teachings of the apostles, and of lord jesus christ.. is there on earth a religion calling them selves the way like in the first centry?.

so should christians be anointed?

Jeremy C

And what about calling your self christian? It is connected to Christ. Christ is the same as Messiah, what does it mean? I think many of you know it means Anointed One. So should christians be anointed?

We need to remember that the Jehovah's Witnesses organization is a hybrid religion. It is a patch-work of first century Judaism (complete with it's own Talmud); nineteenth century Adventism (borrowing their doctrines and chronology); and twentieth century multi-level marketing (a "fabulous" product that you "better get while supplies last").

When we see the Watchtower organization in this fashion, we can understand them much better. In an effort to compete in the arena of "end times" ideas, C.T. Russell adopted Adventist chronology and built up a movement around that; similar to an inventor who takes an existing product and makes millions of dollars by making minor changes to it.

In an effort to retain centralized control of this movement, the "Judge" began emphasizing Old Testament prophecy and drawing parallels between Moses and the modern day organization. This is where the legalistic / Talmudic mode of operation crept into the movement.

Then, Knorr focussed on streamlining this operation and exapansion. Knorr ran the organization like a Fortune 500 corporation that was trying to out compete other churches. The organization began to "market" it's literature to the public, and the individual members began to behave more and more like sales representatives.

We really not need focus too much on Watchtower doctrines in order to understand the movement and it's thinking. We really just need to look at the big picture and see the various aspects of the movement as a whole to understand why they must cling to various doctrines.

It really comes down to the organization's purpose for existing. If all Christians were indeed "annointed", what need would there have been for a "Slave Class" using an organization? And what mechanisms must the leadership put into place in order to maintain this illusion among their ranks? These very basic questions go a long way in explaining Watchtower thinking.

45

Even if its not the truth its still the best way of life!

by mtsgrad in

jw
friends

complete the following:.

even if its not the truth...... .

.

Jeremy C

It is the ultimate dead-end job with a publishing company. Think of it this way:

You have a time sheet to turn in = Monthly Time Slip

You have a personnel file = Publisher File

You have regular performance reviews = Circuit Overseer Visits

You have a product to sell = Watchtower doctrines

You have on-the-job apprenticeship = Theocratic Ministry School

You have a killer compensation package = A paradise earth (that is just around the corner)

. . . . . . . . . shall we say, a deferred compensation package