Posts by link

There was a Brother in our congregation who was told he had to give up a high powered job with Boeing (sp) Aircraft Company before he could get baptised.

He did so and then went into a partnership business with a friend and they did very well for years.

One day the elders called him in and "suggested" he might like to get rid of his partner because he was worldly and take a Brother as a partner instead. Within twelve months the business went bust leaving the original Brother with the majority of the debt.

Most people said that he was stupid for listening to the Elders.

link

30

A Time To Lay Down Our Arms, Perhaps?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

having had a wonderful week away with her ladyship, i feel refreshed and invigorated and ready for some interesting exchanges and opinions via this site!.

i noticed amazings admirable post where he seeks reconciliation with former adversaries.

well done mr a; long may it continue!.

link

One of the problems is the "I said", "You said" "He said" argument. Fortunately, with a discussion board, it is possible to go back and see exactly what someone actually said, but the arguments still rage.

I would like to suggest that anyone at and above the rank of Jedi Member be able to volunteer as a mediators who can be called in by one or more of the persons involved in the argument. This would not be with regard to subject matter but more as to disagreements as to who said what.

It often seems to me that some posters are not able to read the messages without inserting or deleting words here and there to make the other person seem unreasonable. If they knew in advance that this could be picked up by a neutral third person they would be far more reluctant to do it. This would remove one of the tools from those who might come here only to start arguments.

link

60

Freemasons

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

i am posting this thread because i've seen some people ask "who are the freemasons?

back a few years ago, i had never heard of the masons before.. then, i had some masons involved in my life, so i did a lot of research into them (at the library, on the internet, in books, testimony by former masons, etc.)..

i will start a thread soon and post my beliefs and opinions on freemasonry.. here are a few things i have found in my research.. in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, masons are allowed to believe in any god they want to, except jesus christ.. in fact, in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, the name jesus christ should not even be mentioned.. that makes one wonder, doesn't it?.

link

SS.

You show incredible insight here and have hit the nail precisely on the head.

Why is it necessary for Masons to use exactly the same frame of reference as "Born Agains", for example, when using particular words or even in the interpretation of any writings?

I have parts of this thread on ignore and did not want to comment again but I had to come in and say how well you read the situation. I can happily let it rest now.

Thanks

link

104

Do You Believe In God Or Not?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you've been associated with the witnesses, believing in god was a necessity.

do you still feel that god exists?

if you believe in god, do you feel that he cares about you?

link

I certainly believe in a Supreme Being whom I call God and pray to almost daily. I do so because I have seen a power operating in my life which is not just random and I see this same power in the creation round about me. I acknowledge this with thanks.

However I do not believe in any man made religion because I truly believe that it is "a snare and a racket"(tm)

link

60

Freemasons

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

i am posting this thread because i've seen some people ask "who are the freemasons?

back a few years ago, i had never heard of the masons before.. then, i had some masons involved in my life, so i did a lot of research into them (at the library, on the internet, in books, testimony by former masons, etc.)..

i will start a thread soon and post my beliefs and opinions on freemasonry.. here are a few things i have found in my research.. in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, masons are allowed to believe in any god they want to, except jesus christ.. in fact, in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, the name jesus christ should not even be mentioned.. that makes one wonder, doesn't it?.

link

UnDisfellowshipped,

I have absolutely no interest in playing your word games (complete with mis-quotations) or attempting to discuss the finer points of Freemasonry with you when you say things like:

..you say that all the info on here is misinformation.

Where did I say that?

Also, you say that there is no reason to defend Freemasonry, and yet, what have you been doing on this Thread?

Against what?

I cant compete with that sort of thing so I therefore "retire hurt" and admit that you are the undisputed champion.

(Handing over imitation of Lonsdale Belt and looking forward to acceptance speech).

link

60

Freemasons

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

i am posting this thread because i've seen some people ask "who are the freemasons?

back a few years ago, i had never heard of the masons before.. then, i had some masons involved in my life, so i did a lot of research into them (at the library, on the internet, in books, testimony by former masons, etc.)..

i will start a thread soon and post my beliefs and opinions on freemasonry.. here are a few things i have found in my research.. in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, masons are allowed to believe in any god they want to, except jesus christ.. in fact, in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, the name jesus christ should not even be mentioned.. that makes one wonder, doesn't it?.

link

Nice try Undisfellowshipped but this fish aint takin the bait.

For one thing I can see no reason whatsoever for anyone to have to defend Freemasonary and for another I am not qualified to explain all its aspects and its structure and organisation.

Your comparisons to anything remotely Watchtowerish do not hold water so these wont tempt me to explain misinformation spread by persons who are obviously anti-Masonic.

You see, unlike the Watchtower, it isnt even necessary. (End of story)

link

60

Freemasons

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

i am posting this thread because i've seen some people ask "who are the freemasons?

back a few years ago, i had never heard of the masons before.. then, i had some masons involved in my life, so i did a lot of research into them (at the library, on the internet, in books, testimony by former masons, etc.)..

i will start a thread soon and post my beliefs and opinions on freemasonry.. here are a few things i have found in my research.. in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, masons are allowed to believe in any god they want to, except jesus christ.. in fact, in a "well-ordered" masonic lodge, the name jesus christ should not even be mentioned.. that makes one wonder, doesn't it?.

link

Am I the only contributor here that is actually a Freemason?

It never ceases to amaze me what rubbish gets talked about Freemasons by non-Freemasons. Its just like those with no experience of the WBTS telling dubs all about the "truth".

Larc has made the most sensible comments so far and to the best of my knowledge has the facts right.

I will not get involved with the misinformation here, there is far too much of it to ever sort out. I will just sit on the sidelines and have a good chuckle at some of the "absolute facts" that are quoted by the "knowledgeable".

Any other Freemasons want to join me?

link

25

Do you think its talking down to you?

by WildTurkey in

jw
friends

when talking to someone who never was a jw, and they say to you how could you ever fall for all that?

it does bother me, cause i think it is some what condescending?

how do you feel about these questions?

link

Im another "never been" although I had Bible Studies lasting many years due to my moving around. All my family are "in".

Can I just say that I do not think everyone is unable to see what the attraction of the dubs could be and how strong it would be for some people in certain situations. I am talking from experience when I say that I can clearly see it.

What stopped me personally from "going all the way"? Easy! It was the information available on the Internet. By this I dont mean sites like this, I mean the ability to look up the historical background of the organisation and to check its teachings.

Many, many people (my family for example) did not have this facility available to them so it was very easy to convince them that what was being taught was the "truth".

Yes, they were also vulnerable and were looking for it but the main reason they accepted it was that they had no way of checking things.There is no way that they were all stupid and I don't think that way of anyone who is a dub or even an ex-dub.

link