Posts by AuntBee

15

The KNOW-IT-ALL: what makes them tick?

by Terry in

we can hardly get through a week on planet earth without an encounter with a know-it-all.. this none-too-rare creature is ever ready to volunteer to enlighten us in our apparent ignorance.. the know-it-all tells us we are wrong (implying they are right) and sets us straight.

and the best part?

we can barely finish a sentence when the know-it-all corrects us!.

AuntBee

This is SUCH an interesting topic, Terry! I just got a book from the library called "First Impressions". I think it's primarily written for people in business to improve their social/conversation skills, but it would certainly apply to anyone who talks to people, and desires to have friends.

You're completely right - it is so ill-mannered, and it is epidemic! I feel the same way as you do - it just amazes me. I also feel sorry for people who feel so compelled to do the things you are describing. They have no idea of the loss of friendship they experience as a result, and true friends are one of the riches of life!

Do you think the internet has exacerbated the problem somewhat? I mean, i notice especially younger people, google something, read a few web sites real quick ,and act like instant experts. In the old days, you'd have to get a library book , or buy a book, on whatever you wanted to learn more about. Thus, no one could really be an 'expert' on everything, unless they had time to read books all day. And being forced to read a whole book on something allows more time for reflection and critical thinking, and of course, covers the topic in a deeper way, hopefully. (i'm not "demonizing" the internet at all - i LOVE it myself. )

People love it when you ask them about their beliefs and opinions. They appreciate it when you try to understand where they're coming from, and acknowledge good points they make that you never thought about before.

74

Will Embracing the Internet lead to Increased Growth for the Watchtower?

by jwfacts in

more important than the reduction in the size of the new magazine is that the watchtower will be actively promoting its website and encouraging people use it to download magazines.

my concern is that this has the potential to lead to an increase in growth for the watchtower.. the door-to-door preaching work has been one of the most inefficient means imaginable to gain converts, and done little more than tie up the time of active jws.

now, by directing people to the internet, witnesses can spread their message at an alarming rate for little cost.. do you feel that this has the potential to lead to a surge in growth of jehovah's witnesses?

AuntBee

Billy the ex: "Hab SoSII' Quch!"

haha, just kidding.

4

Great article on JC-type Meetings and Psychology - Risks/Benefit Analysis of Attending

by AuntBee in

jw
friends

AuntBee

Sorry, had to switch to Goggle Chrome, duh.

This article is not speaking specifically of the WT, so it uses the words "Star Chamber/Hot Seat" meetings. I had never heard that before!

Now i am having trouble getting the link into here, and have to go to work, so here is the link for the web site: www.undermuchgrace.blogspot.com. I think it's the lead article right now. It's called "What Do You Risk When you go to a Star Chamber/Hot Seat Meeting?" The authors' name is Nancy Kunsman.

Here's a snippet from the article:

To those who believe in the benefits of confrontational meetings with spiritually abusive leaders, I offer this summary of information that I've based on the perspective of the writings of Dr. Albert Biderman. I frequently refer to Robert Lifton as a framework to talk about such matters of manipulation, but concerning the nature of manipulation that takes place directly in star chamber meetings with leaders of spiritually abusive groups, I've chosen Biderman's writing concerning manipulation, thought reform, and domestic violence. In his book, The Manipulation of Human Behavior, Biderman notes how these dynamics that occur during such meetings actually foster "disturbances in brain function.

4

Great article on JC-type Meetings and Psychology - Risks/Benefit Analysis of Attending

by AuntBee in

jw
friends

AuntBee

7

History of Medical Treatments

by allyouneedislove in

you know what would be real helpful?

a complete history of each medical treatment that the wt has ruled against at any given time.. i have tried to do the reasearch, but it is hard.. example: the date hemoglobin started being used for medical treatment, when the injections for rh problems started becoming used, when hemophiliac factors (like viii, etc.

) started being used, etc.. it would also be great if all of those dates were backed by a solid reference.. any help?.

AuntBee

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/medical.php#blood

Hi allyouneedislove - Maybe this link would be helpful?

Egregious mis-quoting of Luther in "How Can Blood Save Your Life?"

by AuntBee in

here's the quote: "martin luther pointed to the implications of the apostolic decree: "now if we want to have a church that conforms to this council, .

we must teach and insist that henceforth no prince, lord, burgher, or peasant eat geese, doe, stag, or pork cooked in blood .

and burghers and peasants must abstain especially from red sausage and blood sausage.".

AuntBee

Here's the quote: "Martin Luther pointed to the implications of the apostolic decree: "Now if we want to have a church that conforms to this council, . . . we must teach and insist that henceforth no prince, lord, burgher, or peasant eat geese, doe, stag, or pork cooked in blood . . . And burghers and peasants must abstain especially from red sausage and blood sausage."

ROFL, can anyone with half a brain not see JUST FROM THIS PART of the quote that Luther believed the apostolic decree was NOT binding for an indefinite period of time?

Here's a link with the quote in its complete context: http://www.godrules.net/library/luther/NEW1luther_e14.htm Luther is making an argument against elevating church Councils to the same authority as Scripture. He's showing that even those who advocate the authority of the historic Councils, don't even keep to this first one recounted in Acts.

Sorry if this is old news, just had to vent....

9

Thinking about presenting a speach to the City Council of my town

by sabastious in

jw
friends

the city council of my town in california has banned marijuana collectives after allowing 16 to put up shop and provide for patients.

the ordinance will go through dec 1st and it will be illegal to setup a collective beyond that date.. i am thinking about becoming an activist for medicinal marijuana and i wrote this speach.

i have never spoke before a council before, so i thought posting it here first would break the ice for me.. let me know what you think, if you agree/disagree and why.. .

AuntBee

I think your speech is awesome! It is very candid, as well as informative. I just now learned so much about that topic that I never knew before!

I can totally identify with what BOTR said: "I don't think most people are capable of understanding what it is to be a refugee from traditional medicine." My husband has an incurable, somewhat unusual illness, and i feel so traumatized by watching what he went through, that I can't even bring myself to go to traditional MDs for any tests or check-ups!

My sister has suggested to my husband a few times to check into medical marijuana; he's taking opiates for pain right now, with mixed results.

Yes, i'd also like to hear an update if there is one.

9

JW Trying to Refute Don Cameron's book

by AuntBee in

one thing he brought up was a new one to me.

he mentioned the "refinement" prophecies in malachi 3 and daniel 12, and how cameron totally ignores them!

somewhat similar to the light getting brighter idea from proverbs, implying that teachings would become more "refined" as time goes on.

AuntBee

Thanks for the helpful comments!

Ding: Yes, Jehovah could have refined any one of them. ---- "They demonstrate that their heart is in a teachable condition so they can learn greater light from the Bible." By this logic, the more an org/church has changed/made corrections, the more teachable their heart is? Maybe some other org besides the WT has changed even MORE, so is even more teachable. LOL.

Of course the only teachings that matter are the ones WT hasn't changed on - trinity, hell, paid clergy, etc. So it's their view on these that makes them the truth.

9

JW Trying to Refute Don Cameron's book

by AuntBee in

one thing he brought up was a new one to me.

he mentioned the "refinement" prophecies in malachi 3 and daniel 12, and how cameron totally ignores them!

somewhat similar to the light getting brighter idea from proverbs, implying that teachings would become more "refined" as time goes on.

AuntBee

One thing he brought up was a new one to me. He mentioned the "refinement" prophecies in Malachi 3 and Daniel 12, and how Cameron totally ignores them! Somewhat similar to the light getting brighter idea from Proverbs, implying that teachings would become more "refined" as time goes on. It is not that difficult to look up both in their context and see that the refinement spoken of does not apply to teachings but to persons. The passages call to mind New Testament verses speaking of believers as purified, cleansed, clothed in white, etc.

Oh yah, and after he made that and other points, i was blocked, as in "conversation over."

20

The Duggars: The continuing wackadoodle saga

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

i am so sad for these people's delusions..

AuntBee

Some of the things the Duggars are into are not well known. Too much to explain here, but anyone who is interested can google "Bill Gothard" "IBLP" "Visionary Daughters" "Quiverfull" "Vision Forum". There is a lot more behind it than just a personal decision to not use birth control. One guy who is the brother-in-law of their oldest son who got married, has defected from the movement, although still a Christian. He has a blog called IBLP detox"

I was exposed to the Bill Gothard seminar in my late teens - he uses Bible verses in much the same way as the Watchtower, almost all completely out of context. His stuff is extremely filled with extra-biblical rules, odd applications and legalism. It seems to have an appeal for parents who have fears for their teenage kids. Extremely patriarchal - girls should not leave home until married, not go to college, etc.