op-ed piece in the times: http://partners.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/opinion/02rich.html.
an excerpt:.
"the president's sentiments were no doubt sincere, as is his muscular pursuit of the killers.
Seeker,
DRed said:
Just so you know, I have was raised a Democrat and switched to Republican. Now, I do not parrot either, but seek my own answers.It never fails to amaze me that because the vested interests have decided that there should be only two categories, people think that are only two categories of thought. Someone who didn't "parrot" either wouldn't label themselves as one or the other either.
Herbert
i received a letter today from the watchtower explaining their reasons for registering with the dpi.
the last paragraph is perhaps the most interesting, though it may contain no new information.. .
joseph f. alward.
nowandfree,
It's genuine. Alward probably identified himself as a non JW and so they referred to him as "Mr." Pretty standard stuff in letters to nonJWS.
Also, there' no way that Alward would fake such a letter.
Herbert
the following video was buzzing around bethel last week, it is also on their media website, there is also an awake article prepared to counter the fallout of the dateline program.
it appears that the borg are not prepared to take this without a fight.. however when people get to see the facts, not the spin, the fan will truly be hit my something not very nice.
jehovah's witnesses.
Jehovah's Witnesses hope that the message in this public service announcement will encourage parents to take the time to listen to their children and talk to them, letting them know they are loved.
Maybe they should add that their children may be "loved" by the elders too.
Disgusting hypocrites.
herbert
i received a letter today from the watchtower explaining their reasons for registering with the dpi.
the last paragraph is perhaps the most interesting, though it may contain no new information.. .
joseph f. alward.
It's also interesting that the WTS letter claims that the Watchtower and Awake! contain "well-researched information." That's another example of Theo. War Strat. too - sure they do contain some well-researched information - just not on things that matter like blood transfusions, chronology, etc. Ask Carl Olof Jonsson how "well-researched" is their information on 1914, 607 and "this generation." Or ask John Durant or a score of other evolutionary scientists who have been misquoted by WT "researchers" to make them appear to say the exact opposite of what they said.
Go on Joe, write and ask Harry why they misquoted John Durant - was that done in an effort to be truthful. While you're at it, why not publish the letter that you sent to the WTS - will you do that, so that we can understand why the WTS went out of its way to thank you for your valiant efforts on their behalf.
Herbert
alward's at it again - over in the scandals section he has published a letter from the wts saying - guess what?
"we only did it for the library card!
" apparently, joe is so keen on the wts, or on saving his own sorry face, that he wrote a fawning letter to brooklyn and they replied with the same hogwash - minus documentation of course - about how they affiliated as an ngo with the un only for "research.
Alward's at it again - over in the Scandals section he has published a letter from the WTS saying - guess what? "We only did it for the library card!" Apparently, Joe is so keen on the WTS, or on saving his own sorry face, that he wrote a fawning letter to Brooklyn and they replied with the same hogwash - minus documentation of course - about how they affiliated as an NGO with the UN only for "research." Joe swallowed this hook line and sinker - or maybe he's just a WTS drone and propagandist himself.
The WTS is guilty of causing deaths due to a blood policy that it cannot articulate even to one of its own elders, and of protecting child abusers - pedophiles. Yet, we have a physics professor from a public University in California spending his time defending this cult - even touting the merits of theocratic war strategy. Now, of course, he's protected by academic freedom and all that - nevertheless, I am interested in why a person entrusted with educating young people is defending so aggressively a destructive cult like the WTS - especially given its record in regard to pedophilia. What would an "untheocratic" war strategist make of that? After all, who would want to be known publicly as a supporter of a group that decries higher education, protects pedophiles, can't explain its own blood doctrine and which regularly misquotes scientists to prop up its teachings about evolution? Few would, but, interestingly, a physics prof. at a public institution seems to want to buoy up this organization. Why? Just as he has the right to say what he thinks, we have the right to direct attention to the unusual campaign being conducted by a public educator who claims to be skeptical of Christian religions.
Herbert
i received a letter today from the watchtower explaining their reasons for registering with the dpi.
the last paragraph is perhaps the most interesting, though it may contain no new information.. .
joseph f. alward.
As usual, J Alward has hit the nail somewhat to left-field of its head. He opines;
Thus, I think most Jehovah's Witnesses would understand that the publication of the articles was a form of theocratic warfare, and would heartily approve.Unfortunately he doesn't recognize that their letter to him is more of the same. Most JWs would laugh heartily at the idea that their worldly defender has been so easily duped into defending them. Most exJWs are simply amused that an inexperienced outsider like Joe thinks that he can set the record straight for us poor biased, dumb, exJWs. Incidentally, theorcatic war strategy is just another name for simple deception or lying and Alward's apparent gloryfying of it shows just how much he respects truth and objectivity.
What did Alward expect the WTS to write; "Dear Mighty Joe Alward, we lied to everyone else, but now that you, that valiant seeker after truth has written to use, we will tell you the plain unvarnished truth, and so we admit to our duplicity." ??? Is he so arrogant as to have expected such a response because of his evidently ingratiating letter?
Or would they resort to the same Theocratic War Strategy that they have employed all along? As usual, the letter from the WTS contains neither verifiable facts nor documentation and is therefore totally meaningless. It is a mere expression of the party line and a typical example of how the WTS refuses to address the issues honestly. So why did Joe bother publishing it? The only things that it demonstrates are that Joe is clueless and the WTS knows it. After all, a true scholar would have demanded evidence rather than, somewhat fawningly it seems, soliciting opinions that confirm his own bias. I'd love to watch Joe cross-exmine Slobodan Milosevic. In any event, that Joe has published the letter without noting that it contains no proof or actual evidence speaks much about his skills as an investigator.
It's also interesting that the WTS thanked Joe for apparently expressing his preconceived opinion that the WTS was innocent of any guilt. Hardly the approach taken by an unbiased person who's interested in getting to the bottom of a matter, now is it? Researcher bias is a very dangerous thing.
It's also very curious that a self-proclaimed skeptic of Christianity is such an ardent supporter of the WTS.
All in all Alward here shows himself not only to be incompetent as a researcher but a dishonest one to boot.
Herbert
this is straight from touchstone forum: http://www.touchstoneforum.org/.
"why are we jehovah's witnesses?".
let me approach the big picture from this angle.. jehovahs witnesses know that the christian organization that they are affiliated with has made errors in the past.
Englishman,
Good stuff.
There is no scientific evidence against the fact of evolution. What's more, the WTS wouldn't need to resort to misquotes obtained third hand from fundy creationists if such evidence existed. That they persist in telling lies on this single issue negates all else they say - thus there is no need to refute the rest since liars won't inherit the kingdom. If details are needed then they are esaily supplied - e.g., just type the name John Durant into the WT CD search engine and then track down the original article by Prof. Durant.
Of course, the rest could and should be refuted - as it has been - but a single demonstration of intentional lying for God is enough to disprove the claim that they alone speak for God. Mistakes imply that one was unaware of error - when that error is documented and no corrections ensue then a mistake - if it was that - becomes a lie.
Herbert
well we now have another ray of new light that has flashed forth.
it is a new teaching regarding earthquakes.
for close to eighty-five years now the core believe of jehovahs witnesses has been the last days teaching that earthquakes have increased in intensity and frequency since 1914. no longer, now it seems it has gone the way of the generation that would not die who were alive in 1914. now we have the great new discovery that there were not more or stronger earthquakes since 1914, almost 40 years after experts and many good men were disfellowshipped for saying otherwise.
Masterji,
Thanks for posting that - considering how shamefully and dishonestly the WTS misquoted Professor Aki on Earthquakes it is disgusting that they would do such an about face without an apology. But typical.
As for Jesus, actually the claim that e-quakes and wars would be a sign of the end was something that would identify false prophets. That's why he said it - don't be disturbed by idiots like You Know is what he meant! And we aren't.
Robert, though, is a simple liar - he lacks the intellect to be anything but.
Herbert
dear all, .
this is my 100th post, and i decided to repost something i originally did as a post on h2o a couple of years ago.
it was a reply to somebody, and buried miles-deep in the thread, so hopefully it wont have been read by too many already.
Duncan,
So just how far can a fully laden swallow fly ?
H.
Duncan? Fell away years ago! Oh, I knoooow - said in a Mrs Basil accent - by the way, oh I see, three doctors!
You did and have fans at H2O......
i wish to present three situations that are true to life and open up a discussion on these different scenarios and how would would personally act toward them.. 1) a 75 year old person has been a jw for the past 40 years.
most of their friends are jws.
they look forward to the fellowship at the meetings and though the congregation is far from perfect, they are pleased with the fact that they have a purpose in life.
Dear Mr Step,
While you don't present a premise, you imply one; one could ask, indeed should ask - what about the greater good? What if the 75 year old converts a mother with baby and then the baby dies for want of platelets? What if the 39 year old could be cured by a medical procedure the WTS bans? What if the young mother was converted by the 75 year old and it is she who must sacrifice the life of her child? The scenarios go on - the chain of human events precipitated by one person's actions is unpredictable.
So I submit the following - one never wants to destroy a person's beliefs to their detriment merely for the sake of it. On the other hand, individual beliefs and concerns don't transcend the greater good. Thus, both the person and the WTS need to grow and to recognize that the WTS could do considerable good - as can individual JWs - provided the leadership will recognize the need to modify their beliefs.
Ultimately only JWs can force the organization to change - if they choose not to do so then countless lives will be wrecked when it becomes clear that the doctrinal system is collapsed. Imagine 6 million + people suddenly stripped of their central beliefs - who will handle that?
The leadership has one final opportunity to effect chnage so as to transform the org. into a force for good. If they don't do that then they show themselves to be fit only for Gehenna.
Herbert
