hillary_step

Joined

• started 189 topics
• posted 7,220 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by hillary_step

• 
  81

  RUSSIA GOES FOR THE GOLD

  by You Know in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this present system is definitely finished.

  the present system being the anglo-american dollar dominated system.

  it is in the final stages of collapse as is becoming more obvious by the day.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Hello Englishman,

  Having lived both sides of the pond a number of times it becomes more obvious to me each time.

  By the way, I noted your posted 1972 photograph and I am now fully convinced that you are the chap that I lent five quid to in the White Hart.

  You mention Tom Paxton, a real gentlemen but rather 'gone with the weed' in those strange days. Barely make it from the backstage door without guidance until he hit the stage, then magical. If you get a chance to hunt down Tim Buckley's 'Dream Letter - Live in London 1968', its worth a visit. Again, a magical concert recorded live at the Albert Hall, look out for 'Morning Glory', moves the heart to tears even in these craggier days. Thanks to my sister and her numerous paramours we managed to pick up a bassist for him for the event. He flew Transatlantic for a concert at the Albert Hall with half a band ( now that is typical Yankee! He bought Lee Underwood, guitar - Mmmm - nuff said ) but charmed them all, even Paul Robson who rose from the audience after the concert and paid homage to the vocal talent of a kid not yet into his 20's. Good days.

  Take care Eman - HS
• 
  81

  RUSSIA GOES FOR THE GOLD

  by You Know in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this present system is definitely finished.

  the present system being the anglo-american dollar dominated system.

  it is in the final stages of collapse as is becoming more obvious by the day.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Actually You Know,

  This is the first time we have conversed, you may have confused my persona with another poster. This is my original post:

  ; http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=9456&site=3#112376

  You can understand why I am asking these questions. There seems to be a huge divergence of opinion on this issue as to what the Bible defines as an apostate and on the other hand what the WTS and other individuals view as apostacy.

  No doubt many within the WTS would view yourself as an apostate because of your divergent views, but obviously you do not view yourself as such. Some loyal Witnesses may even feel the need to shun you for your views, if you were to speak openly about them. What the WTS defines as an apostate is what bought this Board into existence and you have found a forum here where you can freely ( and vigorously! ) converse with others who have been classed, often against their will, as apostates.

  Do you concur with the WTS present definition of an apostate as being someone who’s theological views, even privately harbored, are divergent from the body of teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses at any given moment in time.

  Can you see an ethical dilemma in all of this? Where do you personally stand on this issue?

  My best regards - HS
• 
  81

  RUSSIA GOES FOR THE GOLD

  by You Know in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this present system is definitely finished.

  the present system being the anglo-american dollar dominated system.

  it is in the final stages of collapse as is becoming more obvious by the day.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Hello You Know,

  We have not 'conversed' before and at the outset I make it clear that I certainly do not want to engage in a fruitless game of war words with you. You are obviously totally convinced that your studies of the scriptures, coupled with your ‘spirit-begotten’ relationship with Christ has perhaps given you knowledge beyond the norm. Perhaps you are correct, your views though somewhat eccentric in my estimation, are certainly not harming me and seem not to be taken too seriously by your peers either and on that basis provided your responses dignify your readers you have as much right to express them as anybody else.

  You wrote:

  So far that hasn't happened and I have been writing some pretty radical stuff for years. I have been in several congregations during that time, and I have always asked the PO if they had ever heard anything from the Society about me. The answer has always been no. I even let one PO read a piece I had written that was not exactly inline with "present understanding." I think it shakes brothers up a bit

  As you know, You Know or at least I surmise that you know, the way these things are presented to the WTS is important. I suspect the SD probably has you marked as a bit ‘cooky’ but not dangerous. If you want a list of questions to add to your correspondences that will result in an internal investigation of your writings, let me know!

  Now, back to business.

  I asked some questions specifically directed to you in a post some weeks ago, perhaps you missed the them. I will repeat them and please be assured that I have no ulterior reason for asking them other than to help some on this Board to understand the WTS thinking on this matter. If you wish to take the discussion from the public domain my e mail address is unlocked and I will guarantee your privacy and anonymity and merely quote the results of our discussion on this board if you so wish. Here they are again :

  .
  1) What is the Bible’s definition of an apostate?
  2) What is the WTS definition of an apostate?
  3) What is your definition of an apostate?

  If the answers to these questions are convergent or divergent perhaps you might comment.

  My best to you - HS

  PS JanH is quite correct in his evaluation of the British Empire.

  A US perspective can often distort the historical facts. As John Buchan once said:

  ‘Half the misunderstandings between Britain and America are due to the fact that neither will regard the other as what it is - in an important sense of the word - a foreign country. Each thinks of the other as a part of itself which has somehow gone off the lines…’
• 
  28

  The branch coordinator wept during his convention

  by Liquidizer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the local branch office coordinator, mr. kankaanpaa, delivered the final speech in the summer convention held in tampere, the third largest city here in finland, and demanded all the ex-jw's to return back to the org.

  suddenly he began to weep.

  when he got his emotions under control, he instantly returned to the tradiotional wt phraseology: threats, intimitation and almost name calling (you know, that apostate stuff).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Prisca

  France is experiencing ‘troop’ losses beyond that which the GB deem as acceptable. The pressure from Government has forced some out of their places of work. Many are disgruntled especially as the WTS seems more disturbed about tax issues than individuals lives. The natives are getting restless.

  Attached by a less than charming confidence to the belief that they are Christ’s fingers and soon to be attached to his right hand in heavenly life, the GB cannot perceive of a situation where they may have been to blame for anything negative that takes place on this planet. Trapped on the fly-paper of their own failing theology, it is beyond the imaginary realms of possibility in their own thinking that they have ‘grieved the spirit’, so the cause must be somewhere else…..

  Like any other corporation if the sales figures ( read ‘increase’ ) falls beyond the acceptable, ‘middle management’, the DO’s and CO’s are heavily pressured and blamed for losses, these in turn, again like any other corporation drill down on their own staff, the elders. They fall so easily into the category of religious leader that Jesus condemned who put heavy loads on the unfortunates but do not lift a finger to alleviate their burdens. I have little doubt that the extended elders school that will take place at the end of this year will turn ‘elder bashing’ into an art form.

  Most thinking CO’s, DO’s and elders, and despite what one would think, they exist in much larger numbers that the GB would care to admit, are caught within the dichotomy of following Head-Office instructions, like Noah, to the ‘just so’ degree, or using their own hearts and minds. More are crossing the no-mans-land of individual thinking each year. Some chose to stay for family, hopes of reformation, others are sadly too old to move on and cannot afford to lose the tight support structure that the WTS does offer.

  HS
• 
  15

  The Bible: Most flawed document ever?

  by bboyneko in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i came across this essay by joseph c. sommer:.

  contradictions.

  the fact that the bible contains contradictions is one reason why humanists consider the book to be an unreliable authority.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  bboyneko

  The Bible: Most flawed document ever?

  Mmmm. You obviously have never read 'The Collected Thought Of Rod Stewart'.

  HS
• 
  19

  "Nourishment For The Spirit" #2

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  max, excuse the plagiarism of your thread heading.

  royalties on the way!.

  a few weeks ago maximus began a thread which he named nourishment for the spirit which resulted in a most interesting discussion of books that we had read and that meant much to us as individuals, some acknowledging that the books had added much to their lives.. now i would like to ask a question.. have any of you read or viewed a piece of art, read a poem, or heard a piece of music that actually changed an ethic in your life or adjusted a previously held viewpoint?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  bboyneko

  Thank you for your thought-provoking post, a very interesting perspective and exactly the tone of discussion that I was hoping to inspire. Can this thinking be applied to poetry and art, or other non-auditory art forms?

  I will carefully read your post and return over the next couple of days.

  Thank you - HS
• 
  6

  Lurkers Or Posters From South London?

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if any subscriber, or anyone looking in on this list lived in the south london area in the late 70's early 80's, i would really appreciate it if you might contact me off-line.

  my e mail address is unlocked.

  if you are a 'lurker' you do not need to register with this board to contact me.. your privacy and anonymity is guaranteed.. many thanks for your help -- hs

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Hello Englishman,

  You very slightly have the edge on me age-wise. I guess I must now show a little more respect. As with yourself, my good looks and intellectual prowess are legendary, I have even managed to master the language of deciphering the graffiti in the Tottenham Court Rd subway.
  And no, that was not my mother mentioned in that big red squirly one next to the wizened busker.

  I recently moved Stateside.

  All the best -- HS
• 
  19

  "Nourishment For The Spirit" #2

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  max, excuse the plagiarism of your thread heading.

  royalties on the way!.

  a few weeks ago maximus began a thread which he named nourishment for the spirit which resulted in a most interesting discussion of books that we had read and that meant much to us as individuals, some acknowledging that the books had added much to their lives.. now i would like to ask a question.. have any of you read or viewed a piece of art, read a poem, or heard a piece of music that actually changed an ethic in your life or adjusted a previously held viewpoint?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  RationalWitness

  Thank you for your comments

  It didn't exactly change my thinking, but on making the mental and emotional break from The Society, it greatly helped to soothe and calm my soul to listen to The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams

  Yes, a sublime piece of music. Williams music is the English Countryside and the 'Lark Ascending' is indeed a very moving piece. The 'Sea Symphony' is a little bit more difficult as a listen but also very stirring. Aslo worth tracking down is 'Job - A MAsque For Dancing' by Williams, very dramatic stuff.

  Any jazz fans, try John Handy - 'New View', a 1968 live recording long out of print but recently re-issued in CD format. God bless technology and all who sail on her!

  Maximus Looking forward to your note.

  The reason I asked this question, agreeably a difficult one, is that it is always this sticking point that I have with a close friend who is an atheist.

  Do humans need poetry, art and music to survive? If not why is mankinds natural inclination towards the arts? What purpose do they serve in the instinct to survive

  Thank you all for your comments -- HS
• 
  6

  Lurkers Or Posters From South London?

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if any subscriber, or anyone looking in on this list lived in the south london area in the late 70's early 80's, i would really appreciate it if you might contact me off-line.

  my e mail address is unlocked.

  if you are a 'lurker' you do not need to register with this board to contact me.. your privacy and anonymity is guaranteed.. many thanks for your help -- hs

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Sorry Englishman,

  No go, but I did spend some time in Richmond around then. Was that you in the White Hart with purple flared trousers and green velvet jacket with the Jethro Tull LP's under your arm? If it was you still owe me a fiver.

  nicolaou

  I would guess that Englishman is in his early 50's same as myself. A perfect age to look down at the world from would you not agree Englishman?

  Cheers guv -- HS
• 
  6

  Lurkers Or Posters From South London?

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if any subscriber, or anyone looking in on this list lived in the south london area in the late 70's early 80's, i would really appreciate it if you might contact me off-line.

  my e mail address is unlocked.

  if you are a 'lurker' you do not need to register with this board to contact me.. your privacy and anonymity is guaranteed.. many thanks for your help -- hs

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hillary_step

  Hello,

  If any subscriber, or anyone looking in on this list lived in the South London area in the late 70's early 80's, I would really appreciate it if you might contact me off-line. My e mail address is unlocked. If you are a 'lurker' you do not need to register with this board to contact me.

  Your privacy and anonymity is guaranteed.

  Many thanks for your help -- HS