hybridous

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Posts by hybridous

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  17

  Will they ever be mainstream?

  by Justin in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  some religions which have been on the fringe of society are eventually accepted into the mainstream because they have an aspect which is socially acceptable or beneficial to society.

  for example, the seventh day adventists have hospitals and the mormons have the tabernacle choir.

  but the jws seem to have nothing with which to appeal to the larger culture.

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  hybridous

  Good points here, but I see the other side as well...

  As corporate interests become paramount to the WT, other ideas may be forced to take a back seat. A business's main objective is to perpetuate itself and generate profit, and according to most casual observations, the WT isn't doing too well in that regard.

  How long before some important people in the WT decide to try something in order to stop bleeding money and people? A shuffle towards mainstream here and there, and maybe some fringe members can catch their breath and continue on. In short, I believe that the WT simply MUST move in that direction to improve marketability and encourage growth. Growth in 3rd world countries where people are dirt poor doesen't do the WT much good. They need members with money.
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  14

  John 18 Quid est veritas? - Who was right: Pilate or Jesus?

  by Pole in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  it's a doctrinal question.

  of course the gospel of john may have been written by someone who made this conversation up.

  but let's assume it really did take place between pilate and jesus christ.. john 1837"you are a king, then!

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  hybridous

  Perhaps oversimplified...but,

  I believe that Pilate was indicating to Jesus that any 'truth' that Jesus offered could be challenged or refuted. Pilate was basically denying that there are any concrete, irrefutable truths, or facts, if you prefer.

  I could state that the sky is blue, but if someone is disposed to argument, they could come up with a variety of reasons explaining why the sky is not blue. It all comes down to a basis of diaglogue. If there is no area of agreement on anything, no meaningful dialogue or exchange could occur.

  Basically, I take from it that Pilate was telling Jesus that there was nothing meaningful he could say to him, because or a difference in assumptions about the nature of reality.
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  50

  E-watchman's brand new discussion forum

  by Schizm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.e-watchman.com/discussion/

  that's the link.

  you all better get right on over there now and register.

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  hybridous

  I think that e-watchman and his little online congregation are great. They're like termites - destroying the building from the inside out.

  I think he will indeed write that book, simply because his ego demands it. Let him and his followers try to show that book to friends at the KH...WHAM....more DFings. Eventually, (if this hasn't happened already), the WT will be forced to pull the trigger on him.

  Then we'll see what e-watchman is REALLY all about. He'll go down kicking and screaming all the way, but it will be a losing battle. No doubt he will seeth and stew in his own juices until he ascends to the rank of Apostate General. What a little monster the WT cult has created.
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  13

  DFd/DAd persons and "apostate" literature

  by kj in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can anyone tell me if associating with dfd/dad people or reading "apostate" literature is a disfellowshipping offense?

  is it one of those unwritten rules, or is there something written about it in the wt?

  kj

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  hybridous

  I've known of witnesses who we're 'caught' reading apostate literature. They were warned not to continue, and were certainly 'marked', but if they kept to themselves they were OK. No DF/DA action taken.

  Elders have privately told individual dubs that they can read whatever they want, the problems start when it goes public in the hall.
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  8

  The Watchtower - losing its grip by popular vote?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the theme text for jehovah's witnesses this year is, "keep on the watch...prove yourselves ready.

  " (matthew 24:42, 44) .

  and what a year it has been for the watchtower bible & tract society.

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  hybridous

  My staunch JW sibling recently informed me that she plans on starting Grad School in a few months. I can't tell you how freakin' happy I am.

  More and more, it seems that the dubs are picking and choosing what WT crap to pay attention to, and discarding the rest. That choke-hold sense of absolutism is apparently waning; I applaude that.

  It is a slippery slope, and the WT is painfully aware that if witnesses ignore WT demands on 'minor' issues, it is only a matter of time before they do the same on 'major' ones. I expect a hard-line crackdown from the Tower.

  Or maybe, this is it. Maybe this is the best the WT can do...print worthless articles that go largely ignored.
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  9

  U.S. Witnesses can make the difference in the 2004 Election

  by joe_from_kokomo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear friends:.

  most witnesses do not vote, and have not done so for many years, although strictly speaking current watchtower policy does not forbid voting in a political election, but rather leaves it as a matter of conscience.

  so, it is up to each witness to decide for themselves if it is ok to vote or not.

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  hybridous

  Heh - I can't wait until some candidate runs on a platform promising to close the deficit by taxing the hell outta religions.

  Watch and be amazed as mysterious, wonderful 'New Light' tells the WT that witnesses can vote in good conscience, as long as they're voting to protect the cult's dollars.

  Once upon a time, I would've never believed such a thing possible. Once upon a time I was quite stupid.
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  7

  God bless freedom of ................non-religion

  by outbutnotdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my best friend and his girlfriend came over for a visit tonight.

  he used to be a jw, drifted away, and is a very spiritually enlightened person.

  she is a mormon.

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  hybridous

  On a side note - how do I get rid of that yellow highlight on my text after I use the quote feature?
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  7

  God bless freedom of ................non-religion

  by outbutnotdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my best friend and his girlfriend came over for a visit tonight.

  he used to be a jw, drifted away, and is a very spiritually enlightened person.

  she is a mormon.

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  hybridous

  he is in the top 2 percentile of those who WILL NEVER become Mormon or any other high control religion.

  Regarding your friend, or anyone else, how is this determined?

  How do I find out what percentile I'm in?
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  70

  The Stem Cell experiment, good or bad?

  by Brummie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it was discussed by the president & kerry, it will be all over the news over the next few days because of the death of a hero, for some reason the stem cell issue scares me and i dont think i could support it, taking some voiceless life to improve another, maybe i am misinformed?

  it all seems unethical.

  i dont know all the facts, can you enlighten me please?.

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  hybridous

  Seems to me that once we can divorce the stem-cell issue from abortion, some real progress can be made. Then, the science can stand or fall on its own merits.

  I guess someone better get crackin' on obtaining stem cells in a way that doesen't involve human embryos? I imagine once that happens, most objections would go away?
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  17

  The Will JW kids/students be the next big threat to the Watchtower Society?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the internet has only been around for 10 years, yet it has profoundly changed the way we live, work and entertain ourselves.

  particularly for children, they have readily adapted to this technology so much so, that teachers and educators are finding that their traditional based curriculums are leaving kids bored.

  these are the kids who are used to surfing, instant messenging and downloading digital music.

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  hybridous

  I see the WT in a catch 22...

  Discourage kids from getting college diplomas, and their main source of future cult members have a limited earning potential. Limited earnings mean limited donations.

  Let up with the anti-college crap, and the future dubbers may earn more and donate more, but are more likely to leave.

  It can't be both ways. The WT is gonna have to decide what they like more : brainwashed loyalists or $$.

  My guess is that cash flow will win out over the hard-line position on college, eventually. After all, this is a business we're talking about. I just hope it doesen't take too long. Enough people have made regrettable career decisions based on heavy-handed WT advise.