hybridous

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Posts by hybridous

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  18

  Newest New Light

  by Nosferatu in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is the latest "new light" that has been dished out by the wts?

  it seems there was an abundance of new light until franz cacked.

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  hybridous

  The pinata thing -

  I remember when I was a kid, pinatas were forbidden as they were linked with birthdays in the Hispanic culture. I'm not Hispanic, I just always wanted to try one out. It seemed like fun - whacking something with a stick until candy rained down.

  Not too long ago, a WT or Awake! (can't remember which) pontificated on pinatas and seemed quite tolerant. I noticed the stark contrast between the tone of the article and what had been witness attitudes in years past.

  Maybe the WT is trying to make itself more palatable to a growing minority population? Anyways, the reasoning was: don't judge something by its past, judge something for what it is now. Seemed curious, since that line of reasoning dismantles the current prohibition on birthdays. Makes me wonder if there's more New Light around the corner. One can hope, right?! It would make good business sense to make this miserable cult appear more mainstream.
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  9

  Anybody here remember the "Lake" Congregation in Rochester NY?

  by mapleaf18 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anybody here remember the "lake" congregation in rochester (actually greece) ny?.

  this was before it split into the english park and long pond rd.

  cong.

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  hybridous

  I know the area congregations. And I believe that I know the families that helped facilitate the formation of those congregations.

  One of those family names is mine.
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  10

  "My Life in Hell" - a short story

  by AlmostAtheist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "but, but, i'm an atheist!

  ah, another one.

  i laughed the first thousand or so times i heard it, but it's gotten old.

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  hybridous

  Very cool. Keep at it!
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  28

  What have you discovered on the journey?

  by dh in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  the journey being life, what have you discovered that you never expected to... could be a musician, actor, a movie, a type of food, a thought, a realisation, a religion, a thing about your personality or an emotion, a particular song... it could be anything really.... what have you discovered?

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  hybridous

  There is no spoon...
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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.