for a long time i have accepted that when a theist inserts god into some as yet not understood scientific matter, it constitutes a god of the gaps argument.
as a theist myself, the problem with this for me, is that it implies an arbitrary limit on gods ingenuity.
for example, the idea that god created automatic processes to do certain things in nature, and yet with other things the need for a direct hand to either tweak or directly organise!
Until then, science should keep searching for answers just in case answers can actually be within our grasp. They should adopt a motto like "The real truth doesn't care what you believe."
Neil deGrasse Tyson has a well put spin on that: "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
this i never understood, the publications say that gods name translated from hebrew is yaweh.
why add a whole bunch of letters and vowels that change the sound of the name completely?
i've often thought surely we would gain greater respect on the ministry if we used a name that is historically and verbally accurate?.
Since “many prefer” Jehovah over Yahweh, the Watchtower Society has stuck with Jehovah as the official name. This is in spite of the fact that Yahweh is closer to the original pronunciation, which has been admitted by the organization.
All above points are gathered from the "Divine Name That Will Endure Forever" brochure, put out by the Watchtower Society several years ago, but out of circulation/print for a while now.
Additionally, according to Insight on the Scriptures Volume 2, page 5 under the heading, 'Jehovah' the following is stated:
"Correct Pronunciation of the Divine Name. “Jehovah” is the best known English pronunciation of the divine name, although “Yahweh” is favored by most Hebrew scholars."
More details here: http://savedfromthewatchtower.blogspot.com/2010/03/gods-name.html
omg.
would you have your kids do this activity?
so messed up.. .
The Watchtower Society knows exactly what they're doing and the impression it leaves on young minds.
Who can forget "My Book of Bible Stories" with the picture of the flood, and the mother holding on to an infant about to die a drowning death?
Lot's wife was also a prominent story in that book with her turned into a pillar of salt well illustrated along with a fire background of destruction, while Lot and his daughters who obeyed the Watchtower Jehovah and did everything exactly the way the Watchtower Jehovah stated, were saved.
Never mind they'll later get daddy drunk, have sex with him, and he supposedly couldn't (didn't want to?) stop them; however, that's a whole different story [Genesis 19:30-36].
It's all to build fear as earlier as possible regarding leaving the Watchtower organization. Children see Lot's death well illustrated and it places in their mind (sub) consciously, "If I leave Jehovah's Witnesses, this will happen to me (at Armageddon)" much stronger than some words on a page.
back in the early 80s when i was around 9 or 10, my slightly-older best jw friend relished telling me all the latest scare stories she heard about the satanic smurfs popping off of wallpaper, cutting babies with sharp objects, and running through kingdom hall corridors swearing.
wide-eyed with no critical thinking skills at.
i listened and believed every single word.
My father brought home one of those small ~1-2" Smurf figurine/statues to me and my sister every week during the early 1980's. We probably had about 2-3 dozen when they caught wind of the Smurf/Satan stories being shared within the Kingdom Hall; Smurfs coming out of the TV and possessing children, Smurfs leading to worship of Satan, etc.
The only thing I can recall being as 'legendary' was the angel protecting two women preaching when at the door of a serial killer/rapists who swore that's what he saw when asked why he didn't make them his next victims... *Insert rolling eyes*
It's just a faint memory now, but can still see my father sweeping the collection off our bookshelf and into the garbage pail. Of course, watching the cartoon became forbidden as well.
Swiftly, the garbage bag was removed from the pail, tied, and brought immediately to the incinerator chute (We lived on the 6th floor of an apartment building); sad at the time, but a part of the 'growing-up Jehovah's Witness' experience for me and my sister.
we are up for a new kind of persecution in the future.
a new form that was unheard of for us.
in australia, disfellowshipped and dissasociated are planning on suing jw for emotional and mental hardship for being cast out completely.
Whether or not shunning is ever "illegal" will make little to no difference to the obedient follower. Remember they pay Caesar’s things to Caesar as long as it doesn't conflict with the organization's interest which is offered up to the members as the word of God.
It's the same reasoning as stating prejudice is 'illegal' or discrimination is illegal. People will still practice and hold on to their belief system regardless of the 'law of the land'. A bigot is still a bigot no matter what laws or legality is behind trying to make all people equal.
A Jehovah's Witness will still shun if the organization tells them it is what God wants and they believe that organization is representing God's will. No secular law will enlighten the vast majority of loyal supporting members of the Jehovah's Witness organization. They will continue to follow Mother. If Mother says, continue to shun because it's Jehovah's will and your everlasting/eternal life hangs in the balance, they will continue to shun.
in some ways i just have to admire wt for the amount of crap they can take and despite this can keep it from the r&f, and still keep coming up smelling of roses.
you think about all the dramas they have had and can yet still keep showing an increase - all be it in internet deprived developing countries.
but even still an over all increase is still an increase.
There's not a thing admirable, amazing, or even surprising regarding what the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society accomplishes through its religious front of Jehovah's Witnesses. Employment of the BITE model (Whether 'they' realize it or not) and the effect it has on human behavior and psychology is how, in part, it retains membership.
Research items such as cognitive bias and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it will assist in comprehending the ‘whys’ and ‘how comes’ of people's reaction and decisions to become a part of, support, or/and remain within, the Watchtower organization.
additionally, birthday celebrations tend to give excessive importance to an individual, no doubt one reason why early christians shunned them.
(ecclesiastes 7:1) so you will find that jehovahs witnesses do not share in birthday festivities (the parties, singing, gift giving, and so forth).
school and jehovah's witnesses p.18.
Idiotic is putting it nicely. Think the Bible places birthdays in unfavorable light...How about pets? Specifically dogs.
Let's see how dogs are often viewed, whom they are associated with and are they appropriate then for Jehovah's Witnesses?
Straight from their 2013 revision of the Bible:
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind, none of them have taken note. All of them are speechless dogs, unable to bark. They are panting and lying down; they love to slumber.
Psalms 22:16-21 For dogs surround me; They close in on me like a pack of evildoers, Like a lion they are at my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. They look on and stare at me. They divide my garments among themselves, And they cast lots for my clothing. But you, O Jehovah, do not remain far away. You are my strength; hurry to help me. Save me from the sword, My precious life from the paws of dogs; Save me from the mouth of the lion and the horns of wild bulls; Answer and save me.
Proverbs 26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, The stupid one repeats his foolishness.
Philippians 3:2 - Look out for the dogs; look out for those who cause injury; look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Revelation 22:15 - Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.’
From the Watchtower's own version of the Bible using Watchtower reasoning, it seems Jehovah's Witnesses should be more concerned with avoiding or having dogs as pets as well, if they're drawing any sort of conclusion from birthdays.
thought some might find this personal account i came across interesting:.
http://sweetpicklesandcorn.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/the-offense-rests-a-rather-cross-examination-of-the-jehovas-witnesses.
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I always find it fascinating reading the account of someone from 'the outside' reasoning after seeing the Watchtower's propaganda and their thought process and logical conclusion(s).
Being a born-in, I suppose I see these scenarios as the polar opposite of my circumstances and I guess the least probable of possible outcomes/chances in 'alternative universe' or "what if" this happened instead in or to my life.
It's also humbling to think how many individuals I met while preaching the Watchtower's message or trying to place their literature who were actually kind or relatively polite in not pointing out some of the ridiculousness of the message and ‘beliefs’.
Granted and understandably, I came across my fair share of irate, angry, or just plain apathetic responses. However, I am very confident there were more than a few who were very knowledgeable of the Watchtower’s teachings and practices, but perhaps held back from what they saw either as an exercise in futility or an act of kindness in letting me live in my little world of believing I ‘know it all’ (aka “I have the truth”; “God is on *my* side”; “I am a part of the only religion that God approves”).
To say the least, it taught me to be very open minded and not (or at least try not to be) judgmental; the polar opposite of how a Jehovah’s Witness is conditioned by the Watchtower Society.
thought some might find this personal account i came across interesting:.
http://sweetpicklesandcorn.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/the-offense-rests-a-rather-cross-examination-of-the-jehovas-witnesses.
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Thought some might find this personal account I came across interesting:
she fell again and had to have surgery on her other hip.
this is the fourth trip to the er since last fall.
needless to say, i'm not having a good week.
So sorry for you and especially your mom. You may not be having a good week, but you're a great son.
Hang in there!
