Posts by Cadellin

13

Jewelry advice

by TD in

as every married man knows (or should know) anniversaries where the number ends in either zero or five are more special and important than all the others.

your 20th is somehow more special than the 19th) anyhow, i've got one of those "magic number" anniversaries coming up and am thinking about jewelry.

any advice for getting the most bang for your buck?

On one of those "5" or "0" anniversaries past, my husband swiped my wedding ring w/o me knowing it and had four diamonds added (the number four was for aesthetic purposes, not for any special meaning). He took me out to dinner and presented me with a small box (yes, those little boxes!) inside of which was my beautiful, even-better ring.

The only downside was that I went through a degree of agitation for the preceding two weeks thinking I'd lost my wedding ring! So while the result was wonderful, that aspect might have to be navigated so your significant other doesn't have a melt-down!

25

Awake 5/11 - THE SEVENTH WORLD POWER!!! Gasp!! - A history lesson

by doubtful in

jw
friends

the watchtower loves this point.

he not only felt that he was living in the last "days", but in the last hour.

he says at 1 john 2:18:.

Cadellin

Good survey of western history, doubtful, and it shore don't line up with the WT's spin...I've thought those very same things and wondered how any semi-educated JW could go along with such clear incongruity b/w the WT's version of history and the secular consensus. I think "semi-educated" is the key word, however. Most JWs I know quit history as an optional subject in school as soon as they can OR (and, sadly, this is more common), history is just not taught well in many schools. And few JW read much in the way of non-theocratic stuff; when they do, it's stuff that is either trivial fluff or that ratifies their beliefs.

I suppose I shouldn't generalize like that, but I'm basing it on my own experience. The historical discrepancies you point out so well came to light for me when I began to "wake up" and began seriously researching these very subjects. Ironically, I went back to university to finish my degree around the same time and that kind of critical thinking and reading to which I was exposed helped the process along. That, I believe, this the real reason the WT forbids higher ed.

In particular, your observation about the Anglo-American WP is salient, especially in view of the upcoming DC talk that supposedly will discuss this. Sure this last (7th?) king will only last a short while, depending on how you define "short"! Ha! Uncle Sam's sinking fast; Britain is already nearly inconsequential in terms of international clout and the US, while still a WP, is clinging to dominance with its toenails as all around it, other nations are catching up and surpassing it in terms of economic influence and power.

105

New Light @ The 2011 District Convention

by dontplaceliterature in

" at the bottom of the image on the back of the invitation raises some eyebrows, but last night in the routine district convention article during the service meeting, i caught that one of the paragraphs mentioned that we would be encouraged to keep a copy of the tract in hand for a discussion during sunday's last talk.

my guess is, there is going to be some new revelation about what the "?

" represents, or some other fangled idea.

Cadellin

Okay, here's a thought: A nu-lite interpretation of the toes could buy the WT what they seriously need: time. Let me explain. In the illustration, the feet are clearly defined as the Anglo-American WP (a stretch in itself) and the mystery question mark is linked to the toes. Each of the preceding parts of the image are defined similarly--that is, a world power that has come and gone. According to JW interpretation, we are now living in the time of the last WP and there will be no other WPs following the Anglo-American (whcih pretty much means the US in any real sense).

Stay with me. I've often thought that the more intelligent of the WT higher-ups, who might read the news regularly and follow international developments, should be getting very very nervous, as it is becoming increasingly clear that the US is in its twilight as a WP and fading fast. On the ascent? China. Whether or not China will ever be a WP can be debated, but one thing is clear: the US is being surely and steadily dethroned. It's lost power and standing in the international community; its influence is on the wane.

But wait!! That wasn't supposed to happen. The big A was supposed to strike while the US was the WP! Okay, so now comes the strategy: maybe the WT will finagle some kind of alternate interpretation for the toes. Maybe the toes are the rise of some other kind of power (probably not the UN, since its toothless and weaker than a gang of Somali pirates). Say, a faction or godless splinter group that is somehow (in the feckless mind of the FDS) taking control, like the rise of Evil Athiests!! They would be located "within" the AA WP but still weild control in some way so that even in the dimming campfires of the US, the WT can cling to hope for a bit longer...

24

"Recruiting the Deaf" a new "Freeminds" article by Barb Anderson

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

the worldwide recruiting attempt of jehovah’s witnesses to bring their religious message to the deaf using sign language can be viewed as something of a mixed bag.

while they strive to communicate it using the right methods, they convey an illusionary message that is detrimental in countless ways.[1].

jehovah’s witnesses international “deaf ministry” as directed by the watch tower bible and tract society, inc., is no small feat because there are over 200 distinct sign languages in the world.

Cadellin

Awesome article, meticulously detailed as per Barbara's style. Thanks for the link!

One noteworthy observation she makes is that the recent edict forcing sign-language translators who are sisters to wear headcoverings all the time (well, all during the meeting) was a consequence of the heightened involvement by the GB and Translation Services. As Barbara documents so clearly, it was repeatedly stated in various QFRs that signing sisters did NOT need a head covering. Then, lo and behold, "new light" just as the ASL groups really get rolling and the hierarchy takes a renewed interest. Sour grapes on the part of someone high up who can't bear to see wimmin' start thinkin' too much of themselves.

Also interesting was the "fudging" of the whole submission mandate in the way they translated the word "submissive."

Again, thank you for posting this.

138

July 15th WT out - Coming out Swinging at Apostates Hard

by LostGeneration in

this is one of the most aggressive watchtowers i think i have ever read.. four study articles on not "following the crowd" not following unrealities(page 13) not following false teachers, meaning apostates of course(p 15).

avoiding false teachers means "refusing to read their literature, watch tv programs that feature them, examine their web sites, or add comments to their blogs.

(para 7, pg 16).

Cadellin

I have yet to see anyone attempting to recruit any "disciples after themselves" or even suggest attending another organized religion! In fact I am here for myself and not interested in trying to change anyone's belief system especially the seemingly contented bro. at the hall

I feel the same way. I just don't get this "draw disciples after themselves." Where or when the heck has that ever happened? Or are they, in their infinite paranoia and wild interpretation, referring to merely revealing or disclosing where the Society has been wrong? I mean, just telling someone where the WT has printed erroneous or misleading material? Do they consider THAT drawing disciples after themselves?

77

On Human Evolution

by TD in

jw
friends

it's a subject that comes up fairly often here (understandably) and very strong opinions are expressed.

much of the discussion seems to be counterproductive.. i'd like to propose a different approach.

we all know what each other's conclusions are (or at least we should by now).

Cadellin

Interesting excerpt from DD's stanford link:

Evolutionary theory ... tells us that the boundaries between species are vague.

Which is the point I was trying to make with my (foundering) dog analogy

And it tells us that a number of forces conspire against the existence of a trait in all and only the members of a species. From a biological perspective, species essentialism is no longer a plausible position

I think this is really a key point. Essentialism runs up against the overwhelming evidence for comment descent (which even Michael Behe, irreducible complexity's poster boy believes).

However, DD's link asserts (and I admit I've only read part of it) that there is no essential feature common to all humans and not found in other species. I have to wonder whether the innate universal grammatical capacity of humans isn't such an essential feature. Animals have varying degrees of communication and rudimentary "language" but none (to my knowledge) have the generative capacity of syntax that is unique to ALL human languages.

If that's the case, then one might suggest that the line be drawn where language ability began to manifest itself.

77

On Human Evolution

by TD in

jw
friends

it's a subject that comes up fairly often here (understandably) and very strong opinions are expressed.

much of the discussion seems to be counterproductive.. i'd like to propose a different approach.

we all know what each other's conclusions are (or at least we should by now).

Cadellin

That's a bunch of bullit. You just proved you don't know what you're talking about.

Thanks for such an erudite and polite reply. Sort of what I'd expect from a middle schooler.

I got my information from a wolf rehabilitation center I recently visited. However, a little further investigation indicates that it might be way off. The closest thing to a credible source I can find is a National Geographic test where rottweilers and german shepherd averaged around 300 psi and wolves around 400. I should have been more careful with my info and for that I apologize.

However, my error in this aspect of my analogy doesn't nullify my overall point. The domestic dog, whether pit bull, rottweiler or golden retriever, is still considered a separate though closely related species. And as such, it differs from wolves in behavior and some aspects of morphology. Because of how closely they're related, they can produce fertile offspring.

31

HELLO EVERYONE

by sarahkate in

jw
friends

new to the forum, just wanted to say hi, will tell my brief story sometime, happy at the moment just getting to know you all!!!!.

.

sarahkate xx.

Cadellin

Greetings and salutations. Tell us something about yourself when you feel ready...

14

Okay, they are totally whacko. more from the july 15 tower

by therevealer in

.

Cadellin

Evidently, Bath-sheba was good for something, not "good for nothing."

Oh, this is why I come here, beyond the endless evolution debates. Ha!

81

New simplified Watchtower

by alanv in

beginning with the july 15th 2011 edition of the watchtower, the society are producing a simplified version of the study copy.. this is apparantly for the many people whose first language is not english, and yet they live in a predominantly englsih speaking county.. the normal study edition will still be produced but it looks like the cong.

will be able to ask for a supply of the simplified version each month.. this simplified version can be downloaded from the watchtower site.. http://www.jw.org/index.html.

Cadellin

So with two Kool-Aid editions available I guess we could tag them as "dumb and dumber"...

ROFLMAO

God, that was a moronic movie.