Cadellin

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Posts by Cadellin

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  43

  Today's Watchtower Study is SO dumb!!!

  by TimothyT in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i would like to think of myself as an academic.

  im starting my second degree and i enjoy research.

  when i see a statement backed up by references and support from a credible source, sometimes i get excited.

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  Cadellin

  And welcome to dropoffyourkeylee, Greybeard and all the other newbies on this thread!
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  43

  Today's Watchtower Study is SO dumb!!!

  by TimothyT in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i would like to think of myself as an academic.

  im starting my second degree and i enjoy research.

  when i see a statement backed up by references and support from a credible source, sometimes i get excited.

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  Cadellin

  TimothyT, yes, I agree--it was one big non sequitur. There wasn't really any attempt to make any meaningful connection b/w the Israelites wanting to go back to Egypt, the first century Christians wanting to celebrate the Mosaic Law and unquestioning obedience to the organization. Beyond the common denominator of obedience. Interestingly, particularly with respect to the first example of the Israelites, their problem was disobedience to God himself--I mean to God's own literal words. By the end of the lesson, the "organization" had been inserted as the source of God's decrees.

  It was 1 + 1 = 3.687 and if you don't agree, you're not going along w/Jehovah's "unfolding purpose," which is such a freaky JW-only concept.

  Also, I had to giggle at the line-up of small pics near the end supposedly illustrating some of the moments discussed. In the middle is a depiction of what presumably a first century Christian "meeting" looked like, complete with folks sitting politely in chairs, all with their scrolls unfolded in their laps and one little girl with her hand up to answer. I guess the WT artists don't realize that widespread literacy is a 20th century phenomenon. The majority of men, 98% of women and most assuredly 100% of little girls were unable to read, much less ever get close enough to a scroll to touch it. But then to acknowledge this inconvenient bit of history is to make it very difficult to identify first century Christians so closely w/modern JWs...

  Sigh.
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  23

  Have you noticed that the Watchtower is not emphasizing how close the end is as much?

  by stuckinamovement in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  maybe i am off base, but it seems that the last year or so hasn't had the standard retoric about how "imminent, close, or soon" the end will be.

  it seems as if the focus is now on obeying the governing body.

  have you noticed this?.

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  Cadellin

  Yes, actually, I have. The 2009 DC used the word "imminent" to describe the nearness of the big A multiple times in every talk. From then on, it seems like the "imminence" has been shoved into the background. So what does "imminent" mean? About to start or moments away. Let's see...that was more than two years' worth of moments ago! So when does use of the word "imminent" constitute LYING????

  And, yes again, stuckinamovement, the unquestioning submission to the GB has become the hue and cry of late. It would be interesting if it weren't so sad and scary...
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  61

  Watchtower admits the KISS method works - Nov 1, 2011 WT, p. 24

  by Alleymom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the following posts and graphics refer to the k.i.s.s.

  (keep it simple, sweetie) approach to 587/586 bce,.

  which i introduced on july 12, 2003.. here is a link to the original thread:.

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  Cadellin

  I have one comment and one question. First, my comment:

  Evidently realizing such facts, Professor Edward F. Campbell, Jr., introduced a chart, which included Neo-Babylonian chronology, with the caution: “It goes without saying that these lists are provisional. The more one studies the intricacies of the chronological problems in the ancient Near East, the less he is inclined to think of any presentation as final. For this reason, the term circa [about] could be used even more liberally than it is.”—The Bible and the Ancient Near East (1965 ed.), p. 281.

  The reference looked familiar--lo and behold, there's this very same book in my bookcase, not four feet away from me. The Bible and the Ancient Near East is really quite an awesome little collection of seminal essays in honor of W.Albright. Anyway, I flipped to p. 281 and read the comment by Campbell in context. Now, the comment itself is NOT taken out of context. However, the chart he introduces and about which he makes that comment begins in 3800 BC and ends in 400 BC, and encompasses not just the Neo-Bab chron., which is a mere 80 years or so, but Egyptian, Palestinian, Syrian, and Assyrian. In other words, it's incredibly broad in scope and the years in question, pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem, are a tiny, tiny part of it.

  Moreover, if the writer of the WT article had this book in his clutches, then surely he could have turned to the beginning page of the essay in which Campbell's words and chart appear (p. 265) which provides a contextual framework for understanding the import of the charts. Following is a quote from the opening paragraph:

  No modern reconstruction of Biblical chronology can ignore the fixed dates provided by extra-Biblical sources; and the Biblical dates must be modified in accordance with the pattern of Near Eastern chronology now firmly established for the second and first millenia B.C., within limits that decrease from a generation in the earlier periods to a few years in the central section to certainty in the latter part. (Emphasis mine.)

  So this explains how to interpret Campbell's disclaimer, which occurs several pages later and is selectively quoted by the WT. The degree of uncertainty to which Campbell refers applies primarily to the "earlier periods," and subsides to zero, "to certainty" in the "latter part," which is, of course, exactly where the NeoBabylonian period is located. What the WT is doing is taking his words, which, within the context of the whole essay, are clearly meant to apply to the earlier portions of the chart, and applying them to the latter portions so as to make it appear as if the degree of uncertainty he is expressing pertains to the period under consideration.

  Okay, I just wanted to add that. Now for my question: Why hasn't anyone mentioned Egibi? Isn't there any English sources for these important tablets?

  Just askin'.
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  43

  What can I do when I feel i can't keep going....

  by Free!! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been having an awful week/month/year/life and i just feel like i can not move forward anymore... is like life is passing me by and i am just observing from the side lines.... i am so tired, i just want to sleep and never wake up..... has anyone felt like this?

  i tried therapy (twice) an it did not work, i tried volunteering and surrounding myself with other people and things to do, and it works until i have to come home, then that feeling of emptiness returns.... .

  i am so tired... i do not know what else to do.... .

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  Cadellin

  Hang in there! Oh, and don't feel guilty b/c you don't have the mojo to exercise--just take one step at a time. Actively looking for a good doctor is a hugely important one!
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  49

  What Turns The Average "Worldly" Person Away From The Witnesses?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is it their door-to-door incessant preaching?

  is it their view on blood?

  is it that the religion itself is simply often misunderstood?.

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  Cadellin

  I think Witnesses are just seen as super restrictive, somewhat bizarre fundamentalists. Beyond the Biblical literalism (which turns away a lot), the abjuring of holidays and birthdays is a biggie.
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  43

  What can I do when I feel i can't keep going....

  by Free!! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been having an awful week/month/year/life and i just feel like i can not move forward anymore... is like life is passing me by and i am just observing from the side lines.... i am so tired, i just want to sleep and never wake up..... has anyone felt like this?

  i tried therapy (twice) an it did not work, i tried volunteering and surrounding myself with other people and things to do, and it works until i have to come home, then that feeling of emptiness returns.... .

  i am so tired... i do not know what else to do.... .

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  Cadellin

  Talesin, I'd forgotten how much I love Desiderata. Thank you for posting that.
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  43

  What can I do when I feel i can't keep going....

  by Free!! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been having an awful week/month/year/life and i just feel like i can not move forward anymore... is like life is passing me by and i am just observing from the side lines.... i am so tired, i just want to sleep and never wake up..... has anyone felt like this?

  i tried therapy (twice) an it did not work, i tried volunteering and surrounding myself with other people and things to do, and it works until i have to come home, then that feeling of emptiness returns.... .

  i am so tired... i do not know what else to do.... .

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  Cadellin

  Free, I went through the same thing when I was waking up a few years ago. I saw a therapist--a good, competent therapist--and she got me on Zoloft. A very low dose, I might add, but oh, wow, what a difference it made. Any doctor worth her salt will take your symptoms seriously and get you on meds if you need them. There's no shame in it. My depression is caused by a seratonin deficiency. If you have something like that, all the homemade measures in the world MAY NOT be enough to help. That's not to say they can't help somewhat, but it may not be enough.

  Physical activity is also a huge boost. Take your dogs, get outside, and run until you sweat and think you'll die from the pain. Then walk for a while. Then run again. Do this until you're exhausted. Oh, get yourself some good running shoes. REgular exercise releases endorphins which make you feel so much better. Plus, you firm up and end up looking great, which makes you feel better all the way around. Plus, your dogs will love you for it!

  You might also want to try yoga. I think another poster suggested meditation. Well, yoga is like meditation along with body movements and its really fantastic for feeling good about yourself.

  Take care of yourself, please. You are the only you you'll ever have! And we care, here on the board. We do.
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  20

  Telling family / friends about researching JW religion

  by dozy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when a jw husband of a friend of mine found out that she had been researching online about jehovah's witnesses , he described it as a "breach of trust" and a legitimate reason to break up the marriage (or at least separate , citing the wtbts "spiritual danger clause").. thankfully my own wife has been more understanding but is this kind of reaction common?

  and is it in some way justified on the basis that snooping around online , talking to others on messageboards , not from day one telling one's mate etc is perhaps dishonest?

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  Cadellin

  I will echo the sentiments already expressed--It's very common to the point of being ubiquitous. I am very careful what I tell my husband. If I say anything critical of the borg, the wall goes up, the shade comes down and the lights go off within his head. I can literally see it happening. It's freaky.

  So, we don't go there. He knows how I feel; we've reached detente and I guess this is where it will stay for the time being.

  Be careful.
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  24

  The impact of Governing Body policy on higher education: read this!

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  excerpt:.

  does your religion affect your income?by mari cockerell, ktxs newsabilene, texas -- the pew forum on religion and public life recently put out the results of a survey on wealth and religion in the united states.. you may be surprised to learn which religious groups in this country have the most and the least wealthy members.an infographic produced by the folks at www.good.is breaks down information gathered by the pew forum on religion and wealth.

  it maps out distribution of income for the 14 major religious groups in this country, charting those whose income is less than $30,000 a year all the way up to $100,000+.. what they found is interesting.the religions whose members earn the most money are jews and hindus.

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  Cadellin

  It would be more useful if the survey differentiated b/w Hindus that emmigrated and those born in the US. Those that come to this country are often wealthier to begin with, so that might skew results, even when it comes to 2nd generation kids. As far as LDS, they encourage education--heck, they even have their own University (Brigham Young).

  I'm surprised that the college degree rate is as high as it is among JWs, according to that survey. I would have put it at 3-4% for an undergrad degree and around 1% for anything beyond.