donuthole

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Posts by donuthole

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  105

  New Article on BEARDS and Attire of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have had requests to add an article about beards and jehovah's witnesses.

  it is interesting that there is virtually no statement that says a witness cannot have a beard, yet universally they do not have beards.

  i have scoured quotes from all the threads on jwn, all references to beard on the cd watchtower library, and copies of elders letters that i have.

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  donuthole

  The "Require" brochure had an extreme example. The Bible student has sideburns extending to the bottom of the ear, but as he progresses, his sideburns are cut above the ear.
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  178

  Honest survey question on effectiveness of 'apostacy'

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems like lots of people have big dreams of 'destroying the watchtower'.

  it's usually linked to a story of how they were wronged and want some revenge.

  do these 'in your face' attempts to convince people that the truth isn't the truth really have an effect?.

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  donuthole

  My exit started with finding out on the Internet about the Watchtower's secret support of UN. Once I discovered this, I gave myself permission to look at "apostate" material on the web. Eventually I was disfellowshipped as an apostate myself.

  I agree that there is no silver bullet to de-converting a Jehovah's Witness. I shared the UN information with others and they merely shrugged their shoulders at something that had shattered the religion's illusion for me.
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  18

  Why do we dress up for Meetings? - This weeks Cong Bible study

  by KateWild in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  because the gb say so, and they are guided by hs.. anyother offers from the brochure?

  kate xx.

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  donuthole

  The practice of dressing up for church is not supported by the Bible. It is even condemned in James 2:1-5 when it is used to create divisions.

  The practice of dressing up for church started in the late 18th century and became widespread in the mid-19th century. Before this only the well-to-do could afford nice clothing. Common people only had work clothes for labor and less tattered clothes for going into town. The industrial revlolution gave rise to a middle-class and fine clothes became more affordable. The middle-class began to "dress up" for social events just like the rich did before. Some sects resisted the trend. Early Methodists turned away from church anyone in expensive clothes. The Baptists frowned on fine clothing, because it seperated the rich from the poor. In 1843 a Conregational Ministor named Horace Bushnell pulished an essay called "Tast and Fastion". He argued that sophistication and refinement were attributes of God and that Christians should emulate them. This attitude became dominant and eventually the Methodists gave in to new norm of "dressing up" for Church.

  The Bible Students and Jehovah's Witnesses original from the time-period where dressing up for Church was expected. The real question is why it is maintained as society shifted away from formal church dress. My suggestion is that Jehovah's Witnesses use their clothing to set them apart from other religious groups. It is part of their look and an effective trademark. I can remember being at the Kingdom Hall and other religions that dressed nicely but less formal were openly mocked.
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  55

  MAJOR DOCTRINE CHANGE IN 1/15/2014 WT ON GENERATION TEACHING

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the generation scripture no longer is speaking about 'the end'.

  i'll quote it...... side note: tons of lies in this article, i'll point out at the end of the post.

  "yet, jesus words at matthew 24:34 give us confidence that at least some of "this generation will by no means pass away" before seeing the start of the great tribulation.".

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  donuthole

  It fits the collective personality of this GB. They want to be "special", over and above others. They have rebranded themselves the Faithful Slave. They have wrote themselves into Watchtower History with a major NWT revision. Now they want Bible prophecy to apply to them. Mixed in here would be the longing to see the long awaited Armaggedon experienced by most JW's. They looked through the Bible and found a promise that they won't have their hopes dashed, that they will be alive to see it.
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  The Increasingly Visible FDS

  by donuthole in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the early organization was built around dynamic personalities such as russell, rutherford, knorr/franz.

  after the governing body coup the organization lost a visible figurehead.

  the governing body went into the shadows somewhat.

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  donuthole

  The early organization was built around dynamic personalities such as Russell, Rutherford, Knorr/Franz. After the governing body coup the organization lost a visible figurehead. The governing body went into the shadows somewhat. There was no president and the governing body itself was made up of names few outside of bethel were familiar with.
  
  The new Governing Body is increasingly putthing themselves out there. This trend started with things such as pictures of them as a group in the literature and also having them introduce videos. They assumed the role of the Faithful & Discreet Slave and fired the rest of the anointed.

  I think the annual meeting plays into this trend. One it allows every Witness the opportunity to here the Governing Body give talks. Before it was a rarity to have a member at a convention. The new GB also is writing itself into the organizational history be with a redo of one of the religion's biggest achievements -- a Bible translation.
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  88

  Today's WT Study (Who is the FDS - Sep 2013)

  by ohnightdivine in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  please share how your wt study went today...

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  donuthole

  They have rid themselves of the problematic idea of a "Faithful & Discreet Slave" exhisting throughout the centuries. Barbara Anderson was tasked with identifying the prior to CT Russell and couldn't so it was left kind of nebulous.
  
  They have further divorced themselves from Russell. As the Bible Students will point out, the JW's and the organization are more of Rutherford's baby. This change corrects this. Interestingly enough, it even makes Rutherford the first FDS!
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  12

  My new ebook Paradise Earth: Day Zero is out.

  by donuthole in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello friends.

  i'm excited to announce that the ebook version of my new novel paradise earth: day zero is now available at amazon, barnes & noble, and kobo.

  a print copy is in the works and will follow.. i also did a couple of interviews for ak morgen and curiosity quills.

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  donuthole

  Thanks @tenyearsafter. If you have time can you copy that to Amazon?
  
  I just started Terry's book too!
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  45

  New Watchtower video on "real friends"

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5schopnecog.

  it's difficult to imagine how this video could be more disingenuous and hypocritical.

  cedars.

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  donuthole

  I enjoyed the video. Good presentation. Good animation. Good music. Good message. Watchtower is really stepping up their game. Go jw.org!
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  4

  Nanowrimo

  by zound in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone writing a novel in a month this november?.

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  donuthole

  NaNoWriMo is good excuse for me to hammer out a first draft (or at least a sizeable chunk of one.)

  I did Paradise Earth in 2010 and Happiness: How to Find It in 2011.

  I'm not sure what I'll attempt for 2013, currently thinking:

  1.) "Dark Side of the Moon" , a campy retro blaxpoitation sci-fi romp.

  2.) "Truth", a book adaption of a JW screenplay I wrote many years ago when I was a Witness.
  
  It all depends on what frame of mind I'm at the time. If I'm happy #1 or if I'm depressed #2. :-)
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  88

  If the big change at the AGM meeting is dropping the literal 144,000...

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the best conjecture seems to be that the gb are going to drop the literal 144,000 teaching, especially in view of the december watchtower that pointedly does not mention the 144,000 number.

  if they are dropping the literal 144,000 number, but still claim that only a small number are anointed, and can partake, and that only a few are left on earth, then it is fair to ask what has really changed?

  they are simply clearing up the embarrassing situation that there were obviously more than 144,000 "anointed" believers from 36 ad until now, and that the number of partakers has been increasing in recent years.

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  donuthole

  Many of the recent changes have served to elevate/promote the Governing Body in order to consolidate/protect power. Example: FDS no longer "all anointed" but exclusively the Governing Body. It there is a change to the 144k, I believe it will follow this trend.
  
  My guess is that the 144,000 will also be linked exclusively with the Governing Body and those chosen by them via a symbolic "laying on of hands", i.e. headquarter appointment. They can pick and choose their anointed among real "company men" who are taking the lead. This will also widen the pool of candidates for future governing body appointment.
  
  There is an easy Bible basis for this. The Governing Body has already linked themselves to the apostles. In the Bible ones are anointed by the "laying on of hands" by the apostles. The "laying on of hands" also served to distinguish someone set apart for special service, such as when Paul was dispatched on a missionary assignment.