this is the short argument against the watchtower interpretation of babylon the great.
(btg) .
) the watchtower claims that babylon the great is the world empire of false religion (wefr).
proplog2, I am also relieved to see you are alive and well. When you dropped out of "internet land" after December 20, you had me worried. I dreaded the thought that you might have self-fulfilled your own prophecy. Next time, could you drop us a note just to say you are OK?
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/41342/573017/post.ashx#573017
Awwww. Don't sell yourself short. I bet you could publish here: http://www.poetry.com
here's an interesting article which shows the arrogance of certain evangelical christian groups who will certainly (imo) exacerbate poor relations between america and the iraqis post war.
http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageloc=/story/123/story_12365_1.html&storyid=12365&boardid=55473.
an excerpt:graham didnt seem concerned that the public presence in iraq of samaritans pursewhich has put out a press release about its activitiescould prompt already-skeptical muslims worldwide to view the war as a crusade against islam.
Welcome to the board, Realness. I look forward to the results of the debate, and promise to keep my flying fingers from the keyboard until you are done.
now here's a question this always bothered me.
using the example of the flood, jws were told that few would be saved at armegeddon.
also quoting jesus when he said that few are the ones finding the road to everlasting life.
I think Dansk was right on the money for the feelings you and many new xJW's are going through. Know that your current state is not static. You will recover. I witness growth and recovery of people here on this board every day. Please be patient with yourself, as it will take a while to disentangle what you believe with the set of iron-clad beliefs that were imposed on you. Even brittle iron bands can be broken.
Why don't you sit down and make a list of things you do believe in, strongly, now. If you have decided to believe in the bible, why don't you give it a read, without the assistance of the WTS? I sense you are under a heavy burden of guilt for your sin. Consider that Jesus chatted freely with the woman at the well, though he knew full well the man she was with was not her husband. Yet he invited this woman to drink from his inexhaustable well of forgiveness. John 4:6-29.
about 30 minutes ago we had a visit by an elder.
of course it was to invite us to the memorial but the visit turned into an old rehash of issues that the wife and i have thought would not come up.i should mention that this particular elder came alone, while his wife waited in the car.i should also say that this elder is also the father and father-in-law of 2 regular posters on this board.because this elder knows of his daughters and son-in-laws stand towards the wbts it has caused a huge rift in the family.
my wife and i are dear friends of daughter and son-in-law and have been through thick and thin together.
I am thinking this big push to drag back the inactives could be a good thing in the long run. Because lots of elders have to hear lots of reasons why people are just as happy to be out. That this elder came alone is very good. He did not have to look good in front of another "true believer". He listened. He cried. I hope you planted seeds of compassion in that man.
wt comments you will not hear at the 3-30-03 wt study
february 15, 2003. wts quotes will be in red; reviewers comments in black or in parentheses.
why observe the lords evening meal?.
WT February 15, 2003 Why Observe the Lord’s Evening Meal? study March 24, 2003
As an outsider looking in, I thought it interesting to compare the observance of the Lord’s Supper with my own experience in Christendom‘s Churches. I won’t bother going in to the obvious WTS perversion, where the majority of the congregation can “look-but-not-touch” the bread and the wine. Such a class distinction cannot be supported by Jesus’ word and deed.
On my web tour, I was disappointed to find that most sites are dedicated to supporting their own version of the Lord’s Supper. Fluffy bread or flat bread. Pre-broken bits or one loaf. Ritz or Matzo. Wine or Grape Juice. One cup or a zillion mini cups. Weekly or Monthly or Yearly. Who can partake and who cannot. One link, thankfully, focused more on the WHY rather than the HOW. I really could care less about the how. Wherever I plant my seat, there I share communion with my brothers and sisters, whether it is ritz or matzo or fluffy french bread. I do it to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for me.
Just like other churches, the WTS picks and chooses which elements of the Lord’s Supper will be treated literally and which are flexible. There is no discernable pattern in their choice other than doctrinal preference.
The big mental stretch is where the WTS explains why Memorial is still observed, if Jesus has already come back in 1914.
How long would the body of anointed Christians observe the Memorial of Christ’s death? “Until he arrives,” said Paul, evidently meaning that these observances would continue until Jesus’ arrival to receive his anointed followers into heaven by a resurrection during his “presence” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
Huh? Does this mean that Jesus is here but not really here? Is this like a really slow arrival, something like the JW crawl door-to-door?
A Historical Side-Note, Communion Tokens. Now, don’t anybody go telling the WTS about this practice. It might give them ideas. (A judicious distribution of Anointed Tokens prior to Memorial, for instance, would ensure that the “true anointed” can be readily “marked”.)
wt comments you will not hear at the 3-30-03 wt study
february 15, 2003. wts quotes will be in red; reviewers comments in black or in parentheses.
why observe the lords evening meal?.
Artful and Blondie, I found my commentary on the latest take on WT prophesy interpretation here:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/47398/1.ashx
Six Convincing Lines of Evidence WT January 15, 2000 p. 12, 13 para 13-18
OK, Blondie, I can understand why the WTS wants to stay far away from the Catholic Church and it's traditions. But Jesus set the pattern for foot washing. (John 13:4-17) Pfft on the WTS resembling the early church. I will believe that when they throw away their suits and start wearing robes and sandals. When Jesus comes back, do they really think He will be clean shaven and in a suit and tie?
Oh, right. External appearances are not important. It is the heart condition that matters. Then I will believe the WTS is like the early church when they start taking care of the old and the lame and the sick and the weak and the downhearted ones and the sinners . (Matthew 25:44-45) As Jesus did (Matthew 15:30, 21:14).
i was raised jw.
yeah!!!!!!
) and my parents and only sibling (sister-15 years older than me) are still strong in the organization.
Here is my favorite research paper on the cross vs stake thing. I think it explains both sides very well. Be prepared for your family to tell you, "Oh well, cross....stake, does it really make a difference?"
Well, Yes, especially if they use it as proof that the other churches are wrong, wrong, wrong.
please.....learn from my mistakes: .
don't highlight your hair at home with one of those new "kits" that offers hair color and highlighting.
my mistake: not knowing how to highlight.
Wednesday, thank you for asking , and CHEVY, thanks for the advice . The itching. Yes. And how do you scratch discreetly without looking like Michael Jackson on Speed?
wt comments you will not hear at the 3-30-03 wt study
february 15, 2003. wts quotes will be in red; reviewers comments in black or in parentheses.
why observe the lords evening meal?.
I have not come up with a witty response to this article yet. It sounds like the real horrors are next week. My happy thoughts go with you, Blondie, as you work on it this week. My honey has been proudly proclaiming all week that the Memorial is the only sacrament the WTS observes - the only one that Jesus commanded. You know, Christmas and Birthdays are all pagan made-up stuff. I asked, "Oh yeah, howcome you guys don't have foot-washing ceremonies? Jesus did that, too, you know."
So howcome the WTS does not have foot washing ceremonies? And they better not get it backwards. The slave washes the feet of those he serves. And don't tell me that the "figurative" washing comes out once a week in published form. Where is the water? Where is the towel?
