JWs have more RULES regulating morality than many other religions. This in itself does not indicate that as a people they have higher morals. It merely means that they APPEAR to have higher morals. And given the amount of dishonesty and manipulation evident in the way the wheels turn, it becomes kind of a moot point.
Posts by sd-7
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WT Enemy #1: Man saves the lives of over 2 million babies
by daniel-p in'man with the golden arm' saves 2million babies in half a century of donating rare type of blood .
by mail foreign service.
last updated at 1:43 am on 23rd march 2010. comments (54)add to my storieslife-saver: james harrison has donated his rare blood nearly 1,000 times.
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sd-7
I'd love to hear a witness's rebuttal to that one.
This man could have saved 7 billion lives with his blood, but is he not still in violation of God's command at Acts 15:28, 29: "Abstain from blood"? Granted, his choices may seem favorable in the eyes of men, but Jehovah God is the Source of life, and as such, no amount of apparent "good" can make up for grossly ignoring his requirements. We do not need to misuse blood to save our lives in this present system of things which is soon to pass away. All who die faithful to Jehovah can look forward to being resurrected to perfect health, where the medical profession will be a thing of the past.
--Pres. Nathrick Knorranz
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6
Quote from novel calls to mind post-cult reality--Zoiks, do not read!!
by sd-7 init's not a secret i could have hidden, not an operation that big, but i didn't need to.
beings believe what you tell them.
they never check, they never ask, they never think.
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sd-7
Dude, that's pretty scary...
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Quote from novel calls to mind post-cult reality--Zoiks, do not read!!
by sd-7 init's not a secret i could have hidden, not an operation that big, but i didn't need to.
beings believe what you tell them.
they never check, they never ask, they never think.
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sd-7
It's not a secret I could have hidden, not an operation that big, but I didn't need to. Beings believe what you tell them. They never check, they never ask, they never think. Tell them the state is menaced by quadrillions of battle droids, and they will not count. Tell them you can save them, and they will never ask--from what, from whom? Just say tyranny, oppression, vague bogeymen that require no analysis. Never specify. Then they look the other way when reality is right in front of them. It's a conjuring trick. The key is distraction, getting them to watch your other hand. Only single-minded beings don't join in the shared illusion, and keep watching you too closely. Single-minded beings are dangerous. And they either work for me, or they don't work at all.
--Chancellor Palpatine, quote from 'Star Wars: Order 66' by Karen Traviss, p. 207.
I only asked zoiks not to read it because it's yet another sci-fi quote... But I thought it was relevant. I realized just how many references there are to the kind of ideas involved in cults, propaganda, and post-cult recovery there are in this one book, though it's the fourth book in a series.
I couldn't help thinking, this quote is so true, even though it's a fictional tale in another place and time. I think perhaps I started to realize at a certain point that the Society was trying to scare me with 'vague bogeymen' and that it was time to check their references for once. Reading troubling statements in Watchtower literature was one thing; going to the library and seeing with my own eyes that they quoted from a book that denies Jesus altogether--as a means of supporting their attacks on the Trinity--and concealed this fact was another. (It's one thing to legitimately disagree with a doctrine, but at least use a source that is legitimate for a Christian to use, or at least be up front with the full quote, you know?)
But this is the thing. Even the quoted scriptures--do people seriously analyze these scriptures? An example of this was in yesterday's Watchtower lesson. Hebrews 2:12: "As he says: 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will praise you with song'." In this scripture, we were taught to read it thus:
'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will praise you with song'."
In the meeting, emphasis was placed on the name of Jehovah, that Jesus declared it. This scripture was used to support that point.
The context reveals that the writer of Hebrews was not applying this scripture in that way at all. Notice verse 11:
"For both he who is sanctifying and those who are being sanctified all [stem] from one, and for this cause he is not ashamed to call them 'brothers'." Now verse 12, as Paul applied it: 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will praise you with song'." See the difference? There is no indication from the context that Paul (who I am assuming wrote Hebrews, though I guess there are differing opinions on that out there) was saying Jesus was saying 'Jehovah' as every other word during his ministry. He is clearly emphasizing that Jesus viewed humans as his "brothers". That's it. But since the Watchtower tells you it's about God's name, that's the word you see highlighted when you read this verse. That's a neat conjuring trick, isn't it?
Jesus could not have glorified the name Jehovah amongst people who already knew the name Jehovah intimately and had used it for the better part of a millennium. Clearly, he made known God's qualities, his personality, his reputation. (If there was a serious superstition about its usage amongst the Jews that started before Christ, it's probably not an exaggeration to say that he would have immediately martyred himself by using it the way JWs do in his public ministry. Hence why it made sense for him to say 'Father' as he so often did.)
Just a thought. But a bit of advice that I probably learned from reading non-JW books without being aware of it: if people claiming to be 'true Christians' make a statement, check their sources. If they discourage you from doing so, you probably know why.
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Please accept my apology for being an elder and participating in Judicial Committees
by TastingFreedom in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-us</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="--" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!
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sd-7
As someone very recently subjected to such a committee, it is difficult to feel compassion towards one who pulled the trigger, whether he was following orders or not. But that's just because I'm experiencing all of the pains that such individuals cannot possibly comprehend when they make these decisions--and they do not appear to care in the slightest.
At the same time, I appreciate someone like this who is man enough to accept responsibility for his role in the suffering this religion has caused people. For me, though, it's a quiet appreciation, the kind that one who was victimized may occasionally have for someone who victimized others. We're all to blame, in our own ways, just for not seeing it sooner. I never wanted to be an elder for this very reason--I didn't consider it morally right to cut someone off from their friends and family for any reason.
I'm not helping here, and it's only because the wounds are fresh for me. I hope that more elders will wake up as you did, and I'm sorry you had to live through putting others through so much pain, and being in pain yourself. It's not a fate I'd wish on anyone. Thank you for your apology.
--sd-7
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35
What would you do if this site was shut down?
by dissed inalthough, unlikely, but what if jwn was shut down?
you came here and you got a message like....."the wts has seized this site".
where would you go for solid jw information and support?.
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sd-7
--For those who don't know me well, that was a joke.
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What would you do if this site was shut down?
by dissed inalthough, unlikely, but what if jwn was shut down?
you came here and you got a message like....."the wts has seized this site".
where would you go for solid jw information and support?.
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sd-7
I would be grateful to the "faithful and discreet slave" class for boldly taking action in the name of pure worship. Jehovah is merely trying to protect us from experiencing spiritual shipwreck and being drawn away from his organization by false teachers. In my mind, it would be like Jesus clearing out the temple--an act of righteous indignation that honors Jehovah God.
After all, we have learned the most part, if not everything we know about Jehovah and his purposes through the slave class. We should joyfully abandon apostate research and association and return to Jehovah, receiving seasons of refreshing and loving counsel and readjustment from the congregation elders. If anything, it would be for our benefit if this site shut down.
Speaking of which, I shouldn't even be here. Let me start doing the Bible reading for this week.....
Pres. Nathrick Knorranz, successor to Pastor-Judge J.C.F. Russellford, who finished his earthly course in early 2010.
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GB's Exegesis Of 'Jack & Jill' (Study Article)
by Outaservice ingb's study article on the 'exegesis of jack and jill'.
verse 1: "jack and jill went up the hill, to fetch a pail of water.".
the word "and" presents some difficulties which are not apparent to the casual reader.
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sd-7
Some have suggested that Jill was, not an actual person, but a demonic spirit. Says one scholar, "'Jill' may be short for the name 'Jillian', which belonged to a Mesopotamian demon god that was believed to accompany men as they acquired water for their families. This was considered to be a shameful experience for the men, as drawing water was customarily a woman's duty. So long as 'Jack' continued drawing water, the demon spirit haunted him, even into the Netherworld [beyond death], if necessary."
Is it wise for Christians to entertain their children with stories directly related to the occult? Wisely, then, we would avoid anything that could result in our families feeding from "the table of demons". Surely there are many fine publications from the "faithful slave" that can be used with our children, such as Learn From the Great Teacher, My Book of Bible Stories, and Questions Young People Ask: Answers That Work--Volumes 1 and 2*.
*All published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Unchanging TRUTH changes from 1939--thru--2000
by Terry inhere is a strange premise.
god speaks through you, but, you make errors.
when your errors are pointed out it means you have been blessed!.
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sd-7
When Jesus was enthroned as King--minor.
Whether or not you can get that vaccine for your child--minor. (Unless you get polio, then it's not minor.)
Whether or not you can get an organ transplant--minor. (Unless you need an organ transplant, then it's not so minor.)
What the bread and wine represent at the Lord's evening meal--minor.
The identity of the 'faithful slave'--minor!
Whether or not people living today will see Armageddon--minor.
When the last days started--minor.
When the resurrection begins--minor.
When the dividing of the 'sheep' and 'goats' takes place--minor.
Well, I'm convinced.
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-21-10 WT Study (REAL CHRISTIANS)
by blondie inchrist's true followers (5).
true christians (3).
(matt.
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sd-7
JESUS said that those falsely professing to serve him would be distinguished from his true followers by their fruits--their teachings and their conduct. (Matt. 7: 15-17, 20)
Did Jesus say those 'falsely professing to serve him', or did he say 'false PROPHETS'? "Be on the lookout for false PROPHETS that come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves." False PROPHETS were the issue here. Nice dodge! Since you're batting .000 in the prophecy category, got no choice but to switch up the terminology.
Of course, we do not want to appear self-righteous, but we should stand out as different from those who do not love and serve Jehovah.
This is the most contradictory sentence in the lesson. You say you don't want to appear self-righteous, but you automatically classify EVERYONE ELSE as people who do not love God. If you don't say "Jehovah", that means you therefore do not love God, by the way, even if none of the apostles used the name once or wrote it in any of their letters. (And we have no evidence that they did.) By definition, you are self-righteous if you believe no one else around you loves God.
People who merely profess to be followers of Christ do not engage in this work--in fact, they cannot. Why? For at least three reasons: First, they cannot preach what they do not understand. Second, most of them lack the humility and courage needed to face the ridicule and opposition that may result from sharing the Kingdom message with their neighbors. (Matt. 24:9; 1 Pet. 2:23) And third, false Christians do not have God's spirit.--John 14:16, 17.
First, ask any JW to explain, using the Bible alone, how they arrive at 1914 for the date when Jesus started to rule as King of God's Kingdom. Being very generous, 50% of them will not be able to do so using the Bible alone. So who can't explain what they don't understand? This 1914 belief, as has been repeatedly stated in WT publications (see the 'be' book, page 279), is at the heart of the 'good news of the kingdom' JWs preach. So I'd be careful about talking about ignorance if I were in their shoes.
Second, you're saying all others who claim to be Christian are arrogant cowards? Right. This from the religious leaders who give orders for people not to research the Bible's original languages independently and use propaganda techniques to keep people in fear of reading any literature that gives their doctrine a critical examination. And also says that if something they teach seems wrong (even if it ends up being wrong), it can't really be wrong; you just don't understand it 'cause you're not as 'enlightened' as they are.
Third, no man can presume to say who does and does not have God's spirit. The elders tried to pull this one on me, using 2 Cor. 1:20, "he who anointed us is God," and asked, "Who are you to say who is anointed?" If GOD is the one who decides, who are YOU to say that others don't have his spirit? Of course, their fruits--false doctrine, false prophecies made in God's name, going to and fro on teaching after teaching--tend to make certain people easy to recognize as not possessing the spirit of God.
The Bible, however, is our primary tool.
If that's true, then why do you spend 45 minutes studying the Watchtower every Sunday instead of studying the Bible? Why isn't it the Bible Study instead of the Watchtower Study? Even the meeting that's called the Bible Study is really the Book Study--studying the Watchtower's books. If the Bible was your primary tool, you would not have to remind people to use it in their ministry. They would already be doing so.
He knew that he himself as King of that Kingdom, along with his resurrected spirit-begotten brothers, would deal with the root causes of mankind's woes--sin and the Devil. (Rom. 5:12; Rev. 20:10)
Neither of these scriptures indicates that any spirit-begotten brothers of Jesus would remove mankind's woes. They cannot possibly have the power to do so, being in need of ransom themselves! Jesus alone undoes the work of the Devil with his death, and he alone atones for man's sins, period. That is why he is the High Priest and not any man. If we accept this as true, then the anointed are our mediators beside the Christ. The Bible nowhere makes that assertion. If you find such a scripture, do let me know, though.
The woman from El Salvador--what would have happened to her had she refused a Bible study? There's a pretty good chance that if she did so and really was in need of food, she would have starved to death. This story is just another example of conditional love; if they helped her even though she refused the message, then I'd give credit where credit is due.
Can't believe I sat through this. Told myself I'd never go back, but wife gave me those eyes I couldn't say no to. 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 came to my mind as I listened to the boasting about how 'only the faithful slave provides us with this kind of instruction':
1Let a man regard us in this manner, as (A) servants of Christ and (B) stewards of (C) the mysteries of God.
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
4 For I (D) am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this (E) acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
5 Therefore (F) do not go on passing judgment before [a] the time, but wait (G) until the Lord comes who will both (H) bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's (I) praise will come to him from God.
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed (J) what is written, so that no one of you will (K) become arrogant (L) in behalf of one against the other.
7 For who regards you as superior? (M) What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?