Posts by sd-7

26

Did you feel guilty for not pioneering?

by brokethechain in

i started pioneering the month i finished high school, and never stopped until i awakened, 17 years later.

it seems like the entire time, there was so much emphasis on pioneering.

every field service meeting seemed to have a part that communicated the message that jehovah would zap us at the big a. or people would die because of us if we didn't have extenuating circumstances (i always translated as bad health or kids, but even then, there were always "examples" of the mom with 5 kids that was pioneering).

sd-7

Not really. "Pioneer" does not appear in the Bible. It seemed to me that God would understand our fierce need to eat and would realize that nobody was going to give us food despite what the Yearbook stories claim. I also understood that Jesus said to make disciples, not to be pioneers. As long as you're doing that, or trying to, I figured I was covered. If God didn't accept me because I did 10 hours instead of 20 or 40 or etc., but he accepted this pioneer who was making filthy jokes and gossiping all the time, well, then what was the point?

I couldn't help but notice that the people telling us to 'do more' (ie. circuit overseers) were getting free meals from the congregation and driving cars better than mine. That said, I simply ignored them.

I'll always remember this one pioneer who was just visiting, mind you--I'd just met her for the first time. And she needed a ride home, she was related to a guy I was acquainted with and visiting him. So it happened to come up that I was still living at home, and she suddenly got this nasty attitude in her voice and asked, "Well are you pioneering?" It was all I could do not to strongly encourage her to walk the rest of the way home. I guess she's of that Society-sanctioned school of thought (at least I've read in the KM from the 70s of an experience like this, they might not be comfortable stating it flat out that way nowadays) that people should get kicked out of their parents' home if they're pioneering at the age of 18.

But mostly, I just wanted time to myself, to be able to get some rest instead of burning myself out trying to work to provide for myself and do that at the same time. I did originally have that as my goal once I got out of high school. Luckily I was encouraged towards college by mentors at school and didn't get too much opposition at home. I would've missed so much if I'd been stuck pioneering. On the plus side, I now realize I wouldn't have qualified anyway, with the mat-sturbation and all. I did actually get rejected when I applied to be an auxiliary pioneer because of that, now that I remember it. I can remember the COBOE explaining that to me at the KH during a song, got pulled into the back room, I think. So I could do the hours but just not get my name read from the platform. All guts, no glory. That would be kind of pointless in an organization like that one...

--sd-7

4

'Prometheus' and the 'Alien' films I've seen

by sd-7 in

i just started getting interested in the 'alien' series.

i'm thinking it's giving me nightmares, except that no aliens are trying to eat me or anything, it's just a general fear thing.

like last night i dreamed somebody broke into my home and i lifted my comfort eye mask to find a gun pointed right at my face.

sd-7

I just started getting interested in the 'Alien' series. I'm thinking it's giving me nightmares, except that no Aliens are trying to eat me or anything, it's just a general fear thing. Like last night I dreamed somebody broke into my home and I lifted my comfort eye mask to find a gun pointed right at my face. I'm thinking it must be residual fear from watching the movies. Or maybe it was that creepy guy in the green hoodie standing outside my door at 3 a.m. last weekend who didn't knock or do anything but stand there looking at the floor really creepy-like. We called the cops on him, but he left before they arrived and all passed without incident. I think he was just drunk (I could smell the alcohol through the door) and lost, but if he mistook our door for his, I suppose it could have been trouble. Just lucky we were awake at the time, I guess.

Anyway, I was really eager to check out 'Prometheus' when I saw the previews. I started by watching 'Alien' and 'Aliens' beforehand. Definitely sci-fi/horror classics.

'Prometheus' was, to me, a clone of 'Alien', only with better special effects. A guy I know didn't seem to get how it was related to the 'Alien' series, but it seemed very much like a prequel to me. I guess...the premise was [SPOILER ALERT] that these other humanlike beings were planning to use the Aliens to destroy humanity for reasons never explained (but maybe they will be in a sequel). And that's supposed to be what the Space Jockeys are all about (at least that's what I heard they were called). I figured that maybe not all of the ships were headed to Earth, maybe just this particular one, which of course was different from the one that's in 'Alien'. It's not like you'd need more than a few thousand of those creatures to get rid of mankind--just planting them in the right places would decimate all possible defenses. But given the volatile nature of the Aliens, it does seem like there'd be a high probability of something going horribly wrong while attempting to transport such creatures.

I thought the most fascinating part of the film was Michael Fassbender as David, who asks the thought-provoking question of, what would humans do if they met their creator and found out that he created them simply because he could? It kind of chilled me to hear that, but it certainly could be a plausible reason why creation happened, if we were created and all. Just a use of power, like flexing a muscle, nothing more. That would actually make more sense than the idea that God made us out of love, considering his tendency to want to engage in near-extinction-level phenomena towards mankind when he gets pissed off enough. I mean, if we're talking about Bible God, is what I'm saying. There could, of course, be a God without it having to be Bible God. Could be Advice God.

advice god

But certainly the c-section was the classic moment of 'Prometheus'. I think if we had one of those machines, my wife would be in much better shape. Apparently you can get up and run like hell right after a c-section, just jab yourself with some adrenaline or whatever...

But I thought those researchers were exceedingly stupid--I mean, why the heck did they take their helmets off after they got down there? Granted, their helmets wouldn't have served any protection had they encountered Aliens, but just the possibility of biological contaminants on a microscopic level--one would think that some further research would have been warranted before just yanking off their helmets. And who didn't love that great finale with the ship falling towards them--oh! Let's run in a straight line away from it!!

I don't know. I guess since I iced my Facebook page, there isn't a lot of talking about stuff like this I can do otherwise. Maybe I should bring it back. But then, it's better this way. Saves me from spending too much time on the computer.

--sd-7

65

It's Official! The Governing Body IS the Faithful and Discreet Slave (Annual Meeting Report - jw.org)

by 00DAD in

it's official!

from the jw.org website:.

november 9, 2012. annual meeting report .

sd-7

Well, then, this raises the question: Is Jesus part of the "faithful and discreet slave"? After all, the anointed are said to be "joint heirs with Christ". Perhaps Jehovah was really the master in Matthew 24:45-47, and he appointed both Jesus and his anointed representatives who work closely with the Governing Body to take the lead in the organization. I see a Beast-Tower article in my future. Jesus is getting demoted, baby. Yes, it's still possible. He'll be down to scrubbing Bethel toilets if he doesn't shave that beard.

--sd-7

16

Apostates and the Holy Spirit

by iamwhoiam in

i've heard elders say more than once that if the congregation isn't productive, there is probably an apostate in the midst; since the holy spirit doesn't seem to be upon the congregation.

anyone ever hear similar claims before?.

sd-7

The most powerful force in the universe is blocked by the sins of a handful of individuals. And apparently not covered at all by that ransom sacrifice thing. Paradoxes abound.

--sd-7

25

If YOU Said 10 Years Ago That The Faithful Slave Only Consisted Of The Governing Body--What Would've Happened?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you said c.t.

russell was never even part of the "slave class", what would happen to you?.

if you said the anointed on earth shouldn't even consider that they were part of the "slave", would you be considered an "apostate"??

sd-7

I just wish I'd told them to frak off 10 years ago. That would have solved everything right there....

--sd-7

65

It's Official! The Governing Body IS the Faithful and Discreet Slave (Annual Meeting Report - jw.org)

by 00DAD in

it's official!

from the jw.org website:.

november 9, 2012. annual meeting report .

sd-7

What I would like to know is why it took from 1919 until 2012 for the faithful and discreet slave to figure out that they are the faithful and discreet slave and that the rest of the 144,000 are not...

Excellent point. From the time right after they were appointed--when they were teaching that Russell was the slave--until now, while they're having to again correct their own understanding, it really underscores the absolute idiocy involved.

Question: HOW can we trust a group of men to correctly interpret the Bible WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN IDENTITY? This should be the single most basic doctrine since it's clearly the most important one to them, and they can't figure out their own identity. God's channel of communication can't even figure out who makes up God's channel of communication. And yet God is communicating with them and took 93 years to tell them who they were.

The other thing is, it erases the potential counterpoint of their needing to establish an unbroken chain of individuals from 100 C.E. to 1919 C.E. who made up the "faithful slave". It also makes the Governing Body more exclusive and more unique, thus solidifying the "prophet" status even further. Because if they're saying there wasn't a "faithful slave" until them, and not even the apostles qualified as such, they're making themselves a sort of exception to the rule. They were appointed without getting any form of inspiration from God, unlike EVERY OTHER PROPHET IN THE HISTORY OF MAN. As Don Cameron put it--the 'uninspired true prophet'.

The other thing is, they're putting the cart before the horse here. The master only appoints the slave over the domestics to give them food, not to give them orders. The master is the one who gives orders, not the slave. Otherwise he would've been a faithful and discreet overseer. There's no mention of any kind of supervisory authority beyond giving food ("appointed him over his domestics TO give them their food at the proper time" indicates specific purpose and not a carte blanche scenario). Only after the master returns does he give the slave authority over all his belongings--and they're saying that the master has to return TWICE, not once. So the JWs are looking forward to the THIRD coming of Christ, apparently, since he already came a second time and appointed the faithful slave in 1919.

I have no choice but to throw in a double entendre, because this is just too rich. Isn't that right, Mary Magdalene? Jesus comes three times. That's what she said.

Anyway, it definitely boots all non-GB members from having any kind of authority. The irony is, without doing anything different from the average rank-and-file JW, somehow these other 'anointed' will inherit the same reward as the 'faithful slave' does. So we'd have what, maybe 50 people out of 144,000 who have some measure of rulership experience? If anything, this actually recommends the other people, the non-GB anointed, who didn't feel entitled to demand absolute obedience from their fellow brothers down to even shaving regularly, as being better kings than those who already starting ruling while they were on the Governing Body.

Guess I've got a lot of company--the rest of the anointed just officially became door mats!! HA!

--sd-7

56

I've been thinking the Bible isn't legitimate--long indoor mat-rant

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i'm not sure where this thought came from (believers will no doubt say 'from satan'), but it has started to coalesce in my brain lately.

i've often referred to the bible and argued from it to debunk jw beliefs, and still tried to consider it as a great piece of literature at the very least.

but as my wife was listening to the meeting on a loud speaker phone at home this weekend, i just had this thought.

sd-7

I don't have a problem in believing in God and Christ.

I see a short future in being an atheist.

That's fine. I see no problems with it either, to an extent. Belief can be a two-edged sword--it can motivate people to do great or terrible things. I just hope for you it can be great things rather than terrible. I'm not sure how to take that second sentence. I mean, we all have a short future, strictly speaking. But I'm not sure I'd label myself an atheist, maybe more so an agnostic if anything; either way, disbelieving the Bible doesn't in itself preclude the existence of God. But I do think if we don't bother to at least ask the questions, we're potentially allowing a blind spot to develop in our worldview and our conscience. That has often been a disastrous thing in man's history. If we find out we're wrong, we can always step back in line and receive our daily bowl of gruel for the day, metaphorically speaking.

--sd-7

56

I've been thinking the Bible isn't legitimate--long indoor mat-rant

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i'm not sure where this thought came from (believers will no doubt say 'from satan'), but it has started to coalesce in my brain lately.

i've often referred to the bible and argued from it to debunk jw beliefs, and still tried to consider it as a great piece of literature at the very least.

but as my wife was listening to the meeting on a loud speaker phone at home this weekend, i just had this thought.

sd-7

I was just asking about statements you made about God.

I know very little about God maybe you know more.

Well, you asked, I answered as well as I could. I meant no offense, perhaps I was a bit too harsh, and if so I apologize.

God and I have never met, to my knowledge, so...we're kind of in the same boat. I can only go on what's in the Bible, which obviously isn't a complete picture. It calls to mind a few lines from Queen's song, "Innuendo": "If there's a God or any kind of justice under the sky/If there's a point, if there's a reason for us to live or die/If there's an answer to the questions that we forgot to ask/Show yourself, destroy our fears, release your mask!" If we had these answers from the source, we wouldn't be having these kinds of issues, now would we?

--sd-7

56

I've been thinking the Bible isn't legitimate--long indoor mat-rant

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i'm not sure where this thought came from (believers will no doubt say 'from satan'), but it has started to coalesce in my brain lately.

i've often referred to the bible and argued from it to debunk jw beliefs, and still tried to consider it as a great piece of literature at the very least.

but as my wife was listening to the meeting on a loud speaker phone at home this weekend, i just had this thought.

sd-7

But I see this is going to get into an interesting debate about every word I wrote (at least with one person playing...dare we say devil's advocate? Or should we say God's advocate?), but one way or the other, this discussion, I hope, will actually help me see if I'm barking up the wrong tree or if I'm onto something.

--sd-7

56

I've been thinking the Bible isn't legitimate--long indoor mat-rant

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i'm not sure where this thought came from (believers will no doubt say 'from satan'), but it has started to coalesce in my brain lately.

i've often referred to the bible and argued from it to debunk jw beliefs, and still tried to consider it as a great piece of literature at the very least.

but as my wife was listening to the meeting on a loud speaker phone at home this weekend, i just had this thought.

sd-7

I didn't know how you knew this.

Well, supposedly he's the Beginning and the End and says there was nobody before him. At least that's what the Bible itself quotes God as saying. I'm just going based on that. The Bible is admissible proof for this discussion, isn't it?

Of course I was joking--obviously God didn't use Google. Unless he's sort of like a form of Anti-Time, like in that last episode of Star Trek: TNG, and he gets more awesome as we go backwards in time. You could argue that he accumulates all knowledge and power from the future and then brings it back to the past. Just a crazy thought.

--sd-7