Outlaw, I can't believe you named Herd, "Whitey" LOL. OMG!
miseryloveselders
JoinedPosts by miseryloveselders
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28
Following GB equals following Christ (Visual Aid)
by Rank&FileGuy in.
just a visual aid to help everyone understand what message they're conveying in the watchtower study this coming sunday.
it's funny but just by using their first names instead of "governing body" really brings home the ridiculousness of it.. -rfg.
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miseryloveselders
What about the word, "inculcate?" Granted the word "cult" isn't in there, but is there any correlation? I checked out an online etymology site, and it stated that the word inculcate, comes from "inculcatus" which means to "force upon, stamp in." It also listed the "culcare" which means "to tread, to press in." Those definitions and origins are awfully similar to words such as previously mentioned, "cultivate." When you look up "difficult" on the same site, it mentions the Latin word, "difficilis", which means, "hard to please."
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33
Why You Loyal Witnesses Should Oppose Disfellowshipping
by metatron inone night you are driving down a dark road.
another car swerves into your lane and hits you head on.
you wake up days later and discover you are paralyzed.
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miseryloveselders
Dear Mrs. Peck
The problem with Disfellowshipping™ is that the average JW does not know the reason why someone is DFd. There is no transparency to the proceedings that allow for the actual process to be critiqued and ensure that appropriate measures have been taken. The punishment is the same whether the "crime" was something like smoking in private - which harms nobody but the person doing it - or actual crimes like child molestation or murder which put people in the congregation and general public at risk.
Far too often people who have committed crimes get away with their criminal activity under the WTS's insane Two Eyewitness™ rule - thus being sheltered from having justice served, while at the same time keeping perpetrators in proximity to their victims and in a position where they can victimize other people.
Why should someone like me, whose only "crime" is a fundamental, conscientious disagreement with WTS policy be punished more severely than someone who molests a child and claims to be Repentant™?
Powerful post. The bible is full of individuals who were considered good folks in God's eyes, yet had disfellowshipable offenses. David would have been convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, and disfellowshipped considering all the circumstances. Abraham had his fair share of women, so did Solomon and Samson. Ok, so they weren't Christians, but they were all listed by the WT as fine representatives of God's chosen people.
If we're discussing disagreement with the WT's beliefs, what about Jonah openly disagreeing with God? What about the disagreements early Christians had with one another and the fact that gray areas such as circumcision could be left up to one's conscience in consideration of one's background and also the fulfillment of the Law. With the WT today, there are no gray areas. They view you poorly for growing facial hair, or wearing a blazer instead of a full suit. Or when it comes to areas that aren't even gray, but rather black and white such as them being dead wrong on 607 B.C., they force you to accept what they say. Not only accept it, but promote it to other people as truth even though you know its friggin wrong.
My personal opinion, when it comes to individuals who call themselves Christians, and have developed an outrageous reputation for sinful behavior, to the point that outside people can look at him/her and sarcastically say, "he's a good Christian", then I can understand some kind of sanction by his church/congregation. I still don't agree with disfellowshipping as its done now. It doesn't get to the root of the matter, all it does is enforce uniformity, even if the problem remains hidden. If you believe in Christianity, and the ransom, then you believe that we're all inherently sinful as were all the people listed in the bible were, although they were still listed as fine representatives of God's organization. They had worse offenses than the average person gets DFd for today.
It is particulary sad that someone can force themselves sexually on a child and face less sanction from the WT, than one who disagrees with 607 vs 587.
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21
MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!!
by snowbird inthrows left-handed, but is actually right-handed..
ruff-ruff!!!
syl.
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miseryloveselders
That contract is insane for a guy they don't have confidence in when the game is on the line. From what I hear, though, only about half of the money is guaranteed.
Even the excuse they gave for benching him was lame. If I remember correctly, they said his stamina was an issue.
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MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!!
by snowbird inthrows left-handed, but is actually right-handed..
ruff-ruff!!!
syl.
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miseryloveselders
McNabb will be 34 on November 25, MLE.
Syl
yeah, 34? Its over. I swear Washington's office staff is beyond Corky level's of retardation. That man has never had the type of career where I'd sign him for that kind of cheddar at this point in his career, or even when he was at his peak. His lone Super Bowl appearance was strictly based off of T.O. and Westbrook's abilities at the time. Crazy to sign him for that kind of paper. SMH at Rick Snider.
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21
MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!!
by snowbird inthrows left-handed, but is actually right-handed..
ruff-ruff!!!
syl.
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miseryloveselders
I said I wasn't posting here no more, but I couldn't contain myself. I've been lurking like mofo since my departing post. But, watching that last night was crazy!!! I didn't get home until the second quarter, but wow. Brady is my favorite QB, and I'd make the argument that MAnning is the best all around in the league. However Vick has done more this year than Cutler, Pennington, Sanchez, McNabb, Roethlisberger, Phillip Rivers(who's very underrated imo), and anybody else. Fascinating seeing him do what he's doing considering the kind of layoff he had. I know it had to hurt Washington considering they just signed McNabb to 40 million guaranteed, with the potential for 78 million over 5 years. He's 32 if I'm not mistaken, and has NEVER had a Montana like career.
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25
Darkside.... HAHA
by Darth plaugeis ini think he was banned.... but just to rub salt in an open wound...... so your team was going to do what to the pats??????
lol.
see you in the playoffs........ when it means something!!!!.
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miseryloveselders
Patriots got in that azz. I lvoe Tom Brady too. Since when'd the PAtriots get a running game?
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10
"Lone Ranger Christianity"
by leavingwt insome may enjoy this thread at the channel c forum.
by jim penton, it's about what he calls, "lone ranger christianity".
there are quite a few responses there, in the ongoing discussion.. .
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miseryloveselders
The only thing I hate about this mentality is the whole "mandatory to associate with one another" as defined by imperfect men. I don't know Penton, but on the surface it appears the apostate apples haven't fallen far from the WT's tree. I could be wrong, as he's probably a good dude. My reservations lie in the fact that the WT treats Hebrews 10:24, 25 as a command that JWs must attend weekly meetings. It wasn't a command, but the argument could be made it was strong advice, and absolutely necessary considering the time frame that the Hebrew Christians lived in. They would have needed to support, encourage,and upbuild one another all the more so back then.
It's 2010 going on 2011, and we're far removed from 66 CE, or 70 CE, or whatever time frame Paul penned this letter. Different ballgame today. I don't feel that I'm under any threat, and don't need the encouragement of any Christian groups today. Matter fact, to be honest with you, I find Christian communities, both the JWs, and other groups to be highly discouraging. I'd rather serve God and imitate Christ by myself, as opposed to doing so along side a herd of hypocrites and vipers.
How does Penton get off defining loving one another as "associating and fellowshipping to the extent possible?" There are old friends, family, relatives, even former workmates that I don't see often, yet I still have love for them, and still love them genuinely. If they never call me again, believe me when I say my love for them isn't any less.
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49
beards are from satan!
by Adrianoblue init is illegal to wear a beard.
(matthew 24:45-47).
but it is legal to wear a mustache.
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miseryloveselders
Does anybody have an actual quote from the WT saying beards are bad?
I'm at work, so I don't have access to the CD Rom, maybe Blondie or someone can do it. However, this Answers.com link I find somewhat humorous regarding JWs and beards. Its got two different points, both agreeing with another in some instances, and some disagreement. The only WT or Awake article I can recall was an article from the 70s, which mentioned either the beatniks or hippies, I can't recall.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_can't_Jehovah's_Witnesses_have_a_beard
Actually, it's not that Jehovah's Witnesses in general are not permitted to have a beard, it's that a brother who has a beard would not be used in a position of responsibility such as elder or ministerial servant.
The elders and ministerial servants are looked to for direction and to set an example in the congregation. Our work is very scrutinized by those outside our organization. I
n western countries in particular, a few years ago beards were often confused with a segment of society that reflected rebellion, namely the "hippy" movement of the 60's and 70's. It was felt that we should not in any way resemble those that reflected an attitude like this, or the drug culture that went along with it. We have to separate ourselves from that, and to have a beard a few years ago could be confusing, especially to an older generation of people at that time that were especially repulsed at the conduct of those of the younger generation. Even though we are some 30 or 40 years removed from that situation that existed during the late 60's and early 70's, it has been proven by experts that some people on some subconscious level do not trust a man with a beard.
The underlying message that some get from a beard is that if you have one, you have something to hide, as if you are hiding behind the beard. I have even heard that idea expressed in sales courses that I have taken for secular activities. Beards are discouraged by some sales trainers because of the subconscious message that some people receive from a person with a beard, and some feel that a person without a beard generally speaking has a more professional appearance than a person who does. So, even though the reasons for not wearing a beard may have changed somewhat, the practice of not having a beard itself still has merits. Jehovah's Witnesses do not want to give any cause for stumbling others, either inside the congregation or outside the congregation. So, we generally do not wear beards. This may be different in some countries where social circumstances are different, just like in some countries the manner of dress is also different.
We do not want there to be any reason for anyone to feel uncomfortable around us, especially before we have even had a chance to speak a word to them yet, and a beard can send the wrong subconscious message to someone.Additional Input
- We have a reputation to uphold with Jehovah and we want to keep that good standing. So having a long beard wouldn't be respectful to him or the people we are trying to give a witness to.
- The first president C.T. Russell of the watchtower did have a long beard !
Real answer:
Disclaimer:
This is not intended to detract from the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, as through my personal study of the Scriptures, the doctrine is the closest to that of the Bible of any denomination. It is merely to give an honest answer to a straight-forward question, rather than make excuses or deny reality. After all, Jesus said we would probably suffer - and might even die - for Christian beliefs and all they're asking is that you shave.
The first answer is partially correct, in that male Jehovah's Witnesses my wear beards without suffering more than a stern talking-to and withdrawal of opportunity to carry any special position or responsibility in the congregation. However, if the real reason was proven current public perception, the same rules would probably apply to obesity, lack of fashion sense, or social ineptitude - all of which can make people very uncomfortable and unwilling to perceive someone as scholarly or to be taken seriously.
In the 1950s, in the the USA, beards were widely unpopular among the general public and most men who wore one were immediately perceived as beatniks (and later, hippies). In that American, Cold War climate, a young man who didn't sport a military-esque brush cut and bare chin was out-of-hand labeled a communist or homosexual. This attitude permeated even into the upper echelon of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, to the point where articles were printed denying even Jesus wore a beard, while on earth. The men currently on the Governing Body have an average age of 75. This would have made them teenagers at the time this perception existed and they are probably, simply (like most old people) not quick - or even willing - to change their minds.
Paul, the apostle, said something similar in 1Cor 11:14 about long hair being a dishonor to a man. Obviously, this needs to be taken in some kind of social context, as God told Samson's mother never to cut his hair. Absalom is referred to as "flawless" and "handsome" with his hair that he allowed to grow until the weight of it became too unwieldy. Also, the Nazirite priests were not to cut their hair as long as they served in the temple. Obviously Paul's words were intended for his militant Roman contemporaries. That society started the cropped military haircut and clean-shaven face to keep lice to a minimum and avoid giving an enemy something to grab, in a skirmish.
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35
Guys, how often do you shave your face?
by asilentone ini shave my face every few days, what about you?
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miseryloveselders
I usually shave the day of, or the night prior to a meeting. So typically twice a week I shave. Its not unsual to see me with a scruffy beard between meetings and field service. Somedays I attend the meeting unshaven, especially if I don't have to perform. When I do, its usually just a few days growth.