I am amazed at how people will go to extreme stretches of logic to explain or justify the supposed actions of their god (lower case g intentional, no upper case deserved). I have seen people with wonderful bullshit detectors in normal life, throw all of that ability away in order to retain their hope of a creator who cares for them. I am agnostic, certainly not atheistic, since I think atheism is not provable. There is no lynch pin (reference to previous post). To me, the Bible is clearly a record of people's attempts to justify their actions and beliefs by transferring those actions and desires to be in line with god's will. Like the Bible characters, people today imagine divine interventions in their lives, they justify god's silence, they justify his callous disregard for human suffering and still call him a good father. (much like an abused wife who won't leave her abuser) These people invent complex choreography and gyrations of logic to avoid taking off the rose colored glasses. They then huddle with people of like belief for the good feeling of confirmation. Some even will lead their group for the power or financial gain. The facts are, as Job said, 'man is short lived and glutted with agitation'......or.... Life is hard and then you die!.
xelder
JoinedPosts by xelder
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14
Excuses for God
by xelder ini am amazed at how people will go to extreme stretches of logic to explain or justify the supposed actions of their god (lower case g intentional, no upper case deserved).
i have seen people with wonderful bullshit detectors in normal life, throw all of that ability away in order to retain their hope of a creator who cares for them.
i am agnostic, certainly not atheistic, since i think atheism is not provable.
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Russell's chronology was right after all!
by Vanderhoven7 inthe kingdom of god is already begun, which is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in a.d. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of god almighty" which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced.. i just did the math....and russell was right.
christ returned invisibly in 1874 and took rulership (restored kingdom reign) in 1878.. 2520 years minus 607 when jerusalem was destroyed = 1913 (accounting for no year zero) = 1914. that`s 2520 - 607 = 2014. but wait, that`s 2520 prophetic years of 360 days, not solar days of 365.25 days.
to convert to solar days then one must multuiply 2520 x 365.25 which gives us 2,484 actual years.
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xelder
did anyone inform god? because as usual, he has been a no show. he must have missed that memo. -
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Resolutions at Kingdom Hall
by sieborg inanyhow i got to thinking today about my days in the borg and the resolutions that would intermittently be made in the announcements for co visit expenses, sending a donation to society www fund etc.
my point is that while i was in (almost thirty two years) i never once saw anyone put up their hand to vote against a resolution that the body of elders proposed.
on a couple of occasions i heard a few hushed murmurs but i never saw one person vote against.
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xelder
I had the accounts servant job off and on through the years. One time, I raised my hand during the discussion of covering the CO visit. I said that their were no funds available (we were near zero in the bank account) and that we should wait a week to see if the money would come in. That got many comments and contributions and the CO got paid a week later.
Another time, we had an opinionated CO who wanted us to sell a property. The elder handling the resolution from the platform said it seemed to "be Jehovah's will and direction". I raised my hand and said that there was no evidence of divine guidance on this decision and that the majority of local elders wished to keep the property, however, it was up to the publishers to decide. They voted to keep the property.
Over the years, I witnessed several financial oddities. Usually this was not dishonesty but rather just because the elders handling the matter were so incapable.
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The Accounts Report or lack of one
by OnTheWayOut ini am pretty sure it's still the same since i stopped attending almost 10 years ago, but this is something to think about:.
at the kingdom hall, there's an accounts report.
they say they gathered in an exact amount of money for both local expenses and worldwide work and that it exactly went to these exact expenses and this amount was sent to watchtower.
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xelder
In Bakersfield, Ca for a district convention, we took in $80,000.00 for a 3 day event. About 5000 in attendance. In addition, parking tickets were sometimes sold to publishers ahead of time in the congregations at about 5.00 per car for all three days parking pass. The facility was free, city donated its use to attract JW conventions to the city. They were happy to see the hotels and restaurants be busy. -
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Did you get " Counseled " about the Music you Listened to While you were a JW ?
by flipper infrom the time i was a small boy - i loved rock n' roll music.
beatles, rolling stones, led zeppelin, hendrix.
i started getting slighted for the music i listened to as i lay in my bedroom listening on headphones to led zeppelin's song " black dog " at age 14 with my elder dad looking suspiciously at me as i'm rocking out .
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xelder
Quit listening to BACH !!!! That was church music!!! -
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Did you get " Counseled " about the Music you Listened to While you were a JW ?
by flipper infrom the time i was a small boy - i loved rock n' roll music.
beatles, rolling stones, led zeppelin, hendrix.
i started getting slighted for the music i listened to as i lay in my bedroom listening on headphones to led zeppelin's song " black dog " at age 14 with my elder dad looking suspiciously at me as i'm rocking out .
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xelder
FLIPPER !!! you and your SATANIC debasing music!!!
The birds of heaven will be pecking out your eyeballs, then the temple of God will be cleansed. Jehovah HATES electric guitars!!! Would Jesus play your immoral music???
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Sign Of The Times by Carl Jonsson - Want to Borrow
by AnonVet ini have read both of franz' books and am almost done carl jonsson's first book.
i was able to get this material as .pdf and read for free.. i hate to sound cheap, but i cannot find the sign of the times in .pdf.. does anybody have a link to it?
or can i borrow your copy and mail it back when done?.
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xelder
AnonVet I can help email me
[email protected]
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Elder molester - Montana - 1970s - need your help please
by tazchick55 inhi there tazchick55 here need your assistance i am trying to locate an elder who molested my sister when she was 16 without publishing his name his initials r j c he bounced around montana with his wife and another woman gawd only know what was up with that.
they never stayed in one place long i believe wify and friend were pioneers he was an elder in the bozeman/belgrade about 1976 or there about there is a good chance he is dead (one can only hope he died a painful death at any rate if you have any information let me know thanks.
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xelder
tazchick55
I was there in Bozeman at that time as a kid. email me [email protected]
Maybe I know you
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CO Special Meeting with MS & Elders
by Syme inwhen the co visits a cognregation this semester, a special meeting with elders and mss is sceduled tuesday night, right after the normal meeting.
does anyone know what this meeting is about?
this special meeting is held at the beginning of the co-week, and is different from the standard meeting with personnel which is held friday evening.
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xelder
I have not attended these meetings in 7 years.....but:
There have long been two meetings with the appointed brothers. First is a meeting with both MS and Elders. The second is with Elders only.
Most CO's did them together (usually Friday night). A few CO's did the first, shorter meeting on Tuesdays, saving more time for the heavy stuff with Elders on Friday evening.
That may answer your question.....but it's been awhile so who knows? I hate it that I even remember that much!!
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Your Experience with Resigning as an Elder
by committeechairman ini'm considering resigning as an elder.
i'm not planning to fade or stop as one of jehovah's witnesses, just stop serving as an elder.. i have responsibility in the congregation and in circuit, district, rbc, etc.
and i'm completely exhausted.
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xelder
Hi Chairman,
I relate to how you feel. I served for decades also ....RBC, district talks and departments, congregation responsibilities too many to mention, served temp at Bethel, etc.
I always felt guilty for not doing enough. I have now successfully faded for 3 years, talk with family and occasionally with friends still in. I got my two kids out and 5 grandkids. We are all living full happy lives of accomplishment without fear, guilt and being watched.
I couldn't tolerate DFing anymore, I couldn't stand the Pedophile policies, I was tired of giving talks defending stupid doctrine like dates, I was tired of parts on how to push magazines and push people to pioneer. Blood policy was wacko. I was a champion of conscience, not rules. I especially needed to start living my conscience. I couldn't sell their doctrine door to door.
When a pioneer quits, they get some sympathy. When an elder quits....it is assumed that he must be a bum. I am sorry for the feelings you will have and beat yourself with, but you have to define your worth outside of the opinion of the Organization Power people. Hopefully your wife and family support you.
Many of us high profile elders defined our worth by organizational acceptance and we were proud of all we accomplished. But it is just a hamster wheel that turns faster and faster and faster.