talk # 13: shepherd the flock of god in your care, part 1 - brother bethel-coot.
synopsis: jesus told peter to feed his little sheep, so elders should shepherd the flock.
elders should be sincerely concerned for flock, approachable.
"The world uses people up and throws them away when they are done with them. Jehovah's organization is not like that."I knew a couple at the Farm that was told to take a hike after he became ill. Not long after they were kicked out he died. She asked to come back to work at the Farm, but was told thanks but no thanks--they needed brothers at the Farm, not sisters.
There are times when I really wish there was a hell -- "Jehovah's organization" would fill it up!
sam harris' book "the end of faith, (religion, terror, and the future of reason)" is out in paper back.
it had been on "the new york times bestseller" list for some time, and i just picked up a copy yesterday.
has anyone else on the jwd read this book?
IC -- I had a framed poster of Lennon's great lyrics outside my office door. Someone took a few years ago, but the dream continues . . .
"Imagine" by John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...
Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...
Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
sam harris' book "the end of faith, (religion, terror, and the future of reason)" is out in paper back.
it had been on "the new york times bestseller" list for some time, and i just picked up a copy yesterday.
has anyone else on the jwd read this book?
David said: “To me, reading End of Faith had the same effect as reading Crisis of Conscience---------------------COC exposes one false religion, and End of Faith exposes them all. After you've read it, let us know what you think, Java.”
David – Thanks for sharing your insights about the book. Your comparison of Crisis of Conscience and The End of Faith is very thought provoking and arouses my interest in the book even more so.
I have a lot going on this week with family during the Thanksgiving Holiday, but look forward to the read. I’ll start a new thread on the book after reading it; perhaps others that have read it will join in, too. Thanks again for your observations.
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or is it a detriment to society?.
i'm sure this has been asked before, but since there are so many new people here i'll ask again.... j
LittleToe -- Do you think it's possible to be spiritual outside the realm of religion?
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or is it a detriment to society?.
i'm sure this has been asked before, but since there are so many new people here i'll ask again.... j
"If your brother, the son of your father or of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the spouse whom you embrace, or your most intimate friend, tries to secretly seduce you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' unknown to you or your ancestors before you, gods of the peoples surrounding you, whether near you or far away, anywhere throughout the world, you must not consent, you must not listen to him; you must show him no pity, you must not spare him or conceal his guilt. No, you must kill him, your hand must strike the first blow in putting him to death and the hands of the rest of the people following. You must stone him to death, since he has tried to divert you from Yahweh your God. . . . (Deuteronomy 13:7-11)
Nearly every religious holy book promotes this type of goodwill and understanding. Does it benefit mankind--I think not!
sam harris' book "the end of faith, (religion, terror, and the future of reason)" is out in paper back.
it had been on "the new york times bestseller" list for some time, and i just picked up a copy yesterday.
has anyone else on the jwd read this book?
Sam Harris' book "The End of Faith, (Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason)" is out in paper back. It had been on "The New York Times Bestseller" list for some time, and I just picked up a copy yesterday. Has anyone else on the JWD read this book?
He points out that in a 1996 Gallup, 35 % of Americans believe the Bible is the literal and inerrant word of God, and another 48% believe it's inspired though certain passages must be interpreted symbolically. Which means only 17% of Americans doubt that the Bible is the word of God in 1996. He believe that a survey of Hindus, Muslims, and Jews around the world would yield similar results. Harris says the following on pages 16 and 17:
"The idea that any one of our religions (he is speaking about world religions here) represents the infallible word of the One True God requires an encyclopedic ignorance of history, mythology, and art even to be entertained . . . we, as a species, have grown almost perfectly intoxicated by our myths. How is it that, in this one area of our lives, we have convinced ourselves that our beliefs about the world can float entirely free of reason and evidence?"
It looks like an interesting read, and I wondered if some here have already read it?
i'm writing this in the spirit of full disclosure and honesty.
if you really want to be an elder, you should get the whole story and honestly.
weigh how it may affect your life.
Juan Viego -- A BIG WELCOME to the JWD, and for your first post. Interesting Bio, too! Thanks for showing up and sharing.
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our congregation had some of the best circuit overseers money could buy!.
outaservice
me not exactly being a meek, quiet Christian,I asked him in front of everyone else if he was always this ignorant to old people, or if he was just having a bad day.
Theodore Jaracz was our District Overseer for about a year. He was the most arrogant jerk we ever had--nearly everyone hated him. He's been a member of the Governing Body for years now, which says a lot about the qualities the "Faithful Slave" seeks.
virtual experiment
the truth vs. the truth.
by stephen cox.
Thanks Randy -- I just printed all 16 pages! I don't usually do that, but this was too good not to have as a hard copy.
I a little on my chest, but more on my face. :)
