Posts by Designer Stubble

39

JW Talk

by Alive! in

was sipping my coffee, browsing here and there, and then focussed on reading here regarding arc, picked up some world news on same subject - and wondered if jw org would publish any information on their news site.. then, i flicked to jw talk - anything in their public news forum?

a newish headline 'australia and jehovah's witnesses' or something like that - i entered link - web page error, not found.

nope.

Designer Stubble

Yes SBF, but that is in the public part. Sam Herd's explanation is highly appreciated, as is the wisdom of the GB to use the funds wisely.

http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/24209-why-reduce-the-number-of-special-full-time-servants/

39

JW Talk

by Alive! in

was sipping my coffee, browsing here and there, and then focussed on reading here regarding arc, picked up some world news on same subject - and wondered if jw org would publish any information on their news site.. then, i flicked to jw talk - anything in their public news forum?

a newish headline 'australia and jehovah's witnesses' or something like that - i entered link - web page error, not found.

nope.

Designer Stubble

Just checked the lengthy thread, yes hidden quickly in members only. Lot of how unfair and biast the trial was, how Angus was influenced by apostates and how governments (thus the ARC) are controlled by Satan. Positive words about the WTBTS response to the mean and nasty Guardian article and positive notes on GB member Jackson's testimony.

You wonder whether they are following the same court case as we are...

24

WT March 15, 2016 - Kids pressured toward baptism again

by Designer Stubble in

the study wt of march 2016 is up on jw.org and is the standard article around this time of year...pressuring young kids to dedicate their lives to the organization again.

this wt will be studied during may, so just in time to pressure them into baptism at the regional conventions this summer.such articles really upset me, as the realization of how many young promising lives will be destroyed.

how many families will be broken up, when the child who got baptized as a minor (ages 6 and up are mentioned in the literature) decides as a young adult that his/her conscience no longer allows him/her to be part of such a destructive cult.

Designer Stubble

The Study WT of March 2016 is up on JW.ORG and is the standard article around this time of year...pressuring young kids to dedicate their lives to the organization again. This WT will be studied during May, so just in time to pressure them into baptism at the regional conventions this summer.

Such articles really upset me, as the realization of how many young promising lives will be destroyed. How many families will be broken up, when the child who got baptized as a minor (ages 6 and up are mentioned in the literature) decides as a young adult that his/her conscience no longer allows him/her to be part of such a destructive cult. Pressure to pioneer, rather than get a decent education - resulting in depression and scraping by the rest of his/her life. I so wish we could reach more of these kids and prevent them from dedicating their lives to this cult.

If you are an active witness with children reading this, please note that the perfect Jesus was 30 when he dedicated himself - the age of legal adulthood back then. He was in the temple at age 12 (like the Christopher mentioned in the article) but no mention of him even contemplating baptism as a minor. Acts 8:12, shows "Men and Women" not "Boys and Girls" getting baptized. So, there is no biblical backing for a minor to be baptized.

For me this was a tipping point to my departure from the organization. At the 2008 Convention we received the ironically titled "God's Love" book. During the convention, I was browsing the appendix and in the chapter "How to treat a disfellowshipped person" read that disfellowshipped minors, were to be given the same inhuman treatment as an adult. I looked aside at my two beautiful young daughters and knew I would and could never Shun them. I no longer could support the teachings of this organization and started researching all my doubts and left. Allow yourself to research your doubts - as did the Bereans.

20

Passionless loveless JW.ORG. How? Why? My experience with these Pharasees.

by Witness 007 in

so i studied with this guy who is now an elder in my moms hall.

she has cancer and is black and blue from it.

we are like real family so i invite him over for drinks and pizza.

Designer Stubble

Sorry to hear about your mom.

My my experience is similar. My 85 year old, lifetime JW mom is in a congregation with 10 elders and more than a dozen pioneers.

With little exception, she too only sees fellow believers show up if she invites them for dinner.

True Christians, cherry-picked by God himself...yeah right...A cold Pharisee cult where your spiritual health is measured by a field service report and the number of hours knocking at not-at-home doors or standing as a zombie next to a cart - rather than displaying Christlike compassion and aiming to be the Good Samaritan.

17

WT history repeating?

by WasOnceBlind in

i war reading an interesting research article about charles taze russell and all of his financial dealings.

this caught my eye:.

charles taze russell and the watchtower society were in deep business distress after the "busted" october 1914 prophecy failure, and particularly after the "busted" october 1915 prophecy failure.

Designer Stubble

Interesting...thanks for sharing.

49

Who would you vote for Today?

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

d. trump or h. clinton and why.. i would vote for gun slinging trump..

Designer Stubble

Jill Stein

29

2015 Worldwide Memorial Attendance: Another Sign of Decline

by steve2 in

jw memorial attendance last year - 2014 - was about 50,000 shy of 20 million.

some posters on this forum had confidently predicted before the 2014 memorial that attendance would hit more than 20 milion.

they were wrong.. now, in 2015, and the memorial falling on a weekend night (where attendance is historically much higher), attendance has not only failed to top 20 milion but has declined by more than 87,000 in attendance over 2014:.

Designer Stubble

There was of course a lot of pressure to attend the 2014 memorial, which was likely to be the last one ever. In 2015, 101 years of Christ's kingdom sounds less exciting.

35

No Kingdom Halls would definitely work!

by John Aquila in

last night we were invited to a get-together with quite a few heavies attendingelders and regular pioneers.

there was beer and later some music.

everyone got relaxed and let down their guard and starting talking all kinds of non-theocratic stuff that you only discuss after a few beers.

Designer Stubble

This shows that if the GB were to bring in a sugar-coated manner...most would buy into it - hook, line & sinker

17

Awake - February 2015: What do you know about JWs

by Designer Stubble in

true false - 8 questions1 jehovahs witnesses are christianstrue - we are the only true christians.

however, jesus is always secondary to yhwh or yahweh, who we for some reason call jehovah.2 jehovahs witnesses are creationiststrue, we are just not young-earth creationists3 jehovahs witnesses do not believe in doctorsfalse - of course we believe in doctors.

if we can believe in an invisible sky daddy, surely we can believe in the doctor standing before us in flesh and blood.

Designer Stubble

Here you can find their real answers:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/awake-no1-2016-february/what-is-a-jehovah-witness/
1 TRUE. We try to follow closely the teachings and behavior of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:21) However, in a number of ways, we differ from other religious groups that are called Christian. For example, we have found that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God; he is not part of a Trinity. (Mark 12:29) We do not believe that the soul is immortal or that there is any basis in Scripture for saying that God tortures people in an everlasting hell. Nor do we believe that those who take the lead in religious activities should have titles that elevate them above others.—Ecclesiastes 9:5; Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 23:8-10.
2 FALSE. We believe that God created everything. But we do not agree with many who believe in creationism. Why not? Because a number of creationists’ ideas conflict with the Bible. For example, some assert that the six days of creation were literal 24-hour days. But the word “day” in the Bible can refer to a considerable length of time. (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 90:4) Then, too, some creationists teach that the earth is just a few thousand years old. However, the Bible indicates that the earth and the universe existed long before the six days of creation. 1—Genesis 1:1.
3 FALSE. We do accept medical treatment. In fact, some of us are physicians, as was the first-century Christian named Luke. (Colossians 4:14) However, we reject any treatment that conflicts with Bible principles. For example, we do not accept blood transfusions, because the Bible forbids taking in blood.—Acts 15:20, 28, 29.
Even then, we seek the best possible medical care for ourselves and our families. In fact, blood conservation treatments that were developed to help Witness patients are now being used to benefit all in the community. In many countries, any patient can now choose to avoid blood-transfusion risks, such as blood-borne diseases, immune-system reactions, and human errors.
4 TRUE. We believe that the entire Bible is “inspired of God and beneficial.” (2 Timothy 3:16) That includes both the Old Testament and the New Testament, as they are commonly called. Generally, we refer to these sections of the Bible as the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scriptures. In this way, we avoid giving the impression that some parts of the Bible are outdated or irrelevant.
5 FALSE. We use many translations in our study of the Bible. In languages in which it is available, though, we especially appreciate the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures for its use of God’s name, for its accuracy, and for its clarity. Consider the use of God’s name, Jehovah. In the introduction of one Bible translation, there is a list of the names of 79 people who in some way contributed to the production of the translation. Yet, this same Bible omits the name of the very Author—Jehovah God! In contrast, the New World Translation restores the divine name in the thousands of places where it existed in the original text. 2
6 FALSE. When we have discovered that our beliefs were not completely in line with the Bible, we have adjusted our understanding. Long before we started producing the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in 1950, we used available translations and formed our beliefs accordingly.
7 FALSE. Our ministry benefits many in the community. We have helped many people to overcome harmful addictions, such as the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Our literacy classes help thousands around the world to learn to read and write. We also help when disaster strikes by providing practical relief assistance to both Witnesses and non-Witnesses. We try to give the emotional and spiritual support that victims sorely need at such times. 3
8 FALSE. We follow the Bible’s advice to “respect everyone”—regardless of their religious beliefs. (1 Peter 2:17, Today’s English Version) For example, though in some countries there are hundreds of thousands of us, we do not try to pressure politicians or lawmakers into restricting or banning the work of other religious groups. Nor do we campaign to have laws passed that would impose our moral and religious convictions on the community. Instead, we extend to others the same tolerance that we appreciate receiving from them.—Matthew 7:12

17

Awake - February 2015: What do you know about JWs

by Designer Stubble in

true false - 8 questions1 jehovahs witnesses are christianstrue - we are the only true christians.

however, jesus is always secondary to yhwh or yahweh, who we for some reason call jehovah.2 jehovahs witnesses are creationiststrue, we are just not young-earth creationists3 jehovahs witnesses do not believe in doctorsfalse - of course we believe in doctors.

if we can believe in an invisible sky daddy, surely we can believe in the doctor standing before us in flesh and blood.

Designer Stubble

On the number of deaths due to blood transfusion refusal:

1978 - Jonestown massacre left 918 dead...Something everyone still knows more than 35 years later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown_Massacre#Mass_murder-and-suicide

This is however more or less the number of Jehovah's Witnesses that die EACH YEAR by refusing Blood.

http://www.krev.info/library/pocetumrti.pdf

*I recalculated the numbers myself based on 250k blood transfusions per year in the Netherlands with a population of 17 million and 1% death rate.

Add on top of this the many suicides due to the shunning policy and we have had 50 Jonestown's since 1978.