to keep every jw on the same page about the new light on extending the generation to mammoth's lengths of time the gb will no doubt be squashing any open criticism,, even the old cronies at bethel will looking differently at the gb when that starts happening.
even the most hardcore believer will be looking at the governing body in a "new light".
They clearly speak of two groups overlapping, not numerous overlaps and this is why they are both saving (in their minds) 1914 while still being able to say as they are that this new light still allows for armageddon being immenent. If you think I am blathering reread the letter, no. 48
What is "the letter, no 48"?
it may be a hoax and i hope it is just that, but someone in birmingham, alabama has posted on ray's wikipedia article that he died today while walking.
the anon user is insisting it is true and that he/she is ray's friend.
anyone heard anything?.
See discussion at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:74.237.173.235
it may be a hoax and i hope it is just that, but someone in birmingham, alabama has posted on ray's wikipedia article that he died today while walking.
the anon user is insisting it is true and that he/she is ray's friend.
anyone heard anything?.
It may be a hoax and I hope it is just that, but someone in Birmingham, Alabama has posted on Ray's Wikipedia article that he died today while walking. The anon user is insisting it is true and that he/she is Ray's friend. Anyone heard anything?
*** g96 2/8 p. 6 to trust or not to trust ***.
the bible gives some good advice on this matter.
anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, says proverbs 14:15. this is not destructive cynicism.
Absolutely priceless. I was doing my best to be a good JW when that article came out in '96 and I guess I must have swallowed it hook line and sinker. If I actually read it ... I dutifully thrust the magazine into other people's hands suggesting they read it, but rarely bothered myself. Reading it now makes me just laugh. All those years I thought I had what was "gold" really did turn out to be utterly worthless.
unbelievable.
we don't even get peace in the inner sanctuary of a restroom anymore.
is it me - or are we seeing these crazed magazines just anywhere and everywhere these days ??
I've seen them on the train on the way to work, placed on seats. Some people seem to want to stand rather than flick it on the floor and take the seat. When I see them in the trains it makes want to cringe. Embarrassingly, I used to pride myself on leaving them in the laundromat when I was "new in the troof". Unfortunately I got into a conversation with a woman doing her laundry who started quizzing me about how much I'd "changed" since becoming a Witness. She asked me if I masturbated. I was a young, single guy .. what do you think the answer was? But I was so ridden with guilt I wanted to grab my washing bag and run!
does anyone know where is it where the society is referencing how if you were to find your religon wasn't being truthful would you trust them with other beliefs?
of course they were reffering to other religions..i cannot recall where that is..anyone remember??.
thank you in advanced,.
The June 1, 1988 WT article does contain some real gems ...
"In many places, people fear some form of divine reprisal if they change their religion." That certainly sums up a reason why many Witnesses, disgusted with the tight control over their lives by the GB and congregation elders, still remain in the organization: the dreaded fear pumped into them by The Watchtower of dying at Armageddon ... a fate carefully conocted by Judge Rutherford through selective use of OT and NT texts. Is it any different from the old Catholic fear of burning hellfire?
"Another fear that holds people back from changing their religion is the fear of displeasing a mate or parents." In that incestuous world of the Witnesses, how many would gladly turn their back on the whole stinking mess were it not for the entanglements of family and the threat of shunning?
"Another reason why many are afraid to change their religion: the universal dislike of being viewed as different."It certainly takes courage to walk out the Kingdom Hall door and never go back. The easy thing to do is stay. Meetings, conventions and witnessing become an addiction, a dependence and deciding you want to break free and reclaim your life will certainly make you stand out among your former "friends" in the congregation. You can guarantee they'll be dining out for years on the story of how you just left without offering an explanation.
"“That is the way those people smile at a stranger, when they spot him at any of their meetings.” That much they do. It would sicken me to see the vindictive, judgmental tyrants at the Kingdom Hall turning on the big Kingdom Smile when newcomers arrived. Hypocrites!
"People with personalities formerly as different as sheep are from wolves are now getting along peaceably in the Christian assembly. Some were moody and unfriendly, short-tempered and even fearful. Others had trouble with depression. Still others were introverted and self-centered. Many had bad habits to overcome." Really? Those words seem a pretty accurate description of the people I used to sit in the Kingdom Hall with every Sunday for 20-something years. Life as a Witness only made them worse.
disclaimer - i have left behind all the jw and other religious speculation on this and am now a non-religious scientific thinker on the subject.. so, for me - earth is the planet we live on.
both earth and all of us have a finite lifetime - and it is up to us now what we do with both.. but, as a question for exjws like myself: much is made in the jw theology of an eternal "paradise" earth.
putting aside how much scientific nonsense that may be:.
The Witnesses' Millenarian beliefs have nothing to do with Rutherford. The hope of a 1000-year-long rule by Christ was at the core of Russell's first books, which were based on the Millerite teachings, which were in turn rooted in much older beliefs.
disclaimer - i have left behind all the jw and other religious speculation on this and am now a non-religious scientific thinker on the subject.. so, for me - earth is the planet we live on.
both earth and all of us have a finite lifetime - and it is up to us now what we do with both.. but, as a question for exjws like myself: much is made in the jw theology of an eternal "paradise" earth.
putting aside how much scientific nonsense that may be:.
Sorry, delete "Rutherford" above and replace with "Franz."
the witnesses refer to each other as "brother" or "sister.
" this is supposedly because they are a "spiritual family" and this is supposed to encourage that feeling.. but how often did you refer to your biological brothers and sisters by their title?
when i was playing in the yard with my little brother i wasn't yelling "catch the ball, brother _______!
The use of the term has great power to control. I recall sitting at a meal with some other JWs and daring to propose a line of thought that was rather liberal, though still a reasonable interpretation of the Bible. A jumped-up young "elder" at the meal glared at me and said, "That sounds like apostasy, brother." It was a sharp reminder that I was part of the Club and I'd damned well better follow the line.
It used to rankle me no end when, sitting at the weekly Bible Study meetings at someone's house, the conductor would be chatting with everyone using their first names, then he'd call the meeting to order and say, "Brother X, can you read tonight and Brother Y, can you open with prayer?" As if God wasn't watching until we switched to Brother and Sister.
Yes, it's all about control.
eventually i would like to do a deconstruction on the entire book but for now, lets start with the prologue, which claims to be written by the governing body of jehovah's witnesses.
if anyone feels this is useful, please let me know.
] in your life and thus keep yourself in gods love .
Furthermore do not expect simple black and white rules on matters of conscience... Jehovah thus entrusts us with extraordinary freedom."
What the ...? This is a Watch Tower book and you're not going to give us black and white rules? Oh, I get it. We're ignoring for the moment all those pharisaic laws you've given us, demanding complete obedience to Brooklyn. Out of pure love and brotherly concern you did carefully define for us which piddling areas of our lives are still determined by conscience and that's what we're talking about. Yep, compared with all those rules, that is certainly extraordinary freedom. Er, within limits the Governing Body has set, of course. We don't want people going and thinking for themselves, now, do we?
You whackers! Yes, God does entrust us with extraordinary freedom. Why then, do you set yourselves up as masters of our faith and override that freedom with your own laws?
