Posts by just n from bethel

16

Why believing JWs should want to be annointed

by just n from bethel in

if you were a believing jw, especially born-in, you never really had the chance to determine if you had the heavenly or earthly hope.

you were raised - or taught in bible/book study - that your hope was, unequivocally, to live forever on paradise earth.

period.

just n from bethel

If you were a believing JW, especially born-in, you never really had the chance to determine if you had the heavenly or earthly hope. You were raised - or taught in bible/book study - that your hope was, unequivocally, to live forever on paradise earth. Period. End of story. Your parents never said - 'Johnny, there are two hopes - one to go to heaven and one to live on earth, when you are old enough and decide to get baptized, God will tell you which one is yours' -

nope, nothing ever like that -

It was 'Johhny, here is a picture of paradise - do you see yourself there, petting lions, etc.? Can you pick which one of these little boys is you in this picture? That's where your going.'

And if Johnny said ' But I want to go to heaven '

he was told 'That's too bad - God has already picked everyone for that - you were born too late. The slots are filled.' And that was the start of parents using religion to crush little Johhny's higher aspirations. It would continue on with things like not achieving in sports or education or arts or anything else that might be considered 'a higher hope'. The JWs were definitely grounded, but especially when it came to the heavenly hope not being up for grabs.

So the fun began - they then have to explain how the entire New Testament is written about Christians going to heaven, with exception of a couple of subtly & highly twisted interpretations of one or two scriptures. And of course, even though it was so obvious that Christians without limits were to go to heaven for their eternal reward, somehow, JWs found a way to convince people that most Christians would actually live on the earth forever. It was like they were mixing Ponce De Leon and the NT into a new idealogy. But really - though - the question is, WHY?

Because here's the interesting thing: If you're annointed and one of the lucky growing 144k, then you got yourself a free pass to skip the great tribulation, Armageddon, and the final end-of-the-thousand-year-test. You get a nice get-out-of-jail free card. This is nice becuase the JW teaching, is - once you make it to heaven, you're set - sealed and immortal. No more tests for you. JW earthly hopers though - not so lucky - two major tests to pass - and the prophecies say that, statistically speaking, they likely won't make it. 'A third of the earth' 'Like the Sands of the Sea' and so forth go on to explain the destiny of most of men alive during the big 2 tests on earth.

Yep - If you're a JW reading this, why not take some of the fear and frustration out of your life - always wondering and being reminded of whether or not you'll Survive god's judgement (twice) as so often hyped at in meetings and assemblies. So I say, drink up - take the safe way to everlasting life. Don't spend time worrying about what's going to happen to you and your family at the Big A or the Next Big A after the first one - skip them all together. Get your ass annointed. In the meantime, you get a free drink once a year - at the kingdom hall - of all places. Then when you're in heaven, watching all those token weak JWs with the earthly hope get killed for failing their tests in the Big A, you can sigh a big breath of relief - knowing that it could've been you. But instead - you decided to let your invisible buddy Jesus take you on up to heaven, bypassing altogether the greatest tribulation ever known to man. Trust me, you won't be sorry you missed it.

317

Inviting djeggnog to discuss the blood doctrine

by jgnat in

djeggnog invited me to start a new thread about the blood doctrine, which i am happy to do here.

his objection was my statement,.

"i've seen the blood video, a deceiving mix of scripture, fearmongering and pseudoscience, with plenty of lab coats in view.

just n from bethel

DJ said: [there] reason I never lose a debate is because I'm never on the wrong side of one.

For starters that's one of the most laughable things you've said. You cannot even address half the points thrown at you without creating straw men and logical fallacies. Go take a communication class and come back then.

Second - which side of the debate would you be on with the governing body about coming here and discussing matters with disfellowshipped apostates? Do you think you and the GB would share the same side on that matter? Would you win that debate as well?

101

How do you feel about the pledge of allegiance now?

by SweetBabyCheezits in

jw
friends

for you us citizens (and those whose nations have a similar patriotic oath), how do you feel about your children saying the pledge in school if it's customary?.

my daughter is in 3rd grade and part of her school's morning routine includes the pledge.

when we stopped attending meetings a year ago, my wife and i explained to her that we don't agree with the jw "idolatry" classification so, naturally, she started joining her class in the pledge.. fast forward to the present: my wife and i are both non-theists who want to raise ethical, caring, tolerant children, but also children who aren't afraid to stand apart, especially when that stand isn't popular.

just n from bethel

It's amazing how you take one position that is about thinking and not really about taking sides, and suddenly those who you share mostly similar idealogy with, classify you in the box opposite themselves.

Thus ladies and gentlemen: Why I could never be a rebuplican or democrat - you have to think exactly like they want on every issue - or you're not patriotic.

All the other nations that don't impose flag salutes on 4 year olds must not produce patriotic individuals.

101

How do you feel about the pledge of allegiance now?

by SweetBabyCheezits in

jw
friends

for you us citizens (and those whose nations have a similar patriotic oath), how do you feel about your children saying the pledge in school if it's customary?.

my daughter is in 3rd grade and part of her school's morning routine includes the pledge.

when we stopped attending meetings a year ago, my wife and i explained to her that we don't agree with the jw "idolatry" classification so, naturally, she started joining her class in the pledge.. fast forward to the present: my wife and i are both non-theists who want to raise ethical, caring, tolerant children, but also children who aren't afraid to stand apart, especially when that stand isn't popular.

just n from bethel

Very many were afraid and the silly childhood ritual became a life preserving practice later in life.

actually it depends on whose life you're talking about. If you were on the other side of the Hitler Youth Brigade who were chanting to their great master as they had done since a kid, you weren't so lucky. As a jew, it didn't matter how many Heil Hitler's you said - you were done for.

If on the other hand, more German parents taught their kids like SBC's proposing, perhaps Hitler wouldn't have had the army to back his genocide.

And at what age is it too young to teach your kids to stand for universal principles of right and wrong? If they can't take a stand when - as most here have said - it's just meaningless words, how will they take a stand when the words may later become more meaingful, but not in a good way?

24

Whisper in My Ear

by compound complex in

jw
friends

you whisper in my ear that ne'er shall you leave me,.

though, truth be told, you've died to both me and the .

world so many years ago ... .

just n from bethel

No problem Flynn.

BTW - you ever read "My Wicked, Wicked Ways"?

3

another reason no to be religious - you'll get fat

by just n from bethel in

jw
friends

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651145.html.

are the religious prone to obesity?study found regularly attending services was linked to raised risk in middle ageby randy dotinga.

healthday reporter.

just n from bethel

BTW - I think the data analysis is flawed to make this conclusion. I think business week was just trying to make the headlines.

3

another reason no to be religious - you'll get fat

by just n from bethel in

jw
friends

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651145.html.

are the religious prone to obesity?study found regularly attending services was linked to raised risk in middle ageby randy dotinga.

healthday reporter.

just n from bethel

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651145.html

Are the Religious Prone to Obesity?

Study found regularly attending services was linked to raised risk in middle age

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 23 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds that people who frequently attend religious services are significantly more likely to become obese by the time they reach middle age.

The study doesn't prove that attending services is fattening, nor does it explain why weight might be related to faith. Even so, the finding is surprising, especially considering that religious people tend to be in better health than others, said study author Matthew J. Feinstein, a medical student at Northwestern University in Chicago.

"It highlights a particular group that appears to be at a greater risk of becoming obese and remaining obese," he said. "It's a group that may benefit from targeted anti-obesity interventions and from obesity prevention programs."

Scientists have been studying links between religious behavior and health for years, and have found signs that there's a positive connection between the two. The studies suggest that religious involvement -- whether it's private or public -- is linked to things like better physical health, less depression and more happiness, said Jeff Levin, director of Baylor University's Program on Religion and Population Health.

But researchers have also found signs that people who attend services put on more weight. In the new study, which will be released Wednesday at an American Heart Association conference in Atlanta, researchers sought to follow people over time to see what happened to them. They examined a previous long-term study that tracked 2,433 people who were aged 20 to 32 in the mid-1980s.

Most of the participants were women, and 41 percent were black.

After adjusting their statistics to take into account factors such as race, the researchers found that 32 percent of those who attended services the most became obese by middle age, Feinstein said.

By contrast, only 22 percent of those who attended services the least became obese.

What might explain obesity among those who attend services regularly? There are plenty of theories.

Levin said one possibility is that those who attend services, along with activities such as Bible study and prayer groups, could be "just sitting around passively instead of being outside engaging in physical activity."

Also, he said, "a lot of the eating traditions surrounding religion are not particularly healthy; for example, constant feasts or desserts after services or at holidays -- fried chicken, traditional kosher foods cooked in schmaltz (chicken fat), and so on."

There's another question: Why might religious people be obese yet still have good health? The fact that fewer are smokers might help explain that, Feinstein said.

Whatever the case, he said, the study points to the role that places of worship could play in reducing obesity.

"They can become part of the solution," explained Dr. Daniel P. Sulmasy, a professor of medicine and ethics at the University of Chicago, perhaps by increasing awareness of obesity and holding health fairs.

"Pastors, especially those in poor neighborhoods, could champion programs for more fresh produce and less fast food in their neighborhoods," Sulmasy added.

24

Whisper in My Ear

by compound complex in

jw
friends

you whisper in my ear that ne'er shall you leave me,.

though, truth be told, you've died to both me and the .

world so many years ago ... .

just n from bethel

25

Are JW Children Set Up To Fail In The Real World?

by PublishingCult in

would it be reasonable to say that children born and raised in the organization of jw's are being set up to fail in the real world?

if so, why?

how?.

just n from bethel

Judah Schroeder - spent a lifetime at Bethel - I believe until he was in his 40s. He had it made. He was set for life. Never had to get a real job. He could have lived out his days in a multimillion dollar condo. All expenses paid to travel the world. People kissing his feet because of who his daddy was. Heck, he could've started partaking and been a GB. The next smartest thing he did though, was marry into money (Wasn't hard - when you're a permanent bethelite son of GB). For JWs - there is no better success story. That is the top of the top for JWs.

Instead of rolling in that though, he and his wife decide it is not the most successful he can be. He enrolls in undergarduate business studies at Columbia university. I think he may even have gone on to attend graduate or law school.

As far as I know he stayed a JW. However, I don't think he went back to bethel. He used to have a picture of President Clinton in his bethel office. This guy had higher aspirations. But it makes you wonder why? He had money. Prestige in JW land. Privilege like no other JW knew.

If JWs - especially at bethel are the highest educated people in the world as JWs claim, what would make someone that has it all already from the JW standpoint - give it all up?

101

How do you feel about the pledge of allegiance now?

by SweetBabyCheezits in

jw
friends

for you us citizens (and those whose nations have a similar patriotic oath), how do you feel about your children saying the pledge in school if it's customary?.

my daughter is in 3rd grade and part of her school's morning routine includes the pledge.

when we stopped attending meetings a year ago, my wife and i explained to her that we don't agree with the jw "idolatry" classification so, naturally, she started joining her class in the pledge.. fast forward to the present: my wife and i are both non-theists who want to raise ethical, caring, tolerant children, but also children who aren't afraid to stand apart, especially when that stand isn't popular.

just n from bethel

Its not that big of a deal. But the "good germans" included many who had been subject to the nationalistic rituals from young ages. That's all. Some were in the Hitler Youth movement. In 1936 that number was 4 million.

I'm sure some of these parents wished they had taught their kids to think better.