respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  20

  where will you go away to? versus whom shall we go away to?

  by soft+gentle in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this thread was sparked by punkofnice's thread and started a lively "discussion" in my mind about patriarchal power.

  so i didn't want to derail punkofnice's thread or tec's subsequent one, but am interested in a discussion.. punkofnice's thread.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/245335/1/the-gb-are-gods-mouthpiece-rebuttal-to-elders .

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  respectful_observer

  Haha...this "where/who" issue always makes me laugh.

  A few of us were sitting around recently and the subject of a DF-ed friend who "has doubts" came up. A Bethelite chimed in with the "where will you go away to?" I looked at them with a perplexed look on my face and said "Don't you mean "Who?"

  "Huh?"

  "You said 'Where will you go', but the verse says 'who will you go away to', as in following someone else instead of Jesus. As far as I know, Mr. DFed isn't Shinto or anything, is he? I just wanted to make sure you weren't implying he had converted to Islam, or Shinto or something."
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  60

  what ever happened to the king of the north and king of south?

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  after the daniel book came out, nothing has ben said about it in at least 10 years.

  did that prohecy get thrown out the window when the soviet union fell?.

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  respectful_observer

  Billy,

  The Talk #3 last week was taken from the Reasoning book section of "What prophecies remain unfulfilled?" It was pretty much every one you just listed. The theme the speaker wove throughout the talk was that the Bible represents 4,000 years of human history, but that since the last of these prophecies was recorded almost 2,000 years ago, not a single one of these prophecies has been fulfilled. I almost fell out of my chair because she never once said they ever would be fulfilled-- only stated what they were, that they've never been fulfilled, and that Christians continue to wait patiently.
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  60

  what ever happened to the king of the north and king of south?

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  after the daniel book came out, nothing has ben said about it in at least 10 years.

  did that prohecy get thrown out the window when the soviet union fell?.

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  respectful_observer

  I think by the mid-Nineties when it was obvious that the world was moving on, they put that prophecy on the failed shelf in Brooklyn.

  They'll dust it off again if:

  - China ever asserts itself militarily against the US/NATO. Especially if conflict ever reignited between North and South Korea. China would support (the King of the) North Korea, and the US would support (the King of the) South Korea. (Anyone for a proxy war??)

  - or if the non-Christian states ever united militarily against the (traditionally Christian) Western powers.
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  41

  My wife is feeling uncomfortable about the NEW LIGHT

  by sosoconfused in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so my wife is aware that i am totally disillusioned and i am having problems with lots of things.

  one day she can see the crap(such as this past watchtower question from readers about ivf... what a pile of insanity.

  if someone carries me and my wifes baby i have committed porneia rofl!!!

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  respectful_observer

  My wife brings up the seeming contridictions of doctrine and the apparently bizarre Nooo Lite TM that seems to be coming out faster than ever. Of course, her reaction is "Who cares? What does it really matter? Why do so many people get bent out of shape over it?"

  I wonder if she'll still think it doesn't matter years from now...when our children have grown up, knowing there's a 70% chance they'll have left the Org by then and she won't be able to talk to them anymore.
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  35

  Do the GB 2.0 Travel First Class? What Do You Know About That?

  by Scott77 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i know bethelites have signed a vow of poverty and recieve about $100 monthly stipends.

  however, when it comes to air travel, does the governing body of jehovah's witnesses aka watchtower society in new york state (gb 2.0) travel first class?

  what do you know about that?.

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  respectful_observer

  +1 to RubaDub.

  I'd be shocked if the WTS PAYS for any Business/First class airfare, even for the GB members. But given how often and how far they fly, I'd be equally shocked if they hadn't built up enough FF/air miles to just get the upgrade automatically; they'd have to be completely stupid if they hadn't. Plus, as RubaDub pointed out, any halfway competent travel agent will be able to at least get them on the short-list for upgrades.

  R_O
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  46

  Believers and dinosaurs

  by Christ Alone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was curious to hear what other believers understand about dinosaurs.

  i know we have a few young earth creationists here.

  i wondered what you understand about dinosaurs and when they existed, as well as hear from those that believe dinosaurs lived millions of years ago and how it fits into the bible..

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  respectful_observer

  Haha! I still remember standing with a group of college-age (notice how I didn't say college-educated) JWs and somehow the subject of dinosaurs came up. One person said: "Dinosaurs are a myth! Don't you know they're all just part of the 'theory of evolution'?

  The second person replied: "Are you being serious?! Dinosaurs are NOT a myth!! Haven't you ever seen fossils in a museum??"

  (At this point I was relieved that SOMEONE else in the group had a brain...until they concluded their educational session with this...)

  "Of course dinosaurs existed. It's CAVEMEN that are a myth!!! Do you believe that people lived in caves and painted on the walls?"

  (Gotta love home-schooled J-dubs.)
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  20

  Does the Watchtower still make a big thing about the cry of "Peace & Security"?

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  it was a big thing in 70's and 80's, but seemed to have died down during the 90's up until the time i left.

  i was wondering with the arab spring and increased unrest in the middle east, whether the brothers are speculating about this again?.

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  respectful_observer

  Whenever a news item even vaguely (or even explicitly) mentions "world peace" or "peace and security", inevitably some J-dub will suggest that "...maybe THIS IS IT!!" I've seen it in reference to ObamaCare passing Congress and being upheld in the Supreme Court, Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama winning (re)election, bin Laden being killed, the draw-down of troops in Iraq/Afghanistan, etc., etc., etc.

  Whenever they suggest that this could finally be "IT", I like to ask: "Wow, you think so? Doesn't the UN need to turn on 'false religion' first? It seems like A LOT of other prophecies need be fulfilled before 'peace and security' is declared. Besides, based on how strong the religious right is in this country right now, and how many religion-based governments there are in power in the world right now--especially in Muslim countries, it doesn't seem like false religion is going anywhere at the moment. Maybe I'm wrong, what do YOU think?"

  My question/statement is usally greeted with a look of contemplation followed by emotional deflation.

  I'm always willing to play the role of the pragmatic "wet blanket".
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  34

  Pronouncing it RIGHT

  by Christ Alone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what rules do you follow when pronouncing foreign names/places/things?

  i was remembering that when we were studying the daniel book for the book study back in the day, someone released a pronunciation guide.

  i remember studying it closely so i could pronounce all the names right (especially on the section of daniel 11).

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  respectful_observer

  San-hee'drin (when it should be SAN' hi-drin)

  Oh, and let's not forget about Jesus' close friend "LazarUTH"!
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  10

  Just wondering about the slangs used to describe disfellowshiping

  by 20yearfader in

  1. social
  2. humour
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  respectful_observer

  "Diffed" and "D-Effed" are the most common ones in my area.
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  9

  Who's betting this photo was taken in the bethel kitchen?

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  from page 3 of the february 2013 awake!....

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  cedars.

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  respectful_observer

  I can't imagine too much food left behind with all the "gleaning" that takes place at Bethel!