Vanderhoven7

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Posts by Vanderhoven7

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  84

  Do you have any evidence that the GB had bad intent?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  do you have any evidence that the gb had bad intent?

  as opposed to blind faith/cognitive dissonance and honest mistakes.. i'm inclined to think they have the best of intentions and are just wrong (primarily because the bible is wrong), but i'm willing to consider the evidence otherwise..

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  Vanderhoven7

  Deliberate efforts to cover up sexual abuse of children is clear evidence of bad intent no matter how many excuses an organization comes up with.

  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/leaders-jehovahs-witnesses-cover-child-sex-abuse
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  84

  Do you have any evidence that the GB had bad intent?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  do you have any evidence that the gb had bad intent?

  as opposed to blind faith/cognitive dissonance and honest mistakes.. i'm inclined to think they have the best of intentions and are just wrong (primarily because the bible is wrong), but i'm willing to consider the evidence otherwise..

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  Vanderhoven7

  The GB/FDS' unwillingness to admit to the the magnitude of the child sexual abuse problem and their use lawyers to stave off judgments in favour of the abused is ample evidence of bad intent.

  When self preservation including protection for abusers trumps justice and mercy for those abused, assertions of righteousness are nothing less that an abomination.
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  30

  A chance for the unrighteous?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the witnesses teach that the "unrighteous" are brought back to life in order to learn about god during the 1000-year reign.

  i don't think that's a bible teaching, for the following reason:.

  1) no verse says that.

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  Vanderhoven7

  Yes, reminds me of 1 Corinthians 11
  

  
  

  31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

  32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
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  30

  A chance for the unrighteous?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the witnesses teach that the "unrighteous" are brought back to life in order to learn about god during the 1000-year reign.

  i don't think that's a bible teaching, for the following reason:.

  1) no verse says that.

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  Vanderhoven7

  I think in general we believe in universal eonian judgment starting with the house of God

  JoenB75, I agree that believers are judged first.

  Question: What do you believe that judgment is about or for?
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  30

  A chance for the unrighteous?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the witnesses teach that the "unrighteous" are brought back to life in order to learn about god during the 1000-year reign.

  i don't think that's a bible teaching, for the following reason:.

  1) no verse says that.

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  Vanderhoven7

  Theological universalism posits that all of humanity will be saved in the end.
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  30

  A chance for the unrighteous?

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the witnesses teach that the "unrighteous" are brought back to life in order to learn about god during the 1000-year reign.

  i don't think that's a bible teaching, for the following reason:.

  1) no verse says that.

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  2. 
  3. 
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  Vanderhoven7

  Where are the universalists on this forum? Now is the time to speak up.
• 
  49

  I'm interested in discussing basic JW doctrines that you believe are unscriptural

  by AlainAlam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  background info: although i'm an apostate, i don't hate jehovah's witnesses, or the organization itself.

  actually i find that many derogatory comments here are extremely biased.

  i think most of them are amazing people, and i wish more non-witnesses were like them.

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  Vanderhoven7

  Welcome to the forum AlainAlam!

  Every doctrine that is unique to Jehovah's Witnesses is in fact extra-biblical.

  Here are a number of examples

  1. that their leaders somehow represent the Faithful and Wise Servant

  2. that the book of Revelation is about them

  3. that Jesus presence (parousia) began in 1914

  4. that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE

  5. that there are two classes of Christians (anointed and non-anointed)

  6. that only faithful Jehovah Witnesses have a scriptural hope of surviving Armageddon.

  7. that the name Jehovah is in the New Testament

  8. that making God's name known involves telling people God's name is Jehovah.

  9. that whole blood transfusions are outlawed in scripture.

  10. that something scripturally significant happened in 1914, 1918, 1919, 1925 or 1975

  11. that the tribulation spoken about in Matthew 24 is future

  12. that WTS leaders can interpret Bible prophecy

  13. that less than 150,000 faithful Christians existed prior to the 20th century

  14. that only 144,000 people have a heavenly calling.

  15. that 8 men in New York have been given the exclusive mandate and ability to interpret scripture.

  16. that only Jehovah's Witnesses are real Christians

  17. that "this generation" in Matthew 24:34 does not mean the generation Jesus was manifest in

  18. that the 1914 generation is still with us
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  42

  If You're Just Here to spread Your TDS, It's Time to Say Goodbye

  by Simon in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  if all you want to do it deliver a constant whine of "orange man bad" then find someplace else to do.

  it.

  frankly, i can't be bothered with the bullshit anymore.. honestly, your politics and the whole virtue signalling woke brigade has actually started causing real deaths and was ruining life for many before that.. if you can't control your disease, then i'll do it for you.. it's not open for debate..

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  Vanderhoven7

  Adding to Cofty's comment...I expect that if Trump gets reelected, as I hope and anticipate, we will see cars overturned and burning in the streets of America.

  Here's hoping I am not a better prophet than the WTS.
• 
  10

  Testing For Transparency - An Honesty Check

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  please share any other yes/no questions that might fit with the following 10. also feel free to critique the 10 listed.. testing for transparency.

  there are some facts that jehovah's witnesses are reticent to divulge to new prospects.

  you may want to find out very early in your discussions if the witnesses you are studying with are open and truthful about their organization's doctrine and practices by asking them a series of sensitive (potentially embarrassing) questions about their personal beliefs.

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  Vanderhoven7

  What I like about these yes/no questions is that they can springboard into greater discussion of the issues.

  For example, the question on blood transfusions...

  5. Do you believe that a Jehovah's Witness who willfully accepts blood transfusions would still have a scriptural hope of surviving Armageddon? (or would he forfeit that hope?)

  could be followed with:

  • Would that dashed hope apply for Witnesses prior to 1945 when blood transfusions were permitted and even encouraged by the Watchtower?

    Would you allow a family member to receive some blood components?

  • Does the Bible specify which components are acceptable and which ones are not?

  • Do you know if your religion has been consistent in determining allowable components?

  • Why is plasma unacceptable when all components are individually on the WT acceptable list? (water, albumin, proteins, fractions XIII and IX)

  • How about white blood cells (Leukocytes)? Do you know that millions are found in mother's milk and billions passed during organ transplants which are now acceptable to the Society?

  • According to your religion, what is wrong with donating blood? (immoral?)

  • Is it proper to benefit from immorally donated blood? Aren't JWs being parasites?
• 
  10

  Testing For Transparency - An Honesty Check

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  please share any other yes/no questions that might fit with the following 10. also feel free to critique the 10 listed.. testing for transparency.

  there are some facts that jehovah's witnesses are reticent to divulge to new prospects.

  you may want to find out very early in your discussions if the witnesses you are studying with are open and truthful about their organization's doctrine and practices by asking them a series of sensitive (potentially embarrassing) questions about their personal beliefs.

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  Vanderhoven7

  OK, some good additions here. I try to personalize these potentially embarrassing questions because I already know the official WTS responses so I feel dishonest asking questions as if I don't know the organizations' positions. That problem is solved when I ask them what they personally think/believe.

  11. Do you believe that less than 150,000 faithful Christians existed prior to the 20th century? (33AD-1900)

  12. Do you believe that Jehovah has promised to usher in a safe and secure new world before the 1914 generation expires?

  13. Would you say that modern JWs are very similar to early Church Christians?

  14. Do you believe that your organization's leaders have been given exclusive mandate and ability to interpret the Bible for Christians today?

  15. Do you believe that the Bible can be made to say anything one wants it to say?

  16. Would you say that Jehovah's Witnesses generally discourage their children from going on to university?

  17. Are JW's able to see in detail how their donations are allocated and what they're invested in.

  18. Are you sure that what you are being taught as truth today won't be dismissed as "old light" next month?
  

  19. Are you or any members of your congregation currently shunning any of their children?
  

  20. Do you believe a God of truth and honesty would allow his alleged appointed representatives on Earth to put his name on inaccurate information?