Listener

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Posts by Listener

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  36

  New Awake magazine goes after the media

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is a link to the pdf.... http://www.jw.org/download/?issue=201312&output=html&pub=g&fileformat=pdf&alllangs=0&langwritten=e&txtcmslang=e&isbible=0.

  some interesting quotes.... while it is wise not to believe everything we read in the news, it does not follow that there is nothing we can trust.

  the key may be to have a healthy skepticism, while keeping an open mind.tone: when the tone of a news item is angry, spiteful, or highly critical, it suggests that an attack is under way and not a reasoned argument.sources: is there evidence of thorough research?

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  Listener

  Thanks for the link to that thread Zound, I hadn't read about it before.
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  27

  Watchtower Society Has Systemically, Methodically Over The Years, Caused All JWs Diabolically To Worship Watchtower Headquarters Leadership [or G.B.]!

  by bjc2read in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  (of course, this will be "old news" to many of you...but, this is especially written for the "newbies" who may not know of the following.).

  ... i was just wondering .... .

  i remember back when i was very active among the jehovah's witnesses, the watchtower society recommended a special procedure they used to do to put pressure upon bible studies of jehovah's witnesses by doing something they called: "directing attention to the organization.

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  Listener

  Great post bjc.
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  46

  No bibles at any kingdomhalls, strong rumors the annual meeting is regarding the bible...

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  from relatives and contacts in 2 states, there have been no bibles available for a couple months.

  one person mentioned to me as well about supposed quotes in the magazines from other bibles.

  rumors are that they will announce a new bible, or possibly tell everyone to buy a bible from another place that they approve of.

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  Listener

  I understand that they are only presenting the Annual meeting in english. It also appears that only the english version of the bible has become scarce.
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  38

  Conversation I had with Elder, "It's Ok To Lie If they don't deserve the truth!" Who created this dogma?

  by AuntConnie in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is the origin of "theocratic warfare" and jehovah's witnesses being able to freely life if they feel it's for the "greater good" of the watchtower?

  i asked the elder if jesus christ ever lied, he said "yes, jesus refused to answer questions from people!

  " can you show me where this is in the bible?

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  Listener

  This article probably sums up their view on it

  W 57 5/1

  Use Theocratic War Strategy

  A WITNESS of Jehovah was going from house to house in Eastern Germany when she met a violent opposer. Knowing at once what to expect she changed her red blouse for a green one in the very next hallway. No sooner had she appeared on the street than a Communist officer asked her if she had seen a woman with a red blouse. No, she replied, and went on her way. Did she tell a lie? No, she did not. She was not a liar. Rather, she was using theocratic war strategy, hiding the truth by action and word for the sake of the ministry.

  In this she had good Scriptural precedent. Did not Rahab hide the Israelite spies by both action and word? Did not Abraham, Isaac, David and others likewise hide the truth at times when faced with a hostile enemy? They certainly did, and never do we read a word of censure for their doing so. Rather, we read of their being termed exemplary servants of Jehovah. Their actions were in line with Jesus’ wise counsel: “Look! I am sending you forth as sheep amidst wolves; therefore prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.”—Matt. 10:16, NW.

  Perhaps some will wonder as to where the line is to be drawn between use of theocratic war strategy in hiding the truth and the telling of lies. First of all, let it be noted that whenever one takes an oath to tell the truth he is obligated to do so. By dedicating himself to do God’s will each Christian has taken a vow or made an oath to do God’s will and to be faithful to him. To this oath he certainly must be true. Likewise, when a Christian is placed on a witness stand he is obligated to speak the truth if he speaks at all. At times he may prefer to refuse to speak and suffer the consequences rather than betray his brothers or the interests of God’s work. And, of course, there is no occasion for use of war strategy when dealing with our Christian brothers. In dealing with them we tell the truth or tactfully remind them that what they seek to know does not concern them.

  Lies are untruths told for selfish reasons and which work injury to others. Satan told a lie to Eve that worked great harm to her and all the human race. Ananias and Sapphira told lies for selfish reasons. But hiding the truth, which he is not entitled to know, from an enemy does not harm him, especially when he would use such information to harm others who are innocent.

  A great work is being done by the witnesses even in lands where their activity is banned. The only way they can fulfill the command to preach the good news of God’s kingdom is by use of theocratic war strategy. By underground methods the literature is brought into the country and distributed. Would it make sense to hide this literature by one’s actions and then reveal its whereabouts by one’s words when queried? Of course not! So in time of spiritual warfare it is proper to misdirect the enemy by hiding the truth. It is done unselfishly; it does not harm anyone; on the contrary, it does much good.

  Today God’s servants are engaged in a warfare, a spiritual, theocratic warfare, a warfare ordered by God against wicked spirit forces and against false teachings. God’s servants are sent forth as sheep among wolves and therefore need to exercise the extreme caution of serpents so as to protect properly the interests of God’s kingdom committed to them. At all times they must be very careful not to divulge any information to the enemy that he could use to hamper the preaching work.
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  53

  Do you make your own soup?

  by compound complex in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings, soup lovers:.

  i have a huge kitchen at my disposal (not my own); vegetables, cans of this and that and spices are scattered about, prepared to go into a cauldron of minestrone i started a few days ago.

  i'm preparing ahead so as to freeze the leftovers to heat up later at home over my hotplate.. nothing like a 6-burner gas range to simmer over!.

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  Listener

  If you are going to freeze it then try to use the least amount of water when cooking it, without letting it burn of course. It will be more of a condensed soup and will take up less space in your freezer. Then you can add water to the bottom of your pot and bring to boiling point then add your frozen soup.
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  23

  Wisdom teeth

  by Arkady in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  i am not a jw.

  i am basically here for two reasons:.

  1. i am not satisfied with mainstream christianity and i believe that jw (along with other sects) have some things to offer in terms of answering my questions.

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  Listener

  Hi Arkady, it is a pity we can't see a picture of you as your beliefs would lead me to think that you must have very long hair
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  88

  If the big change at the AGM meeting is dropping the literal 144,000...

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the best conjecture seems to be that the gb are going to drop the literal 144,000 teaching, especially in view of the december watchtower that pointedly does not mention the 144,000 number.

  if they are dropping the literal 144,000 number, but still claim that only a small number are anointed, and can partake, and that only a few are left on earth, then it is fair to ask what has really changed?

  they are simply clearing up the embarrassing situation that there were obviously more than 144,000 "anointed" believers from 36 ad until now, and that the number of partakers has been increasing in recent years.

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  Listener

  From the Watchtower 66 3/15

  "And with him a hundred and forty-four thousand.”

  This is the number of the associates with Christ in his heavenly rulership, once stated as a number as unknown to man as the stars of heaven and the sands of the seashore, but here revealed. That it is a literal number is shown in Revelation chapter 7, where, after giving the definite number of 144,000, at verse 9 it speaks of another group, a “great crowd” whom no man was able to number. The number 144,000 could not be symbolic, for, if so, it would mean nothing. It might as well have no number at all, for there would be no contrast between it and the later-mentioned “great crowd,” which is numberless"
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  88

  If the big change at the AGM meeting is dropping the literal 144,000...

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the best conjecture seems to be that the gb are going to drop the literal 144,000 teaching, especially in view of the december watchtower that pointedly does not mention the 144,000 number.

  if they are dropping the literal 144,000 number, but still claim that only a small number are anointed, and can partake, and that only a few are left on earth, then it is fair to ask what has really changed?

  they are simply clearing up the embarrassing situation that there were obviously more than 144,000 "anointed" believers from 36 ad until now, and that the number of partakers has been increasing in recent years.

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  Listener

  Interesting Searcher. It might be possible that they change the meaning of the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation altogether and consider them to be the same as the great crowd as so many ex JWs have pointed out for years. That's not to say they will drop the teaching of the anointed/little flock. It's not likely though.
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  45

  OMG Have you seen this?? This site is sooo hysterical. It reminds me of The Onion, but for exJW's

  by noni1974 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://jehovahstrumpet.com.

  i read the cat baptisim article and i doubled over laughing.

  one time when i was a kid i asked why my kitty couldn't go to the kh with us and my mom told me that animals were perfect and didn't need to go to the kh.. .

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  Listener

  This is a funny site.

  Cedar's wrote a comment -

  "I described this website as “tongue in cheek” on the JWsurvey.org links page. Does that count as satire?!"

  And the reply is histerical

  Jehovahstrumpet says:

  September 1, 2013 at 12:53 pm

  "Dear Sir! I saw that you mentioned our faithful news magazine on your apostate site! Don’t try to deny it. The beard in your avatar says it all. And what is this ‘tongue in cheek’ you are referring to? Is that in reference to some kind of perverted, apostate sexual practice? We will have none of that here. Dear readers, we here at Jehovah’s Trumpet are so sorry to have exposed you to this. This ‘Mr. John Cedars’ is an apostate and his site, jwsurvey.org should be avoided at all costs. To help protect you, I have posted the link in the links page so that you can add it to your internet restrictions."
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  56

  Adjustments In Understanding--2013/7/15/Watchtower!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this file is being passed around by jehovah's witnesses concerning adjustments in understanding the 2013/7/15/watchtower.

  the first draft they prepared had a typing error, and nevada sent the draft back to the jws for correction.

  they corrected the typing error and sent it back to nevada.

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  Listener

  It is noticeable that they quote Watchotower magazines more often than they quote bible scriptures.