Listener

Joined

• started 199 topics
• posted 4,913 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Listener

• 
  11

  More cut backs

  by pepperheart in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  on saturday i got two awakes from a trolley that were issue one 2018.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  It's funny that they can't even give them away by standing out in public.
• 
  9

  Study Watchtower August 2019 - Be patient and Stop judging people

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in this latest magazine is another mixed message to jws.

  this is the whole paragraph, italics and bolding are mine -.

  10 be patient.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  In this latest magazine is another mixed message to JWs. I don't know how they can keep up with it all.
  
  This is the whole paragraph, italics and bolding are mine -

  10 Be patient. When we conform our life to God’s standards, our relatives may find it difficult to adjust to our new beliefs and lifestyle. Often, the first thing they notice is that we no longer join with them in celebrating religious festivals and no longer engage in political activities. Some relatives might initially be angry with us. (Matt. 10:35, 36) But we should not give up on them. If we stop trying to help them understand our beliefs, we have, in effect, judged them as being unworthy of gaining everlasting life. Jehovah has not given us the job of judging—he has assigned that task to Jesus. (John 5:22) If we are patient, our relatives may eventually be willing to listen to our message.—See the box “Use Our Website to Teach.”

  • This means that we should zealously look for all those who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life” and help them to start serving Jehovah.​—Read Acts 13:44-48.

    • ws18 October pp. 9-15 - The Watchtower (Simplified)—2018

  ---

  Our goal is to make disciples of people who are honest, humble, and spiritually hungry​—people who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life.”​—Acts 13:48; Matt. 28:19, 20. w18 October Study Edition
  

  Sorry, I had a posting issue and the last two quotes are quotes from a previous magazine and excuses that JWs will sometimes give for not discussing bible doctrine with ex JWs or some others. They will stop a conversation by claiming the individual is not 'rightly disposed' or has ulterior motives or only want to argue. Some will even go as far as judging a person by saying they do not want to 'throw pearls before swine'.
  
  

  
  
  

  ---

  • 
    
• 
  79

  JWs Changing "Baptism Questions" Effective May 13?

  by Room 215 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  ja2 replies4 retweets12 likes.

  reply.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  Their reason for asking the previous question "Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?"was to establish membership with the organization.

  
  Firstly, what is this 'spirit-directed organization'? Wouldn't any Christian recognize this to be God's Kingdom, ruled by Jesus? There's no mention of any earthly organization being identified. There is no mention of any membership. Simply being recognized as a JW does not infer membership to any particular earthly organization - no congregation, or the Watchtower (which Losch himself said he was not connected to)

  But what's really interesting is the similarity between the wording of the baptismal question and their connections with the UN. They claimed that they were never a member of the UN as only Countries can be a member, not NGO's.

  However, the original 1992 application form states "Please note that the association of your Non-governmental Organization (NGO) with the Department of Public Information (DPI) requires that you provide us with proof ....."

  They also said that they stopped their association when they realized that there were conditions that they could not agree to (inferring that they would have continued on had those conditions not been there). If they consider an individual to be a 'member' of their organization because of the baptismal question then the same applies to the UN situation but it goes further.

  They have been associated with the OSCE and as far as I know, they still are. (The OSCE being a very important member and connected to the UN). The OSCE does not have the same responsibilities for DPO's having to physically show support for their organization like the UN does, the Watchtower has remained associated with them. Because of their view of creating a membership status within their own organization (by merely agreeing that you associate with them in the baptismal question), applying their own beliefs then, it can only be concluded that they are a member of the OSCE who connects with the UN.

  Do you understand that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with Jehovah's organization?

  It is likely that there are still a number of legal loopholes in an individual agreeing to this statement. The first and the major one is that there is no agreement to abide by any of the rules set out by the Governing Body or the 'organization'.
  
  The organization cannot be identified simply by calling it Jehovah's organization. There is no authority that the individual ascribes to anyone else to decide whether they are or are not a Jehovah's Witness. In other words, the individual does not authorize anyone else, an individual, congregation or group of people to decide that they are or are not a JW.
  
  No one even says to the individual that they have been accepted as a JW, at best, they have been told that they have been approved for baptism or accepted as a 'publisher' which occurs before baptism.
  
  When disfellowshipping they publicly announce "(name of person) is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses". Maybe they would be better off stating "(name of person) is not considered to be a Jehovah's Witness by Jehovah's organization" Although, that statement may also bring up some privacy issues by mentioning the persons name in public.

  ---
• 
  14

  Venus and Serena William's mother in a Mother's Day commercial

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think this is such a cute commercial!

  (link below) however, if venus and serena's mother is a loyal witness, i am surprised that she would consent to do a mother's day commercial.

  we all know what they teach about celebrating this and so many other holidays.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  It's possible that she is no longer a JW. I imagine she has had a hard time over the years in regards to the activities of her daughters and something may have woken her up. I think Serena made it known that she wouldn't be having a birthday party for her daughter but then celebrated a 'special day' for her a little later. If so, it's a fantastic bit of activism since not celebrating Mothers Day is more ridiculous than not celebrating birthdays.
• 
  4

  warm greeting

  by zeb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  other day i was in the bank, in the queue and feeling like crap.

  i am coming up for a hip replacement and in pain.

  think touch your nose is 1 a burn is 10 this is around 7. i have had sod all sleep and no doubt looked like it.. waiting i acknowledged the lady behind me as we do and she asked the usual "how is it going.?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  That was lovely of her and I hope you are not always in such pain.

  This is how I imagine real witnessing to be.
• 
  26

  Some Religions Make Their Women Fat!

  by new boy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  sad but true.

  my ex-girlfriend was raised mormon.

  so i went to a couple of her church services.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  That's interesting Blondie. In that article they recognise overeating as a 'definite problem' but don't go as far as saying it is a serious sin.

  Also, one of the points to consider is whether food is a big thing in 'his' life? It's funny that they talk about this abstract person, a third person who is a male. But I doubt that there are many people who don't consider food as a big thing in their life.

  Since I prepare most of our food from scratch, I would find many hours a week spent on - buying/sourcing food, storing food appropriately, preparing and cooking food, serving food and keeping the kitchen clean. I'm not a GB member or Watchtower writer who's only concern is sitting at a table and eating food, not that I would want to be in that situation but it appears that having a healthy love for all things food related is wrong.
• 
  17

  memorial-

  by zeb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a criticism of the wt way is the practice of using 50 words when 10 would do.

  this is an example of an aged speaking style practised in the 1930s 1950's.

  just look at movies from that era, political speeches etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  It's more of a celebration of the anointed and who can and cannot partake.
• 
  10

  Orange County, CA: New Case and New Legal Tactic

  by Corney in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  john roe 1 vs. defendant doe 1, congregation is a child sexual abuse case pending before the superior court of california, orange county (judge john c. gastelum).

  jury trial is scheduled on june 15, 2020, but it may not occur: the judge is expected to decide on multiple pre-trial motions including motion for sanctions filed by plantiffs; next hearing on pre-trial motions is scheduled on may 14.. case docket is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dbqcronnkeax492pshgwpuoubt-xaabz/view?usp=sharing .

  case documents are available for purchase here: https://ocapps.occourts.org/civilwebshoppingns/search.do (case number 30-2014-00741722-cu-po-cjc).. during the course of this litigation the court ordered watchtower to produce molestation complaints it received, redacting only names of victims and elders handling the matters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  Thanks Corney, this is the first I have read about this case.
• 
  19

  New Book: Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored At Last!

  by Afterburn in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  it is a new book, now available on their website in pdf, and it is basically an update to survival—into a new earth!

  (1984), the book that convinced me to get baptized at age 12.. i'm not going to review the entire book here.. because matthew 28:18-20 specifies baptizing as part of the great commission, and because hebrews 6:1-2 lists the teaching on baptisms as among the primary doctrine about the christ, i intend to focus on the portion of the new publication that deals with baptism.. in chapter 16, on pages 178 and 179, paragraph 17 states:.

  17 to survive the coming destruction, individuals need to prove their faith now.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  Thank you Afterburner. It was very confusing to read the Greek scriptures that mentioned baptism with a JW understanding. None of them supported their interpretation.

  With their viewpoint that the Greek scriptures were written only to the anointed, it's amazing that they even say that baptism is also for the other sheep.
• 
  62

  Enjoyed the Memorial

  by ScottyRex in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  probably not a popular opinion on here....and haven't been actively attending meetings since 1988....(i know i know a submarine attender) however thoroughly enjoyed attending this evening...was good to see lots of people i remember whilst growing up in this faith, they were genuine and the whole atmosphere was one of love.

  sure if i suddenly wanted to become active again and didn't change my lifestyle they would drop me like a bomb.....however i haven't and won't and they didn't and don't.

  this works for me.. i cannot demonize the witnesses on what i have seen tonight.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Listener

  Personally, I put the teachings and practices of the church as the number one reason why I would or would not attend and participate. Genuine love can be found in many churches, there are good people in society.