DanaBug

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Posts by DanaBug

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  20

  Please help!! My friend is now a return visit / doorstep study!

  by AiAi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a friend that is a youth minister for a local church.

  he has a very good understanding of scripture and we frequently have interesting discussions.

  we have talked about jw beliefs before and he is always surprised to find that they can really believe what they do.

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  DanaBug

  I actually just learned that a few days ago. Check out biblos.com and the lexicon for Rev 7:9. It's a lot faster than flipping pages. Have your friend note the definition for "before" that the r book gives and then have him ask where the angels are in verse 11 when they bow down before the throne. It can mean in the sight of or in the presence or face of, but which makes more sense especially considering how the same word is used to describe so many other things in heaven: the lamps, the sea of glass, the 24 elders, the dragon is before the woman when she gives birth?

  If your brother brings up the paradise hope, Rev 21 describes the new heaven and new earth with the Holy City of Jerusalem on earth after Satan is abyssed. The nations walk by its light and the kings of the earth bring their splendor into it. How can they do that if the city's still up on heaven? I don't know how your friend believes, but a lot of Christians believe in a heavenly hope and then a paradise where heaven and earth are one. It doesn't have to be one or the other, it's both.

  It actually makes more sense when you consider that hope for a paradise earth or a seperate class with a different hope isn't mentioned by any of the apostles. Their hope was for heaven. I think there's one mention of a new earth in 1 Peter but that still doesn't contradict Rev 21.
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  20

  Please help!! My friend is now a return visit / doorstep study!

  by AiAi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a friend that is a youth minister for a local church.

  he has a very good understanding of scripture and we frequently have interesting discussions.

  we have talked about jw beliefs before and he is always surprised to find that they can really believe what they do.

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  DanaBug

  Ooh, I love that topic! Does your friend have a lexicon? If look at the scriptures where the word "before" is used (as in the great crowd before the throne), you notice that the Reasoning book leaves out an important definition of the word. Another point is the seal that only the 144k receive, and then notice the 5th trumpet blast (Rev 9) where everyone on earth that doesn't have the seal is tortured. And then there's the word for "great crowd". Every instance in the NT is in reference to humans people. But the reasoning book says that the great crowd in Rev 19 is a crowd of angels because the great crowd that survives is on Earth, not in heaven. Why in this one place, out of all of them, would it be in reference to angels not humans?
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  33

  The Pressure Is On to Pioneer in April

  by dontplaceliterature in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know there have already been a couple of threads posted about this, but i thought it made since to bring it up again.

  i hadn't really heard any "oh my what a blessing, are you pioneering in april?

  " talk right after the big announcement last month.

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  DanaBug

  Reading that made me feel anxious! The pressure's on, no doubt about it. What's that scripture that says no one should do anything unless they're convinced it's the right thing to do because unless they're convinced, it's not faith?

  And good advice you gave the 17 yr old. Maybe remind him that they use lawyers, doctors, and engineers at bethel. They had to go to college to be used at bethel. Isn't that a "blessing" from Jehovah?

  ETA: I find it sooo creepy to say the direction comes from Jesus and ask people if they would die for Jesus. Blech! Makes me wonder if they're priming them for something.
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  8

  Need advise... again...

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  good morning.... on jan 3rd i posted that my son had recently contacted me and that i needed advice.

  well, i need advice... again.... i have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a jw) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is catholic) about religion, but in a conversation i had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why i left the jws and learning more about her faith and perspectives.

  i did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active catholic and through her own reading before we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the watchtower is a cult (her words).

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  DanaBug

  I totally agree with the above posts. Something else: your son is in an optimum position, imo, to get out. He's not involved in the indoctrination sessions, he has friends outside, his wife is aware that this is a cult. When he acts likes that towards you, does his wife point it out to him, how unreasonable and unloving it is? She can ask how he would feel as a parent if their child were to do the same. She can be like a mirror for him that reflects back his behavior and he may not like what he sees; eventually, he might identify what causes him to act like that and then he might change it. And we all know what the cause is. How do people who are in cults react when someone says they're in a cult? I think you've got a good opportunity here, better than most have; use it to your advantage.
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  76

  What Do You Miss About Being An Active JW?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you miss the "friends"?.

  do you miss the meetings?.

  do you miss field service?.

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  DanaBug

  I miss thinking I knew all the answers.
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  28

  New light on reporting child molestors...

  by Snoozy in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have a few witnesses on my facebook so i thought "why not"... i posted this article on america's most wanted that featured frederick mclean..the jw child molestor..been on the run since 2004.. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=35566.

  so i comment on how i though they caught this guy but i guess they didn't as it was updated in dec.. so the jw gal i know in australia ( i knew the family when they were in the states) replies to the post.

  she comments with this..:.

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  DanaBug

  Argh! That is frustrating, snoozy!

  A couple things come to mind: the one "true" religion with shepherds appointed by holy spirit? Why doesn't holy spirit guide them in outing these lying molesters? Yes, his organization did do it! Through their policies and turning a blind eye. The hypocrisy in that last paragraph is... Anyway, maybe remind her of the articles about the Catholic church's scandals. Who's pointing fingers and not looking for the positive? Everything the Catholic church is guilty of so are the JW's. Who makes a career of tearing other Christians and their beliefs down? If she wants something better, who is the way and the truth and the life? Sounds like it might be better to show her that there is no requirement to be part of an organization.

  You already know all this, I just had to rant a little. Anyway... rant over.

  I hope you can reach her. She sounds like a very nice person that's struggling with guilt and fear right now.
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  35

  Bethel Entrants' School Lecture 2-D

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bethel entrants' school lecture 2-d. .

  the watchtower organization requires that all new full-time workers at its world headquarters or other facilities attend an entrant school.

  attendees are provided worksheets that are outlines for lectures at these events.

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  DanaBug

  Thanks for sharing that, brotherdan. That is just so weird! Studying the life stories of leaders? There's good reason not a lot of JW's are aware of that.
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  35

  Bethel Entrants' School Lecture 2-D

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  bethel entrants' school lecture 2-d. .

  the watchtower organization requires that all new full-time workers at its world headquarters or other facilities attend an entrant school.

  attendees are provided worksheets that are outlines for lectures at these events.

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  DanaBug

  Thanks, Marvin! I enjoy reading your blog.

  Quick question for you former bethelites: what was the purpose of reading Fred Franz's life story? It just seems so odd to me and I wonder how they related that to strengthening a relationship with Jehovah? Anyone remember?
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  23

  no disrespect meant but -

  by therevealer in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  barr was certainly a man with the appearance of kindness and since he is now deceased no disrepect is meant or inferred.

  but does this elderly gentleman inspire thoughts of one who could or should help direct millions of followers.

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  DanaBug

  Look at the tiny train on the desk! Awww, how cute!
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  24

  Why Don't JW Congregations have a Choir?

  by journey-on in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  even if it were just four or five good singers that practice during the week and get to know the new songbook well, this would benefit the whole congregation.

  music is such a vital part of the overall emotional connection to the gathering, a well-rehearsed choir singing along with the congregation would encourage and uplift, don't you think?.

  what is the society's reasoning for not doing this?.

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  DanaBug

  They used to have pianos in some of the halls. I remember playing with them when I was really young. But yeah, choirs are something Babylon the great does; can't do anything like them!