Posts by jay88

his basic premise is that the gods worshipped by humankind, all 1600 or so of them, evolved from imagination to fill a gap in the psyche which leaving empty is just too frightening.

jay88

I love god!!! Just like I love chicken and watermelon,...genetically predisposed.

18

The 2nd Coming has already been proved to be a mistake

by Terry in

while the whole world of christianity waits and longs for the 2nd advent of jesus because it will bring their reward.... jehovah's witness already had theirs!

they simply declared that "jesus is back!".

1914 was the date assigned.. true, jesus was invisible.. true, armageddon didn't come.. true, the world went on spinning as before.. but, 1914 was date certain and remains so.. instead, jehovah's witnesses starting treating armageddon the same way mainstream christianity treats the 2nd coming.. it's coming any minute!.

jay88

funny!!!santaus

ha

195

Is Forgiveness Overrated?

by leavingwt in

jw
friends

.

is forgiveness overrated?.

if i'm being completely honest with myself, there is a short list of folks who i haven't forgiven.

jay88

Forgiveness is merely a formality,.... what is there to truly be forgiven for?

30

How many of your elders & servants are "Preachers Who Are Not Believers?"

by Franklin Massey in

many people in positions of teaching others the doctrine of their particular religion do not actually believe the doctrine themselves.

this is a fascinating article from daniel dennett and linda lascola.

i could relate to some of the expressions made.. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/non-believing-clergy.pdf.

jay88

Problem is, most people who assume power and influence have a different agenda. Jesus wasn't concerned with growth, he was concerned with people and their quality of life.

>>>>>>>>>

I concur, I wish MLE, and the like will find some solace for themselves.

thnks Sab!

30

How many of your elders & servants are "Preachers Who Are Not Believers?"

by Franklin Massey in

many people in positions of teaching others the doctrine of their particular religion do not actually believe the doctrine themselves.

this is a fascinating article from daniel dennett and linda lascola.

i could relate to some of the expressions made.. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/non-believing-clergy.pdf.

jay88

Sab- I always wondered, in any shape, form, or fashion if 'time' is Christ-like?

30

How many of your elders & servants are "Preachers Who Are Not Believers?"

by Franklin Massey in

many people in positions of teaching others the doctrine of their particular religion do not actually believe the doctrine themselves.

this is a fascinating article from daniel dennett and linda lascola.

i could relate to some of the expressions made.. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/non-believing-clergy.pdf.

jay88

All hypothetical,....I sure.----- Sorry Frank, for being a hog.

How to survive Door to Door

ps for service! If you must go door-to-door:

Tip #1 - Be your own conversation stopper

Introduce yourself immediately as a "Jehovah's Witness" and happily accept their objection to continuing the conversation. This will end 90% of opened doors. If your partner objects, tell her/him that you are not ashamed to 'witness for Jehovah.'

Tip #2 - Ask me, ask you

Oh crap, they didn't close the door! So ask the householder, "Is there anything you ever wanted to know about Jehovah's Witnesses?" Great conversation starter and keeps you from having to push info on them. People who want to talk, will. Use this opportunity to hang out on their doorstep while the rest of the car group finishes the territory.

Tip #3 - Bookless publisher

Don't place literature. Carry some tracts as a backup just in case the householder asks for something. Instead use the Bible and discuss a couple scriptures you like. I use the Sermon on the Mount. If your partner questions that, explain you are working on starting a Bible study using just the Bible (what a concept!).

Tip #4 - Noturns

RVs? What Return Visits? Don't return on "interest" (an ever increasingly nebulous term). I usually avoid afternoon service (usually RV work) but if I am caught in a RV group, I'll make up an excuse that the territory has been very dry for me, etc.

Nothing gets the heat on you like low hours. If you still care about avoiding that (someday you won't!) always count about 10 hours a month, but make it vary as your congregation secretary is putting these numbers in a neat column in your file. If your conscience pricks you about this, keep in mind that billions of the hours counted by JWs are fake. Most of that time is spent walking between doors, standing next to a talking JW, waiting in the car, driving, and other indirect activities. Surely you are witnessing to the public indirectly with your fine behaviour at least 10 hours a month. At least I hope so... If not then put on your convention badge and count your commute time. Probably more effective than door-to-door!

Fake hours?! How dare I presume... JWs logged over 1.6 BILLION hours in 2010. For a while (and to keep my self sane) I would carefully record the actual time I spent directly conversing with a non-JW people while in service about religion. The consistent average was... 2 minutes per hour in service. Of course a Bible Study may count as real time, but who has those anymore?

But hey, let's more than double that: 5 minutes per hour is about 8% of what I am allowed to count according to the organization's procedures. That includes hand-writing form letters to locked-gate communities, sitting in a SUV with 6 other JWs while the other two have cookies with a return visit, driving 15 minutes between houses in rural territories, heck, if you are in a sign language group you get to sit in cafes, play your publications on DVD, and flash signs at each other. Looks funny if you don't know ASL and will get you shot in certain gang lands. Don't try it.

So the math says that 1.6 billion hours is really about 133 million hours in real conversation. Still a lot. But divide that by publishers (7.5 million) and all you get is 1.4 hours per publisher per month. That average includes missionaries and pioneers! Like I said, fake hours.

So if you wonder how insider apostates do it, now you know. Guilt-free, ritual-free, and maybe someday... just free.

30

How many of your elders & servants are "Preachers Who Are Not Believers?"

by Franklin Massey in

many people in positions of teaching others the doctrine of their particular religion do not actually believe the doctrine themselves.

this is a fascinating article from daniel dennett and linda lascola.

i could relate to some of the expressions made.. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/non-believing-clergy.pdf.

jay88

It is interesting, to hear how field service is still used as a measure of one's spiritual devotion to god(or at least to an organization) Especially when there are so many creative ways for time to be counted. The 'V' made mention on freeminds.org about how time is counted and he concluded:

1.6 billion hours is really about 133 million hours in real conversation. Still a lot. But divide that by publishers (7.5 million) and all you get is 1.4 hours per publisher per month. That average includes missionaries and pioneers! Like I said, fake hours.

>>>>>>>

I wonder if there is some type of ratio there, with the 7 million followers that the WTBTS claim to have? How many publishers are unbelievers?

64

April WT is out. Blood, FDS, moses & crazy stuff...

by bohm in

jw
friends

the april wt is out, get it while you can.

what caught my attention was the first article.

some quotes:.

jay88

Hence, the steward class is “faithful,” never betraying or abandoning Jehovah, Jesus, Bible truths, or God’s people.

>>>>>>

Who uses the word hence anymore? The last time I heard it was,....The Force is strong with you, Anakin Skywalker. A powerful Sith you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Vader.