Yizuman, your post is quite sensical.
It reminded me of the "dog on the electrified floor" experiment I learned about in Psych class. Uncanny.
so much of the watchtower is written in "code".
so much of the circuit and district overseers comments are spoken in "code".
for example, you are not told directly that you shouldn't read any other publication but the society's, but you are asked, "how could anyone spiritual ever have the time to keep up with their bible-based reading of all the spiritual food that we must take in, and still have time to read "worldly" books?
Yizuman, your post is quite sensical.
It reminded me of the "dog on the electrified floor" experiment I learned about in Psych class. Uncanny.
i was thinking about forgiving this morning, after reading yesterday about a woman who had been fed up 70 x 7 times with jws knocking - and i thought, didn't jesus say "if your brother says to you 'i repent', you must forgive him" ?.
but then i thought, i'm sure i've read about 'backroom' judgements on this board where people were denied forgiveness.
what's the basis for that ?
....., it is likewise the responsibility of the elders/pastors of any Christian congregation to judge the actions of the "evil one" and to discipline that one.
Um, where does the Bible say this? No where. Speaking from a Christian viewpoint:
Elders/Pastors are nothing more than teachers who are supposed to be good Christian role models. That's it, nothing more.
Spiritual judgement and discipline do not belong to them, those aspects belong to God. Physical judgement and discipline do not belong to them, those aspects belong to the "higher authorities" which God allows.
So you see, nowhere in there does the Bible give Elders/Pastors any of this type of authority. Simply because THEY are supposed to be concentrating on TEACHING others to obey God and Christ, following the example of Christ.
The words of Luke 17:4 were spoken by Christ...I for one would do what he says and disregard any contradictory words from Elder/Pastor so and so.
The thing to remember is that JWs have downplayed Christ...if it were not for the Memorial, there would be no mention him. Therefore, how could they practice the words of Christ when they don't even consider him much?
i know we were taught to study all the wts stuff.
prepare for each meeting, prepare for service, (gotta know the articles) etc.
i mean with all the personal study to do, how could anyone have time for newspapers, novels etc.
---Didi anyone really ever study?---
Yes. I read over the material but never ever underlined any of it and I never looked at the questions as there was no point to it. I always thought it tacky and unsightly to write in books (other than coloring books, notebooks, etc.).
I used to look up whatever info I didn't know off hand in Concordances, etc. At times, I found myself either reading entire books of the Bible or reading the entire article for which a reference was taken. Then, when I got back to the study publication section, I saw where it was either misquoted, out of context, or made absolutely no sense. I found the study material took all of 10 min to read.
At the meetings, I would just sit and read the Bible.
according to http://abcnews.go.com/wire/world/ap20021021_524.html this article at abcnews.
isn't the term 'french army deserter' an oxymoron?
:)
All the sniper (if male) has to do is piss his girlfriend/wife off. End of story.
comments you will not hear at the 10-20-02 wt study.
"without an illustration he would not speak to them"matthew 13:34. introduction.
"can you recall an illustration you heard, perhaps in a public discourse, many years ago?
Of course, the illustration the WTS highlights is that of a shepherd, "the most tender of Jesus illustrations." They highlight how the sheep know the shepherds voice. The only way the "sheep" at the KH know the elders voice is from the platform.
Yep, and the Shepherd's voice is the one calling people out of the tombs in the end.....Only One is able to do that so it would seem we should follow that One.
I used to wonder how elders considered themselves "shepherds" ... they act more like the "hired men" illustration to me. When the wolf comes they abandon the sheep . They abuse the sheep. Why?, because the sheep don't truly belong to them.
Kinda what Paul was trying to get across when people were saying, "I belong to Paul, I to Appollos," etc. No, I belong to Christ and no one else...this excludes the elders from thinking they own people and helps people not to be followers of men.
.
shows man carrying wheat.. as the agricultural way of life is unhealthy,in archeaological research,teeth were badly worn in agricultural sites in the ukraine compared to archaeological sites where hunter-gatherers lived, what will happened in paradise earth to ensure our teeth don't get worn down as a result of eating agricultural products.. (i hope i haven't offended anyone connected with agriculture).
Skeletal cranials often still have the teeth. Teeth seem to last longer than the people.
Just my .02
i've been lurking for several months, its my first post here.
i am currently an active jw.
i have a very jw family so i have to be careful.
Hi XBE!
To answer your question, I would say that I certainly believe those precepts which are well...Biblical. I believe the "truth" is in the Bible, not so much in what a specific religion dictates as "TRUTH" (TM). Sure, I believe some of what I was told...as in all Christian and most other religions, people are taught to LOVE their neighbors, don't steal other people's belongings (unloving), etc. What I was told (because so and so says so) and what I have learned (from study) are two different creatures. I would ask do YOU believe what you have been told vs what you have learned? ... Notice I don't use the term "taught".
As for the comments about the Mosaic Law ... all scripture is inspired and beneficial...I do not recall Paul saying it was mandatory and absolute to follow the Mosaic Law, in fact he constantly asserted the opposite. LOVE was the only Law.
Love doesn't allow for a parent to indulge their sexual fantasies on their own children nor someone else's children. Love also does not allow for anyone to accept this disgusting and unloving predatory behaior. I really can't see how JWs have been so confused over Sexual Child Abuse....is it not "fornication", "uncleaness", true "loose conduct"", and "idolatry"? (love of selfish sicko desires)....and for the married folks, adultry? What seems to be the problem in dealing with these foul dirtballs involved in works of the flesh, are these not serious violations of the Law of Love?
"A little leaven spoils the whole loaf"...well, there are lumps, moss, and mold all over the JW breadmill. Too bad the GB won't let people follow the simplistic laws of love....its a shame.
Edited by - Lieu on 27 September 2002 6:27:58
the watchtower claims that witnesses love each other - and that this love marks them.
as being the true religion.. nonsense!.
witnesses love each other?.
Interesting points....and true.
The Bible said:
"God so LOVED the world....."
"...LOVE your neighbor as yourself."
"HATE what is bad, LOVE what is good."
How does that equate to HATE everybody in the world?
I always thought, as a JW, I was supposed to try and help as many people as possible before the end, not hate as many as possible and be happy at their end.
"God is not slow respecting his promise....but he wishes that ALL men be saved ....."
JWs for the most part are taught to be selfish. Always wishing for the end to come so that their particular problems in life will be over with and not giving a rats behind about what happens to everyone else.
Always saying stuff like: "I wish the big A would come tomorrow so I wouldnt have to deal with such and such anymore"....I,I,I,I,me,me,me,me,.....SELFISH!!!
page 16 under talking about the good samanitan, par.
15 (quote) something else is noteworthy about jesus' reference to the road that went "down from jerusalem to jericho".
according to the story, first a priest and then a levite were also traveling that road-although neither stopped to help the victim (luke 10: 31, 32 ) the priests served at the temple in jerusalem and the levites assisted them.
When I read that passage/parable I thought of the GB and Elders coming from a 'spiritual feast' (TM) at Bethel. As they walked along they observed a fellow worshipper in need of assistance but neither group did anything to help. As a matter of fact, they said, "look a sickly and spiritually weak 'bro, he needs to get up and clean himself up". Then both groups crossed to the other side and kept going not even considering calling 911 to inform a medic unit of the injured person. Sheppards of the flock showing no signs of humanity to a fellow worshipper.
Some stranger, a worldling, of whom the injured bro is consistently told hates him, is the one who comes along, sees the bro's distress and quietly helps him out at his (stranger's) own expense.
It is a powerful message of heart conditions....that of people who considered themselves 'shepards' and that of people who were considered supposed enemies. See the deed, see the heart.
when i was a jw, i really couldn't stomach the watchtowers.
the only articles i would read would be for the family study/watchtower study.
it seemed so archaic and old-people-ish.. i did read the awake from cover to cover almost every time.
Definitely the Awake! (TM)....
Most of the articles found in the Awake are written by females. Since its more of a freelance booklet than anything else, ANY publisher can submit an article for review and possible publication. Topics about daily living from all over the world..neat scenery, flowers, auto mechanics, etc.
I have always found the WT poorly written and very borish. There's no touch of humanity to it, no feeling, and the articles talk "at" you not "to" you...if you get my point. You can tell who writes those articles and it is basically a "brag rag". The only thing I liked in the WT was the puzzle.
Just my .02