Posts by Knowsnothing

12

Does the WTBS still push private Bible reading as much as 10-20 yrs ago?

by unshackled in

friday at 4pm pacific is probably not the best time for this.

but what the hell...trying to kill the last hour of work here.. in my years as a dub and before i faded about 8 years ago i recall private bible reading was regularly encouraged by the org.. there was the weekly bible reading schedules to keep up on, remember it being repeated in publications the importance of reading your bible, and then the bethelite stories i heard where you were required to read the entire bible.. so, do they they still stress it as much as they used to?

they are increasingly placing the governing body as the ultimate authority, squeezing out jehovah and jesus, and stressing that you need the gb's publications to properly understand the bible.. based on that, wouldn't encouraging personal bible reading suggest you can understand it on your own and detract from their brain-numbing publications?.

Knowsnothing

so just the Bible then? Thought they always discouraged meeting in small groups to study the bible? Strange...maybe it's me but from a tightening the control aspect this seems counter-intuitive.

IMO, it's not really. It's kind of like this. It's not even a "prove us wrong" scenario or anything. It's simply "we have the truth already, we have a Christian Church already, we have a system in place already." (get the point?)

A faithful JW will say, "Ahhh, the FDS encourages us to read the Bible! Therefore, they must be the FDS!"

Circular logic at its best.

112

The "patibulum" : a fragile theory !

by TheFrench in

the latin fathers of the church has never described jesus carrying a "patibulum".

indeed, the early christians to represent jesus carrying the "crux", not the "patibulum".

it's a fact.

Knowsnothing

Here is some great info. done by Leolaia about 6 years ago.

In this text, it is likely that "patibulo" is used in the sense of "crux". "His unbroken body" can be rendered by "his whole body." Indeed, it is from the cross, not just the crossbeam, that his "whole" (integrum) body was detached.

So, why use 2 different words? You're not making much sense.

12

Does the WTBS still push private Bible reading as much as 10-20 yrs ago?

by unshackled in

friday at 4pm pacific is probably not the best time for this.

but what the hell...trying to kill the last hour of work here.. in my years as a dub and before i faded about 8 years ago i recall private bible reading was regularly encouraged by the org.. there was the weekly bible reading schedules to keep up on, remember it being repeated in publications the importance of reading your bible, and then the bethelite stories i heard where you were required to read the entire bible.. so, do they they still stress it as much as they used to?

they are increasingly placing the governing body as the ultimate authority, squeezing out jehovah and jesus, and stressing that you need the gb's publications to properly understand the bible.. based on that, wouldn't encouraging personal bible reading suggest you can understand it on your own and detract from their brain-numbing publications?.

Knowsnothing

unshackled, think about it. The Watchtower has always emphasized personal Bible study. Yet, they have been able to get away with anything they do for the past, oh I don't know, 100 years?

In fact, they have to emphasize it, because then the R&F would become aware of something finally. They simply emphasize Bible reading along with their publications.

It essentially works hand-in-hand for them. Publications cite Bible and Bible is hard to understand at times and JWs will look for answers in publications.

112

The "patibulum" : a fragile theory !

by TheFrench in

the latin fathers of the church has never described jesus carrying a "patibulum".

indeed, the early christians to represent jesus carrying the "crux", not the "patibulum".

it's a fact.

Knowsnothing

1.) I will enjoy the coming onslaught.

2.) I don't care about the specifics of cross or stake. There can be no 100%. On what specific instrument he died is inconsequential.

10

Does anyone know if they are still teaching the GT to newbies?

by aristeas in

jw
friends

it has been quite an eye-opening last two weeks or so since i discovered & joined this site.

i'm learning a lot and there's no doubt much still to learn.

i must continue to thank so many posters for contributing information not available elsewhere on a wide variety of topics.

Knowsnothing

Lol, the reason I choose knowsnothing is from that famous misquote from Socrates. "I know that I know nothing".

I just read that's not even accurate, so I truly knownothing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_that_I_know_nothing

Let's hope the WT isn't around long enough for there to be newbies.

2

14 Years Ago.............

by Judge Dread in

jw
friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8rqndbmpek&feature=player_detailpage.

jdw .

Knowsnothing

Yep.

10

Does anyone know if they are still teaching the GT to newbies?

by aristeas in

jw
friends

it has been quite an eye-opening last two weeks or so since i discovered & joined this site.

i'm learning a lot and there's no doubt much still to learn.

i must continue to thank so many posters for contributing information not available elsewhere on a wide variety of topics.

Knowsnothing

First off, the book is called "What does the Bible really teach?".

Second, yes it is taught. It is in the appendix and Chatper 8, "What is the Kingdom of God" introduces it.

However, as you noted, this point is kind of glossed over. It is simply expected that the study will accept it, as do the 7 million JW's.

36

New Here!!

by Free!! in

i've been watching from the sidelines for a while... reading about your experiences and it has helped me a lot!!!.

i am a 27 yo girl, i converted into a jw @ 20, at was going thru a difficult time in my life and they bastards sucked me in!!!

i did not realize how controlling things were going to get... about 1 year into my study i moved w another single sister and then baptize, looking back i think i went thru w baptism because i fell pressure by the "loving" congregation that wanted the best for me... i remember coming out of the pool and one of the brothers saying "another victim" and taking a pic of me... anyways, that wasn't the worst of it.... remember single female!!

Knowsnothing

Lucky you! You get to fade... Wish you all the best, and welcome!

4

Which Religions Are Acceptable?

by Bangalore in

which religions are acceptable?.

http://www.fawcette.net/2011/06/which-religions-are-acceptable.html.

bangalore.

Knowsnothing

From the blog:

? On the Cusp : Mormonism, Jewish (Ok for legislature, unlikely for White House), Methodist (once dominant is falling rapidly in legislative representation), Jehovah's Witnesses, Orthodox Christianity.

Um, wtf? No, JW's would never participate in politics, at least not openly.

14

Identifying who Jehovah is using

by jwfacts in

the governing body seems to have ramped up the number of comments in the watchtower in recent years that they are chosen by god and must be trusted as such.

how exactly has jehovah manifested that the gb are his representatives and must be followed.

tell me if i am missing something, but it seems in the bible, god provided dramatic signs to prove who his representatives were, yet these days there seems to be none.. .

Knowsnothing

yet these days there seems to be none.

Exactly. So, why trust the Bible as inspired Word of God? What of God's inactivity nowadays?