Posts by Nathan Natas

27

Need help. Daughter wants to leave org but does not know how.

by Indian Larry in

jw
friends

long question, but very important.. i can use some help.

my daughter wants out of the organization and i need some advise.. here is my background in a nutshell.

i am fully faded for 10+ years.

Howdie!

by Olesatthewheel in

jw
friends

evening all.

my first post - born in but faded 15 years ago before that i was pimo for a number of years.. to put it bluntly the whole jw religion/thing is a crock of shit.

i sort of figured this out for myself before i faded but reading posts and comments on this forum confirms this.

Nathan Natas

Welcome Ole! But tell us how you REALLY feel -- don't sugar-coat it!

Welcome too to Kim D!

21

Short-sighted WT ?

by Tech49 in

it has always struck me that wt is so very short-sighted in many things.

often, they are very re-active, and not so much pro-active in their reasoning and the way they plan for the future.. just thinking today, and have kicked this one around for a while now.. is the watchtower organization truly sustainable?

is a new monetary structure on the horizon?

Nathan Natas

The WTB&TS can only see as far as the inside of their eyelids because that is how close Armageddon is.

They rely heavily on the wisdom of a sock-puppet so as to not be leaning on their own understanding. They haven't figured out that THEY are the voice of the sock-puppet.

41

Do You Take Any Special Vitamins or Meds That You Would Recommend?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as we get older , we tend to feel the aches and pains or some tiredness like never before.. i have some friends who are in excellent condition and i’ve asked what their secret was.. some swear by cbd oil as a cure all for aches and localized pain.

greek yogurt is a natural food that can attack gut fat as does taking probiotics.

have you found anything that makes you more energized?

Nathan Natas

1. B vitamins

2. Vitamin C (because I have more confidence in Linus Pauling than I have in most of today's Pharmaco-dealers) but I don't take mega doses because I have even more confidence in myself.

3. Vitamin D

4. Fish or Krill (micro-shrimp) oil

5. Pizza, p. r. n.

79

Ending Bible Study

by Maria Nieves in

i have been studying with jehovah's witnesses for approximately two years.

initially, i liked the studies and felt that i was growing closer to god.

however, as the studies progressed, they seemed to become increasingly negative and i did not like what i was being taught.

Nathan Natas

Out4Good opined, "In fact, they don't have any authority over you if you do. They only have the authority over you that YOU give them. Being dipped in a batch of tap water doesn't change that."

That is true in a theological sense, of course, because contracts with imaginary beings are non-binding, (I am an atheist) but over time the Watchtower Baptism has become an induction ceremony into a human private club.

Consider:

In order to QUALIFY to be baptised, it was required that Watchtower acolytes answer 80 questions in front of an examination board of three elders. This was increased to 124 questions in 1983 and then reduced to 104 questions in 2005.

The Baptism Questions

Under Pastor C. T. Russell, baptism candidates consecrated themselves to the Lord only, and it was specifically noted that baptism was not to any particular sect.

"The questions usually put by Brother Russell when receiving candidates for water immersion took the form of:

(1) Have you repented of sin with such restitution as you are able, and are you trusting in the merit of Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins and the basis of your justification?

(2) Have you made a full consecration of yourself with all the powers that you possess--talent, money, time, influence--all to the Lord, to be used faithfully in His service, even unto death?

After public admission of these confessions, we acknowledge you as a member of the Household of Faith, and give to you as such the right hand of fellowship, not in the name of any sect or party or creed, but in the name of the Redeemer, our glorified Lord, and His faithful followers." -- What Pastor Russell Said pp.35-36

Later, two questions developed containing reference to the God the Father, Jesus the son, and the holy spirit, and The Watchtower continued to clarify that baptism is not in the name of any organization:

"A Christian, therefore, cannot be baptized in the name of the one actually doing the immersing or in the name of any man, nor in the name of any organization, but in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit." -- Watchtower 1955 Jul 1 p.411

In 1966 emphasis of baptism shifted from Jesus to Jehovah:

"We do not dedicate ourselves to a religion, nor to a man, nor to an organization. No, we dedicate ourselves to the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe, our Creator, Jehovah God himself. This makes dedication a very personal relationship between us and Jehovah." -- Watchtower 1966 Oct 1 pp.603-604

In 1985 however, a very significant change was introduced:

"At the close of the convention baptism talk, the baptism candidates will be in position to answer with depth of understanding and heartfelt appreciation two simple questions that serve to confirm that they recognize the implications of following Christ's example.

The first question is:

On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

The second is:

Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism." -- Watchtower 1985 Jun 1 p.30

19

False Predictions

by Sea Breeze in

what you will not be told at the door bythe jehovah’s witnesses.

the jehovah’s witness (or watchtower bible and tract society) have made the followingpredictions which appear in their own literature:.

1. that jesus would return by 1874. when jesus failed to appear, the witnesses claimedthat it was an unseen, spiritual return.

Nathan Natas

Nice work, Sea Breeze! It is good to post reminders like this periodically for the benefit of new ones!

89

Babies Who Are Not Dead From An Abortion

by minimus in

jw
friends

a woman gets an abortion.

the baby is supposed to die because of the abortion but doesn’t.

should that living baby be put to death or should the baby be given medical help to survive?.

Nathan Natas

Minimus suggested "A woman gets an abortion. The baby is supposed to die because of the abortion but doesn’t..."

Thus does "The Walking Dead" franchise come to The Hallmark Channel.

81

Are You Horrifed if Someone Goes Into a “Massage Parlor”?

by minimus in

jw
friends

yesterday, robert kraft, the owner of the new england patriots, got busted for getting a massage and more.

they say there is another more high profile person who also got busted.. does this stuff upset you that some men have gone into a massage parlor for possibly more than a massage?

?.

Nathan Natas

Betheliesalot confessed, "I just stopped buying Kraft mayonnaise, I have a bad visual now..."

You're in good company; Jimmy Fallon, the host of late-night talk show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, has confessed to being a mayo-phobe for much the same reason.

79

Ending Bible Study

by Maria Nieves in

i have been studying with jehovah's witnesses for approximately two years.

initially, i liked the studies and felt that i was growing closer to god.

however, as the studies progressed, they seemed to become increasingly negative and i did not like what i was being taught.

Nathan Natas

Maria, because you haven't been baptised, The Watchtower has no authority over you.

YOU have nothing to fear by telling your JW study-buddies "I have seen enough to conclude that you are a CULT, and I don't want anything to do with your so-called religion. Those YOU call "apostates" are correct."

IF you did that, especially the part about agreeing with "apostates," you will probably never see those people again, and it is possible your address will be avoided by JWs in the future. You might also plant a seed of doubt in the minds of you "Bible" study conductors. "What did SHE see that WE can't see?" they might ask.

But you are in charge of you, so do what you feel is best.

------------------

Listener suggested, "You could get the JW a small gift and thank them for the studies that you have had together. Explain that you've gone as far as you are happy with and don't feel you would get anything out of studying any further. By giving a gift you allow yourself to feel less guilty and your kindness makes easier when you meet in public."

Yeah, something like a vacation home in Hawaii , for example. That would be nice. You could give them the Paradise they dream of, and they wouldn't have to wait for Jehovah's cloud of anti-matter to kill the current occupants of any Hawaiian estate!

32

The phrase "one of Jehovah's Witnesses"

by Ding in

jws don't say, "i am a jehovah's witness.".

instead, they say, "i am one of jehovah's witnesses.".

what does the second way of saying it convey that the first does not?.

Nathan Natas

Ding wondered, "JWs don't say, 'I am a Jehovah's Witness.' Instead, they say, 'I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.' What does the second way of saying it convey that the first does not? In other words, why does the organization prefer the second formulation? This isn't a teaser. I really don't know the answer."

In brief, it is because it is grammatically correct to say, "I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses." The name was derived from Isaiah 43:10, which says “You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen... So you are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “and I am God.”

Xanthippe explained it succinctly.