Posts by Nathan Natas

21

Is Another 1975 Possible?

by God_Delusion in

howdy,.

do you think the society has a planned campaign where they will state that armageddon will be upon us within the next 10 years and actually state that armageddon will definitely hit by 2020?

we all know that they have been drumming into us that "the end is just around the corner", but can you see them pulling another 1975 stunt in order to bring in additional members?.

Nathan Natas

I think it is almost for certain that they will come up with a new date within the next 20 years or so.

I believe there is something in the psyche of apocalyptic millennialists that CRAVES a date (but not a fig <-- a pun! get it?).

The ideal date has to be within the imaginative reach of the target audience, so that most of them can visualizr themselves making the goal, yet it should also be far enough away that each peon is highly motivated to assure his salvation by working extra, EXTRA hard and making personal sacrifices that any normal person would consider either stupid or insane.

Yes, they will find a new date, and then they will deny it after it passes.

10

If you have a related lawsuit with the Watchtower, read this

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

a comment from a retired attorney: .

people who are contemplating a lawsuit against the elders and/or the watchtower society over action taken or not taken by the elders should be sure to tell their lawyers about the existence of the shepherding the flock of god book.

in the event of a lawsuit, the lawyer would be able to obtain a copy as part of the discovery process since the contents of such a procedural manual can be used to show whether or not the elders were following watchtower procedures in what they were doing.

Nathan Natas

In the past, there have been cases when attorneys asked JW elders about some of the WT publications but the attorney accidentally mangled the name of the publication. Taking advantage of this situation, the WT elder denied any knowledge of such a book.

LESSON: Make sure your attorney knows PRECISELY and with absolute certainty what the FULL title of the publication is before he asks any questions about it.

42

Is the World really getting worse?

by Nickolas in

a fundamental platform of the watchtower bible and tract society, from which its fearsome prognostications are launched, is the inexorable deterioration of the world.

the world is becoming a less and less hospitable place in which to live.

it seems with news of every earthquake, every natural catastrophe, every epidemic, every atrocity, and every disaster manmade or otherwise, there is the inevitable shaking of the finger and stern proclamation, "see?

Nathan Natas

FUD (Fear Anxiety and Doubt) is the lifeblood of the WTB&TS.

The world is changing, but its not getting worse, it is actually getting BETTER.

What is happening is that access to "zero-calorie information" - NEWS - is becoming more pervasive, and the standards of "news reporters" (usually ignorant talking heads with a pleasant voice) are getting lower.

So you find out on waking that a child on the other side of the country has been kidnapped, and every hour the report is updated. As the old newspapermen said, "If it bleeds - it LEADS." Sensationalism Sells.

I've found it really helpful to give myself vacations from the news. Most of it is stuff that doesn't afect me directly and stuff that I can't do anything about. I focus on working on local problems and I try to be nice to people.

12

How effective the internet is in preventing the spread of the Lie

by dgp in

jw
friends

i wonder if there is a way to know just how effective the internet has been in preventing people from joining the watchtower.

in my personal case, it did a lot; it was, i would say, crucial.

maybe i would have bought into this if i hadn't done some googling myself.

Nathan Natas

I think the internet is a very valuable tool against cults, but to be useful a tool must be used. Many "good" people are unwilling to dirty their hands with discussions of the evils and failings of The Watchtower; they have the misconception that to be a good Christian gentleman they should not speak ill about any man. To me it seems they are forgetting that their Hero threw the money-changers out of temple with considerable violence.

So it is NOT ENOUGH to make your exit, walk away and live your life. As The WATCHTOWER itself once said, ""When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?" - THE WATCHTOWER January 15,1974

I'm not suggesting that someone is obligated to be on JWN 24/7 posting 12,000 comments a year (not that there's anything wrong with that), but a person should at least tell their story and tell what they personally know about the organization and the people who run it. One that has been done, any "duty" is fulfilled.

As long as good people do nothing, evil will persist. This is one of the great lessons of history.

14

Do you believe in censoring information at all?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

as witnesses we all grew up with our information heavily censored.

it has got me to thinking: do i think censoring information is ever a good thing?.

i had this bethelite friend back when i was a witness and he would be careful who he told about the craziness behind those doors.

Nathan Natas

I believe that INFORMATION itself cannot be judged: it is neither right nor wrong. It is what people DO with the information they have that can be judged.

Take, for example knowledge of how to pick a lock. In Canada a person is not permitted to buy a book that teaches lockpicking; the government wants to "protect" people. But is picking a lock always a criminal act? Suppose a fire breaks out in a building and all the doors are locked. In such a situation, being able to pick a lock could be a lifesaving skill (as could being willing to throw a chair through a window, possibly).

How many women and girls are the victims of predatory violence each year? Would it be a bad thing if these women had a better knowledge of how to protect themselves from violent men? Or should they be denied the use of knives, gunes or commando killing techniques and simply consent to rape, battery, crippling or death? I don't think so.

I suppose on this issue you could put me down as a laissez-faire libertarian. I believe that people should have both the freedom and the freedom to act and full responsibility for their actions.

By the way, I do not know how to pick a lock, but I do know how to throw a chair through a window, and other stuff.

12

QFR feb 15th 2010 - lets be honest , we haven't got a clue...

by dozy in

the questions from readers feb 15th 2011 raises the (no doubt burning in many jws minds) question about why moses became angry with aarons 2 sons after the death of their brothers.. the wtbts undertakes to answer this question but really doesn't seem unsure of themselves (perhaps the channel of communication was suffering some interference that day.

) notice the numerous ways that the wtbts in a short (half page) article hedges its bets.

it reminded me of a schoolboy cooking up a story when he was caught with his hands in the cookie jar , vacillating & hedging as he tries to think up an acceptable answer.. it appears that , the surviving priests had evidently acted , aaron may have wondered , perhaps he felt , aaron mayespecially have reasoned , aaron may have thought , moses seems to have accepted , evidently, jehovah too was satisfied.. .

Nathan Natas

WHA-A-A-A-T?

The WATCHTOWER humbly admitting they don't know what they're talking about?

In the words of "The Duke,""THAT'LL BE THE DAY!"

17

Family Waits to See if Mother Will Be Hanged for Blasphemy

by whereami in

jw
friends

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx-a1hmvmh0.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqrihmayxly.

Nathan Natas

Bohm said, "This just confirm the fundie atheists are as bad as the fundie religious people. One side write books that call God names, the other side hang mothers. Clearly they are equally bad!"

Bohm has an excellent, dry sense of humor.

Calling an imaginary person a name is certainly equivalent to murder. "Superman is a sissy!" O god, help me.

25

I can't really seek professional help. Any self-help suggestions for depression?

by easyreader1970 in

jw
friends

i really don't have the time or the finances for a professional psychiatrist.

i know i am depressed and i know why.

the problem, as i have said before in one or two other threads, is that the solution won't really change my depression and may, in fact, make it worse.. so i am resigned to being depressed but would like to know if there are some coping techniques or other suggestions.

Nathan Natas

If you are relatively sedentary, try becoming more active. You don't need to run marathons - walking is fine. You can walk at indoor malls during inclement weather.

Practice smiling more - it does have a beneficial effect!

Indulge yourself in whatever form of humor you enjoy. Laugh more!

If you have time, volunteer to work at an animal shelter. The li'l critters will pay you back many times over, and you'll be doing GOOD WORK.

I offer these suggestions in the sincere hope that they will be of benefit to you.

38

Why don't JWs celebrate Thanksgiving

by levicolemagic in

jw
friends

my first post here.

i wrote this little article about why jws don't celebrate thanksgiving.. check it out here: http://hubpages.com/hub/what-jehovahs-witnesses-believe.

let me know what you think of it.. god bless.

Nathan Natas

JWs eat crow every time they have a conversation about their religion with someone who is not completely ignorant, so they relish the opportunity to eat turkey once a year.

"Turkey: The OTHER bird we eat." - WTB&TS

7

Feeding the Israelites??

by LucyA in

jw
friends

heres something my jw mother sent me.

i'm an athiest so i dont take the bible as the truth!

feeding the israelites.

Nathan Natas

FOOD for thought, isn't it?