Posts by Nathan Natas

7

Mike Rinder has died

by iloowy.goowy in

jw
friends

just hearing about this now.

mike rinder has died.. he was a lifelong scientologist who broke away from the organization and became one of its biggest detractors.. rest in peace, mike!

thanks for what you did to expose cults.. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/mike-rinder-obituary?pid=208313152.

Nathan Natas

Mike Rinder was an important member of the (informal) worldwide anti-cult movement. His work alongside Leah Remini was EPIC.

"...and now his watch has ended."

17

Footage from Recently Converted Kingdom Hall to a Mosque

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/kjqwfeuhpji?si=6ahbituygdyiq3za.

when jehovah’s witnesses dedicate their kingdom halls, they often refer to the example of solomon dedicating the temple in jerusalem.

it’s a solemn moment.

LongHairGal, I was "born" and baptized Roman Catholic. My father's family is of Polish ancestry, and this was just the way things were done. I attended St Adalbert School in Elmhurst, NY for the first grade, but as for my Catholic education, I didn't get as far as confirmation before my mom got involved with the JWs.

I'm not bragging, but in my case I attribute my leaving the JWs to, #1, the SHOCK of learning first hand that the JWs are not a "righteous" organization when I learned (in the early 1970s) of a pedophile in the Middle Village, NYC congregation who the body of elders decided to protect and hide (I was an MS at the time, but quit soon after that) #2, the (slow) working of my rational mind, which led me to conclude that the JWs were a "snare and a racket." #3, the uplifting association I have enjoyed here on Simon's discussion group for the past 24 years.

14

The Greeks had a word for it, but the Watchtower didn't

by Nathan Natas in

i recall as though it was only 60 years ago, sitting in the kingdom hall on those horrible chairs, learning of the four forms of love: agape, philia, storge and eros.. the watchtower never mentioned pragma.. pragma: this is a committed, compassionate love that often grows as two partners continue to cherish and care for each other.

this type of love is associated with being together for a long time.

in some cases, the passion of eros can grow into pragma over time, this forging a lasting bond.. i think i know why; the watchtower isn't into committed, compassionate, cherishing and caring, are they?.

Nathan Natas

Maybe the Watchtower writers who were pederasts KNEW of that old Greek use of the word and KNEW that the average JW wouldn't have a clue that the WTB&TS felt that pedophilia was good and acceptable in the sight of their god, because it never (almost never?) resulted in the unclean condition called pregnancy.

17

Footage from Recently Converted Kingdom Hall to a Mosque

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/kjqwfeuhpji?si=6ahbituygdyiq3za.

when jehovah’s witnesses dedicate their kingdom halls, they often refer to the example of solomon dedicating the temple in jerusalem.

it’s a solemn moment.

Nathan Natas

StanLD explained, " In the 3 congregations i attended, the bruvs saved hard to raise the funds for site purchase and building--only for the cult to snatch it off them"

Are you saying that none of the people who gave their money or heir time understood the meaning of the word "DONATION"?

Here's how that works: you take something YOU own and you GIVE it to someone else. Now THEY own it and can do as they please with it, just like when someone gives YOU a GIFT; they no longer have CONTROL of that thing.

I understand your feelings are hurt, but the Watchtower got exactly what YOU paid for.

BethSarim stated, "People have forgone their family holidays,... And put that money $$ toward a quick build for congregations... know of families who did this personally."

No doubt about it, those families need to learn how to use the DICTIONARY. They can look up SUCKER while they're at it. They donated in exchange for EVERLASTING LIFE, which doesn't exist, unless you're a tardigrade (look it up).

27

JWhub

by Mikejw in

i’m an elder who is pima, i’m amazed how much info is available to all elders.

you can see all private details of every member of the congregation.

i wonder how these sisters feel about their private details being available to these creepy elders?.

Nathan Natas

What does PIMA mean, anyway? People invent acronyms without defining them.

Oh, I guess that could be PIAWDT - People Invent Acronyms Without Defining Them.

Definition of 'pima' 1. a member of a Native American people of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. 2. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Pima, closely related to Papago.

So I suppose some elders are injuns. Big woof.

17

Footage from Recently Converted Kingdom Hall to a Mosque

by raymond frantz in

https://youtu.be/kjqwfeuhpji?si=6ahbituygdyiq3za.

when jehovah’s witnesses dedicate their kingdom halls, they often refer to the example of solomon dedicating the temple in jerusalem.

it’s a solemn moment.

Nathan Natas

I fail to understand why this seems to be an important issue for many.

The JWs teach that a "church" is NOT a building, but a collection of PEOPLE.

The Watchtower has never claimed that Kingdom Halls (or any other Watchtower property) was permanently special or "sacred."

When a new kingdom hall is opened, I believe (and I could be mistaken) that there is some kind of a dedication ceremony. When a Kingdom Hall is going to be sold, as far as I know there is no un-dedication ceremony.

I think some JWs have an irrational emotional attachment to the property that was, once upon a time, THEIR Kingdom Hall.

Get over it, you silly witnesses of Jah!

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it until I don't.

31

Canada exploring changes to tax rules that exempt religious organizations

by Scully in

jw
friends

https://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelicals-oppose-removal-of-tax-status-in-canadian-proposal.html.

the proposed change will revoke charitable status of canadian churches who have an anti-abortion position, and will not give tax exemptions to organizations whose sole claim is to promote religion, which is the basic claim for all jw related entities in canada.

this will be interesting!.

Nathan Natas

Is Canada thinking of joining the EU?

That's like volunteering to be in thrall to your local gangster/loan-shark. "If I surrender to you in advance, will protect me?"

14

The Greeks had a word for it, but the Watchtower didn't

by Nathan Natas in

i recall as though it was only 60 years ago, sitting in the kingdom hall on those horrible chairs, learning of the four forms of love: agape, philia, storge and eros.. the watchtower never mentioned pragma.. pragma: this is a committed, compassionate love that often grows as two partners continue to cherish and care for each other.

this type of love is associated with being together for a long time.

in some cases, the passion of eros can grow into pragma over time, this forging a lasting bond.. i think i know why; the watchtower isn't into committed, compassionate, cherishing and caring, are they?.

Nathan Natas

Hold the presses! Hold the presses!

There were two other linds of love the Greeks knew but the Greek scholars at The Watchtower didn't:

Ludus: This word is associated more with flirtation and casual infatuation with a potential partner. This type of love is meant to be fun and playful.

Philautia: While self-care seems like a modern concept, the ancient Greeks were well aware of its importance. In fact, it was so important, that they had an entire word that was devoted to describing the love and care for one’s self. If you’re a caregiver, self-care is extremely important not only for your own well-being but also for the well-being of those under your care.

Ah, you flirt! Don't touch me there!

https://youtu.be/0w-HpBPJC1I

14

The Greeks had a word for it, but the Watchtower didn't

by Nathan Natas in

i recall as though it was only 60 years ago, sitting in the kingdom hall on those horrible chairs, learning of the four forms of love: agape, philia, storge and eros.. the watchtower never mentioned pragma.. pragma: this is a committed, compassionate love that often grows as two partners continue to cherish and care for each other.

this type of love is associated with being together for a long time.

in some cases, the passion of eros can grow into pragma over time, this forging a lasting bond.. i think i know why; the watchtower isn't into committed, compassionate, cherishing and caring, are they?.

Nathan Natas

I recall as though it was only 60 years ago, sitting in the Kingdom Hall on those horrible chairs, learning of the FOUR forms of love: Agape, Philia, Storge and Eros.

The Watchtower never mentioned Pragma.

Pragma: This is a committed, compassionate love that often grows as two partners continue to cherish and care for each other. This type of love is associated with being together for a long time. In some cases, the passion of eros can grow into pragma over time, this forging a lasting bond.

I think I know why; the Watchtower isn't into committed, compassionate, cherishing and caring, are they?

OH! I WAS 60 years ago!

26

How are new Servants and Elders appointed?

by no-zombie in

now that we have the tick-a-box field service reporting method, how are brothers measured fit for an appointment as a ms or elder?

has there been clarification in any of the recent elders schools or in meetings with the co?.

Nathan Natas

It used to be by the good-ol-boy network disguised as the inscrutable workings of Jehovah's magic spirit, but now it's just the good-ol-boy network, lubricated with big green handshakes.

"We're Jehovah's Pragmatic Witnesses..."