NeonMadman

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Posts by NeonMadman

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  14

  The 2013 Special Talk "Does Death End It All"... Spanish version eliminates the word "Nanotechnology"

  by Calebs Airplane in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  remember this incredibly stupid sentence in the 2013 special talk (posted on this board in recent months)?:.

  "despite nanotechnology, humans can neither create life nor restore it.".

  well apparently, the english-to-spanish translator (who wrote the spanish version of the 2013 special talk outline) apparently realized that the use of the word "nanotechnology" in this outline was completely irrelevant and childish... so he simply substituted the word "nanotechnology" with the phrase "great scientific advancements".

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  NeonMadman

  So is there a word in Spanish for "nanotechnology"?
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  19

  Molested By a Governing Body Member Interview with Mark Palo

  by BlindersOff1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uads9caywh4&list=uu5siqfsjttx7gijqfwo2aaa&index=15.

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  NeonMadman

  I remember hearing Mark Palo's story even before Rick Fearon came out of the JWs.
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  32

  A JW got checked in my congo

  by XPeterX in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the announcement was something like "[name] got checked".well if he ain't got df'ed then what does this mean?is it based on the bible?where does this policy come from?how is the rest of the congregation supposed to behave to that person in a situation like this?what happened in the background anyway?is he checked for a period of time or what?any restrictions?.

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  NeonMadman

  if the matter is not public knowledge, they should likely not give a marking talk. In other words, the matter is supposed to be so widely known that they NEED to give a talk (no name necessary) to alert the congregation that they are dealing with that person.

  Problem is that as often as not, it's the elders who are spreading it around the congregation. So even if it wasn't widely known, it will be after the elders get involved.
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  14

  Comment on this MAP of America's most BIBLE-MINDED cities

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cities.jpg.

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  NeonMadman

  It would be interesting to know what their criterion is for "Bible mindedness." The first city I looked for was Grand Rapids, because some of the bigger Bible publishers are headquartered there. I'd have expected it to at loeast be in the top 10. However, it came in at only #35. I wonder what makes Knoxville #1?
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  13

  Jesus said: "You received free--give FREE" So, did he not know?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why do jw's accept contributions?

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  NeonMadman

  So, the apostles and disciples tithed to Jesus, then?

  If that's a response to what I wrote, it's a total non sequitur. I only mentioned tithing in relation to Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God, since you asked how his "free" literature distribution was financed. I never said anything about the apostles and disciples tithing to anyone.

  Jesus and the disciples, as faithful Jews under the Law, would have tithed to the temple as required. But from the sources I cited, it does appear that they received support (not tithes) from followers who had the means to assist. We need not conclude that Jesus miraculously made food every time they needed a meal. They apparently lived on donations. You seem to be implying that if God is not doing miracles to support a work, it should not exist. God provides, but he generally uses human means to do so.

  you mean jesus could not predict that printing mags was cost $$$$

  he could not predict that homes or halls cost $$$$$ to build, and cost $$$$$ to keep heated/maintained?

  Again, this comment doesn't make sense if it's a response to what I wrote. The biblical precedent for the support of the Lord's work, including the ministry, is through voluntary donations. It's a theme that appears over and over again in the NT. Of course, Jesus would have known that ministry costs money to support, whatever from it takes. His own ministry had expenses - that's why they maintained a money box that Judas was able to steal from.

  I'll reiterate - Terry's original citation of Matthew 10:8 was out of context and his implied application of it (as requiring that all funding for ministry had to be provided miraculously) was contrary to the context. Jesus told his disciples to "give free" with regard to miraculous works of the Spirit, not with things that they themselves had not "received free," i.e., the normal expenses of conducting a ministry, whether that be travel expenses, printing literature, maintaining places of worship, or support of those doing the ministry.

  This doesn't simply apply to religious ministries, either. Many secular charities, and even organizations for the advancement of atheism, survive on donations. There's nothing wrong with the concept, and it works.
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  32

  A JW got checked in my congo

  by XPeterX in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the announcement was something like "[name] got checked".well if he ain't got df'ed then what does this mean?is it based on the bible?where does this policy come from?how is the rest of the congregation supposed to behave to that person in a situation like this?what happened in the background anyway?is he checked for a period of time or what?any restrictions?.

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  NeonMadman

  Did one of the elders body-slam him into the literature counter?
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  13

  Jesus said: "You received free--give FREE" So, did he not know?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why do jw's accept contributions?

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  NeonMadman

  Herbert W. Armstrongs Magazine was mailed out FREE for many, many years (The Plain Truth).

  How did he do it without charging?

  Are we saying Jehovah wouldn't "provide" the means?

  Armstrong's literature was paid for by the oppressive tithing system he imposed on his members, demanding as much as 30% of their income to be given to the church. The initial 10% was mandatory. It was submitted directly to headquarters, and one could be disfellowshipped for failing to tithe. The second tithe was for the purpose of attending their "festivals" (parallel to the Jewish holidays, but really more like JW conventions). Any part of the second tithe not spent in actually attending the festivals was to be donated to the church. And the third tithe was collected every three years for "widows and orphans," but subsequent research has shown that it mostly went to pay for Armstrong's opulent lifestyle.

  For God to provide the means for any ministry doesn't mean he would drop cash from the sky. People giving donations to a ministry is a completely legitimate and biblical way for it to operate. Most churches operate on such a basis, as do many secular organizations as well. So what if the WTS also solicits donations for their literature? Even though it's printed by slave labor, there are still costs involved that need to be covered. There are a lot of good things to criticize them for, but I don't think this is one of them.
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  9

  30 Hour Aux. Pioneering ... 2 or 3 times per year

  by RubaDub in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  am i understanding this correctly?

  you can do the 30 hour package either 2 or 3 times per year, depending on when the circuit overseer visits.

  here is the way i get the new rules:.

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  NeonMadman

  And the big reward is that you get to sit through another meeting.
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  11

  Biblical Support for Judicial Committee?

  by nolongerconfused in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  that is my question...anyone ever investigated this?....because i sure have not read anything in the bible that even hints on a congregation having judicial committee procedures...has anyone had any experience with this topic?.

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  NeonMadman

  Why it's right here in Matthew 18:17, as cited in the 1980 Awake:

  *** g80 10/22 p. 23 A Way to Settle Disputes ***

  “If he [the offending party] does not listen even to the congregation [through its judicial committee], let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector.”—Matt. 18:17.

  Aren't brackets wonderful?
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  13

  Jesus said: "You received free--give FREE" So, did he not know?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why do jw's accept contributions?

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  NeonMadman

  Not to defend the JWs here, but I don't think there is anything wrong with them accepting donations for literature. Someone has to pay for the stuff to be printed....well, granted, it would be better if they weren't printing it at all, but from their POV.

  Biblically, Jesus wasn't talking about accepting donations to cover the cost of literature or the cost of operating the church when he said "You received free, give free" at Matthew 10:8. He was sending the disciples to perform miraculous works such as healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and casting out demons. That is what they were not to charge for. There are references to show that Jesus and the disciples accepted support for their work from those who approved of or assisted in what they were doing (e.g., Luke 8:1-3). And the concept of financial support of the ministry is brought up again and again throughout Acts and Paul's letters. In fact, pretty much the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 9 is a discussion of, essentially, the need for a paid ministry. The WTS quotes verse 15 of that chapter out of context to argue against the idea of a paid clergy, since Paul, after making the case FOR a paid clergy, then in v. 15 he says that he personally did not accept support from the Corinthians so that nothing would interfere with his message. The JWs take his unusual exception in this single case and try to make it the standard for all leadership, ignoring everything else Paul wrote in the chapter.