Posts by erbie

42

Did YOU Change In Your Personality After You Left The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

we knock a lot of things about the witnesses.

i wonder if we're really all that much different in our personalities as exjws.. .

erbie

I have come to view people as individuals and I try to see the good in them rather that label them as worldlings. I suppose I have come to realise that, unlike the Watchtower, I really do like getting to know people and appreciate that everyone is unique.

I didn't go on a drinking binge or anything like that but have come to fully appreciate the freedom to choose and take responsibility for my own actions and choices not having an organization to blame when things go awry.

It's very empowering to read the comments of people who have the wherewithal to break away from the control of the hateful Watchtower.

Viva La Vida!

12

Celebrate Good Times: Come On!

by headisspinning in

jw
friends

today marks our two years free.

my now husband was df'd on september 13, 2009 and i was officially canned on september 15, 2009!.

it has been a long road and if any of you remember, we initially came on this board looking for help to get reinstated.that is a huge laugh now, hey!

erbie

Keep on enjoying the real life.

Good Times!

22

Another question for those who attended the "Mentally Diseased" Watchtower

by cantleave in

nugget and i are helping amelia prepare for her statement to the police tomorrow.

one of the possible objections is that the term "mentally diseased" is metaphorical.. when people answered on this paragraph did they say "people who leave are metally diseased" or did they say "they are like mentally diseased" people?.

if they said the former it would indicate that they did not take it metaphorically..

erbie

Actually, upon reflection, it is apparent that you were displaying irony and do not believe that nonsense.

My sincere apologies. I think I need a cup of tea!

18

What's behind the JW "stare"

by InterestedOne in

in my interactions with jw males guarding the kh entrance or with the various males my study conductor would bring to our study (one i later found out was considered a "heavy," meaning he was supposedly really good at answering tough questions), i notice they stare intensely at me and i start fumbling my words.

in one case, i went to a different kh where no one knew me and got the same stare at the door.

is this stare deliberate, and if so, what is behind it?

erbie

Well, I was at a convention in Wales a few years ago as an attendant and some of the brothers there described themselves as 'watchers'. They had a small gold star stuck on their lapel. You know, like the little gold stars you get at pre-school when you do a nice drawing of a tree that looks like a lolly.

Watchers of the Tower.

22

Another question for those who attended the "Mentally Diseased" Watchtower

by cantleave in

nugget and i are helping amelia prepare for her statement to the police tomorrow.

one of the possible objections is that the term "mentally diseased" is metaphorical.. when people answered on this paragraph did they say "people who leave are metally diseased" or did they say "they are like mentally diseased" people?.

if they said the former it would indicate that they did not take it metaphorically..

erbie

Dear fokyc,

Is this really your view or are you being ironic?

Without question, the fact that the Watchtower reduces itself to petty name calling is a clear and resounding symptom of their insecurity and lack of reasonable evidence to back up their unscriptual false teachings.

Why would any active supporter of the Watchtowe false prophets (should be false profits) frequent this site and defend their lies?

Really, let them do their own dirty work. Do you not know that in order to cover up a lie one must tell another, and another and so on?

Charles Taze Russel founded the Watctower religion on a lie. Namely that he had knowledge of the coming of the Lord. Information which, in time, proved false.

This is why they are extremely defensive and insecure of their spurious history and aggressively attack anyone who dares contradict them with abusive language. Yes, I'm sorry, It really is abusive language weather you like it or not.

If you are very ingenious at being ironic then I apologise.

Keep on the watch!

39

The New Testament in Plain English and John 1:1

by Wonderment in

.

the new testament in plain english (published, 2003) translates john 1:1c as: "the word was god.

" however, a footnote on this verse says: "or, deity, divine (which is actually a better translation, because the greek definite article is not present before this greek word).

erbie

Well, the truth, in part, is as follows:

Definite article or no definite article, John 1:1 describes Jesus as 'God' or 'a god'. It really makes no difference whatsoever. Only the Watchtower want us to think differently.

We know that the Hebrew Scriptures make it clear that Jehovah, or YHWH, is the only true God. Indeed, he says 'other than me there are none'.

Absolutely right!

If there is only one true God, and all others are false, then the Watchtower is saying that Jesus is a false god.

I am not a greek grammarian but I did research this quite thoroughly a few years back and was surprised by what I found in favour of Jesus being God. Just read Revelation for instance. How can the Watchtower miss it?

If Jesus was not God, there is no way on earth that John 1:1 would describe him as such.

Also, there are numerous places in the Greek Scriptures where God is referred to as God without the preceding definite article.

They won't teach you that at Ministerial Training School!

This is not a reflection of what I believe but it is what the bible teaches.

31

Bizarre 'Spirit anointed' v. 'Spirit appointed' explanation in Dec 15th WT

by cedars in

hi everyone, i am going through the dec 15th study edition of the wt thanks to a tip-off that this issue is now available online at jw.org.. in the article "guided by god's spirit in the first century and today" on page 25 there is a bizarre argument put forward by the society about the difference between spirit-anointed and spirit-appointed.. this touches on a subject that i have often wondered about, which is this.

why are spirit anointed brothers and sisters (memorial partakers) not given positions of oversight in the congregation by default?

i know it sounds like a stupid question, but please think about it for a moment.

erbie

Hi Cedars,

thank you indeed for your posting. My, you have been busy!

As you say, they will always find a way of wriggling out of it. In fact, I think the gb actually plan an 'escape route' prior to implementing any 'new light teachings'. It's always handy to know where the back door is, right?

In any case, as you suggest, even if mathematically difficult to disprove, the idea of there only being 144,000 until now is untenable at best. It would be nice to find a concrete method of catching them out though wouldn't it. We'll just have to work harder.

Anyway, thanks for the figures. Fascinating stuff!

31

Bizarre 'Spirit anointed' v. 'Spirit appointed' explanation in Dec 15th WT

by cedars in

hi everyone, i am going through the dec 15th study edition of the wt thanks to a tip-off that this issue is now available online at jw.org.. in the article "guided by god's spirit in the first century and today" on page 25 there is a bizarre argument put forward by the society about the difference between spirit-anointed and spirit-appointed.. this touches on a subject that i have often wondered about, which is this.

why are spirit anointed brothers and sisters (memorial partakers) not given positions of oversight in the congregation by default?

i know it sounds like a stupid question, but please think about it for a moment.

erbie

I have never been able to reconcile this:

Until 1935 or so all Watchtower followers claimed to be spirit anointed right? So, that means that all 'true' christians up to that point, including the first century congregation which we read about in the bible, and thereafter, were spirit anointed, right?

Well, here is where I struggle. Are we to really believe that the total number of so called 'anointed' up until today is not in excess of 144,000?

Does anybody know how many there were in 1935? My guess is that the true number was in excess of 144,000 so the gb had to invent a new destination for all these 'other' christians and, as a consequence, they were coerced into believing they were members of the 'other' sheep with an earthly hope. I understand that the door closed in 1935 teaching is abolished but nevertheless. Does anybody have a total figure for the number of 'anointed' during the history of the WT?

I bet that would tell a few truths! In fact, it would probably settle the argument once and for all time. Is there anyway we can work it out?

Please keep in mind that this number in 1935 does not include the first century christians and later ones for nearly 2,000 years. 144,000 does not sound like a lot to me. Especially when history confirms that christianity spread like wild fire.

It just doesn't stack up to me. Should I be surprised? A resounding NO.

44

Does your product contain blood? 1960/70's twottery!!

by punkofnice in

back in the 1960's early 70's i remember my congregation going on a witch hunt and making a list of products, ice creams, confectionary or anything that might contain blood!.

i remember one zealous brother asking an ice cream vendor if the ice cream contained blood.

the vendor just looked gone out!.

erbie

They really are idiots!

Fact; only meat from an animal that has been killed by having its throat cut is truly blood free. The throat is cut while the heart is still pumping so that all or most of the blood is 'blead' out. These methods are not now used as more humane methods are employed, such as stunning prior to death by electrocution. This is why there is always blood in the meat.

Sorry to spoil your day folks. It's a nasty business I know, but a fact of life nevertheless. This is why Jews and Muslims are a lot more fussy about their meat.

Just another example of the Watchtower's partial knowledge of all things. As we say in the UK, jack of all trades but master of none.

They know everything about everything but understand nothing.

My parents were farmers by the way so I have had much experience in these matters.

Keep up the good work of exposing these clowns!

7

Another JW acting badly (pedophile, abuser, etc.)....

by skeeter1 in

this is a thread for jws acting badly....or worse.

seem we get bad jw stories each & every week out of the newspapers!

please feel free to comment on the stories too..

erbie

I remember a couple of CO's here in the UK who I would not have been happy leaving alone with my pet dog - let alone my wife!

They give you the willies don't they. Well.....they probably would if they had half a chance.