erbie

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Posts by erbie

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  22

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

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  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..

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  erbie

  Thanks fokyc.

  I did have to do a bit of fast tracking when I realised my blunder!

  Perhaps I sometimes run when I should walk.
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  122

  "Mentally Diseased" are confirmed as offensive words of hate crime. Help needed, please.

  by Amelia Ashton in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  my youngest is studying law.

  browsing through one of her books i came across a chapter freedom of association.

  it covers the well known categories, colour, race, religion, sexuality etc.

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  erbie

  Indeed, it is shocking language and a poor example to set.

  I think that the history of the Watchtower confirms that this has always been the kind of verbal abuse and namecalling that they resort to. They have got away with it thus far but I think that, ultimately, they will be forced to step into the 21st century and comply with human rights issues. I suppose that in some ways this is happening already.

  Irrespective of our own personal views or agenda, they will not be allowed to be the bully boy in the playground for much longer.

  If I may, the fact that we are all anti Watchtower somewhat places us all on the same side, right?
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  42

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

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. 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.. .

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  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!
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  12

  Celebrate Good Times: Come On!

  by headisspinning in

  1. jw
  2. 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!

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  erbie

  Keep on enjoying the real life.

  Good Times!
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  22

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

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  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..

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  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!
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  18

  What's behind the JW "stare"

  by InterestedOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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?

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  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.
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  22

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

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  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..

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  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!
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  39

  The New Testament in Plain English and John 1:1

  by Wonderment in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  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).

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  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.
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  31

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

  by cedars in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  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!
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  31

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

  by cedars in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  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.