the big change is that sisters can go to elders school now
wives of appointed men can go
Wow. That's pretty big. I wonder if they are getting ready to appoint women elders (elderettes)?
you still have to be fully vaccinated to attend any theocratic schools.
elders and ministerial servants have their kingdom ministry school every year, the cobe of every congregation has to check that everyone is fully vaccinated.
after the school everyone will ask any bothers who were not there why not?
the big change is that sisters can go to elders school now
wives of appointed men can go
Wow. That's pretty big. I wonder if they are getting ready to appoint women elders (elderettes)?
so i went to a christmas evening candlelight service tonight and it hit me.
i was primarily doing christmas since leaving the jw for the children.
lots of people do it for family without really thinking of the relevance.
as if every other belief system is irrelevant and doesnt deserve mentioning.
That's right joey jo jo, that's what I'm saying. And what makes them irrelevant is that they are dead. Buddah is dead. Confucius is dead. Zeus is dead. Muhammad is dead. Every previous spiritual leader is DEAD.
Jesus walked out of a tomb after predicting that he would raise himself from the dead. That's what makes Jesus so different. Less than that, I couldn't care less. Why would anyone want to put their future in the hands of a dead guy?
How dumb is that?
not sure who wrote this list a while back but i think it is worth a repeat....to be added to or subtracted from or modified...whatever.. what's wrong with the watchtower.
"overlapping generations" - this teaching makes no sense.
the word used by jesus is in the singular, not plural form.. .
Wolverines: The overlapping Generation was what did it for me in the Religion.
Anybody who stayed in after the '95 generation change is just inexcusible in my opinion.
The '75 false hysteria was only 20 years before! Twice stupid. Not me. I never went to another meeting after that Nov. '95 WT.Yet, this garbage is what millions sold their soul for. At least Esau got a bowl of soup.
that's what the word says.
.
colossians 1:16. for by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him..
The whole debate is the result of third or 4th generation (of mostly Gentile) 'Christians' mistaking Gospel narratives as history.
PP & SBF,
Mountains of evidence has been presented to you supporting the opposite of your conclusion in this thread.
Can you please state what, if any, historical evidence would be sufficient for you ?
a watchtower in ceremonial magical tradition is a tutelary spirit of one of the four cardinal points or quarters (east, south, west and north).
in many magical traditions, they are understood to be enochian angels... originating with the enochian tradition of john dee, a version of it was popularized by the hermetic order of the golden dawn, which became hugely influential in modern western esotericism, including wicca.
the watchtowers are invoked during the ritual of casting a magic circle.. .
C’mon Syd,
Just admit you are a materialist. Are you ashamed of it? Lots of people “claim” to be materialists.
are convention dramas still a thing or have these been replaced by videos of dramas recorded in the usa?.
I remember when if you played a musical instrument, you were invited to play in the orchestra at assemblies. Some Nazi GB member put a quash on that. Imagine learning to play an instrument instead of spreading Satanic propaganda. Very inefficient. Ya vol mein herr capitan.
It looks like now those that like to play “dress up” have faced the same fate as their musically inclined counterparts.
a watchtower in ceremonial magical tradition is a tutelary spirit of one of the four cardinal points or quarters (east, south, west and north).
in many magical traditions, they are understood to be enochian angels... originating with the enochian tradition of john dee, a version of it was popularized by the hermetic order of the golden dawn, which became hugely influential in modern western esotericism, including wicca.
the watchtowers are invoked during the ritual of casting a magic circle.. .
@Syd,
I take it you are a materialist?
a watchtower in ceremonial magical tradition is a tutelary spirit of one of the four cardinal points or quarters (east, south, west and north).
in many magical traditions, they are understood to be enochian angels... originating with the enochian tradition of john dee, a version of it was popularized by the hermetic order of the golden dawn, which became hugely influential in modern western esotericism, including wicca.
the watchtowers are invoked during the ritual of casting a magic circle.. .
I think Watchtower connection to the occult is shown in their own literature. They have admnitted that Russell and previous Watchtower Presidents may be directing their activities from "beyond the veil". They admit to being a 'spirit-led organization". They pont to "materializations" of these spirits as evidence for the accuracy of their end-times caluclatuiions:
“Zion’s Watch Tower “ of October 1st, 1907, “Our understanding is that this great day of the Lord began chronologically in October 1874, and from what we can learn it is since that date that ‘materializations’ have become more and more common…the evidence is too strong to be disputed that there have been numerous genuine manifestations….”
How does the Watchtower know there have "more and more" materializations of spirits?
that's what the word says.
.
colossians 1:16. for by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him..
Aristides (Greek Philosopher turned Christian) wrote to the Emperor Hadrian and gave a pretty good synopsis of core Christian beliefs in 125 AD.
He wrote:
The Christians, then, trace the beginning of their religion from Jesus the Messiah; and he is named the Son of God Most High. And it is said that God came down from heaven, and from a Hebrew virgin assumed and clothed himself with flesh; and the Son of God lived in a daughter of man. This is taught in the gospel, as it is called, which a short time was preached among them; and you also if you will read therein, may perceive the power which belongs to it. This Jesus, then, was born of the race of the Hebrews; and he had twelve disciples in order that the purpose of his incarnation might in time be accomplished. But he himself was pierced by the Jews, and he died and was buried; and they say that after three days he rose and ascended to heaven (Apol. 2, Syriac).
Aristides makes it clear that Christians affirm a number of key truths:
1. The divinity of Jesus: “God came down from heaven” In the mind of Aristides, Jesus is not an angel, or a semi-divine being, but the very God of heaven itself.
2. The incarnation: “clothed himself with flesh.” In very vivid language, the author affirms that Jesus is God enfleshed; he took upon himself a real human body (contra the Docetists).
3. The virgin birth: “from a Hebrew virgin.” This doctrine flows naturally from the prior two. If Jesus is God, and he took on human flesh, then his conception would be distinctive from other human beings.
4. The authority of the Gospels: “taught in the gospel…and you also if you read therein, may perceive the power which belongs to it.” Notice for Aristides, there are books called a “gospel” which you can “read” to learn more about the person of Jesus. Moreover, these gospels contain a certain “power” which the reader can discern.
5. The authority of the apostles: “and he had twelve disciples.” Aristides recognizes that Jesus had an authority structure through the twelve that was necessary “so that the purpose of his incarnation might in time be accomplished.”
6. His death on the cross: “pierced by the Jews.” This is a clear reference to Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate at the request of the Jewish leadership.
7. His resurrection: “after three days he rose.” Jesus did not stay in the grave but was raised from the dead.
8. His ascension: “ascended into heaven.” Jesus returned to his former heavenly home, in a position of power and glory.
so i went to a christmas evening candlelight service tonight and it hit me.
i was primarily doing christmas since leaving the jw for the children.
lots of people do it for family without really thinking of the relevance.
Amazing how most people who are born in christian countries have christian beliefs. Its mind blowing. Clearly, it must all be true just because of this.
There is nothing mind-blowing about information sources.
This is a logical fallacy - “The Genetic Fallacy”.
This fallacy is made when someone attacks a belief or an argument by pointing out how the person came to hold that belief (its genetics). The fact of the matter is, if I’m giving an argument for the existence of God, such as the Kalam Cosmological Argument or the Fine Tuning Argument, maybe we’re having a discussion on the historical evidence for the resurrection, the country I was born is irrelevant to whether my arguments are good or not. You can’t refute a belief by showing how a person came to hold that belief.