Kate, hope you are fighting fit real soon. Painful, now, and confusing, I know only too well. But always ask yourself: Am I doing the right thing? Being a self-centered hypocritical JW is definitely not the right thing.
Posts by Vidqun
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71Kate Wild
by quellycatface ini've been given permission to post news of our friend.. kate hasn't been very well.
not well at all.
i think much of it has been a delayed reaction to her df'ing, the general fallout when leaving the wtbs and family issues.. i just wanted to give you guys the heads up and give you a chance to show how much we care about her.. thanks for listening..
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91
one reason for the dumbing down of the org
by Magnum ina lot of us have said that theres been a dumbing down in jw land.
its just not like it used to be especially a few decades ago.
it seems to me that if jw are right and the end of the world is near, the spiritual food should get tastier and more nourishing as time goes on, but it's getting more and more bland and less nourishing.
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Vidqun
I wondered about that while I was in. In one of the publications I read that the obligation of the GB towards the R&F is that they will only dispense basic Bible knowledge. That is their obligation. So they will only dispense "milk" for the new ones. If you want "meat," you must fend for yourself. What they didn't say, for all the Beroeans out there that want to advance their studies, check the food, and question everything, those will be kicked out and branded as apostates. You must not go beyond the things that are written (in the Shepherd the Flock-book).
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The Chinese Military
by fulltimestudent inevery year since i started my china studies program, i've noted western pollies asking for the chinese government to be more transparent in regard to the chinese military.. i'm not quite sure what 'being transparent' means, does it mean giving the west access to all military secrets?
during my recent visit to china i can't recall seeing one soldier.. but, due to the cica - asian security conference, held in shanghai while i was in china, there were lots of extra police on the streets, maybe because the russian president putin attended.
but the most exciting thing to happen was (apparently) the finalisation of negotiations on the supply of russian energy to china.
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Vidqun
Sorry, FTS, I was out of town for a few days and missed your post. Thanks for the explanation. I agree with you, having a specialized technocrat in charge, is by far the better option. Either that, or a politician, and we know what messes they can create and rubbish they spew, often because they don't know whether they are coming or going. Bottom line: If the faeces hit the fan, who is in charge? In the end, it seems to be the President and Chairman of the CPC, not unlike the American model. What Westerners fear, is that the generals go their own way, without consulting the politicians. E.g., with the territorial disputes. Or is there a failsafe built in somewhere?
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The Chinese Military
by fulltimestudent inevery year since i started my china studies program, i've noted western pollies asking for the chinese government to be more transparent in regard to the chinese military.. i'm not quite sure what 'being transparent' means, does it mean giving the west access to all military secrets?
during my recent visit to china i can't recall seeing one soldier.. but, due to the cica - asian security conference, held in shanghai while i was in china, there were lots of extra police on the streets, maybe because the russian president putin attended.
but the most exciting thing to happen was (apparently) the finalisation of negotiations on the supply of russian energy to china.
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Vidqun
Perhaps this is what they mean for the PLA to be more transparent. How do they fit into the (Chinese) scheme of things? Who controls China’s arsenal, the politicians or the military? Fact of the matter is: China’s nine-man Politburo Standing Committee, the nation’s top political body, is staffed with technocrats, and has no military representative. The Americans coined the phrase “the Chinese civilian-military disconnect”.
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8
What does this sentence mean?
by Doug Mason inthe very first sentence of the topic "inspiration" at "insight on the scriptures" volume 1, page 1202 reads:.
"the quality or state of being moved by or produced under the direction of a spirit from a superhuman source.".
is it defining "inspiration" as a "quality or state"?.
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Vidqun
This is an indirect quote from Webster without acknowledging Webster (as usual) + cultspeak. It's called dishonest scholarship. They are known for it.
in•spi•ra•tion \ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\ n 14c 1 a : a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b : the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions c : the act of influencing or suggesting opinions 2 : the act of drawing in specif : the drawing of air into the lungs 3 a : the quality or state of being inspired b : something that is inspired 〈a scheme that was pure inspiration〉 4 : an inspiring agent or influence — in•spi•ra•tion•al \-shnəl, -shə-n ə l\ adj — in•spi•ra•tion•al•ly adv Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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The Botchtower's attitude towards using the Internet
by Composer2005 inhas the botchtower discouraged or spoken against members using the internet?.
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satan / devils environment & all that j.w bs!.
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Vidqun
At some stage they depicted the plug from the modem (that goes into the computer) as a snake.
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45
ONE REASON
by snare&racket inout of interest, and to formulate a cordial chat, would you give your top one reason for your belief or non belief?.
my foremost 'one reason' for non belief is:.
the historical evidence that provides an explination and timeline for how the modern religious doctrine's and dogma developed over time.. .
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Vidqun
I believe in the existence of God. Reason: Prophecy.
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Daniel chapter 9
by Doug Mason ini have scanned daniel chapter 9 as it is rendered in english by the hebrew tanakh (masoretic text - mt) and by the greek septuagint (lxx).. http://www.jwstudies.com/daniel_9_in_mt_and_in_lxx.pdf.
read verses 24 to 27 carefully.. doug.
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Vidqun
Who has heard of the anointing of kings? See Judges 9:8 (tree king); 1 Sam. 9:16; 1 Sam. 15:1 (Saul); 1 Sam 16:3, 12 (David); 1 Kings 1:34 (Solomon); 1 Kings 19:15 (Hazael of Syria); 1 Kings 19:16 (Jehu); etc.
Now read the book of Daniel. Daniel had a world view in connection with his people and the "beautiful land," Israel. The context of the visions is: Kingship (see Dan. 7 & 8, 11): Messianic kingdom, Dan. 2:44, 45; Someone like a son of man to receive kingship in heaven, Dan. 7:13, 14; Michael to stand up (as king), Dan. 12:1. See how Dan 9 with its “anointed one” fits within such a context.
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Daniel chapter 9
by Doug Mason ini have scanned daniel chapter 9 as it is rendered in english by the hebrew tanakh (masoretic text - mt) and by the greek septuagint (lxx).. http://www.jwstudies.com/daniel_9_in_mt_and_in_lxx.pdf.
read verses 24 to 27 carefully.. doug.
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Vidqun
Hi Doug, with Paul Tanner, a conservative Christian Bible scholar, I believe Dan. 9 to be the bedrock of divine prophecy. As I told you, for me two things stand out:
One is the fate of the city under discussion. The city is identified as Jerusalem (v. 25). Concerning the city and the sanctuary, the prophecy says: “As for the city and the sanctuary, the people of the coming prince will destroy them” (Dan 9:26 NET). This cannot refer to Antiochus IV Epiphanus and his soldiers. This can only refer to the Roman siege of Jerusalem under Titus in 70 CE. This is how Jesus interpreted the prophecy (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:10; Luk. 21:20-22). He rejected Maccabean interpretation. In fact, even the angel doomed a Maccabean uprising (Dan. 11:14).
Secondly is the phrase “to bring in everlasting righteousness” (Dan 9:24 ESV). This cannot be applied to the Jews or Antiochus IV. However, it fits that which Messianic rule would accomplish (cf. Is. 1:26; 2:1-4; 11:1-10; 32:1; 62:1, 2; etc.). These two instances modern scholars and skeptics fail to explain in a satisfactory way.
We do not know when the final form of the book saw the light. But I have a problem with the date 162 BCE. A few copies of Daniel appear amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls, dated from 200 BCE. And the LXX was translated in the vicinity of 250 BCE. The first history of the Maccabees is dated 100 BCE. That would be a record time for a book to be incorporated in the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures and quoted as scripture. Michael B. Shepherd says the following: “On the other hand, there is nothing in the book itself that demands a date in the second century B.C., the consensus date among critical scholars. The assumption that the book must be a vaticinium ex eventu is not scholarship but dogmatism. Furthermore, such a purely historical view of the book rules out a priori any consideration of the eschatological elements of the book that have palyed a major role throughout the history of interpetation. The appearance at Qumran of eight incomplete manuscripts of Daniel dating from 125 B.C. to A.D 50 should be enough to think twice about the supposedly late date of the book.” See M. B. Shepherd, “Daniel in the Context of the Hebrew Bible,” pp. 64, 65.
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Daniel chapter 9
by Doug Mason ini have scanned daniel chapter 9 as it is rendered in english by the hebrew tanakh (masoretic text - mt) and by the greek septuagint (lxx).. http://www.jwstudies.com/daniel_9_in_mt_and_in_lxx.pdf.
read verses 24 to 27 carefully.. doug.
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Vidqun
Doug, here’s a more recent English translation of Dan. 9:24-27 (LXX):
A New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS), p. 1017.
Old Greek
24 “Seventy weeks have been decided for your people and for the city, Sion: for sin to be consummated and to make iniquities scarce and to blot out iniquities and to comprehend the vision and for everlasting righteousness to be given and for the vision to be consummated and to gladden the holy of holies.
25 And you shall understand and will rejoice and will discover ordinances to respond, and you will build Ierousalem as a city for the Lord.
26 And after seven and seventy and sixty-two weeks, an anointing will be removed and will not be. And a king of nations will demolish the city and the sanctuary along with the anointed one, and his consummation will come with wrath even until the time of consummation. He will be attacked through war.
27 And the covenant will prevail for many, and it will return again and be rebuilt broad and long. And at the consummation of times [even after seven years and seventy times and sixty-two times] [until the time of the consummation of the war even desolation will be removed] [when the covenant prevails for many weeks]. And in half of the week the sacrifice and the libation will cease, and in the temple there will be an abomination of desolations until the consummation of a season, and a consummation will be given for the desolation.”
Theodotion
24 “Seventy weeks have been cut short for your people and for the holy city: for sin to be consummated and to seal sins and to atone for iniquities and to bring everlasting righteousness and to seal vision and prophet and to anoint a holy of holies.
25 And you shall know and understand: from the going forth of the word to respond to and to rebuild Ierousalem until an anointed leader, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, and it will return, and streets and a wall will be built, and the seasons will be emptied out.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointing will be destroyed, and there is no judgment in it. And it [Footnote: Or he , antecedent unclear] will destroy the city and the sanctuary along with the leader who is to come. And they will be cut off by a flood, and there will be annihilations to the finish of a shortened war.
27 And it [Footnote: Antecedent unclear] will strengthen a covenant with many, one week, and by half of the week sacrifice and libation will cease, and in the temple there will be an abomination of desolation even until a consummation, and a consummation will be given for the desolation.”