one of the things that always bothered me about the wts teaching, is that they take these passages from the bible about a soldier, or battle, or staying awake, being urgent etc, and then use that to justify their points on how you need to live your life each and every day.. for example some brothers came over for sheparding (don't we all love those) and read a scripture in nehamiah somewhere about how the families had to camp between the wall sections to protect the city from invaders while rebuilding jerusalem.
the point he made was that since your family is right there you be more inclined to staying awake and defending that section more vigorously.
then he proceeds to use that into gulting me into doing more, reaching out etc.
Here is a real good one.
Jehovah cares so much for each of us, how can we show it?
We should never be angry or bitter that "the end" hasn't come yet and continue with a sense of urgency, why? Because Jehovah cares and wants to give everyone a chance to hear the truth before Armageddon comes.
Hmmm...
If babies continue to be born at an exponetial rate around the world; how will this goal ever be attained? Oh wait it cant!
there was an error on the latest awake!
cover.
here is the correct version.. .
processor-your right. That didn't come up when I searched for it (doh); I can see how that scripture in Job would cause some confusion.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/scientists-may-have-underestimated-climate-change/3913288.
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Tal - I think it's interesting too, and I do appreciate and respect your viewpoints. Sorry if I got a bit carried away; this is a subject I'm quite passionate about as you no doubt could already tell .
in the time of the end, (great tribulation/armageddon/whatever) the activities of jehovah's witnesses would be severely increasing?
didn't they give the impression that they would have like 93% pioneers and be "studying" their literature with tons and tons of people who need to get into the organization before it's too late?
isn't it supposed to be a great army?.
Yes you're right, the scripture I always remember hearing from platform is that God is going to rock the nations (haggai) and we'd have overflowing interest. The reality is most new ones getting baptized are born-ins and i've watched annointed go from high 7k to 10k (go figure). I've noticed over the last several years lower than normal numbers getting baptized at assemblies too. Four years ago, there was just one baptism at the assembly, which made it comedy because all of the manuscripts were in written in plural form so the brother was stumbling all over himeself trying to give the talk.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/scientists-may-have-underestimated-climate-change/3913288.
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@talesin:
If you look at total population it gets more interesting. The problem is that what you've stated is ignoring 52% percent of the rest of the earths population at the time (a big number to ignore!). You have to account for densly populated areas like India, other parts of asia, Africa etc. This source breaks it down pretty nicely by area http://worldhistorysite.com/population.html (ignore their total numbers I think they are incorrect, but focus on percentage by area to get a rough idea of percentages by area towards bottom of page).
What total world population estimates are you using to back the 50% total decline up with? It appears that the total population of earth dropped from somewhere between 13-14% using a comparison of Biraben's population estimates from the periods between 1300-1400 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population_estimates. It doesn't stand to reason that even a 15% (rounded up) decline in total population would have much effect on the planets climate. The percentage is even less if you go to 1500. So total decline of 50% is indeed not accurate according to total population estmates of earth between those timeframes.
Now I'm all for a cleaner environment, I just don't want hypocritical liberal gubermint bureaucrat's to use "climate change", to confiscate everyones wealth and freedom to enrich themselves and make us all slaves to their USSR style politics. If the goverment and oil companies would stop stiffling inovation, we might be able to get to a better place. Unfortunately this will never happen until after the people clean out the cesspool of corruption and special interest in Washington D.C. and get back to a goverment that is not so intrusive in every detail of our lives see Atlas Shrugged.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/scientists-may-have-underestimated-climate-change/3913288.
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The problem is anytime someone offers some real data that refutes anything in the liberal ideaology that one is immediatly labeled stupid and full of mis-information. Speaking of mis-information-the scientists have manipulated the data of global warming err climate change to support their politics, see www.climategate.com. And honestly who could trust that Al Gore slimebag? He created a carbon trading market before certain legislation was to be passed tell me how is this whole thing not about money and control?
i dont know where to begin.
i do know it might get lengthy so i'm sorry for that.
and also many thanks to all who read the whole thing.
That is a tough spot your in. The only reason you have to be dishonest is because of the position you've been put in not your fault. My advice is if you really care about this girl be patient and give it time. Talk to her a lot about the "new generation" interpretation and the fact that the number of annointed is increasing, and follow up with some logical questions. Point out odd things in the watchtower; the Holy Spirit articles a few weeks ago had plenty of things to talk about.
Keep in mind if you do get her to leave, too you'll have to be a replacement for all that is familiar to her; so she will need re-assurance from you that you aren't just going to abandon her when the chips land. I hope it works out for you, in many ways I'm in the same boat as you. I hope you get your freedom and the girl! Best of luck (yeah I said luck :p).
one of the things that always bothered me about the wts teaching, is that they take these passages from the bible about a soldier, or battle, or staying awake, being urgent etc, and then use that to justify their points on how you need to live your life each and every day.. for example some brothers came over for sheparding (don't we all love those) and read a scripture in nehamiah somewhere about how the families had to camp between the wall sections to protect the city from invaders while rebuilding jerusalem.
the point he made was that since your family is right there you be more inclined to staying awake and defending that section more vigorously.
then he proceeds to use that into gulting me into doing more, reaching out etc.
Here is a good one form that new book Bearing Thorough witness.
“Peter Was in Great Perplexity” (Acts 10:9-23a)
8 Still on the rooftop, “Peter was in great perplexity” over the meaning of the vision when messengers from Cornelius approached the house. (Acts 10:17) Would Peter, who had three times said that he would refuse to eat foods considered unclean according to the Law, be willing to go with these men and enter into the home of a Gentile? In some way holy spirit made God’s will known in this matter. Peter was told: “Look! Three men are seeking you. However, rise, go downstairs and be on your way with them, not doubting at all, because I have dispatched them.” (Acts 10:19, 20) The vision of the sheetlike vessel that Peter had received no doubt prepared him to yield to the leadings of the holy spirit.
9 Learning that Cornelius had been divinely instructed to send for him, Peter invited the Gentile messengers into the house “and entertained them.” (Acts 10:23a) The obedient apostle was already adjusting to new developments in the outworking of God’s will.
10 To this day, Jehovah leads his people progressively. (Prov. 4:18) By means of his holy spirit, he is guiding “the faithful and discreet slave” and its Governing Body. (Matt. 24:45) At times, we may receive clarifications in our understanding of God’s Word or changes in certain organizational procedures. We do well to ask ourselves: ‘How do I respond to such refinements? Do I submit to the leadings of God’s spirit in these matters?’
As brought out in other threads, doesn't the holy spirit get it right the first time? How does anyone really know they have holy spirit on their side? I guess we just have to have blind trust and never ask questions of the GB interpretation.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/scientists-may-have-underestimated-climate-change/3913288.
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@talesin:
The statement "up to 50% of the human population was wiped out by plague over several centuries" doesn't add up. The black plague mostly was confined to Europe which never has held the majority of earths population. Sorry but that argument just doesn't hold water.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/scientists-may-have-underestimated-climate-change/3913288.
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While we're on the subject I just saw this article this morning on the dailymail.uk. Also why did they stop calling it global warming and start calling it "climate change"? isn't the climate and universe in general always changing? Seems like circular reasoning. Wake up people this whole thing is a liberal democRAT scam to steal money for more silly liberal pet projects and make us all slaves just like in the USSR see http://prisonplanet.tv.
Evidence that the Earth heated up over a 1,000 years ago was found in a rare mineral called ikaite
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2120512/Global-warming-Earth-heated-medieval-times-human-CO2-emissions.html#ixzz1qF886nHn
