Pathofthorns

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Posts by Pathofthorns

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  92

  Reflections

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  im starting a new thread because its time i left the bergman discussion.

  i would like to address some comments made by ahhah, however, comments which have given me reason to look deep into myself.. even then, i wonder how objective a person could ever be after having had part of their life taken from them by a cult association.

  on the other hand, who else (other than an ex-jw) would ever care enough to work as tirelessly as he seems to have in attempting to document the potential harm of this religion (biased as it may be).

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  Pathofthorns

  Let's see if we could reason without the use of 'apostate material'.

  There is no "apostate material" martini. There is just honest questions, facts and thinking. Apostate material is anything that isn't from the WT. If you reason without "apostate material" you don't reason at all, because you only do what you are told.

  If it were possible to sift out all that is of human origin with the JW faith do you think that we all could be satisfied with what would be left over?

  And just what would be left over?

  I am afraid you, as most of us were, are still in love with a "concept" and the "dream". A promise with no basis is empty.

  The concept was noble, and the dream was beautiful, but it wasn't founded in reality and truth. Even faith needs elements of reality and truth.

  The thinking is painful. Casting away what you never doubted or questioned hurts very much. So will the conclusions you reach. But once you embrace them, you will feel better, things will look brighter.

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  92

  Reflections

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  im starting a new thread because its time i left the bergman discussion.

  i would like to address some comments made by ahhah, however, comments which have given me reason to look deep into myself.. even then, i wonder how objective a person could ever be after having had part of their life taken from them by a cult association.

  on the other hand, who else (other than an ex-jw) would ever care enough to work as tirelessly as he seems to have in attempting to document the potential harm of this religion (biased as it may be).

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  Pathofthorns

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  John said to him: “Teacher, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us.” But Jesus said: “Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me; for he that is not against us is for us. –Mark 9: 38-40

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  Do you know the WTS’ response to this Scripture?

  I think the answer is that the Christian congregation hadn't been set up yet (under a governing body?). At that time they were within their "rights" to do so, but later on they would not. Unity is always the prime focus.

  This scripture has always facinated me. Jesus was a rebel of sorts in his day in that he condemned and operated outside of "God's organization" of his day. So did Isreal's prophets and many who stayed loyal during the era's of wicked kings.

  What the Society does is return to the shackles of what Christ set us free from. I find this really disturbing that the formation of the Christian congregation seemed to have done the same, that when the HS was poured out and when Christ was physically gone there seems to be a return to rules again.

  As I stated before when I joined this forum, there is no money or authority to be had in living the way Christ did. Christianity is a deviation from this simplity.

  he that is not against us is for us.

  This simple statement shows how many can have different viewpoints where the scriptures are not clear, but still have Christian unity. Of course, if we followed this, what authority would anyone have? Why would anyone need to join an "organization" then?

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  23

  They Came back

  by Theophilus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  howdy.

  after an unfortunate absence i have returned.

  ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.

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  Pathofthorns

  (and one more thing theo)

  what it all boils down to is this:

  "Where else are we going to go?"

  For a JW there is no life outside of the WT. There is no family, no friends.

  (at least that is what they believe)

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  23

  They Came back

  by Theophilus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  howdy.

  after an unfortunate absence i have returned.

  ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.

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  Pathofthorns

  If you are in a cold climate, ask to see any "movies" they have about their religion. Give them hot chocolate and take the magazines. Don't agree to a Bible study.

  You will be "easy time" on those cold mornings and they will be more than happy to visit you. Plus you can always stop the video and ask questions.

  The one you want to see is Jehovah's Witnesses- the Organization behind the Name.

  Its interesting that you mention they are in their 40's. You will find the younger they are, the more ignorant they are, but they still believe all the same. The older they are, the more knowledgable, the more they can defend, but also they will walk away when pressed because they have invested too much time in this to be proven wrong.

  I still think however noble your efforts are, you have a losing battle. I'm sorry to be a pessimist, but i believe at best you are simply in for a learning experience. And your desire to learn and understand and help is most commendable and facinating.

  Thanks for coming here.

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  23

  They Came back

  by Theophilus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  howdy.

  after an unfortunate absence i have returned.

  ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.

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  Pathofthorns

  Your questions are ignorant and innocent enough. They will come back. But likely they are, or will be with an "elder" in the religion.

  You definitely won't recieve the answers you are looking for. Your question about the translaters of the NWT will simply be met with the line that the translation should be judged on its own merrits, not on the qualifications of the translators. Then they will show you some quotes from a couple of "authorities" stating how good of a translation it is.

  Possibly they will show you some scriptures in another translation that are rendered in obscure old english, and compare it with the NWT. Personally speaking, I still use my NWT, and find it adequate, but I think one should compare with several translations for the most accurate understandings.

  As for your Trinity brochure question, they will simply "allow" you to ramble, then switch topics to something else. They are not likely to consider any of the original source material if you have it.

  Of course, you never know. I listened to some things and look where it got me .

  What it comes down to is that they will be back, but your questions simply will have zero effect.

  Perhaps Frenchy has suggestions for something more effective.

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  16

  Voting

  by Peter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm voting in a national election for the first time in over 20 years.

  it feels good to be part of the process once more.

  i'm wondering how the rest of you feel about it.

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  Pathofthorns

  I don't really know. But I was told by someone that voting for who you think is the "coolest" is not how to do it.

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  16

  Voting

  by Peter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm voting in a national election for the first time in over 20 years.

  it feels good to be part of the process once more.

  i'm wondering how the rest of you feel about it.

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  Pathofthorns

  What kind of an election in a country with that many people is this close? It seems almost rediculous. Its almost funny to think that all those Witnesses who weren't permitted to vote, could have actually chosen the President on this one.

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  23

  Witnet Admin Resigns

  by Pathofthorns in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my hats off to the witnet administration team.

  it is very sad to see them go, as the last few months have been quite interesting.

  of course, those who follow the board know that in recent weeks there have been quite a few problems surfacing.. its obvious many of these individuals had concerns much like we have here.

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  Pathofthorns

  its been deleted
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  23

  Witnet Admin Resigns

  by Pathofthorns in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my hats off to the witnet administration team.

  it is very sad to see them go, as the last few months have been quite interesting.

  of course, those who follow the board know that in recent weeks there have been quite a few problems surfacing.. its obvious many of these individuals had concerns much like we have here.

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  Pathofthorns

  (I hate how these bum links don't work simon!! lol)

  Edited by - Pathofthorns on 7 November 2000 18:28:6
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  23

  Witnet Admin Resigns

  by Pathofthorns in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my hats off to the witnet administration team.

  it is very sad to see them go, as the last few months have been quite interesting.

  of course, those who follow the board know that in recent weeks there have been quite a few problems surfacing.. its obvious many of these individuals had concerns much like we have here.

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  Pathofthorns

  My hats off to the Witnet administration team. It is very sad to see them go, as the last few months have been quite interesting. Of course, those who follow the board know that in recent weeks there have been quite a few problems surfacing.

  Its obvious many of these individuals had concerns much like we have here. To strike a balance on a real JW forum is not easy, but I believe they put forth a noble effort.

  Without a strong and balanced administration team, this looks like the end, or at least a temporary one for what was for some of us, the opening of our eyes, and what was a valuable insight into the witness mind.

  [url] http://discussion.witnesses.net/Forum34/HTML/003002.html[/url]

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