Posts by Pathofthorns

18

Irony of "Rebellious" Youth

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

i've found it quite interesting talking to several young ones who lead double lives.

the sad thing is, i don't find these ones so wicked.

i find them basically good kids who got a little messed up because no one had any time for them, or attempts to relate were rather lame.. the irony is that while talking to one while he was smoking a cigarette, out of nowhere he says, "but i still believe its the truth".

Pathofthorns

I've found it quite interesting talking to several young ones who lead double lives. The sad thing is, I don't find these ones so wicked. I find them basically good kids who got a little messed up because no one had any time for them, or attempts to relate were rather lame.

The irony is that while talking to one while he was smoking a cigarette, out of nowhere he says, "but I still believe its the truth". He's not the only one who has said this. Several others who also have problems with drug use, fornication and other disfellowshipping offences say the same thing.

They all are not "informed", and neither do they really care. They just "know" or "feel" that its "the truth".

I found it rather interesting, and yet disturbing at the same time. What they learned from childhood has such a hold on them, yet the thing that has such a hold exercises such little influence in how they live their life.

Any thoughts?

Pathofthorns

16

The 1914 Generation change

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i was over on the thread about the blood policy and got to thinking how easy it is to just accept a change and after awhile people even forget all about how important it was at one time.

if the society does change the blood policy how long will it be before it is just accepted, and brothers and siters don't even recall the previous stance on the issue?.

this got me thinking about the change in the 1914 generation.

Pathofthorns

People don't forget Andy. They just leave and are replaced.

Look around your congregation and see how many people were between 20 and 45 in 1975. You will likely find very few. Most have come into the truth since then, or were too young to have been affected.

16

The 1914 Generation change

by Andyman in

jw
friends

i was over on the thread about the blood policy and got to thinking how easy it is to just accept a change and after awhile people even forget all about how important it was at one time.

if the society does change the blood policy how long will it be before it is just accepted, and brothers and siters don't even recall the previous stance on the issue?.

this got me thinking about the change in the 1914 generation.

Pathofthorns

While it is true that the younger generation understands little about the "generation 1914" change, they also do not really understand our present beliefs or care.

Those who were raised on the generation on the other hand know how entrenched the teaching was in our minds. Because the generation was about to reach its biblical limits, most of us grew up wondering if we'd get to drive a car, get married, etc.

Growth was phenominal in the 80's and early 90's with many pioneering. Financial planning was non-existent or very short sighted.

Many of us feel we had the rug pulled out from under us when "new light" came. The foundation of our beliefs crumbled over night. From being able to feel confident that we would never grow old in the system, many of us now realize we are going to die, and watch our parents die. This is very disturbing to those who were raised on a pipe dream.

22

Predictions and Prophecy - Your turn baby!

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

we all know the organization hasn't been shy about making predictions for what could happen in the future as far as the world and world conditions go.. now its your turn to state where the organization will be in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years.

what will "conditions" be like?

what are your hopes?

Pathofthorns

While there is sarchasm in my post, it is there only to emphasize the sadness of what is reality.

The seriousness lies in the day when those who have taken a stand out of loyalty to God, and on grounds of conscience and principle can one day get back their good names, their dignity and their families.

8

About the 89 WT quote.

by Xandit in

jw
friends

frenchy, i actually read the article in the 89 watchtower the following quote comes from.. w89 9/1 19 remaining organized for survival into the millennium.

"7 only jehovahs witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the supreme organizer, have any scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by satan the devil.".

reading the article it appears to me that the statement, pretty direct as i said in one of my other posts, is based on the understanding of the status of sheep and goats at that time.

Pathofthorns

Thanks for your research and comments Xandit.

However I am not sufficiently convinced that what you present changes the reality that we do believe that for the most part only Jehovah's Witnesses as a group will survive Armageddon.

We still teach do we not that:

Those who practive false religion will be destroyed (in other words all religion other than Jehovah's Witnesses)

All those who do not worship Jehovah will be destroyed (those who are athiest/agnostics)

Those who do not recieve Christ brothers (All those who reject our message)will be destroyed.

In other words pretty much everyone who is not a Witness will be destroyed.

This is not to say that we have not made allowances for:

Those who have lived and died in periods of ignorance.

Those who have not heard the Kingdom message

We say we do not judge or decide who lives or dies. This simply refers to us not making specific comments regarding specific individuals. But we do make the above general statements.

The fact that most Witnesses don't believe or won't teach that they are the only ones to survive, simply is due to the fact that we are generally kind people. We don't want our friends, neighbours and workmates to die at Armageddon. It is this heartfelt compassion that compells us in moments of genuine witnessing to speak to them about "the truth".

Why do Witnesses preach to "avoid bloodguilt" if people's lives were not in danger?
Why else would we be doing a "warning work"? Would Noah be telling people to get into the ark if he did not believe they would die? Would we be telling people to get into the "ark" (god's organization) if they weren't going to die if they were outside of it?

Why is there so much urgency to "warn" the people if lives were not "at stake".

Many Witnesses don't believe that a God of love would destroy even nice people who are not Witnesses. Our official teaching whether we like it or not is that he will. That is disturbing.

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 13 June 2000 18:51:55

22

Predictions and Prophecy - Your turn baby!

by Pathofthorns in

jw
friends

we all know the organization hasn't been shy about making predictions for what could happen in the future as far as the world and world conditions go.. now its your turn to state where the organization will be in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years.

what will "conditions" be like?

what are your hopes?

Pathofthorns

We all know the Organization hasn't been shy about making predictions for what could happen in the future as far as the world and world conditions go.

Now its your turn to state where the Organization will be in 2 years, 5 years and 10 years. What will "conditions" be like? What are your hopes? What are your expectations?

Please be "sensitive to the leadings of the holy spirit" yet any "overzealousness" will be overlooked. Please avoid being dogmatic or presumptuous.

44

-WORDS-

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

the views expressed here are my own and i state them as such.

perhaps some will agree with me, for a certainty others will not.

i invite comment and discussion regardless of your viewpoint.

Pathofthorns

I would have to concur with you Dubby.

While "no one can judge but Christ" is the safe answer we give when pinned down, the reality is that we teach the comment any young child has given in the Kingdom Hall - "The bad people will be destroyed."

Bad people = a) People who hear the message and refuse.

b) people who leave or are kicked out of the "true religion"

c) People who belong to false religion

d) People who commit sins condemned in the Bible

e) Minor children whose parents refuse the message.

d) People whose hearts God reads and deems unworthy.

In other words you have very slim odds of survival if you are not a Witness. According to many, even a "bad" Witness has better odds for survival than a devout Catholic.

The JW media site answer to this question is double-speak at its finest.

The Watchtower quoted by Frenchy is very definite when it says Only [Jehovah's Witnesses] have any Scriptural hope of surviving [Armageddon]."

(Now I'm going to get it aren't I friend (LOL) What falacious reasoning have I used this time?)

Edited by - Pathofthorns on 12 June 2000 14:7:26

11

Blood donating?

by Maxee in

jw
friends

regarding the new light on blood and the different components we need to be aware of i think it will be very difficult for individuals to figure out what they can choose to take and what not.. regardless of the status the aithful and discreet slave has assigned each of these components one thing should still be kept in mind.

even the smallest amount of blood fraction requires a lot of blood most of this though blood donations.. for eg:.

albumin is often used to treat burns.

Pathofthorns

From the Society's perspective, there is nothing wrong with giving to charities. However, many charities have "religious connections" which would disqualify most Witnesses from donating. All articles in the publications highlight fraud and that many donations don't get to their intended destination.

Due to this, most Witnesses do not donate, and most even feel there is something "wrong" in doing so. Contrast this mentality to the scriptures where giving to the poor is given frequent mention.

Pathofthorns

7

Runaway Train

by Seven in

whenever i am stressed out i either paint or play guitar.

today was a guitar day.

runaway but it always seems the same.

Pathofthorns

You should set your cpu up to download music files Frenchy. It is a nice song. Was overplayed beyond reason here, but nonetheless it still is nice to hear now and again.

44

-WORDS-

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

the views expressed here are my own and i state them as such.

perhaps some will agree with me, for a certainty others will not.

i invite comment and discussion regardless of your viewpoint.

Pathofthorns

September 1, 1989 Watchtower page 19,
“Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.”

This is perhaps one of the most difficult statements any Witness could make at the door. I do know many who don't believe we teach the above, and I know many more who don't believe it.

One of the most troubling things for me, is what about the rest of the non-Christian world? How does God view them? Even in the Christian world where JW's call on homes frequently, how can God judge them on a message most people don't really understand?