Posts by Phizzy

3

Early Jerusalem - Not Such a Big Deal - Archaeological overview of Archaeological Discoveries in Early Jerusalem

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

this overview is from dw news*, a german public broadcasting service.

i thought it may be interesting to know that early jerusalem was not as large as some have thought.. .

https://www.dw.com/en/ancient-jerusalem-smaller-than-believed/a-54671258?fbclid=iwar3svoex_h_2yru0t-wnmnvweyujoxactz-jgglgmdr16vcjoahvl_e8ow4.

Phizzy

Thank you for your perspective carmichael, and for your caveat about how we should view the discoveries and pronouncements of Archaeologists ! it is very true what you say, and of course Historians are a similar group, often wanting to make a name with a new theory, and more often than not, inventing stories based upon very little actual fact, so yes ! we need to be cautious.

But when discoveries and new perspectives fit a consensus arrived at by Scholars over many decades, we can be reasonably sure we are not that far away from the truth. I think your summary is a very fair one, and one I wish Evangelical Christians and others like the J.W's would take on board.

27

How Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses Are There Worldwide? FAQ Are You A Jehovah's Witness in REALITY

by Longlivetherenegades in

from the faq as captured on the website with this question (how many jehovah's witnesses are there worldwide?

) led to this question of mine who do the organization sees as a jehovah's witness?

the organization answers: .

Phizzy

" Once inside, you need to follow a host of rules to maintain your membership." True, and as pointed out above, one important Rule to follow is to preach, every month and to report that time.

If you do not, they do not "count" you as a J.W., but if you break almost any other one of their myriad Rules, all of a sudden, you are a J.W., even though not being counted as one, so that they can Disfellowship you.

Again, the Org wants it both ways, you are not a JW when they say so, and yet you are a few minutes later if they say so !

21

The last part of the last days 1967

by Fadeaway1962 in

ts lett just repeated from this watchtower.

.

Phizzy

Come on chaps, that was the April 1st edition, April Fools !

2

Shunning and who does it?

by Giordano in

only the most gross and controlling religions shun...... it's a tool for coercing someone to shut up and go along or lose contact with friends and family.. they often don't know why they have to shun a family member or a friend just that they are compelled to do so or suffer the same punishment.......... that's a criminal act by the way........ it's coercion.

coercion means you are being forced to act in a certain way where you would normally not be inclined to act in that manner.. "family estrangement is the norm in jehovah's witness families.

every jehovah's witness suffers from shunning - either you're being shunned, or you have to shun.

Phizzy

A good number of religions and cultural groups practice Shunning, some of the Jewish groups, Islamic groups, and some groups that are not particularly thought of as religious, like the Roma. If you go against their Rules in any of these groups, you either stay and take their discipline, or leave and be totally Shunned.

It is my hope that attitudes will be changed in groups that practice this evil thing, by it generally being recognized for what it is, a denial of Basic Human Rights.

41

Noah's Ark : A structure that could never have been built in Noah's day

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the ark encounter located in kentucky (opened in 2016) is a large representation of noah's ark based on the genesis flood narrative contained in the bible.

it is 510 feet (155 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 51 feet (16 m) high.. .

genesis 6: 14 so make yourself an ark of cypress[c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

Phizzy

" In short: Miracle! Jehovah kept the boat afloat and the animals alive."

When my son was about 13, he was asked by an MS if he wanted a Bible Study, I did not object, being a very busy guy, and a believing JW at the time. I think the M.S gave up because my son asked so many questions that stumped him, being at that age, 13. In the end, on the Flood Story the MS had to admit that it would be necessary for Jehovah to perform a whole series of miracles to pull it off, my son then asked " But why did he do it at all then? why not something different ?" the M.S gave up "studying" with him shortly after.

My son pointed out to me that the Genesis account seems without doubt to speak of a Global Flood, and that no such thing happened, "out of the mouth of babes" indeed!

We left eventually, my son's comments on the Flood and other matters going in to our minds, and us realising we could not answer him.

8

Yes, As a Matter of Fact I Did Destroy Your Family

by Sea Breeze in

.

and..... there is not a damn thing you can do about it because freedom of religion is guaranteed in the constitution.

suck it up buttercup.. - would make a nice billboard.

Phizzy

"And..... there is not a damn thing you can do about it because Freedom of Religion is guaranteed in the constitution. Suck it up Buttercup."

Things are changing, Courts and, to a lesser extent, Governments, are coming around to the view that freedom to practice your Religion NEVER trumps the Human Rights of others.

The more this takes hold, the harder the JW Org, and other similarly noxious religions, will find it to practice Shunning.

39

My sister just sent me this text.

by Brainfloss in

my sister sent me this text a few minutes ago.

what does she know about my relationship with jehovah?

it was followed up by a bunch of links to jw org problem is dialog is not possible her side is the only one to be heard.

Phizzy

I have reached the stage where it no longer affects me hardly at all when they go in to cult mode and do the old " return to J" nonsense. I simply respond in a polite way, which gives no validity to their beliefs in any way.

It is frustrating that you simply cannot have a normal conversation with them, where your point of view is accorded the same respect as they expect for theirs, and I find it a strain that I have to be so careful what I say lest I offend them, and they decide never to speak again. But that is the way it is, it is unfair, one sided, but Cults do not do fairness, along with many other things we normal civilised people do.

24

Watchtower Study 23rd August

by BluesBrother in

the subject is searching for lost sheep.

how do the congregation view the inactive ones who no longer associate?

not with disdain, we are told but as lost sheep “still our brothers “ it is said that god loves them and they too must do what they can to help them.. why have we strayed ?

Phizzy

I look at them from the outside now obviously, and my main emotion is Pity.

I have been there, feeling the Cognitive Dissonance, "If this religion is supposed to make us all so happy, why are we all really so miserable, deep inside ?"

"What a waste of time, and waste of life !, pretending to "witness" to people when none of it has any effect".

" Can this, really THIS, be the "truth" ??".

I pity them, for not finding The Road To Freedom and Happiness that I, and so many Ex JW's have found. We now lead fulfilled, valuable lives, with people who love us without conditions, and we are FREE ! Free from the oppression of the Org, the constant bullying to "do more", and the worry of Armageddon or "displeasing god", FREE from all that and more.

Yes, I pity those poor folks, and wish they too would find what we have found, a Life Worth Living, what is truly, The Best Life Ever !

29

Tonight's Meeting

by Studyover in

during tonight's meeting the brother seemed to read out something along the lines of "you may be helping a poor sister who you think may be struggling, but in turn that sister may be getting financial assistance from the government.

it is always best to stick to jehovah's arrangement in these matters so that help can get to those who most need it, including the worldwide work".

i think it may have been an article about social media platforms initially and how they should be avoided and then this was mentioned.

Phizzy

Even when I was a believing active J.W, I was most uncomfortable with their "only give your money to us" line. I had not seen one shred of evidence in all the years I was in that they actually did anything Charitable with the money.

I now know I was right about that, and how Greedy and Evil they are to deny the chance of people who need it to receive funds donated by JW's who have at least a small bit of Social Conscience !

Money grubbing, self-serving and with no Compassion or Love, that is the Governing Body, and those who pull their strings, for they are puppets of course.

2

The Nightingale (2019) - spoilers

by LoveUniHateExams in

yeah, so i bought the nightingale (2019) recently, second hand.

i paid £6 for it which was probably too much.

but it was the only way i could get a copy.

Phizzy

Thanks for the info. LUHE, I think this may not be a Film for me, I tend to get emotionally involved in very well presented Dramas , and end up being upset for a good while. I feel I want to get in there, and right the wrongs ! stop the Evil violence, make it all good for the protagonists.

I know it is often good to see such productions from the point of view of educating ourselves about the reality of such times, but this may not be for sensitive little me.

I shall keep an eye out for future work by Jennifer Kent, and by Aisling Franciosi, so thanks again for the heads up !