Posts by Phizzy

46

What you think consequences gonna be for watchtower if they lose the court appeal in Norway?

by Hellothere in

personally i think they gonna realise god's not backing org.

that idea gonna get even more established in their minds.

i think the real selling of kingdom hall gonna start then.

Phizzy

This Case is not about "Charity Status" though is similar, read the Article in the link below. It is about being de-registered as an approved Body, nearly always religious, to receive direct Funding from the Government, i.e the Tax payers of Norway. A system they have there, rather anachronistic in my view.

The interesting things about this case are two-fold, firstly though not about Charity Status as in other Countries, the issues raised by the Government's Decision may well prompt other Governments to have a long hard look at the Org.

And secondly ,as this is a Sovereign Decision by Norway's Government, the Org. if it loses, may not be able to take the Case to the European Courts, at least, I hope so !

https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/world/jehovahs-witnesses-sue-norway-after-registration-revoked/

34

The everlasting saga of The faithful and discreet slave class.

by MacHislopp in

at the 128th annual meeting of the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania, on october 6 th 2012 .

during this meeting “food at the proper time” was given and the most important, was given during a symposium of six talks by members of the governing body—brothers jackson, lösch, pierce, herd, lett, and splane— which analyzed and discussed the meaning of jesus’ words recorded at.

" (matthew 24: 45, 46) it must be conceded, then, that at the end ot the world, at the "time of the end", during the presence of the lord, during the harvest, he would have in the earth a servant who would be faithful and wise.

Phizzy

" Seems to me they have built their house on shifting sand." As always !

The utterly stupid thing about the whole nonsense is that it is another bit of twaddle they inherited from C.T.Russell. They have distanced themselves from a good bit of the "Greater Fulfillment" of Scripture nonsense, that not only Russell but Rutherford pursued even more, Rachel's Camels being significant FFS ! but they have to stick in some measure to 1914, though they will let that actual date fade, as they did 1925, and they have to stick to the idea that they are "The Faithful and Discreet Slave", which is the most blatant case of misinterpretation of Scripture that really stands out to anyone reading the Bible with an honest eye and heart.

The Story Jesus told is a PARABLE ! I can remember when they had a W.T Mag. or two showing that all the other Parables had a "greater fulfillment", they haven't done that again as far as I know ! But why not ? how come this ONE Parable has a greater fulfillment ?

The combination of 1914 being wrong, and hence 1919, and the fact that the idea of an FDS is based on what is purely a Parable, means one thing, well two actually, 1) They are making it up as they go along, 2) They are Self Appointed Charlatans !

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

Phizzy

P.P. "W.T scholars" is an Oxymoron surely ?

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

Phizzy

" His recent desperate attempts to plead ignorance about dating systems regarding the impossible solstice is particularly amusing. "

That seems to be the latest JW ploy by some. It doesn't hold water. As I said above, "The Heavens do not Lie".

I think we may well sort of half have the pleasure of seeing JW Org. doing a "backflip" on 1914 as the next Big Thing, or the one after perhaps, they simply have to, but will do their usual obfuscations, bolstered by half-truths, unattributed quotes etc. no doubt.

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

Phizzy

Thanks Jeffro for the link to your excellent Site ! I was looking for it a day or so ago when having a discussion with a JW elsewhere on-line about 1914, and couldn't find it at the time, not to worry I had enough in my head to do the job, thanks to you !

I wish to thank you once more for all your work over the years, what you have presented helped me immensely to expunge all J.W teaching, and the baseless fears of Armageddon and being in the "Last Days", fears that contributed to my being Suicidally Depressed in the last year or two of my being a J.W.

Your estimable work was , literally, a life-saver for me !

Of course we have proof, incontrovertible, irrefutable proof, that the 607-1914 Doctrine of the Org. is FALSE. Undoubtedly the most unarguable is what we get from the Babylonian Astronomical Tablets, the "Heavens"do not lie, and establish beyond argument and doubt the true dates !

"Scholar" therefore tells a blatant lie in the Post above where you provide your link. He strikes me as being of the same ilk as ultra Right Wing Republicans, and Right Wing Conservatives here in the U.K, deep down they know they are uttering untruths, but that is all they have, coupled with insults.

Truth and "Scholar" are completely estranged.

I wish to urge all J.W's and XJW's, to do the same as me, research sufficient to get rid of all fears that the org. has instilled, and become truly of a Free Mind. You have done all the hard leg-work for us !

Heartfelt Thanks again !

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

Phizzy

Welcome O'brien, a good Irish name, even if usually written "O'Brien", I have relatives in Ireland, most born and bred there.( Some, not most, are sadly, J.W's).

I look forward to more contributions here, from your good self !

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

Phizzy

I am that old, born just after the Second Boer War, ( I jest, just after the Second World War actually), that I remember the precursor to those two Books, called "Equipped for Every Good Work", which was a heavier work than the later two, which were successively dumbed down.

I remember being on a "Bible Study" with a young feller, when I was about 12, taken by a very young Pioneer girl 16/17, the young feller's mum had asked the local Vicar to sit in on the "Study", afterwards he attacked what the young Pio. had been "teaching" and I looked up the pertinent pages in the "Make Sure" Book for her to use, and passed it to her, she didn't have the nous to use what I gave her, and to the young feller's mum, it seemed as though we as J.W's were beaten by the Vicar. The "Study" was stopped. Looking back, that young Pio. girl, by being ill-equipped did him a favour !

Years later, a Bro. and I were doing "Street Witnessing" in a local market, we started doing that long before the Org. advocated it, and I had a run-in with a Catholic Priest, I showed him in the "Reasoning" Book the bit about Apostolic Succession, he glanced at it, and said "I can show you quotes from many Scholars that disagree with what those Scholars say quoted in there", I was stunned, I thought what I had shown him was a clincher ! and that should have been the start of "waking me up", sadly, it was not, but it did put doubts in my mind about quotes used by the org. !

Those Books were only of use with uneducated members of the Public.

101

The Next Big Thing In WT World

by NotFormer in

things got a bit lively after the agm leaks in october.

there was a lot of discussion going on on this board for a few months.

now that all the leaks have been more or less confirmed as policy, and we've had lively discussions at length concerning the changes, things seem to have slowed down here.. a few suggestions have been raised as to what might be the next changes, such as women being allowed to wear slacks (in the usa, anyway), decoupling from 1914 as an anchoring date and others.. so, what changes do you think will be announced this year?.

Phizzy

" Talk about pent-up demand." As soon as J.W's are granted a bit of freedom by their Lords and Masters, they grab at it, even if it is, as usual, way behind the curve, Beards are less fashionable now than a decade or more ago.

Expect the same with the "sisters" when allowed to wear trousers etc.

The only problem with this is, I used to able to spot J.W's on F.S no problem, guys in suits and ties,unfashionable, girls in long, unfashionable skirts,well, unfashionable and downright strange ! now I can only look out for the "Pioneer Shuffle", two J.dubs wasting time between doors, walking almost at Zero MPH !

I wonder if the "sisters" will be allowed to wear fashionably short skirts ?

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

Phizzy

Just a comment on the Thread title, I notice that Christians were not encouraged to read the works of various Romans and others, who ridiculed and belittled the Christian Religion, and pointed out the flaws in it.

A bit like another certain Cult that we know too well, who forbid there members to research where they may, (will), come across similar lampooning , and more, those dreaded "Apostate Sites".

8

For the Disillusioned

by no-zombie in

a problem for all who come to realize that our faith is just another manmade religion, is that we start questioning everything we've previously believed.

where ultimately its possible to spiral down past believing in the bible, to the point of questioning god's actual existence.however while some may be happy to think of themselves now as atheists or agnostics (which i doubt that most really are, as living with the full mental and emotional consequences of being one is a lot harder than most understand), i don't think it is necessary to abandon being a spiritual person.

while others might like the idea of drifting into a modern animistic philosophy (which rather conveniently excludes personal accountability), the keeping of the core teachings of jesus has historically proven to give many people a balanced and practical moral code to live by.but what is meant by the term: 'the core teachings of jesus'?interestingly many thinkers from the enlightenment period of the late 1700s, had similar a question.

Phizzy

There are so many things in your O.P that are either plain wrong, or not explained with sufficient nuance.

Of course, every sane and realistic person should question what they believe, or you continue on through life believing lies and nonsense. If what you believe is Truth, it will withstand ANY scrutiny ! Truth is only established upon irrefutable facts and Evidence.

Once a person becomes a non-believer, in religious nonsense, including gods, it is not a problem, as you describe, " living with the full mental and emotional consequences of being one is a lot harder than most understand ", except at first, very soon the relief of Freedom of Mind, being a Realist, and expunging baseless fears, is so immensely wonderful, that first feeling soon fades !

I was a full on Bible believing J.W for 58 years, from birth,only when I reached the stage outlined above, after a year or two from when I initially "woke up", did I experience True Happiness, for the first time in my life !