Posts by pistolpete

Great Teacher I wonder if some people are simply more immune from sickness than others. I know some people that are always at the doctors and I know a very healthy 91 year old JW woman who has never been to a doctor!

I believe that's a given. That just the way life works. Some people are born with great genetics. These people get all the benefits of life.

Tall and muscular man = a career in sports and making millions.

Tall and beautiful girl = a career in Victoria Secrets and a million-air by age 20.

Young man, short, heavy, and bald, = no prom date,

Young girl 5lbs over-weight in today's culture, = single with tons of cats,

Baby born to rich parents = Trust Fund, long life, and living the vida loca.

Baby born with cancer and to poor parents = short life span

Tom Cruise 5 foot 7 inches tall and net worth close to $600 million US Dollars

Tom Bruise 6 foot 4 inches tall, works at Dollar Store net worth, one bicycle and $300 dollars in the bank

Some never get sick in their entire life

Some get sick from the moment they leave the womb

Life is like the lottery, many lose, a few win.

32

Will You Take A Covid Vac!

by minimus in

jw
friends

yes.

right now i would like to see how good the vaccine really is.

i’ve never taken a flu shot and so far, no flu..

pistolpete

Governor Como is going to gather all the people 60 and over and put them in nursing homes and force the vaccine on them in NY-hopefully the Governing Body too.

Then when he becomes Attorney General, he will do the same in all other states.

As far as I'm concerned, I already got Covid and all it gave me was a runny nose. My doctor said I got the antibodies. So no vaccine for me.💪

8

Jesus speaks in third person

by menrov in

i stumbled on john 17:1,2 which reads in net version:.

17 when jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “father, the time has come.

glorify your son, so that your son may glorify you— 2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.. if jesus had a close relation with his father, would you not expect to read something like this:.

pistolpete

Hi Menrov

I remember there was a exjw site called jwstruggle with literally tons of exjws who were trying to hold on to the idea that the bible was God's word but the watchtower had left the truth.

At first they were trying figure out certain things in the bible and I remember the same question you had came up.

Eventually a lot of the members starting fighting over doctrine or what Jesus meant or why Jesus said this or that. Little by little many of the members started leaving one by one until finally the last few members just made it known that they didn't believe in the bible anymore and that there was no such thing as a loving and just God.

That seems to be the steps a JWs who wakes up goes through. For some it take very little time to realize, for others it takes many years. Most will leave the watchtower but still believe in the bible. Then they struggle to find answers in the bible by studying it deeply only to find out the bible is a book filled with ancient man-made stories and not inspired.

That's why those sites who try to stick to the bible either die eventually or have very few members. There is another exjw site that is also going through the same thing. It started off with many members and now there is less than ten that post regularly and mostly just references of what this scholar or that scholar says about this point or that with no real substance.

Many of the ones that hang around do everything to debunk the Watchtower but at the same time continue to attend the Watchtower and support it by attending for whatever reason, which shows that in heart they are still JWs but with a little twist.

If you really want to know what Jesus meant in many of his sayings, I suggest you start reading some of Bart Ehrman's books which you can get used on amazon for less than three dollars.

Misquoting Jesus is probably the simplest explanation of why Jesus said many things that don't make sense.

https://www.amazon.com/Misquoting-Jesus-Story-Behind-Changed/dp/0060859512/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3TLWL4E0K4F6D&dchild=1&keywords=bart+ehrman+books&qid=1608474567&sprefix=bart+eherman%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-3

26

Has anyone contested a Will and WON????

by cha ching in

my jw mom just died last week, about 6 1/2 months after my non jw dad died (dehydration, starvation, imo) i was the executor of that will.

before a month had passed of his death, my dad & mom's will was changed.

i didn't know until she died.

pistolpete

I know someone that challenged a will and won. What was at stake was some 3 million dollars in money, home, and rental property. The lawyers battled it our for about 2 years. At this point the lawyer's bills had dug into the assets by about 40%. The parties realized that if they kept fighting there would be nothing left. So the jws that changed the will secretly gave in and decided to divide the assets equally.

The question to ask is, if you fight it, is who will pay the lawyer's bill??? Regardless if you win or lose.

10

Jesus-------What were you thinking!

by pistolpete in

most of the sermon on the mount, matthew 5-7 - is bizarre, vague or barbaric.

it actually smacks stupidity and not wisdom..

if you lust after a woman, you’ve committed adultery (thought crime) .

pistolpete

Vanderhoven7

Pete, your rant is all over the place and yet you did not answer my question. Again, what kind of a world would we live in if people repented of such "thought crimes" as you put it, and sought to fulfill the teachings of Jesus in the sermon on the mount?

Vander—do you know what the word “rant’ means? Let me help you understand the definition;

verb: speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.

There is a difference between “rant” and explaining- reasoning- debunking.

Now here’s the thing------I did answer it, but you don’t get it.

I said, quote

Or—is it possible that this fear found in the bible and attributed to Jesus was an “IDEA” created later by the writers of the Gospels, to Create an Imaginary Illness-- so they could sell an Imaginary Cure, and keep the masses under their control, siphoning as much money and life as possible from the gullible?

Even though Christian apologists and most lay Christians assume on the basis of 4th century Church teaching that the gospels were written by the Evangelists c.50-65 AD, ----- the scholarly consensus is that they are the work of unknown Christians and were composed c.68-110 AD.

That’s almost 40 years after Jesus died. Considering all the evidence of bible scholars, it is more likely that Jesus was misquoted many times by the writers of the Gospels who never met Jesus to begin with.

Human Nature hasn’t changed much in 2000 years, so the way stories were told back then about Jesus—some 40 years AFTER THE FACT, is no different than the stories told by the media today with regards to Trump and Biden. The stories about Trump and Biden just this year alone are so far-fetched that the majority of people in the USA have had it with the media and have lost all trust and faith in them.

Now imagine the stories about Trump and Biden 40 years from now! Someone will probably say that Trump walked on water!

Now imagine the stories of Jesus 2000 years ago that were written about 40 years after Jesus was long gone into the dust. This was a time when there existed no videos, phone cameras, or recording microphones that could record all the sayings and events of Jesus.

In such an environment as this where only word of mouth was the source, it would be easy for anyone to create, misquote, or just plain out lie about any kind of story and make it seem believable.

Why a person under this situation might even be able to convince the masses who for the most part couldn’t even read, ------that someone could walk on water!

HEADS UP, HERE’S THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

That being the case, why would anyone repent from a Thought Crime that was construed by some UNKNOWN WRITER as a SIN---deserving – not of death----but instead ---being thrown in an EVERLASTING HELL FIRE, to be smoldering ablaze and writhing in pain forever and ever!!

That’s actually laughable as I write it.

Humans were created for one reason and that is to procreate, and attraction to the opposite sex is natural.

THINKING AND DOING are two completely different things. It doesn’t take a brain to see that it’s ludicrous to make someone believe that punishing someone with everlasting fire for THINKING about a woman he finds attractive------is a good and righteous thing.

You asked the question; what kind of a world would we live in if people repented of such "thought crimes"

I’ll ask you this question; (What kind of a world would we live in if Jesus’s words WERE TRUE, and every human who ever had a passionate thought of someone of the opposite sex was thrown into THE LAKE OF FIRE to burn forever?)

Life would be a living Hell for every Human ever born as billions would be writhing in anguish this very moment.

If God truly loved his human creation, then as I mentioned above;

quote;

If anything, an Omniscient God who knows Everything, would know better than to create an intense desire for humans to procreate. A God that knows Everything and can do Anything would be able to create humans with a system where once a man finds a mate, something inside his brain would click and stop any desire for any other women as his sex object.

There are literally tons of animals that have this mechanism built into them, ------why couldn’t the Creator do like wise with humans? And these animals still have free will to do as they please.

Then there would be no need to “REPENT OF A THOUGHT CRIME-----would there!

10

Jesus-------What were you thinking!

by pistolpete in

most of the sermon on the mount, matthew 5-7 - is bizarre, vague or barbaric.

it actually smacks stupidity and not wisdom..

if you lust after a woman, you’ve committed adultery (thought crime) .

pistolpete

Vanderhoven7

It seems that Jesus' God is not only concerned with acts of murder, gluttony and adultery but also with what prompts them. Very wise indeed.

Here are the bible verses in their entire context.

Let’s assess what Jesus was actually teaching to see if they were---------- “Wise Indeed”

(Matthew 5:27-29) “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART.

Notice that Jesus said that a person who keeps looking at a women so as to have a passion for her, ---HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY!!!!!

What was the penalty for Adultery according to the LAW.

Leviticus 20:10 ‘A man might have physical relations with his neighbor’s wife. If he does, both the man and the woman are guilty of adultery. So they must be put to death.

So death was the penalty for adultery according to the LAW.

What was the NEW PENALTY Jesus instituted for just LOOKING at a women with passion?

Jesus made it clear----Matthew 5:29 For it is better for you to lose one of your members THAN FOR YOU WHOLE BODY TO BE PITCHED INTO GEHENNA!

When those listening to Jesus heard this speech of being tossed into GEHENNA, what kind of imagery do you think came into their mind.

Here’s a littler reminder.

NWT (Mark 9:47, 48) it is finer for you to enter one-eyed into the kingdom of God than with two eyes to be pitched into ----GE.HEN’ NA WHERE THEIR MAGGOT DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.

KJ VERSION It is better for thee to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, TO BE CAST INTO HELL FIRE.

DARBY VERSION rather than having two eyes TO BE CAST INTO THE HELL OF FIRE.

YLT VERSION better for thee one-eyed to enter into the reign of God, than having two eyes, TO BE CAST TO THE GEHENNA OF THE FIRE

No where does it say this was a parable or illustration like Watchtower claims. The context shows Jesus was talking literally.

Why is such extreme punishment required for a “THOUGHT CRIME’?

Ask any reasonably person what is better----to be put to death or to be cast into an everlasting fire?

And by the way, the majority of Christians on the earth, (about 2 billion) interpret this Gehenna-Hell Fire as being EVERLASTING OR ETERNAL PUNISHMENT—not death like jws interpret the verse.

What was Jesus’s solution to this problem of looking at a women with passion? This is what he recommended.

If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, TEAR IT OUT AND THROW IT AWAY AWAY FROM YOU.

Was anyone exempt from tearing their eye out? ------Not according to the bible.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and WHO NEVER SINS.

If you honestly believe that it was ONLY Jesus, 2000 years ago that came up with the idea that committing adultery with another man’s wife was wrong, then I don’t know what to say. Most people know that Homo Sapiens have been around for over 200,000 years, and in order to survive and get along, it made sense to not infringe on another man’s wife. That would only cause war and death. By respecting people's property, humans have survived this long.

If anything, an Omniscient God who knows Everything, would know better than to create an intense desire for humans to procreate. A God that knows Everything and can do Anything would be able to create humans with a system where once a man finds a mate, something inside his brain would click and stop any desire for any other women as his sex object.

There are literally tons of animals that have this mechanism built into them, ------why couldn’t the Creator do like wise with humans? And these animals still have free will to do as they please.

Love birds, Old field Mice, Atlantic Puffins, Coyotes, Seahorses, Dik-diks, Bald Eagles, Albatrosses, Beavers, Gibbons, Barn Owls, Sandhill Cranes, Geese, Prairie Voles, Swans, Titi Monkeys, Pigeons, Monk Parakeets, Grey Wolves, Black Vultures:----- are just a few we studied in school. I could go on and list about a hundred more animals who have a built in mechanism in their brain that shuts all interest in other mates once they choose their mate for life and still keep their free will.

So why didn’t God do the same thing with humans?

Does he enjoy seeing them live with fear and guilt from the moment they are born to the day they die?

Or—is it possible that this fear found in the bible and attributed to Jesus was an “IDEA” created later by the writers of the Gospels, to Create an Imaginary Illness-- so they could sell an Imaginary Cure, and keep the masses under their control, siphoning as much money and life as possible from the gullible?

It’s no different that how the Watchtower instill fears in it’s members to keep them under their control.

No Paradise Earth if you celebrate holidays, Take Blood, Obey the Governing Body even if it does not make sense----------------etc. Any sin including a (thought Crime) must be reported to the Elders, so you can get ‘Spiritual Help’

13

Its not my fault

by incognito2014 in

assume for a minute that god created everything.

there was nothing before him and everything is because of him.

every single thing in the universe he is directly responsible for.. somehow the good stuff we should thank him for but the bad stuff is nothing to do with him, it is our fault.. this world that he created that was “good” has turned in to a right shitshow but despite being absolutely responsible for it from start to finish it is not his fault and in fact he has somehow turned this round so that instead of being to blame he is the person who is going to sort the problems and we should be thankful..

pistolpete

Magnum
I think the "problem of evil" is bigger than just the bad produced by the free will of humans. What about all the horror and suffering in the animal realm?

I remember a few years ago, my entire way of thinking as to why God allows suffering—took a complete 360 degree turn.

What happened is that I was given a baby kitten that was found in the street and he was so small that in order to survive, I had to bottle feed him and care for him till he was able to eat himself. It was hard work because it wasn’t just once a day. It was every two hours for about a month if I wanted him to live.

This cat grew up and believed I was his father. He followed me everywhere and always wanted me to pick him up. He slept with me, sat on my lap when I watched tv. Followed me to the bathroom and waited beside the door until I came out. As soon as I came home from work or school. he ran to meet me. I went through my teenage years and became an adult with this cat. I got very close to him.

Then one day he started getting sick. I took him to the vet and spared no amount of money. I was willing to pay thousands of dollars to keep him alive. After spending about one thousand dollars, the vet told me that there was nothing they could do anymore to help him. I told the vet “Please, I will pay you anything you want, just keep him alive”

The vet replied, “I’m sorry, it’s his time, he has lived more than most cats” He lasted 15 years. I was devastated, I took him home and wrapped him in a blanket and sat with him all day and all night.

The next day early in the morning, he let’s out this eerie cry and looked at me and tears starting coming out of his eyes, then he took his last breath and stopped breathing. To this day it has been the worse day of my life.What I saw that day Haunts me to this day.

It was at this point in my life that I started considering the possibility that even if there was a God, he was not at all interesting in helping us or the animals.

This is when I starting noticing that the world was made with prey and predator. I started doing research on animals and their suffering. What I started finding out, messed me up for a couple of years. I remember reading this statement;

quote;

"The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute that it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease.

Then another person made this comment that pounded the last nail on my belief in the God of the Bible----not necessarily The Real Creator.

quote;

God made animals with pain receptors. Many animals especially the kinds that we eat the most can feel physical pain exactly the same way as humans. Many of those animals can and do suffer psychological trauma just like humans as well.

Yet God not only condones people killing and eating animals, but God created animals with the capacity to suffer while already knowing full well that they would. Then for a long period in history, he demanded humans to slaughter and sacrifice to him just because he enjoyed the act of devotion.

This direct encouragement of the suffering of the innocent is entirely inconsistent with tri-omni nature.

If God couldn’t create a food cycle for all creatures that didn’t include suffering, then he isn’t omnipotent.

If he didn’t know the system would lead to suffering then he isn’t omniscient.

Now if he could of done better, if he could of made a food cycle that didn’t promote suffering, but chose not to.

Then he’s not only lacking in omni- benevolence but many would argue he is a Sadist.

‘Whether animal life and human life was Created this way or it came about by accident, this was the reality of it all and I had to accept it.

What I do now - Is Go out of my way to be kind to animals. I have tons of cats that come to my house each morning and I feed them every day just like this guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EYZnSXEla0

14

April 30, 1993

by pistolpete in

this year was actually “the beginning of the last days for the watchtower.

before this year, there were very few that questioned the watchtower.

they were truly god’s only channel.

pistolpete

millie210

I guess it could be said, ironically enough, that the internet fulfilled the scripture in Danial 2 "In the last days true knowledge would become abundant"

Thank you internet.

The internet accepts your thanks! May more knowledge come your way----🖥🖥🖥🖥