NotFormer

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Posts by NotFormer

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  40

  Who Are the "Other Sheep" and Jesus "Brothers" ?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower plays lots of games with definitions.

  once they change a definition then they have a false assumption to build their deception on.

  then they repeat the new definition and use its new meaning thousands of times to reinforce it.

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  NotFormer

  I remember reading "anti-cult" literature in the 70s (maybe 80s - probably Dave Hunt) that quoted Russell, at the end of the nineteenth century, saying something along the lines of the dissolved into gases thing. Also that he seemed to deny a physical resurrection - that what the disciples saw was some kind of spirit creature with a fake body created and destroyed at each appearance (memory is foggy; quote might not be exact).

  But since then I've learned to discount anything uttered in the past by even the founder* (not that I consider Russell the founder of the JWs: IMO, that distinction belongs to Rutherford). True authority lies in whatever is written in the latest Watchtower**. And nothing against a physical resurrection has been assumed by the WT since those ravings of Russell. They've never repudiated that view, AFAIK, but they've never ratified it either (again, AFAIK).

  *In another thread I've discussed his 1914 date. That matters, IMO, because it is still foundational to JW teachings today.***

  ** I'm curious to see what is in the August Watchtower. Not that that is what actually matters. It's what they may have had to change that matters.

  *** New light notwithstanding 😳
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  11

  The Watchtower—Study Edition | September 2024

  by RULES & REGULATIONS in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the watchtower—study edition | september 2024. enjoy the greater happiness that comes from giving.

  9 though we are imperfect humans, we can imitate jehovah’s generous use of power.

  we cannot literally impart strength, or energy, to others.

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  NotFormer

  In the article Become Doers of the Word:

  "5 Most of Jehovah’s people lead very busy lives. We spend a great amount of time caring for our various Scriptural responsibilities. For instance, most of us work secularly to provide for ourselves and for our families. (1 Tim. 5:8) Many Christians look after sick or elderly relatives. And all of us need to care for our own health, which takes time. In addition to these responsibilities, we have assignments in the congregation. A key responsibility is to have a zealous share in the preaching work. With all the obligations that you personally have, how can you find the time to read the Bible regularly, meditate on what you read, and apply what it says"

  Here they're saying that helping people is a nice idea, but don't let it get in the way of free labour for the WT and preaching. Instead of providing the practical help James had in mind when he said to be "doers of the word", they want you to preach. IOW, they encourage the parsimonious "be filled/be clothed" spirit of those James is condemning.

  Interesting how the WT in one article encourages helping people and in the same WT says "don't get carried away with helping people".

  WT talking out of both sides of their mouth? Colour me shocked! 😮
• 
  72

  Coming soon: Governing Body Update #4

  by ukpimo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the upcoming governing body update, set to be released on friday this week, will feature a bearded samuel herd.. jwtalk website revealed the leak, so this thread will be used to speculate the content of the update and discuss the actual contents after its release..

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  NotFormer

  "If Watchtower is reading this, get your act together and order a shutdown of the JWTalk forum, as this link and code leaked from there."

  Headquarters may want this sort of thing to leak in order to identify the leakers. So, allowing JW talk to continue to exist may be in the interests of the GB, ultimately*.

  Besides, I'd be one of the last people to be in favour of a totalitarian shutdown of probably the only outlet where the little people, the cogs in the machine, can vent about stuff and feel a bit special by chatting with the worldwide brotherhood.

  * It makes you think, though. 🤔 I wonder if the site maintainer ever gets enquiries from Bethel about identities and sources?
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  40

  Who Are the "Other Sheep" and Jesus "Brothers" ?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower plays lots of games with definitions.

  once they change a definition then they have a false assumption to build their deception on.

  then they repeat the new definition and use its new meaning thousands of times to reinforce it.

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  NotFormer

  Sincerity is everything:

  https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1961/10/30
• 
  33

  Stupid dumb ass changes yet blood and 1914 no change???wtfge???

  by Witness 007 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  yeah wow women can finally wear pants and men beards...but 1914 is still a date not accepted since charles russell times and blood fractions are evil!!.

  are they crazy!!!

  !.

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  NotFormer

  "Why does it matter what Russell said and did prior to then?"

  It matters because he changed the date to a new one. The flawed vessel that postulated the first wrong date was the same flawed vessel that postulated the second wrong date. As a bad interpreter of prophetic literature, Russell had form. If he got his first date wrong, there's nothing to say that the second date wasn't wrong. He demonstrated that he wasn't a source of any special insight into the prophetic literature by championing a false first date.

  James 3: "11 A spring does not cause the fresh* water and the bitter water to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can salt water produce fresh water." (NWT)

  By getting the first date wrong, Russell proved himself to be a spring of flawed prophetic interpretation. His second date, coming from the same flawed source, is no more reliable.
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  20

  Jehovah's Witnesses and Watchtower provide Shelter and relief to poor of NYC...by leaving...

  by Balaamsass2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  after over 100 years...watchtower helps the poor of nyc...by leaving!!

  jehovah's witnesses hotel becomes affordable housing.

  developed by breaking ground, 90 sands brings new housing opportunities to brooklyn.. .

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  NotFormer

  LHG, the bible actually says that people to work to provide for themselves and not to be a burden on others:

  But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1 Thess. 4:10b-12 ESV*)

  WT, on the other hand encourages people to be a burden on others, be they government welfare organisations, mainstream Christianity's churches' charity arms, etc.

  *NWT, of course, waters it down to not sound quite like that.
  
  
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  26

  Jehovah's Witnesses - summary critique

  by aqwsed12345 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since 1931, they have called themselves jehovah’s witnesses.

  founded in 1879 by charles taze russell (1852-1916).

  jw’s publisher is the watchtower bible and tract society, and their publications include "the watchtower" and "awake!

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  NotFormer

  "ADHD everywhere..."

  😸😸😸
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  19

  BBC poor grammar - but FUNNY!

  by BoogerMan in

  1. social
  2. current

  "hamburg police shoot man with axe ahead of euros match.

  " https://www.bbc.co.uk/news.

  why don't german police just use guns?.

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  NotFormer

  Diogenesister, that quoted caption doesn't even work properly as a sentence. Let alone the fact that it reads wrongly in a factual sense. To quote the professor in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe: " What are they teaching in schools these days?"
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  1

  This comedy break is dedicated to Anthony Morris III

  by stephenlettclownface in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcknxunlc9k.

  this comedy sketch would not have been as funny to me were it not for tony's obsession with tight pants.. cheers.

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  NotFormer

  Was he also obsessed with short shorts?

  https://youtu.be/MOfFB5QF4iQ?si=SvpBV4hObzpCcMtT
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  26

  Jehovah's Witnesses - summary critique

  by aqwsed12345 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since 1931, they have called themselves jehovah’s witnesses.

  founded in 1879 by charles taze russell (1852-1916).

  jw’s publisher is the watchtower bible and tract society, and their publications include "the watchtower" and "awake!

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  NotFormer

  I don't often agree with Vienne, but Vienne is 100% 💯 right here. I see a post by aqwsed12345, whether starting a new thread or within someone else's thread, and it's pages long. I personally refuse to read a post that's more than a few paragraphs (with occasional exceptions); I don't have infinite time on my hands. I treat it like it's spam.

  Distill your posts down to a couple of paragraphs. And actually reply personally to other people's posts; don't cut and paste another three pages of text. Are you not capable of writing a few paragraphs that address an issue?

  DesirousOfChange, yes, it's just a wall of text. 🙄

  Edited to correct pronouns. 😸 (Well, to remove them altogether)