Bobcat

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Posts by Bobcat

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  13

  Contradictions of the "no blood" policy....

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so according to witnesses, the bible states that all blood is sacred, and once it leaves the body's circulatory system it must be "poured out on the ground" to show respect to jehovah.. it mustn't be eaten or transfused.. so how do they justify it being ok to take in fractions of blood components when these have been produced from donated whole blood?.

  the whole blood was not "poured out".

  it was taken to a laboratory, stored, manipulated, put through processes to separate parts of it, broken down etc.... it certainly was not "dealt with in a sacred way".. and yet these blood fractions are deemed "ok" by the society?.

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  Bobcat

  The fraction thing also violates some of the basic Christian precepts that Jesus outlined in the Sermon on the Mount:

  (Matthew 5:21, 22) 21 “You heard that it was said to those of ancient times: ‘You must not murder, but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ 22 However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·henʹna.

  (Matthew 5:27, 28) 27 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But 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.

  These are just two examples of Jesus counseling to avoid the small things that would lead to the major sins. The WT blood fraction teaching takes the very opposite position, namely, the big things (whole blood and 'major fractions') are wrong. But "minor" fractions are up to you.
  By that thinking some minor pornography, or some 'minor' petting (is that word still used?) on a date, should be up to your conscience. Or how about holding a 'minor' grudge, as long as it is kept under control?
  I agree that it is a cynical WT legal decision masked as a requirement of God. The WT exists to keep itself in existence, even at the expense of the JW lives it is supposed to be saving. (A state that all human organizations seem to evolve into.)
  Bobcat
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  19

  The Watchtower Society’s 607 BCE Foundation Exposed

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the governing body and its watchtower society claims that in 1919 it was appointed by jehovah god and jesus christ to represent all of their earthly kingdom interests, to be their unique voice and sole representative towards all people on earth.

  the watchtower’s authority lives or dies with that claim..

  the society’s critical date of 1919 is calculated from the dates of events in the 6th century bce.

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  Bobcat

  Hey Doug!

  Very nice piece of work.

  On a side note, towards the end there is some discussion on Cyrus and Darius. I was wondering if there has been any new research on the question of whether Cyrus was Darius? The NAC-Daniel commentary had three pages or so devoted to that subject and they rated the evidence as being slightly in favor of that possibility, but definitely not anything they could be dogmatic about. (I posted about that here a couple of years ago.)

  (It could be that you were just saying on point with your subject.)

  Bobcat
  
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  16

  Preaching the "good news"

  by truth doubter in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just wondering.

  what do those who left wt, and still believe the bible, feel about matt.24:14?

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  Bobcat

  Contextually, Mt 24:14 was referring to events that were to take place leading up to the end of Jerusalem and the temple (that actually occurred in the 66-70 AD time). (Compare what was to happen afterwards: Mt 24:15-20.)

  "Inhabited earth" (oikoumenē) in the NT generally refers to the area occupied by the Roman Empire or the then known world. (Compare e.g. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28) And Paul indicated that he understood this to have already happened before the Roman-Jewish War of 66-70. (Rom 16:25, 26; Col 1:23)

  That's not to say that Jesus' disciples weren't commanded to preach to the literal ends of the earth (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). But Mt 24:14 itself is not saying that, if you go strictly by the context. Although, I think a JW and others also, would argue for a dual fulfillment.

  (Expanding out in the context, Mt 24:14 would also be limited in time to "this generation" in Mt 24:34.)

  Bobcat
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  55

  Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

  here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

  1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

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  Bobcat

  It's because that is a description of religious leaders everywhere and in every time period.

  Touche'

  Bobcat
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  55

  Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

  here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

  1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

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  Bobcat

  Isn't there some scripture about not being overly burdened or something along those lines?

  (Matthew 23:1-7 NWT) . . .Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore, all the things they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but they do not practice what they say. 4 They bind up heavy loads and put them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. 5 All the works they do, they do to be seen by men, for they broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards and lengthen the fringes of their garments. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men.

  It is sort of amazing how much of this actually does describe them.

  Bobcat

  
  
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  38

  You Are All Pieces of Garbage

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  although tomo's human hotdogs was as low as an alleged human could verbally go, tomo's fear-mongering was not an official video.. i'm wagering that the feb 2016 video will be pulled or adjusted.. what do you think, trash?.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m68pcx7ztac.

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  Bobcat

  berrygerry:

  Why do you say it isn't an official video? (I see the standard "broadcast" trappings around him, like the background world-at-night scene.) Maybe I'm missing something (I haven't watched it).

  Bobcat
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  55

  Some thoughts on the new midweek meeting

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the new midweek meeting has been running for a month now.

  here are my thoughts on how it is going so far:.

  1) elders are looking frazzled from being on virtually every meeting and having to prepare unfamiliar formats for items.

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  Bobcat

  Tech49:

  Now let's follow along with our "Bible Study" from the Faithful book, about things that might have, could have, probably did, and evidently took place.

  My wife and I went over this book together at home. I thought it was a fairly 'safe' one. But the plethora of weasel words was just overwhelming. It has more of the writing format of a newspaper opinion page.

  By the way, Tech49, I think of you every time the FX channel plays the movie Oblivion, which they've been doing recently.

  Bobcat
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  34

  "There will be earthquakes...."

  by Fisherman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  given: the prophecy is true.. what did jesus mean?

  i have an app that alerts me of any earthquake all over the world.

  since i got the app, it is one earthquake after another all over the world.

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  Bobcat

  The problem is the WT interpretation of Matthew:4-7 -

  (Matthew 24:4-8 rNWT) . . .In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.

  Jesus is telling his disciples in this passage that they shouldn't take these events as an indication that the "end" was near. Wars, famines, epidemics and natural disturbances, like earthquakes and bad storms, were often taken as indications that God (or the gods) were upset and about to exercise their wrath. Jesus is saying not to let these events sway them in that way - the opposite of what the WT has been saying.

  Compare this also with the horseman of the apocalypse in Rev 6:1-8 (war, famine and pestilence). In Rev 6:9-11 the martyrs ask when divine justice will be executed. Instead of being pointed to the wars, famines, and pestilences just foretold, they are pointed to the need for additional martyrs. In this instance also, the wars, famines, and pestilences did not indicate how near they were to a divine reckoning.

  I might also mention that the events of Matthew 24:4-35 were promised to take place within "this generation," the generation of Jews referred to in Mt 23:36. So any attempt to apply these words to some future generation would be arguing against the context. (And notice that there is no mention of earthquakes as a result of the ride of the horseman in Rev 6:1-8.)

  
  Bobcat
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  43

  when you went to an "assembly" did you wear a badge?

  by greenhornet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it embarrassed me.

  when i was young my folks made me wear one and i opened it up and took the paper out making it look like it fell out.

  after my folks ask what happen i said i dont know.

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  Bobcat

  Yes, travel to a distant city and put a sign on oneself announcing that you are from out of town. Wouldn't want the muggers and pickpockets to have to wonder around confused. That wouldn't be very Christian. :)

  Bobcat
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  35

  S.A.D. Observations from the assembly.

  by Darkknight757 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so we had brother losch visiting our special assembly day which was weird in itself.

  he's not a very good speaker and seemed like he was in dire need of a nap or something.. anyways just a few observations from the assembly program.

  theme: imitate their faith.

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  Bobcat

  But expenses for this one day were almost $24,000

  I was curious, how many were in attendance? Was this a rented facility or a WT owned one? And how in the world does a one day assembly rack up $24,000 in expenses? And why aren't the brothers in charge of these things being 'fired' for their incompetence? (Actually, the only ones who would be 'fired' would be the conscientious ones who complained about this.)

  The money-grubbing nature of the WT just keeps being exposed.

  Bobcat