A billion at the time of the tower of babel, from 8 people a few generations before?
How do you explain that?
Splash
matthew 20:28 - "just as the son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom in exchange of many".
the word "many" here means :.
4183 polys many (high in number); multitudinous, plenteous, "much"; "great" in amount (extent).. 4183 /polys ("much in number") emphasizes the quantity involved.
A billion at the time of the tower of babel, from 8 people a few generations before?
How do you explain that?
Splash
hi, i am also a practicing jehovah's witness and very proud of it,to say the very-very least..!
i am a middle-aged man with many decades of being a witness of jehovah god in england.. this important letter is personally to you, just as many of the bible's 88 letters are to be taken personal by you the reader.
i am writing to you to urge you to take stock of your life, think what your future holds for you.
I'm active in the congregation and beyond.
I won't repeat all of the posters points because you will have already mentally dismissed them all.
Many here left because they believed what they were taught, then it was all changed, then they believed again, then it all changed. Again, and again. At what point does someone lose all credibility by saying "the Bible clearly states..." and "we are left in no doubt...", then repeatedly changing their minds? The JW faith is based on shifting sands. Even you do not know what you are meant to believe any more.
Others left because the constant guilting was too much. Having to account for why you are not on f.service. Having to explain yourself for missing a meeting. Feeling ashamed because your WT isn't underlined. Too scared to say 'no' when given a talk to do but hating that you have to do it. Embarrassed when handing your report to your group overseer because of what he might think of you.
Constantly being asked for money by a multi billion dollar organisation. Being under suspicion for asking questions, having to say how wonderful every WT thing is, and doing that so frequently that you now do it instinctively.
Being told that the world is getting worse when in certain areas it is visibly getting better. Being reminded weekly that no matter how much you have done or are doing, you can always do more. Being told that the new website is what Jesus wants us to preach about.
Most here have thrown off those humiliating and depression inducing shackles. We have been honest with ourselves that the WT is no different to any other demanding cult. I think it's time you did the same.
Splash
i received some statistics from a friend in bethel in brooklyn.. here are the numbers:.
jw.org:840 million visits1 billion publication files downloaded150 million videos watched/downloadedwebsite available now in 540 languagespublication available in 700 language for downloadover 100,000 online bible study requests availablenew caleb/sofia video will be available from 1 september (topic: caleb & sofia's visit to bethel) .
pioneers: 167,000 vs 2010 no of pioneers: 132,000 - increase of 6.1%p.a.
One of the available languages is Quechua Wanka.
I daren't watch the videos.
There's even one especially for our cofty - Scottish Gaelic.
Interestingly Bribri has about 11,000 native speakers. This is the equivalent of a small town.
The Bribri are matriarchal, shamanistic and worship pagan gods. I don't know if they have internet connections.
Splash
the gibbering buddies always say this when back pedalling or reversing a teaching.
why won' t they admit that they said it.
they also use " some have said/thought" as if distancing themselves from the crap, it makes them less responsible.. it is like aaron's golden calf it just "came on out " of the fire all by itself!.
When referring to older teachings they have also used:
"Some Christians might feel..."
"Some might think..."
etc.
My personal favourite was when everyone went mad about avoiding lecithin in the 1970's.
May be derived from blood so ask the manufacturer - w63 2/15 p. 123 Carry Your Own Load of Responsibility
For example, while lecithin is found in blood, it is also derived from soybeans, which happen to be the common commercial source of most lecithin. If there is doubt about a product, it is up to the individual to investigate by inquiring of the manufacturer. The substance may have been derived from blood or it may not.
Is not derived from blood - no need to ask the manufacturer -w79 3/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers
some Christians have refused to eat any product having lecithin listed as an ingredient. Others have felt compelled to write to manufacturers to check on the source of the lecithin used in certain foods... there is no reason for any manufacturer to seek to have lecithin extracted from blood
So once again (and with a hint of ridicule) it is 'some Christians', and 'others' who have 'felt compelled to write to manufacturers', no mention that they were TOLD to do so by the Governing Body.
Splash
i just learned (from a post on a facebook jw recovery forum) that breast milk contains white blood cells [see link below for confirmation].
so, when nursing, an infant ingests its mother's white blood cells for nourishment.
furthermore, i have known jw mothers who would nurse the infant of another mother when that mother was temporarily indisposed.
Let's follow the logic...
1. JW's cannot accept white blood cells:
-- km 11/06 p. 3 How Do I View Blood Fractions and Medical Procedures Involving My Own Blood?
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not accept transfusions of whole blood or the four primary components of blood—namely, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
2. White Blood cells are also called leukocytes:
-- g 8/06 p. 9 Transfusion Medicine—Is Its Future Secure?
WHITE BLOOD CELLS (leukocytes) constitute less than 1 percent of whole blood. These attack and destroy potentially harmful foreign matter.
3. Colostrum (first breast milk) contains Leukocytes (white blood cells)
-- Acta Paediatrica Volume 68, Issue 4, pages 389–396, July 1979
Abstract: Colostrum and breast milk samples were obtained from 74 women, 18 of whom gave sequential samples. The mean total leukocyte count in colostrum was 3190 cells/mm 3 ... It was estimated that the total number of leukocytes available to the neonate remained approximately constant during the first 2 weeks of lactation and fell thereafter.
4. Colostrum (first breast milk) is good for the baby to consume:
-- g93 9/22 p. 14 The Case for Mother’s Milk
The first breast milk, a thick yellowish substance called colostrum, is good for babies and helps protect them from infections.
-- g83 6/8 p. 20 Breast Feeding—A Mother’s Loving “Sacrifice”
As the book Nursing Your Baby says, the colostrum “plays a particularly vital role in protecting the infant against disease. Colostrum contains disease antibodies, and particularly viral disease antibodies
-- g81 7/22 p. 22 Why Breast-Feeding Is Best Feeding
This yellowish fluid is rich in antibodies and proteins that provide an immunity lasting several months against certain bacteria.
This all means that it is good for babies to eat white blood cells from their mother's milk, but... (Go back to point 1.)
Splash
oh wow..... i have just seen the cover picture for the november awake!.
sorry, i don't know how to post a picture here....(perhaps someone else can assist?).
it is just plain creepy.. the article is called "keys to a happy life".... but the looks on the faces say something different!
When you say "know"... ?
not sure if anyones posted on this topic, but it just hit me that if jesus thousand year reign started in 1914 then we are already 10% way though and no "sign of the end" yet.
can the wtbts really hold out much longer?
are we going to have to wait for 3014 for them to admitt they got it wrong?.
Apognophos The deceased anointed from previous years (back to the beginning) were also all raised up in 1914.
Does this mean they have been inspected and approved already then?
I thought that was still future?
Splash
any suggestions on a new razor?
i kind of want to try a safety double edge but im so used to the store brand razors.
any one here own a safety doubleedge or a straight edge?.
Phizzy I find Occams Razor very useful.
I tried to buy one from jworg, but it had been withdrawn.
Splash
in the 80's it became a trend to put the wt logo on the front of the speakers podium where others put a cross.
i always hated that and spoke against it to the body of elders.
i shut up and it was put there anyway untill a km came down that said not to do it.
The new God's Kingdom Rules! purple book, just released at the 2014 DC makes reference to an old wt book.
Page 105 says about the pins they used to all wear: "Cross-and-crown pins are idols - Preparation, 1933, page 239"
Here's the quote from Preparation (1933) p.239
"This prophecy means that 'idols of silver and gold' (Ps. 115 : 4), that is, by engaging in commerce or commercial enterprises to become rich while in the service of God, must be cut off; also idols of creature worship, such as worshiping a leader who is dead, and the worshiping of prominent brethren or of clergymen or of "elective elders" or leaders ; and all idols of character development and foolish hobbies, such as the pyramid of Egypt, chronology, tabernacle in the wilderness, cross-and crown pins, and all like things, must be cut off and put away."
This principle of idolatry should also apply to the blue squares which are popping up everywhere.
Splash
i pulled up the notes from one of the more weird judical committe topics, this is the garbage your elders had to handle!.
the mind games played by one of the elderettes come's to mind, she was speaking to a sister that was suffering from severe anxiety and helped our depressed sister draw the conclusion that "sister depressed's husband is trying to poisoning her!
" off goes this once pretty and smart woman, she went to college and got her license to draw blood because she wanted to test it for arsenic and polonium (around the time that russian guy got off ed by vladimir putin).
Lol DD,
I just hope you got your fill of it