Splash

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Posts by Splash

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  52

  Writing Department Interview on "The Generation."

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a member of the writing department was gracious enough to allow me to interview him about the "overlapping generation" doctrine.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eo1o5qmagu.

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  Splash

  That is SERIOUSLY funny!!!!!!
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  23

  How big of a problem is apostasy.

  by joe134cd in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i often wonder if apostasy could be defined as the "silent problem", as the majority who leave for this reason choose to fade saying nothing.

  in all the decades i was a witness i could probably count on 2 hands those who were disfellowshipped for apostasy.i must admit it wasn't until i came on the internet that i fully realise the depth and extent of the problem.

  i think of that young girl high school speech that went viral, and you can't tell me all those 300000+ views were all none jws.

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  Splash

  I think demographics are an important factor.

  The older ones will not research online, however these ones are reducing in number as they grow old, can't make meetings anymore, and eventually die off. 40% in my congregation of 100 publishers are in this age group and there are a dozen of these who no longer come regularly because of age and infirmity.

  Middle aged ones sit squarely between years of meetings and dabbling with reading online. This group makes up the largest number in my congregation, probably 50% in their 30's - 50's. My observation is that they often have lots of questions about the organisation but are trapped in because they may have older parents in, or they have brought their children in. When the parents die and the children leave (either home or the WT), that will be an interesting time.

  Younger ones (not including minors who have to attend with parents) are dropping like flies. They use the internet every day and are increasingly unafraid to research non-WT sites.

  It's a vicious circle for the WT. As younger ones drop away, there's less incentive for the remaining younger ones to stay, seeing as it's an ageing group with whom they have little in common. The meetings are repetitive, boring and bullying, the demands on time and lifestyle are too high, and the teachings incomprehensible. Once the social aspect goes there's nothing left.

  At the top end they are dying off, at the bottom end, despite the infant baptisms, young ones are just losing fear and interest. Those that remain do so for family reasons. If they don't leave now, they will likely do so when they reach middle age.

  Of course, there are always those who have JW-ORG written through their brains like a stick of seaside rock and those who value their positions too much to quit because they have nothing else in life to be proud about. These will remain on board when it sinks, and still won't see the futility of it all.
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  39

  Are Elders experts on the Bible? Are they spirtually qualified men?

  by John Aquila in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how many times have elders read their bible in its entirety?

  these are the leaders that give counsel to married couples, to teenagers, to single girls and single boys on everything from marriage, education, sex, association, dress, and recreation..

  how well do they know their bible?

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  Splash

  You can't go to 3 meetings per week, pre study, personal study, family study, prepare talks, read the Bible, read the mags and do field service for a decade or more, without learning something about the Bible.

  You learn verses and doctrine if nothing else.

  The latest study book is called "What does the Faithful Slave Really Teach (for now)"
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  10

  A Google Search Trick to Quickly Search All Old Watchtower Publications - Like WT Library Online

  by LAWHFol in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  google has a feature called "advanced search" you can find more info here http://www.google.com/advanced_search.

  if you want to find all occurrences of one word or multiple words, use this google advanced search.. go to www.google.com.

  in the google search bar place your search word or words between quotes like this "anti type".

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  Splash

  If you type in the above google search, once it returns the results you can save it to your bookmarks for future.

  I replaced "anti type" with "query" to remind me where to type my search string, so now have saved it for future searching.

  Thanks LAWHFol!
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  44

  Does your product contain blood? 1960/70's twottery!!

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  back in the 1960's early 70's i remember my congregation going on a witch hunt and making a list of products, ice creams, confectionary or anything that might contain blood!.

  i remember one zealous brother asking an ice cream vendor if the ice cream contained blood.

  the vendor just looked gone out!.

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  Splash

  LECITHIN

  
  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.

  
  
  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.
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  15

  Any good answers at this Sunday's WT?

  by Lemonp in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  obviously this weeks' wt has been part 3 of big changes in the doctrine.

  at the end i answered up saying along the lines of: "as we can see from the illustration box, when it comes to the reward being given to the slaves, divine appointment was not given in 1919. this will happen in future when the anointed get taken before armageddon".

  i couldn't bring myself to say "raptured at armageddon" as i think people might have taken a closer look at me...but it felt good to call out publicly the bull sh#t date of 1919 .

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  Splash

  The article starts by saying that this parable of the talents applies to the anointed. Next thing you know, we're discussing how it affects the non-anointed too.

  The memorial is also, supposedly, just for the anointed. Using their stretched application, the non-anointed should also partake.
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  22

  1919 Doctrine no longer exists? (Today's Watchtower Study)

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  quote from today's watchtower study article that's being studied at the halls (march 15, 2015, page 24):.

  "understanding the illustration of the talents".

  "when the master rewards the slaves.".

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  Splash

  So if the reward is now definitely future, do they still believe that some are already in heaven, assisting with communicating the truth?
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  250

  Biblical Prohecies That Came True?

  by Viviane in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recently there have been several claims made regarding prophecies that came true.

  i've not personally seen a prophecy that i would consider as having come true.

  i would consider the following as the requirements to say something is a prophecy and evaluate whether or not it came true:.

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  Splash

  The same is done with Nostradamus' quatrains, among other things.
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  250

  Biblical Prohecies That Came True?

  by Viviane in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recently there have been several claims made regarding prophecies that came true.

  i've not personally seen a prophecy that i would consider as having come true.

  i would consider the following as the requirements to say something is a prophecy and evaluate whether or not it came true:.

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  Splash

  Not much of a prophecy then, if there is no way to tell what's going to happen, is it?
  

  You are in agreement with the WT on that.

  *** w11 12/1 p. 13 Who Can Interpret Prophecy? ***
  Other prophecies are fully understood by servants of God only after their fulfillment. Many events in Jesus’ life had been prophesied centuries before his birth, but this was not fully understood by his disciples until after his resurrection. (John 19:36)

  
  
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  250

  Biblical Prohecies That Came True?

  by Viviane in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recently there have been several claims made regarding prophecies that came true.

  i've not personally seen a prophecy that i would consider as having come true.

  i would consider the following as the requirements to say something is a prophecy and evaluate whether or not it came true:.

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  Splash

  The writer of John discerned a retrospective correspondence when he wrote
  (John 19:36, 37) In fact, these things took place for the scripture to be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be broken.”  And again, a different scripture says: “They will look to the one whom they pierced."

  
  And it's this which gives lead to the belief that those things written in the OT were there to indicate the genuine messiah of the NT.

  In fact there's quite a few things which fit this pattern.

  I guess the argument would come down to "what constitutes a prophecy?"
  If someone needs dates and names, there's not much, if anything, that will fit.
  The looser the criteria for a prophecy, the more will be found.