Posts by Anders Andersen

61

Simple introduction to the theory of evolution

by Diogenesister in

forum
links

hi new folks, lurkers and trolls.

i thought i would post this simple but interesting video which shows how scientists bring multiple lines of evidence together to prove evolution is true; for example:.

comparative anatomy.

Anders Andersen

Fact: All life comes from a previous life

Does it? How do you know?

Assuming you believe in a Creator, do you believe your Creator is alive?

Fact: All information comes from a mind

Does it? How do you know?

Entertaining the idea that all information comes from a mind, where did the information that describes the functions of minds come from?

Assuming you believe in a Creator, do you believe this Creator has a mind?

If you answered the last question below each quote with yes, doesn't that mean your premises are incorrect, and thus your reasoning incorrect?

Note that I'm not saying no Creator exists! I'm merely discussing your reasoning.

8

Theramin Trees: Becoming Fools | A Visit From Some JWs

by pale.emperor in

excellent video from theramin tree's.

it's funny that we can relate entirely to the jw's in this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewehb4qm1hg.

Anders Andersen

An exjw himself.

Nope. He was raised in a strict religious home, but very much NOT a JW.

84

Bethelites Vow Of Poverty

by pale.emperor in

former governing body assistant howie tran has shared his bethel vow of poverty contract.

it reads rather culty.

i think clause number 9 is particularly worrying...to adhere to, not the bible alone, but also the watchtower literature and the governing body.

Anders Andersen

This is what every JW implicitly and unknowingly 'signed' at baptism: obey or be kicked out.

They only write it black on white for Bethel slaves to cover their ass legally. "You vowed to become poor and you agreed to be kicked out of you are disobedient. Now gtfo!"

25

Has God preserved His word today?

by JW Answers in

has god preserved his word today?

many people attack, doubt and fault god's word.

yet god has made several promises in his word.he promised to preserve his word unto every generation,he promised that every word would be truth,he promised that we can rely and depend on his every word.satan wants nothing more than to dismiss, and cast doubt on god's word... so the question today is... do we have god's preserved word today?

Anders Andersen

Bible writer himself admitted some untruths contained in the Bible. (Jsremaiah 8:8)

...and nobody knows which parts are true and which aren't.

20

Humans only survive for 3-5 days without water...

by purrpurr in

and yet today's watchtower and indeed the bible condemns the israelites for moaning about having no water!

it's never occurred to me how unjust this is!

and how could a so called loving god not provide a basic human need?!.

Anders Andersen

I believe the evidence is overwhelming concerning the accuracy of the accounts about Israel.....and are still proving themselves true.
For instance:

I don't see how the examples you present have any bearing on whether the Exodus is myth or history?

Actual historical evidence appears to show that Israelites were never enslaved in and rescued from Egypt; they evolved together with (other) Canaanite people. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus for some pointers.

If we're discussing the Exodus, it would be good to present evidence regarding the Exodus.

As for prophecies regarding Jerusalem/Israel: there are so many prophecies written down about both their destruction and rebuilding them, that regardless the actual situation some Bible verses can be interpreted as a fulfilled prophecy.
If tomorrow someone completely nukes Israel you will come up with verses like Ezekiel 33:28 and Deut. 28:45. Either way, you'll always claim that the Bible can be trusted.

But, to each their own. It's not my cuppa...

20

Humans only survive for 3-5 days without water...

by purrpurr in

and yet today's watchtower and indeed the bible condemns the israelites for moaning about having no water!

it's never occurred to me how unjust this is!

and how could a so called loving god not provide a basic human need?!.

Anders Andersen

The problem was that the Israelites were still thinking like a defeated, enslaved people.
The people had been taken out of slavery, but the slavery had not yet been taken out of the people

Guess what? According to their origin myth they were still enslaved. Their master Yahweh demanded all sorts of services and goods, unquestioning obedience, and would kill them if they ever wanted to get out under their slavery to him. The myth explicitly states that Yahweh is the owner.

From one type of slavery into another. It's a good thing this while story is mythical and not historical.

5

Can you help with this?

by vienne in

i need a scan of this: the apocalyptic interpretation of history of american premillennial groups, phd dissertation by carl ludwigson, 1944. if you have it, please contact me..

Anders Andersen

Vienne,

See this link below for a list of libraries that have this publication on their shelves. Might be a help?

http://www.worldcat.org/title/apocalyptic-interpretation-of-history-of-american-premillennial-groups/oclc/8918697

17

Watchtower disputes $200K tax bill from Newburgh

by Rattigan350 in

http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180904/watchtower-disputes-200k-tax-bill-from-newburgh.

town of newburgh — the watchtower bible and tract society of new york is challenging nearly $200,000 in fire and other special district taxes assessed for three town of newburgh properties, including two hotels the organization bought to house volunteers helping build its world headquarters in warwick.. in a petition filed in orange county court last month, the umbrella organization for jehovah’s witnesses claimed that the town “either unintentionally as a mistake or intentionally and without lawful authority” miscoded the former hilton on crossroads court and the former hampton inn on route 300 for 2016, 2017 and this year.. with a combined market value of nearly $23 million, the hotel properties were not assessed town, county and school taxes for those years.

but the town assessed $196,000 charges for the orange lake fire district and lighting and water districts during those years.. newburgh also assessed $1,600 in special district taxes over three years for a vacant commercial property watchtower owns at route 17k and route 300.. “petitioner would not be required to pay the resulting unjust charges if its exemption from taxes had been justly, correctly, and lawfully granted and administered,” watchtower’s attorneys wrote in the organization’s petition in county court.. watchtower bought the two hotel properties in 2014 as it built its 1.6 million-square-foot headquarters on kings drive in warwick.

Anders Andersen

The county might waive the taxes, then burn those buildings down and see how Watchtower would fare without fire dept. ;-p

29

Not viewed as a JW if not reported for 6 months?

by kramer in

hi, i seem to remember that the society have said that you are not viewed as a witness if you have not reported for 6 months.. does this ring any bells?

someone i know has been called for a judicial, even though she has said she doesn’t believe and is not not attending meetings and hasn’t for 6 months.what she did was 12 months ago when she was a witness.. she is not sure whether she should turn up or not, as turning up shows she thinks she answers to elders still.

but also doesn’t want to be automatically disfellowshipped which may happen if she doesn’t turn up.. if there is an article to quote saying someone inactive isn’t seen as a witness, this would be helpful.. any thoughts?.

Anders Andersen

No Biahi, they have not.

You seem to be certain...but I thought official policy is to retain the publisher card indefinitely unless a person is confirmed dead?

23

You will not find this sort of support in the New System: JC Elder

by Diogenesister in

so that statement was made by an elder to a disfellowshipped brother, during a reinstatement meeting.. this statement is made here at around 4.

10 mins in.. the full story of this man is incredibly sad.

in fact i've rarely listened to an exjws story that has affected me quite so much.

Anders Andersen

Fyi Watchtower does indeed expect execution for sinners in Paradise, but claims it's highly unlikely that people who survived the 'final test' will ever want to sin again.

https://wol.jw.org/nl/wol/dsync/r18/lp-o/r1/lp-e/2006607#h=1

Of course even highly unlikely events will eventually happen given enough time (eternity).