Posts by Fred Franztone

41

Singing todays WT

by road to nowhere in

the jist was that we all should sing.

then the first 6 or 8 paragraphs describe how early bible accounts have trained and set aside musicians to do the singing while everyone else listened.. the songs they have put out have no soul, rhythm, or soothing melodies as a whole.

the old hymns are some real music, even if you don't agree with the "teachings".. there is no admission of poetry using archaic language at times for affect or to add to the rhyme, they have to have everything agree with the grey bible.. anyone speak foreign languages?

Fred Franztone

Can someone please explain what this is all about? I don't have access to the Watchtower article in question.

17

Uncovering "GOD"

by Doug Mason in

with self-righteous indignation, the watchtower society (wts) points to its restoration of the hebrew tetragram (hwhy = “yahweh” = = = > “jehovah”) wherever the english translator renders it as “lord”..

the wts complains that the use of “lord” hides the fact that the name (“jehovah” for the wts) is intended.

however, with its call of “look over here, look over here”, the wts diverts attention, probably unintentionally, from related information that it, in turn, does not reveal..

Fred Franztone

Have JWs ever given an explanation as to why they use Jehovah and not a more ancient or accurate translation of the tetra?

Also, wasn't I am that I am a fraudulent definition, invented in the post-exilic period?

29

Anointed Delusions of Grandeur

by Kohanic in

so here is something i've been wondering about.

how do the 'anointed' come to the conclusion that they are chosen?

is it some weird collective delusion of grandeur and how is it manifested in such ones?.

Fred Franztone

The only annointed people I ever met were all ancient and senile. They supposedly had a greater understanding of scripture, but their answers at meetings were always incomprehensible nonsense, and none of them were ever appointed.

Annointed but not appointed.

8

committees

by dogisgod in

i have had some conversations with ex-jw women and i am more than a little concerned at how, if a female, is treated in committee meetings.

it sure seems (i experienced this when i was young) that the elders have a commonality in trying to create such shame and sexual guilt (especially where none is deserved) that it is beyond abuse.

i know there are a lot of former elders here.

Fred Franztone

I remember there being a very young and attractive girl in my congregation many years ago who was quite free-sprited and was apparently always up to know good. There was a lot of pressure on her to get baptised, and I can see why now. The elders wanted her to get baptised so that they could call a judicial hearing and listen to all of the titillating details about her reportedly rampant sex life. They have to get their stimulation from somewhere I suppose, elder's wives aren't exactly known for their sexual prowess.

She did get baptised eventually, but much to the elders' irritation, she calmed down and got married when that happened. So it was back to the soft porn and guilt for them.

19

Prophecy question as hysteria sets in

by Isambard Crater in

a load of j.w's in my family and the congregation i attend as a pimo have been saying the end is very close because the anglo american world superpower is clearly still the king of the south, and russia is now clearly king of the north due to persecuting and banning the religion there and seizing property.. i've forgot what the religion used to teach and maybe still does, about the timing of all this king of north + south stuff, the attack on all religion by the u.n and then the attack on j.w's who will be left standing.

i mean, i thought jehovah was going to put it into the u.n's minds to ban or attack all other religions, then the attack on j.w's, but witnesses seem to think the end is so, so close because russia has banned them.. it's sad, as some dubs i know have sold their homes and made other big decisions so they can pioneer in these 'very last of the last days'..

Fred Franztone

Was the book of Daniel pretending to be written in the 6th century BC or was it simply about the 6th century BC? There's an important distinction to be made. If I were to write a book about a fictional prophet in the 17th century who predicted events in our day, I wouldn't necessarily need to pretend that the book itself was written back then as well.

22

Things society interferes with

by Jrjw in

i was just lying here thinking about mind control and thought it'd write a list just to see how much the wts does try to control every aspect of people's lives.

some of the things i've come up with are:.

xmas,.

Fred Franztone

That reminds me of their silly umwritten rule that couples shouldn't hold hands till they're engaged.

14

Important spiritual food

by moreconfusedthanever in

todays watchtower study is all about singing complete with instructions on how to sing.,............

"but we all have the responsibility to sing praises to jehovah.

so hold your songbook up high, lift your head, and sing with enthusiasm!".

Fred Franztone

Prayer never made sense to me. If God can read our minds and hearts then why do we need to talk to him. And why should we talk to someone who believes we are imperfect, unworthy and won't speak back to us. Even as a believer I thought prayer was stupid.

19

Prophecy question as hysteria sets in

by Isambard Crater in

a load of j.w's in my family and the congregation i attend as a pimo have been saying the end is very close because the anglo american world superpower is clearly still the king of the south, and russia is now clearly king of the north due to persecuting and banning the religion there and seizing property.. i've forgot what the religion used to teach and maybe still does, about the timing of all this king of north + south stuff, the attack on all religion by the u.n and then the attack on j.w's who will be left standing.

i mean, i thought jehovah was going to put it into the u.n's minds to ban or attack all other religions, then the attack on j.w's, but witnesses seem to think the end is so, so close because russia has banned them.. it's sad, as some dubs i know have sold their homes and made other big decisions so they can pioneer in these 'very last of the last days'..

Fred Franztone

The king of the north was Antiochus. There's no basis for a second fulfilment of this prophecy. JWs are one of the only religions who even believe this to be the case, most are sensible enough to know that this prophecy was about events that may or may not have happened more than 2000 years ago. Tell your family and congregation that no, the book of Daniel isn't about them, if you think their little JW egos can handle it.

They're correct in one sense though, these are the last days, for the JW religion that is.

36

Is it 16?

by Jrjw in

hi can anyone tell me if it's true the society says parents must take their child to meetings until they're 16 even if they don't want to?

my ex is being a pain about me not forcing my 12 year old to be a witness.

he doesn't know i'm becoming inactive at moment so i have to be careful how i word things to him.

Fred Franztone

There's no 16 rule, or any specific age, as far as I'm aware. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids so long as they are living with them, but no parent should ever force their child to do anything against their will unless it is life or death. Unfortunately, JWs do believe that missing meetings means death.

22

Things society interferes with

by Jrjw in

i was just lying here thinking about mind control and thought it'd write a list just to see how much the wts does try to control every aspect of people's lives.

some of the things i've come up with are:.

xmas,.

Fred Franztone

Things that they don't interfere with would make for a very short thread, let's put it that way.