Anna Marina

Joined

• started 35 topics
• posted 1,221 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Anna Marina

• 
  20

  Does the Jehovah's Witnesses fall into category of being an organized cult ?

  by Finkelstein in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i think it does especially being that this organization is rigidly structured itself on formulated doctrines from a top hierarchy of men which are strictly enforced, among other reasons.

  what cults are.

  a cult is not necessarily a religious group, although religious cults are common, including breakaway sects from more mainstream faiths.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  To define a cult is one thing.

  Watchtower can define a cult and then say they are not a cult.

  *** rs p. 202 par. 2 Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
  A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthodox, however, should be God’s Word, and Jehovah’s Witnesses strictly adhere to the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion. They neither follow a human nor isolate themselves from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.
  

  Jesus said you identify people by their actions

  (John 13:34-35) . . .I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”

  So you have to get to know someone before you can tell how they act towards you. I had to get to know and understand the one who called on me and offered to study the Bible with me. How could I just write her off as a fraud without listening? Even to this day I think she was sincere, however misguided.
  

  People have to have freedom to explore - and those defining what a cult is can be just as much of a cult as those they are criticising. This is something I have learnt from Watchtower's tricks.

  So if YOU look out for the well being of your fellow man, does your fellow man respond the same or do they not care about you? Do they act out of an obligation of contract, money and organization or as a brother or sister responding to you as an individual with integrity? Do they love you?
  
• 
  15

  Will JWs get DFed if they are caught with old JW publications?

  by mickbobcat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was told that if a jw now gets caught reading or with old jw literature they can get dfed.

  i doubt this is true but wanted to know for sure.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  I got disfellowshipped for being caught with current literature and understanding it. But I view this as a positive.
  
• 
  30

  The Cancel Culture Is Alive And Well

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you don’t support certain ideas or beliefs, you may find yourself on the losing end in business, money matters, and community.

  curt schilling, a former red sox player who is conservative today reported how his insurance company suddenly dropped him even though he was an excellent consumer with them because of his “ views”.

  he was marked by those in charge and evidently was told by the rep he knew that they didn’t like his political views.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  Hi Resolute Bandicoot - thank you for the link. Would like to share an experience.

  I am one of those who sees a refugee as a little darling needing a home and safety. I see strangers as those who are to be welcomed and not perceived them with prejudice. Wait and see what they prove to be. It is SO easy to jump to the wrong conclusions. Give everyone as chance, that's my view.

  And so on on ministry I went round tapping on doors and met many a smiling Arabic face. They would invite me in in. Feed me dates, cook me meals. Whole room fulls would sit and listen as I opened the Bible and read to them. Yes roomfuls of women and then even of men.

  I had so many friendly conversations - they were kind to me. Some even wanted to take me back to Egypt with them. I thought that was a bit odd though. But one of them came along to the Kingdom Hall and I was able to show hospitality to others. So I had really good relations with these people. This was maybe about 15 years ago.
  

  However in 2019, after at least 14 years of trying to reason with the GB, I got disfellowshipped for sticking to the words of the prophet Daniel.

  Meantime a Muslim family had moved in next door to me. It all started off very friendly as you might expect but even though Watchtower was throwing me out, I still maintained my Christian faith and my ability to defend it. Therefore, when my neighbour began talking about his beliefs, I made sure he understood that our areas of agreement might be certain facts about Abraham and beyond that he should not expect me to agree with him because I was Christian. He presented as if he accepted my Christianity but then said I ought to watch a video by Sinead Oconnor saying why she converted to Islam.

  The way it turned out - unless I submitted to his ways, ie abandon my Christian faith I was to be a target of his relentless hurt. I have stood up to this, just as I have stood up to the GB.

  Observers say Israel will be sending me a medal for my outstanding performance in dealing with crabby cult members. Not sure it'll really be Israel - but I hope I put a smile on Jesus' face.
  

  (John 14:1) . . .Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise faith also in me. . .
  
  
• 
  30

  The Cancel Culture Is Alive And Well

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you don’t support certain ideas or beliefs, you may find yourself on the losing end in business, money matters, and community.

  curt schilling, a former red sox player who is conservative today reported how his insurance company suddenly dropped him even though he was an excellent consumer with them because of his “ views”.

  he was marked by those in charge and evidently was told by the rep he knew that they didn’t like his political views.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  Great video on Cancel Culture

  https://www.bitchute.com/video/ZjVDDjr38mee/
  
• 
  22

  Are the Creative days 7000 years long?

  by Steve J in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  where does the idea that the creative days of the genesis account were 7,000 years long come from?.

  genesis doesn't suggest that they were specific time periods, but shows that one "day" extended into others.

  i feel that the clue is in the words; "and there was an evening and there was a morning, a first day.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  Hello - this website is still under construction - so please just read the article - if you really have to comment under the article, the author Tadua will see your comment but I (techie back-room girl) might have to take it down if I do a rebuild for some reason. Also we have to approve the comment so - if it's a fair enough comment but doesn't show immediately don't get upset. I am still learning.
  

  The article is called

  “Yôm” and The Creation Account of Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:4

  This link is good as at time of writing - but article link may change.
  

  
  
• 
  30

  The Cancel Culture Is Alive And Well

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you don’t support certain ideas or beliefs, you may find yourself on the losing end in business, money matters, and community.

  curt schilling, a former red sox player who is conservative today reported how his insurance company suddenly dropped him even though he was an excellent consumer with them because of his “ views”.

  he was marked by those in charge and evidently was told by the rep he knew that they didn’t like his political views.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  I just found this news report about a prison chaplain who has been banned for 10 years in UK for exposing Islamic extremism in the prison services.

  The sad thing about this is that in UK there has been a Christian tradition/culture of seeking to reform the criminal, so they repent and are set back on the right course. However imperfectly that is applied, it has its roots in mercy, hoping the person will change.

  But imagine going to prison and being in a culture where you expected to submit to this kind of false religious doctrine. We know how bad WT is. This is WT on steroids.
  

  https://www.wnd.com/2021/01/prison-chaplain-banned-10-years-exposing-islamic-extremism/
• 
  19

  Letter from local Kingdom Hall

  by jhine in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  today l received a hand written letter from my local kingdom hall .

  l say my local as the one nearest me , for those who don't know me l am not nor have ever been a jw .

  as this letter was addressed " to the householder " l assume that everyone in the area ( tamworth , staffordshire ) has been sent one .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  I don't recognise the email address. But maybe a techie MS or elder set up the email account.
  

  In UK COs have been asking elders to arrange to contact all inactive and disfellowshipped ones (except anyone active in showing them up ). So, if you ever attended a meeting, maybe you are still on their radar. Alternatively someone/s are sending out lots of letters to the residents of Tamworth.

  You could asked them why they say the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar reign was followed by the 2nd year of his reign. (Dan 2:1) They say 19th year is 607 BCE and 2nd year is 606 BCE.
  

  If you want more detail I am putting it together in this short series. Here is part 2

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOxGjBc2d54&t=1s

  Alternatively see explanation I put on website I built for GB to see if they would correct their 1914 doctrine, on which rests their authority.

  http://olam30.co.uk/key/d01_explanation.php
  
• 
  76

  Do You Support Trump Being Impeached Again?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it looks like it can happen again and i suspect if it does happen, the senate will not convict either because they can’t convict him since it’s after his presidency or simply because they don’t have sufficient votes..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  If you get the chance listen to this - it is too much for me to describe but it relates deeply to what in going on both in America and worldwide. The man, David Knight doing the explaining is brilliant.
  

  NIH & FDA at the Center of Transhumanist Movement

  https://www.bitchute.com/video/7AST3gTS3seN/
• 
  55

  Should Difference of Opinion Be Squelched On Sites Such As FB or Twitter?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think that for the most part, dissenting views should be allowed to exist because of free speech principles.

  one person may strongly feel that something is true while someone else may present “facts” that support the opposing view.

  when that is the case, healthy discussion is mostly productive.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  Yes fair point - but it's as much as I could think of and if they do cut your power supply off what can you do? Try to build your own and/or make do with what resources you do have.

  The companies that run the various platform do not love you. So how could you make them allow you to do anything if the powers-that-be make it impossible?

  Control what you can and be as clever as you can. Some people can be ingenious (and selfless). Also situations change and maybe assets which were not at your disposal become available to you to control.
  
• 
  55

  Should Difference of Opinion Be Squelched On Sites Such As FB or Twitter?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think that for the most part, dissenting views should be allowed to exist because of free speech principles.

  one person may strongly feel that something is true while someone else may present “facts” that support the opposing view.

  when that is the case, healthy discussion is mostly productive.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Anna Marina

  Haven't read through entire thread - just some quick thoughts

  FB and Twitter - they are companies and like WT can do what they want BUT it is misleading to get people to believe they can say anything they like. Also not nice if your words and other data are used for analysis that is exploitative/against your personal interests.
  

  Freedom of speech - it is a Christian concept although it has been extended into the secular world and become freedom to argue or freedom to have different sets of values and priorities/faith or no faith or in between.
  

  (Hebrews 3:6) . . .We are the house of that One, if we make fast our hold on our freeness of speech and our boasting over the hope firm to the end.
  

  The way I read that scripture is to mean that if in the face of opposition we stand up for Jesus Christ and don't get cowed, then we are of His house. It doesn't mean say whatever you want, regarless of whether it is sensible, realistic, true etc.

  But getting back to FB and Twitter, just as some of us naively believed WT was Christian, so some believed FB and Twitter allowed you to say anything you liked. But now some are waking up. So if you want to go on a platform you need to find one where the values of the owner most closely match your own. Or learn to code and set up your own.

  You could start here

  https://www.w3schools.com/php/

  And here

  https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_mysql_intro.asp