Posts by FFGhost

6

I was looking at getting a set of the 1989 BV but not sure if it has what I want Help please

by mickbobcat in

so i am looking for the watchtower that has the part about within our 20th century armageddon will come.

but i know they changed it on some bv.

i have an offer to buy one on line but not sure what page i need them to take a picture of to let me see if its the changed version to in our time.

FFGhost

They changed it in the bound volumes. You will have to look for an originally printed magazine to see the "within our 20th century" quote.

For anyone not knowing what this refers to:

https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/20th-century-2000.php

46

Complexity, Evolutionists Biggest Problem

by Sea Breeze in

recently, some scientists modeled one of the simplest known cells - that of a bacteria.

it took an army of 128 computers running for 10 hours to process the data required in the 25 categories of molecules that are involved in this "simple cells'" life processes.

think about that for a moment - 128 computers running for 10 hours just to compute the data, not actually do it mind you; but just to model the known processes in one of the simplest known cells, which is many orders of magnitude simpler than a human cell.

FFGhost

Arguments such as in the OP can be reduced to one simple sentence:

"I can't understand [X], therefore God must have done it."

Reminds me of how the Watchtower goes on and on about the Bible providing "satisfying" answers to "life's big questions" - not true answers, or accurate, or logical, or reasonable, or verifiable, but "satisfying".

It is "satisfying" to think there is a big invisible man in the sky overseeing and controlling everything. There is of course no evidence for such a conclusion, but it is "satisfying" to think so.

28

Rap Music That Debases Should Be “Cancelled “

by minimus in

jw
friends

i find it interesting that we live in a cancel culture.

the influencers go after abraham lincoln, uncle ben , aunt jemima, the flag, the national anthem, people they perceive as not following their agenda.

in the midst of all of this, rap music and its dehumanizing culture are off limits to talk about.

FFGhost

People so lacking in perspective wont gain anything from rational discussion.

Some folks are just snowflakes.

8

How to make memorial bread

by road to nowhere in

video in the meeting part.

i love the stereotypical jew actors, old world kitchen, yiddish accents.

reading the greatest man book instead of bible.. they did give a nod to non wheat flour but corn and rice would have been unknown at memorial no.

FFGhost

yiddish accents

That was Yiddish???

I would categorize it as "Yiddish as imagined by someone whose only exposure to the language was watching Fiddler on the Roof a few decades ago."

I love how they make such a big BIG BIG deal out of making bread with literally 2 ingredients and whose recipe can be accurately and completely written out in literally 10 words.

"Mix ingredients, flatten dough, bake at 450 for 8 minutes."

I love the insipid conversation too.

(Remember there are literally 2 ingredients)

Mom, after taking handful of flour, to daughter: "Do you remember what comes next?"

Daughter: "Corn starch? Oregano? Poppy seeds? Agar agar? Orange rind? Granola?..."

"....Tripe? Soy sauce? Basmati rice? Haggis? Eye of newt?..."

<10 minutes later>

"I know! WATER!"

"Very good, little Yiddish daughter of mine."

3

Alternative Military Service

by Sea Breeze in

"what, though, if the state requires a christian for a period of time to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian administration?

… that is his decision before jehovah.

appointed elders and others should fully respect the conscience of the brother and continue to regard him as a christian in good standing.

FFGhost

Yeah, this is one of the more egregious reversals they sneaked in, with scarcely a thought (much less an apology) to the thousands, or tens (hundreds?) of thousands of young men who suffered, or were even killed, because of the particular interpretation of Biblical thought by a group of old men in an ivory tower.

The change in organ transplant policy (was considered "cannibalism" and was a judicial offense from 1967-1980, then became a "conscience matter" afterward) was another big one, though the number of JWs affected likely numbered only in the dozens, perhaps a few hundred.

For any lurking JWs out there: Did Jehovah's view of alternative military service, or organ transplants, change? Did he change his mind?

No, you say? Then what must he think of an organization that presents their own interpretations as "Jehovah's thoughts", when those interpretations were in fact exactly the opposite of Jehovah's view? And who then refuse responsibility, not even so much as offering an apology?

Or maybe the organization was right in the past, and is wrong now?

Those are your choices: Either they (a) were wrong and misrepresented Jehovah's thoughts, reproached his name and are unrepentant (not even asking for forgiveness from their victims), or (b) they are wrong now, actively sinning by ascribing to Jehovah thoughts which are not his. There is no middle ground. Either way, they bring "reproach on Jehovah's name".

Tell me why, exactly, are JWs "a people for his name"?

140

Why So Many Young People Are Leaving The Watchtower

by Jeremy C in

i have been giving a lot of thought to the young people who are leaving the watchtower organization in recent years.

last night, i was reading the thread posted by jwfacts a while back in which he provided some statistics and graphs showing the rapidly declining growth in the watchtower.

one factor that was discussed at length was the high number of young people who do not stay in the organization.

FFGhost

Excellent post from 10 years ago.

Not much has changed in the intervening time. Lots more videos, including the "Caleb and Sofia" cartoons.

Same disparagement of anything beyond high school education. The only "approved" further education is learning a trade.

So anyone with a brain is firmly encouraged to make a choice: turn off your mind for the rest of your life, and work for free to get "spiritual privileges", or get the fruck out now.

47

What is the most insensitive thing an Overseer or Elder has ever said and done to you?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

what is the most insensitive thing an overseer or elder has ever said and done to you?

i have had many insensitive things said to me by some elders, but for some reason one self-righteous elder was always on my case.

he didn't like the fact that i missed meetings, didn't like that i never went out in field service, that i didn't answer at the weekly meetings and he didn't like that i carried my books and magazines in my hands and not a service/book bag.

FFGhost

He became an elder and completely changed. He went from encouraging to judgemental pretty much overnight.

I've seen this countless times. The most mild, meek, generous person, then give them a smidgen of authority, and whammo! SS officer material.

33

Would you leave the Watchtower if you woke up at age 80 plus, or just stay in for the rest of your life.

by pistolpete in

so yesterday while i was doing some work for a customer, i noticed the wt mags on the sofa.

and i asked the elderly man if he was a jehovah witness?.

he said that he and his wife and all his children were raised in the religion, but only he and his wife attend the meetings or zoom.

FFGhost

I suspect there are 10s if not 100s of thousands of JWs in exactly the same position - they know it's all bunkum but it's the only life they know. It would be horrifically daunting to build a new life from scratch, so why not just stick around with the life you know and do as little damage to others (token field service, no contributions, no congregational responsibilities) as you can?

55

Ban on Independent Meetings

by lssjr in

source - march 2021 announcements - - https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5085868283920384/2021-march-147-english-german-announcements-reminders.

this is a sobering reminder of what happened some 40 years ago when raymond franz and others were literally kicked out from the jehovah's witnesses for having pre-arranged private spiritual discussions.lesson: paragraph 7 is another example of the i and t in dr. steven hassan's bite model of the 21st century cult - information and thought control at its best!!!!

"my gosh, there must be a lot of independent meetings these days.

FFGhost

Oh, and I forgot the even more indescribably wackadoodly bizarre image of people dressing up as if they were to attend a corporate board meeting.....to watch TV in their own home.

Oh, and the lady has a Bible in her lap...so she can follow along in her own copy of the Bible....even though the quoted text from the verse they are dithering about will appear on the screen....cuz somehow it's more holy if you your fingers touch the Holy Bible....

These images of idealized JW life have always been unrealistic. Now they are painfully so.

55

Ban on Independent Meetings

by lssjr in

source - march 2021 announcements - - https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5085868283920384/2021-march-147-english-german-announcements-reminders.

this is a sobering reminder of what happened some 40 years ago when raymond franz and others were literally kicked out from the jehovah's witnesses for having pre-arranged private spiritual discussions.lesson: paragraph 7 is another example of the i and t in dr. steven hassan's bite model of the 21st century cult - information and thought control at its best!!!!

"my gosh, there must be a lot of independent meetings these days.

FFGhost

Good lawd-amighty, where is that photo from in R&R's post? It has all the hallmarks of being a legit WT publication photo.

Their photos always model "ideal" JW behavior.

They want people to clap....for a broadcast....that they saw on TV....sitting in their living room....with a total of 3 people there to hear it?

And the people you are clapping for....can't hear you....don't know you....don't know you exist....?

Every day, you say, "they can't get any nuttier".....and every day they prove you wrong.....