Posts by FFGhost

37

Biblical Anachronisms in JW Literature

by neat blue dog in

in a recent post ffghost made a comment about how they're always inserting modern concepts into biblical narratives to make it relatable to jw's organization.

here are some that come to mind:.

- the capitalized term "governing body" when referring to the older men in jerusalem (really just another group of christians that paul outspokenly disagreed with and didn't look to for approval).

FFGhost

I've only seen the illustration of the guys with "book bags" here on this site - I think it might have been maybe in an old JW calendar or something not widely distributed.

But there are definitely many illustrations of 1st century Christians (without bookbags) actually standing at the entrance of a house, while the "householder" leans against his doorpost with his chin in his hand, listening intently.

As if 1st century Palestinian peasants had time to hang around in their houses (maybe they were playing video games?), and it was not at all life-threateningly suspicious for random out-of-town strangers to knock on doors of residents.

37

Biblical Anachronisms in JW Literature

by neat blue dog in

in a recent post ffghost made a comment about how they're always inserting modern concepts into biblical narratives to make it relatable to jw's organization.

here are some that come to mind:.

- the capitalized term "governing body" when referring to the older men in jerusalem (really just another group of christians that paul outspokenly disagreed with and didn't look to for approval).

FFGhost

Fleeing Jerusalem they worried about the congregation records being safe.

I remember that! I think it was one of the last "live-action-wave-your-arms-like-a-loon-to-prerecorded-dialogue" convention dramas before they went exclusively to video for their dramas.

I still have picture in my mind of the 1st-century "congregation secretary" sitting a table with a stylus and parchment, worrying about "congregation records" (I think implying, incredibly enough, that they were even recording "field service hours" back then).

I $#!+ you not. I remember it clear as a bell.

37

Biblical Anachronisms in JW Literature

by neat blue dog in

in a recent post ffghost made a comment about how they're always inserting modern concepts into biblical narratives to make it relatable to jw's organization.

here are some that come to mind:.

- the capitalized term "governing body" when referring to the older men in jerusalem (really just another group of christians that paul outspokenly disagreed with and didn't look to for approval).

FFGhost

They refer to Timothy as a "traveling overseer"...

(for example, Watchtower 2/15/1998 page 25: What was this gift? It involved Timothy’s appointment as a traveling overseer, a service privilege that he had to care for responsibly.)

...the identical term they have used dozens if not hundreds of times for "circuit overseers".

Implying that first century Christian congregations had similar hierarchy and arrangements as modern-day JW congregations.

I wonder if Timothy got his ride from "Circuit Chariot Leasing"?

Not to mention 20th (and 21st) century theocratic buzzwords such as "appointment" and "service privilege".

42

What are some of the weird teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, past and present?

by Vanderhoven7 in

i just picked up a few from mark jones as follows:.

i see is that the vast majority of jws don't seem to understand what their religion actually teaches.. the more controversial or embarrassing doctrine - although still official doctrine that has never been rescinded - is just not talked about anymore in the magazines.

there are dinosaurs living on venus.https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/2fowhx/dinosaurs_on_venus/.

FFGhost

Love the quotes on the previous page about "greasy-nosed flappers"! That's gold, right there.

Man, if only they were 1/10 as entertaining in their "literature" nowadays.

65

Ukraine - Nato - US crisis

by mikeflood in

don't understand....but this crisis in ukraine seems to be getting out of control....i mean, everybody knows how to start a war..... by the way, as always, people at the borg are having a field day.....

FFGhost

Used to be I had to go to RT to get my daily dose of Putin propaganda (or watch Tucker Carlson if I didn't mind it being a day late), but now I just need to sign on here.

Spasiba, Pyotr Pistoletiy!

11

Did the apostle Paul, Priscilla and Aquila sell their tents to the Roman army?

by hoser in

apparently they made leather tents for the roman army.

i had searched this site but i couldn’t find that this topic had been discussed yet.

.

FFGhost

You sure they didn't have a contract with Walmart?

LOL - the WTS is always throwing in anachronistic terms into their "literature", desperately trying to force parallels to modern life.

For example Peter and Andrew are always described as "having a fishing business" - not that they desperately picked something - anything! to get [close to] enough food for their families to eat, but as if they were graduates of East Bethlehem A&T and changed their major from Sociology to "Pisci-business studies" because they wanted to action the potential for maximizing the leverage of synergies which was impactful to their core competencies.

There were so many career options and business opportunities for 1st century Judean peasants! But they gave all that up to be "fishers of men". So you, JW reader, should do likewise.

10

Does anyone know why cart witnessing is not allowed at the moment??

by raymond frantz in

considering it is contacted in the open and i see other people engaging outdoors on other sales activities why is cart witnessing still not allowed?

are there any updates as regards returning to this activity any time soon ?.

FFGhost

I expect it will come back, along with regular meetings, in the next few months.

Dude, you....are....dreaming.

Everything will be shut down for at least, at the barest minimum, another year. Probably many years.

10

Anthony Morris Mormon background, does anyone here have any more information?

by raymond frantz in

do you have any information on tony's family history and mormon background?.

FFGhost

I seem to remember that one of the GB members had a Mormon background

I think it's Ken Cook.

Huh - come to think of it, he does have that pudgy, awkward, nerdy demeanor and pale skin that I associate with the typical Mormon guy. Would not be surprised.

11

Did the apostle Paul, Priscilla and Aquila sell their tents to the Roman army?

by hoser in

apparently they made leather tents for the roman army.

i had searched this site but i couldn’t find that this topic had been discussed yet.

.

FFGhost

The WTS tends to just kind of gloss over this point - just who were Paul and Priscilla and Aquila selling those tents to?

It's not like there were guys getting 2 weeks paid vacation and taking the family on a camping trip to a national park. A subsistence farmer or fisherman of workman would have no need for, let alone could afford, a tent.

Pretty much the only market for tents would be the military.

Today, of course, if you work for a defense contractor supplying material to the military, you are expected to quit your job, under the threat of being disfellowshipped / self-disassociated or "non-neutral activity".

20

A New LOW for Jehovah's Witnesses

by Newly Enlightened in

https://youtu.be/eufngqq77tu.

FFGhost

you might tactfully approach grieving ones in cemeteries on occasions when they return to visit the grave of a loved one.

We had a CO visit not long after this came out, and I recall some folks talking about how the "car group" the CO was in did just this - hung around a cemetery and waited to pounce.

Even though I was a full-on believer at that point, I found it really ghoulish. Never was I so thankful I missed field service that morning!