The good news is that my salvation and the relationships with all the family and friends I've ever known will remain intact!
The bad news is that the ones who might have the most to gain from that which I learn from you will run for the hills.
NeverKnew
JoinedPosts by NeverKnew
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8
NeverKnew - Biography?
by NeverKnew ini'm seeing quite a few posters requesting that new people post their biographies.
i'm almost embarrassed to do this for two reasons.
1. i may be perceived as just another bleeding heart who would have absolutely no clue as to how one feels about leaving or being torn from the society.. 2. i have concerns about the 10+ jws who have infiltrated numerous aspects of my life (work/personal friends/friends of friends) being lurkers and recognizing my "biographical profile.
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33
What Proof Is There That Rutherford Was Responsible For The Pyramid Monument Near CTR's Grave?
by JWB inwhat proof is there that rutherford was responsible for the pyramid monument near ctr's grave?.
"charles taze russell died in 1916, the pyramid marker was installed in 1921 (5 years after his death), and the the masonic temple was built in the mid 1990s, these items have nothing to do with pastor russell's grave.
the masonic temple is not even on the cemetery grounds, it is a different property altogether.
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NeverKnew
My gosh! You guys have to stop posting items of interest to me! I think I only have one more post! LOL
According to Allegheny County's real estate records, the property that sits about 100 feet from the pyramid was acquired by the Mason's on October 17, 1994 for a mere $610,000.00 I have a REALLY tough time believing that almost 42 acres of land a few short miles from the heart of the city was only worth a half million dollars. There are homes within minutes of this property sitting on less than an acre that are valued at a million+. The previous owner is obtainable, just not online. If it's important to ya' I can find out who owned it before the Mason's. I might be wrong, but given the price I would not be surprised if it were someone who may have had ties to the Masons.
I have pictures of the grounds (which can be found on googlemaps) but I have to figure out how to post them. I can attest to the following:
It's not his gravestone. His remains are about 30 feet from the pyramid.
There are not MANY names inscribed on the pyramid. There are probably less than 5.
As for Rutherford's construction of the pyramid? well... I offer the following detailed information taken from a Watchtower document (would they be "in a position to know"? ):
I haven't figured out how to insert documents or .jpgs stored on my computer so I retyped this... (please forgive the typos)
Taken from page 7 of the "Souvenir Report of the Bible Student's Convention held in Pittsburgh, PA - January 2-5, 1919." (bold emphasis mine).
AT THE GRAVE
On Monday, a party of about 150 was conducted by Brother Bohnet to the grave of Brother Russell. Upon a hillside, sloping towards the south, we joined hands around the grave and sang:
"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
"Our glorious hope revives
Our courage every day,
While each with expectation strives
To run the Heavenly way.
One last lingering look upon the scene recalled the peaceful manner of our Pastor's "passing beyond the vail." Brother Rutherford's words came to mind: "I am glad this prison experience was reserved for us, rather than for our dear Brother Russell."
We visited the marble works and there watched the workmen, slowly but surely chisel out the monument to be erected as a memorial to the Society.
The Watch Tower Society burial lots in Rosemont United Cemeteries, five miles due north of Pittsburgh City, contain simple grave space for all the members of the Bethel family, and the Pilgrims and their wives - in all more than 274 adult graves. In the exact center of the Bethel lot will be erected diagonally the Pyramid Shape Monument as designed by Brother Bohnet, and accepted by Brother Russell as the most fitting emblem for an enduring monument on the Society's burial space. The size of this structure is nine feet across the base, and its apex stone is exactly seven feet above the ground surface level. I rests upon a comcrete foundation five feet deep and heavily reinforced with barbed wire, the work of Bother Bohnet, who would not entrust this important task to anyone else so we are assured the job was well done. The brother gave a full despcription of the securing of the rock material (after fruitless attempts extending over a period of about five years) at the time he piloted the conventionists to the cemetery and urged us to help ourselves to souvenir chips in the shop of the granite worker near by. These monster blocks of pink (Borther Russsells favorite tint) granite were brought all the way from Granite Mountain Quarries near Marble Falls City in Texas, on a special flat car and are said to be about 95 percent flint rock.
Each slope of the pyramid will face one of the large lots and on each of these slopes is cut in four inch embossment a Teacher's Bible on the pages on which will appear the names of the ones buried there. The burial space for Brother Rutherford was indicated and his name, like that of Brother Russell will be at the top of opposite Bible pages. A Bible space being set apart for the Pilgrims all in one lot of forty-eight grave space, so all their names will appear on the same Bible.
Above the Bibles are spaces for inscriptions in full, W.T.B.& T.S., I.B.S.A., "Dead with Crhist," "Risen with Chirst, " etc. And above these the Cross and Crown and Wreath, and the whole capped with the apex stone, highly polished- its shape of course being pyramidal.
Within the structure, incased in a block of granite, will be a sealed metal box, in which is a complete set of Karatol(?) Scripture Studies, the Memorial Tower, and one of every tract, photographs of Pastor Russell, a copy of the Society's charter, and many other things to interest the people who at some future date may open the pyramid and find them.
Brother Wm B. Hurst, of Pittsburgh, who was assistant superintendent of the United Cermetraies under Brother Bohnet's general charge, will have the care of Brother Russell's grave in the pilgrimage absence of Brother Bohnet. It is expected the monument will be in place before the next Decoration Day. Any people desiring a chip of the stone may send postage enough to carry a piece about the size of an egg, with enough additional to pay the Society for the trouble of having it wrapped for the mail. Best for class members to order collectively.
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NeverKnew - Biography?
by NeverKnew ini'm seeing quite a few posters requesting that new people post their biographies.
i'm almost embarrassed to do this for two reasons.
1. i may be perceived as just another bleeding heart who would have absolutely no clue as to how one feels about leaving or being torn from the society.. 2. i have concerns about the 10+ jws who have infiltrated numerous aspects of my life (work/personal friends/friends of friends) being lurkers and recognizing my "biographical profile.
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NeverKnew
I'm seeing quite a few posters requesting that new people post their biographies. I'm almost embarrassed to do this for two reasons.
1. I may be perceived as just another bleeding heart who would have absolutely no clue as to how one feels about leaving or being torn from the society.
2. I have concerns about the 10+ JWs who have infiltrated numerous aspects of my life (work/personal friends/friends of friends) being lurkers and recognizing my "biographical profile." Given what I'm reading, I run the risk of killing any trust they may have for me.
Through circumstance, I'm familiar with the traditions of about 4 major Christian (Trinitarian) denominations and consider myself denominationally neutral. I believe it would be pure arrogance for any denomination to say that their doctrines supercede another's in the Creator's eyes. After being exposed to the online and personally shared stories of personal and emotional destruction of this particular group's adherents along with the deception of the leaders, my respect for JW doctrine has certainly hit rock bottom.
I'm here to understand the mindset and the language of JWs who are a part of my life in hopes of communicating more effectively. I have no desire to sell anyone on my beliefs for that runs it's course towards conditional acceptance. It just sickens me to listen to uninformed protests when I ask questions. I think that's my issue... this week. *Sigh*
Is it enough to say that I'm an "ex-JW/uninformed JW" sympathizer?
I have very few posts left for the day and I'm okay with that. I have work to do! ttyl :)
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19
Revelation 19:1 omitted from NWT index?
by DATA-DOG ini am just curious about something.
the term great crowd of other sheep does not exist in the scriptures.
while looking into the great crowd of revelation i noticed that revelation 19:1 is not included in the index under the term great crowd.
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NeverKnew
That was the EXACT verse that created a HUGE fall-out with my JW friend a little more than a month ago!
Me: Where did you say you believe the great crowd is?
JW: On earth!!!!
Me: Can we look at Rev 19:1?
JW: Sure! (flipping through pages of my ESV) it says... 'After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God...'
Me: *blank stare with the sound of crickets getting louder*
JW: (reading my blank stare as the realization of what they had just read hit them)
JW: "Oh, the WATCHTOWER can explain THAT! NO PROBLEM!!!!" *with a huge grin on his face* (oral emphasis his)
I lost it. To be honest I can't even remember what I said. I'm sure it included a failure to trust the Bible as the authority. Regrettably, it wasn't very supportive. It was two weeks before we communicated with each other. Now I'm wondering if he attempted to get more information on that verse.
Are you saying that an explanation of that verse can't be found anywhere?
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"Pilot Project" - Jehovah's Witnesses in Manhattan, with your new host... Robert Warren!
by cedars inyet another video effort by the society to be apparently pulled off jw.org and given an audience on youtube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbohitd8goi.
my observations.... despite obvious attempts to garner praise, the feedback robert gets from passersby is far from glowing.
at best, it can be described as neutral, with none of those chosen to comment seeming to know anything about jw beliefs.
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NeverKnew
I just text messaged one of my company's web developers and asked why a website would employ the use of YouTube for video postings. His reponse "...there really isn't a good free control to do it yourself. Makes it a lot easier as well." I then asked if a server would be adversely impacted if a video were housed on a corporate server (and not on YouTube) and viewed by multiple users simulataneously. His response was, "It definitely would."
I wonder if the Watchtower developers
a) don't realize the negative implications associated with their actions,
b) are trying to minimize loads on their servers,
c) just don't know HOW to do it any other way,
d) all of the above.
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I can prove the WatchTower is a false cult quicker than you can prove it's the truth...but
by Glander injw's are told to run like hell from anybody who questions their doctrines...especially those who know what they are talking about.
these folks are conveniently labled as 'apostates'.
come on, you blowhard cowards, stand up and fight!
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NeverKnew
I'm still looking for the last JWs who came to my door to finish their library research on 586/7. I haven't seen them since March. Guess I'm not worth saving.
I find it very disingenuous for folks to knock on other's doors promoting a "truth" while shoving yellow books at them that demands that a discomfort with their denomination be declared because questions they didn't have weren't answered...
...and then not answer questions.
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Free online courses from accredited schools... Your opinion
by MC RubberMallet inhttps://www.coursera.org/.
though you won't be accredited, what do you think of this program?.
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NeverKnew
The most valuable course I've taken was, of all things, a Criticial Thinking class!
I have the textbook in front of me - held onto it all these years - "Becoming a Critical Thinker, A User Friendly Manual" by Sherry Diestler. After reading this book, you'd very easily identify the constructions the WT uses in their writings. Well worth having on a bookshelf - even an older edition would be worth it.
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"Recovery" Could Benefit By Following My JW Grandfather's Advice
by steve2 inrecovery is new to this forum.
he inevitably uses a confrontational approach, requesting - demanding?
- that people show him why the watchtower is wrong.
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NeverKnew
I have a 20 year old daughter who is making decisions that are appropriate for her age. Book smart... but... the wisdom of her own rationale scares the crap out of me.
What's the guess at Recovery's age? I'm giving them early 20's. S/he seems JW booksmart. But as for wisdom... eh... a little young. I REALLY hope that this person isn't in their 30's or 40's.
I've read about the general malaise felt among some adherents, but what's the profile (age range) of the most "gung ho/out to save em'" witnesses?
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234
Suicide - How many do you know within the JWs
by Lady Lee inthw wts likes to play games with their statistics.
one interesting but truly tragic is the number of jwhovah's witnesses who commit suicie.. now i suspect that if a person commits suicide shortly before or after they are disfellowshipped then the elders would say that person wasn't a witness or that they had done something so terrible that they were too guilty to admit it and by their action of committing suicide they pretty much declared they were no longer a jw.. yup fancy talk to make sure any crap didn't fall on them.. so my question.. do you know of cases like this?
if so then can you answer a few more questions.. had this person been dfed or in real danger of being dfed or whatever the equivalent is if they were never baptized?.
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NeverKnew
Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite movies of all time. How many Witnesses would relate to Morgan Freeman in this scene?
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I'm gonna have to decline your invite
by mrsjones5 inmy mother just told me today that her cousin's wife has extended an invite for me to attend their 35th wedding anniversary.
i find that i'm not in the mood to be surrounding by a group of jws especially since said cousin and his wife are both jws and i did accept the wife as a friend on facebook where i've been none too discreet about my distaste for the society.
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NeverKnew
I hate that you can't have a functional relationship with the family, but..... thatta girl. :)