ive always wondered about the controversy regarding whether jesus died on a cross or on a stake.
whats the difference anyway?
his execution was simply the way the romans put people to death.
To the best of my knowledge, the only group that makes a "fuss" about cross vs. stake is the WTBS, and, IMHO, the only reason they do is to again "set themselves apart" from the rest of "christendom", and to pretend to be smart to the less informed.
I also completely agree with you that the manner of his death is much less important then the pourpose behind it.
in a few more days i'll be making my departure from the wts, part of me is relieved and yet another part of me is dreading the drama i'll be going through shortly.
i've been trying to prepare myself for the deluge of questions that i know are sure to come from my family.
my wife will be the first person i tell obviously and then i'll tell my mother and younger brother.
1. Look at the baptismal questions (the final 2) there is/was a thread on this recently.
2. You can also use the quotes about the Alpha and Omega, the "Sodomites"...
3. Shunning is a good example of a lack of "christian love".
4. Luke 21:8.
Peace and Long Life to you, Leander!
"there is neither jew nor greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in christ jesus".
galatians 3:28
Bill has not stated, in any way shape or form, that "all JWs are pedophiles".
he has stated that the policies of the WTBS do not go far enough to protect those that have been abused by the abusers that do exist within the organization.
Hilda, you are either confused by this, or you are intentionally trying to push people off the point.
Which is it?
Coffee, I think you win a half eaten apple.... :)
i just saw bill bowen on a television spot on wpsd tv out of paducah, kentucky.
they stated that bill will be defending himself against charges of "causing divisions" in the jw church.. bill stated that he 'still considers himself a jw in good standing and wishes to remain that way'.
also, the anchors made mention of bill's website, even giving his url.
What is the local relevance?
There are congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses all over America. The fact that members are brought before the "Judicial Committee" of the local congregation for reporting child abuse to the authorities makes it relevant to people everywhere.
This particular story deserves special attention becuase this member, Bill Bowen, has refused to be silenced by the threat of this action.
Or, something to that affect....
world renown conservative investor, warren buffet, told an audience that a nuclear attack upon the united states was a certainty.
such an attack would of course result in swift and terrible retaliation and the likey annihilation of most of the arab world and then some.
whether or not that proves to be the exact scenario that's played out, it must be admitted that the climate for the sudden outbreak of a nuclear storm has never been so favorable.
No, that doesn't explain why he made such statements. It makes you appear as the raving lunatic. Cutting and pasting out of context quotes is intended to prejudice people and cause them to form an opinion based upon disjointed thoughts. It generally doesn't move people to actually think things through. What you have demonstrated is that you are intellectually dishonest and lazy.
Wow, now if that ain't the pot calling the kettle black!
Of course, You Know's effort at doing this same thing, while also "changing" the quote to better serve his point is all about "moving people to actually think things through".
gen 2:17 - god says: eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad and you will absolutely die!.
gen 3:5 - satan says: god knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like god knowing good and bad.. .
so what happen?.
I liked this one:
remember me?
i posted once before in november of .
once a year, or should it be celebrated weekly, even daily, like some.
"keep doing this in rememberance of me..." I never took it to mean the simple wine/bread thing... I always thougt it applied to all things.
Gathering, conversing, eating, etc...
"All things to the glory of God."
The Church/Religions of the world however would have us believe it to be a ceremony of sorts, and perhaps that has it's place as well. But that also be what "empowers" them over the people, by making it a "holy event" that you can only do at "specified times" in "specified places", you take the true meaning of it away from the individuals.
"reasoning from the scriptures" book pg 170,. article: "does anyone ever get out of the bible hell".
which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of.
(14) "and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.. this is the second death.".
Eternal Reward - No longer worrying about eternal punishment.
Eternal Punishment - Always worrying about an eternal reward.
Peace in your heart, priceless.
I like the way Thomas Paine said it best:
"I consider myself in the hands of my Creator, and that he will dispose of me after this life consistently with His justice and goodness. I leave all these matters to Him, as my Creator and friend, and I hold it to be presumption in man to make an article of faith as to what the Creator will do with us hereafter."
can a person make themselves sick by their beliefs?.
this is called the "nocebo" effect and it's getting some critical.
attention by researchers.. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a2709-2002apr29.html.
What is :
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis - whoa - AKA Chronic Fatigue SyndromeAnywhere to get basic info on this?
???
he asked if i was going to the circuit assembly this weekend.
he asked why.
i just said after a long pause, dad it's not the truth (you have to understand that i'm the one who preached to this man and got him in the truth) the conversation lasted about 5 minutes with him saying well who else teaches the right thing, you have to understand, jehovah has to have an organization.
lv4fer -
I am in the same basic spot you are, except that I have been out for a long time, but have recently begun again trying to explain to my dad (an elder) why the WTBS cannot be the "truth".
Many of his responses are very similar to the ones you mentioned.
I worry daily that I will end up alienating him, and have many times called him to make sure "we were ok". He has told me that he will not "shun" me reguardless of my beliefs, but I know that at some point he may feel he has to.
Keep it simple, ask him "why" god needs an organization on earth? If he is at all like my dad, it will be all about "the work".
I intend to use the Luke 21:8 reasoning to show him (my dad) that the WTBS cannot be the one... not sure when I will, we are supposed to go fishing next Friday... but I want to take a break from these conversations.
hang in there.
