zophar

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Posts by zophar

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  29

  What's your degree of anti-JWness?

  by Landy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is absolutely pro-jw, 5 is neutral and 10 is youtubing nutjob apostate, where do you stand?.

  i'm probably around a 6. i have the view that jws are a nothing marginal religion.

  if i hadn't been brought up as one i doubt they would have ever entered my consciousness.. the reasons it's a 6 and not a 5 is that i have some concerns over their child baptism and safeguarding procedures, but i think it's down to them being a bit dim rather than any pro child abusing ethos.

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  zophar

  You often hear, "Hate the sin not the sinner." That' kind of sums up my feelings regarding the organization vs the individual JW.

  Label me 6.5
• 
  65

  Short stay

  by midnight in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  after much research and prayer i am returning to being a jehovah's witness i can find nothing that eliminates them from being god's directed people , in the end they will reach the end of there journey despite mistakes and errors just like the israelites entered the promised land , thanks for your input and all the best on your personal journey ☺.

  midnight..

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  zophar

  Great advice Giles. And very humble to recognize if you were insensitive. It's hard to tell whether someone is sincere or trolling. Like you, I would rather err on the side of kindness and tolerance.

  As Toes Up mentioned, we have had enough experience with not being to ask a reasonable question and expect any kind of answer.

  bravo to both of you on your helpful attitudes
• 
  4

  Cnn health

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  nice article cnn health.what do people talk about before they die?.

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  zophar

  http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/health/what-people-talk-about-before-dying-kerry-egan/index.html
  
• 
  25

  My oldest friend, Quincy Roberts, Ex-JW died last night at age 66

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the first time i walked into a kingdom hall, i was about 15 years old.

  i shook hands with a 12-year-old named quincy.

  as time passed and we grew older, quincy hung out with us older j-dubs.

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  zophar

  Terry:

  It is so hard watching friends around you die. We are just at that age when we start saying things we used to hear our parents say. "Oh I can't believe so and so died" every time an entertainer or actor dies.

  I see where one of your old neighbors, Malcolm Allen died. Did some Convention work with him in Fort Worth back in the day.

  Be glad you and your friend got to live an authentic life with eyes open. Interesting comment that your friendship was during the pre North Korean JW lifestyle. Some friendships do survive in spite of the iron hand. Be glad that you were there for each other as true companions down till the end.

  So sorry for your loss.

  Zophar
  
• 
  7

  The Forward to My New Book "New Boy 50 years a Watchtower Slave"

  by new boy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the forward the following story is my fifty year relationship with the watchtower bible and tract society otherwise known as the jehovah witnesses.

  it started when i was just two years old and ended just one week after 9/11, 2001 just three weeks before my fifty second birthday.

  i was basically raised in that thought system i became a full time minister in my late teens.

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  zophar

  Great post and analogies!
• 
  50

  Elder asking for help

  by untruth in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is my first time posting on here so i’m not sure where to start.

  i’m trying to keep it as short as possible since i could expand much more.

  i’ve been in the process of waking up in the last year and a half.

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  zophar

  Dear Untruth

  I have similar circumstances except older and longer time as an elder. Glad you woke up about 20 yrs younger than I did!

  I have found it helpful to mention how many of the terms we use are not even in the Bible. Like overlap and organization etc. Also, why did we adjust so many times if Jehovah was leading. Generation, we have changed our understanding at least 6 different times. Or Superior Authorities, we said at first it was the governments, then Jehovah and then back to the governments...how is that "tacking" or an adjustment, why would we be directed away from a more correct understanding to an incorrect one and then back to the correct one?

  You have a real challenge ahead of you and I am sorry for you. My wife finally started agreeing with me when she didn't have the answers herself. Also, I have been able to voice opinions to more open minded ones in the cong without acting like a doubter but just, "I can't get my head around this overlapping generation understanding, how about you?" Amazing that this seems to be a signal for them to open up and freely express their doubts, then when alone I comment on this to my wife, "seems like they are struggling with this too." Very helpful, since it is them saying it as well not just me.

  The recent WT Study on undeserved kindness opened the way for some good discussions as well. I mentioned how I used to belittle the, "saved by grace" comments would get in FS but really, they have it right. How nice not to feel condemned or pushed, but just enjoying God's favor or undeserved kindness and being less hard on myself thinking I'm never good enough.

  I use the Interlinear a lot as well and I always strive to share interesting things I learn from this publication, produced by the FDS, to show the inconsistencies.

  I hope things work out for you. This is a long journey if you wish to preserve your marriage and you will have many ups and downs. I really empathize with you.
  
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  37

  What is the Education Level of the Governing Body members?

  by Wild_Thing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i would love to compile a list of the education obtained by the governing body members both past and present.

  can anyone provide any information to get me started?.

  it still amazes me they think they can translate ancient languages with an 8th grade education.

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  zophar

  I know Fred Franz had some college, not sure he graduated. Also, I believe Albert Schroeder had some university courses as well. I believe both of them were on the original NWT translating committee.

  Interestingly, Schroeder's son is reported to have went to University and is now an attorney.

  I'm sure that Geoffrey Jackson was instrumental in the newest version of NWT. His biography mentions no university training at all.
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  39

  Is changing the "truth" / presenting "new light" really so bad?

  by Zana in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  playing devil's advocate here.... what's the difference between the gb changing bible interpretations compared to parliaments all over the world changing laws?

  although the us constitution (=bible) remains untouched, congress passes i don't know how many new laws every year.

  and of course people are expected to follow them.

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  zophar

  notsurewheretogo

  and
  sir82

  You both make excellent arguments, perhaps you should join the Legislature or Parliament!

  I understand the Mormon Church believes the US Constitution is a document inspired by God. Others however might view it as a wise document capable of changing interpretation with time and circumstance. In that way, a living document. The Bible makes the claim that it too is a living document.

  Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and exerts power"

  So, like the constitution, does that mean that changing times might call for changing understandings. The problem is that the GB feel they are the only ones that can read the Bible's pulse. So you get the terrible situations as discussed by notsurewheretogo above. That position causes pain, depression, anger and even death.

  The change in accepting blood fractions, alternative military service and the change in laws regulating marital sexual relations cost people their association with friends, divorce and even death because of adjusted views!

  Perhaps, if JW's had stayed Bible Students instead of claiming to be arbiters of truth they would experience more peace and less depression and anger in the ranks.
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  45

  What Songs Best Fit you when you learned TATT and Afterwards?

  by Wasanelder Once in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the work of john lennon best fit my situation.

  first, i found out.

  i found out.

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  zophar

  Rascal Flatts: I'm Moving On

  I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons
  Finally content with a past I regret
  I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
  For once I'm at peace with myself
  I've been burdened with blame, trapped in the past for too long
  I'm movin' on
  
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  59

  Morning Woship: Kenneth Flodin targets "apostates"

  by Sanchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  video is entitled "beware of deceit" he uses the letter of jude to show that current day apostates are deceitful and that they use "trickery" to and "twist facts" to try to "grab our mind".

  warning: your head might explode.

  especially past the 5:30 mark.

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  zophar

  "He would have the light of the Scriptures" ??

  If that were true, wouldn't JW's still be using Studies in the Scriptures? After two years or ten years of studying those volumes wouldn't I still be an apostate according to current JW teaching?