If we assume that the JW org is operating as a business, then it is actually more likely that there are multiple plans. Short term, long term and very possibly 10 year plans.
Halcon
JoinedPosts by Halcon
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22
The "10 Year Plan" - What is the realistic outcome?
by redsetter2 inas there has been some discussion calling bs on this topic, .
i will paste the text from my 10 year plan post and i will critically evaluate how i feel things will turn out.
i will add bold italics my thoughts.. the governing body has a 10-year marketing plan to remodel the organization to become closer to a mainstream christian religion.
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Funny Money
by peacefulpete ini ran across this piece of history again and thought i'd share it before i forget it again.
we discussed the story in mark featuring the image of caesar on a coin as setup for the famous line, "give caesar's things to caesar...".
the writer was apparently unaware that the roman coinage circulating in judea did not have the usual image of caesar but rather depicted barley or palms and such and was often minted in judea.
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Halcon
Indeed, these are very interesting facts.
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Funny Money
by peacefulpete ini ran across this piece of history again and thought i'd share it before i forget it again.
we discussed the story in mark featuring the image of caesar on a coin as setup for the famous line, "give caesar's things to caesar...".
the writer was apparently unaware that the roman coinage circulating in judea did not have the usual image of caesar but rather depicted barley or palms and such and was often minted in judea.
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Halcon
However, coins with Caesar's image did exist. Is this what I'm understanding? Produced by Herod no less? So there is at least a possibility that events transpired as the Bible states it.
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Why Do JW's Believe that Hell is Symbolic When the Disciples of the Apostles believed it Was Literal ?
by Sea Breeze inlooks like the early christians believed jesus when he warned about hell over 40 times.
why don't the jw's do the same?.
from “the epistle of barnabas” (70-130ad).
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Halcon
Imagine Jesus Christ instructing one of his disciples to pick up his pen and scroll and telling him to draw this diagram.
Now imagine him pointing to the spot where the condemned are burning alive and him saying "this spot right here, this is where ALL of you will go if you so much as think about stepping out of line..do you understand??""...
....oh wait, he didn't do any of this.
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22
The "10 Year Plan" - What is the realistic outcome?
by redsetter2 inas there has been some discussion calling bs on this topic, .
i will paste the text from my 10 year plan post and i will critically evaluate how i feel things will turn out.
i will add bold italics my thoughts.. the governing body has a 10-year marketing plan to remodel the organization to become closer to a mainstream christian religion.
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Halcon
The Revelation prophecies and Isaiah and Daniel prophecies will be completely rebranded and diluted to refer to more "faith strengthening" lessons on how Jehovah would help his people during the Last Days and into the 1000 year reign of Christ.
This study project is happening as we speak
Will you share a detail or two on how a prophecy will be retaught here?
Rebranded and diluted seems to indicate that nothing new will appear in these books.
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42
Is there really a Bible rule against sex without marriage?
by Halcon inregarding the poster from jw headquarters, who claimed that the gb would eventually loosen the rules regarding sex.
the question is, is there really a bible rule explicitly prohibiting sex without marriage?
because this would be the only possible reason why loosening those rules would even come up in a discussion.
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Halcon
I see no moral issue involved in the intimacy of two consenting single people in love. I do see a moral issue in marital rape or any other form of abuse within a marriage.
It could be argued that marital rape is indeed sexual immorality.
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42
Is there really a Bible rule against sex without marriage?
by Halcon inregarding the poster from jw headquarters, who claimed that the gb would eventually loosen the rules regarding sex.
the question is, is there really a bible rule explicitly prohibiting sex without marriage?
because this would be the only possible reason why loosening those rules would even come up in a discussion.
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Halcon
Kerry - If a unmarried person engages in sex before marriage, then they are not keeping "their own future" marriage bed pure, nor are they honoring the institution of marriage, it is sexually immoral.
Then such a person doesn't engage with a married person and simply doesn't get married, thereby eliminating the risk of an 'impure bed'.
You are assuming that "sexually immoral" automatically means all sex outside of marriage. This is debatable based on the Bible itself.
I'm not convinced you're wrong, just convinced that this verse is not saying what you're saying.
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42
Is there really a Bible rule against sex without marriage?
by Halcon inregarding the poster from jw headquarters, who claimed that the gb would eventually loosen the rules regarding sex.
the question is, is there really a bible rule explicitly prohibiting sex without marriage?
because this would be the only possible reason why loosening those rules would even come up in a discussion.
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Halcon
KerryHuish
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
So yes, there is a clear Bible rule against sex before marriage and extramarital affairs.
A person engaging in sex outside of marriage or inviting other partners into the marriage bed, is not compatible with this principle
Kerry, this verse is clearly referring to a circumstance in which a person is ALREADY married. This says nothing about sex without marriage. Adultery seems to be clearly condemned. But then it is tied to the "sexually immoral". Again, what exactly is sexually immoral? We know God didn't object to concubines. Didn't he in fact even condemn one of David's sons for taking one of his concubines? Solomon also is purported to have had a harem, by his own admission, all the while being blessed with great wisdom.
It can't be denied that there are layers of acceptability here. Which again would explain why the GB may soon loosen up the rules.
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42
Is there really a Bible rule against sex without marriage?
by Halcon inregarding the poster from jw headquarters, who claimed that the gb would eventually loosen the rules regarding sex.
the question is, is there really a bible rule explicitly prohibiting sex without marriage?
because this would be the only possible reason why loosening those rules would even come up in a discussion.
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Halcon
(Porneia) fornication is not defined as hetero-sex between a single man and woman in love. Certain Pauline comments have been interpreted as such, but it is not explicit
Peacefulpete
That quote above was very interesting. At first glance the verses seem pretty straightforward and quite clear. However the author's assessment once again confirms they are not. It's almost impossible to read these verses as purely related to spiritual (non physical) things. Yet the opposite is also true, you can't just assume it's all physical. And when Paul does in fact finally get specific, he points to sex with a prostitute. Fine. But then what about a non prostitute?
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42
Is there really a Bible rule against sex without marriage?
by Halcon inregarding the poster from jw headquarters, who claimed that the gb would eventually loosen the rules regarding sex.
the question is, is there really a bible rule explicitly prohibiting sex without marriage?
because this would be the only possible reason why loosening those rules would even come up in a discussion.
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Halcon
Abraham claimed he was God's best buddy...and God spoke to him personally. He had multiple sexual partners..ditto for David, and many other "faithful" friends of God
This is a good point. Very CLEARLY God had no issue with this. Do the Greek scriptures new testament ever explain why eventually it should just be one wife/one woman only? Or did customs just change?
In the San Francisco area we had some bisexual/gay JWs men in the 60s whose wives WTB&Ts said were not free to divorce and then remarry. Why? Because Watchtower said adultery required vaginal intercourse with a woman...anal and oral intercourse did not constitute adultery!!!
This left me speechless.... however, this also confirms that the concept of porneia is, unsurprisingly, open to interpretation.