Posts by EasyPrompt

25

What is Self-deception?

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

i googles about self-deception and found many articles about it.

it is a thing reseachers in psychology have studied.. here is a quote from an article that describes it.

and it is interesting because of so many ideas about how to understand the bible.

EasyPrompt

AugustHest said: "I don't really care if this is your Bible or if you like it or favor it above all others. I am only asking a question. If you get mad, or have feelings of any kind that are negative towards me, that isn't a critical reply of data."

Um, the only person who appeared to get mad here was you. My response to your first post there was this:

EasyPrompt said: "(🤣)"

(I laugh at bad jokes.😁)

Here was some of your response:

AugustHest said: "you can’t defend why you have chosen to stick with the New World Translation with anything but bullying and teasing (and that’s not a defense--it just shows you’re an Internet bully, and it doesn’t take intelligence or critical thinking to be a bully), fine."

AugustHest said: "I can’t help it if sarcasm is your choice and stupidity your path."

AugustHest said: "You don’t mean anything to me."

AugustHest said: "I don’t care about any of those people I left behind."

AugustHest said: "I am glad they are all growing old and dying away...while the “brother” beside them molests their children in the shadows"

AugustHest said: "Anyone who shares their views and their Bible translation are pathetic, filthy worms."

🤣🤣🤣

Self-deception is the name of the thread! Good job!

Here is another bad joke that I think is really funny...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ro4DrewXHE

(That's kinda what your post reminded me of!🤣)

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

"What is love? And the answer will be: God is love! And what is God? Well, love!"

These verses from Revelation show that God is Love...

Revelation 21:3,4 "“Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes..."

Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga,” says Jehovah God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty..."

Revelation 7:17 "And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes"

God himself will come walk the earth and hang out with His kids here and eat with them and talk with them.

(It's funny, the WTBT$ just put out a monthly broadcast and they show a scene from the Bible passage about Abraham eating with and talking to Jehovah. They completely miss the bigger application! Here are some screenshots...)

Matthew 19:26 "Looking at them intently, Jesus said to them: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus said he'd hang out with everybody here too. "Truly I will be with you in Paradise."

"What is love?...God is love!"

A loving Father spends time with His kids up close, not from a distance.

Ezekiel 48:35 "And the name of the city from that day on will be Jehovah Is There"

26

Greenlees, Chapman and Chitty

by Libby in

so after being rudely awakened by a cat fight outside (it's 3am here in the uk) and then proceeding to go outside to rescue my cats from the neighbourhood tom....... i'm now laying wide awake trying to make sense of jw "truth".

(it's all my mind does these days, the lights gone on and won't turn off).

anyway i found myself reading about the gb and came across these fellows , greenlees, chapman and chitty.

EasyPrompt

stanlivedeath said: "does this "shortly " mean--soon--as in the WTsoc idea of armageddon being so near ?"

I'm a hardened anti-WTsoc, @stanlivedeath. I haven't been a WTBT$ preacher for a while now, and I thought you were a "hardened atheist" anyway...have you suddenly been "born again"? 😜

stanlivedeath said: "May i offer a suggestion--? Please lay off quoting the bible--its of no interest to hardened atheists like me--and numerous other members on here."

(I could tell you from the Bible what I meant...but I promised on that other thread to respect your current antiBibleness. Until you "hold out the golden scepter" in that regard, I will refrain from quoting in your general direction...)

25

What is Self-deception?

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

i googles about self-deception and found many articles about it.

it is a thing reseachers in psychology have studied.. here is a quote from an article that describes it.

and it is interesting because of so many ideas about how to understand the bible.

EasyPrompt

@AugustHest

I am a lover of God and of truth. I am not prejudiced against people because they use a certain translation.

You have made clear what you are about.

"the epitome of self-deception"

You speak from the abundance of your heart, and what is in your heart you have just made clear to everyone else. (Although God could see anyway.) Maybe the only one who can't is you.

Here's a verse that is just as valid in the NWT as in any other, but if you can understand Hebrew or Greek better you can translate it yourself...

Hebrews 4:11-13

"For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account."

"it can be painful to face reality but it is always important to come clean and choose what is not a lie in the end."

65

In Response to Anony Mous regarding the 144,000 and other questions...

by EasyPrompt in

still, you hold onto false teachings of the wtbts which are only there for the enrichment of its chiefs.. as pointed out, the rest of the book of revelation is figurative, yet you hold that the number 144,000 is literal.

the wtbts currently says that this number is limited to those running the wtbts and that anyone claiming to be part of it outside that self-selecting group could be mentally ill.. by what reasoning (not from wtbts origin) do you believe only 144,000 people will be ‘saved’, and how do you know who is part of this self-selected group, given virtually no other religious denomination does even remotely believe in the literalism of revelation.

do they have to be jws?

EasyPrompt

@PetrW

Zechariah chapter 13 sheds some light on all the "thirds" mentioned in Revelation...

"“In that day each of the prophets will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; and they will not wear an official garment of hair in order to deceive.

And he will say, ‘I am no prophet. I am a man cultivating the soil, because a man bought me when I was young.’

And if someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds between your shoulders?’ he will answer, ‘Wounds I received in the house of my friends.’”

“O sword, awake against my shepherd,

Against the man who is my companion,” declares Jehovah of armies.

“Strike the shepherd, and let the flock be scattered;

And I will turn my hand against those who are insignificant.”

“And in all the land,” declares Jehovah,

“Two parts in it will be cut off and perish;

And the third part will be left remaining in it.

And I will bring the third part through the fire;

And I will refine them as silver is refined,

And test them as gold is tested.

They will call on my name,

And I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

And they will say, ‘Jehovah is our God.’”

Many of the plagues/bowls/trumpets/thunders of Revelation mention fire. Jesus gave illustrations about fire as regards religious hypocrites being exposed. The New Testament talks about building with fire resistant materials as a way to survive the coming tribulation with faith intact.

Many religious people serve for prominence or money instead of for love and truth. When the religious institutions are torn down in the figurative "fire" (by means of governmental authorities stripping them) then it will be clear which "religious" people served for show and which served for real.

In Revelation, the repeated imagery of the fire, voices, thunder, etc, coming from God's throne in heaven poured down to the earth via the angels is assuring us that God's will is sure to be done and these things are rushing to a fulfillment. God has judged the religious institutions as deficient and He is making an accounting with them. The governments of the nations will be permitted to strip them completely of their stuff and for the prominent ones of all the religious institutions their "glory" will become their shame. They will be brought low. "That is where the weeping and gnashing of their teeth will be."

"The dream was given twice to Pharʹaoh because the matter has been firmly established by the true God, and the true God will soon carry it out." (Genesis 41:32)

The visions of God's judgment upon religious and secular institutions in Revelation are repeated not just twice, but many times. Their fulfillment is certain and as good as done and is hurrying to a finish.

Revelation 22:6,7,10,20

"He said to me: “These words are faithful and true; yes, Jehovah, the God who inspired the prophets, has sent his angel to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. Look! I am coming quickly. Happy is anyone observing the words of the prophecy of this scroll.”"

"He also tells me: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the appointed time is near."

"The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’” “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.”"

55

If JW is not the truth, then what is the true religion?

by TxNVSue2023 in

even though i'm disfellowshiped ( & i belive wrongfully so).

i still belive this is the truth.

i have been d'f for about 8 months now and working on reinstatement.

EasyPrompt

Post JWBorg for some be like some lyrics from "Hate Myself for Lovin You"...

"I think of you every night and day

You took my heart, and you took my pride away

I hate myself for loving you

Can't break free from the the things that you do

I wanna walk but I run back to you

That's why I hate myself for loving you

Daylight, spent the night without you

But I've been dreamin' 'bout the lovin' you do

I'm over being angry 'bout the hell you put me through"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjrWw0h1qeo

Christ is the one the Bible tells us to follow. When he gets here, he will set everything straight. Until then, he tells his followers "hold fast what you have until I come."

20

JW org fighting Royal Commission of Inquiry 3 years, article by Anusha Bradley, RNZ

by EasyPrompt in

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497240/jehovah-s-witness-church-spends-3-years-fighting-scrutiny-of-royal-commission-of-inquiry.

jehovah's witness church spends 3 years fighting scrutiny of royal commission of inquiry.

from article by anusha bradley, rnz.... .

EasyPrompt

They said they're not alone with kids, but it happens all the time that they're alone with kids. KH cleaning on weekends. In service in car groups. Social gatherings, parties, dinners.

They must be hiding some really dark stuff to fight against the inquiry so intensely. It will all be completely exposed.

John 3:19-21

"Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that his works may be made manifest as having been done in harmony with God.”

Ephesians 5:9-13

"...the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth. Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. Now all the things that are being exposed are made evident by the light..."

WTBT$ is going to be torn down.

25

What is Self-deception?

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

i googles about self-deception and found many articles about it.

it is a thing reseachers in psychology have studied.. here is a quote from an article that describes it.

and it is interesting because of so many ideas about how to understand the bible.

EasyPrompt

"Forgive me--I might get "stoned," so to speak for asking this, as I have been gone from the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses for some 30 years...
But if we are talking about "self-deception," why are you folks quoting texts from the New World Translation of all places? Isn't it the epitome of self-deception in deception when it comes to translation?
I went to Hebrew school since--not to mention learned Greek in college--and it's horrific. Anyone who uses it as a measure of being honest with themselves is truly on the road of "self deception."
If you must use the Bible as your measure of guidance in life (one does not have to--but if you must) why not use something like the NRSVue? Or the ESV? Or the NIV? Or something like that which is academically sound?
I can tell you that the NWT--that is not the way the Bible reads. The NWT is itself a deception. Why are you using that? Is this not an exJW site or did I miss something?"

What do we need to forgive you for? What did you do?

Maybe you're already "stoned", so to speak.

("Self-deception" isn't the only kind of deception.)

Hey, @AugustHest, how do you say "liar" in Hebrew and Greek? Perhaps with your great wisdom and excellent skills in guiding the blind you can shed some light on the meaning of life and tell us all where you've been our whole lives, since you're obviously the Messiah come to rescue us from the evil writers of the NWT. <said with sarcasm, of course, in case the English doesn't translate well to Hebrew and Greek>

(🤣)

5

Trish Fancher, shunning experience, HuffPost article 9/3/2023

by EasyPrompt in

trish fancher experience.... .

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-flew-across-the-country-for-my-mums-wedding-when-i-arrived-she-uninvited-me_uk_64f1b6cce4b0fe066b17f93b.

from article.... .

EasyPrompt

😭JWBorg shunning policy is so awful - not God's way at all. So glad WTBT$ and all their horrid doctrines will be gone soon.

5

Trish Fancher, shunning experience, HuffPost article 9/3/2023

by EasyPrompt in

trish fancher experience.... .

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-flew-across-the-country-for-my-mums-wedding-when-i-arrived-she-uninvited-me_uk_64f1b6cce4b0fe066b17f93b.

from article.... .

EasyPrompt

Trish Fancher experience...

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-flew-across-the-country-for-my-mums-wedding-when-i-arrived-she-uninvited-me_uk_64f1b6cce4b0fe066b17f93b

From article...

"My phone pinged before I stepped off the plane that had taken me from my new home in Southern California to my home state of South Carolina. My mom texted: “Trisha, I love you very much, but I can’t let you come to my wedding.”

I’d flown across the country for this; it was a rare opportunity to see her. 14 years earlier, I’d been disfellowshipped by the Jehovah’s Witness elders, which means I was considered spiritually dead and was excommunicated from the congregation ―including friends and even family."

"In the 14 years since, I tried to remind my mom I was still alive. I’d occasionally text photos of my cat or let her know about big news, like when I got my Ph.D. Sometimes she’d respond. Most times she didn’t. She refused to attend my own wedding, but she did send a gift. Her wedding was my last chance, I felt: I would show her I was still her family, even if I was no longer part of her religion, and she could still love me. But as my plane landed, she once again refused to see me..."

"When I was first disfellowshipped, I could only think of survival — with no place to live, no friends and no plans for my future. I had no time to grieve. It was only as I began to build a new life that I realised everything I’d lost. It was only when I found people who loved me that I discovered I missed my mother’s love most of all. All grief is nonlinear, but the particular grief of losing a loved one who is still alive is one that feels fresh with each time I’m reminded of her rejection..."

"I asked just to see her for a moment, for coffee, for a hug. And she responded with her best attempt at a compliment: “I’m proud that you are married and would love to get to know your husband, but we cannot see you.”..."

"But coming back wasn’t easy. For an entire year I would be required to attend meetings while vowing not to speak a word, even to my family. I had to submit to being literally silenced for a year. Elders would no doubt require me to narrate my sins to them in private to demonstrate my repentance. These would be tests of obedience and humiliation. Then, I’d have to submit to the elders’ rules, discipline and control for the rest of my life.

Mom didn’t mention any of this, but I was certain these strings were attached. I thanked her for the offer, shrugged and changed the subject..."

"This could be our last hug, perhaps forever, I realised. Our mothers are our first home. When I hugged her, my entire body clung to the home I’d lost. My mom was right: I would make her sad. I would make her cry. We both cried. I don’t remember who pulled me away from her. I remember it was not my choice..."

"Before the wedding, I didn’t have photos of Mom. Now I have a handful of photos on my phone of us at the ceremony. We are the same height. Our shoulders are delicate parallel lines sloping to strong arms. I’m told I have my dad’s smile, but my eyes get small when my smile widens, just like Mom’s eyes. We both look joyful and brokenhearted.

Looking at the photo, I know she’s always loved me. I grew up believing in a resurrection. My mom and I both cling to faith in a resurrection. She hopes I’ll repent and be saved. I went to the wedding hoping I could resurrect some semblance of a relationship. Through hope, we both show our love is alive in our different worlds."