thinker

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Posts by thinker

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  11

  You've finally got one!

  by Angharad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so what does everyone think of bush finally winning.. is it a good thing?

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  thinker

  And here I thought it was all my fault there was such a hoopla, with the vote. I figured the wrath of god had taken over because I voted.[8>]
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  12

  New Truths

  by larc in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am a newcomer and have thoroughly enjoyed the last couple weeks communicating with all of you.. i have generally kept abreast of the new truths, but am not clear on some details.

  for example, as of about 1986, college is now ok, but i think it is supposed to be limited to degrees and subjects that are directly job related.

  what are the written and unwritten rules on this subject?.

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  thinker

  I'm always looking to add to my collection of watchtower absurdities. I'm not familiar with the "demon sofas". Can anyone point me to a written record of this?
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  5

  Double Standards

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems to me that witnesses and the wtbts live by a number of double standards.

  for example: witnesses are taught that they have a sacred duty to meet and talk to non-believers (field service).

  yet if they meet and talk to a non-believer who happened to be a witness and disassociated themselves they face severe punishment (disfellowship).

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  thinker

  I'm very aware of the prohibition on "independent thinking" (that's where my screen name comes from). But, I still find it incredible that Witnesses could know about their past (pyramids, star clusters, astrology, many false predictions of the end of the world, organ transplants as canniblistic, appendicitis and typhoid fever as "worm diseases", chiropractors as being able to cure all diseases, etc...) and not see that something is strange about this organization. Either they don't know or they're very, very good at ignoring the facts.
  All of the above comes from past witness literature and can be found easily online. My collection of watchtower absurdities continues to grow. Perhaps thats why the WTBTS has issued warnings about using the internet. ?
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  13

  Thinkers wife

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thanks for the support.

  it is very hard after having been raised as a witness, to strike out and make new friends.

  and my family refuses to accept my new husband.

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  thinker

  Thank you Simon, my husband helped me with this one. Actually I am very socially capable. Just hard to meet people.
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  13

  Thinkers wife

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thanks for the support.

  it is very hard after having been raised as a witness, to strike out and make new friends.

  and my family refuses to accept my new husband.

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  thinker

  Thanks Redhorsewoman.
  I hug my husband everyday.
• 
  15

  It's that time of year again

  by Seven in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  [quote]8 there were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks.

  9 and suddenly jehovah's angel stood by them, and jehovah's glory gleamed around them, and they became very fearful.

  10 but the angel said to them: "have no fear, for, look!

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  thinker

  "Even though Christmas is not the real anniversary of our Lord's birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate - 'Christmas day.'" {WT Dec 1 1904 }
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  87

  looking for friends to talk with

  by ctisi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all brothers and sisters.

  i am simply looking for friends to talk with over email or icq.

  i am adjusting to living alone after my wife left me and then was disfellowshipped.

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  thinker

  Margaret,
  Welcome
  Please read my post "Double Standards". I'd love to get your reaction.
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  5

  Double Standards

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems to me that witnesses and the wtbts live by a number of double standards.

  for example: witnesses are taught that they have a sacred duty to meet and talk to non-believers (field service).

  yet if they meet and talk to a non-believer who happened to be a witness and disassociated themselves they face severe punishment (disfellowship).

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  thinker

  It seems to me that Witnesses and the WTBTS live by a number of double standards. For example: Witnesses are taught that they have a sacred duty to meet and talk to non-believers (field service). Yet if they meet and talk to a non-believer who happened to be a witness and disassociated themselves they face severe punishment (disfellowship). It is said that talking to THIS type of non-believer could "contaminate the congregation". But talking with thousands of other never-been-a-witness non-believers will not contaminate the congregation ?! How is one called "bad association" and the other is "God's work" ?
  
  If a Witness tells about the mistakes, errors, and falsehoods of another religion it's called "spreading the Truth". If a anyone talks about mistakes, errors, or false prophesies from the Watchtower Society's past it's called "apostasy" !

  If the Watchtower admits to a mistake in the past, it's because "Jehovah allowed it to happen and the reason will be revealed in time." If another religion has mistakes it proves they are ruled by Satan and his demons.

  If an elder is doing wrong he's "an imperfect human" and you should not judge the Organization by his actions. If a pastor, priest, or rabbi is doing wrong they are proof of the falseness of that religion.

  The many changes in the Watchtower writings are often attributed to "New Light", but one of the earliest quotes on New Light says:

  *** Zion's Watch Tower, Feb, 1881, p.3 ***
  
  "If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now; But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New light" never extinguishes older "light," but adds to it..."

  I believe it is very difficult to reason with a witness because there is no set standard by which to start a reasonable conversation.

  Comments anyone?
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  13

  Thinkers wife

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thanks for the support.

  it is very hard after having been raised as a witness, to strike out and make new friends.

  and my family refuses to accept my new husband.

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  thinker

  Thanks for the support. It is very hard after having been raised as a witness, to strike out and make new friends. And my family refuses to accept my new husband. Who is very supportive.
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  3

  Thinkers wife

  by thinker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was raised as a witness.

  i had many very bad experiences.

  they changed the whole direction of my life.. has anyone ever wondered where the money goes.

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  thinker

  I was raised as a witness. I had many very bad experiences. They changed the whole direction of my life.
  Has anyone ever wondered where the money goes. We are talking about a huge amount. Has anyone followed the paper trail?