thinker

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Posts by thinker

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  20

  "Not of Our Sort" Part I

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am an old man.. this is a topic i have been comtemplating for some time as i continue in this transitional time of my life, reminiscing about my 50+ years with what some of you call the "borg", but i simply refer to as jehovah's witnesses.. good people i have known who loved god, but did not fit into the organizational scheme of things is the topic.

  there will be at least three parts a la amazing.

  this topic will sink out of sight like a rock, but it is therapeutic to write it and the contemplation brings a smile to my face.. my first subject is b.w.. b.w.

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  thinker

  Thank you TMS,
  This ones a "keeper".
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  42

  A Bible contradiction?

  by uncle_onion in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  another book i am reading called "the jesus mysteries" makes this claim:.

  "according to matthew, jesus is born in the reign of herod, who tries to have him killed as a baby to prevent him becoming king of the jews.

  herod who died in 4bce.........luke makes a similar point of having his jesus born 10 years later at the time of the census of 6ce.".

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  thinker

  I ran across an interesting site that lists many bible contradictions:
  http://www.uib.no/zoo/brage/bible/1innerr.html
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  12

  607-1914 being phased out?

  by Moxy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  years ago, when i first figured out the problems with the 607 chronology, i began to think that the society was mentioning the 7 times link to 1914 less and less in recent pubs.

  after all, the knowledge book gave it less space than the live forever book, and the fluffy require brochure doesnt mention it all.

  could it be, i wondered, that they are gradually phasing this teaching out?

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  thinker

  Yes, 1914 is slowing being swept under the rug. Originally, it was thought someone had to be an adult in 1914, then changed to child, then a newborn. WT tried to drop 1914 reference from the masthead once already. It raised an uproar, so they put it back on. Read some references last year in the WT that said something about it being improper to speculate on the exact time.
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  46

  Canada's Numbers Declining-Worries Bethel

  by Had Enough in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  man it's good to be home, relaxed and de-stressing right now!

  how many times today, i just wanted to say aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhh!!!!

  at my circuit's one-day assembly.

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  thinker

  This reminds me of something I read on another site. It said: "There are now more ex-JWs than active JWs." No actual figures or resources were given, so I'm wondering. Could it be true?
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  6

  Check this out/help me out

  by openminded in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my mother sent this to me.

  how would you respond.. correcting wrong impressions .

  with human society.

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  thinker

  Openminded,
  Your mother makes some very good points. I remember a relative going in for surgery was advised to donate her own blood a few days before the operation to be used if needed. I don't know the WT policy about accepting your own blood back as a transfusion, but I've heard they don't allow it.

  ps. The official website of the Org. has lots to say about viruses in blood as a reason not to accept transfusions. That still doesn't explain their ideas about blood from 1961:
  What non-scriptural reason was printed in a 1960's Watchtower for refusing blood?
  A: By accepting another's blood, you would take on the personal characteristics of that person.
  "The blood in any person is in reality the person himself.. poisons due to personal living, eating and drinking habits .. The poisons that produce the impulse to commit suicide, murder, or steal are in the blood. Moral insanity, sexual perversions, repression, inferiority complexes, petty crimes - these often follow in the wake of blood transfusion." {WT Sep 1 1961 564}

  thinker
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  23

  ARE AVERAGE JWs DECEPTIVE?

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i ask this because on this and other forums that have a large share of former jws, our stated experiences and encounters during and after our jw membership seem to reflect that the wts and its body of believers are most corrupt.

  likewise, those never associated who read our posts may get the impression that even visiting a kingdom hall may result in serious negative events.. i believe that it is important to remind everyone that the average jw is a generally good person.

  most try to live good lives, act on their beliefs, and promote what they feel is the truth.

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  thinker

  Openminded,
  Your mom said

  But I do personally believe that if a person, for whatever reason, does not
  want to align themselves with a particular religious organization it is
  sufficient to leave. To continue to attack the religion and to justify their
  position in doing so serves no useful purpose

  I believe most ex-JWs continue to attack the WT because THEY are continueing to suffer at the hands of those still in. First, they are labeled, "DF, DA, Apostate"... Then they are shunned by former friends and family. If the WT doesn't like the attention then perhaps they should just leave these people alone.
  To your mother I would say:"But I do personally believe that if a religion, for whatever reason, does not want to align themselves with a particular person it is sufficient to remove them. To continue to attack the person and to justify their position in doing so serves no useful purpose."

  Amazing,
  When I first heard about JWs, I thought they would be exceptially "good" people. However, after hearing my wife's many stories and reading of other people's background, I believe the average JW is just that: AVERAGE. No better than any other relious or secular person. I think most are victims of the WT org. and I do not blame them personally.

  I have a question for everyone: Give me your best estimate. If the WT dropped the "shunning" what percentage of active JWs would leave the religion? Or, how many are staying in just for friends and family association?

  thinker
• 
  14

  Can anyone confirm this WT Quote?

  by TR in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  :"the apostle paul was spearheading the christian missionary.

  activity.

  he was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed.

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  thinker

  TR
  This is the best place I've found for quotes.

  http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/
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  6

  Forgive me, I'm imperfect...

  by thinker in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when confronted with the false prophesies, strange teachings, and outright lies of the gb; many active witnesses explain it away by saying, "they are just imperfect men.

  wait on jehovah and he will make it right.

  " the unconditional forgiveness expressed by these r&f witnesses is admirable.

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  thinker

  Before everyone gets carried away with the idea of disfellowshipping members of the GB, I want to remind you that I posted TWO options. I purposely chose not to pick one myself. I only wanted to point out the inconsistancy in disfellowshipping R&F JWs for "minor" sins while at the same time giving the GB complete forgiveness. No matter how you look at it, there seems to be two standards of conduct in the WT org.
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  6

  Forgive me, I'm imperfect...

  by thinker in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when confronted with the false prophesies, strange teachings, and outright lies of the gb; many active witnesses explain it away by saying, "they are just imperfect men.

  wait on jehovah and he will make it right.

  " the unconditional forgiveness expressed by these r&f witnesses is admirable.

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  thinker

  On the other hand, it is important "to keep the congregation clean". If it is appropriate to disfellowship one for smoking or sexual misconduct, then what is to be done about someone who teaches false doctrines that have led untold numbers of faithful followers of Jehovah to leave the faith. Many more have refused to join in Jehovah's organization because of these false doctrines. I believe these past teachings are a public scandal for the WT and appropriate action needs to be taken. I quote from the "Pay Attention..." book:

  "Apostasy is a standing away from, a falling away, defec-
  tion, rebellion, abandonment; it involves teaching false
  doctrines, supporting or promoting false religion and its
  holidays or interfaith activities."

  "The Bible condemns the following:
  Causing divisions and promoting sects.
  This would be deliberate action disrupting the unity
  of the congregation or undermining the confidence
  of the brothers in Jehovah's arrangement.
  It may involve or lead to apostasy."

  "If a person has definite knowledge of wrongdoing that
  could contaminate the congregation, he is obligated to
  report the matter in order to keep the congregation
  clean. (Lev. 5:1; Num. 15:32-34; Prov. 29:24)"

  "If you learn of serious wrongdoing on the part of such a
  person, the matter should be investigated if it poses a
  threat to the congregation's cleanness and welfare or caus-
  es a public scandal. "

  "Purposes served by disfellowshipping:
  Upholds Jehovah's name and standard of righteousness.
  (Acts 15:14; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; compare Isaiah 52:5.)
  Protects the purity of the congregation. (I Cor. 5:1-13;
  May correct the unrepentant wrongdoer, bringing him to
  his senses. (2 Cor. 2:6-8)"

  I submit that members of the GB have been involved in " teaching false doctrines". This is a " deliberate action disrupting the unity of the congregation or undermining the confidence
  of the brothers in Jehovah's arrangement. " This should be investigated because " it poses a threat to the congregation's cleanness and welfare or causes a public scandal."
  A judicial commitee should be formed for the purpose of disfellowshipping all those responsible.

  thinker
• 
  6

  Forgive me, I'm imperfect...

  by thinker in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when confronted with the false prophesies, strange teachings, and outright lies of the gb; many active witnesses explain it away by saying, "they are just imperfect men.

  wait on jehovah and he will make it right.

  " the unconditional forgiveness expressed by these r&f witnesses is admirable.

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  thinker

  When confronted with the false prophesies, strange teachings, and outright lies of the GB; many active witnesses explain it away by saying, "They are just imperfect men. Wait on Jehovah and He will make it right." The unconditional forgiveness expressed by these R&F witnesses is admirable. The christian virtue of forgiveness and allowing God to be the judge is backed up by many scriptures, from "the straw in your brother's eye...", to "cast the first stone..." to "He that judgeth me is the Lord ..."
  I would like to suggest that this same attitude of forgiveness should extend to all "imperfect men". If the mistakes of the GB can be overlooked and forgiven because, after all; they are only human, then why not do the same for a R&F witness who makes a mistake? Is it not right to "wait on Jehovah"?
  There is no need for judicial commitees and disfellowshipping, "Jehovah will make it right".

  thinker