Posts by Thirdson

you've ever woken up at 3am with an urgent need to use the bathroom, and on the way back thought, "i'll just check and see whos on jehovahs-witness.com".

you've ever dreamt about disfellowshiping the governing body.. .

Thirdson

...you actually read an entire copy of the Watchtower.

...think the borg is neither a Swedish tennis player or an alien race known for zipping around the galaxy in giant cubes.

...dub means nothing about voice overs of foreign language films.

...you sing "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah" with great gusto, not because of the divine name, but because it simply is a wonderful Welsh hymn.

Thirdson
(almost apostate according to some)

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

19

Jesus Exaggerated a Lot (Hyperbole, Folks)

by metatron in

jw
friends

next time you're at a kingdom hall, or during a watchtower study,.

or book study, make the following statement out loud:.

"jesus exaggerated a lot!".

You make a very good point. Nearly everything Jesus said in illustration was hyperbole. I never noticed much concern among the very rich JWs over Jesus words about the rich getting in to the kingdom as less likely than a camel getting through a needle's eye. Thus, knowing that it is hyperbole puts the broad and spacious road leading to destruction and the narrow and cramped road in new light. (pun intended)

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

81

Education Survey

by larc in

jw
friends

education was strongly discouraged among the witnesses.

i am curious as to how many of you went on for further education and in what fields.

i will go ahead and list the ones i already know.. larc - advanced degrees in organizational psychology.

Thirdson

I have ordinary and higher national certificates in Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Production plus an associate degree in Human Biology, all obtained while I was a JW.

In addition, I have a UK Amateur Athletic Association One Star award. I think everybody except the fat and wheezy boys who sat on the side lines ('cause their mums sent notes) got one.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

12

One JW response to WT/UN

by CatholicGuy in

jw
friends

i've been able to maintain contact with a jw friend--even though i've been out of the organization for over 20 years.

i brought up the un subject with him and got this interesting reply.

my friend is an elder now and former bethelite:.

Thirdson

CatholicGuy,

You elder friend misses the point and his arguements don't fit.

The WTS chose to associate with the UN and either lied to the UN when it agreed to support the UN charter or lied since in making excuses. As for Paul, he didn't apply for Roman citizenship he inherited it. Most people are citizens by birth. JW immigrants have had problems becoming US citizens because of renouncing previous citizenship and swearing allegiance to USA. Being an associate of the UN is not necessary for the functioning of the WTS nor required for furthering the interests of God's kingdom if God is in charge. The WTS associated for reasons of political expediancy (my view) and the related pressing need tax breaks and money.

As for the UN charter if there is nothing wrong with it, why does the WTS denounce the UN? Surely, they should be supporting the UN as the interim and only means for peace and concord while awaiting God's Kingdom.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

31

Young People Ask book

by crownboy in

jw
friends

how many of you guys really believed and took to heart every word that was written in it?

i was recently rereading it and it was ridiculous how sophomoric and unrealistic some of the answers to the questions were (e.g.

when you have the urge to engage in the "sin" of masterbation you should pray to god untill the urge goes away.

Thirdson

I must be from the previous generation. When I was a teenager (when we used to have to walk to the Kingdom Hall and it was up hill both ways) we had the Youth book. It had subjects like "Growing in to Manhood/Womanhood" and the dreaded chapter "Masturbation and Homosexuality". That book was likewise based on a Watchtower series from the early 70s. The stuff was revised for the Young People ask Book but they kept all the goofy stuff on masturbation.

The ministry school covered the Youth book for a while as the talk #5 (later renumbered #4) which was brothers only. My best friend and I dreaded the thought of having any talk based on the early chapters of that book. In the end, this yokel brother got the chapter on Growing in to Womanhood. His talk alternated between the highly embarrassing (for him and us for him) and the hilarious with all of us snickering trying not to laugh out loud. It was grossly unfair of the TMS overseer to have assigned the talk to the poor brother. But I think if I had been assigned it I would have been sick that night.

Arthur S. was the name of the brother. (The Brits will understand this, "The Archers" longrunning radio soap was based on an actual farming community in the territory of my congregation. Arthur was the typical Worcestershire farm hand.) He could hardly read when he first became a JW. He is fondly remembered for his talk on the birth of Jesus. He mentioned the shepherds out in the fields and suggested that they were camped out and warming themselves around their brazier. Unfortunately, he pronounced the word brassiere much to the amusemement of the congregation. Bras and breasts is what I will always remember Arthur for.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

11

A Tough Day At the Writing Staff (WT12/15)

by metatron in

jw
friends

these are tough times for the writing staff - so much.

to avoid writing about!

"but just to be safe, i'll avoid any real application of jesus'.

Thirdson

Hey Stephanus,

Great link. I have often thought about those images of paradise when driving through Iowa, Nebraska or the Dakotas. When all you can see from horizon to horizon are fields of corn I can't help thinking about those poor unfortunates who will get assigned to live there. I guess the "spiritually weak" who quite unexpectedly survive the big A will get South Dakota (Sorry Gary B>) west of Sioux Falls. They will be wearing their best Wal-Mart outfits, and shovelling corn in wheel-barrows. No mountains, no Koalas, no water falls just golden fields of corn for at least a 1000 years.

I wonder just how much of the Earth's surface could actually resemble Watchtower paradise? 0.1%?

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

23

Question For American Travellers:

by Englishman in

jw
friends

how do you feel about travelling by air since the events of sept 11?.

have these occurences just made you uneasy, or were they enough to put a stop to flying altogether?.

i told some of my pub buddies that i would ask this question, the news media have indicated that most americans are refusing to travel anywhere by plane at present.. englishman.. nostalgia isn't what it used to be....

Thirdson

E'Man,

I'd be happy to fly again since travel is safer now than before September 11. I don't have any plans to travel and no business trips are required of me so perhaps I can't give a truly honest answer. My wife on the other hand is dead against air travel and suggests we take a driving vacation next year. She would not be happy if I went on a trip at this time.

Some colleagues of mine cancelled their airline tickets and drove to Chicago (6 hours each way) recently. I guess this was a knee-jerk reaction. Plenty of other people I know have resumed flying though. I think there are many mixed feelings about air travel.

THirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

53

What should be on a JW.com T-Shirt?

by TR in

jw
friends

here's some ideas:.

i lost my religion at jw.com!.

jw.com- cult busters!.

Thirdson

Simon,

These look really cool!!!!!! I wanna buy some mugs and mouse pads they'll make great Christmas presents for all my exJW siblings, plus I want some mugs too. Let us know when you reviewed the quality of logos and images 'cause I'd like to get my order in soon.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

18

Preparing for Armageddon!

by Mindchild in

jw
friends

what was the silliest thing you ever did to prepare for armageddon?.

way back when in my pioneering days, when we were out in service we would often talk about what to do when the great tribulation came along.

one of my pioneering buddies told me that he was so sure the gt was around the corner that he went and buried some food for the bros and sis to eat when we fled to the hills.

Thirdson

In 1974 I was volunteering in one CA department and I met a brother who told everyone what he was doing in preparing for the GT. He was reprinting mini-Watchtowers (about a quarter original size). His idea was that the authorities could take all the literature but he'd be able to smuggle his mini-Watchtowers.

I guess he went out of business when CD-ROMs came along 20 years later. What a waste, old light is old light whatever size it is printed at.

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'