Newly Enlightened

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Posts by Newly Enlightened

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  25

  My first post...Facebook discussion

  by mzmmom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been visiting this site for almost a year, and i have found it very useful.

  there was a post on a facebook group last night about jw visits and to be nice when they call at your door.

  so, after about 100 posts, i posted a link to this website.

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  Newly Enlightened

  Welcome, nice to have you here
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  83

  The perplexing conundrum 607 b.c.e condensed down to ONE SIMPLE FACT

  by Brother of the Hawk in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i was encouraged to post this thought, so here it is.. i recently finished reading "the gentile times reconsidered" by bro.

  carl olof jonsson, ( third edition).

  phew!!

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  Newly Enlightened

  Maybe this will help shed some light on what Hubby was trying to say. You've got a JW visiting you and you're trying to show them that the WT$ date of 607 b.c.e is wrong.

  You show them this from the 1956 WT 3/1 pg 144-146:

  7

  [Emphasis mine]

  Finally 2,562 years ago the Davidic dynasty became dormant when King Zedekiah was deposed and the throne was declared unoccupied in 607 B.C. By this time all the prophecy of Isaiah and most of the communications through Ezekiel and Jeremiah and some of the minor prophets had been proclaimed and released for public distribution. This flood of prophetic truths pertained to the fall and restoration of Jerusalem and was spiritual food indeed for the minds and hearts of the faithful minority of Israel. While these prophecies had their miniature fulfillments upon fleshly Israel, yet longer shadows were cast of good to be fulfilled in later times to a far more glorious spiritual Israel of God. Then through the prophet Daniel came heavenly prophetic truths concerning the rise and fall of the Gentile kingdoms leading to the time when the New World kingdom of Messiah would appear on the global scene to break in pieces and consume all these old-world kingdoms. In victorious vindication this kingdom would stand forever. Then 2,397 years ago the last of the Hebrew Scriptures was written, Malachi’s prophecy, setting forth truths as to Jehovah’s coming to the temple for judgment in company with His “angel of the covenant” to arrange for a cleansed priesthood to lead in pure worship for the new world.—Ezek. 21:27; Gal. 6:16; Mal. 3:1,

  Let's just forget the other prophets for just a moment since some of them continued writing AFTER the destruction.....The NWT large print reference bible 'Table of the Books' says:

  Name

  Writer(s):

  Ezekiel

  Place

  Written: Babylon

  Writing

  Completed(B.C.E.): c. 591

  Time

  Covered(B.C.E.): 613–c. 591

  My Interpreter's Bible Dictionary states that the Book of Ezekiel was completed BEFORE 586/587 for the destruction of Jerusalem.

  So, reasoning all of this out to our JW 'visitor or Elder' You can see where Hubby is coming from. Ezekiel finished his writing BEFORE the destruction so it could NOT have been 607. OR, Ezekiel was just writing history and we're ALL wrong [Including WT$]
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  29

  2 jws just called on my door

  by l p in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i saw them coming down the street...the excitment grew.....then 2 people walked up to my door.... .

  one could hardly speak english...struggling to invite me to the memorial....i said "why should i go".

  they told me ...bec jesus died for everyone just one day a year is very important.... .

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  Newly Enlightened

  Punk of Nice: You are thinking of the 1994 WT 2/15 pg 5,6

  What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?

  What

  theEvidence

  Shows

  A government official of the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, explained: “Jehovah’s Witnesses were presented to us as some kind of underground sect sitting in the darkness and slaughtering children and killing themselves.” However, the people of Russia have recently become better acquainted with the true nature of the Witnesses. After working with Jehovah’s Witnesses in connection with an international convention, the same official observed: “Now I see normal, smiling people, even better than many people I know. They are peaceful and calm, and they love one another very much.” He added: “I really do not understand why people tell such lies about them.”

  Jehovah’s Witnesses do not hold ritualistic meetings, nor is their worship cloaked in secrecy. Non-Witness author Julia Mitchell Corbett notes: “When they meet, usually more than once a week, in Kingdom Halls (their meeting sites are not called churches), most of their time is spent in Bible study and discussion.” Their meeting places are clearly marked with a sign. The meetings are open, and the general public is invited to attend. Unannounced guests are more than welcome.

  The “Witnesses have earned the reputation of being honest, courteous, and industrious,” adds Corbett in her book ReligioninAmerica. Many who are not Witnesses readily acknowledge that there is nothing freakish or bizarre about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their conduct does not clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior. TheNewEncyclopædiaBritannica accurately states that the Witnesses “insist upon a high moral code in personal conduct.”

  The director of news and special projects for a television station in the United States wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses in response to a biased report about the Witnesses on the TV news show 60Minutes. He said: “If more people lived the way your faith does, this nation wouldn’t be in the shape it is in. I am one newsman who knows that your organization is founded on love and a strong faith in the Creator. I want you to know that not all News people are as biased.”

  A

  Well-Known

  Religion

  Is it fair to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a small fringe religious group? In a sense, Jehovah’s Witnesses are few in number compared to some religions. However, recall what Jesus said: “Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.”—Matthew 7:13, 14.

  At any rate, the Witnesses are far from being a small fringe cult. In the spring of 1993, more than 11 million people attended the Witnesses’ Memorial of Christ’s death. But more important than their number are their moral character and exemplary behavior, which have brought them worldwide commendation. Undoubtedly this has been a factor in countries that have given them official recognition as a known, bona fide religion.

  Outstanding is a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights. It declared that the Witnesses should enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and that they have the right to speak about their faith and teach it to others. This would hardly be the case if Jehovah’s Witnesses were known to use deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members or if they used manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers.

  Multitudes around the world are well acquainted with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Of the millions of non-Witnesses who are studying the Bible with the Witnesses or who have studied with them at one time or another, we ask, Were there any attempts to brainwash you? Did the Witnesses employ mind-control techniques on you? “No” would doubtless be your frank response. Obviously, if these methods had been used, there would be an overwhelming number of victims in contradiction to any argument in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

  “Absorbed

  in

  Humanity”

  Cult members often isolate themselves from family, friends, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? “I do not belong to Jehovah’s Witnesses,” wrote a newsman in the Czech Republic. Yet he added: “It is obvious that they [Jehovah’s Witnesses] have tremendous moral strength. . . . They recognize governmental authorities but believe that only God’s Kingdom is capable of solving all human problems. But watch it—they are not fanatics. They are people who are absorbed in humanity.”

  And they do not live in communes, isolating themselves from relatives and others. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that it is their Scriptural responsibility to love and care for their families. They live and work with people of all races and religions. When disasters strike, they are quick to respond with relief supplies and other humanitarian assistance.

  More important, they are engaged in an educational program that has no comparison. How many religions have an organized system to pay personal visits to every individual in their community? Jehovah’s Witnesses do this in more than 200 lands and in more than 200 languages! Clearly, Jehovah’s Witnesses are “absorbed in humanity.”
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  19

  What`s your favorite dinner WINE

  by OUTLAW in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  red or white,domestic or imported,a good wine can really accent a fine meal.one of my favorite red wine`s is a bordeaux from france,b&g 1725.inspired by the barton&guestier tradition which dates back to 1725 in boudeaux,fondation 1725 is a dry fruity wine with a deep garnet colour and rich,lasting aromas.merlot and cabernet sauvignon grapes confer strong flavours of black currant,violet and spices.it is excellent with red meats,poultry and cheeses.i also like to use it for deglazing when making gravies or sauces.enjoy!!

  outlaw.

  the golden rule:the people with the gold, make the rule`s!

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  Newly Enlightened

  Anything cheap....... seriously tho, since I live here in the Southwest, Sangria is big around here and I've grown accustomed to it now.

  Hubby who is sitting beside me [Brother of the Hawk -on here] Says to put down for him. "WINE???? What the HELL? When's the last time you saw a mountainman drink wine? WHISKEY is the only drink for me". LOL :0
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  15

  Project: I need help finding Watchtowers that show hate, prejudice, and name-calling.

  by Emery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know there are a lot of examples to choose from but i want to find wt references that are the most blatant.

  the printed evidence can be a great resource to all, including jw lurkers who fact-check.. .

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  Newly Enlightened

  Here's another one that I just found thanks to Snarky the Apologists on Youtube:

  1961 WT 7/15 pg 420:

  Jesus encouraged his followers to love their enemies, but God’s Word also says to “hate what is bad.” When a person persists in a way of badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of his make-up, then in order to hate what is bad a Christian must hate the person with whom the badness is inseparably linked. Indicating that Jesus did not mean for us to love the hardened enemies of Jehovah, David expressed this God-approved attitude: “Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you, O Jehovah, and do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? With a complete hatred I do hate them. They have become to me real enemies.”—Matt. 5:44; Amos 5:15; Ps. 139:21, 22.
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  80

  new member- my story

  by AndDontCallMeShirley in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  "that which can be asserted without evidence, can.

  be dismissed without evidence.

  " - christopher hitchens.

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  Newly Enlightened

  WELCOME ADCMS! So very happy to have you here on the board with us. Look forward to hearing more of your experiences. We loved your post and hope you stick around with us.

  You sound like a very logical, down to Earth person.

  Love you Brother

  K
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  21

  Question about talking to JW

  by darklight in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was raised atheist and never believed in any religion.

  i've been studying the watchtower religion with a younger jw couple for some months now.. my main motivation was the fact i knew nothing about christianity, they knocked on my door and offered their "bible" study... so why not learn something, i thought.. .

  and yeah, this is one crazy cult.... .

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  Newly Enlightened

  First off WELCOME to this board, nice to have you here. I hope you stick around.

  It's good that you've been playing along. If you calmly ask them innocent sounding questions and make them do their own research then you can help them by planting some questions in their mind. But it has to be done calmly, without confrontation otherwise the JW radar goes up.

  That is what happened to a JW decades ago. Carl Olaf Jonsson. He had a bible student ask him to prove that 607bce & 1914 were the dates mentioned in the bible. He couldn't do it. Several years later he wrote the book 'Gentile Times Reconsidered' proving that WT was wrong. He was kicked out of WTBT$ for his research.

  I don't know if you've come to the chapter yet in your study about God's name. They believe it to be Jehovah and have even taken it as part of their name. Here's some info for you. This comes from the Catholic answers website. http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-gods-name-yahweh-or-jehovah

  But you can ask them, "Well if JW's have gotten totally away from other religions, especially the Catholic Church, then why do you use the name Jehovah, when it was a Catholic Monk's INVENTION?"

  They can try to explain it away all they want to, but they cannot answer that one!
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  11

  Can anyone help?

  by Pink sapphire in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi, i'm doing some research, which many here have participated in and could do with some help.. on another forum some months ago someone commented that in a july 1992 watchtower it said that the emotional effects of disfellowshipping may last far beyond reinstatement.

  i thought this a really interesting statement and would like to include it in my assignment, acknowledging the harm done by disfellowshipping and its not just a protective and disciplinary process.

  i don't know if i believe they would actually go that far.. my problem is that i have no access to wt literature (i dont really want fo visit my old congregation library) and the online library on www.jw.org only goes back to 2000. does anyone here have access to bound volumes and a bit of time that they could check this out for me?.

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  Newly Enlightened

  I have the WT CD-rom lib and I did a search for that phrase, also just the words 'disfellowship' & reinstatement but couldn't find anything from the 92 WT. If you could get maybe which July WT it was. I will be happy to look it up
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  18

  Why Is This Video By Jehovah's Witnesses Sign Language Dept. So Wrong

  by BlindersOff1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sorry could not resist.

  .

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2gsvcfrmjq&feature=youtu.be.

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  Newly Enlightened

  I find this freakin' hilarious.
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  50

  Girl scout cookies are demonized

  by Gojira_101 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay so i think it might be the concussion making me go on this rant...not too sure.. the girl scouts started selling their cookies yesterday and for the first time in my life i will be ordering cookies.....i mean wtf is so wrong with ordering cookies from them?

  i love the thin mint's and guess what?

  you can only buy them from girl scouts!!!!!!.

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  Newly Enlightened

  OK, so now since I'm an evil wicked apostate buying Girl Scout cookies and Keebler fudge magic cookies, I have truly gone over the cliff. I went to the bank this morning and the kids were selling chocolate bars for the United Way. I bought some!!! And didn't even feel guilty.