Posts by dabster

22

JW.ORG Business Cards?

by toweragent in

did anybody else get an announcement at their meeting about the branch approved jw.org business cards?.

apparantly, they're real slick and fit into your wallet (making it easier to informal witness).

the logic was, some people don't want to be handed a big tract and would prefer something smaller.. so strange considering how little there is to those tracts!

I have one, given to me by a JW standing behind a literature table in the street a number of weeks ago. Odd that they should be being used already in some parts of the world and not in others. I thought that unity for the WT equals uniformity.

4

Tony Abbott

by zound in

jw
friends

just thought this was interesting - people in positions of power have the same insincere don't give a **** attitude no matter what organisation - religious or otherwise.. this letter of a young boy to australian pm tony abbott about gay marriage and the response reminded me so much of my letters to bethel and many other people's.

the response has the same tone as watchtower responses.. https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/marie-claire/news-and-views/latest/a/24221581/tony-abbott-responds-to-11-year-olds-letter-on-marriage-equality/.

it's not as sensational as his other antics that have been in the news lately, but that formulatic don't give a shit letter reminded me of wt..

dabster

Ah, but is he a Jehovah's Witness?

4

Tony Abbott

by zound in

jw
friends

just thought this was interesting - people in positions of power have the same insincere don't give a **** attitude no matter what organisation - religious or otherwise.. this letter of a young boy to australian pm tony abbott about gay marriage and the response reminded me so much of my letters to bethel and many other people's.

the response has the same tone as watchtower responses.. https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/marie-claire/news-and-views/latest/a/24221581/tony-abbott-responds-to-11-year-olds-letter-on-marriage-equality/.

it's not as sensational as his other antics that have been in the news lately, but that formulatic don't give a shit letter reminded me of wt..

dabster

I don't see this as anything but Tony Abbott's view. "My personal opinion is to support the existing definition of marriage. Though we disagree on this issue, I respect the views you have put forward." Who doesn't know this? He is Catholic and quite devout, apparently. What else would we expect him to say? I think you're drawing a long bow here. It's practically a beat-up. Let's talk about the WT and leave views on Tony Abbott to Labor Party forums, shall we?

33

A glaring example of how Watchtower's insertion of "Jehovah" corrupts the NT

by Island Man in

"the rnwt replaces "kyrios" (lord) with "jehovah" in translating romans 14:8 as follows:.

"for if we live, we live to jehovah,*+ and if we die, we die to jehovah.

* so both if we live and if we die, we belong to jehovah.".

dabster

I thought it must have been an oversight, Apognophos.

You know (forgive us for going off-topic, Island Man, but I just have to say this), I once mentioned this to a JW neighbour and the reaction took me completely by surprise. He jumped from his seat and said things like, "Then I've been hoodwinked! If I am wrong at this point I'll miss the mark completely!" He continued talking like this, very agitatedly, for some time. It was kind of startling. I finally thought it best to help him simmer down. This didn't come about through my compelling presentation but by the work of the Holy Spirit, I'm absolutely convinced of it. Unfortunately he has since repressed this memory (or appears to have) and continues talking as he previously did.

33

A glaring example of how Watchtower's insertion of "Jehovah" corrupts the NT

by Island Man in

"the rnwt replaces "kyrios" (lord) with "jehovah" in translating romans 14:8 as follows:.

"for if we live, we live to jehovah,*+ and if we die, we die to jehovah.

* so both if we live and if we die, we belong to jehovah.".

dabster

Thanks for this, Island Man. Feel like finding more of this sort of thing?

Apognophos, thanks to you too. If, despite what Paul is reasoning, doubts were to persist, we'd need to look no further than v. 9 "For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,+ and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved." Jesus is Lord and it is through belief in him (v.11) that we're saved, making the "Jehovah" inserted into v.13 totally out of whack with everything else Paul is saying.

31

My Elderette is attempting to change the subject again

by Faithful Witness in

we were in the middle of discussing their use of god's personal name, and miss k was not able to find one place in the bible, where jesus actually said the name out loud (that wasn't a quote from the ot).

we had started out by talking about jesus being "the way, the truth and the life.

" then she stated that one of the purposes of jesus' coming to earth, was "to make god's name known.

dabster

I'm trying to understand the warnings. In fact I suppose I do. It's wise to be cautious. But FW does have her wits about her. Her not missing the ducking and weaving, nimble sidestepping and the arguments riddled with holes, along with the engaging way she writes are what make her updates so readable. She doesn't strike me as naïve at all. She will be even better equipped as she follows Wilbur Lingle's guide.

I just saw DD's post. I need to add to what I just said. That's right, we shouldn't ignore the spiritual dimension. This is a spiritual counterfeit, not simply mind control, so we need to do what we're told in Ephesians 6:10ff. to do.

12

My JW Mom came for an impromptu visit yesterday. It went great! :)

by Faithful Witness in

it is so nice to start actually believing that my mom wants to have a relationship with me and my kids again.

there was awhile, where it was in question, and she wasn't sure if she was supposed to associate with us or not.

i think the stand that my sister has taken against me, is actually causing my mom to start doubting whether it is a good idea to follow this cruel example of "love" as defined by the watchtower.

dabster

This is so encouraging, hearing how you are making progress with your Mom. It's wonderful. And you're sowing seeds with the Elderette too. How can we not keep you in our prayers?

3

New Testament Manuscript Study Papyrus Images and NA 28 Online

by TheWonderofYou in

interested in online resources for new testament?

nt and od is the antique book with.

the most documentated available manuscripts.

dabster

Thanks TWOY! Crazyguy, I don't think you're lying. I think you're mistaken.

20

1500 year old text reports Jesus not Crucified

by designs in

found in 2000 with a group of antiquity smugglers this bible contains the gospel of barnabas according to the report in the national turk.. written in aramaic this gospel account was omitted by the church during the period of the council of nicea.. the text maintains a story similar to islam regarding jesus being a great prophet.. is has a reported value of $28million and is said to be in the museum of ankara.. http://moorishharem.com/culture-detail/1500-year-old-bible-that-jesus-christ-was-not-crucified-vatican-in-awe/.

.

dabster

Very well established, Jeffro? Paul seems to have believed that Adam had existed every bit as much as Jesus did and does. "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

85

My Elderette is returning today to CONDUCT another conversation...

by Faithful Witness in

she has had 42 years of training and indoctrination.

i'm feeling sort of nervous, but also looking forward to it.

this will be our second scheduled session together, and we never did agree on a topic.. i'm assuming she will come with an agenda and another prepared presentation.

dabster

I kind of warmed a little to jgnat's comment, somehow, where she says, "I wouldn't agonize so much about demons and God's will. He knows your heart and as soon as it is not doing you any good, stop it. As for demons, Witnesses fear churches for the same thing. I see two groups mutually fearful of 'demons'...". Well yes, but - dunno.

Although there's truth in what she says, the WT organisation is all about deception. If the WT is not the truth, could the deceiver, the father of lies be behind it? Could one aspect of the deception be "don't go to churches - that's where the demons are"? It is precisely in churches, good ones anyway, where the truth is to be found.

I believe that what we read in 1 John 5:19 is right. The whole world does lie in the power of the evil one. The Watchtower is a spiritual counterfeit and of course under his power too. If it appears we're a threat to people in his thrall (good word, that, must use it more often) he's going to retaliate. No surprises there. Without getting all extreme and spooky now, we are in a spiritual fight or Paul wouldn't have written what he did about the weapons of our warfare. We can even come of second best from time to time, I have - but this can be dealt with as we or others pray. I'm not sure we should stop something if it is not doing us any good, necessarily. If we get demonic flak we must be doing something right.

Faithful Witness, all this is not to say that you should continue seeing the elderette and colleague. It might well be an idea to call the discussions off. Look to God for his leading in the matter. I'll be happy to pray too, if you like, that he would reveal unmistakeably to you what he has in mind.