Posts by Rattigan350

In John 2:19 Jesus did not predict that he would raise himself from the dead, because Acts said that God raised him up. And if he could raise himself from the dead, he wasn't dead.

Stop focusing on the words that were written because the words could have been said or written wrongly. Yes, Jesus said a bunch of crazy stuff that the apostles didn't understand and they may not have recorded it properly.

So learn the mechanics of how things work and that won't be a problem.

16

Explanation for changes to Disfellowshipping rules at Annual Meeting

by Listener in

wally, a youtuber from jw thoughts highlighted something that was said by kenneth cook jnr in the annual meeting.

he thinks it may be removed before they publish the agm.

i doubt we would see it in writing either.. part of kenneth's talk was about the changes regarding disfellowshipping and the clip from jw thoughts youtube shows him saying -.

Rattigan350

The thing that no one gets is that the disfellowshipping thing comes from 1 Corinthians. Paul's letter to a congregation 2000 years ago. Why are we reading and making policy from one man's letter to another congregation from that long ago?

Wouldn't it have to be something from the apostles and older men (which they call the governing body of that time) and they would make a declaration and that would be sent to all of the congregations?

171

Alteration of Revelation 3:14 in the 4th century to support the emerging Trinity doctrine

by slimboyfat in

in an earlier thread another poster asserted that there is no evidence that revelation 3:14 played a part in the 4th controversy that led to the trinity doctrine.

this was claimed as evidence that the description of jesus as “the beginning of the creation of god” in the verse was not understood to mean that jesus was god’s first creation.

the scholarly greek–english lexicon of the new testament & other early christian literature 3e (2001) by bauer, arndt, gingrich, and danker, in its latest edition states that “first creation” is indeed the probable meaning of the greek phrase.

Rattigan350

Jesus being the first or beginning of God's creation would go along with his being the only-begotten son of God.

It's that simple. No need for 8 pages of comments.

73

JWN, 23 years posting Blondie

by blondie in

jw
friends

can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.

i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.

in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.

Rattigan350

"People are pissed because it affected their whole lives"

Why? Whose fault is that?

It's nice to blame others for our choices. I know. I've looked in my past from 40 years ago and if so many things have happened differently then my life would be so much better today. But I don't know if I can say better, it would be different. I can blame God because he should know what the future holds. But the decisions ultimately were mine.

Also, unlike so many Witnesses who want the kingdom to come because they want Jehovah to fix all of their problems, I have never been one to look to the kingdom like that. I have this life to live , I'm good with it and then when that is done, I'll live the next one. The kingdom has so many unknowns, that I'd rather go with what I know.

73

JWN, 23 years posting Blondie

by blondie in

jw
friends

can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.

i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.

in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.

Rattigan350

TonusOH. No one lied to you. Just because a writer in the past had more faith of expectation than actually happened, does not make it a lie.

Lie -

1 - to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive

2 - to create a false or misleading impression

The writers in the past did neither to create a lie. They didn't create false or misleading impressions just because it didn't happen. I understand that which is why I'm not bothered by anything they printed in the past. The writers' faith is the writers' faith and I've never ridden on their coattails.

7

FOR ACTIVE JW's: January 2025 Study Watchtower: Where is JESUS?

by BoogerMan in

didn't jehovah assign christ all power & authority?

so why no mention of him?.

from the january 2025 study watchtower: .

Rattigan350

Why are you making an issue out of something that is not a problem?

The yeartext is from the Psalms where there was not Jesus yet. So how can it mention him?

FYI, In Acts 1:6 Jesus said "you will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Ju·deʹa and Sa·marʹi·a, and to the most distant part of the earth" because the people to whom he was speaking, actually witnessed him say and do things.

Thus it would not apply to us today, because we didn't witness him do or say anything. Reading it in a book does not make any of us witnesses to what Jesus said and did. It's hard to believe that people don't understand that simple concept. Which is a totally different concept from Isaiah 43:10-12 of being Witnesses of Jehovah. But hey, people will complain just to complain.

60

1/25 WT: Oral and Anal sex are a go - if she's ok with it

by neat blue dog in

he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.

a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.

generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..

Rattigan350

"This was a problem in my marriage. Elders telling us what was acceptable."

Why were you seeking advise or listening to the elders?

60

1/25 WT: Oral and Anal sex are a go - if she's ok with it

by neat blue dog in

he will not pressure her to engage in sexual acts that make her feel uncomfortable, that are demeaning, or that bother her conscience..... the bible does not provide details as to what sexual practices between a husband and a wife should be considered clean or unclean.

a christian couple must make decisions that reflect their resolve to honor jehovah, to please each other, and to maintain a clean conscience.

generally speaking, a couple would not discuss with others this intimate aspect of their marriage..

Rattigan350

"With this comment, they are saying if his decisions make her feel uncomfortable, are demeaning or that bother her conscience he should not pressure her to agree to them."

That's called love.

1 Peter 3:7 "You husbands, in the same way, continue dwelling with them according to knowledge. Assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one,"

But then sex is not fun unless it is naughty.

73

JWN, 23 years posting Blondie

by blondie in

jw
friends

can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.

i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.

in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.

Rattigan350

"Stopping believing in the WTS/GB does not = stopping believing in Jehovah, Jesus and the Bible."

Here's my position on this:

Have you ever heard the phrase: 'While I may not like my family (mother, father, brother, sister, inlaws, aunts, uncles, whatever), if anyone attacks them, I'll defend them. Family is still family.'

While I may not like the elders or the Watchtower in how things are done, if anyone attacks them, I'll defend them. There is a difference between disliking someone and having them or making them as an enemy.

I told a person on another site that all that attacking of the GB is making him an enemy of the JWs. What good does that do? It doesn't accomplish what he thinks it does. It just makes people with that agenda feel better. So does throwing eggs at your neighbor's house.

If there are problems in the organization or religion, then fix them. We don't need to wait for the Governing body permission. Just do what needs done.

The elders in Israel went to Samuel and demanded a king. Jehovah was against that but he gave them that.
David wanted to build the temple. Jehovah didn't need that but he had Solomon build it.

But I guess people would rather call names and sit by and insult. That's the problem I have with people who leave working at the WTS because of their consciences. What does that do? Ray Franz had the power and authority to fix many things. It's like jury nullification. The people have the power. The power resides with the people even in a theocracy.

"I get that the disappointment and wrong doings of the WTS/GB led to the anger/hatred of them."

I don't get that.

Why is there so much stupid stuff out there like people complaining that in 1969 an Awake article said that we won't grow old in this system. As if everything hinges on an Awake article. As if the organization shatters because a writer was overzealous in his faith. They didn't have a governing body back then, just the President and VP and the board of directors. Yeah, mistakes have been made, but the ones that made them are dead and gone.

Why do people talk about Beth Sarim, Russell, Rutherford, etc as if that changes anything.

Or the current governing body. They didn't start anything, they inherited it all. They are taking a more liberal stance and are overruling long held precedent. Rowe vs Wade was overruled by a Supreme Court that inherited it, when they don't like to overrule precedent. Give it time. The main problem is that they are constrained from changing things because Damned if they do, damned if they don't. IF they change 607 or blood transfusions, they will get so much flack from that, it is better to leave things alone.