Posts by EdenOne

30

Female Perspective about WTS, marital relationship & control

by Muddy Waters in

despite my user name, am female.

i was not born-in, began studying when i was around 20, am 50 damn years old now and have spent almost the last 30 years in that stupid religion.

but here are some observations, make of them what you will.

EdenOne

Wow, I so wish I had seen this post three years ago ... :)

I was that husband you described and my wife was just as you described. Just like in "Killing Me Softly", reading through your post was like reading the chronicles of my JW marriage. Thank you for your insight.

Thankfully, at the end of the day my whole household exited the cult, but not without a lot of turmoil and grieving in between, and a lot of it is condensed in your words. YES, many JW husbands are cuckolds, because their spouses' prime loyalty is towards the Organization, and they are the GB's inside agent within the household to keep the hubby in check.

I couldn't have written it better if I wanted. Bravo and thank you.

27

ANGOLA - JW Regional Convention target of attack.

by EdenOne in

according to news sources in luanda, angola (read it here, although it's in portuguese language), a regional convention of the jw's taking place this weekend at the outskirts of capital luanda was targeted yesterday, friday, by what may be described as a 'terrorist attack'.. more than 400 attendees (mostly female) passed out in rapid succession in the vicinity of a toilet at the convention place.

reportedly, toxic gas devices were planted there by 3 young members of unita, the main political party that opposed mpla, the dominant regime party in angola since its independence in 1975.

43 people were rushed to the hospital and a few remain there, under medical surveillance.

EdenOne

According to news sources in Luanda, Angola (read it here, although it's in Portuguese language), a regional convention of the JW's taking place this weekend at the outskirts of capital Luanda was targeted yesterday, friday, by what may be described as a 'terrorist attack'.

More than 400 attendees (mostly female) passed out in rapid succession in the vicinity of a toilet at the convention place. Reportedly, toxic gas devices were planted there by 3 young members of UNITA, the main political party that opposed MPLA, the dominant regime party in Angola since its independence in 1975. 43 people were rushed to the hospital and a few remain there, under medical surveillance. No deaths were reported.

The attack seems to be a retaliation for the fact that JW's do not vote - and Angola just underwent presidential elections during last week. 3 perpetrators were seized by the police while trying to change clothes at the convention hall, and 2 more are being hunted down.

68

Over 300 DFed apparently went to a northern U.K R.C!

by Isambard Crater in

that's what i've been told by a family member (elder) who went to one of the regional conventions in the north of the u.k lately, who told me the 300 or more disfellowshipped who returned to jehovah by attending show that the end is so close, just like the final talk says..

EdenOne

Those who "return to Jehovah", especially after having learned "the truth about the Truth" only prove that it's a lot easier to leave the religion than the religion leaving the individual.

And if "world crisis" triggers the fear of a nearing end of this "system of things", then it only goes to show how deeply successful is the brand of indoctrination practiced by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

49

The Internet is worse for the Watchtower than 1975 was: here's proof.

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

i am translating jwfacts to spanish.

i am doing the "statistics" section.here are two graphs that show that the statistics have never been worse for the watchtower:quantity of hours required for 1 baptism: note how low it went in 1974-1975, and note that 2016 is much higher than the slump of 1978... about double, to be exact.

2016 was a historical record in this statistic (higher is worse for watchtower).. this stat is the baptisms as a percentage of the publisher average.

EdenOne

From my observation, there are two most important factors, and none of them has to with doctrine.

First and foremost, is the shrinking "recruitment pool". The JW's have been historically inept to make significant progress in Islamic, Buddhist and Hinduist countries, so they have directed their efforts mostly into areas where christianity in general has been dominant: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia. (Japan is a bit of an exception, but the JWs took advantage of the collapse of the Emperor's worshipping following WW2).

In the most well-educated and affluent societies of Europe, North America, Australia, access to information, critical thinking skills, more liberal attitude towards sexual orientation, have steadily contributed to a progressive secularization of society, and consequently, less interest in religion. In these areas, the JWs decline is only mitigated by the baptism of born-ins and the recruitment amongst immigrant communities.

The only source of significant growth is South America and Africa, where the erosion of the authority of the Catholic Church and mainstream protestantism, coupled with low rate of high education level is giving the JWs some leeway and helps to make-up the worldwide numbers.

The other factor is demographics. In general, the average JW is aging, the retention of born-ins is alarmingly low, and we should see an acceleration in the decline curve, as the numbers of dying old folk cannot be replaced by the recruitment of new ones and the born-ins aren't enough to make up for the ones who pass away or get DF'd.

I would argue that the most important effect of the internet and the "apostate activism" is not seen in the numbers of those who leave the Organization after many years of baptism, but rather, in the number of born-ins who refuse to become baptized JWs or those who baptized at a young age but who leave the JWs as soon as they get a measure of autonomy. That's why there has been a significant change from the Organization towards baptism of pre-teen youngsters and a tacit incentive to marrying young "in the truth". Catch them before they learn to think for themselves and while their fanatic parents still have enough authority over them and tie them in with all sorts of commitments so that leaving is not seen as a viable option.

53

2017 Convention Recording: JWs Applaud 10yo Girl For Shunning Her Own Sister

by pale.emperor in

this poor girl was baptized at 9yo.

.

she isnt old enough to buy alcohol, to vote, to decide her own medical treatment, to buy a pet, to travel alone... yet she was deemed old enough to dedicate her life to a religion that will cut her off from her family if she ever leaves.. here she is applauded for shunning her own sister who tried to keep in contact with her after waking up.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yzgnfda8ki.

EdenOne

Revolting. Truly made me sick from watching it.

332

The most successful teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses and an amazing new book on the divine name

by slimboyfat in

jehovah's witnesses have had to revise their chronology and various doctrinal interpretations due to events and scholarly corrections.

but the one teaching where they have been consistently ahead of the curve is the importance of jehovah's name.. .

i'm going to run through a (necessarily selective) timeline of jw events and scholarly publications that demonstrate the phenomenal success of this teaching in the last days.

EdenOne

Ruby,

The god of the OT is portrayed as sometimes being uber-zealous about purity and other times giving a free pass to outrageous behavior from his believers - especially if they were of a certain high rank.

(He can kill Uzzah from touching the covenant ark in a critical situation, or kill Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for seemingly offering incense after consuming wine. All the while giving a free pass to David and Beth-Sheba, Loth and his daughters, Solomon and his harem, Judah and fornicating with his daughter-in-law, King Manasseh and his violence and idolatry, etc ...)

A perfect god wouldn't be inconsistent as YHWH is portrayed in the OT. Which shows that he is a product of the people who worshipped that deity. The stories committed to written form about the god of the hebrews are no less mythological than the greek or the babylonian stories about their gods. The only reason why that mythology crept into christianity was because Jesus of Nazareth, who was exalted to divinity status by his later followers, clearly endorsed the jewish mythology about their god. By extension, Christian believers since St. Paul and the early apostles scrambled to justify the actions of the god of the OT in an attempt to give his actions a purpose consistent with christianity.

That's all there is to it.

332

The most successful teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses and an amazing new book on the divine name

by slimboyfat in

jehovah's witnesses have had to revise their chronology and various doctrinal interpretations due to events and scholarly corrections.

but the one teaching where they have been consistently ahead of the curve is the importance of jehovah's name.. .

i'm going to run through a (necessarily selective) timeline of jw events and scholarly publications that demonstrate the phenomenal success of this teaching in the last days.

EdenOne

Where is the vowel ‘E’ in ‘adonai’.

There isn't any. The original interpolation was 'Yahovah'. The modern "Jehovah" is a further corruption of Yahovah.

And yes, "Jesus" is also a corrupted form of Yehoshua.

And, btw, "Yahweh" is also an interpolation of the letters of the Tetragrammon with the samaritan way of uttering God's name: YABE.

332

The most successful teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses and an amazing new book on the divine name

by slimboyfat in

jehovah's witnesses have had to revise their chronology and various doctrinal interpretations due to events and scholarly corrections.

but the one teaching where they have been consistently ahead of the curve is the importance of jehovah's name.. .

i'm going to run through a (necessarily selective) timeline of jw events and scholarly publications that demonstrate the phenomenal success of this teaching in the last days.

EdenOne

It seems to me that pronunciation varies over time and across language anyway.

Tell you what ... I will start addressing you as rapazgordomagro, because that's more or less one possible way to translate your handle to my language. I'm sure to you it won't make a difference? ;)

Plus, obviously, everyone will know who am I talking about, especially after this thread will fall into oblivion.

332

The most successful teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses and an amazing new book on the divine name

by slimboyfat in

jehovah's witnesses have had to revise their chronology and various doctrinal interpretations due to events and scholarly corrections.

but the one teaching where they have been consistently ahead of the curve is the importance of jehovah's name.. .

i'm going to run through a (necessarily selective) timeline of jw events and scholarly publications that demonstrate the phenomenal success of this teaching in the last days.

EdenOne

It's not enough to call it "silly". Please be kind enough to make your case using the Bible (WT style).

And again - the right kind of people? Why? For what purpose? Did god ever reveal such intention about his name? Because, after all, God doesn't do a thing without first revealing it to his prophets. (Amos 3:7) Where in the Scripture says that God will conceal his name and only the right people would one day make it known again? And, if the WT is doing so, does that mean they are God's prophets?

Instead, as per Ezekiel 39:7, God has failed his own prophetic purpose. He said: "I will make known my holy name among my people Israel and I will no longer let my holy name be profaned" Not only the natural Israel forgot what is the correct pronunciation of God's name, but the so-called "Spiritual Israel" of Christianity does not know the correct pronunciation of that name, and instead deliberately uses a form of the name they know is corrupted, unholy and profane.

332

The most successful teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses and an amazing new book on the divine name

by slimboyfat in

jehovah's witnesses have had to revise their chronology and various doctrinal interpretations due to events and scholarly corrections.

but the one teaching where they have been consistently ahead of the curve is the importance of jehovah's name.. .

i'm going to run through a (necessarily selective) timeline of jw events and scholarly publications that demonstrate the phenomenal success of this teaching in the last days.

EdenOne

The argument is theologically moot.

Since Jesus has supposedly taught on the model prayer: "Let your name be sanctified", let us remind what is implied by the term 'sanctified'.

The Greek word is Hagiasthētō (Strong's 37). From Hagios: means "to make holy', 'purify', 'consecrate' (Strong) 'to render inviolable', 'to purify', 'to cleanse externally' (Thayer)

Since we can agree on the following:

a) No one knows what is the original and correct pronunciation of the tetragrammon; and

b) It is well known that the name "Jehovah" is an interpolation of the letters of the tatragrammon with the vowels of 'adonai', concocted by a catholic monk in the 13th century, and, therefore, it is impossible that represents the correct hebrew pronunciation;

It stands to reason that, as per our current knowledge, it is impossible that "Jehovah" is the original, pure, hebrew pronunciation of God's name - the name that the hebrew God has chosen for himself. Remember that no man can question God's choices or attempt to change them. To Isaiah he said: "Yes, from ancient days I am he (...) I act, and who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:13)

As per God's own statement, no man can reverse or pervert God's choices, including the choice of name and way of pronouncing it - in hebrew - that he picked for himself back in the days of the patriarchs.

Therefore, calling God by the name of "Jehovah", even if well-meaning, it has the effect of polluting, corrupting and bastardizing God's name. Isn't it the WT that insists at pointing to Galatians 5:7: "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough" to say that even small amounts of corruption are enough to make an entire doctrine morally objectable to the Witnesses? The poor Uzzah thought he was doing something good by taking hold of the covenant ark when it was in peril of falling from a cart. In his eyes, it was a good deed. But God struck him, because he committed an intolerable act of impurity, since he wasn't a Levite of the Kohatite branch. (2 Samuel 6:1-7) That's how stern God is with purity, according to the Scriptures. Don't angels sing "Holy, holy, holy are you?" (Revelation 4:8) Well, the WT should heed to their own advice on this key doctrine.

Even if the WT could be on the right side of the theological wars by noticing the need to rescue God's name from obscurity, doing so without being absolutely certain that they were using the original and purest form of the name, would risk them being the object of God's ire.

To insist on using "Jehovah" is actually a disservice to the God the WT purports to worship, and, if I were the God that the Scriptures portray, I'd be very unhappy and offended with them. It's a bit like if my name was JONATHAN and a bunch of people at work would call me JANITOR because it was a "close enough" pronunciation. I wouldn't be amused. I would rather be addressed as "Mister" or "Sir", than be called some corrupted form of my name that, after a while, I would find an intolerable mockery.

Besides, I don't see any advantage in God allowing the true pronunciation of his name to be concealed for millennia. What good would that produce, except to expose God's inability to preserve his own assets?