EdenOne

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Posts by EdenOne

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  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

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  EdenOne

  • However if someone had signed the letter they may have been to verify from the sender what exact issues (or boxes to tick, if you like) they require in order to take further steps.

  
  This is crucial. And here comes where the Watchtower policies and culture come to play. Probably the elders were more concerned with the "good name" of Jehovah's congregation/organization, that they didn't want to become public knowledge that such a dangerous person was ever associated with them. They also didn't want the police ask questions about disfellowshipping policies and details. So, rather than filing a formal complaint, which would allow the police to follow through a more in-depth investigation, and potentially protect the members of congregation, they chose to protect the reputation of the Watchtower Corporation and instead send an anonymous tip to the police, in hopes that the angels would keep watch for them. We now know how well that went.
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  23

  Is there really any universal issue of Sovereignty?

  by Linda14 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i can agree that satan doesn't see god as a good ruler as stated at gen 3:1-5. he doesn't seem to see gods laws as right or good.

  but whether there is an understanding/agreement between god and satan afterward to the effect that he can take the mantle of rulership to show whether his style is best is doubtful.

  that conclusion is probably reached because god hasn't destroyed satan, and he is also called the ruler of the world in the bible.

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  EdenOne

  ExBethelitenow, here's what's working for me now (doesn't mean it won't evolve, but I have found a comfortable space here):

  I'm simultaneously Atheist, Agnostic, Apatheist, and Christian. I'll explain:

  Atheist because I don't see enough convincing evidence of the existence of deities, including the Judaic-Christian god; on the contrary, evolution points towards the opposite.

  Agnostic because, even if a deity existed, I am persuaded that it would be unknowable by me, either because absent, distant, existing on some other plain of existence, not interested in me, different shape and form etc etc.

  Apatheist because I became apathetic to the idea of an interventionist god. If the god of the Bible exists, he's a horrible person, ethically abhorrent and I want nothing to do with it.

  Finally, Christian because I can't deny the set of basis moral tenets that I grew up with. As a philosophy, there are worse choices than Christianity, even if it hardly reflects what the historical rabbi Jesus might have taught. These principles shaped me and made me what I am today and I can't escape that, even if I'm not a believer today.
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  41

  Made up field service experience at yesterday's Public Talk

  by RULES & REGULATIONS in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  remember the made up stories of witnesses in djibouti,africa where they had to walk 2 days in alligator infested waters with no shoes in the blazing sun to attend the meetings?

  they made it to the meetings in these terrible conditions.. talk about made up stories!

  here is a field service experience that was told at yesterday's public talk which would fall into the made up stories!.

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  EdenOne

  One day I was invited to deliver a part in a symposium on a Circuit Assembly.

  I had to attend the rehearsal with the CO and DO (at the time). In some other symposium part, the assigned elder invited an elderly, shy sister was to be interviewed and tell an experience of how she persisted in calling back someone that showed some interest in a tract. The sister told her story that ended up with the house dweller becoming part of her regular literature itinerary. End of story.

  The CO wasn't exactly thrilled with it, but was tired and didn't have time to find a better story, so he ok'd it. However, the DO (a major prick) said "well, that's not a very encouraging story, is it? Interviewing someone on the platform with such a small outcome isn't good enough", he scolded the elder.

  "Tell me, sister, did you start a Bible study with the person?" The terrorized sister replied "n..no ..." The DO insisted: "Well, are you able to read a bible text to the person when you visit?", he asked. "Not yet ... I only leave the magazines". The DO got frustrated: "Well, do you think that you will be able to at least read one bible text to the person on your next visit?" he pushed. "I ... I suppose I can try ..."

  The DO smiled. "Well, then, you will say that your persistence resulted in initiating a new bible study. Now everyone will be much more encouraged, don't you agree?" "Y...Yes, brother DO"

  And so it was, on the Circuit Assembly next week she told the story from the platform of how her efforts yielded a new, and ongoing, bible study. *claps*
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  Mickey mouse The problem is that the JWs both attract people with mental health problems and then add to their burden.

  ^^^ This! 100% spot on.
• 
  23

  Is there really any universal issue of Sovereignty?

  by Linda14 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i can agree that satan doesn't see god as a good ruler as stated at gen 3:1-5. he doesn't seem to see gods laws as right or good.

  but whether there is an understanding/agreement between god and satan afterward to the effect that he can take the mantle of rulership to show whether his style is best is doubtful.

  that conclusion is probably reached because god hasn't destroyed satan, and he is also called the ruler of the world in the bible.

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  EdenOne

  The issue of universal sovereignty always felt illogical to me because, how could Satan the Devil ever expected to win? It would be a non-starter, a non-issue, a non-challenge. Plus, if God already foresaw the outcome, why would the Devil play right into God's chartered course of events? Again, illogical.
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  His literary output, even in his business website full of empty business jargon, is pretty bonkers.
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  The german public attorney mentioned that the suspect "left the congregation a year and half ago voluntarily, but not in good terms". What exactly does this mean? Did he simply become inactive and stopped attending, following maybe a reproof? Or did he disassociate himself?
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  According to media, the guy had been disfellowshipped since a year and half ago, but now comes back to revenge? Hmm ...

  User "+" stated (in german) that his official disfellowshipping announcement was yesterday, March 9. So, I'm thinking here that a year and half ago he maybe was reproofed (dissenting views?) and ceased to attend meetings. But only with the publication of his book, last December, the elders had "hard evidence" of him becoming an apostate. So he was disfellowshipped. And, knowing the announcement was to be made on yesterday's meeting, he decided to take revenge?
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  It seems the guy had a grudge against someone in Hamburg ... former employer, maybe? Any connection with the JWs? He made three fraud complaints against one or three businesses based in Hamburg, and advertised such on his website:

  https://philippfusz.com/pro-bono-for-the-society/
  
• 
  171

  Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany

  by EdenOne in

  1. social
  2. current

  mass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.

  at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.

  single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  EdenOne

  The pregnant woman survived. The 7-month fetus in her womb was shot and died. 4 men and two women killed.