Posts by AverageJoe1

34

I gave up The 5th Dimension for Jehovah

by compound complex in

greetings, old timers (in particular):.

of course, we don't share all views in common.

unless i'm mistaken, however, we older, former jws were decisive about what our "bible-trained consciences" would allow -- or not.

AverageJoe1

@WTWizard
do they always throw away a whole album because of one song they don't like?

My mum made me throw out my MJ "Thriller" album when she found out what that song was about. Notice how she made ME throw it out (with her watching too) instead of her doing it, saying that Jehovah would be pleased with me (I doubt it as God supposedly can read our hearts and mind, and I can assure you that good thoughts were NOT in my mind at that moment). It went into the dustbin whole so I've always hoped that one of the dustbin men saw it and rescued it!

By the way, I had no idea did that "Up, Up & Away" song. I'll look for their album now. I'm always on the lookout to expand my music collection and tastes. Thanks!

6

The vague WTBTS Baptism question?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

acts 2:38 is easy to understand and easy to follow.

there are no words that are vague and need interpretation.

“do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of jehovah’s witnesses in association with god’s spirit-directed organization?”.

AverageJoe1

@Steve2
C'mon JW organization, get real: I refuse to believe that people still use cameras!

Of course they do! Cameras take way better photos. If you want a quick snap shot then your mobile is fine but then many older ones don't know how to work a smartphone so they use cameras. i see it all the time.

41

Anyone watching Star Trek Discovery?

by Coded Logic in

so i've been watching the show and really enjoying it.

great to see a trek tv series finally get a reasonable budget.

beautiful costumes, sets, cinematography, action pieces, etc.. really my only complaints are how cg all the ships look and there's a fair bit of stiff dialog from time to time.. what do you guys think of the show?.

AverageJoe1

Total crap and nothing like Star Trek at all! Roddenberry would be turning in his grave!

There are so many things wrong with it:

Supposed to be original timeline but the ship is way more advanced than the NCC-1701 even though it is set BEFORE The Original Series.
The Klingons: what on earth?!!! In that timeline they should look like humans. Even if the series powers-that-be wanted them to look like they were originally (before their genetic mutations, explained in ST:Enterprise), then they should look at "Worf" or any of the original series films.
Swearing. Really? In a Star Trek Series? And the "F bomb" at that!
A continued storyline instead of individual or isolated stories.
Way too much violence and very little storyline.

If you watch "Discovery" as a separate entity, having nothing to do with with the Star Trek universe except the name, then it's watchable if there's nothing else on, in my opinion.

For a decent Star Trek series (one that holds with Roddenberry's ideals) then I'd recommend "Star Trek Continues". It stars James Doohan's son as Scotty and also includes some guest stars from the original series. Only 11 episodes but even Roddenberry's son said that his dad would have classed it as canon:

http://startrekcontinues.com/episodes.html

49

When Will Jehovah`s Witnesses Appoint A Woman As A Governing Body Member.? It`s Long Overdue !

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

jehovah himself gives the saying "the women telling the good news are a large army" psalms 68 : 11 coupled with the fact that a good portion of women partake of the emblems and wine at the annual memorial celebration.. identifying themselves as part of the 144000 that are taken from the earth to rule with christ jesus in the heavens.. isn`t it about time they were recognized for their contributions and given the fact that gods word the bible clearly states that 144,000 of anointed are to be taken from the earth which many women are a large part of.?.

revelation ch.14 :4 could be argued that they are not lesbians { "these are the ones who do not defile themselves with women ,in fact they are virgins, etc,etc.}.

i wonder just how many men who claim to be of the anointed have not defiled themselves with women and are virgins.?.

AverageJoe1

Jehovah and Jesus according to the Bible had a decent view of women and can be seen by the prophetesses that have been mentioned by Millie.

Then along comes Apostle Paul who was a male chauvinist even compared to the times back then, and everything changed. At the end of the day, even in some of his letters he stated that “this is just my opinion”.

As Watchtower are so fond of saying, if it doesn’t harmonise with the rest of the Bible then it can’t be the correct interpretation. That said, I can’t see the current GB appointing a woman.

9

Crazy JW Comments On AvoidJW.org

by AverageJoe1 in

i read john redwood’s excellent article on avoidjw.org but what was even more mind blowing for me was all the jw comments via disqus at the end of the article:.

http://avoidjw.org/en/news/problems-facing-jw-org/.

they are all the typical lashing out comments based on emotion rather than logical reasoning along with the watchtower apologists thrown in for good measure.. if any of you have a disqus account, then i’d encourage you to have your say.

AverageJoe1

@Xanthippe
I love that the site administrator criticises your comments Joe and then tells everyone to look on jw.borg! He says it twice

The Site Admin is a good friend of mine. It was a JW loyalist (PIMI) that was criticising me!

Yes, the JW.Borg changes were brilliant! ha ha

9

Crazy JW Comments On AvoidJW.org

by AverageJoe1 in

i read john redwood’s excellent article on avoidjw.org but what was even more mind blowing for me was all the jw comments via disqus at the end of the article:.

http://avoidjw.org/en/news/problems-facing-jw-org/.

they are all the typical lashing out comments based on emotion rather than logical reasoning along with the watchtower apologists thrown in for good measure.. if any of you have a disqus account, then i’d encourage you to have your say.

AverageJoe1

I read John Redwood’s excellent article on avoidJW.org but what was even more mind blowing for me was all the JW comments via DISQUS at the end of the article:

http://avoidjw.org/en/news/problems-facing-jw-org/

They are all the typical lashing out comments based on emotion rather than logical reasoning along with the Watchtower apologists thrown in for good measure.

If any of you have a disqus account, then I’d encourage you to have your say. I’ve replied to a number of those ridiculous posters but so far have not had a response. Maybe they think they’ve lost God’s favour since I pointed out that they were being disloyal to the Governing Body, erm I mean God, By commenting on there in the first place!

29

Are JWs capable of a genuine discussion?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

i was just pondering whether jws are capable of having a calm, in depth discussion about religious or faith topics?.

i have just finished listening to a great podcast by "dogma debate" (dan) episode 333. this fantastic, in-depth conversation between a theist and an atheist was a masterful example of how a dignified conversation can take place without it resorting to abruptness or even nastiness.. jws on the other hand seem incapable of having such discussion without ending up in the following ways:.

1)they get dogmatic and defensive if a differing view is presented.. 2)if the conversation doesn't go their way, they cut it short saying something like "well, we had better agree to disagree" or the like.. so why the arrogance?

AverageJoe1

Depends if they still have their power of critical thinking. A few in my congregation have and it leads to some very interesting discussions (and comments in the meetings).

83

Leaked 2018 Elders Training Video RE: Elders Reviewing Pionieers

by pale.emperor in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhq5viughny&feature=youtu.be.

quite frankly im disturbed at the lack of love and compassion.

especially for the first sister they talk about!.

AverageJoe1

@stuckinarut2

I thought that too but after having read the accompanying questions in the outline, it’s not! The only thing it states they did wrong was not be better prepared!!!

This can be checked if you look at the outline for this talk. It is number 9 and the questions for the two videos are on pages 2 and 3 (yes there are actually two videos. There appears a pause icon at the 9:34 mark) and here’s a link to the outline in PDF that accompanies this video:

https://jw.servehttp.com/en/kms18.php?is=kms18-E_09.pdf

it’s very judgmental but according to question 7 it would be “unloving” to let her continue as a pioneer. Unbelievable!

23

Were visits to the library an important part of your childhood?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

greetings, fellow bibliophiles:.

i remember how sad i was, as a little child, when our beloved carnegie library was razed (unsafe, structurally).

the same tragedy occurred when we moved to a new town and that similar architectural treasure was demolished to put up a new and gleaming building of steel and glass.

AverageJoe1

Yes indeed. The little library in our village was quite forward-thinking to as you could also rent music records and tapes (and later CDs), including language learning media. We also regularly used the library for school assignments and were allowed to study in there (as it was obviously much bigger than the in-house school one.)

As I come from a family of avid readers, the library has always been part of my life before the Internet age. Now I read everything on my iPad or Kindle. Still love the feel and smell of an old book though.

36

Is it 16?

by Jrjw in

hi can anyone tell me if it's true the society says parents must take their child to meetings until they're 16 even if they don't want to?

my ex is being a pain about me not forcing my 12 year old to be a witness.

he doesn't know i'm becoming inactive at moment so i have to be careful how i word things to him.

AverageJoe1

I was brought up to believe I would die at Armageddon if I wasn’t baptised. I asked this question when I was 15 and that’s what my mum told me. She added that since I was old enough to ask that question I was already accountable before Jehovah. That summer I got baptised. Coincidence? I think not!