Posts by undercover

15

My first post...Questions from Readers 4-08-03

by IWasDuped in

jw
friends

hi...this is my first time posting...been lurking and working up my courage to post... .

awake 4-8-03.

"luaus- i read with interest your article, "let's have a hawaiian luau.

undercover

I was struck by that reasoning too. So, what about birthdays, Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, etc.? What's the difference?

Same here. If you take the footnote from that article and substitute the word/phrase luous(however you spell it) with birthdays, valentines day, etc. it would be the same exact logic as to why we could celebrate these things. But illogically one ancient pagan custom is ok while others aren't. That and we aren't allowed to use Christian conscience to decide for ourselves.

That same reasoning was used by the WT with regard to toasting drinks. It used to be tied to pagan beliefs but now we just do it to be social

I missed that one. I'd like to see the reference on it. I never toasted with other witnesses present but when in business/social settings I went along with it. It seemed stupid to make an issue out of such a harmless custom.

155

how do you feel re homosexuality?

by nowisee in

undercover

If you don't know any homosexuals or were raised to "hate" them(as in certain religions that will remain un-named) you will feel differently once you meet and get to know one or more. At least that was the case with me. Once I was befriended by some homosexuals/lesbians I realized I couldn't "hate" them. They were nice people. And they were human. I don't necessarily agree with their choice of sexuality but we have agreed to disagree and we don't bring it up. Otherwise we are acquaintances and friends just as any other people. It has become a non-issue with me. Their being "gay" doesn't bother me any more than my being "straight" bothers them.

55

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 3-16-03 WT Study

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 3-16-03 wt study

february 1, 2003.

"have love among yourselves".

undercover

Nice job, Blondie. You always go to a lot of effort on these studies and they are put together very well.

I do have a question though regarding what you said regarding depression:

Just recently, the WTS said depression was caused by improper diet, lack of sleep and dwelling too much on personal problems. No acknowledgement was made of the real medical basis for most depression and the need to seek out doctors not just the elders for "support." The WTS calls them "emotional challenges," "emotional issues" or "emotional distress" disregarding the real physical illness.

Can you reference that for me? I'd like to see that in their publication. I don't doubt you, but if I ever use some of these points for self-defense or to convince others, I only want to use the Society's own words against them. Thanks in advance and keep up the good work.

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

undercover

You must bear in mind that the Society has published an excellent presentation of the regnal years of the Hebrew kings for Judah and Israel which harmonizes nicely with biblical history.

Scholar:

I'll start with that then. In what publications is this presented? I don't need it quoted but references to publication and chapter would be nice.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I do need to get the COJ book I guess, but I'm kinda like DantheMan, I'm not into academics that much. I need it layed out easy, neat and brief so any dummy(me) can understand it.

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

undercover

Thanks, guys.

This helps a lot. I'll use that link(it's working for me) and do some research. Thanks again.

undercover

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

undercover

I remember reading somewhere a quote from a WTS publication that more or less said that the Bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled. Something like that anyway(I've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something). Somehow if you take the Society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect. I'm looking for that quote in the publication and I can't for the life of me remember where I saw this. Does this make any sense to anyone and can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

6

The Governing Body is made up of whom?

by Jourles in

any (ex)elders out there care to ellaborate on this?

*** w94 1/15 pp.

16-17 shepherds and sheep in a theocracy ***.

undercover

The GB is represented by elders in local congregations. Thats the word for when orders are handed down from above. The average Joe Witness is to listen and obey the elders as if they were the GB.

But when lawsuits start hitting congregations regarding child abuse, elders are going to be left swinging in the wind. They will NOT be representing the GB at that time. All elders better get a hold of that Watchtower and have it ready for their lawyers so they can make sure that their superiors share the blame.

29

Do You Still Not Do Things That A JW Wouldn't Do?

by minimus in

jw
friends

will you now say when someone sneezes ," bless you!!!"?

or do you feel weird about it?

would you give blood or be uncomfortable, still?

undercover

I still don't do Halloween, which is my own personal decision not to do. However, I celebrate most holidays and enjoy celebrating my birthday immensely.

While I still don't really celebrate the holidays, I do like Halloween the best. Even when still active I secretly loved Halloween. The movies, costumes, practical scary jokes. The whole spookiness of it appealed to me. I didn't see it as demon worshipping or whatever. Now I go to halloween parties and enjoy the festivities of the holiday. I understand those that may question it and want to keep their children from it. It's up to each person and family to decide. The same with the other holidays.

28

I went to the Assembly....

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

i was at home and a man came to the door...i knew immediately he was a jw brother, however, he was quite handsome (no offense) and very well built.

he looked like a cross between brad pitt/tom cruise/evan marriott.... he wore a very nice dark gray suit that formed perfectly to his sculpted muscles...he had a very nice book bag.

black, brushed silver hardware.

undercover

You're Freudian slip is showing.

102

JW Urban Legends

by Azalo in

jw
friends

did any of you hear any of the urban legends that jw's used to scare people into being deathly afraid of demons?

for example i remeber hearing that a child brough a smurf doll to a meeting and upon hearing the name jehovah uttered it got up and walked out.

got any j-dub urban legends?

undercover

We also had a curious pattern to war, earthquake, flood, typhoon, hurricane stories -- that Jehovah was always protecting the lives and usually even the KH property.

Reminds me of the story of the young brother who was torn between taking a new job or going to MS school. Supposedly this was told at the breakfast table at Bethel. The brother had been trying for some time to get this job and finally had it offered to him. But at the same time the MS School was to start. He decided to put Jehovah first, turned down the job and went to MS School. The first day of the job he turned down was 9-11-01 at an office in the Twin Towers.

They told this(supposed) experience to help us see how Jehovah blesses those who put him first. What about the Witnesses that did die? A Witness firemen died after rushing in to help others. Were they any less favored by God? When I heard that story I was furious. An amazing coincidence is shamelessly used to make us feel guilty for not putting kingdom interests first. Despicable.

This may be another legend, but it pissed me off none-the-less because the friends were just eating this up.