This might help: Stick with one subject. Learn that subject forwards and backwards. Don't take anyone's word for it, research it yourself. Just because the WTS says it's so doesn't mean it is. Just because some X-JWs say it isn't so doesn't mean it isn't. YOU have to convince yourself one way or the other which is correct or more believable. Once you've studied that one subject and know it completely then you can back up your arguments and beliefs despite what ever scriptures are read.
undercover
JoinedPosts by undercover
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Never stood a chance
by galaxy7 inwell my study is over,the c uircut servant and his wife were certainly good.
every point i brought up was shot down in flames using the bible.i felt stupid not being able to defend what i really believe... oh well better luck next week.
where do i find that 607 was not the real date?.
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undercover
1. She is trying to get something for nothing (Just like trading the stock market?)
She's not getting something for nothing. She's just getting a good return(like making wise investments on the stock market). She is still investing time and money. It's not like she's stealing from someone. It's a game of chance. There's a chance she might win and there's a chance she might lose.
2. She is taking remittence from other?s losses in gambling, which is dishonest gain.
The odds are on the house and the house is rich. If the house chooses to put up big money for a miniscule chance of someone hitting it big, that's their business. They may have made millions off of millions of losers before this woman, but that is not her concern or problem.
I know your answer was tongue in cheek, but the problem with those answers, if that's how the elders would respond, is that you can't prove those assertions. The lady can't help that some other addicted gambler came in and lost his house payment just as she can't help that bad things happen to people at other times. It's not dishonest if both parties know the odds and rules going into the contest. It's dishonest when one breaks the rules or steals the pot.
To me this is one of those things that even though the Bible doesn't speak on this subject, a religious group has decided to be the conscience for millions of people by saying that God says it's wrong. All I ask is, where does God say it's wrong? If he didn't feel strong enough to say anything about it in his book, then I think other people needn't worry about it, if I choose to do it.
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Let's play the generation game
by eyeslice innot at the meeting again this evening so re-reading some of coc on my current favourite topic, the generation that will not pass away.
okay, the november 1st 1995 watchtower describes the generation of jesus prophecy as follows:.
?rather than providing a rule for measuring time, the term ?generation?
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undercover
Generation X
Baby Boomer generation
Depression era children
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In Other Words..............dead
by simplesally in.
rather than say someone is dead some people say funny little things likehe bought the farmhe's taking a dirt nap.
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undercover
I can't believe a bunch of ex-JWs haven't said
awaiting the resurrection
Asleep in death.
Lying in sheol.
In Jehovah's memory.
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undercover
It's not gambling that is the specific offense, it's greed. The extent to which greed exists is related to the frequency of the behavior. A sister was seen putting quarters in a slot machine. Two elders "counseled" her and reported back to the body that she had merely been unclear that greed was connected to this behavior and promised not to do it again; case closed.
How can you prove that this sister was guilty of being greedy because she put coins in a slot machine?
If one is not addicted to gambling or is not desperate to hit it big to get out of some financial difficulty, how can you prove it was motivated by greed? While one may spend money on a hobby, what's to say that spending money on gambling games is no different? I know people that enjoy it. They give themselves a limit and hope to last all night with their limit. Once the limit is met, their evening is over. They don't really plan on hitting it big, but if they do, hey, what the hell, drinks for everybody at the table.
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Did the Circut overseer ever scare you as a kid?
by Singing Man ini will tell you what used to scare me real good was the circuit overseer when he would come to my parents home to stay.
my parents would get real stressed out trying to find just the right food dishs and fix his bed real nice, and fight among them self's because of the stress of it all.
so he always looked like this to me at the young age of six:
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undercover
I remember on DO who was a good ole guy. Don't remember names, sorry. Even though he was a nice old dude, he seemed to be a little out of it. Didn't really know what was going on, or he was great at hiding it. He got replaced with a real firecracker later. Fire and brimstone preacher, this new guy. I kept waiting for him to bring out the snake box.
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Did the Circut overseer ever scare you as a kid?
by Singing Man ini will tell you what used to scare me real good was the circuit overseer when he would come to my parents home to stay.
my parents would get real stressed out trying to find just the right food dishs and fix his bed real nice, and fight among them self's because of the stress of it all.
so he always looked like this to me at the young age of six:
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undercover
When I was real young, 6-8, I remember the CO being a really funny, friendly guy that everyboyd loved. I actually looked forward to the CO because he knew how to speak. He made it interesting and told great stories. The local elders were boring, dull and unimaginative. The next CO was almost as good. By the time I was in my teens, the COs were not as friendly, from the stage or in person. I wasn't scared of them, but I was apprehensvie in having to go out in service with them or converse with them. By my 20s, they were pretty much run of the mill. More personality than the most of the elders, but there was an air of arrogance or superiority or something that kept me from really trusting them. From my 30s on up, I have neither liked or trusted any of them. They were like a company watchdog coming in from corporate to give pep talks and check on profits, er, progress of the local company, er, congregation.
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Awake! says we can pray in Jesus' name!!!
by Leolaia inaccording to this, jesus is not just the mediator of the 144,000 -- he's the mediator of mankind!!
and apparently "dear jesus" prayers are okay!
the watch tower says i can say, "dear jesus, you are my mediator as you are for all mankind..." "the bible clearly says that jesus christ is mankind's redeemer, so he is mankind's mediator.
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undercover
"The Bible clearly says that Jesus Christ is mankind's redeemer, so he is mankind's mediator. Therefore, our prayers should be addressed to God through, or in the name of Jesus. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) This being the case, there is absolutely no Biblical reason why men should canonize saints or pray to them." (Awake!, July 8, 1969, p. 24)
Watchtower August 15, 1989 Questions From Readers ?The people of all nations who have the hope of everlasting life on earth benefit even now from Jesus? services. Though he is not their legal Mediator , for they are not in the new covenant, he is their means of approaching Jehovah.? Worldwide Security 1986, p10 The Desire for Peace and Security Worldwide ?Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.?
Okay, which is it?
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undercover
Playing the lottery is gambling. Gambling is prohibited for JWs. If you played the lottery and won something big enough to make the local news, then there would be a judicial meeting to discuss your "wrongdoing". If you're a good enough actor, you could display repentance and just get reproved. If not, DFing would be in order. The same applies for gambling in casinos.
Edited to add: I remember the elders in one old hall I was in said that even if the lottery ticket was a gift and you accepted the money, you would face judicial action. This was stated from the platform.
I remember the first time I went in a hotel/casino. I felt like I was sinning by just being in the building. I wasn't gambling, just staying there. I've since gotten over it and now play some slots.
I'm curious though, where in the Bible is gambling prohibited? Is there any direct law or rule about not gambling? What do fundamentalist churches use in the Bible to support condemning gambling?
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Official JW web site - Truth or Lie?
by BeelzeDub inthe following is from the official jw media site.
http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/membership.htm
conscience.
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undercover
Thanks for the info Blondie. Somehow, making rules(or procedures) about thermostat settings and meeting times isn't quite the same thing as making rules about how to live your life.
Stuff like this really gets me. They'll write something like JWs don't make rules not based on the Bible, trying to show how balanced they are and then turn around and say the opposite but play it off as being righteous and necessary. The ole bait and switch is alive and well at the WTS.