Separation of Powers

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Posts by Separation of Powers

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  41

  JW New Bible

  by JW GoneBad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there's a lot of rumble in the grapevine of jws that there difinitely is a new bible that 'mother' is releasing at the upcoming agm.. it would be awesome if we could get a sneak peek at some of the changes.

  sure would be nice if some of the lurkers on this forum who work at bethel in the writing, shipping or printing department could help us out.

  this would really irritate 'mom'!.

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  Separation of Powers

  Would not doubt it.
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  59

  Was Your Leaving The Witnesses A Very Gradual Process Or A Quick One?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me, it took many years.. even when i would read all the changes over the years from the "truth", i still would ignore it and "wait on jehovah" and try to be a positive force in the congregation.. eventually, i just couldn't take it anymore and resigned as an elder, and slowly but surely made my fade.. what about you?

  were you out, in a short or longer time?

  ?.

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  Separation of Powers

  Mentally...it was in an INSTANT!
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  16

  A "New" Revelation Grand Climax at Hand book might be released for Book/Bible Study?

  by booker-t in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a few elders i know said they hoped the wts would release a "new" revelation book to be studied during 2014. they said the jws need to be spiritually encourage at the "closeness" of the end and studying a "new" revelation book for 2014 might help shape up the flock of inactive, faders, disfellowship/disassociated jws to coming back.

  posters what do you think a new rev book for 2014..

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  Separation of Powers

  I agree with ProblemAddict. The organization realizes that there are just too many things that don't add up. When you take the book of Revelation and try to decipher it using organizational elements, i.e dates of events, dates of prediction, the leaders in charge, it is just too difficult to interpret without having to edit it while it is in the hands of the congregations cause the light appears to get brighter AFTER the book is written not WHILE it is being written. Plus, you have all that dreadfull artwork to create. No, I believe it better suits the purpose to just pick and choose the portions of the book of Revelation that serve to solidfy their position then to try to explain the whole book.

  Just a thought,

  SOP
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  34

  "Whether These Appear Sound From a Strategic or Human Standpoint or Not." - What do YOU think?

  by jw07 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20131115/seven-shepherds-eight-dukes/.

  paragraph 17.

  "at that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from jehovahs organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint.

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  Separation of Powers

  (Kind of reminds me of.."We are the Keepers of the Sacred Words. Ni, Ping, and Nee-wom! Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale!")

  For a religion that condemns mystery cults and spiritistic messages, this comment sure sounds cryptic.

  I recall a comment made by Jaracz as well, referring to NH Knorr's discourse referring to the Wild Beast of Revelation, the one that "was, was not, and will soon be." He applied that scripture to the League of Nations and "predicted" during WW2 that although the League of Nations was no more, it would rise up again after the war. Voila! The United Nations! He used this prediction as "evidence" that the organization was being provided with "miraculous knowledge."

  The modern day organization has always felt that what they know is beyond human comprehension. However, as this forum so readily proves, very few positions of the organization are unique..."Family Night" anbody?

  It is customary sabre rattling at its finest. We know and you don't, that's why you need us! If you knew and we didn't then we would need you. But, since we don't need you, then we must know, and you must need us."

  Just a thought,

  SOP
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  12

  Proverbs 4:18 as Last Scriptural Defense for New Light?

  by ProfCNJ in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi folks, good morning.

  july 2013 wt study edition has been discussed and commented on at length here in jw.net and in cedar's blog (jwsurvey.org).

  won't go to technicalities as significant amount of stellar arguments have cast doubt on the new light, let alone break wt's claims anew.. .

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  Separation of Powers

  Prof CNJ

  Your position is solid and rest assured that most on this forum have contended with the same questions. I don't really remember the first time I was intrigued by the "new light" position, but I would have to say one of the most impressive changes that moved me to question the validity of "light" wasn't even a doctrinal issue.

  Way back when an article was written about the American native, I believe it was referring mainly to the eskimos, or Inuit people. The article condemned the "totem pole" as a pagan religious icon or idol. At the time, I was still in school and remembered reading that the totem pole wasn't a religious symbol, but rather, more like a homage to the family tree. I was perplexed, but accepting.

  Lo and behold, a couple of months later (I believe), someone wrote a letter to the organization that challenged that position and the organization retracted their comments and stated that the "totem pole" was indeed a family artifact and not pagan in origen.

  I knew at that time...I don't know why, but I knew that the idea of light was based on who was in charge and who was writing this stuff.

  Just a thought,

  SOP
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  25

  Shunning for inactive ones?

  by frogonmytoe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i visited my sister in a small town in the midst of the country, the town has a population of 3,000 and there's about 70 in the cong.

  anyway, there was a local needs talk a few months ago about associating with family members who didn't live under your roof and no longer went to meetings.

  one family of an elder dad and three sons (one an elder too, the others have stopped going) and a daughter (still going but married a 'worldly') are quite prominent and one half of a typical congregational feud.

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  Separation of Powers

  That may well be on the drawing board. Truth is, however, that most inactive ones that I know don't mind being shunned to some degree. In fact, next time you are at the hall, pay attention to the amount of people that arrive right when it starts and leave at the closing "amen." I would venture to say, they simply don't want to be included in the mix. They have, to some degree, distanced themselves from the group and are simply going through the motions.

  Additionally, if that does happen, it will simply help to fulfill the "love of the greater number" cooling off prophecy. Why? Because to shun someone who is weak and demonstrates that weakness by becoming inactive is in direct conflict to Jesus' words that the shepherd will leave his 99 and look for "that one lost sheep."

  Just a thought,

  SOP
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  26

  Peace and Security - When?

  by rhodesboy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  my interpretation of gb (governing body) theology has illuminated a fate for mankind in the near future.

  i invite you to read the following extracts and my analysis thereafter- theologists only please.. 1 thessalonians 5:3.

  ''whenever it is that they are saying: "peace and security!

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  Separation of Powers

  RhodesBoy,

  Thank you for your effort. I appreciate when I see someone strive to make sense of the Bible.

  I am a theologist. However, I will not attempt to interpret portions of the Bible written thousands of years ago in a language that is either dead or on the decline. Theologians the world over have tried to make modern day application of ancient texts. Most of them are skilled in the ancient languages and thus can understand the nuance and grammatical tone and texture of the original. Yet, with all that training and understanding, most would say that the portion of Daniel to which you refer is applicable to an ancient world and a modern-day interpretation is replete with bias and a miopic sense of history as well as an overinflated egocentrism.

  As for a war with Russia? Well, having lived through the Cuban missile crisis, I can assure you that if Russia wanted to take the U.S. to war and blow each other off the map, that would have happened back in 1962. Today, the world is interdependent and the rise of capitalism and the fact that the powers that be are benefitting from both a freer drug trade and commodities markets leads me to believe that all out war is not on the horizon, too much money is made with the illegal sale of arms to skirmish groups and fanatical organizations to worry about a major power rebuilding its arsenal. At present, a country is typically more concerned with their neighbors than they are with someone on the other side of the globe.

  Just a thought,

  SOP
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  134

  Another story... possibly final story

  by confusedandalone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is the exchange of text messages i had with my super spiritual brother.

  it is sad... it is pathetic... it has helped me realize that i have no connection to these people anymore.

  i feel free today.

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  Separation of Powers

  CandA,

  Sorry to hear that you are going through this. It sounds way too familiar. If I were in your shoes, I would decline providing the help and let my JW family do what needs to be done. For your brother to state that you are being used by Jehovah to help them out and then expect that after you help them out you will be cast aside is ludicrous.

  A quick story to help solidfy my position. A couple months ago, a brother was talking about how he had started to slow down in his service, you know, missing meetings and service, signs of complacency. He said that one night, to show how far he had gotten away from Jehovah, he was being bothered by only what he could refer to as "the demons." Because of this event, he started back to the meetings and service and now...he is fine.

  I asked him, "So, the demons helped you get back to Jehovah? "

  His reply, "Well, no. The "experience" of what happens when you draw away from Jehovah. That's what helped me."

  "But, the experience was caused by the demons because you had drawn away right? They knew you were weak so they attacked you and now you're back. So, they really helped you get back to Jehovah. That's all I'm saying."

  He was a bit perplexed, but conceded.

  Point is. If the scripture is right, namely James 1:13, "For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." Then what "union is there between good and evil" and "you cannot eat from the table of God and of the demons." I mean, if all those scriptures are true, then why in the world would they want anything at all to do with you if you are SOOOOOO evil! It is psychological abuse and manipulation.

  It's like the guy that wins the lottery, gets called into a judicial committee for gambling and then gets public reproof only because he gives half of his money to the congregation. (Not that this has happened to my knowledge. It is simply a farsical way of describing the double standard.)

  Just my thoughts,

  SOP
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  22

  No Natural Affection...

  by lostinnj83 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my latest encounter with my mom has me furious and i needed a place to vent:.

  i don't post alot but for anyone who has read any of my posts knows that while i have been struggling for some time, i am still an active jw working towards leaving.. anyway, i got into a car accident yesterday.

  fortunately i am well enough to type this up so for that i am greatful.

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  Separation of Powers

  I'm sorry you are experiencing the reality of the organization. I concur with the other post that stated that this isn't confined to just the organization. It is true that many have "no natural affection." But, in an organization that "markets" itself as the only "spiritual paradise on earth," affection for family and friends should be blatantly apparent.

  I cannot tell you how many times in my life and those of the people I love where the organization took precedent mainly for the sake of appearances.

  It is really a simple mathematical equation where we become "B" or "C." You already know what "A" is.

  A > B If C < BThen A > C

  SOP
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  8

  God has always used one channel, one group of people, to communicate his messages to.

  by poopieskoopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, since time indefinite jehovah has always used only one channel (his people) to reveal himself and future events to.. are we to totally disregard the dreams given to nebuchenezzer, then king of the world, in the book of daniel???

  yes, dreams directly from god himself to a pagan deviate with a weird name.

  why were they not given to daniel???

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  Separation of Powers

  @Sir82

  My sentiments EXACTLY!

  No FDS means no clear channel, just a bunch of static for 2000 years. Eusebius, Polycarp, Agustine, Martin Luther, Wycliffe, Tyndale.....voices in the wilderness.

  SOP