I believe the "publishers" pay for literature out of their own pocket ? And donations are solicited at the Kingdm Halls ? And all the labor at the factories is unpaid, no workers comp, no salaries, no pensions, no health care. ? And the Watchtower has had a policy of having people donate their houses and land to the "society" or corporation even before they die ? ( I have been out for so long may be someone else can enlarge on this.) 7 million people donating $50 dollars a month is 350 million dollars a month income ? 350 million a month times 12 months is $____ ?? And NO TAXES and add interest.
villagegirl
JoinedPosts by villagegirl
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I have a dumb question re: publishing corp...
by new22day inmany of you refer to wts as a rich publishing corp. since the mags they pass out are free i don't understand how they make money from them?
sorry for the dumb question - curious newbie....
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Josephus Does Write About Jesus Christ
by villagegirl ini just happen to have the complete works of josephus, right here in front of me.
josephus wrote several books including the antiquities of the jews.
chapter 3 under sedition of the jews against pontius pilate; concerning christ .... paragraph 3 quote : "now, there was about this time, jesus a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.
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villagegirl
Antiquities of the Jews was published in AD 93. But is was certainly written before that date. In AD 64, Josephus was twenty six years old. He began his studies at 16 years old of the three major sects of Judaism and at 19 years old he joined the Pharisees. He was born in in AD 37. At 26 years old he was already a prominent lawyer and went to Rome to obtain the release of certain priests who had been tried by Nero. He wittnessed the destruction of Jerusalem, AD 70. At that time, he was comminsioned to write a history of the Jewish people by the Flavian family, and Titus the son of the Emperor. Since he wrote this history by commision, and he was already an author, it is reasonable to assume that his research, his familiarity with the early Christians, was far more direct and personal than any we could possible have two thousand years later. "attributing" something does not mean it is true. The works of Shakespeare are "attributed" to Ben Jonson, this hardly makes it true. And the claim the Antiquities of the Jews were written four hundred years later and by a different person ? Was every scholar of the time asleep ? No one noticed the time difference ? Or the fact the works was already published and in libraries? Why is it so hard to believe Josephus mentioned Jesus, when the Roman Court Documents of the Trial of Jesus are still in existence ? This trial is still used in the study of Law.
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Josephus Does Write About Jesus Christ
by villagegirl ini just happen to have the complete works of josephus, right here in front of me.
josephus wrote several books including the antiquities of the jews.
chapter 3 under sedition of the jews against pontius pilate; concerning christ .... paragraph 3 quote : "now, there was about this time, jesus a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.
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villagegirl
I just happen to have the complete works of Josephus, right here in front of me.
Josephus wrote several books including the Antiquities of the Jews. Chapter 3 under Sedition of the Jews against Pontius Pilate; concerning Christ .... paragraph 3 Quote : "Now, there was about this time, Jesus a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. he drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pontius Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day as the divine prophets had foretold thes and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. " ( for all of you who think Josephus did not mention Jesus Christ, please refer to the Antiquities of the Jews Chapter three a portion of which I quoted here. )
Josephus was born in AD 37 and wrote the Antiquities, after Joseephus witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem with Titus, in 70 AD, Josephus was then commisioned to write a history of the Jews by commision from the Flavian family - Hundreds of years before the establishment of any Catholic Church. for reference: ISBN 0-8254-2952-8 Library of Congress Card Number 60-15405
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I am totally confoused who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class?
by booker-t ini have been hearing and reading on websites about some "new light" jws are saying concerning the faithful and discreet slave class.
it sounds like the same information they have been saying for years.
i was always taught the faithful and discreet slave class is the annoited governing body members dispensing food at the proper time for the non annoited jws.
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villagegirl
Maisha - I didn't make this up- The Salvation Army - and ?? Your problem with them would be ?? Christianity is not a book publishing business. Its about being a neighbor - Have you read the parable of the Good Samaritan ? He helped a stranger, in a practical way, tending to him and paying for his lodging. That is the attitude Jesus was preaching about. Jesus didn't preach about "classes" of people and power structures of whose in charge and obedience to "leaders" he spoke about ordinary people and his one on one relationship with them as individuals. The faithful and discreet slave is not a "class" or a "special group" who are anointed, we are ALL supposed be anointed, all of us everybody as ONE. Read the book of John all the way through as if it applies to you, because it does.
Matthew 25: 35-40
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. ’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
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long time lurker (3-4 years) first time poster
by Patient-dude inhey i have come to love some of the discussions on here and the information.
i am currently awake and have no plans to fade, in my case i am patient enough to in time become an elder to at least help the younger friends here in my area, in the sense of helping them wake up/if elder have their back..
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villagegirl
ahhh - hmmm - does the word hypocrisy mean anything to you ?
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I am totally confoused who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class?
by booker-t ini have been hearing and reading on websites about some "new light" jws are saying concerning the faithful and discreet slave class.
it sounds like the same information they have been saying for years.
i was always taught the faithful and discreet slave class is the annoited governing body members dispensing food at the proper time for the non annoited jws.
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villagegirl
OK - Lets go back to the parable: Jesus was describing a household of a wealthy man who had servants or "stewards" and slaves, these servants literally dispensed food and performed various duties. Like a group of employees in a business. They all have their jobs to do.What Jesus is saying is , when I leave, you need to carry onlike I told you to: What Jesus described as His work which was: taking care of widows and orphans, clothing the poor, visiting the sick, comforting people in distress Jesus in speaking of what work his followers would do gave the example of " I was hungry and you fed me, in prison and you visited me, naked and you clothed me " " when you do these things to the least of these you do it to Me" In other words Jesus said he wanted us to take care of each other. This was not some convoluted, mysterious 'allusion' to setting up two "classe" or an illustration of a select few lording it over and directing an "organization" God's household is the whole world and all the people in it. "Who is the faithful and discreet slave?" is a rhetorical question it applies to each and every one of us as to how we are living our lives in relationship to each other and in relationship to God and Jesus.
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Topics Witnesses Should Seriously Think About
by Darth Rutherford inthe bible teaches that jesus is the one mediator between god and all mankind [anthropon], but the organization teaches us that jesus christ, is not the mediator between jehovah god and all mankind.
(the watchtower, 9/15/1993, p.22) the bible teaches that salvation is through jesus not an earthly organization under heaven.
the organization matches jesus description.
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villagegirl
Designs - I haven't read a New World Translation in twenty years, I read the New English and the Jerusalem translation which are much clearer and closer to the original Hebrew and Greek and way more readable.
Becoming an Atheist strikes me as a sort of refusal to really give up the teachings of the WT.
By this I mean Its like an "ALL or NOTHING" reaction, as if the teachings of other religions could not possibly have any value or truth.
It seems fear based to me. Nothing personal, it just strikes me that JW's are so convinced of their "special knowledge" that to be "ordinary" and part of any other group is like a humiliation to them so they go all defiant and spit on God.
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"Foreigners" and today's Watchtower
by 88JM ini know this is true every week, and i say it all the time, and i know blondie will be doing her review later, but.... today's watchtower was bat-shit crazy!.
i knew it was going to be a bizzare one just reading it, but the comments at the meeting took it even further.
i can't post all the crazy ones, but in summary what they were saying was:.
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villagegirl
We are different to people in the world" ?? Really ? Then how come when segregation was in place the WT Society and the GB conformed to this racist policy ? No witnesses marched in any protest against any injustice, ever.
Racial integrated of Kingdom Halls only came after the segregation laws were overturned by the deaths and sacrifices of thousands of people both in South Africa and the USA. None of the people who made racial equality possible, were wittnesses.
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Parents - How can I tell them what I have learnt and hope they leave too.
by free and happy inmy husband and i and our children having been left the jws for 5 years now, for me it was how we were treated, the lies elders told about us and the blood issue that really opened my eyes and while all this was happening, my parents watched, supported and even sympathised with us,they said they understood our decision and even though it sadden them we were leaving, they understood.
they have never shunned us and we have a really good relationship with them.. what i don't understand is how they can still stay and play happy families with the people who caused us so much pain and anxiety, without the transfusion my eldest had, she would be dead, it truely was a life saver, why did they not question the religion that was quite happy to let her die for it.. i think the problem for me is that when i was at home, we never really talked, any problems were just glossed over , in fact i don't think i have ever had an indepth jw talk with my parents about how i felt about being a witness which makes it so hard to tell them what i've learnt now, i haven't a clue where to start.. for my husband it seemed quite easy for him to have discussions with his mum and step dad as he never had the same closeness that i had with my parents when growing up even though we were raised in witness families, but then it dawned on me that we never really spoke indepth about anything much so how do i start now?.
so i'm asking for any advice anyone can give, if you have any suggestions i would love to hear from you..
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villagegirl
Hello to : abiblestudent - WHY do you kepp posting the SAME Steven Hassen VIDEOover and over and over - Do you WORSHIP this Steven Hassen ? Or is he your new governing body ? I thought you weren't allowed to Spam here. Enough with this video, put in a link if you must but please stop doing this, my personal request.
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Topics Witnesses Should Seriously Think About
by Darth Rutherford inthe bible teaches that jesus is the one mediator between god and all mankind [anthropon], but the organization teaches us that jesus christ, is not the mediator between jehovah god and all mankind.
(the watchtower, 9/15/1993, p.22) the bible teaches that salvation is through jesus not an earthly organization under heaven.
the organization matches jesus description.
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villagegirl
Darth - Sound teaching - Jesus is, the Christ, the Messiah. The only Mediator between God and all mankind. Why is the subject of Jesus Christ so 'embarrassing' to those still with one foot in the WT society ? Even the Acts 4:12 statement that there is one name by which we are saved and that is Jesus Christ. This is not a matter of bible translations, it is the fundamental teaching that Christianity rests on. That Jesus Christ is alive as a Spirit and mediates directly between individuals and Jehovah. All individuals, not just some non-exisitant restricted class. No such class distinctions exist.