A Paduan

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Posts by A Paduan

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  23

  if he knows all

  by abuttercup in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have often wondered..... they say jehovah is the begining and the end, and that he can read every heart.

  if so, did he not know eve would eat the fruit and then adam would follow?

  did he not know satan would try to pull his weight?

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  A Paduan

  why would he sacrifice so many innocent people when he could have just killed Satan?

  For the sake of the non-innocent - anyway, which innocent people?
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  27

  Hello/Goodbye (I Don't Know Why I Say Hello/I Say Goodbye) - What Gives?

  by BizzyBee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  several posters (whom i will not name because it doesn't matter) have basically said good-bye lately.

  we all responded as usual, with genuine sentiments - how much we will miss them, etc.

  but, quite frankly there is something almost disparaging or critical implied toward the rest of us who choose to remain on the board by those who "move on.

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  A Paduan

  I'm glad that they come back - but why the drama? Any thoughts?

  The constant message from the platform, and ethos of jwism, is typically one of histrionics - and it often sticks.

  When one is a legend in their own lunchtime, they realise that lunch doesn't last very long, or alternatively they may dally and never make it back to work.
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  6

  Catholics have to pay

  by startingover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  saw this in the paper this morning, it's a clear indication to me why the wt is trying to get rid of any connection they have with people that could be said to be working for them.. .

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  A Paduan

  Jws are agents moreso than someone delivering Christmas presents - I'll bet she didn't fill in a time card

  Who can say, "Oh, I thought this whole thing up - I'm a completely autonomous door to door traveller who happens to like this jw stuff that I have here in my hand"

  They are the ones who have said the preaching work is what they're all about.
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  6

  Are they really brainwashed?

  by JWdaughter in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was just thinking today of all the stories we have of field service avoidance.

  between the donut shops, potty breaks, fake back calls/rvs etc., almost everyone her knows that almost every jw in the western world does anything they can to pad out their fs time, whether they outright lie, stretch the truth(so to speak) or practice major avoidance of it.. the wt claims that this kingdom work is the way we prove who we are.

  the wt says that this is the way that the message of jehovah's kingdom is going to be spread.

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  A Paduan

  • Brainwashed
  • Fearful
  • Trying to avoid loss
  • Ha ughty but lazy
  • Delusional but distracted
  • Blame laying but socially infertile
  • Ignorant but unsure
  • Plain confused but not frightened

  I don't suppose it's necessary to be simply and completely brainwashed to say "I'm jw"
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  10

  Daughter in law a JW

  by BJBixby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my son married to a young woman that was raised in th jw culture and continues to worship at a hall.

  my son is a christian (presbyterian) .

  when they were dating she occassionaly attended some of our holiday functions and jsut kind of dissapeared when the gifts were opened or songs sung.

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  A Paduan

  Always keep in mind the depth that this cult may effect your relative, which may not be simply guaged by her current attendance level at the hall. She may well seem even reasonable, but so does almost anyone if your only exposed to being next to them at a counter at a Burger shop. Serious problems can and do arise when children enter the picture - the previously marginal faithful seek to revisit their "meaning of life", taking the path that they know - but in her case, the envelope of her religious upbringing includes omition of truth, exclusivity, stonewalling, vilification, and if necessary (or simply opportunistic), viciousness - all being accepted as necessary for the satisfaction of the society.

  Exposure is an issue for you if she has alegiance to the Watchtower Society. Something that you may glean from many of the comments on this board, and that is "trust" is a major issue, as if any allegiance to the Society exists (which obviously it does) you may at any time run a poor second in her priorites, or even expendable collateral. In her religion parents abandon their children for the nod of a false promise.

  These may seem like well meaning people, but you'll notice that they aren't well meaning in the normal sense of charity, but rather, in the sense of self-perpetuation or promotion - donating all that 'charitable' time to warn you to be like them.

  My view of jwism is likely skewed but there is one thing I stick with, and that is not to be in any place where I would need to trust them - the odds aren't good.
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  11

  Mary and virginity

  by Iforget in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  last night i heard for the first time that other religions teach that mary was always a virgin and that she never had any more children.

  please explain how jw's arrive to say she did have more children.

  i am so lost because i haven't been to a meeting in a hundred years.

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  A Paduan

  A virgin - no children (works), and no husband (ruling spirit/way)

  Works (like field service) aren't a prerequisite for God - it simply isn't something earned

  I would think she probably spent some time in the temple (contemplation)

  Does anyone get this stuff ?

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  those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage

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  Virgin after Jesus' birth ? Well, it was made clear that one doesn't have to lose their virginity to have children.
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  15

  Seven thousnd times omited..Hard to believe

  by Poztate in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in the dec 1 wt first article on antichrists they state "adding to the confusion,many bible translators have taken god's name,jehovah,out of there translations,even though it occurs over 7,000 time in the original text!".

  i am curious since the name jehovah is a recent invention or corruption which original texts could possibly contain this name 7,000 times?

  it seems to me like they are trying to blow a lot of hot air at the faithful.. it also seemed to me that they were trying to draw a firmer link between "apostates" and the antichrist.

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  A Paduan

  People shouldn't pull them up on these sort of lies - they should be left to get totally out of hand
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  5

  Can the misled lead and guide the misled effectivily?

  by The Dragon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i see this all the time!

  people present their guesses into an unknown subject like god's mind and thoughts and plans as answers and truth.. but yet condemn others like the wt for doing it to them and label it "brainwashing" when they do it and it is brought out into the open for all to see.. problem is...when you present your guesses as answers..an answer is the end of a guess..and hinders others who trust you from searching further to find an answer..everyone loses that way and you actually "brainwash" others without really meaning to.

  i propose an experiment..i have to work and take care of my short term needs right now..and cannot be on here 24/7 to catch these and expose them before they get out of hand...could i have some volenteers to help look for these guesses and remind others what they are...and we can see what the result is of looking out for one another like this.

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  A Paduan

  People present their guesses into an unknown subject like God's mind and thoughts and plans as answers and truth.

  But yet condemn others like the WT for doing it to them and label it "brainwashing" when they do it and it is brought out into the open for all to see.

  I doubt that the presentation of their guesses is labelled as brainwashing.

  The brainwashing is the insistence of their guesses as "truth" that cannot be questioned, while other "idea" is rejected out of hand because it is simply "other" - reinforced with the notion that your existence is dependent on not giving due consideration to "other" (ie. "thinking wrong")
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  18

  Society's viewpoint of other bibles

  by Zico in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i like this quote, from page 145 of theocratic ministry school book about using other bibles.

  'you must realize, however, that some bible translators have taken liberties with god's word.

  their renderings may not conform in all respects to what was in the original bible languages.

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  A Paduan

  Their bible leaves out whole books - such as "Susannah" that has the story of the 'two witnessess' who were lying
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  31

  Why would God speak in symbols if he really wanted us to understand?

  by rebel8 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  if i was a deity and wanted people to know "the truth", i would just say it in plain language instead of veiling everything in symbolism, innuendo, and vague hints.

  what does that method of communication accomplish?.

  if i remember correctly, the borg answer to that is this method of communicating tricks the bad people but the good people can figure it out just fine.

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  A Paduan

  You're assuming that

  • God wants you to understand something, regardless of your state or development (or capacity)
  • directions in English are better than symbol (for something that you don't yet understand)
  • not understanding clearly isn't actually a good thing for you

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  That literalism and effort cannot earn the kingdom is a beautiful thing.