Posts by AndDontCallMeShirley

I visited Bethel in the 1980's and, as it was explained on our tour, commercial printing companies had toyed with the idea of a MEPS-type system prior to WT, but it was not a commercially viable concept (for-profit coroporations have to actually earn their money and are accountable to shareholders, unlike WT which has no accountability and a book full of blank checks to rely on). As Wikipedia verifies, "worldly" publishers have no reason to print their magazines or books in a gazillion languages, so there's no need to have a system that makes it possible to publish in a gazillion languages.

WT developed MEPS for its own unique needs, but it added no value to anything else outside of WT.

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Multilanguage Electronic Publishing System

(MEPS, formerly called Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System[1]) is a system for offset printing in a variety of languages and character sets. The system, completed in 1986, was designed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

The MEPS program is used for laying out written material in different languages with different character sets. The program was designed based on responses from the organization's own translators about each language. Before MEPS there was no system available for printing in many languages, due largely to the economies of many countries where production of literature in their languages was not financially viable.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilanguage_Electronic_Phototypesetting_System

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33

VERY short day at the Arlington/Dallas International Convention-My Observations

by CaptainSchmideo in

jw
friends

okay, some good takeaway:.

i have never been to a convention quite like this before.

a very friendly vibe all around, lots of banners and posters with sayings like "sending love to all our brothers", "see you in the paradise", "ecuador sends greetings", and "jehovahs-witness.net" (okay, i lied on that last one...).

AndDontCallMeShirley

@ Billy TEB: He explained how Genesis was correct in showing that women have an innate, out-of-control, sexual craving for men.

Where are these women and do you have their phone numbers?

He must be talking about non-JW women. What I've noticed in the Org. is that one food, when eaten, permanently kills a JW woman's sex drive everytime:

wedding cake.

9

Another possible reason why GB demoted Pastor Russell from the FDS.

by donuthole in

jw
friends

in barbara anderson's research for the proclaimers book she was tasked with identifying the faithful & discreet slave throughout history.

the idea was the watchtower could identify a line of kingdom proclaimers from the days of the apostles.

she was not able to do this with the established criteria, that the individual had to adhere to the basic doctrinal beliefs seperating jw's from "false religion".. it seems that governing body would now agree.

AndDontCallMeShirley

Another reason is that CT Russell was not in favor of an "Organization":

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WT 1884 February Pages 1-2

We belong to no earthly organization; hence, if you should name the entire list of sects, we should answer, No, to each and to all. We adhere only to that heavenly organization- "whose names are written in heaven." (Heb. 12 :23; Luke 10: 20.) All the saints now living, or that have lived during this age, belonged to OUR CHURCH ORGANIZATION: such are all ONE Church, and there is NO OTHER recognized by the Lord. Hence any earthly organization which in the least interferes with this-union of saints is contrary to the teachings of Scripture and opposed to the Lord's will-"that they may be ONE."

"We always refuse to be called by any other name than that of our Head --Christians--continually claiming that their can be no division among those continually led by his Spirit and example as made known through his Word." Zion’s Watch Tower 1883 Mar p.6

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Since he was opposed to a dictatorial organizational arrangement, he was also opposed to any leader taking away an individual's right to believe according to their conscience:

Studies in the Scriptures Vol 6 page 242

"the real need of the Church of Christ is still more liberty-until each individual member shall stand free and independent of all human bonds, creeds, confessions, etc.

"The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy; The union of the early church, based upon the simple gospel and bound only by love, gave place to the bondage of the Church of Rome a slavery of God's children, from the degradation of which multitudes are still weak and suffering" Zion's Watch Tower 1893 Sep p.264

24

What's missing from this list of technologies used by JWs

by scotoma in

jw
friends

this topic has been discussed before but it is interesting to look at it in the light of the new book god's kingdom rules.. 1903 news paper sermons.

1914 photo drama of creation.

1922 radio.

AndDontCallMeShirley

Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that the no personal contact made possible by house-to-house calls is far more effective to keep Jehovah's Witnesses occupied with "busy work". It affords better opportunity to answer the questions not answer any questions of individual householders but refer them to JW.Org and to search out deserving ones only those willing to serve Watchtower.

24

What's missing from this list of technologies used by JWs

by scotoma in

jw
friends

this topic has been discussed before but it is interesting to look at it in the light of the new book god's kingdom rules.. 1903 news paper sermons.

1914 photo drama of creation.

1922 radio.

AndDontCallMeShirley

@ Wild Thing: I predict the next technology they will begin utilizing are billboards. The hightech kind, that can change messages and pictures

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Considering how frequently "New Light"™ is affecting WT lately, electronic billboards that can be changed quickly is the only way WT can go...

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@ pixel: I've seen JW ads on TV from time to time...They look a bit like the ones the Mormoms do.

You mean something like, "I'm a pedophile....and a Jehovah's Witness"?

70

Question for Atheists.. Did you gain a Greater Sense of Morality and Happiness?

by objectivetruth in

i've heard some view points that state, atheists are generally more moral & caring for fellow humans, than are theists.. i'd like to hear some personal stories of life changes and quality of life after you became atheist.

i have a simple theory that may explain this.. i'll explain my theory if you'd like, after a few responses, as i really am interested in the personal changes that you experienced.. thank you very much, and i look forward to your stories..

AndDontCallMeShirley

“The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of God, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan. Many people don’t like that statement, but few can argue with it.” --Carl Sagan, "A Demon Haunted World".

70

Question for Atheists.. Did you gain a Greater Sense of Morality and Happiness?

by objectivetruth in

i've heard some view points that state, atheists are generally more moral & caring for fellow humans, than are theists.. i'd like to hear some personal stories of life changes and quality of life after you became atheist.

i have a simple theory that may explain this.. i'll explain my theory if you'd like, after a few responses, as i really am interested in the personal changes that you experienced.. thank you very much, and i look forward to your stories..

AndDontCallMeShirley

Wicked Spirit Forces are Factored into my theory. I believe that they have Created the PERFECT deception, by creating Religion and Manipulating Scared Texts, they have brought a tremendous amount of Hatred,Pride & Death into the World.

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A theory is based on evidence. What you have is a hypothesis. What proof do you have that demons exist? And if they do, what proof do you have they've deceived anyone?

Actually, religious humans do a pretty good job of being hateful all by themselves based on the "we're right, everybody else is wrong" foundation of the religious mindset.

Once a person gets away from that thinking (atheists) you can be kind to everyone regardless of their beliefs as you feel no need to win any battles for "god".

27

Tech49: Mini RC 2014 Review

by Tech49 in

jw
friends

i attended the regional convention (district convention) over the last weekend, and thought i would spend a few minutes putting down some thoughts, for your amusement.

i will bounce around a bit, as my notes and thoughts were a little craaaaazy.. we met at one of the smaller venues on the west coast, with attendance around 7,000.

(28 baptized.... <.04%) we were tied in to the international convention in arlington, tx.. my first thought, only about 2 hours in, was how much this sounded like a plain old sales meeting!

AndDontCallMeShirley

Mentioned the talk entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die". He said specifically that the brothers back then did not really mean THAT... what they meant was that millions of our BROTHERS in the FUTURE would never die..

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No doubt the word "now" will soon be redefined by WT as meaning "in the future, not really now, as in now". This will be on the same list as other WT defined words:

generation

soon

imminent

clearly

evidently

love

70

Question for Atheists.. Did you gain a Greater Sense of Morality and Happiness?

by objectivetruth in

i've heard some view points that state, atheists are generally more moral & caring for fellow humans, than are theists.. i'd like to hear some personal stories of life changes and quality of life after you became atheist.

i have a simple theory that may explain this.. i'll explain my theory if you'd like, after a few responses, as i really am interested in the personal changes that you experienced.. thank you very much, and i look forward to your stories..

AndDontCallMeShirley

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." -Albert Einstein