Posts by Bugbear

32

Does the bible have a central theme? Does it prove inspiration?

by GreenhornChristian in

does the bible have a central theme?.

there seems to be a general consensus throughout christian religions that there is a consistent theme throughout the bible.

the seeming evidence of a theme coming from a collection of books written by over 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years is what givse credence to the claim that the bible is an inspired literary work.

Bugbear

Is the Bible inspired and truly the word of god? Does all the different writers write on the “same theme or subject?” Is there any consistency in all these books?

First of all who has collected all these different scriptures, and assembled in an understandable order so that we could find the theme in this obviously important “message” from god. Scholars and science is quite agreeing on one name, Athanastasios. He was a bishop, in Alexandria from late 300 AC. He is mostly famous for his fight for trinity against Arians. The Arians was famous for believing in only one GOD and nothing more. The Athanasios confession become law under athanastasios.

But he also famous for “the letter” to all Christian congregations at the time telling all Christians which letter or book that were “truly” Christian. He told these congregations that only the gospel of Luke, John. Mathew, marc, was ok. And also the some of the letters from Paul was ok. But it was not OK to read the gospel of Mary Thomas or this or that letter writer.

When you look upon how the Bible actually was assembled, it was clearly not un act of god, but an accidental event

BUGBEAR

18

When elders approach you.....how do you/did you respond?

by Blackfalcon98 in

jw
friends

so, back when you were still in, or even now (for those still in), how do you respond when the elders ask to speak with you in the back room?

Bugbear

I have had several calls from elders and CO:s. But about the last 5-7 years they have stopped to pay attention to my humble person. The last time they were here, I lined up some philosophical and Historical questions, which I just at the time had been studying at the nearby university. Questions about god’s omnipotent, about archeological findings, the evidence for the bibles trustworthy. After 1-2 hours discursion, I offered them to attend some seminars, on the subjects, but they said they had no time for this offer but they could spend 2 hours each week with an “advanced bible study” . Haven´t seen them (anyone from the congos) since then, except my wife who is still in.

Bugbear

35

2013 Publisher Statistics now available from 2014 Yearbook.

by jwfacts in

the 2014 yearbook is out, and i have scanned the publisher figures into a more readable format at 2013 service year report.

i have updated some of the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php and will do the rest tonight.

there are no real surprises, with very similar results as during the last couple of years.

Bugbear

Thanks JWFacts

You look att these numbers in another way to here is a qoute from a Scandinvian site:

You can see it this way too. In rough numbers: It is born about 140 million children each year. Each year dies about 60 million people. This means that the world population is increasing by about 80 million people each year. JW renames currently 275,000 individuals each year, the JW's 8.2 million members should be about 80,000 die each year, roughly speaking, it means that the JW will increase by about 200,000 each year. So every year armageddon lingers God must kill another 78.8 million people to save 200,000 new JV. This means that for every day armageddon is delayed, increasing numbers of people to the slaughter of about 216,000 individuals, in order to save about 550 newly baptized JV. Sure it's loving that God is delayed so that more can be saved? ....? JV-logic does not hang together ...

13

We are praying for you

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

i have protestants, jw's and mormons praying for my soul, (think you very much).. what do you say when you are told that??

i am so much better since i left the borg, physically, mentally and financially.

but just in case the protestants(jesus) are right or the mormons or maybe jw, if i meet my maker i will tell him or her i plea insanity.. my deity, i knew not who's prayers was being answers on my behalf, my eyes were open but didn't know where it came from.

Bugbear

Talking about praying. When I was an elder, I often had the mission to say “the prayer” before the audience. Also in my family we all said the prayer with me as the interpreter. Often when we had some “high ranked” brothers on dinner. I always asked them to lead us in the prayer. Becoming an X-JW, I realized that this habit of letting one person interpreting an audience, a family a.s.f. IS nothing more than “SPIRITUAL RAPE”. Sometimes occasionally, old friends that are still in, comes to visit us (my wife is still in), with them I always tell them they could go and have their prayer privately before eating. I explain that I don’t want to disturb them with my personal believing. That could be a moral catastrophe for their believe…. Anyone that has made the same conclusion?

Bugbear

14

No Mans Land.........The Void..........Whatever........

by Night Owl in

jw
friends

having a believing spouse, but no longer having any desire to go to the meetings, or service, this is what i've come to call this space i'm in, and i'm sure a few others are in this same space.. nightowl .

Bugbear

Being in the land of ”nowhere” it’s like being a “satellite” beeping from outer space, trying to get in contact with anything. Your wife or “friends” don´t answer you’re beeping. They have plugged their ears with cotton stuff and cannot hear your frequencies. I know I’ve been their myself. Stopped going in “the service” more than 15 years ago, never attend a meeting in 10 years. My wife still in, and hardcore. But I managed to rescue all my 6 children from the Borg… I am happy but my wife is sad. It took me 20 years of my life to get here, but I am happier now than ever. Time is the worst enemy the “Borg” can have It never loses…

Bugbear

13

Does Bethel have any woman Medical Doctors?

by VM44 in

the watchtower does not usually place women in positions of authority.. so, does anyone know if there have been any female medical doctors (any type, md, do or chiro) that worked at bethel recently?.

the only one that i know of was dr mae j work, but she was at bethel over 70 years ago!.

.

Bugbear

In Sweden it would be impossible to keep your license as a MD and a JW since a licensed MD must follow obligatory treatment, ordinations such as blood transfusions, abortions, and other. Un MD who cannot threat his/her patients as ordered from the social authorities will be removed from the list. Even unorthodox treatments like herbs or other are often disqualifying you as un MD. I know, my daughter, is an MD.

Bugbear

18

El, Baal and JHVH

by Doug Mason in

one of the most important sources that we have for the most ancient stages of the religion of israel are some epic texts about the gods of canaan that were found in an archaeological excavation in a place called ras shamra (ancient ugarit) early in the twentieth century.

these epics reveal a very rich ancient canaanite mythology, especially in the elaborated stories of the gods el and baal and their rivals and consorts.

while, of course, the israelite branch of the canaanite group partly defined itself through the rejection of this mythology, much of the imagery and narrative allusions that we find in the works of the israelite prophets, the psalms, and other biblical poetic texts are best illuminated through comparison with these ancient texts.

Bugbear

Doug

Thank you we need more of the stuff you have brought up, to bash the JW org.

Bugbear

18

The inactive God

by Rattigan350 in

in the creation vs evolution argument:.

the often used illustration of a watch found in the desert.

someone had to make it.. with creation also someone had to make it.

Bugbear

Cofty

Good argument. I have very often found that Religious minds/persons need the comfort of a super “DAD” who is going to take care of everything that fails. I think our brain has its own methods to stand the conditions that “life” brought us, with death, diseases, pestilence, war, tsunamis etc.etc.

Bugbear

33

Are you an "out of the closet" atheist?

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

i'm atheist and not ashamed of it.

however, it is so politically incorrect, especially where i live.

i have a legitimate concern that being out of the closet too much will hurt my career or neighborly relations--i know for a fact it probably would.. i'm really cautious about who i tell.. how about you?

Bugbear

Here in Scandinavia, it almost ”a sin” to declare that you are religious. If you bring up the subject on a job interview, You are regarded as “nuts”. Almost half of the population in Sweden openly declare that they are atheists. No politician would dare saying that they have “a believe” . All religious believes are considerate superstitions.

Bugbear

39

What Made You Finally Wake Up?

by Tenacious in

hello to all.

i've been on this site for a couple of weeks now posting here and there but have not had the opportunity to read about many of the regular members and what led up to their leaving the wt.. i understand that some of you (i'm part of this club) may not be able to disclose many details and i can appreciate that.. i'd love to hear what was it that finally made you renounce what is and hopefully soon to be "was" the wt.. i truly look forward to having good discussions.. thank you to all for your kind participation.. .

Bugbear

Facts made me wake up.....

Bugbear