Posts by joe_from

39

help what bookstudy book are we in?

by lostandnotfound in

i am new here and i usually dont come to these type of places as they are rampant with apostates.

i still belive in most of the teachings but its the people in the org.

that have turned me away.. the reason that i am posting though is this, i have been inactive for a few months now but i have been holding out telling my parents, friends etc.

joe_from_kokomo

Hey AMAC: Don't be so sure about that "very few active JWs" here comment... you'd be surprised.

Of course, I guess it depends on your definition of 'active' really is.... hehehe.

Unborgfully yours...

20

"Shock and Awe" and the hebrew word Shekina.

by Trauma_Hound in

has anyone notice the similarity of this "shock and awe" campaign and the hebrew word shekina, do you think it's a coincidence, since bush a devout born again christian?.

"shekinah means "presence of god" and relates to the feminine aspect of the holy trinity.

it is the energy that sanctifies from within the dimension of matter or the holy spirit.

A better question is whether "Shock and Awe" shows up in the Bible Code, if you place any stock in those books by Michael Drosnin. The latest book states that Armageddon will be a nuclear holocaust in the year 2006 - Hebrew year 5766. It will start in the Middle East.

That's the ultimate definition of shock and awe to me...

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

joe_from_kokomo

AlanF: This is a little off-topic, but you stated in an earlier reply that "I'm an ex-JW and am not disfellowshipped or disassociated. I was threatened with this once, but took appropriate steps that forced the Society to back off."

I would like to know what those "appropriate steps" were as this would be of benefit to my family. If you are willing to post this, that is. If you have already posted it, maybe you can share the thread? If I need to email you directly for tips on this, please let me know.

Thanks.

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

joe_from_kokomo

Undercover: The book by Carl Olof Jonsson, "Gentile Times Reconsidered" is very well-written and easy to understand. It is certainly the definitive resource on this topic, in spite of what some "so-called scholars" may say otherwise.

More to the point, it sells on Amazon for only $8.76 plus shipping. See (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0914675060/qid=1047746503/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0149841-3171811?v=glance&s=books) Just about anyone can afford $10 to find out how badly the Society has lied to us about 607 to prop up 1914 and their alleged authority. Once you read this for yourself, you will find that the 607 BCE date is a cornerstone date of vital importance. Why?

Without it, the society's prophecies are a sham. 1914 has no significance. Think about it. They use this date in almost every chapter of the Isaiah book and almost every lesson in the Watchtower. If it has no real significance, what does that tell you?

For me, this date was the litmus test. And the Society's teachings failed the test. Again, I stress that you should visit the British Museum Web site and see what date they believe is accurate. As COJ pointed out in this book, the Babylonians kept tens of thousands of records on clay tablets and cylinders.

Last but not least, I haven't seen where any "so-called scholars" have provided any real proof that 607 is a valid date.

2

what caused me to doubt the borg.

by kilroy2 in

joe_from_kokomo

This reminds me of that ING commercial... What is it? What does this mean?

19

Whenever they are saying "Peace and Security"

by watchman in

.

http://www.e-watchman.com/essays/peace_security/index.htm

the watchman

joe_from_kokomo

Watchman- you're straight off the Writing Committee at Bethel! I can tell by your writing style that is so deeply ingrained and inculcated in you. Maybe you still even work there and do this on the side for cathartic relief. It's obvious because you use WT phraseology like:

"seems to anticipate"

"But let us not..." (instead of 'But let's not')

"...were evidently presuming..." (two vagueries in a row, wow!)

"In view of the fact that..."

...and so on. Yes, your style gives you away.

Still, I liked your UN/NGO piece from Sept. 2002. Good work with interesting conclusions.

Don't forget though, a little humility goes a long way...

44

Need a little help on 607 586/587....

by undercover in

i remember reading somewhere a quote from a wts publication that more or less said that the bible was wrong when it came to one of the regnal years or how many years a certain king had ruled.

something like that anyway(i've got to start copying and pasting or bookmarking or something).

somehow if you take the society at it's word about 607 it creates a problem with the rulership length or starting rulership date of somebody and in one of their publications it actually says something about that time period having to be incorrect.

joe_from_kokomo

The book, "Gentile Times Reconsidered" by Carl Olaf Johnsson covers this topic nicely and is available at Amazon.com. You owe it to yourself to read this book, which started out as a detailed historical review, written by an active Witness in Europe and sent to the Governing Body. Needless to say, the "emperors" did not like being told that they had "no clothes on", so Carl ended up getting DF'd. So, he fleshed out his treatice into a complete book, and an excellent one it is.

Also of interest is this web site:

http://www.607v587.com/

please also note that the British Museum, (the folks who financied the Babylonian archeological digs and who have the artifacts, place the date of the destruction of Jerusalem at ~587-586 BC. So do the Israelis. Guess they ought to know...

6

Need help!

by RR in

i need some help on the watchtowers view of the internet.

if i am not mistaken, the society has stated that jw's should not have websites because the society has their own website or something to that effect.

anyone know where that can be found or anything related to the jw's not having sites?

joe_from_kokomo

I also recalled that the Society in its presentations on not needing any additional Web sites also told a "great white lie" in the service meetings that there was ONE and ONLY ONE official Watchtower Society Web site. Yet, this is simply not true. Besides the main one, www.watchtower.org I have found at least 5 or 6 more, including:

1. http://www.jw-russia.org (oops, no wait... the Society has gobbled that one up and it is no more.)
2. http://www.jw-georgia.org
3. http://www.jw-media.org

There was also a British variant, but it has been gobbled up, too. Guess they are wising up to the fact that the branch offices had (and some still have) their own "official" Web sites. Of course, at the time they made these statements, there were patently false.

But, the bigger issue here, is that the Society is DEATHLY AFRAID of the power of the Internet and its ability to provide information to the rank and file. This will ultimately be the demise of the Watchtower Society. Freedom and truth always find a way...

37

The Watchtower Society Is NOT A Cult!

by SpannerintheWorks in

ok, don't get too excited, that is not what i think.

but it is what my wife (brought up as a jw) informed me this morning, after i said that i think the wbts is a cult.

the thing is, she has kind of "challenged" me to prove it!

joe_from_kokomo

I used to say NO it's not, but after reading the definition of a cult at the top of this thread, I am now completely convinced that it is. What is interesting- and you discover this when you read a book that reveals the true history of the Watchtower Society, Apocalypse Delayed- is that they really became a cult under Judge Rutherford, the 2nd WT President, during the period of 1916-1941. His Stalinistic, tyrannical, iron-fisted centralized control brought about much of the cultish infrastructure that we have today.

But, the real proof, in my humble opinion, after many years in the so-called Truth (and still there now, in name only), is that there is no way for a member to leave this organization quietly.

I repeat (repetition for emphasis here) that there is no way for a member to leave peacefully, if he or she decides that he or she no longer agrees with the beliefs of the Society. In most cases, you are forced into a situation where you are either 1)disfellowshipped or 2)disassociated. Either option leaves you unable to associate with former members, or even your own family.

So, like belonging to some gang, or to the Mob, you will get 'spiritually beat up' or 'spiritually killed' when you leave.

Just thought you should now this before you join (which sounds like will never happen). Ask them about that.

12

A Challenge for the upcoming Memorial

by joe_from_kokomo in

help prove that the wts prophecies are balderdash, hogwash and poppycock... become a partarker in your own congregation.

you deserve the notoriety.

have a sip, take a bite and become a partaker.

joe_from_kokomo

Help prove that the WTS prophecies are balderdash, hogwash and poppycock... become a Partarker in your own congregation. That's right. You deserve the notoriety.

Have a sip, take a bite and become a Partaker. It's easy. You can do it. And, if enough of us do it, it will really muck up their statistics for 2003 and they will have to come up with some new hilariously ludicrous excuse for the upsurge.

You can do it. YOu can! And you ex-worldy ones... remember when you used to go to other churches (Catholic, Espiscapalian, Lutheran, etc.)? You have already partaken on many an occasion. Now, you can do it again! Think about it. Think about the fun you'll have!

What can you tell your fellow congregation friends? Tell them that you have had recurring dreams about a heavenly life and you feel that Jehovah is sending you a message to partake, that you feel that are one of the annointed now...

Remember, this is the one part of WTBTS doctrine where the individual members decide for themselves if they should or should not participate. Yes, you have a choice in this one! If you think you want to go to heaven, show it! Show them how stupid their dogma really is. Show them that all Christians have earned a heavenly calling not by our works, or by their dogma, but by faith in Jesus Christ alone!

Help out your friends at Bethel who worry about dwindling Memorial Partaker statistics ...eat, drink and be merry!!!

Are you bold enough? Will you be brave enough?

joe_from_kokomo

Posts by joe_from_kokomo