rocketman

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Posts by rocketman

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  25

  2005 New Release - What Does The Bible Really Teach?

  by ezekiel3 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is god like?

  but many people seem to stop asking questions, especially the most important ones.

  these are some of the most important questions you can ask.

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  rocketman

  As Blondie's exerpts show, the jw org vacillates quite often on what's really needed to make a disciple.

  Back when the Knowledge book came out, I remember how pioneers and others who conducted home bible studies were struggling to finish one chapter each week, after big emphasis was put on practically racing through the book with the student. This led to further service meeting parts which were aimed at demonstrating how the book was to be studied, as the WTS seemed to try to adjust their ill-fated bible study program. This super-express (and later express-lite) method never seemed to sit well with the congregation. One could sense that in actual practice, what we were being told was impractical. Some jws even joked that it seemed like the Society couldn't make up its mind. Basically, we were expected to make jw disciples out of people who barely would have a chance to ask questions and who not be able to benefit from any outside research.
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  7

  Convention Photo-half empty?

  by startingover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after my wife returned from the district convention in san diego last weekend, she had this picture on her camera.. i find it interesting that they would rent this big stadium and then block off half of it.

  maybe this is what they always do, but it seemed a little funny to me.

  anyone else gone to qualcomm and seen it like this?.

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  rocketman

  They did the same thing at Veteran's Stadium (when it existed) in Philadelphia. That stadium, which seated about 65,000, would usually be more than half-empty during two conventions each summer. Interestingly, despite the half-full status, parking was always a problem. Either the city or the jws ran a very poor parking show.
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  33

  Do you think the WTS will ever seriously start DA'ing faders?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some have indicated that this might be coming.

  based mostly on the new book - some think maybe the org is positioning itself to remove all possible 'doubters' and 'inside apostates' this way.. i mean - having spent four decades watching the actions of this organization as a witness, i can see something like that happening perhaps.. service meeting announcement;.

  having had six months to renew his association actively with jehovah's witnesses, and having not been to a meeting or out in service for that same time span, we must announce that ____________ has left the organization and shown by his actions that he is no longer one of jehovah's witnesses.. the brothers and sisters need to be reiminded that he should be treated 'as a man of the nations' - full shunning is in effect!.

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  rocketman

  For starters, I can't ever see them serving refreshments.

  The rest, while plausible, is doubtful, at least in the foreseeable future. It creates problems possibly for shut-ins or the infirmed, though I'd imagine that the elders would take circumstances into consideration. It also creates problems for the emotionally or mentally ill. For example, in one congregation I was in there was an elder's wife who hardly ever came - and once when she did, she had to leave very soon after the meeting began. Certainly they wouldn't consider such a person DA'd.

  However, if those little problems could be side-stepped, it may be something that could one day happen. After all, they've already gone from not bothering inactives to suddenly being quite worried about them. And they DF smokers after a six-month window. So the six-month chance at reprieve plus a concern about inactives could perhaps one day morph into some new little WTS monster.
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  47

  Dub at work said that the Knowledge book was too difficult for new ones

  by acsot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to understand so that's why the wts published the new book being released at this year's district conventions.. the new book gets "straight to the point".

  according to her "and many others", the knowledge book was too difficult for those just beginning a bible study.

  i said, "you're kidding!

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  rocketman

  
  I remember the studies we had in the Ezekiel book, the Thousand Years book, the Paradise Restored by Thoecracy book, etc. I was a teenager at the time. Those books were not a problem to comprehend. Like Blondie said, a lot people don't want to study. When I was a bookstudy conductor, I was often perplexed at the total lack of recall and knowledge that jws had. Five meetings a week - you'd think they'd be able to remember something they learned. Also while conducting, I learned quickly that trying to ask any question that required thinking, rather than looking at the book for answers, was a totally vain pursuit. I'd ask and they'd always look at the book, as if the answer would hopefully jump out at them.

  Then again, the jw routine pressures people so much, no wonder they can't absorb anything.
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  175

  The facts on crucifixion, stauros, and the "torture stake"

  by Leolaia in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  finally, i will look at biblical and patristic evidence bearing on the crucifixion of jesus in particular.

  we need to examine the earliest known descriptions of the kind of crucifixion adopted by the romans and the specific terms they used to refer to it.

  apparently the society believes that crux still meant "stake" in the second century a.d., when tacitus composed his annals.

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  rocketman

  Another outstanding thread Leolaia.....excellent work!

  I noticed how balanced this presentation was. For example, I've looked at some web sites that discuss the cross and basically all they do is use Thomas' words at John 20:25, highlight and emphasize nails in the plural, and presto, support for the cross. And obviously, this thread shows very well the slight-of-hand tactics that the WTS uses.

  As Leolaia's work points out, it's not that simple on either side of the cross equation. This thread holds great value for all who have an interest in this subject.
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  47

  Drama at DC in KC

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .

  well basically it was aimed at youths and was all about timothy and the apostle paul.

  it was rammed down everybodys throat --no college- get pionerring just like timothy

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  rocketman

  was one of the first areas that I could plainly see that they were talking out of both sides of their mouth

  Tell the outsiders one thing in print, but make sure the insiders know better verbally.

  These two comments by LHG and RM pretty well sum up my view. There are numerous cases of this stuff happening throughout the jw's history. The rank and file sometimes don't know what to think...too bad they usually don't think for themselves.
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  62

  The status of women in early Christianity

  by Leolaia in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the watchtower society maintains a very strict gender dichotomy in its organization.

  this is news to no one.

  although men -- in many cases, unqualified men -- are expected to reach for advancement within local congregations (e.g.

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  rocketman

  I bookmarked for further study a couple days ago and I'm still working my way through it. Fascinating topic and presentation Leolaia.
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  27

  DO YOU BLOG?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just started doing this (blogging) and it is not unlike writing a diary put into public view.. there a zillions of these things floating around out there.

  many are extremely inventive, artistic, interesting and startling.. however, most are utterly inane!.

  sturgeon's law at work.

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  rocketman

  Well whaddya know....I am blogging again....

  http://www.blogtext.org/rocketman
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  36

  This takes balls....

  by chrissy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...and considering i don't have any, it is surprising that i found the nerve to post my photo as my avatar!

  i was leery to use my photo thinking someone i knew could catch on to my new apostate antics.

  so, i couldn't decide what to use.

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  rocketman

  Cute pic!

  ...Appreciates Pretty Blondes Class....
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  46

  I'm new here

  by Apostanator in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is the first time i feel comfortable posting something.

  i've been a lurker for over a year and i must say there are a lot of courageous people here who left the watchtower.

  thank god for the internet and sites like this.

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  rocketman

  Welcome to the board....nice to see you've been helped by reading us over the past year.