Posts by Smiles

19

12-24-02 Book Study - Pot calling the Kettle Black

by eyeslice in

the two "get out of jail cards" that the society plays when explaining away failed predictions are:

god's prophecies are never wrong, its just our interpretation, let's wait a while and when things are clearer we'll tell you in retrospect what the prophecy really was.

we never actually said that, it was the rank and file, they got over excited.

Smiles

YES! The "Pot calling the Kettle Black"..............WT style.

Those WT spin doctors..........

22

About that pesky number 666...

by czarofmischief in

as a horror fan, i've seen every antichrist movie from the omen to the omega code.

and that number 666 keeps popping up.

so, i was thinking about that number, and how it's actually written in the bible is a bit odd.

I checked the WT Library and found little if anything 'updating' the WT theory on 666. But, it would not surprise me if they come out with some new and different explaination of 666. Especially after reading the post of "logical" here.

logical,

Good points! It makes sense. The WT will likely not adopt a logical belief as yours, because they themselves are a religion out of control. Although.... the WT may try to twist it to strictly apply to the clergy of Christendom (which they say they are not a part of) and/or Babylon the Great..... the world empire of "false" religion.

20

J.W's and Divorce

by meadow77 in

it has become apparent to me, through many of your stories that jw's seem to have a hard time staying with their spouses who leave the borg.

i was wondering if this is just a case by case thing or are they in fact encouraged to leave spouses who no longer believes.

it seems strange that they would encourage that seeing as how we are instructed to stay in marriages even with a non-believer if they are happy to stay in the marriage.

Smiles

One of the reasons the WT encourages JWs to try to remain with their non-JW spouse is so that the non-JW just might be won over by the JW spouse's "endurance" and the non-JW spouse will be so impressed that they join the JW religion.

Or then again, the WT makes it sound like just about all non-JWs are naturally promiscuous tramps and pimps, so that the chances of the non-JW spouse will commit adultery are greater than that of the JW spouse. Which, if the non-JW spouse committed adultery or is suspected of committing adultery, that would help the JW spouse get a church-legal divorce and freely re-marry to someone who IS a JW.

15

Where is help for old ones/Battered wives etc.

by lulu in

there have been many articles from the wt regarding their position on looking after our aged ones and the abused wives and children.

where are the houses of refuge for these ones plus retirement homes?

most other religions have them.i.e.

Smiles

waiting,

Now I wonder why they did not print THAT in the JW yearbook? LOL!

What an embarrassment!

7

Surveys?

by Smiles in

simon,.

with the new forum software on the way, have you considered adding daily/weekly/monthly surveys to the forum for us to vote on?.

for example, yes or no..... "should the wt publicly change their policies for dealing with sexual predators?".

Smiles

heathen,

A "conspiracy theory catagory" sounds like a good idea. We know the WT is convinced "apostates" are conspiring falsehood against the WT.

So, the WT likely is involved in their own conspiracies to defend themselves.

Great idea "heathen". Surveys can help turn up WT conspiracies.

BTW, your user name.......LOL!

5

Your favorite DA letter?

by Smiles in

who wrote your favorite disassociation letter?

many great da letters have been written.

some persons have chosen to share their da letter with us on this website or other websites.

Smiles

LB,

You're welcome LB.

And hey! That is great news about how they have been treating your son..... the way they should treat him....."lovingly". Although, after your letter, they are probably treating your son with extra concern because those elders are scared of what they might get themselves into if they don't treat your son with the best concern....

Sentinel,

LOL. I knew someone would say that. And way to go for the way you handled the situation and the 5 elder posse at your front door. Sad that they realize the truth but are more or less stuck in the mess of it.

It is good that they were not cruel to you. Elders should not be cruel to anyone.

22

About that pesky number 666...

by czarofmischief in

as a horror fan, i've seen every antichrist movie from the omen to the omega code.

and that number 666 keeps popping up.

so, i was thinking about that number, and how it's actually written in the bible is a bit odd.

Smiles

Remember that the WT teaches that most numbers in the Bible are SYMBOLIC. Except for 144,000 and maybe a few other number.

666 is also viewed symbolicly.

Your views on 666 are very close to the views of Jehovah's Witnesses on 666. Although they do add their own twist.

Their book called "Revelation - Its Grand Climax At Hand!" defines 666 this way:

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand!

Page 196, 197

Chapter 28

"Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts"

"Six, as a number, is associated with Jehovahs enemies. A Philistine man of the Rephaim was of "extraordinary size," and his "fingers and toes were in sixes." (1 Chronicles 20:6) King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image 6 cubits in breadth and 60 cubits high, to unify his political officials in one worship. When Gods servants refused to worship the image of gold, the king had them thrown into a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:1-23) The number six falls short of seven, which stands for completeness from Gods standpoint. Therefore, a triple six represents gross imperfection.

A name identifies a person. So how does this number identify the beast? John says that it "is a mans number," not that of a spirit person, so the name helps to confirm that the wild beast is earthly, symbolizing human government. Just as six fails to measure up to seven, so 666six to the third degreeis a fitting name for the worlds gigantic political system that fails so miserably to measure up to Gods standard of perfection. The worlds political wild beast rules supreme under the name-number 666, while big politics, big religion, and big business keep that wild beast functioning as an oppressor of mankind and a persecutor of Gods people.

Satan uses the demonic mark of the wild beast. Anybody engaged in everyday activities such as buying and selling is pressured to do things the way the wild beast does, as, for example, in celebrating holidays. They are expected to worship the wild beast, letting it rule their lives, so as to receive its mark.

Those who refuse to accept the mark of the wild beast have had constant problems. Starting in the 1930s, for example, they had to fight many court battles and endure violent mobbings and other persecutions. In the totalitarian countries, they were thrown into concentration camps, where many died. Since the second world war, countless young men have suffered lengthy imprisonments, some even being tortured and killed, because of their refusal to compromise their Christian neutrality. In other lands Christians are literally unable to buy or sell; some are unable to own property; others are raped, murdered, or chased from their native land. Why? Because in good conscience they refuse to buy a political party card.John 17:16.

In some areas of the earth, religion is so ingrained in community life that anyone who stands for Bible truth is ostracized by family and former friends. It takes great faith to endure. (Matthew 10:36-38; 17:22) In a world where the majority worship material wealth and where dishonesty is rampant, the true Christian often has to trust implicitly in Jehovah that He will uphold him in pursuing an upright course. (Psalm 11:7; Hebrews 13:18) In a world awash with immorality, it takes great determination to remain clean and pure. Christians who fall sick are often pressured by doctors and nurses to break Gods law on the sanctity of blood; they even have to resist court orders that conflict with their faith. (Acts 15:28, 29; 1 Peter 4:3, 4) And in these days of rising unemployment, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a true Christian to avoid work that would mean compromising his integrity before God.Micah 4:3, 5."

15

Where is help for old ones/Battered wives etc.

by lulu in

there have been many articles from the wt regarding their position on looking after our aged ones and the abused wives and children.

where are the houses of refuge for these ones plus retirement homes?

most other religions have them.i.e.

Smiles

The only real "houses of refuge" or "retirement homes" the Jehovah's Witnesses have, are the various worldwide Bethel Homes reserved for a small group of the most elite, long-time JWs with the most seniority in JW activities. This is where their every need is supplied by a large house staff of lesser JWs. All expenses paid. These most elite JWs will live out the rest of their life at these Bethel Homes.

The general JWs are NOT welcome to live at these Bethel Home. Neither is the general public welcome to live there.

In the JW religion if battered wives and children or old ones need a place of refuge, they must look to family and close friends for such refuge.

If they do not have family or close friends willing to give them a place to stay, they may be required to beg the church elders to open up their personal homes.

If that doesn't happen and it rarely does, the needy are on their own. Which usually is the case.

JWs MAIN purpose is not to give material help to people. Their MAIN purpose is to preach and teach the Bible.

20

You "apostates" encourage me!

by Smiles in

jw
friends

yeah that's right.

imagine that..... after everything the wt has said about people like you.

and after the wt has labeled you as 'bad people', 'satan's offspring', "apostates", people who have committed the "unforgivable sin"........ .

Smiles

Yeah that's right. You "apostates" actually encourage me.

Imagine that..... After everything the WT has said about people like you. And after the WT has labeled you as 'bad people', 'Satan's offspring', "apostates", people who have committed the "unforgivable sin"........

You "apostates" often have something encouraging to say.

You "apostates" say and discuss things that the WT does not allow the JWs to discuss. Things people should discuss and need to discuss.

You "apostates" preach and allow for freedom of speech, etc.,

You "apostates" are candid and even brutally honest about matters.

You "apostates" say it like it is. You say the stuff the WT and JWs are too scared to say.

You "apostates" have no spin doctors to protect your public "image".

You "apostates" do not prevent a persons right to know what the hell is going on.

You "apostates" will listen to JW related complaints without trying to DF people and rip them away from their family and friends.

You "apostates" generally offer more practical suggestions based on your personal experiences. Not some over rated, manufactured, mass-produced, cure-all, WT like stuff.

The list could go on and on.

But most of all, you "apostates", who have commited the WT version "unforgivable sin", actually allow a person to express themselves without making the person feel guilty for doing so.

I admire that about you "apostates".

I wish more JWs could freely express themselves. Their feelings, their frustrations, etc. That is SO HEALTHY. Any behavioral therapist, doctor or shrink will tell you that.

Although the WT pretends that they promote open, honest communication, that is a load of genuine WT style BS.

We ALL know that there are many, many, many JWs who must repress their feelings, thoughts and emotions because they are scared into silence by the threat of WT disciplinary repercussions of humiliation, abandonment, shunning and excommunication.

You "apostates" deserve a big "THANK YOU" for your part in, at least, trying to encourage JWs to break that cycle.

5

Your favorite DA letter?

by Smiles in

who wrote your favorite disassociation letter?

many great da letters have been written.

some persons have chosen to share their da letter with us on this website or other websites.

Smiles

Who wrote your favorite Disassociation letter?

Many great DA letters have been written. Some persons have chosen to share their DA letter with us on this website or other websites. That takes courage on their part.

I applaud those individuals for putting it all straight out on the table for all to see, right in the face of those arrogant, unloving, heartless WT hierarchy.

So, who wrote your favorite Disassociation letter?

And what made it your favorite?

My favorite is the DA letter written by "LB" who is a member of this forum.

Especially the part where he says:

"But Frank, if my son is ever given an ounce of crap for speaking to me after you receiving this letter I am going to drag you into court. Count on that. Not the society, not the congregation, not Jehovah God, YOU. I hold my relationship with my son to be very important. Any loss of affection resulting from this will be costly to you. If a judicial committee is formed I will include them in separate lawsuits if I lose the affection of my son."

That man loves his son! And he puts it straight to that elder "Frank".

If you have not read this DA letter, you should. It is a good one.

Excellent DA letter "LB"!