Posts by Rufus T. Firefly

53

GOVERNING BODY PATTERNS OF DECEPTION

by Terry in

jw
friends

pattern of excuses.

" zion's watch tower 1894 jul 15 p.226.

(compare isaiah 8:11-13.

Rufus T. Firefly

marked ... Thanks Terry!

11

Jehovahs Witnesses and New Light

by smiddy in

charles taze russell was chosen by god jehovah to reveal to mankind the way to salvation in this time of the end.. charles taze russell embarks on a public speaking program that takes him all over the world with him giving lectures in many countrys .. my question to jehovahs witnesses : was that holy spirit , inspired revelations that he gave ?

was that new light from jehovah ?

new truths ?.

Rufus T. Firefly

Why is the Watchtower always the LAST to "receive" so-called "NEW light?" Consider just a few examples.

Two GB members asked Edward Dunlap in a private conversation what he thought about the F&DS. He said it appeared to him the F&DS was the GB, and they disfellowshipped him. Today, the Watchtower embraces what Dunlap had observed more than 30 years ago.

In 1947, the Watchtower said the practice of disfellowshipping was of pagan origin, adopted from the Druids by the Catholic Church. Five years later, the Watchtower embraced the practice.

Thousands of JWs spent years in prisons during wartime because the Watchtower considered alternative service to be a violation of Christian neutrality while Quakers, Mennonites and other religious groups accepted alternative service. Suddenly in the mid-1990s, alternative service became a matter of individual conscience for JWs.

I could go on, but you get the idea. The Watchtower is always the last to receive what they consider to be new light.

16

Transfusing blood is NOT eating blood

by Rufus T. Firefly in

jw
friends

watchtowers official view:.

you also ask why one can be disfellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions.

while both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment.

Rufus T. Firefly

Watchtower’s official view:

“You also ask why one can be disfellowshipped for taking a blood transfusion but not for taking blood fractions. While both may affect the life of an individual, the expression "life-sustaining" in connection with blood transfusions is synonymous with the idea of taking in food for nourishment . In this regard both whole blood and major components of it carry nutrients, oxygen, and other nourishment to the body. It is this aspect of taking in blood, that is, to provide nourishment that links blood transfusions with the Biblical prohibition . Note that "Questions From Readers" of the July 1, 1975, issue of The Watchtower stated: " The Bible specifically forbids the taking of blood to nourish the body .-Gen 9:4; Lev. 17:1-14; Acts 15:28, 29." The motive or reason for taking a serum is significantly different. It is not to feed the body, as would be the case if there was an eating of whole blood (or a major component thereof) by mouth or by having it transfused intravenously. Rather, the antibodies that have been separated out are administered for the purpose of immunizing the body against a certain disease. While blood fractions in certain situations can be lifesaving, they do not operate to feed and nourish the body and in this way sustain life but, rather, utilize other mechanisms.” [From March 23, 1998 letter from Watchtower Bible & Tract Society to R. Jensen.]

Another view:

“A major question, then, is whether it can be demonstrated that the transfusing of blood is an “eating” of blood as the Watch Tower organization claims. There is, in reality, no sound basis for such claim. There are, of course, medical methods of “intravenous feeding” whereby specially prepared liquids containing nutrients, such as glucose, are introduced into the veins and provide nourishment. However, as medical authorities know, and as the Watch Tower Society has at times acknowledged, a blood transfusion is NOT intravenous feeding; it is actually a TRANSPLANTATION (of a fluid TISSUE), not an infusion of a nutrient. In a kidney transplantation, the kidney is NOT eaten as some food by the new body it enters. It remains a kidney with the same form and function. The same is true of blood. It is not eaten as food when “transplanted” into another body. It remains the same fluid tissue, with the same form and function. The body cells cannot possibly utilize such transplanted blood as food. To do this the blood would first have to PASS THROUGH THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, be broken up and prepared so that the body cells could absorb it—thus it would have to be actually and literally EATEN to allow it to serve as FOOD.” [From IN SEARCH OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM, pages 297 & 298, by Raymond Franz.]

20

Checkmate WT!

by ILoveTTATT in

jw
friends

as a lot of you know, i am making a catalog of all the articles and quotes that the wt used to make the creation book.

i want to see all the quotes for myself, if possible.. i went to my university today, and i got some more books.. checkmate, wt!

i can now check every single quote, almost without regard to how obscure or rare the book is!.

Rufus T. Firefly

Here's a time-saving suggestion. Simply Google any article or quote used in Watchtower publications. The Internet is marvelous!

24

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Reject The Bible's Example Concerning Baptism

by Watchtower-Free in

i asked the below questions to 2 of my elders a few week ago ................................silence.

.

Rufus T. Firefly

"Regarding first-century Christians , historian Augustus Neander states in his book General History of the Christian Religion and Church: ' Baptism was administered at first only to adults , as men were accustomed to conceive baptism and faith as strictly connected.' " (Watchtower 4/1/06, page 27)

5

International Convention in Arlington, Texas

by Rufus T. Firefly in

jw
friends

this year there were only two conventions in texas.

an international convention at at&t (cowboy) stadium in arlington, and a regional convention in houston.

projections for the arlington convention ranged from 60-85k, with attendees coming from ok, ar and la, no to mention the international delegates; however, the peak attendance on sunday was 50,000..

Rufus T. Firefly

This year there were only two conventions in Texas. An International Convention at AT&T (Cowboy) Stadium in Arlington, and a Regional Convention in Houston. Projections for the Arlington convention ranged from 60-85K, with attendees coming from OK, AR and LA, no to mention the international delegates; however, the peak attendance on Sunday was 50,000.

25

Australian Government publishes on official web site the current Jehovah's Witnesses "Handling of Child Abuse" confidential letter to all bodies of elders (October 1, 2012)

by jwleaks in

the current jehovah's witnesses official child abuse handling procedure letter to all bodies of elders (october 1, 2012) has been placed into public domain by the australian (victoria) government "inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious oganisations".. official government web site link to letter:.

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/child_abuse_inquiry/submissions/steven_unthank_supp_a_appendix_1.pdf.

short link:.

Rufus T. Firefly

"By your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 12:37)

2

MATTHEW 18:14-17 What do Jesus' words teach ?.......ostracism

by LaFrancia in

what do jesus' words teach ?.

15moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go and reveal his fault between you and him alone.

if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.. .

Rufus T. Firefly

Below is a link to an article about ostracism being worse than bullying. Many have seen/read the 1947 AWAKE! article entitled 'Are You Also Excommunicated?' in which the WTS denounced the Catholic practice as being of pagan origin and having no basis in scripture. Five short years later, the WTS began its practice of disfellowshipping/ostracism/shunning. There is a scriptural basis for Christian disfellowshipping, but not the way the WTS practices it. Christian disfellowshipping serves ONLY to protect the reputation of the Christian congegation, not to sever family bonds and social friendships. JWs misuse disfellowshipping and misapply scriptures such as 1 Cor. 5:11 (dealing with unrepentant evildoers) and 2 John 9-11 (dealing with antichrists) in order to do so. I am of the opinion that the JW form of disfellowshipping actually fosters sociopathic attitudes and behaviors among JWs who conform to it.

http://news.ubc.ca/2014/05/29/better-to-be-bullied-than-ignored-in-the-workplace-study/

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