Posts by no-zombie

41

Toasting

by hoser in

jw
friends

when did the jws make the rule that you couldn’t clink glasses together and raise glasses of wine?.

and why the change to being a conscience matter now?.

no-zombie

Yes, it does seem to me too, that the Governing Body has made to door open for birthdays once again.

Because while the application of this update was all about the clinking of glasses, which is now to be just viewed a friendly act. The telling comment about wedding rings (although known to have pagan origins) seems to me more important.

However as the Governing Body likes to use of precedents, by referring back past Watchtower articles or announcement, there might well be more in this line of reasoning. Thus in six months time, a Governing Body member could quite easily refer back to this update as the foundation for a discussion of birthdays. Saying in fact that while birthday celebrations may have had a religious connection thousands of years ago, its now just viewed as another ... friendly act.

2

The Big Beautiful Bill giving birth to the OPPORTUNITY of Trump Wealthy Babies.

by liam in

i have lots of friends who had a new born this year, and they are excited as hell that they have an opportunity to give their children something they themselves didn’t get because their parents were hard-core jehovah's witnesses who refuse to support them in getting a better education to live a better life.. not only will they not raise their children as jehovah's witness, but they now have the opportunity to give their children a better life.

all my friends are still young, under 24, so they still have time, .

the "one big beautiful bill" includes a provision for "trump accounts," which will provide a one-time government contribution of $1,000 for every child born between january 1, 2025, and december 31, 2028. parents can also contribute up to $5,000 per year to these accounts.

no-zombie

While I don't like to personally sabotage peoples post, I do like helping people with a little bit of a reality check ... and in this case regarding another one of Trump's 'golden promises', even more so.

And quite simply, I would like to remind people of these well known facts.

Firstly ... with 75% of Americans have less than $1000 in total saving currently, how are they going to find and additional 5k per year per child? Meaning of course if you have 2 children, you have to find an extra 10k for at least the next 20 years until your child can take over the payments. Have you got that kind of money to spare?

Secondly ... with only a half of American's having any form of private health insurance, how are the planed cuts to medicaid going to effect the cash reserves of these family? I hope none of your kids will need braces.

Thirdly ... with the tax breaks primarily to benefit the top 10% of US citizens, how are the bottom 90% going to be as trump personal said " we're going to become so rich, you're not going to know how to spend all that money"?

I'm sorry, but even with a basic understanding of how money works, with over 4 trillion dollars spent/lost on non-income generating activity (like infrastructure spending or direct manufacturing support) ... increased national debt can only led to increased economic distress.

But hey ... you guys voted for that man ... enjoy

11

"Slimboyfat" response why I have Witnesses for dinner.

by Witness 007 in

he asked why we have them over for dinner....we are not disfellowshiped just faded away so we can still have dinner with witness friends now we have known for 10 years.

alot of "faders" do same.

you might listen to afew dumb scriptures from them but still friends..

no-zombie

I found this post quite funny ... as Witness 007, you don't have to explain anything ... to anyone.

However I have gotten the impression by the comments of some here, that unless you are not some kind of hardcore Watchtower hater, you are morally deficit. Meaning of course, that Faders and PIMOs are sort of second class objectors and are taking the easy path out.

Sorry I hate elitism anywhere.

66

Time of the end - a TRINITY puzzler.

by BoogerMan in

(matthew 24:36) “concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the son, but only the father.".

(jesus seems to have forgotten to include the holy spirit not knowing either).

(acts 1:7) "he said to them: “it does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the father has placed in his own jurisdiction.".

no-zombie

While whole Trinity thing is a totally pagan concept, by simply reading Genesis 1:27, 5:3 and 9:6 (that says that man was made in God's image), the simple form of God is made plain by the inverse of those verses.

How hard can it be.

36

Few JW leader have children

by slimboyfat in

it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.

this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.

i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.

no-zombie

While I'll go out on a limb and stay that the Organization is itself moving towards JWLITE, the issue of having 'children in this system' will have to be addressed in some way, for a number of reasons.

However the stumbling block for the Governing Body, is that having children is incompatible to expanding one's service into SKE, Bethel service or full-time construction. Thus for the desire to a have children to become a blessing, instead of a selfish longing, a drastic devaluing of theocratic 'careers' would have to occur. Which will be hard as being a Bethelite, an SKE graduate or a LDC overseer, are definitely seen of a badge of honor ... and a reason why many make the sacrifice to take them up.

36

Few JW leader have children

by slimboyfat in

it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.

this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.

i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.

no-zombie

While I might look into this a bit latter, but could this stance taken by the Governing Body be another legacy from our 18th century Adventist past? I have a feeling that it might when we think about the nature of Firebrand Preachers of the time.

36

Few JW leader have children

by slimboyfat in

it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.

this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.

i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.

no-zombie

While I can't unfortunately add to you list, slim, it is very telling set of numbers.

To me, it seems rather evident that all the Governing Body members (and past Presidents) were true believers. Well true enough to make for themselves a social contract, where they traded having children for their positions in Bethel.

But fact most were childless, only goes to illustrate why the Organization has a real lack of understanding of problems of child rearing, teenagers in particular. For the constant repetition of 'prayer, bible study, field service and meeting attendance' as the solution to any problem a youth has, is clear proof that none of them have a real clue of the world around them.

Similar too is the Governing Body's strong recommendation of singleness and childlessness (done through to drive for young couples to serve full time), is really done only because they have never experienced the joys of being a parent themselves.

Would the Society look different though, if the Governing Body had normal families and kids? Undoubtedly ... a lot more humanist, I wager. Which is a pity.

Thanks for the original post.

56

Predictions for the next decade?

by jehovaxx in

as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.

then some huge huge changes.

for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.

no-zombie

As the numbers of disfellowshiped people are way smaller than those who become inactive and fade away, I wager that the faders are still believers (at varying levels of course), which would help explain the various surveys stating the larger JW population numbers. And within that group of course, would the JWLITEers.

However this doesn't really help the Governing Body that much because they really need 'bums on seats'. Yes, as more and more Witness kids move out and the falling birth rate of Western Countries only getting lower, it going to get hard, much harder to finance the Organization. Not until the GB formally embraces JWLITE and rebuilds the social side of congregations, will people start seeing the value in staying or think about returning it.

But will the Governing Body be brave enough to do it? I doubt it at the moment, not until the old guard are gone.

84

Zechariah 12:10 Corruption in the NWT

by Sea Breeze in

here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.

why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.

zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .

no-zombie

Again I'd like to remind you (aqwsed12345) that this site is not a debating forum. Nor is it a place for people who have never been a Jehovah's Witness to post topics or comments, that inflame others who maybe in some way be recovering.

However if a person does have something theological or encouraging to add, then the appropriate way to do so, would be to approach it academically, by providing your best evidence or reasoning in one post, and then leaving it for the reader to accept it or not.

84

Zechariah 12:10 Corruption in the NWT

by Sea Breeze in

here's a question for those who still support watchtower on this forum.

why did watchtower leave out the word "me" in zech.

zechariah 12:10 reads like this: .

no-zombie

The problems here aqwsed12345, is people like you try to support their arguments by getting louder and louder and now with ChatGPT, they can scream, in an attempt that by their many words it adds some kind of weight.

But it doesn't.

And when it doesn't work, people like you turn to insults.

You can be much better, than that.