Posts by Island Man

4

Religion's evil folly of stigmatizing doubt.

by Island Man in

punishing doubt - theramintrees (jws get mentioned in this one.).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdtzbvlg3ni.

Island Man

punishing doubt - TheraminTrees (JWs get mentioned in this one.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTZBVlg3nI

76

Visit From Jehovah's Witnesses

by Vanderhoven7 in

had two lovely jws (stephen and ruth) visit this morning.

this was our second study in the last 2 weeks.

they first knocked on my door (bell is out) 3 weeks ago and i shared my testimony and we arranged to meet last tuesday which we did.. our first study went like this:.

Island Man

That's great information on Eisegesis vs Exegesis, Vanderhoven. I look forward to your further updates on your interactions with Stephen and Ruth.

By the way, here's an interesting and revealing exercise to pursue: apply the standards of good exegesis to NT passages that quote and interpret OT passages as being prophecies pertaining to christ. Are the NT authors applying sound exegesis. To me it seems like they're applying "I-see-Jesus". lol.

10

Ever notice this contradiction?

by stuckinarut2 in

so witnesses love using the scripture that says that "narrow and cramped is the road to life, and few are the ones finding it" as proof that they have the truth.

yes, a small number.. yet they also love boasting about the "increases in numbers coming into the truth" as proof of jehovah's blessing of the society!.

so, which is it?

Island Man

"So, which is it?"

It depends on their audience.

If they're talking to a non-JW that is part of a more populous religion and the non-JW is inclined to reject JWs because they are such a small religion, then they go with "narrow and cramped is the road to life, and few are the ones finding it".

But if they're talking to a JW with doubts about the JW religion being the truth or having Jehovah's approval then they resort to boasting about the "increases in numbers coming into the truth" as proof of Jehovah's blessing of the society!

There are many such contradictions built within the religion. Other examples include:

God accurately preserved the NT, vs God allowed "apostate christians" to remove his name from the NT - without leaving a single manuscript to testify to the fact that the name was originally in the NT. (i.e. God did not accurately preserve the NT)

They tell the public to compare JW teachings with what their bible says to see that JWs have the truth (non-JWs would have to be able to accurately interpret scripture in order to make such judgments), vs only Jehovah's organization can accurately interpret scripture. The bible cannot be accurately understood apart from Jehovah's organization. (non-JWs cannot accurately interpret scripture)

When Jesus said at John 14 that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven, he was talking only about the 144,000 since he was talking at the time to his soon to be anointed disciples. Vs when he spoke to the same group in the same chapter about the need to pray in his name - he was speaking to everyone and not not just the anointed. lol.

Jesus is mediator only for the 144,000 and only anointed ones should partake of the emblems at the memorial. Vs Everyone should use Jesus as mediator in prayer, praying in his name. lol. The same reasoning used by Watchtower to claim that only the anointed are part of the new covenant and only they should partake of the emblems - that same reasoning can be used to teach that only the anointed should pray in Jesus' name.

30

Why is it so hurtful to be shunned? Why object to it?

by stuckinarut2 in

it seems like many feel hurt or saddened by the practice of shunning by witnesses.. yes, when ones who we were close to, perhaps family or ones we thought were close friends choose to follow the warped directions of the society, it may seem hurtful.. but really, our reaction is up to us.

the fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never real or genuine.

no, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance.

Island Man

"The fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never REAL or GENUINE. No, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance."

I beg to differ. Your words do have a certain "ring of truth" to them. But then again many have also said that the false JW teachings have "the ring of truth".

I don't think it's always the case of them not having genuine or real love. I'm sure many of them are also pained by the fact that they can no longer speak to the shunned but they do it because they have been brainwashed into believing that shunning you is the right thing to do to save your life. They have been brainwashed into showing love in a cruel way. It's an extreme example of mistaken love.

It's not much different to a parent who would subject their fatally ill child to a painful ordeal if they're convinced that it is necessary to save the child's life. Does such a parent lack real or genuine love for their child? No. The only difference between such a parent and many brainwashed JWs that practice shunning is that the parent's actions might be justified by medical science while the JWs actions is woefully misguided and based on error. In both cases genuine love could be present.

You cannot judge love or lack of love purely on actions. You have to consider the motives. A person can kill you out of genuine love for you and kiss you out of pure hate. I'm sure many ex-JWs on here will testify to the fact that they too engaged in the practice of shunning ex-JWs when they were indoctrinated Witnesses, not because they didn't love them but because they thought it was the best thing to help the "erring" one to return and avoid destruction. I'm sure many JWs are probably torn inside.

It is not necessarily the lack of love. It is most certainly the power of indoctrination.

34

Does it not dawn on the cart witnesses?

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

i sat in town recently, right in the window of a nice wee pub.

within minutes i realised that i had a perfect view of a jw cart and the two ridiculously dressed jw's (they have absolutely no individuality at all.

what's more, they all look like they're going to a funeral).

Island Man

I've heard it said at meetings that they succeed in giving a witness even when no one answers the door or talks to them. They say that their mere presence in the territory serves as a witness to those who refuse to engage with them.

Then there's the worthwhile accomplishment of making hours to put on their field service report and we all know that having healthy monthly field service statics goes a long way toward the furtherance or maintenance of their social standing in the organization.

23

Any word on the annual meeting?

by careful in

have all the leaks at ny bethel been discovered, or are there still some who are revealing the inner secrets beforehand?

i haven't seen anything here about the annual meeting just a month away now.

anyone have any real info on it?.

Island Man

Maybe they'll release the new song book then.

Expect to hear Tony Tight-pants the turd railing against Pokemon Go, saying it's demonic, yada yada yada.

"...Man ah pull up a' your yard like a Jehovah Witness..."

by Island Man in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_5p-xkjzyi.

yo sean paul!yo chi ching!...come an' ah talk 'bout your fitness fitness fitness fitnessman ah pull up a' your yard like a jehovah witness witness witness witnessin ah your likkle tight shorts an' ah show off your thickness thickness thickness thicknessevery man way ah pass say you wipe them a crick-neck crick-neck crick-neck crick-neckcrick-neck!chorus:my girl just wine up your body, show off yourselffull draw the vibe and get recklessget buck wild, shake up your chestinevitable that you ah go enjoy yourself.there's bubble in my champaigne, bubble in my baththis pretty girl put a bubble in my heartget buck wild, shake up your chestinevitable that you ah go enjoy yourself.crick-neck!crick-neck!crick-neck!the way she ah wine, husband ah left wifea girl bust a split, me say 'jesus christ!

'me get a new girl tonight ah fi me choiceme hear girl ah sell, me say 'what's the price?

Island Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_5p-XkjZyI

Yo sean Paul!
Yo Chi Ching!
...
Come an' ah talk 'bout your fitness fitness fitness fitness
man ah pull up a' your yard like a Jehovah Witness Witness Witness Witness
In ah your likkle tight shorts an' ah show off your thickness thickness thickness thickness
Every man way ah pass say you wipe them a crick-neck crick-neck crick-neck crick-neck
Crick-neck!

CHORUS:
My girl just wine up your body, show off yourself
full draw the vibe and get reckless
get buck wild, shake up your chest
inevitable that you ah go enjoy yourself.
There's bubble in my champaigne, bubble in my bath
This pretty girl put a bubble in my heart
Get buck wild, shake up your chest
inevitable that you ah go enjoy yourself.
Crick-neck!
Crick-neck!
Crick-neck!

The way she ah wine, husband ah left wife
a girl bust a split, me say 'Jesus Christ!'
me get a new girl tonight ah fi me choice
me hear girl ah sell, me say 'what's the price?'
Crick-neck!
Way the thing for the chiropractor
me neck feel like to me need a doctor
the girl just pass an' is like it fracture, body strong like a tractor

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS]

8

Looking at this video with Dr. Angel Fierro and I'm cringing.

by Island Man in

i'm cringing because the video is very empty in the way of presenting any credible evidence or logical reasoning for rejecting evolution in preference for creationism.

but it's not the only reason.the video wreaks of propagandistic manipulation.

first, angel gives very stereotypic reasons for why he accepted evolution in the past.

Island Man

I'm cringing because the video is very empty in the way of presenting any credible evidence or logical reasoning for rejecting evolution in preference for creationism. But it's not the only reason.The video wreaks of propagandistic manipulation.

First, Angel gives very stereotypic reasons for why he accepted evolution in the past. It's almost like he was reading from the script of Watchtower's favorite published pronouncements on why persons accept evolution and reject creation.

Second, notice his attire. He is wearing a white coat and has a stethoscope draped around his neck. Why? Isn't it enough that we've already been told he's a pediatrician? It's almost like Watchtower is trying a little too hard to convince us that he is a pediatrician. I'm not doubting that he is a pediatrician. But does that fact have to constantly burned into our eyes with every word that he speaks less they lose weight on their own merit?

It's exactly the kind of get-up one expects to see a doctor wearing in a misleading TV advertisement promoting some kind of medical hype. Argument from authority much, Watchtower? The whole thing is so cheesy and stirs up the cynic in me.

https://tv.jw.org/#en/video/VODIntExp/pub-jwbiv_201608_1_VIDEO

9

Is There an App for That?

by Wild_Thing in

hi simon,.

i was just wondering if you have ever considered making an app for this forum.

i would be on here all the time if i could use it on my iphone!