I honestly cannot see the Society changing their stance on blood. To do so would be extremely unsettling to the rank and file, perhaps moreso than changes about chronology, the FDS, or even the divinity of Christ! It just won't happen.
Further reason why it won't happen: the way technology and medicine is advancing it will only be a matter of time before blood transfusions will be rare for everyone. Science advances and the JWs reap the benefits in this one. Good for us all.
Bradley
we are having so much fun talking with everyone.
there are about 30 here tonight, and we just had dinner, ...............chicken on the bbq, coleslaw, and lots of good appetizers.. angharad, and "her ladyship" (also known as englishman's wife), and inky are in the hot tub, and there are little groups of conversation going on all over the house and outside on the deck.. cruzanheart, bigtex and sixofnine got here a few minutes ago.
there are 8 from england so far, including a very nice couple who were on my flight from atlanta.. several of us went out on joy and steve's big sailboat for several hours and it was so fun, and relaxing.. tomorrow we get ready for the big halloween party.
Yeah! Go Apostates!
Bradley
i was talking to some jehovah witness in a bible study, and we got into a conversation of heaven.
i told him that we would all be in heaven and live there, and he told me, "what would be the point of god creating the whole earth and putting us here then destroying it?
wouldn't it just be easier to repair the earth and place us here again?
It's all bullshit.
metatron,
Considering that the Society conjured up a "Nethinim" class of non-annointed ones to "assist" the GB it would not be too great a theological leap to upgrade them to "non-annointed, yet appointed GB" class.
It will happen, friends. Make no mistake about that.
Bradley
oliver wendell holmes:
i would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but i would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.
-- that statement pretty much sums up my thoughts on, well, the whole of existence!.
Oliver Wendell Holmes:
I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.
-- That statement pretty much sums up my thoughts on, well, the whole of existence!
Bradley
I've heard a lot of posters speculate that the JWs will change their views of 1914. I totally disagree. They will keep that date simply because it causes no harm. Gone are any attachments between 1914 and calculations of a "generation." Since 99% of JWs are clueless to the fact that the Society is in total conflict with archaeology on the date for Jerusalem's Babylonian destruction (upon which the 1914 date hangs) there is no pressing reason to change their chronology.
1914 is here to stay, although I wouldn't be surprised if they talked about it less in the years to come.
Look at the 7th Day Adventists. They still apply significance to 1844 (1844!!). Why didn't they change that God foresakin date? Answer: because it doesn't put them behind any eight balls. The same is true with the JWs.
From www.adventist.org:
(Listed as one of the Adventists primary beliefs)
23. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary :
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices
Oh, I'll add my speculative 2 cents....
Eventually -- but not for a few more years, perhaps a decade or so -- the Society will allow members of the "other sheep" to be part of the Governing Body. They are not stupid. They know that the "annointed" are a dying breed and that they don't want to wait till their are only five "genuinely" annointed people left on the planet.
They'll make subtle insinuations that it is "one flock" and that Jehovah's Spirit will work through the non-annointed GB just as good as the annointed ones. Perhaps a "new" understanding of Elijah and Elisha will be put forth explaining how the "mantle" will be taken over by the other sheep GB.
They got by 1975 and "this generation" pretty craftily. The only remaining "glitch" that would prevent them from operating pretty much as-is for the next fifty years or so would be the fact that the annointed are dying off. Solve this problem and all will be well in JW land.
Bradley
many religious folks, including fundamentalists, moderates and liberals, from a multitude of faiths, including jehovah?s witnesses, claim that homosexuals, bisexuals and trans-gendered individuals are abominations in the eyes of god.
they believe these people are sinners of the worst sort, that their behavior is a perversion, is evil, dangerous and a threat to society, the family and/or ?family values.?
these poor souls are going to be punished in some way by god for their choices and behavior ?
May I make a kindly suggestion?
Your post would be a lot easier to read if you try breaking it up into a few paragraphs. Paragraphs that n-eeeeeever end just hurt the eyes.
B.
Mr. Kim,
Are you putting me on?
by meeting with the FDS to discuss current and past events.
You meet with the Faithful and Discreet Slave to discuss matters? Wow. Are you also invited to Cabinet meetings at the White House?
hehe....I'm just ribbing 'ya. Seriously though, a teensy-weensy explanation would fondle my curiosities.
Bradley
so i'm in school, and make a crack about my fanatic parents.
i've made other little comments to this lady before, but this time she stopped, looked at me and said: "what religion did you belong to?
" i told her the jws.
The book, "Apocalypse Delayed" by James Penton is an excellent book because it looks at the organization in all it's aspects -- history, theology, culture, good points/bad points, controversy, etc. There is little esoteric jargon and it is easily accessible for both former JWs and people who don't have a clue about them. She can probably go to a good library to find it or order it on Amazon.
Best,
Bradley
