Posts by robhic

10

$$ Cultivate a Giving Spirit Toward the WT Society - 11/1/2003 WT $$

by Funchback in

the article found on page 26 gives some biblical examples of why one should cultivate a giving spirit.

then it has a subheading entitled 'jehovah - the greatest giver' which leads to the final obvious subheading 'showing gratitude to jehovah', which really translates to: 'give us (the wts) your money'.

so, what ways do you think the society encourages one to give?

robhic

Let's face it, in this day and age $951 million doesn't stretch as far as it used to, so we should be doing all we can to help the Society with the World Wide Education Work?,

Just how does the organization get all that money? I know book sales is (supposed to be) a big earner but I have never, ever had any WTS publication offered to me for a cost. They always just give the WT or Awake! or whatever and never ask for a donation or anything. I was given the "Life/Evolution/Creation" book and almost felt bad for taking it since it looks expensive. Not the ordinary, cheesy 'comic book' pamphlets I usually am offered. The lady said I could give it back after reading it, if I wanted to (I did), as long as I didn't mark in it (which I didn't). She just hasn't come back to get it -- it's been 6-7 weeks -- and I think that has something to do with the questions I asked that she couldn't answer...

How can this $951 million figure get there? I guess real estate holdings and their oft-mentioned stock holdings generate a nice chunk of change but 951 million dollars? That is mind-boggling from where I sit. How do they do it?

Robert

4

"Wicked System?" Which one? Why?

by robhic in

i keep hearing about the so-called "wicked sytem of things" and how it is gonna end "soon.

" (whenever that may be...) just what system is gonna end?

democracy?

robhic

Sens says:

That dog is so freaking me out right now...
lol

Isn't that the creepiest thing you've seen? I found it a while ago (don't remember where) and have enjoyed using it for different reasons. I guess that's just another sign of the "end of the wicked system." Dogs and men mating...

Robert

4

"Wicked System?" Which one? Why?

by robhic in

i keep hearing about the so-called "wicked sytem of things" and how it is gonna end "soon.

" (whenever that may be...) just what system is gonna end?

democracy?

robhic

I keep hearing about the so-called "wicked sytem of things" and how it is gonna end "soon." (Whenever that may be...) Just what system is gonna end? Democracy? Autocracy? Monarchy? Muslim? Baptist? Catholic? What system?! I'm sure when I pose the question, that I will be given the blanket answer of "man's system." Is that the conditioned response?

OK, if that's the case and all of the "systems" of this entire world are man-made and also wicked in some way, then how can only one religion be the true religion? Aren't all religions, by nature of being made by men also, under the same rules of the same man-made system? How do they differentiate? I guess I'll hear about the scrutiny the WTS was put under by jehover back in 1914 or 1919.

And what is so wicked? Granted, the world is not perfect nor is any one "system" the best for everyone but damn, in the US it seems the JWs should be awfully glad for this system. If not for the freedom of religion, JW would never have been invented. Nor would the black JWs who come to my door have been allowed to do so 30-40 years ago or had such free access to any and all neighborhoods like today. And they'd be traveling in buggies instead of cars. Their KH would probably have been segregated and they wouldn't be able to have and use the modern conveniences that are commonplace.

C'mon, what's so damn wicked about progress? I plan to inquire of this when my sometimes/former/maybe girlfriend the JW makes that general statement to me again. What is so bad about the pretty good life she is able to lead in today's world. I wanna know!

Robert

8

Refuting Faithful Slave Myth Accusations.

by integ in

again, playing devils' advocate here.

i brought up to a staunch witness relative some reasons the annointed remnant, or however she wishes to regard them, are not the faithful and discreet slave mentioned in matthew.

i brought up the fact that practically all the core doctrines that the witnesses were teaching in 1919 when the "master arrived and chose the watchtower as his instrument" would be considered as apostasy today, by the witnesses.

robhic

I found this somewhere and, unfortunately, don't remember who wrote it or where I found it so I can't attribute it properly. I found it interesting and a bit thought-provoking. Hopefully it will be an interesting read.

Robert

"Then Peter said, "Lord, are you saying this parable to us only, or also to all?" And Jesus said, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master set down over his household to give them their food in due season?" (Luke 12:41, 42; Matthew 24:45)

All Jesus did was ask a question. Who really is...? Then, Jesus ANSWERS that question.

"Happy is that slave when his master UPON ARRIVING finds him doing so. Amen I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings." (Matthew 24:46, 47; Luke 12:43, 44)

Has the Master arrived yet? (Matthew 24:30; 1 Corinthians 11:26) The 'faithful and discreet servant' has not and WILL NOT be 'identified' until the Master arrives. Why do we have to wait until the Master arrives? Jesus answers that too.

"But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart 'My master is delaying' and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and will assign him with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be." (Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 12:45, 46)

Jesus said the faithful slave could become wicked at ANYTIME. He doesn't say out in the open, but he says in his HEART 'My master is delaying.' No one can really know he is a wicked slave until the Master comes. Hence, if the slave is faithful even until the master returns (whenever he returns), he really is faithful. So no one will know who the faithful slave is (if there even is one) until the master arrives.

Further... They tell you that the faithful and discreet slave is the "mouthpiece" of God on earth. Is this true?

"God, who long ago on many occasions and in many ways spoke to our fathers by the mouth of the prophets has at the end of these days spoken to us by the mouth of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the system of things." (Hebrews 1:1, 2)

God in the past spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets, not an organization. The prophets on earth served as his mouthpiece to his people. In these last days, God speaks to us by the mouth of a Son. So the Son is God's "mouthpiece" today. How does the Son speak to us?

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me." (John 10:27)

"I have other sheep that are not of this fold, those also I must bring in, and they will LISTEN TO MY VOICE, and they shall become one flock with one shepherd." (John 10:16)

From where do they listen to his voice? Is it through an organization? From the Bible? The scriptures say:

"See that you do not beg off from him who is speaking. For if they did not escape who begged off from him who gave divine warning upon the earth, much more so we if we beg off from him who speaks FROM THE HEAVENS." (Hebrews 12:25).

So God speaks to us today by the mouth of his Son not through an organization, nor through the Bible... but directly "from the heavens."

36

Circle of the earth

by donkey in

bible believers are so proud of the fact that the bible talks of the "circle of the earth" and try to use this to say that the bible is inspired because it obviously was ahead of it's time in establishing that the earth is not flat.. congratulations.

umm...umm...ok now then why does daniel 4:11 say the tree grew all the way into heaven?

and when satan decided to tempt jesus he took him to a high place and he could see all the kingdoms of the earth...... now unless jesus and satan could see around corners...how do you explain this?

robhic

The "International Standard Version" Bible has this:

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that he could bring you to God. He was put to death in the sphere of the flesh but was made alive in the sphere of the spirit,

I don't think they were talking about being made alive in a sphere, as in a ball or circular object. It's a figure of speech. Same as the "circle of the earth." It's just a form of saying the realm or area or place or whatever.

And as far as citing the bible's seeming knowledge of a round earth before anybody else due to the passage cited (depending on the translation used...) it could also mean a circular but flat earth too, could it not? Talking about the "4 corners of the earth" could easily be a flat, square earth so where do you draw the line?

Robert

24

Who really belives that there is a Satan

by Singing Man in

is there any real evidence that there is a satan and a bunch of nasty demons?

it seems to be implanted on into our hard drives of our minds through the bible and religions litature.. it seems to me if the bible told us the moon was made of swiss cheese and religious litature said pigs could fly most humans would agree at once.

one mans opinion.

robhic

Interesting question. Yes, I believe evil exists. Do I think there is an invisible, malicious "spirit" causing it? No, I don't think so. People can and will make mistakes and conscious decisions that result in something bad happening. I've always thought that was a no-brainer.

"Satan" per se, is a convenient scape goat to assign blame. If you don't take responsbility for something bad happening, you blame it on evil and/or satan. Easy. You are absolved of blame and that damn satan did it again!

I think religious folk use satan and the concept of satan to assign blame for evil and also as a focus on who their god is more powerful than and who will protect you so you'd better join up. C'mon, if you break someone's car windshield it is one of maybe 3 things: it is an accident and unavoidable; you are a dick and broke someone's windshield because you are a dick; there is/was some strange, unexplainable reason that that glass needed breaking.

Regardless, there was no invisible horned entity with a brick in his hoof. Just my opinion...

Robert

4

Reasons for Intense Feelings?

by robhic in

i read the thread that beryblue started above and some of the responses made me wonder.

most people responded regarding loving jehovah out of fear.

i am not now nor ever was a jw but these responses were similar to something a friend said the other day (and other times, too).. she is a jw since 2000 and is 42 years old with a disease that keeps her homebound and quite frequently bed-bound.

robhic

Frenchbabyface wrote:

1) She’s sick (scared)
2) She’s scared of everything who’s not JWs
3) She’s brainwashed the solution for everything is the WTBS (eventually JAH / they don’t make the difference in the Borg)

And maybe also and this could be the worse one

4) She's a bit egocentric

Very true. She's been sick for about 7 years so this isn't entirely new. She just got worse so you make a good point. She isn't too scared of everything non-JW because she's dated (in a manner of speaking) me off and on for the 3 years after her baptism and she has a lot of non-JW friends (plus her whole family) that she is close to.

As far as jehovah being the ultimate answer you are correct. She told me she has accepted the new level of her disability (not entirely a bad thing) but, in my opinion, somewhat fatalistic. She's just "waiting on jehovah" to end things and fix her. And "egocentric" doesn't begin to describe her. Her usual statement about not being able to be involved with me is because "her eternal life is at stake!" Nevermind everybody else, as long as her eternal life isn't compromised. Yeah, I think egocentric covers it.

She is brainwashed and buys into every single syllable uttered by anything JW. I just don't follow this blind, unwavering allegiance without giving some credit where it is due.

Rocketman: Yes, maybe she'd think that her family is motivated by jehovah (although her mother is quite vocal about being a non-JW and proud of it) but seems to me this loving of jehovah and only jehovah is weird.

Thanks for the responses, it gives me a little more to think about and may add to my understanding.

Robert

4

Reasons for Intense Feelings?

by robhic in

i read the thread that beryblue started above and some of the responses made me wonder.

most people responded regarding loving jehovah out of fear.

i am not now nor ever was a jw but these responses were similar to something a friend said the other day (and other times, too).. she is a jw since 2000 and is 42 years old with a disease that keeps her homebound and quite frequently bed-bound.

robhic

I read the thread that Beryblue started above and some of the responses made me wonder. Most people responded regarding loving jehovah out of fear. I am not now nor ever was a JW but these responses were similar to something a friend said the other day (and other times, too).

She is a JW since 2000 and is 42 years old with a disease that keeps her homebound and quite frequently bed-bound. She was my girlfriend off-and-on until recently (although this has gone on since 2000...) and made a comment about how she loves jehovah more than anybody including her own kids and family. I found this not only insulting and selfish but demeaning to her family.

Her mother and sister have done a tireless (and often thankless -- she can be a bitch) job of caring for her since she started having the problems which I mention above in November of last year. They have cleaned her, bathed her, wiped her ass, put on diapers, cleaned her house, fed and done almost everything needed for their daughter/sister. They drive her where needed and do most everything she needs to get to doctors' appointments and the like. In all fairness a couple of the female JWs from her congregation (the exceptions from what I have read of others' experiences with JWs) have done some to help her, mostly housecleaning, cooking, etc. but a little personal stuff and a few rides.

Then she has the audacity to make the comment (at least to me, I don't know if she's got the gall to say it to her mom and sis) about loving jehovah more than anyone else! How can someone way this and mean it?

I guess my question is this: what motivated people here to feel like this when they were "in"? Was it fear of jehovah? Real affection? Did you feel like this? I find it impossible to understand. I really wish I had thought about it at the time but I should have asked her, simply, "Why?" I imagine her answer would not only have been interesting to me but quite possibly an eye-opener for her, also, had she actually had to think of her reasons for that statement.

I do plan to ask it next time we speak if she says that. I really find it annoying and just wish she'd make the comment to either mom or sis. I'd like to see them tell her to let the j-man take up some of the slack and see just how long it took her to fully appreciate what her "2nd class" family (they aren't JWs) does for her. Does jehovah do sponge baths? Write checks? Loan money? Hmmm.....

Robert

13

Arab AlJazeera: "Scientists say prayers work"

by Gerard in

http://english.aljazeera.net/articles/sciencetechno/scientists+say+prayers+work.htm

scientists say prayers work .

james gooder

robhic

Did the article mention anywhere or was it taken into account that the people who were unaware of being prayed for may have just been doing praying of their own? That would negate positive results thru co-incidence. If they didn't know others were praying for them but did so on their own, then the mind would have been similarly affected and the results would be skewed.

Like Derek said, double-blind is to remove all element of chance. If folks in a double-blind study had access to what was being tested on their own and had positive results, it would not be because of the studied medication or whatever but because the person did it themself. (Did that make sense? ) The test would be a failure.

I'm a strong believer in the mind's ability to heal but this study has a "snake-oil" sound to it... Not to offend anyone.

Robert

9

10/1/2003 WT: Does God Really Care? Well, DOES HE???

by Funchback in

some highlights...

' there are two photos: 1) a silhouette of a soldier laying flat on his stomach pointing an automatic weapon and 2) a colorless photo of at least 17 children pressed up against barbed-wire in (i assume) a nazi concentration camp.

this cover would lead a person to conclude that god really does not care.

robhic

B) "God's word, the bible, is beneficial for mankind, not only for today, but for the future as well. It teaches us how to live and can protect us from many of the perils that we face each day. By reading His word and meditating on it on a daily basis, will give us hope and ... at least distract the reader from the fact that shit DOES, in fact, happen at random and anything can and will happen!

"B" but with this condition added . Good question/post!

Robert