Posts by robhic

4

Flashers in the bible

by IP_SEC in

in this weeks bible reading we find a shocking account in the book of 1 samuel 14. these verses detail how johnathan and his man-at-arms flashed the philistine army.

are we to understand that exposing ourselves is accectable theocratic warfare?

(1 samuel 14:7-8) 7 at this his armor-bearer said to him: ?do whatever is in your heart.

Possibly Samuel was a distant relation of William Wallace from the movie "Braveheart." Exposing one's "nether regions" was a good way to show contempt and pretty cocky when you get down do it! If you were going to contend with someone and they dropped their pants and showed their ass, wouldn't you be a bit disconcerted and maybe just a little concerned? I might re-think my next move ...

4

Aware or not - what difference does it make ?

by A Paduan in

when jw teachers and visitors present their gospel and false prophecies, are they lying - whether or not they intend to ?

- this saying came to mind

there is no truth in him......when he lies he is speaking naturally

robhic

Do you think awareness plays a part? I think it is a product of the constant repetition, brain-washing, high-control rote tactics under which these things are learned. Like, in situation 'A' you repond like this; in situation 'B' you respond like that. It's a reflex from almost chanting the answers constantly.

It's not an awareness or consciousness that it's even being done, just "following the script." Since no thinking, logic or reason is needed and is even discouraged, answer A and answer B's dissimilarity isn't even registering.

Do you think all salespeople believe the line of bullshit they espouse to get you to buy a product or service? Some probably don't but do it anyway to increase their chances of making you buy. As long as it's not dangerous, I'd suppose the salesperson would be more thinking of their own needs (getting commission from the sale).

Interesting thought, though.

19

Another WTS Misrepresentation from the Creator Book

by AlanF in

here is a good example of the sort of complex misrepresentations that the watchtower society performs.

the 1998 creator book says the following (chap.

" not, "what happened after the origin of the universe?

robhic

Gaiagirl: Excellent point! Nobody can prove OR disprove any scenario concerning the creation of the universe or a god. It can't be done evidentially. Thanks for the "Cosmos" reference, I have that book (haven't read it in ages...) but I may just read it again -- with a whole new perspective. Robert

19

Another WTS Misrepresentation from the Creator Book

by AlanF in

here is a good example of the sort of complex misrepresentations that the watchtower society performs.

the 1998 creator book says the following (chap.

" not, "what happened after the origin of the universe?

robhic

Can experts now explain the origin of the universe? Many scientists, uncomfortable with the idea that the universe was created by a higher intelligence, speculate that by some mechanism it created itself out of nothing. Does that sound reasonable to you?

To me, this seems to imply that "Since (so-called) 'experts' are uncomfortable with the universe being created by a higher intelligence then they have to manufacture some wacky scientific explanation." Hence, our "higher power" explanation ain't so unreasonable afterall .... IS IT? (Believe our explanation or you'll be sorry you are so stoooopid!)

Nope, since no one can give a proveable, detailed explanation of a subject as enormous as the creation of the universe then you should believe the "man-in-the-sky" explanation! Oh, and BTW, if you don't? He'll murder you and all your babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What about the universe flew out of the ass of a giant Panda? Makes as much sense. I wonder what the scientists would say about that? I mean, since they can't prove or disprove it? It could be as true as the man-in-the-sky. Plus the Giant Panda probably wouldn't want to murder you if you didn't believe in him. I'm going with the Panda ...

5

Adam named millions of species

by cheeseman in

i am intrigued by this:gen 2:19 and out of the ground the lord god formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

a quick search at the national geographic showed:to date, taxonomists have identified less than two million distinct species, mostly mammals and birds.

but it's estimated that the number of undiscovered speciesprimarily fish, fungi, insects, and microbesranges from ten million to more than one hundred million.

robhic

There a over 6500 KNOWN species of reptiles, who knows how many unknown. Noah and his boys went out and caught them all?

Crikey! Ya gotta sneak up on the big buggers when they're sleeping. There's nothing more dangerous than a large croc when he's awake! (How can you type an Aussie accent? )

As far as time goes, if "a year is but a day" 23 days would be 23 years to name all the animals. And what about some of that "a day is a thousand years" stuff? Twenty three thousand years to name just "most" of the animals? I don't theenk so!

14

Help with Israelite Example

by TheListener in

i've searched and searched and can find nothing that specifically addresses this issue.

i've checked coc and isocf.

please help me or at least point me in the right direction.. this is the subject that i'm not good at discussing or refuting:.

robhic

I can't take credit for this example but I think it kinda fits and I also find it very interesting. 'Nuf said...

Robert

2 King 10:18,19,25-28
Further, Je ́ hu collected all the people together and said to them: "A ́ hab, on the one hand, worshiped Ba ́ al a little. Je ́ hu, on the other hand, will worship him a great deal. So now call all the prophets of Ba ́ al, all his worshipers and all his priests to me. Do not let a single one be missing, because I have a great sacrifice for Ba ́ al. Anyone that is missing will not keep living." As for Je ́ hu, he acted slyly, for the purpose of destroying the worshipers of Ba ́ al.
...
And it came about that as soon as he finished rendering up the burnt offering, Je ́ hu immediately said to the runners and the adjutants: "Come in, strike them down! Do not let a single one go out." And the runners and the adjutants began to strike them down with the edge of the sword and to throw them out, and they kept going as far as the city of the house of Ba ́ al. Then they brought out the sacred pillars of the house of Ba ́ al and burned each one. Further, they pulled down the sacred pillar of Ba ́ al and pulled down the house of Ba ́ al, and they kept it set aside for privies down to this day.

Thus Je ́ hu annihilated Ba ́ al out of Israel.

[Now let's say an Israelite had said: "Well I think it's wrong to worship Baal. But King Jehu is Jehovah's anointed representative, so if he says it's alright, it must be alright!" Based on the Watchtower's reasoning, that's what they should have done. They should have subordinated their own judgment to that of the divinely appointed king. But if they'd done that... they would have been killed!

So according to the Bible as understood by the Witnesses, a worshipper of Jehovah could be put to death for listening to "Jehovah's anointed representative" instead of his own reading of God's law.]

74

Gumbys Sunday School Sermon - Handicapped People

by gumby in

good morning fellow servants of the lord, and welcome!

lets all stand and sing song number #666 "our merciful god" .

*passes really big collection plate* .

robhic

I also take the position, or any position for that matter, that individuals shouldn't have a right to make their own decision on the matter...

Say what? Let me get this straight. I am a functioning adult and am expected to live my life my way -- it's called freedom of choice. If I am in intractable pain or whatever and consciously make the decision that life is too difficult -- no matter what someone who is not me says is too difficult or not -- then I have to submit to their decision? I have a problem with that thinking. It's my choice as long as it's a qualified one.

If my cat has a terminal illness and is miserable I can easily have it euthanized. If I have a terminal illness (which I don't), why can I not have the same choices afforded me as long as my mental capacity is undiminished?

I don't think wanton destruction of the disabled was the point. I think the choice to live or not to live as decided by the person themself was the point. Voluntary euthanasia not murder for convenience.

Robert (of the why walk when you can roll class)

16

Why did Israelite soldiers die following Jehovahs direction?

by truthseeker in

joining the armed forces presents an inherent risk that one will die in combat.

there is a historical account in the bible detailing huge losses for the israelite army, when they followed jehovah's direction.

to set the scene - a group of homosexual men surround the house of an old man, asking him to bring out a lodger for sexual gratification.

robhic

Maybe jehovah, prankster that he is, figured he'd have a little fun with the Isrealites. If they were such wussies that they had to go whine to the J-man about who should go first to fight the Benjaminites (why not just all go together and open a major can of whup-ass on them? Did they really need someone to tell them this?) he'd have the malicious, violent, homicidal fun that he was so fond of.

He'd pick one tribe to get slaughtered (because he knew in his all-knowingness) and amuse his blood-thirsty passion for killing Isrealites. It's like his trademark.

Then, as an extra bonus, he got a 2nd chance to kill him some Isrealites. They actually came and asked him again who should go try to whip some Benjaminite ass. So, what was he to do? He did what he always did, he'd send some more lemming-like Isrealites to their deaths, that's what he'd do!

He finally got weary of all the wanton slaughter and destruction so figured he'd give 'em a rest and see just how gullible they were by telling his "chosen people" that "OK, next time I PROMISE I'll let you poor clowns win this time."

I guess after the slaughter of so many thousands he finally let them win for a change. What a great guy!

32

Crisis of Conscience

by Thinking in

my copy came in and i picked it up today.

i have a friend that i met online.....about 5 years ago.

at the time he was an elder and i was a struggling sister.

robhic

I guess I am going to find out.
If I don't come back for awhile, it is becuase I am reading.

Somehow, I don't think it will be that long. When I read it 2 years ago it was hard to put down ... and I am not a JW ! You won't be away for long once you get started and the only stopping you do is for work, sleep, eating and bathroom breaks.

Enjoy. It'll probably make you surprised, shocked, amazed and pissed off all at the same time!

23

UN & wife

by tepic in

when i looked up the un website & found the wt as a ngo i told my wife.

she implied that it was an apostate site.

i told her 'i typed in united nations' , how are apostates going to hijack the un site?.

robhic

In the more recent publications they really don't "dog" the UN like they used to. The articles are so neutral and I haven't seen (but that doesn't mean a whole lot...)any nasty references to the "scarlet beast" or other such appelations as used in the past. I suppose for the mind-clouded r&f it wouldn't register. But why can't they figure that the once-reviled UN is not so reviled these days? Co-incidentally, it seems to have started after the UN scandal was brought to [new] light? Hmmmm.....