truthseeker

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Posts by truthseeker

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  10

  Count the "soons"

  by PopeOfEruke in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  when i was a little boy, the book study conductor would get the children to count how many times "jehovah" was said during the book study.

  anyone remember this?.

  they should update the games for the new millenium, and children should be now asked to count how mnay times "soon" is said during the study...as in "soon jehovah will bring the new system...", "soon the new system will arrive", "soon the righteous will eat oreoloes and milk all their lives"..... soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon soon .

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  truthseeker

  Pope

  Very Soon Jehovah will act for the sake of his people!
• 
  46

  A possible reason WHY, the 'New System' was never a Reality to us.

  by gumby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  perhaps i'm wrong, but this is a possible explanation.i was always taught that a new system would soon replace the old one.

  in this new system there would be no more war, everyone would eat from his own 'fig tree', they would build houses and love one another.. .

  in every publication that depicted this new system.....it was a picture of a beautiful lush productive earth, people were carrying baskets of vegetables and fruit walking together being of different decent, the men were bulding houses with smiles on their faces, and the children were playing with the animals.

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  truthseeker

  An excellent post Gumby, and you raised good questions.

  If all the new system is, is a regression to the Stone Age with no technology and people walking round with baskets of grapes, it seems very boring to me.

  You never see any technology or earth friendly industries.

  There are no vehicles, no electronic devices, no methods of communication.

  It's like as you said - there is no idea of how we will transform the planet into a paradise.

  Go to Home depot, buy a spade.

  Now get hold of a spade in the New System - how do you start making one?
• 
  13

  The Watchtower - Making the case for social responsibility

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over the last couple of years, much has been said about the charitable status of the watchtower bible & tract society.

  it seems to be more and more the case, that the watchtower is a taker and not a giver.. .

  they claim to be modelled after the 1st century christian congregation - yet they can't perform even the most basic of charitable works.

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  truthseeker

  As a further thought, when 9/11 happened, the Society even made reprints of the earlier Awake! on Terrorism. A lot of congregations were only placing this magazine.

  In a way, to an outsider, it would seem a good thing that the Watchtower Society is warning how near the end is and what we must do to be saved, but it's only as an insider looking through the scope, that their methods come to light as being none other than to make more captives of their concept, and slaves to their system.
• 
  13

  The Watchtower - Making the case for social responsibility

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over the last couple of years, much has been said about the charitable status of the watchtower bible & tract society.

  it seems to be more and more the case, that the watchtower is a taker and not a giver.. .

  they claim to be modelled after the 1st century christian congregation - yet they can't perform even the most basic of charitable works.

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  truthseeker

  Bryan

  If the WT were to follow bible principle and Jesus' example, wouldn't they be taking care of widows, the handicapped and orphans?

  Exactly my point! And these are the issues I will address in my upcoming essays.

  This is a project I have been meaning to do for sometime. I have been digusted with the Society's lack of charity for not only those outside but those on the inside.

  When I heard how Bethel had shut its doors on 9/11, it hit home just how sick they are.

  The Society is a very large whitewashed grave. They use their disaster relief efforts to promote their journals and they capitalize on human suffering around the world to sell their journals.

  The words of Jesus, "You received free, give free" do not apply to this cult.

  Truthseeker
• 
  90

  Are the Society planning a 'Pledge of Allegiance'? IT MAY BE TRUE!

  by nicolaou in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i've just learned from a trusted contact at thewatchtower.org 'norris', that the society intend to put a resolution to the congregations shortly - though definately not at the 'special talk' meeting next month.. here's the scary bit.

  this resolution needs to be responded to by all baptized jehovah's witnesses.

  we have not been able to get hold of the wording but have been informed it is intended to provide the brotherhood with the opportunity to affirm their loyalty to jehovah and his organization.

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  truthseeker

  Were this post made on Friday I would have said, "April Fool!"

  Truthseeker
• 
  3

  What happened between Malachi and Matthew in the Jewish nation?

  by truthseeker in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from reading the old testament, it seems the last prophet to speak in jehovah's name was malachi.

  supposedly, malachi was written around the mid 400s b.c.

  the last thing jehovah said in the old testament, through malachi was, "5 "see, i will send you the prophet elijah before that great and dreadful day of the lord comes.

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  truthseeker

  From reading the old testament, it seems the last prophet to speak in Jehovah's name was Malachi.

  Supposedly, Malachi was written around the mid 400s B.C.

  The last thing Jehovah said in the old testament, through Malachi was, " 5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

  It was going to be around 450 years before the promised Messiah would be born.

  What happened in the interim period?

  What was the history of the Jewish people?

  Is there evidence for other divine prophecies recorded after Malachi - or divine intervention of somekind?

  Leolia, JCanon, PeacefulPete - your thoughts are needed here!
• 
  13

  The Watchtower - Making the case for social responsibility

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over the last couple of years, much has been said about the charitable status of the watchtower bible & tract society.

  it seems to be more and more the case, that the watchtower is a taker and not a giver.. .

  they claim to be modelled after the 1st century christian congregation - yet they can't perform even the most basic of charitable works.

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  truthseeker

  Over the last couple of years, much has been said about the charitable status of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. It seems to be more and more the case, that the Watchtower is a taker and not a giver.
  

  They claim to be modelled after the 1st century Christian congregation - yet they can't perform even the most basic of charitable works. They have demonstrated no social responsibility to their members and the community in general.

  But what is charity? What does it mean to be socially responsible?

  Let's look at charity. Dictionary.com defines charity as the following...
  

  1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
  2. Something given to help the needy; alms.
  3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.
  4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.
  5. Indulgence or forbearance in judging others. See Synonyms at mercy.
  6. often Charity Christianity. The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one's neighbors as objects of God's love.

  So charity is an act of giving to help those in need, in any manner possible.

  Now ask yourself the following questions, based on the information that you understand about charity.

  • Does the Watchtower Society really qualify as a charity?
  • What does it have to do to maintain its charitable status?
  • How does the Society help its members?
  • What does the Society do for the wider community?

  Let's address social responsibility. There are a number of defintions depending on what type of organization the watchtower is.

  Google's search on social responsibility lists some definitons...

  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:Social+responsibility

  • An organisation's obligation to maximise its positive impact and minimise its negative impact on society.
  • The concern for the consequences of a person's or institution's acts as they might affect the interests of others including the environment and involuntary customers.
  • The concept that businesses should be actively concerned with the welfare of society at large.
  • Ethical obligations to customers, employees, and the general community.

  Seeing as the Watchtower is a corporation and a religious institution, it should be obligated to do the following...
  

  1. Minimise its negative impact on society
  2. Have concern for the consequences of its acts as they might affect the interests of others
  3. Be actively concerned with the welfare of society at large
  4. Keep its ethical obligations

  And seeing as it has charitable status, it should live up to the following...
  

  1. Provide help or relief to the poor.
  2. Given to help the needy.
  3. Show generosity toward others or toward humanity.
  4. Display Christian charity towards one's neighbors.

  In a series of essays, I will be endeavor to make the case that not only has the Watchtower consistently failed to show real charity, it has also failed to demonstrate social responsibitlity.

  Part 1 - Jesus showed us how to give.

  Part 2 - Acts of charitable giving in the first century

  Part 3 - "To him who calls for the tax, the tax."

  Part 4 - The Watchtower's laissez-faire attitude to the sufferings of others

  Part 5 - How do Watchtower publications capitalize on suffering?

  Part 5 - How the Watchtower absolves itself of social responsibility

  Part 5 - Why "waiting for the kingdom" can be harmful to your generosity.

  Part 6 - The Watchtower and the Environment

  Part 7 - The Watchtower and Charitable Giving
• 
  6

  How long was it before you used Theospeak?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  theospeak is the language of dubs.. from pioneer to ministerial servant, from hours to service years, from magazines to books.

  witness publications are full of loaded langauge and that special tongue called "theospeak".

  is he in the truth?.

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  truthseeker

  Theospeak is the language of dubs.

  From pioneer to ministerial servant, from hours to service years, from magazines to books

  witness publications are full of loaded langauge and that special tongue called "Theospeak"

  Is he in the truth?

  The faithful and discreet slave class

  The Jonadab class

  Wholesome association

  Jehovah's loving provision

  and the best one - Witnesses of Jehovah

  so, how long was it before you mastered this language? Did you use it often? Did you use it with non-witnesses?
• 
  11

  Watchtower Society - The Thief of Time

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can't do more in jehovah's service?

  start buying out time from non-essential activities.. how many times have we heard this phrase?.

  ever wondered how much an average jw who preaches 10 hours a month, spends on jw activities in a year?.

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  truthseeker

  Of course, if you're a pioneer expect your ministry to be 70 hrs a month or 840 hrs a year.

  If you're a MS or elder, add in time for talk preparation, counselling and shepherding and more meetings.

  If you're a Bethelite, don't even bother thinking about how much time you spend - for you it's just a way of life.
• 
  11

  Watchtower Society - The Thief of Time

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can't do more in jehovah's service?

  start buying out time from non-essential activities.. how many times have we heard this phrase?.

  ever wondered how much an average jw who preaches 10 hours a month, spends on jw activities in a year?.

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  truthseeker

  Can't do more in Jehovah's service? Start buying out time from non-essential activities.

  How many times have we heard this phrase?

  Ever wondered how much an average JW who preaches 10 hours a month, spends on JW activities in a year?

  Let's work it out, starting with the meetings...

  Don't forget, they recommend you arrive 20 mins or so before the meeting, and 20 mins after the meeting, to benefit from the fine

  spiritual association.

  ALL TIME PERIODS ARE APPROXIMATE - assuming that the GB expects a JW do to the minimum.

  Per week

  Book Study - 1 hour, 20 mins before and after = 1hr 40 mins

  School & Service Meeting - 1 hour 45 mins, 20 mins before and after = 2hr 25 mins

  Public Talk & Watchtower - 2 hours, 20 mins before and after = 2hrs 40 mins

  Total meeting hours per week = 6hrs 45 mins

  Total per year (* 52 weeks) = 351 hours

  Per week

  Personal study - 30 mins

  Book Study - 30 mins

  Watchtower - 1 hour

  School & Service Meeting - 1 hour

  Magazine presentations - 15 mins

  Daystext - 1 hr 10 mins (10 mins every day)

  Weekly Bible Reading - 15 mins (1hr 45 mins)

  Reading Awake & Watchtower - break it down, there are 4 issues a month (2 of each mag), so say 30 mins per mag

  Total study hours per week = 5hrs 40 mins, lets round that to 5.5 hours

  Total study hours per year = 5.5 * 52 = 286 hours

  Per Week

  Ministry - 2.5 hrs a week (average of 10 hours a month)

  Total ministry hours per year = 2.5 * 52 = 130 hours

  Extra meetings

  District Convention - 3 days at 8 hours a day = 24 hours

  Circuit Assembly - 2 days at 7 hours a day = 14 hours

  Special Assembly Day - 7 hours

  Memorial - 1 hour

  Total = 46 hours

  Extra study periods

  Yearbook - 2 hours

  New publications - 1 hour

  Watching an average of 2 videos per year, 1 hour each = 2 hours

  Total = 5 hours

  Total Formula : Meetings + Personal Study + Ministry

  = 6.75 hrs + 5.5 hrs + 2.5 hrs

  = 14.75 hrs of cult activity every week

  Lets multiply this by 52, and we get 767 hrs of cult activity a year

  Add on extra meetings and extra study periods

  = 46 hrs + 5 hrs

  = 51 hours a year extra

  Grand Total = 767 hrs + 51 hrs = 818 hrs of cult activity every year

  Monthly cult activity = 68 hrs

  Weekly cult activity = 15 hrs

  Daily cult activity = 2.2 hrs

  Hourly cult activity = 5.6 minutes

  This means that the average JW who does the minimum spends 15 hrs a week on cult activity.

  Each day, Joe Publishers spends 2.2 hours thinking, studying or participating in cult activity.