she said, "so, what made you decide to study this book?
at this point, she opened with a prayer.
"...and some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers.
I am unable to find anything on jw.org, about how they decided to use "Jehovah," and stick to it for eternity.
Apparently, The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever" is no longer true.
I found an article from April 2010 Awake!, which says it contains 4 articles defining Jehovah's Witnesses. That magazine is not available online. The earliest is September 2010.
she said, "so, what made you decide to study this book?
at this point, she opened with a prayer.
"...and some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers.
NeverKnew: We have not discussed that paragraph. Why is that your favorite? I was looking forward to skimming right ahead to paragraph 12, where we start discussing the name of God, and why we must use it, if we want to have a relationship with Him.
she said, "so, what made you decide to study this book?
at this point, she opened with a prayer.
"...and some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers.
Kate: I agree with you. I don't think that all JW's are so self-centered as that. I have great fondness for some of the people we once had as friends. My previous teacher at one point I recall, was sort of pleading with me, mentioning how she was VOLUNTEERING her time and HER gas to come and see me. More than once, she mentioned something about "blood-guilt." "Your blood will be on my hands!" I didn't really know what she meant, but it did make me feel compassion for her and want to listen to her. I didn't want her to be punished!
They never could convince us that it was the Truth. Her husband came about a month after we stopped going to meetings, and read with us the parable of the seed sower. He seemed to have come to the conclusion that we were "too busy chasing riches," to care about Jehovah anymore. It was sort of like, "I've done my job. It's your fault now, if you fail to grow. You can wither up and die, but I want you to know I TRIED!" He was sort of a pompous jerk at times, but his wife always came across as a sort of victim (in many respects).
Of course, they were both born-in, and now have 2 children and 3 or 4 grandchildren who are forced into the same life.
this is a great example of the difference between the watch tower society approach to life and the power of one person to change the world for the better.. the game of chess is the example!.
here is what jw's are taught:.
chess has been a game of war since it originated...a play substitute for the art of war....a danger of stirring up competition with one another even developing hostility towards another, something the bible warns christians to avoid doing 1973 awake!.
Has the Watchtower ever claimed to be in the business of helping people? Is there a quote somewhere?
I found this on jw.org:
Global Printing—Helping People to Learn About God
Jehovah’s Witnesses operate 15 printing facilities worldwide, producing Bible-based literature in some 700 languages.
They are a publishing company. They publish literature, and their sole goal seems to be vindicating the name of their own religious organization. They take great pride in publishing numbers about themselves, except of course, any financial details.
i really would just like to ask them if they believe everything they hear on the platform or read in a magazine.
they seriously look like cultists.
it is embarrassing..
You can't tell a JW anything... but I would ask a question.
"What would you think of a religious organization, that warned it's followers not to listen to any outside information regarding their own history or actions?"
If you were going to leave your child at a child care center, would you check their references? Would you trust that child care provider, if they warned you not to listen to what other people were saying about them? Would you disregard the testimony of a previous client? What if you heard allegations of sexual abuse in that day care center? What if you approached the provider about those accusations, and they told you that the accuser was just a liar, who had a mental disease? Would you trust the life of your children in the hands of that child care provider? ... What if that provider told you, "You can believe me. I speak for God himself." ? Would that make him worthy of your trust?
Why aren't Jehovah's Witnesses allowed to examine the teachings, policies and actions of their own organization?
Why are they warned not to expose themselves to ANY outside information?
What has convinced you that the leaders of the Watchtower, are actually God's true channel on earth today?
Why is God telling you to plug your ears and close your eyes?
maybe someone can post "www.robertlanza.co.
i hope mr lanza is right in his theory because it is scary not knowing.
where in the hell i will end up after i die..lol.
Really, what is life? What is death?
Man's futile attempt to define his own existence...
I suspect I'm not really here at all, but someone is imagining me and all the characters who interact in this big world. Are you sure you are conscious now? Is any of this really happening?
Wasn't there a Twilight Zone episode or something like that?
my mom was worrying out loud, about inviting the "public" to this event.
she told me they were announcing that people were not booking their hotels fast enough, and "we don't want to make the jw's look bad!
she told me about a promotional video they all watched, full of propaganda about the ford field house and all the arrangements that had been made for transportation and parking, and the city of detroit.
Thanks for your replies. Do they divide the groups geographically, or would they purposely split them apart?
The territory that neighbors where my house is located (literally by about 1/4 mile), is going in June. Wouldn't it make sense, that Jehovah would want family and friends to go together?
It would be easier for the people (I know, that is not a matter of consideration), and it would curb their temptations to share the new materials they get. How will you resist showing off your new books and publications, when you see your family and friends, weeks before they get the same new publications?
KateWild: What they're not invited to is of interest though.
Kate: BINGO! - It's a cult.
she said, "so, what made you decide to study this book?
at this point, she opened with a prayer.
"...and some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers.
tiki: Our dog is a real prize... She definitely adds an interesting twist for anyone who visits us.
About 2 months ago, we accidentally realized that our dog has a trigger word for barking... "Here!"
She feels it is her job to patrol the grounds, and bark at every visitor and every bicycle or pedestrian that passes our property. When people arrive in the driveway, we usually call out, "They're here!" and the dog will start barking frantically.
If she is outside, she will circle your vehicle and jump up, to try to see you inside the car. It is pretty intimidating to most visitors, and has the disadvantage of sometimes delaying parcels, if we don't know we are expecting a delivery.
My son was asking where something was, and I said, "It's over here!" The dog started barking.
I usually put the dog outside during Miss K's visit, but then she sits outside, worrying about who is inside... and barking. This time, I let her roam with us inside for a few minutes, and she kept trying to get Miss K to pet her or acknowledge her. Miss K was frozen, but trying to remain calm. She keeps saying, "They can sense fear..." haha. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but I think the dog just wants her to pet her and tell her she's ok. Miss K just needs to realize that the dog will be something to deal with, every time she comes. They will get used to each other.
Now, what if we add another trigger word, that only JW's use? (Jehovah) That would add interest to the conversations!
The "HERE" trigger for barking, has now become a little joke around the house, and we get surprised ourselves at times, by her sudden outburst. haha. Her bark is very sharp and loud.
she said, "so, what made you decide to study this book?
at this point, she opened with a prayer.
"...and some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers.
sparrowdown: Great points. She definitely has her motives, although I have not really thought about whether she is sharing these experiences with others or not. It makes sense, of course... even moreso, when I look back at the most recent teacher that came to study with me during the daytime (a different elder's wife, but not a pioneer. She had clear mental and personality issues, and we spent a lot of time visiting and a little time studying. She loved to talk!) Miss K came without her partner, Miss W, this time. I'm not sure if Miss W will come again, or ??
Old Hippie: You are right, I am not relaying the conversations word for word. I am recalling to the best of my ability, and sometimes the things she said or I said are not in the order they occurred. Sorry it's so confusing and disorganized!! I'm just sharing my experience, and taking note of responses I get from people who have been on the other side. I'm not perfect, and I definitely make a lot of mistakes, both in what I say to her, and then when I try to accurately recall the conversation. While we are talking, I am not thinking about remembering it, in order to write it down. I am usually trying to follow her train of thought, and avoid the temptation and little hooks she throws out, in attempts to change the subject.
If you've ever talked to a JW woman, you know that the conversation tends to drift all over the place. I think I am the same way... not sure if it is just because I am a woman, and can't keep myself focused, or if I just get distracted and sidetracked easily. There are so many small and big differences between what JW's say, and the rest of the world... When I talk to Miss K, who is an acquaintance, it is evident to both of us, that the other is holding things back. She will say things like, "I can tell you have doubts," or "There seem to be flags coming up in your mind," or "I'm sure you have read a lot of apostate information," or "I don't know exactly what you are thinking about." She tries to get me to change the subject, or bring up something new. She does this a LOT... like pumping me for objections, so she can pounce on me and try to get me to be specific or defend a position that I don't really hold.
When we are talking, I feel like she is always just waiting for me to slip up, and give her something to grab onto and start questioning me about. Neither of us stays on topic very well, and both of us are trying to outwit the other.
I have a difficult time being concise with my words. I'm sorry if my freeform recollections are confusing or seem dishonest in any way. I have no motive to spend all this time on JWN, making up stories.
Regarding the exact words of Jesus, and whether he did or did not use the personal name of the Father... I can't claim to know the exact words of Christ. You're right I wasn't there when Christ was crucified. (I'm not familiar with that song.). But for some reason, Miss K DOES know... since she reads and studies words written through God's channel? I was just pointing out that her claim is not in the Bible, but she wants me to believe it is true (because she "Just KNOWS it's the Truth").
We were talking about why Jesus came to the earth. Miss K claimed that Jesus came to make his name known, and told us to use it. She made the assertion, that "OBVIOUSLY Jesus used it," but when I asked her to show me where it said that in the Bible, she could not. Her statement really took me by surprise, since I'd never heard anyone say it that way, nor read it in the scriptures. If it was such an important direction, why did none of the 4 apostles record it? Why is there no example of Jesus actually calling his Father by name? And if we really were supposed to learn God's name from Jesus, why didn't He tell us how to pronounce it?
But I will rely on what is actually written in the Bible, to tell me what happened and what Jesus said, and use my own discernment. I am trying not to go beyond what the scriptures say.
my mom was worrying out loud, about inviting the "public" to this event.
she told me they were announcing that people were not booking their hotels fast enough, and "we don't want to make the jw's look bad!
she told me about a promotional video they all watched, full of propaganda about the ford field house and all the arrangements that had been made for transportation and parking, and the city of detroit.
My mom was worrying out loud, about inviting the "public" to this event.
She told me they were announcing that people were not booking their hotels fast enough, and "we don't want to make the JW's look bad!"
She told me about a promotional video they all watched, full of propaganda about the Ford Field House and all the arrangements that had been made for transportation and parking, and the city of Detroit.
When I asked her about it on her last visit, she said that they had been handing out invitations.
I just posed the question, on another thread, wondering why I have not yet been invited to this event. Where is my usual flyer in the door, like we got for the Memorial? The answer I received, was that only certain JW's are appointed to go. My mom told me they were expecting 45,000 people... *or less*, based on the reports she was relaying from the big office in the sky.
Who is invited? Is it a secret, or could someone from the public walk in the door?
I asked my mom, will they allow people into the Field House, if they do not have one of those little badges? She said, "of course! Anyway, you can tell when people are associated with 'The Witnesses.' "
