M.J.

Joined

• started 131 topics
• posted 3,309 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by M.J.

• 
  99

  Pioneer hours change

  by JWFreak in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's just a label who cares

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Maybe they'll have to invent a new category of "super duper pioneer" on the top end or something.
  
  If, as per OTWO's comment, they need to reduce the cost of pioneering, maybe super dupes will have fundraising duties too!
• 
  21

  "by their fruits"....wouldn't this mean their teachings as well???

  by oompa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i urge any lurkers, or newbies, or doubter here to read...and study the proclaimers book....and read many old articles in the watchtower.

  anybody who can explian to me how we could be sooooo wrong about soooo many things...........you have a willing ear here.

  gods holy spirit would not allow for teaching falsehoods....period!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Oompa,
  
  I would state that incorrect teachings aren't necessarily condemned biblically per se (with the notable exception of the central, essential message of the Gospel of Christ). The loudest cries of condemnation come from the usurpers of authority that claim their own list of doctrines are "the truth" and therefore all other views are "from Satan".
  
  The real issue with the WTS and their changed teachings is the fact that the change itself made it apparent they had no authority to designate their position as a mandatory belief to begin with. And of course this also means they certainly had no authority to convince others that "this is what Jehovah says"...An obvious case of speaking presumptuously a la Deut 18:20. Then to top it off, with this New Light business, when it's apparent that a change of position was necessary, i.e., scripture didn't support their position....the WTS came up with yet ANOTHER COUNTER-position on something that obviously wasn't clear from scripture to begin with. Thus New Light only substitutes one presumptuous act for another.
  
  
  I'm done with my rambling...
• 
  13

  Put your mind in JW mode for a sec...

  by Darklighter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i know it hurts.

  try to supress the gag reflex.

  now that you're an an active, meeting attenting, service going jw (only in your mind), answer me this question:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Inner dub dialog without dub-speak embellishment:
  
  "They impressed the hell out of me. I'm pretty sure no one else is THAT impressive. They gotta know what they're talking about. So I'll just go with what they say."
• 
  13

  Put your mind in JW mode for a sec...

  by Darklighter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... i know it hurts.

  try to supress the gag reflex.

  now that you're an an active, meeting attenting, service going jw (only in your mind), answer me this question:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  They are the only ones that teach and dispense the Truth in fulfillment of Matt 24:45.
  
  They are the only ones directing worldwide work to preach the message of the kingdom.
  
  
  How am I doing for a never-JW?
• 
  81

  How do you feel now? EVOLUTION OR CREATION??

  by chuckyy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jws we were no doubt staunch creationists.

  but how do you feel now??

  do you still opt for creation or do you now feel evolution offers the right answer.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Still haven't sorted out the facts of the issues to my own satisfaction. But at this point my default position is that life has creative origins with built-in capability for adaptation/optimization. There was a thread I commented on a bit ago on this topic which I still need to go back and study some of the counter arguments to what I wrote. I have a long way to go on this. Laziness on my part.
  
  Has anyone read up on the "wacky third alternative"?
  
  http://www.panspermia.org/
• 
  135

  My theory about the behavior and obsession of some ex-JWs

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've had this theory for some time and alluded to it occassionally but have never explored it in detail.. it is of course a huge generalisation so no, not everyone will fit into the boxes and i'd like people's opinion.

  i don't know everyone's circumstances so it's based on a small sample of some of those i do know something about.

  it could be completely wrong, it's just an idea.. basically, i have seen a difference between some of those ex-jws who walked out vs those who were kicked out.. the most bitter and obsessive seem to be the kicked out and, i must add, those who were legitimately kicked out.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Good points.
  
  Cognitive dissonance goes a long way in explaining some behavior.
  
  When you're "in", you use any and every reason to affirm to yourself that you should be "in". Many go to wacky lengths to accomplish this.
  When many are "out", they try to find any and every reason to affirm to themselves that they should be "out". Many go to wacky lengths to accomplish this.
  
  Those that can raise themselves out of this mental framework (induced by the WTS in the first place), I think, finally move on.
• 
  10

  Scriptures the Gibbering Body Wished Were Never Written...

  by Darklighter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i posted this over at http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com/topic/8646/master/1/ too... (that's a good site for all you who are looking for a replacement to jwd).

  i was doing some research last night, and found out that luke 21:8 has only been specifically commented on once in the last 40 years in the watchtower!

  see if you can guess why... .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  John 2:18-22 (New American Standard Bible)
  
  18 The Jews then said to Him, "(B)What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"
  
  19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days **I** will raise it up."
  
  20 The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"
  
  21But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
  
  22So when He was raised from the dead, His (G)disciples (H)remembered that He said this; and they believed (I)the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
• 
  10

  Scriptures the Gibbering Body Wished Were Never Written...

  by Darklighter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i posted this over at http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com/topic/8646/master/1/ too... (that's a good site for all you who are looking for a replacement to jwd).

  i was doing some research last night, and found out that luke 21:8 has only been specifically commented on once in the last 40 years in the watchtower!

  see if you can guess why... .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Romans 8:23 (New American Standard Bible)
  
  
  23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption OF our body.
  
  
  
  
• 
  4

  Has a critical mass of exJWs been reached? Reason for more social less info

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a few have posted here that the glory days of discussing doctrine and jw theocracy have all but gone.

  serious theological arguments, discussions and debates have been replaced by scandals and the latest wt news such as the abolition of book studies in private homes and the possible ending of the appointment of circuit overseer.. newbies can easily check out the "best of" section kindly put together by ladylee.. so there's no real discussion anymore except when something new comes out.. it appears that a significant core mass of exjws, including faders and those who still attend but do not believe has been reached.. the social and emotional needs of these members now appears to be the driving force of many topics here at jwd.

  it's almost as if the exjw community has evolved to the point where we all want to meet up and have a beer rather than talk about "the generation" or "new light".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  Interesting angle.
  
  I just thought things were getting too fluffy.
  
  But now that you bring it up, it seems like most of the standard study topics have been thoroughly examined and there's always a link to find a pretty detailed writeup on it.
  How much more can one discuss 587 vs 607 that hasn't been discussed ad nauseam?
  
  Most of that stuff is out there already.
  
  However, I do think that there are still a few avenues that haven't been thoroughly explored. I think there is still room for a research based DB in the future.
• 
  8

  Brothers that were too "touchy feely" with Sisiters - did you have one?

  by Witness 007 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  there's a married brother in our hall {servant} who always hugs and kisses the younger sisiters in the hall....one time i turned around after we walked away from him and he was checking out my wife's butt!

  at the bookstudy, he sqeezed himself on the couch next to a sisiter and she jumped up and moved seats {poor thing} did you have a sleaze bag brother in your cong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  M.J.

  I once knew a guy like that. We called him "handy man".