Thanks for sharing everyone. It seems the highlighting is one of the things that this religion should be know for. I am unaware of any other group or organization that expects members to highlight magazines. Since it seems expected, you would think they would provide space in and around the magazine text to fill-in-the-answers. What's next; hand your magazines in at the end of a meeting to get corrected?
So what happens when a non-JW shows up spontaneously at a Kingdom Hall? Wouldn't they be completely out of place and have no idea what's going on (since they have not studied)? It doesn't seem to leave room for non-JW's to enter a discussion... does it?
UpAndAtom
JoinedPosts by UpAndAtom
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15
How does one prepare for a meeting?
by UpAndAtom inhow does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?
what happens if they don't?
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UpAndAtom
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15
How does one prepare for a meeting?
by UpAndAtom inhow does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?
what happens if they don't?
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UpAndAtom
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm surprised at the number of response regarding highlighting.
If someone never highlights their book, but still gives answers is that somehow frowned apon?
Do wise and knowledgeable elders in the congregation still highlight their magazines?
The Sunday meeting is starting to sound like an exam one has to study for, but are there consequences for not studying?
I ask because I recently heard someone say they had to study, and I thought to myself, 'What for?' -
15
How does one prepare for a meeting?
by UpAndAtom inhow does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?
what happens if they don't?
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UpAndAtom
How does a typical JW that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical Sunday meeting? What happens if they don't?
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184
UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!
by Lady Liberty inoh.... how the saga goes on!!
i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!
ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!
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UpAndAtom
I suppose my answer depends on the spirit in which the 'crime' was committed. I can't have you thinking I'm insensitive. I draw a distinction between groups that actively promote hate, and spur of the moment immature behaviour which I think this was.
Regardless, I hope that I would have the courage of conviction to forgive and forget in any scenario you present me with, and to ask for forgiveness from my maker when I found it too hard.
There's nothing to be gained by escalating this.
I like your screen name. -
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If there is no life after death
by onacruse inso where does that leave us?
leave me?.
the logical consequence would be that i should get absolutely every little piece of self-gratification i can get before i die.
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UpAndAtom
I can sympathize with your thoughts. I think many intelligent people eventually ask themselves this question. The people that don’t find an answer go right ahead and do whatever they want. This has always been a dangerous place for spirit creatures to live in fleshy form. I have asked myself the same questions. Taking stock of your ideals is certainly a good way to find an answer.
In the end, it was the kind words I received from friends, neighbours and complete strangers on the Internet that brought me a joy I don’t think I could ever obtain by being selfish (I help people, friends and neighbours in person and via the Internet) It’s a wonderful feeling and although I feel spiritually rich, I am in fact materially poor.
I feel the pinch at the end of my working week after the bills have been paid; so I’ll be there for you if you ever decide to evaluate your options, and figure that you’ll have more luck conquering a small nation, instead of yourself. I’ll be there to support you, to make you smile when you are downhearted and sad, to lift your load when it’s too heavy to bear, in gentleness, in kindness, in long-suffering, in patience, in mercy and brotherly love. I won’t have you go down that path alone, and I promise to visit you in jail :-p -
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UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!
by Lady Liberty inoh.... how the saga goes on!!
i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!
ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!
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UpAndAtom
Am I the only one that thinks it's funny for a middle age man to knock over a snow man! That's about as harmless as it gets - quite amusing really! Forgive and forget. Laugh it off. Anything is just going to cause trouble. All this trouble over a friggen SNOW man for crying out loud and a couple of eggs! (and YES I have been the victim of an egg attack on my car's paint in Summer). Good fences make good neighbours.
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53
WHY GOD CANNOT FORGIVE YOU
by Terry init is little understood by christians what a difference there is between themselves and judaism; especially on the matter of whom god forgives and why.. a christian expects to sin against many people in the course of their life, but; proudly boasts that they aren't "perfect just forgiven.
" this is wrong by judaism's ethical, moral and theologic standards.. let me explain why.. in judaism; only the person you sin against can forgive you!.
if you steal from bob; only bob (the injured party) can forgive you.
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UpAndAtom
If others damage you, the only way to fix that damage is by forgiving them. By forgiving them, you are manifesting within yourself a process whereby they don't need to pay you back, and you won’t owe them anything either. Anything in excess of this is human and doomed to failure.
I disagree that Karma is well oiled, unless you mean snake oil.
Karma has been bastardised from the earliest times of human history, long before the day of Jesus. Denying the spiritual aspect of humanity is what keeps one man subject to another’s will. Hence, the necessity of the Christ making a personal appearance on Earth as Jesus to sort the whole mess out! You have touched on a very deep subject that has its roots at the very cornerstone of life and free will in the Universe.
I will agree with you that mankind is in a world of trouble and confusion abounds in all subjects of this nature. We are in a right mess.
Karma is not about that “greater power” keeping the scales of justice even. Those scales of justice were given to us, built right into the fabric of free will and the consequences that come with it. As we draw closer to God, we will start to see imperfections within ourselves that makes us ashamed, embarrassed and guilty about our own actions. Karmic consequences is something we do to ourselves, in order to balance things right, so that we feel good about drawing closer to God (if that is what we want)
PS.
SPAZnik. There's a few scriptures of that nature which I find fascinating. I can't help but feel there are little gems of spiritual lessons to be learnt, which we have so far overlooked. -
53
WHY GOD CANNOT FORGIVE YOU
by Terry init is little understood by christians what a difference there is between themselves and judaism; especially on the matter of whom god forgives and why.. a christian expects to sin against many people in the course of their life, but; proudly boasts that they aren't "perfect just forgiven.
" this is wrong by judaism's ethical, moral and theologic standards.. let me explain why.. in judaism; only the person you sin against can forgive you!.
if you steal from bob; only bob (the injured party) can forgive you.
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UpAndAtom
Your quest for a Justice system that makes sense is missing part of the puzzle. The disciples of Jesus asked the Master this very question when they inquired why the blind beggar was born blind. Were his “previous” sins the cause, or were the sins of the parents visited on their child?
Although Jesus answered in the negative on both counts, it’s what Jesus does NOT say that is quite telling about the thoughts that were going on within the close-knit circle of Jesus and the disciples. They were discussing the sins of the man before his birth, however Jesus NEVER rebuked them for this pattern of thought! Thus, the disciples assumed that God’s perfect justice system was at work and that the blind beggar had been a victim of an eye for an eye. On this particular occasion they were not correct in their assumptions, however, it's quite a daunting task to guess at another person’s karma. This is what they were talking about – no question about it.
Karma is the result of a perfect justice system - however the perfect justice system has a built-in safety valve for people that stray so far off course, they are surrounded by their 'own' karma everywhere they look. Grace is that safety valve. Against forgiveness, compassion, patience and love, there is no retribution or karma.
Herein lies the Justice system you seek. It's a big subject, and this is such a short answer to it. Good luck in your quest! I am still looking, however I firmly believe nothing about karma and reincarnation goes against the bible – but lends teeth to many of it’s arguments. -
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Did you as a woman buy into and follow the subjection crap?
by restrangled inmy grandmother didn't, my mother didn't and neither did i. so how does this continue in this advanced day and age?.
why would any woman put up with it?.
i saw the results of women getting beat attending the hall.
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UpAndAtom
Behind every great man, there is a surprised woman. ha ha
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Is God a mind reader? Do angels have privacy of thought?
by The Dragon inwhat would it be like if god was among us?
would our privacy be gone?
it would be like a mindreader among us?
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UpAndAtom
If you remember just one thing from my answer it is this: "Thoughts are deeds in the mental realm". An angel may have great difficulty in determining the difference between the physical act, and the actual thought of it. Jesus alluded to this in the scriptures when talking about adultery.
This concept is universal and applies equally on the Earth and other dimensions. For example, If I write a story about commiting a bad act in the physical realm, you will be unable to determine if the story was true of false without some other evidence. Now, image I am not writing in the physical realm with pen, but in the spiritual realm with thought. The same rule applies, and the wise angel will likewise treat my thoughts with caution without other evidence.
The eyes of the physical realm see the physcial. The thoughts of the spiritual realm, see the spirit in which the thought is phrased.
Thus, in whatever realm you choose or end up, you should choose to communicate carefully should you wish to fit it, make friends and make the realm a better place for thoose around you. In the end, it's our concept of privacy and individuality that keeps us separate from the One who would have us as friends, and co-creators of the Universe with Him.
We are all part of the Universe, and so too are all of our collective thoughts. To see the result of all this tought, look at the result of it. The planet we live on. There is great kindness here, but also much selfishness.
I hope this has helped.