Posts by berrygerry

my mind instantly lapsed back into that of a jw and for a split second i thought that because i wasn't doing jehovah things that jehovah's blessing had been removed from me and this is why my life seems to be running into so many dead-ends.

as a jw i attributed anything good happening to me to being the result of my being a good jw and dutifully doing everything the borg teaches.

berrygerry

A few weeks later I got the best job I've ever had. Full benefits, pension, great people, interesting work etc. Then the economy fell apart a few months later and while thousands were getting laid off all over the City, I got a big raise. I then began to wonder in the back of my mind if Satan was helping me !! I realized that they (JW's) had it set up so that whether things were going well or going badly, you could find a way to blame it on some magical outside force.

I ALWAYS wrestled with Matt. 6:33 and the tests of Job. Are they not contradictory?

The lesson of Job - if you serve God, you will receive tests of immense suffering and deprivation.

Jesus said if you serve God, don't sweat it, everything will fall into place.

I've asked many experienced elders and the OPOMC this dichotomy.

Over DECADES, never a satisfactory answer.

One sincere, ex-missionary that I respected - I shared a quote that I love: "If I would have known that life would give me what I asked, I would have asked for more." (Sadly, he said: "That's a worldly quote")

Life IS what you make it.

PERIOD.

44

Calling all Bethelites

by Nadsam in

when you were at bethel..what sucked most ?breakfast/daytext/table overseer.monday night wt studytuesdays bookstudy at one of the local cong.wednesday evening fieldservicethursdays parts on the service meetingfridays "family evening" / evening fieldservicesaturdays quick build hall construction assistancesundays field service/meeting/late supperdaily sisters housekeeping/snooping through your possessionscar poolsallowance daylaundry day / missing clothing / badly sewed clothingboring libraryfarm duty !!!

stalls vs $#it vs gardeninginking the press!digging/carpentry/bricklaying/box packing/loadingnasty crotch grabbin roomiesnot gettin sum..except nasty looks from roomieslousy infermary (basic asprin cures all !!!

)longest pompous a$$ prayers going on and on and on....old anointed bro's ..that pee themselves and need help !assembly sound duty omg!food service overseeingparking attendant workapostate lookout/security work (it does exist guys !

berrygerry

I always wondered about the logistics of so many in one location, needing to attend congos far away.

At least in Brooklyn, you have transit.

What is it like now, as well as when everything in Brooklyn is gone?

24

Jesus 1000 years and Satan's 1000 years in the abyss

by berrygerry in

the thread about satan in the abyss for 1000 years prompts a question.. jesus will rule for 1000 years.. jesus began ruling in 1914, which means his 1000 year reign will end in 2914.. satan will be abyssed for 1000 years.. if the end comes in 2020, satan will be abyssed in 2020, and then released in 3020.. what happens between 2914 and 3020?.

honest question..

berrygerry

The thread about Satan in the abyss for 1000 years prompts a question.

Jesus will rule for 1000 years.

Jesus began ruling in 1914, which means his 1000 year reign will end in 2914.

Satan will be abyssed for 1000 years.

If the end comes in 2020, Satan will be abyssed in 2020, and then released in 3020.

What happens between 2914 and 3020?

Honest question.

106

If you thought Tony Moris the Third was extreme, wait till you hear this other GB member!

by Island Man in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzc2m8_mba&list=uus0vqkpnsxult0gsz6ahpta.

berrygerry

Now all that is needed is a paradise promise of, oh say, 72 virgins,

and I think we've got ourselves a religion, boys!

5

Pastor Russell demoted to Brother Russell

by berrygerry in

in the reading room, and noticed in the god's kingdoms' rules, rules, and more rules book.. brother charles taze russell and brother russell.. never noticed him being called brother russell before..

berrygerry

In the reading room, and noticed in the God's Kingdoms' Rules, Rules, and More Rules book.

Brother Charles Taze Russell and Brother Russell.

Never noticed him being called Brother Russell before.

22

TUTORIAL: Proving the GB and Watch Tower is guilty

by Terry in

q: are you willing to admit the gb and the wts is wrong if the facts go against them?.

proof text.

proof text:.

berrygerry

I had one Pioneer brother tell me that Jehovah purposely allowed the false prophecy of 1975 to be taught by the WT in order to weed out those in the Organization that were not loyal. That is cognizant dissonance on steroids! Cult members will justify their leaders evil actions because seeing the facts can be too painful.

That WTS Jehovah.

Such a prankster.

He should start a TV prank show.

(Greenlees and a Catholic priest can bless marriages - the priest with the bride, and Greenlees with the groom - all on PPV)

13

Jehovah's Witnesses on vaccination (let's remember)

by opusdei1972 in

this a excerpt from the article "the sacredness of human blood (why vaccination is unscriptural)", the golden age, february 4, 1931, page 294.. .

the following is an excerpt from the article: "vaccination---why not?

", the golden age, february 4, 1931, page 298.. .

berrygerry

Actually, better quotes (especially remember the "filthy pus") from jwfacts

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/medical.php#vaccinations

Vaccinations

From 1921 to 1952, the Golden Age presented information against vaccinations. To cement this viewpoint in the minds of followers, vaccinations were described as worthless, harmful from a medical standpoint, and morally wrong from a biblical standpoint.

"Vaccination never prevented anything and never will, and is the most barbarous practice...We are in the last days; and the devil is slowly losing his hold, making a strenuous effort meanwhile to do all the damage he can, and to his credit can such evils be placed. ... Use your rights as American citizens to forever abolish the devilish practice of vaccinations." Golden Age 1921 Oct 12 p.17

"Thinking people would rather have smallpox than vaccination, because the latter sows the seed of syphilis, cancers, escema, erysipelas, scrofula, consumption, even leprosy and many other loathsome affections. Hence the practice of vaccination is a crime, an outrage and a delusion." Golden Age 1929 May 1 p.502

"Avoid serum inoculations and vaccinations as they pollute the blood stream with their filthy pus." Golden Age 1929 Nov 13 pp.106-107

This was partially supported on the basis that blood byproducts could not be used.

"Vaccination is a direct violation of the everlasting covenant that God made with Noah after the flood." Golden Age 1931 Feb 4 p.293

"Of all the inventions that have been foisted upon mankind for their defilement the most subtly devilish is that of vaccination." Ibid p.295

The Golden Age 1931, February 4 issue devoted 10 pages to why vaccinations were not for Christians. The index page to the 1931 article claimed this as the viewpoint of the Creator.

A series of images further enforced the point.

Golden Age 1932 Mar 30 p.409

Golden Age 1939 May 31 p.5

The cartoon picture above shows dead and pock marked babies below a clergy like representation. In reality, it was vaccinations that practically eliminated small pox. With little medical knowledge, the society went about using scare tactics to convince the people that vaccinations were wrong. This resulted in some Witness children being barred from schools in America for refusing vaccinations.

Legal concerns seem to be a factor behind the Watchtower Society reversing its position and allowing vaccinations from the 1950's.

"The matter of vaccination is one for the individual that has to face it to decide for himself... And our Society cannot afford to be drawn into the affair legally or take the responsibility for the way the case turns out." Watchtower 1952 Dec 15 p.764

Did Holy Spirit direct the Society to decree vaccinations were unchristian for a period of time, and later say they were acceptable? For followers who are trained to accept everything coming from the Organization as food from Jehovah, this has potentially led to needless loss of Witness lives.

In 1993 the following was written, and whilst strictly correct it can be understood in light of what appears above to be quite misleading.

"Previous articles in this journal and its companion, The Watchtower, have presented a consistent position: It would be up to the Bible-trained conscience of the individual Christian as to whether he would accept [vaccinations] for himself and his family." Awake! 1993 Aug 8 p.25

13

Jehovah's Witnesses on vaccination (let's remember)

by opusdei1972 in

this a excerpt from the article "the sacredness of human blood (why vaccination is unscriptural)", the golden age, february 4, 1931, page 294.. .

the following is an excerpt from the article: "vaccination---why not?

", the golden age, february 4, 1931, page 298.. .

berrygerry

BTW, I do not see the images of the references.

There is a post at: http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Vaccines-A-Religious-Contention-

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Jehovah’s Witnesses have historically been against vaccination because it is contrary to scriptures, and their religion totally banned it up until 1952, although in more recent years they have stated it is up to the individual Jehovah’s Witness to decide: "As vaccination is a direct injection of animal matter in the blood stream, vaccination is a direct violation of the law of Jehovah God." (The Golden Age publication, 1935 April 2 p. 465).

"Oh, yes, serums vaccines, toxins, inoculations, are all -harmless', because the man who is selling them says so. You, my friends, believe this LIE, and continue to submit your body to these violations; then all I can say is, 'God have mercy on your soul'. All vaccination is unphysiological, a crime against nature." (Consolation 1939 May 31 p. 8).

‘Would it be proper to accept a vaccination or some other medical injection containing albumin derived from human blood? Witnesses have long realized (Interesting wording - not "the GB", but "Witnesses" realized - does that mean that Witnesses are able to realize things on their own) that this is a matter for private decision in accord with each one’s Bible-trained conscience. Some Christians who feel that they can in good conscience accept such injections have noted that antibodies from the blood of a pregnant woman cross into the blood of the baby in her womb.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1994).

The reason for this about turn? In 1952, when Jehovah’s Witnesses lifted the ban on vaccination, they wrote: "The matter of vaccination is one for the individual that has to face it to decide for himself. . . . And our Society cannot afford to be drawn into the affair legally or take the responsibility for the way the case turns out." (my emphasis – The Watchtower, 15 December 1952).

Essentially they still disagreed with vaccination but were too afraid of the medical profession taking legal action against them.