Posts by Inquisitor

19

No Place For the Devil? Why?

by Inquisitor in

"for centuries, many people thought of the devil as a horned, cloven-hoofed creature clad in red and using a pitchfork to cast wicked humans into a fiery hell...undoubtedly, however, such misconceptions have caused millions to question the existence of the devil or to think that the term applies only to a principle of evil.

" w06 jan 15 p.21 .

so the fds thinks that people no longer believe in the devil because:

Inquisitor

you get god out of the way and you are not personally responsible to answer to a god given consciensce you make ethics and morality as you go along ,we can see the dramatic result of that today - ezra

Are you saying that people who deny God's existence construct wrong moral/ethical standards? That such rules cannot exist outside of religion?

Tell me, was it the bible or civil society that outlawed slavery, recognized minority rights, encouraged interaction between religious faiths to promote understanding in pluralist societies, etc?

You're probably enjoying the benefits of such progress in our society and yet you have the cheek to wave your Bible and speak of gloom and doom of humanity!

You're a nodding monkey aren't you?

INQ

19

No Place For the Devil? Why?

by Inquisitor in

"for centuries, many people thought of the devil as a horned, cloven-hoofed creature clad in red and using a pitchfork to cast wicked humans into a fiery hell...undoubtedly, however, such misconceptions have caused millions to question the existence of the devil or to think that the term applies only to a principle of evil.

" w06 jan 15 p.21 .

so the fds thinks that people no longer believe in the devil because:

Inquisitor

"For centuries, many people thought of the Devil as a horned, cloven-hoofed creature clad in red and using a pitchfork to cast wicked humans into a fiery hell...Undoubtedly, however, such misconceptions have caused millions to question the existence of the Devil or to think that the term applies only to a principle of evil." w06 Jan 15 p.21

So the FDS thinks that people no longer believe in the Devil because:

1) they laugh at his appearance... too old school.. need the metrosexual touch

2) they do not agree with his career choice

Two questions to the rest of you, who do not live in ivory towers waited on by nodding monkeys:

1) What do you think are the reasons for people's waning belief in the devil? Is it merely another effect of the rise in secularism? atheism? scepticism?

2) How did certain theologians come to the conclusion that Satan is merely the concept of Evil and is not an actual spirit creature?

INQ

73

What Went Thru Your Mind While Sitting at The Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i used to listen but not really.

i'd look at the platform/speaker stand, look like i was paying attention, get antsy, and find another elder to "discuss" something ith.

i just got to the meeting----right before it was to start and if the talkative po decided that his last part was going to go overtime, i'd put on my coat and look at the big clock on my way out in front of everyone and leave for the local bar.

Inquisitor

That would have been pretty freaky, slugga!!

What do I think of during the meetings? Hmmmm.. I think my favourite habit was to think of a very very yummy dish I'd like to try again... imagine the aromas, the texture, try to work out the ingredients and then the steps it would take to cook it up. What can I say, I love good food! Pretty unusual huh?

Oh and sometimes, I'd print a crossword puzzle off the web that can fit in my notebook in case the public talk (or the speaker) is notoriously juvenile.

But know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see anyone who's got balls enough to pull out a centrespread of a nude babe/stud during a talk. Man, that would sooo make my day! I'd pay the guy good money for pulling off a stunt like that!

INQ

37

Why do JW's elders act like their failed predictions is no big deal?

by booker-t in

i must admit after being an ex-jws for over 15 years now i still get fustrated at jw's elders when they act so non-chalant about the watchtower's prediction failures.

i was talking to a jw elder just the other day and he was trying to explain away that the society made errors in dates in the past but they are not "false prophets".

i was not even calling them false prophets he was the one that brought up the term.

Inquisitor

The most you can accuse JW's with today is "wrong expectations" which is not a sin at all because the apostles did the same thing. - booker-t

JW's assert that the apostles "did the same thing". But that is a blatant twist of facts.

WTS predictions were in black and white, clear for all of "God's household" to see. Then the rank and file of the time were often shown the method of calculating such dates, expected to incorporate such dates into their belief system, and to make serious changes in their lives in light of the impending end.

By contrast, all a JW can scripturally point to is the fact that the apostles in Jesus' day either had preconceived notions of God's plan

"11 While they were listening to these things he spoke in addition an illustration, because he was near Jerusalem and they were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display itself instantly" - Luke 19:11

"6 When, now, they had assembled, they went asking him: "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?" 7 He said to them: "It does not belong to YOU to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction" - Acts1:6,7

or were aware that their knowledge was incomplete

"9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with." - 1 Corinthians 13:9,10

UNLIKE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, the apostles didn't write Gospels or letters to publish such tentative ideas and pass them off as divine secrets. The record shows that the only time their ideas were verbalized was to their Teacher, the purpose of which was to confirm, not inform. Consequently they also did not have to write new Gospels or letters to explain the errors in their "expectations". No apostle had to excuse his backflip by sheepishly quoting Proverbs 4:18, using terms like "new light " and "old light". As far as they were concerned, you were either in the light, or you're in the dark.

INQ

31

Awake = College Education, % of brain usage, where are these?

by drew sagan in

i've heard that this is somewhere in the magazines, but i have no clue where.

also, does anybody know where (or even if) the watchtower ever fed off the idea that we only use a fraction of our brains, an idea that has proven to be false?

i heard so many people talk about this in discussion, but have been unable to locate it in a publication.

Inquisitor

I've tried searching for the 10% brain quote, but am still unable to find it. But I was so convinced that the idea was introduced in one of the suggested presentations years ago (thus the experience of jwfacts) How come it isn't there? Can anyone else locate it? This is gonna bug me to death now!!! INQ

9

Door to door

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

.

don't know if this has been discussed but why does the society not df someone who violates the direct command to go door-to-door but will df for things not specifically mentioned in the bible?.

any thoughts?.

Inquisitor

5th Generation

If I may venture a thought... I think it might have something to do with the fact that the preaching work is supposed to be voluntary and it is said to bring genuine happiness to the minister.

So if they attached a DF penalty to any JW dragging their feet, it may invite mockery from their opposers. The Truth should not need to threaten it's followers to spread the word.

INQ

42

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 2-12-06 WT Study (Righteousness)

by blondie in

25-29)(righteousness).

is this the only example of how a young woman can seek righteousness first, .

3. what is righteousness?

Inquisitor

Pistoff

I can only hear the crickets in billyboy-Land

INQ

24

Why am I not bitter?

by DannyBloem in

many people on this board seems to be a bit bitter and angry.

many do feel a form of hate towards the gb or even witnesses in general.. i do understand that many feel this way, some have all rigths to be bitter.. wy do i not feel like that?

i am not bitter, nor hate the gb or witnesses.

Inquisitor

Am I bitter about this religion of mine? Hmmm...

Knowing what I do now, I am sometimes very upset that I hadn't listened to both sides of the story before deciding that this was the TRUTH.

I mean if I had allowed myself that opportunity, I would have made more of an effort to be friends with some of the non-JW kids at school. I would have lived life more fully instead of spending most of it attending meetings and being wary of "the origins" of certain customs and festivals. I would have celebrated life instead of building a brick wall around it. So much fear of the world, so much dislike for Christendom and their followers.

I would have learned to love myself for who I am, instead of trying to transform myself into this smiley, obliging idiot who got kicked around by the headstrong... woops i mean veteran JWs.

I think I feel more regret than bitterness. Brain-dead JW apologists annoy me. And so does some of the misguided teachings the WTS passes off as God's will. But at the end of the day, I'm not bitter over JWs.

I also feel anxious for my family who are still loyal to this organization. For I ask myself, "if the JW chips are low one day, will my folks sacrifice everything to prove their loyalty God, in the manner taught by this very fallible organization?"

INQ

42

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 2-12-06 WT Study (Righteousness)

by blondie in

25-29)(righteousness).

is this the only example of how a young woman can seek righteousness first, .

3. what is righteousness?

Inquisitor

Dear billyboy

I'm glad you're able to recognize that Blondie has invested no small amount of effort in the weekly Watchtower articles. While I cannot speak for Blondie and I'm not here to judge whether she's as pedantic as you imply, I believe there are several advantages to writing up a critical piece like this.

1) It's a great way to get things of your chest.

2) It alerts others to the biased style of writing emplyed by the FDS.

How many times have we had to sit and listen to Sister Zealous or Bro. Holy Balls happily comment to reinforce the WTS dogma on:

the wickedness of this world ("there is nothing good left in it, Amen"),

higher education,

materialism ("simplify your life, but don't let the KH funds run into deficit, mind you!"),

reading of any material that contradicts the WTS, even if it is from a secular source ("APOSTASY!!!"),

etc...

There is little, if any ,acceptance of any point whatsoever THAT CONTRADICTS the article - it is all condemned. This appear to be a weekly effort TOO. Why are you not disturbed by this, billyboy?

When "discussing" the above topics, yes I admit the WTS occassionally makes a legitimate point, but do THEY not continue on a NEGATIVE BASIS?

And why does the WTS keep HARPING on the same issues again and again, sustaining the negativity of their followers towards other religions, towards their non-JW associates, towards any form of secular career? WHAT IS THEIR POINT? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES for doing so?

To encourage current JW zealots they have made the right decision to stick with the organization?

To provide "food at the proper time" for still-in JWs who're too lazy or too brainwashed to realize that the WTS is intellectually dishonest?

INQ

10

PVG

by Inquisitor in

what is a pvg (i think it's patient visitation group)?

it was mentioned in the recent letter at the service meeting.. what does the pvg do?.

and how is it related to the hlc and the local body of elders?.

Inquisitor

So i take it that nobody knows huh?

Has this PVG thing been mentioned before the reading of this letter?

INQ