Posts by detective

38

Are we in Jesus's Reign?

by ballistic in

jw
friends

sorry, to ask a basic question.

(and i have been accused of requiring spiritual milk in an email),.

but i just want to get this straight:.

Yk,
I'm not sure why you'd be unwilling to answer my questions here? This thread does seem an appropriate place to answer as it could be beneficial to not only myself but to those lurking who could benefit from this discussion. I tend to believe that if you have to whisper your beliefs so that a room full of people don't hear you then maybe your beliefs won't stand up to scrutiny? If you really feel that a thread on a discussion forum devoted to this topic isn't the place to discuss the topic then I'm pretty surprised. Mind you, I'm not trying to start trouble with you as I do appreciate your willingness to discuss this matter. Maybe you could explain why you wouldn't discuss it here so that I could at least understand your hesitation?

So far I understand you to be saying that Jesus was taken to heaven and seated aside the father just after he was resurrected.

I also asked ..."And his return: according to scripture when in relation to armageddon was he to return? Was it before armageddon at the beginning of the great trib? Was it in the middle of the end of times? Or was it at the END of the end of times?"

I think it's a fairly straightforward question. Do you think, if it's not too much trouble, you could answer maybe that much? Suggesting a bible study to answer a simple question, while an interesting concept, isn't particularly time efficient.

You'd think I was asking some incredibly scandalous question! Listen, my email is open and I'm happy to hear an answer to my question. That'd be quite nice and I'd appreciate it! I'd prefer it if you felt that the responses you offer would be worthy of open discussion but I suppose we all have our peculiarities!? Thank you for offering whatever assistance you can, You Know.

41

Daily text - 1 Thess 5:19

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

1 thess.

5:19 "do not put out the fire of the spirit.".

commentary:.

detective

Wow!
One sentence... bible, one paragraph...Watchtower.

Priorities, priorities...tsk tsk!

38

Are we in Jesus's Reign?

by ballistic in

jw
friends

sorry, to ask a basic question.

(and i have been accused of requiring spiritual milk in an email),.

but i just want to get this straight:.

detective

I've always found the 1914 teaching somewhat confusing. According to scripture: after Jesus was crucified, was he not resurrected? After he was resurrected, did he not go to heaven where he was enthroned? If he didn't go to heaven and get enthroned, where has he been since the first century? And his return: according to scripture when in relation to armageddon was he to return? Was it before armageddon at the beginning of the great trib? Was it in the middle of the end of times? Or was it at the END of the end of times? I won't even go into the how "all eyes will see" is suddenly figurative!
But I wouldn't mind some answers to my questions as it could aid in my understanding of this strange interpretation of 1914.

15

1934 German letter

by oscartheduck in

jw
friends

i've been looking at this letter for some time.. and researching it's origins.. i can't find anything conclusive, really.

i can't locate a denial of its existance from the society, but i haven't got access to any literature anymore, having left it all behind when i moved country to america from england.

so...is there any reference to it in, for example, the proclaimers book?.

detective

When I first laid on the Watchtower/Hitler era propaganda on the internet, I felt unsure of the validity of the information provided. I really couldn't believe the incredibly disgusting content of those documents primarily because I try not to assume the worst in people. I then saw reference to the letter of protest/declaration of facts on this past years JW calendar that my friend had plastered to his fridge. Out of curiousity I sought out further information on the organization's official site and saw that they do have excerpts from their declaration. They kindly highlighted some of their more offensive statements in a pathetic attempt to justify their hate-filled rantings. Amazing. Why apologize for an egregious assault on decency when you can just brush it over with slimy justifications? How proud they are as they plaster it on their calendars! Disgusting.
I know they make mention of it on their official website so you can poke around there as well.

3

Appeal from Hassan/Taliban mind control

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

dear colleague and friend,.

i hope this message finds you well.

i am writing to ask for your help.. attached is a copy of my op ed, which was published yesterday in the boston globe.

detective

I was wondering what Mr. Hassan might have to say on the matter. Perhaps I'll fire off an email to my hometown paper (the Boston Globe) tomorrow.

24

I've given the matter a lot of thought...

by teejay in

jw
friends

the ascending majesty of do you hear what i hear?

is very beautiful in its own right -- hard to beat.. let it snow!

let it snow!

detective

Hands down it's "Have yourself a merry little Christmas". Except I like it with the original lyrics (you can hear it in that movie about St. Louis? with Judy Garland singing it). Instead of "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough", the original lyrics were a much more mournful, "we'll have to muddle through somehow". Although, I have to say I get rather miffed at those folks who sing it as if it weren't a sad song. La la la. They might as well not sing it at all if they can't even get the spirit of the song right! Oooh, sorry... ranting.

One other thing, since I'm ranting anyway, I HATE that "Grandma got run over by a reindeer song. It's evil. It must...be stopped...too wicked...

8

A CALL FOR ACTION IN FRANCE - PLEASE HELP

by bj in

jw
friends

as i said in a previous message, the president of mils, alain vivien in his new parlament report on sects, is plaining to classify jw a religion (the exact term "association confessionnel").

if this would be left done it would be another victory for jw and other european countries might follow the example.

somebody (malka) called this a "fake".

detective

With all due respect Mike, this fellow is asking people to make a commitment of time and effort to put out a letter or email. He is not asking for money for a "professional" press release. I think we've already seen the product of grass roots efforts as the Watchtower ran tail between it's legs from the UN scandal. Asking people to give what they can, in a whatever way they can, is helpful. You asked for monetary resources for something that may or may not be effective in this uphill battle. Rather than feel disappointed about the lack of success in drumming up monetary resources, I personally think it's wise to concentrate on something positive we are trying to do with our voices alone. We've seen what our voices alone can do. Stir them to scream and they might be heard. Ask them to pony up for something people have been busy trying to do for free (contacting press, composing letters and releases) and you may not have as much success. That doesn't mean that if someone can only contribute by writing a letter we should dismiss that contribution. Should we not encourage people to do the best they can by whatever means they have? Try not to be too upset that that particular idea did not go over with a bang. People are still working hard at this. Let's focus on doing more today than we did yesterday and keep at it in whatever way we can.

11

Tooting the horn

by Norm in

jw
friends

*** w94 9/1 19 beware of boasting ***.

*** w94 9/1 20 beware of boasting ***.

*w88 1/1 20 - of all those who claim to be christian, only jehovah's witnesses take the preaching of the good news seriously.

detective

Oops, how'd they let this one slip by?

*g95 11/8 30 - Only Witnesses Neutral? Your May 8, 1995, issue ("It's No Secret Anymore") stated: "Only Jehovah's Witnesses have maintained their neutrality and refused to learn or practice war anymore." In World War II, of the 11,996 men who refused to fight, only 940 were Jehovah's Witnesses. I was a conscientious objector myself. The word "only" in your statement was used to paint a false picture that only Jehovah's Witnesses held to this belief.

2

Did you just ask me to lie?

by detective in

jw
friends

i just had a conversation here at work with a witness who essentially insinuated that he wanted me to lie so that i could save his elderly mother thirty dollars.

don't get me wrong- i feel quite badly that his mother has to pay for certain necessities.

having worked with low income individuals for some time, i've seen some truly sad situations.

detective

I just had a conversation here at work with a witness who essentially insinuated that he wanted me to lie so that I could save his elderly mother thirty dollars. Don't get me wrong- I feel quite badly that his mother has to pay for certain necessities. Having worked with low income individuals for some time, I've seen some truly sad situations. I do feel bad that sometimes, even though I want to be able to do more for someone, I can't "work the system" any further without jeopardizing program availability for a much larger population.
That said, here's the story: I was delivering the bad news to this woman's son that her situation did not fully qualify her for our state-funded program without her having to make some payments. The son asked me if I couldn't just go into the computer and remove some information so that she would not be held responsible for her payments. I explained that we(my work) are legally obligated to follow state guidelines and that his mother promises certain forthright disclosure when she signs documents relating to this program. In other words, sorry, no comitting fraud today (but I say it nicely, of course).You know, I don't take kindly to implying that I must be somewhat heartless because I can't bend the rules on some things. Especially when it endangers the programs ability to reach a larger population.
Then he quotes Proverbs to me. I guess this is supposed to make me feel, what...worse? (This is where I flip the page and confirm my suspicion that he's a witness. So I sweetly say to him, "I appreciate your citing scripture and all but I believe there is also something in the bible about lying?"
Well, other than one additional mention of trusting a different kind of government, he didn't go any further. Too bad, as I'm having one hell of a day and would gladly spar- I just can't pick fights- but I can respond to comments made to me!

His mother allegedly has a loving community ready to help her! The congregation can't find thirty bucks? No, he'd rather we all lie and endanger the program for everybody else.

I'm just so sick of this stuff.

12

URGENT AND IMPORTANT. TO BE READ BY ALL

by bj in

jw
friends

in france, a new parlament report on sects was just writen (but not yet published)by alain vivien(president of mils)and his team.

to the surprise of all ex-jw victims, jehovah's witnesses are now recognisied as "association confessionnel", in other words religion.

if this would be published, it would be another victory for the wbts worldwide and open new opportunities for them which they well know how to take profit.

detective

I'll send them an email. What the hell! I think responding in bulk is the answer so I'll contribute by sending along an email. It would be good if other people would also be willing to send them a letter or email. I firmly believe the only way to get the grease is to be the squeaky wheel.