lrkr

Joined

• started 48 topics
• posted 890 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by lrkr

• 
  28

  Thomas Paine "Age of Reason"

  by BurnTheShips in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  on another thread purporting to start a discussion of this work, some suggested that it be restarted in a new thread, as the consideration there had begun in a polluted way and had only stayed at that level.

  since things poorly begun usually end worse, i am starting the thread as some have requested.

  i am currently beginning to read age of reason, and will return to it from time to time as time itself allows.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  OK- you guys got me reading this- now you have to put up with my comments and my BTT. 1st response- I can't believe that this guy wrote what he wrote 300 years ago and there are still fundamentalists in the world. What an intelligent, reasoned indictment of popular religious ideas. I love his reasoning on the subject of the ransom. If someone is convicted of murder and another person stands up and says, "I'll take the punishment for him" No one would consider that to be justice. And yet it is at the core of the whole set of dogma about redemption.
• 
  56

  Alarming statement in today's study article in WT...

  by Mickey mouse in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  paragraph 15: "as we get nearer to the outbreak of the great tribulation, we may well receive some detailed instructions.

  our safe journey through those troublesome days will depend on our keeping in step with other loyal servants of jehovah.

  " this in the context of a wt discussing the israelites' exodus from egypt and how jehovah had them into a position where there seemed "no way out".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  It made me ask myself how most JW's would react if instructed to do something which would endanger their life.

  Well- we already know the answer to that one...They'll sign cards asking to die rather than accept blood. You just have to be tricky and find the new light in a bible verse. (dont worry about context or historical meaning)
• 
  18

  THE UNKNOWN BETHEL APOSTATE

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you believe there is one?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  If you want to find an apostate- look where the last ones came from. Someone deep in the writing, teaching and researching group. (Franz and Dunlap figured out the truth while writing the Aid Book). And I don't think there would be a "suspicion" of an apostate. Just someone having severe doubts who eventually reaches a tipping point.
• 
  36

  If the end does not come in 10 years then...........

  by TooBad TooSad in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if the end does not come in 10 years then nothing is going to change.

  here is my reasoning.. in our hall we have friends whose grandparents thought the end was coming in 1914 then in 1925.. well they died and still our friends believe the end is near.

  our friends had parents who.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  I'm with Oompa- maybe the end came sometime during the middle ages and we just havent caught on yet. Or maybe it came in 70 when the entire Jewish system of things was rocked.....Or maybe "the end" is an unhealthy obsession...
• 
  8

  When is it going to crash?

  by Alex Delta in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i see allot of people here that is in the know i mean really in the know and am very great full for being in these discussion with you all.

  since this is such a large subject to us all and all have different strong points in it, im sure we can come up with some form of hypothesis when this organization is going to implode on its self or when its about to but before it does it bails last minute by changing some doctrine around so it doesnt completely fall but keep enough for them to survive again for it to rebuild, as theyve done so many times in the past.

  history for some reason tends to always repeat it self, i truly believe its about that time.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  I think comparing JWs to Catholicism or Islam is a bit generous. More like- when did Millerites crash? Or Puritans? Or Dutch Baptists? Answer is- they never really "crashed" just became less and less popular until there were very few congregations left. People split off to form new religions that were more conservative, more liberal, more in touch, more bible based, whatever. The remaining congregants got older and older and new recruits fell off until they were a quaint backwards religion in one particular region. I think that is the future of JWs.
• 
  26

  in defense of the Holy Trinity

  by potentialJWconvertswife in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i need some help on the holy trinity.

  my husband is studying with the witnesses (he's not one of them yet), and is totally buying into the idea that god, jesus and the holy spirit are all separate, not (as i've tried to explain) separate, but also one in the trinity.

  i have pointed out the scriptures in john that reference god as the word, and then jesus as the word later.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  A little advice- Don't take on the Trinity- he is being taught that the WT's interpretation is the most logical and therefore all other religions are false. There is easier, lower hanging fruit.

  You are right to be concerned about him entering this group- and for reasons that are much more significant than the Trinity. Look around here, you'll see what I mean. Check into teachings on blood, holidays, social separation from non-believing family and friends, anti-citizenry positions, anti-college and education teachings, previous unfulfilled prophecies, and there are many others.
• 
  45

  apostates at assemblys

  by looloo in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i was told not to even look at them when i studied, but i did not buy the satan stuff about them and said well what have the watchtower got to worry about if they have the truth and no skeletons in the closet ?

  i was quite tempted to speak to them and felt rude and judgemental , what did you used to think about them when you were dubs in the trufff ?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  Are you ready for this....

  Seeing apostates was a facet of convincing myself that I really did have the truth. After all- only the faithful and discreet slave would be persecuted by an evil slave. Catholics who don't believe just don't show up- they dont show up with signs screaming and yelling. Plus, it allowed me to see "them" as a single, monolithic group- "The Apostates". (This is something WT does a good job at- demonizing "Apostates" as a class and convincing everyone that they are a single, uniform, united group)

  So.... you could say that the apostates at assemblies had the opposite of the intended effect- for me. (Thank goodness Al Gore invented the internet.)
• 
  25

  Public Talks- What do you think about the changes?

  by Connaughty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what do you think about the reduced time of the public talks?.

  i actually find it pleasant, it makes it a lot easier to tolerate some of the boring speakers.

  but what about the service.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  This change is about more control over speakers. Most of the public talk outlines you cant read outloud and read the important scriptures in 30 minutes. There is no time for additional info, experiences, illustrations, etc. It is just another step in controlling what is said during the meetings. Why didn't they shorten the WT study??? because they don't care about convenience, giving extra time for service, etc- they care about controlling what the public speaker says.
• 
  35

  Dead Sea Scrolls, Apocrypha, Nag Hammadi, Deciding on the Bible Canon

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i am learning so much about this great collection of ancient "literature.".

  the book of job was a poem.

  i already knew from jw's that it's authorship and.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  "The Jesus Papers" thats one of the ones I read also.

  What shocked, bothered and impacted me about all of this was the fact that- like most other facets of 2000 year old history- nothing is sure, set in stone or even provable. But Witnesses are taught that anyone who doesn't believe their brand of interpretation will die for being part of false religion. This was a real turning point for me.

  How can we say that people who interpret an unclear 2000 year old manuscript differently than us is part of an evil conspiracy??? It made no sense.

  I enjoy the intellectual back and forth. Even a little righteous indignation from some who think we're being a little to cavilier. But damning someone to death for having a different take....thats a little harsh...ok a lot harsh.
• 
  55

  Big Announcement on next Service meeting

  by The Lone Ranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there seems to be a very important announcement this coming weeking on the next service meeting, forme it will be on wednesday 30th jan.. during the last 2 meetings they have asked that every batized jw be at that meeting and even to tell others who might not have heard the annoucement.. anyone here have any ideas i wouldn't be surprised if they are changing meeting times and arrangments...less meeting at is !.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lrkr

  Are we starting a pool? I want the box that says-

  Special "invite people to the Memorial" campaign will commence. Try to get this tract to every man, woman, child, and dog in your territory.

  Just my guess. How much do I owe?

  PS- Go Giants!!