Where does scripture tell us that there would be centuries of spiritual darkness after the death of John on Patmos until C.T.Russell popped up in Allegheny Pa. the 1800s?
The Berean
JoinedPosts by The Berean
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20
Name Things JWs Believe That Are Not Biblically Proven
by minimus inwitnesses try to convince you that everything they teach is supported from the scriptures.. where in the bible does it say anything about "special pioneers" or "publishers"?.
where in the bible does it say you can take some blood components but not others?.
where in the bible does it say that 1914 was a marked year?.
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43
New Witness Songbook 2009...any song title suggestions?
by Witness 007 inthis year see's a new songbook but.....which songs do you think would be apropriate?.
song 28.
"whats love got to do with it?".
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The Berean
Back Door Man (Let it be) ...
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Would you be willing to accept apology from someone that has hurt you?
by asilentone inif it was a very sincere apology from the heart, i would accept the apology.
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The Berean
I hope so. So often I have been inclined to say "no need to apologize" which, as I think about it now, might amount to a request for an additional apology ... that for apologizing!
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Were there any "dynasties" in your congregation?
by truthseeker indid your congregation have any so-called dynasties, or "a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations"?.
my last congregation had a family who had or seemed to have complete control over most aspects of congregation operations.
they like to run the show and make it obvious that they are in charge.. then there are those who receive unearned privileges because their father is an elder who fast tracked his son to eldership.. .
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The Berean
Oh ya ....
Time and again I have seen the nepotism in action.
Here's one way it works. Family heads in control of the congregation make sure that their impressionable children are publically praised and featured as often as possible in demonstrations, planned comments, assembly parts, etc. Kids love the attention.
As time goes by they are given as many priveleges as possible ... microphones, parking attendants etc. The hook is that as long as the offspring "obey their parents" and keep climbing the ladder, they are given outside benefits like clothes, cars, and mad money. If they don't coform, the "hassel' begins. Adolecents go along with that program ...
Next, Elders make certain that fledgelings are entirely dependent upon the family and recieve no prepartion for the real world. Now they are trapped .... hooked on attention, recieving benefits, and totally dependant. Add to that a decent-looking "spiritual" female to replace Mom and breed the next generation and you have the makings of a dynasty. and if Dad has enough money to help the newlyweds buy a house, the deal is almost aleays permanently sealed.The sad part is that those in the congregation without such sponsorship are ignored and forgotten ...
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How many of you elders shared confidential things with your wife?
by Magwitch ini wonder how many of you truly kept things confidential.
when i was growing up in 70's in a very rural community my father was the congregation overseer.
thursday nights we always had to stay late after the service meeting while my father dealt with matters in the back room.
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The Berean
My experience has been that there is little , if anything that remains "confidential" in the elder arrangement. Let's say one confessed a sin or shared something with only 1 elder. Most often, that elder feels compelled for various reasons to inform the whole body. Now, if there are say ten total elders in the body, the other nine can blab all they want since the information was not PERSONALLY shared with them! If one approachs the elder who they originally spoke with as to why the leak ... they will tell you that they can not control what another elder chooses to release ... Catch 22
This is a key reason that the Elder arrangement can't work!
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4 Girls Falsely Cry Rape, Cabbie Has Incident on Video
by Yizuman inhttp://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/fralick-2-cabbie090515.mov.
glad he's got that camera, otherwise they would have successfully ruined the man's life!.
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The Berean
Should the false accusers potentially recieve the same sentence as would have the accused had he been found guilty or is the crime of lying less egregious?
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105
What code of conduct do "atheists" live by?
by The Berean inwho or what are we acountable to for our actions?.
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The Berean
Jeff:
In my fantasyland, I would like to blend all perspectives, points of view, and preferences and orchestrate an existence in which EVERYONE could live with and flourish under... giving each their earned "props" and making choices for the whole on the basis of composite wisdom gathered during a process of "equal involvement."
I'll be in a sanitarium soon, won't I? ...
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105
What code of conduct do "atheists" live by?
by The Berean inwho or what are we acountable to for our actions?.
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The Berean
quietlyleaving:
Maybe my thought here is that ethics and morals can be evaluated by "what the law will allow" in any given society.
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105
What code of conduct do "atheists" live by?
by The Berean inwho or what are we acountable to for our actions?.
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The Berean
Jeff,
I believe that no one will walk away from their job or their country for being asked to kill or steal, they will rationalize the matter .... yet somehow some are suggesting that it is noble to walk away from their friends and families because of religious corruption. That's the tie ...
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105
What code of conduct do "atheists" live by?
by The Berean inwho or what are we acountable to for our actions?.
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The Berean
Hypothetical:
You work for a credit card company who imposes a $39 late charge for all payments recieved as little as one day after the 15th of the month. During any given work shift you process a couple of thousand envelopes with payments included. On one particular 15th your supervisor tells you to ignor the mail for that day and assigns you to another task. This action increases revenue for the company as well as compounding the debt of the clients who have been informed in the "fine print" that "the firm cannot be responsible for delays in the mail." Is anyone guilty of stealing?