i gather from my other thread that many liked the creation books, the mankind search for god book, the greatest man book and the ministry school book.. but which book did you absolutely detest?.
here is mine:.
i thought it was a vile, hate filled book!.
"keep yourself in Gods love"
was one of the steps, that led me to finally look behind the curtain...when it came out in 2008, I quickly looked through it and was disgusted...
a few months later I went online .....
I also did not like the book about the prophets, I think came out 2006, oh and I was bored to death by the study of the Isaiah books....
Revelation book, even though lots of crazy stuff, I kind of liked (well I sci-fi and fantasy ;-)
yesterday, i opened a topix account so i could post the information about watch tower representatives attending the political ocse meeting in poland for two weeks and the proof that they are an ngo.
one of the posters responded with these words: .
"barbs-info," eh?
there was an article some years ago about the question, what constitutes the unforgivable sin, and it was kind of hinted (or even expressed clearly) that those who attack the slave (apostates e.g.) would fall into that category.
So in the mind of JW, people like Barb Anderson or Randy Watters etc are all guilty of the unforgiveable sin, have to look for this article at home..
maybe this has been discussed before but i'm starting to wonder why it is so important for wts to keep such a tight control over its members?.
is it because the gb and other folk in upper management are so delusional and psychotic, that they believe in the rubbish they spout?.
or is someone somewhere getting something (financially) out of this?.
Thats a good question, actually even an important one. Once discussing with a rather open minded friend some issues in the org, that bothered me. He actually agreed on many things, but he mentioned, that the difference to other religions (cults or whatever) our leaders do net get rich.
Technically he is right, if they would have lots of wealth, surely somebody in our age of information would have exposed it.
So whats the real reason ? Power ? Not riches but financial security ? or as Ray Franz said, are they just captives of a concept ?
It could easily be, I also, as an elder, believed once, I was chosen by God directly...so maybe they really believe it themselves...
I´m not sure, if they are deceivers, I rather think, they are experts in applying cognitive dissonance...
maybe this has been discussed before but i'm starting to wonder why it is so important for wts to keep such a tight control over its members?.
is it because the gb and other folk in upper management are so delusional and psychotic, that they believe in the rubbish they spout?.
or is someone somewhere getting something (financially) out of this?.
btw: I love scotland
may you all have peace!.
just came across this article:.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44629271/ns/technology_and_science-science/?gt1=43001.
was Einstein wrong ? surely he was, just like Newton, Aristotle and many others,....
however, their research and ideas were all a step closer to the "truth" wherever that may be, and whenever we may find out...
Only when science behaves like religion, when questioning long held beliefs is discouraged and frowned upon, then progress will stop.
i put on my blog recently an article reviewing the evidence regarding whether the star of bethlehem was guided by god or satan.
as we are well aware, this is a "pet point" of the witnesses and assists the wt viewpoint with regard to christmas and all things "pagan".. .
http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/09/satans-star-re-examined/.
very interesting,
with this example one can see the stages of enlightenment,
catholic belief, three kings from east
JW belief, not kings, magis, unknown number, but led by satan...
ex-jw beleif, magis, unknown number, but not led by satan, gifts important for Gods purpose even...
wow, amazing, what comes next ?
when i was still serving as an elder in the late summer of 2006 in a congregation of jws in socal we received a letter from the "christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses" (read: the governing body) directing that anyone pursuing a higher education would be disqualified from privileges of service: elder, servant, pioneer, etc.
i remember this quite distinctly because i had just received by ba in education in june a few months before this.
in 2002, i had decided to pursue a degree under the society's then current "it's a personal decision" policy and was quite shocked at their drastic policy change.
they don't directly say, college education is wrong, and someone will loose their privilege.
They beat around the bush, but in the same time, create an athmosphere, were any higher education is viewed as suspicious. Its a way of subtle pressure to prevent brothers from pursuing higher education.
They are really masters of mind control, aren't they ?
when i was still serving as an elder in the late summer of 2006 in a congregation of jws in socal we received a letter from the "christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses" (read: the governing body) directing that anyone pursuing a higher education would be disqualified from privileges of service: elder, servant, pioneer, etc.
i remember this quite distinctly because i had just received by ba in education in june a few months before this.
in 2002, i had decided to pursue a degree under the society's then current "it's a personal decision" policy and was quite shocked at their drastic policy change.
One of my biggest problems with the org, was so happy when a more reasonable approach came in the 90`s , then a back peddling a few years ago.
We have a few students and some academics in our hall, so its no big deal here anyway, despite the official pressure on those pursuing higher education.
Of course, when the Co comes, he being a full company men, comes down hard on higher education, especially during the elder/ms meetings, made me want to scream !!! Who knows, next time I might.....
i would like to think of myself as an academic.
im starting my second degree and i enjoy research.
when i see a statement backed up by references and support from a credible source, sometimes i get excited.
despite the picture, and before the last subtitle, yesterdays study seemed at least a bit interesting, however, the last paragrpaphs show their real purpose: obey, obey the org....
they could have left the rest out, and just discuss the last 2 paragraphs, giving little Timmy the chance to raise his hand and say "obey the slave" (sounds weird right ?)
the sad thing though, we have a real intelligent WT conductor (he is really smart, no sarcasm here), but he buys into this obeidence crap full blown...
is it their door-to-door incessant preaching?
is it their view on blood?
is it that the religion itself is simply often misunderstood?.
Misconceptions often include: JW do not believe in Jesus, and don't drink alcohol.
then what many know is about holidays, and more important blood is often mentiond as negative part of JW belief.
other than that, there is not much, at least acc to my experience...
