Posts by pirata

4

Quote by an unamed whoever from who knows where in Watchtower?

by AuntBee in

i was looking at the watchtower i was given this week, july 1. a 'quote' on page 7 really stood out to me, and i noticed that there was no reference as to where this quote came from, or even a name of the person quoted.

is this common in the wt?

is there someplace where they give their sources?

pirata

I can only speculate but I think they likely don't want to encourage people to easily look up

1) "Bible Scholars" can be statements from priests and theoligians in "Christendom"

2) You'll see what the source says where the '....' are in the quotes. You may find the quotes taken out of context or against the spirit of the original source.

3) Looking up a reference's quotation in a publication might lead you down the path of doing bible-based research from outside sources

4) The quoted source doesn't have strong credibility in the area they're quoted on

At least that's what I observed when I searched for the original sources.

4

Quote by an unamed whoever from who knows where in Watchtower?

by AuntBee in

i was looking at the watchtower i was given this week, july 1. a 'quote' on page 7 really stood out to me, and i noticed that there was no reference as to where this quote came from, or even a name of the person quoted.

is this common in the wt?

is there someplace where they give their sources?

pirata

It is extremely rare for exact references to be provided. Only a handful of science related books/brochures document their references. The WT usually only documents other WTS publications. Once in a while they might mention a magazine or scholars name, but not give any further details. Usually they just say "a bible scholar" says "blah blah blah".

12

Funny statement about DVD replacing Proclaimers book on DC

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

last weekend i attended the dc.

i had special interest in the closing speech about "this generation".. the bethel speaker told us he lost track after the publication of the watchtower in 2008 about "this generation" and concluded that "this generation" can overlap only 1 time.

he stated that there is an absolute time limitation of "this generation".

pirata

Jehovah's Witnesses are mostly not readers of thick books.

Funny, I can think of another thick book called... the Bible. Though I guess we now have 32-page brochure "The Bible - What is it's message" which is a summary of the Bible.

43

Observations since the book study arrangement finished

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

does anyone have any interesting observations since the book study arrangement in private homes finished?.

are jws happier with the extra night off?

do they miss the book study?

pirata

I love the extra night off and have the family worship night. We are enjoying the study of JW history and digging deep into JW teachings.

144

Bane admits that Christians are to abstain from "eating blood".

by moshe in

from an earlier topic-.

"moshe, ready for another biblical smackdown?.

christians.

pirata

There's a good discussion here that hashes out "abstain from blood"

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/medical/189484/1/The-meaning-of-abstain-from-blood

55

THE "OTHER SHEEP" ARE NOT GENTILE CHRISTIANS, because...............

by Titus in

i don't want biblical answer, but from any watchtower publication.

has that question ever been answered in any watchtower publications?.

please, give me some references.. i expect answer from debator, alice, bane, scholar or any other active jehovah's witness.

pirata

Titus, have you studied it yet?

12

Being "drawn" by God (John 6:44)

by pirata in

"no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him" (john 6:44, niv).

random musings and things that have made me think about this scripture over the years:.

one "need-greater" elder told me that in the congregation he was serving in, he had a tough time encouraging the publishers to do evening service.

pirata

Thank you Psacramento, Perry, StAnn, snowbird, chalam, and any others I have missed for your contributions so far. sooner7nc, you made me LOL!

It seems unanimous that a higher power (be it the Holy Spirit, God, Angel, Jesus, etc) does the drawing. But are only certain people chosen to be drawn? Or is everyone drawn and only certain ones respond?

22

What is the definition of "new light"?

by MsDucky in

jw
friends

who gets and disperses "new light"?.

pirata

"New Light": When a GB JW thinks a current teaching is wrong.

"Apostasy": When a non-GB JW thinks a current teaching is wrong.

12

Being "drawn" by God (John 6:44)

by pirata in

"no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him" (john 6:44, niv).

random musings and things that have made me think about this scripture over the years:.

one "need-greater" elder told me that in the congregation he was serving in, he had a tough time encouraging the publishers to do evening service.

pirata

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44, NIV)

Random musings and things that have made me think about this scripture over the years:

One "need-greater" elder told me that in the congregation he was serving in, he had a tough time encouraging the publishers to do evening service. The publishers reasoned that if God draws people, then God will arrange for the householder to be home (ie. get sick and take a day off work) when the witnesses are doing their witness activity.

The WTS often uses this scripture to encourage JWs ie. "The fact that you are among God's people is evidence that he has drawn you by means of his holy spirit."

But what about born-in JWs? Are they drawn? While growing up, it dawned on me that if I hadn't grown up a JW, I probably wouldn't have become one. That made me think that I wasn't really drawn, but was there because of the random chance of having been born into it.

If God wants all men to be saved, why are so few drawn? Are people who are not drawn in truly not "honest hearted"? "Honest hearted" seems to carry the idea that you accept what someone else is telling about the Bible without being critical. This seems more like someone who is "vulnerable" or "gullible" or "simple".

I've heard explanations that God "draws" people through the Gospel, and those who listen are considered drawn by him, but this seems to contradict that WTS' application that suggests that God personally picks us to be part of his people.

What are your thoughts on this scripture?

17

Are JWs more likely to stay from Fear of Armageddon or Fear of being Disfellowshipped?

by jwfacts in

i have been reading some interesting information on terror management theory at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/terror_management_theory.

this explains how the terror of death leads to a belief in an afterlife and also affects how we live.

there is an "irresolvable paradox" created from the desire to preserve life and the realization of that impossibility because life is finite.

pirata

I'd say that if they still believe what JWs teach about Armageddon, they'd fear Armageddon more. If they don't then they'd fear disfellowshipping more.