fulltimestudent

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Posts by fulltimestudent

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  19

  The Worst Year to be Alive? Answer: Most likely to be 536 CE

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was a witness, since the early 1950's, to the relentless claims of the wt society (then synonymous with jws) that this was the worst of times to be alive.

  if i had been more questioning and less accepting, i would never have become a shill for these apologists pf the murderous yhwh and his accomplice jesus,.

  so how interesting to see today an opinion in science journal that:- .

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  fulltimestudent

  Quote: "That allowed them to get away with making a big issue of 1914. Persons who had just lived through the first industrialised war in history,"

  Yes, the 1914-1918 war was 'industrialised.' But, I think that an examination of the American civil war, and some of the 19th century European wars (before the Great War) will show that these wars can also be considered 'industrialised.' Perhaps the use of flying machines and tanks in the 1914-1918 could be considered as marking WW1* as a more 'industrialised.' war..

  The deadly affect of machine guns may be first seen in the American Civil War, and were certainly used by the British Army in the 1904 invasion of China's Tibet, when a nervous CO ordered their use against Tibetan irregulars who had just surrendered. Slaying some 300 Tibetans. (The Tibetan irregulars did not have state issued guns, but brought with them yheir personally owned guns, most of which were little better than flintlocks, and that was why they would not surrender their guns.)

  * If you do some searching you could find a number of historians who see WW1, not as a genuine first world war, but as the last of the purely European struggles for World supremacy. Other areas of the world that were affected by WWI were affected because of the European notion of colonisation, And, in some ways WW2 was also a continuation of those 19th C European struggles for world domination. The determination of Hitler's Germany to 'win' was certainly based on the harsh treatment of Germany in the Versailles Peace Treaty.

  What made WW2 a truly world war, was Japan*, and from that viewpoint, WW2 can be seen as starting in July 1937, with Japan's invasion of a still disorganised China. Japan went on to steam-roller the European Military in S.E. Asia. A victory that should not have shocked the European military establishment, because the newly industrialised Japan had defeated Russia in the 1904 war, not just on land, but also at sea, the Japanese Navy sinking two Russian fleets. That should have been a warning to the West, that a re-organised Asia would have to be treated with caution and respect.

  ----------------------------------------------------

  Quote:

  • "Any time an uber-Dub says something like "this is the worst time in all of human history"... ...counter with: "So you'd rather live in the Old West? The Middle Ages? The Roman Empire?"

    Quite right! Daily problems fade into insignificance when we are faced with life or death medical issues. So many diseases, once incurable, can now be fixed through advances in medical science.
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  8

  Charlie Russell, A Zionist Hero

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was rather surprised today as i explored some archaeological news for my macquarie asian history fb page, to be suddenly confronted with this heading in the israeli haaretz media site.. before herzl, there was pastor russell: a neglected chapter of zionism.

  years before theodor herzl proposed creating a jewish state, charles taze russell was traveling the world holding jewish mass meetings, beginning in 1879, at which he urged jews to find a national home in eretz israel.

  ... and this quote from charlie's zion's watchtower (p. 329, 1892: .

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  fulltimestudent

  I was rather surprised today as I explored some archaeological news for my Macquarie Asian History FB page, to be suddenly confronted with this heading in the Israeli Haaretz media site.

  Before Herzl, There Was Pastor Russell: A Neglected Chapter of Zionism

  Years before Theodor Herzl proposed creating a Jewish state, Charles Taze Russell was traveling the world holding Jewish Mass Meetings, beginning in 1879, at which he urged Jews to find a national home in Eretz Israel

  ... and this quote from Charlie's Zion's Watchtower (p. 329, 1892:

  "There are now in the world more than ten million Jews, about three-quarters of whom are in Russia, Poland, the Balkan States, and Turkey. If the movement toward Palestine should get the impulse that the Hirsch committee is able to give it, an imaginative person can conceive of the country's doubling or trebling its Jewish population before the close of our century"
  

  And to find the article adopting Charlie as an early and enthusiastic proponent for a Jewish state.

  You may be able read the article at:

  https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium.MAGAZINE-before-herzl-there-was-pastor-russell-a-neglected-chapter-of-zionism-1.6409303?v=871F47BC8E181BF48C973D505C18DAC3

  (There's no paywall, but Haaretz wants you email before letting you read the full story.)

  I knew that Charlie had a greater leaning toward Zionism than the WTS in my time. but to see this fulsome praise was surprising.

  
  
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  19

  The Worst Year to be Alive? Answer: Most likely to be 536 CE

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was a witness, since the early 1950's, to the relentless claims of the wt society (then synonymous with jws) that this was the worst of times to be alive.

  if i had been more questioning and less accepting, i would never have become a shill for these apologists pf the murderous yhwh and his accomplice jesus,.

  so how interesting to see today an opinion in science journal that:- .

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  fulltimestudent

  I was a witness, since the early 1950's, to the relentless claims of the WT society (then synonymous with jws) that this was the worst of times to be alive. If I had been more questioning and less accepting, I would never have become a shill for these apologists pf the murderous YHWH and his accomplice jesus,

  So how interesting to see today an opinion in Science Journal that:-

  Quote: "Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he's got an answer: "536." Not 1349, when the Black Death wiped out half of Europe. Not 1918, when the flu killed 50 million to 100 million people, mostly young adults. But 536. In Europe, "It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year," says McCormick, a historian and archaeologist who chairs the Harvard University Initiative for the Science of the Human Past."

  You can read why at: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/why-536-was-worst-year-be-alive?fbclid=IwAR0zxOTAKAqV1lLnk1QVYpjFP_urdvEsJaHsw-b4xcYZ9IN0DPCjJrClaY0

  But humans survived, although many christians likely predicted the imminent return of Jesus and the end of the world. But they were wrong, just as the present mob with that same message is also proving wrong. The generation that 'saw' 1914 have long gone to their graves, and the believers in JW.com will also go to their graves and will not see the fulfillment of 'fake promises.'

  Sad isn't it, to have spent so many years preaching falsehood!
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  1

  Lucky Pommies - New exhibition at the British Museum - "I am Ashurbanipal: King of the World

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in case your puzzled, pommie is an old australian slang word for an english person.

  but that aside, the major point is this exciting exhibition at the british museum.. here's their description of it.. step into the world of ashurbanipal – one of history’s greatest forgotten kings – in our major new exhibition.

  ashurbanipal has been given other names (in case you asked).

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  fulltimestudent

  In case your puzzled, Pommie is an old Australian slang word for an English person. Still in (some) use.

  But that aside, the major point is this exciting exhibition at the British Museum.

  Here's their description of it.

  Step into the world of Ashurbanipal – one of history’s greatest forgotten kings – in our major new exhibition.

  Ashurbanipal has been given other names (in case you asked). Wikipedia notes: "n the Hebrew Bible he is called Asenappar (Hebrew: אָסְנַפַּר, Modern: 'Asnapar, Tiberian: 'Āsenapar - Ezra 4:10).[3] Roman historian Justinus identified him as Sardanapalus, although the fictional Sardanapalus is depicted as the last king of Assyria and an ineffectual, effete and debauched character, whereas three further kings succeeded Ashurbanipal, who was in fact an educated, efficient, highly capable and ambitious warrior king.[4]"

  Here's some extant reliefs extolling his power:

  

  

  And, (hopefully) if you can attend this exhibition you will see what could be the original flood story, A story adapted by some proto-Jewish scribe to 'prove' that YHWH is the most powerful personage in the entire universe.

  
  
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  23

  Noah 'warning the people'

  by KW13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  am i imagining this?at the kingdom hall we were told many times that noah warned the others about the coming flood and was ridiculed but actually there is no evidence of this in the bible!there is however evidence to the contrary.

  matthew 24:37-39.

  37 as it was in the days of noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of man.

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  fulltimestudent

  Quote" "So, by clever translation, you can insert the diea that Noah was indeed warning them, but they simply chose not to pay attention."

  Translating is bloody hard work, especially so when you'r attempting a translation of an ancient language. Just what concept did the author have in mind when he used a particular word? I have no particular interest in supporting blind Freddy's translating ability or the translation skills of any current Jw guru, but I am sort of always thinking about the truthiness of statements. (My own included).

  So whenever there is outright condemnation of a NWT choice of a contemporary English word to translate an ancient language word, I start to think, and think (and so on) and then i try to check .... !!!!!

  And a handy sort of place to check is the internet, and I often use the Blue Letter Bible site ( as I'm going to do now).

  Going to the site, I type Matthew 24:37-39 into the search box, and up comes Matthew 24. (KJV) verse by verse.At verse 39, i click on the tools box on the right, and get a list of the words in the verse. with the greek word in another column, I want to know what the word used in the KJV (know) was in Greek, I see it is ginosko, and the Strong's discussion reference is G1097. Clicking on that I get (down a bit) an "Outline of Biblical Usage" which are stated to be:

  Quote:

  1. to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel

     1. to become known

  2. to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

     1. to understand

     2. to know

  3. Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman

  4. to become acquainted with, to know.

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     And then comes a definition TO SHOW HOW THE WORD MAY HAVE BEEN USED.;

     γινώσκω ginṓskō, ghin-oce'-ko; a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):—allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

     
     

     Armed with that scrap of information, I am in a much better position to think about the NWT's latest refinement.

     So what do YOU now think about the NWT's choice of an English word/phrase to translate ginōskō ?????

     -------------------
     

     The OP did not state which translation he used in making his discovery, but It appears to be the NIV,

     On the biblehub web-site you can get a list of translation of vs 38 to compare what selections other translations have made. It's quite interesting, check this case out at:

     https://biblehub.com/matthew/24-39.htm

     I don't think most usages exclude someone telling the pre-flood population about the coming disaster.

     But since it was all a myth anyway, how could anyone know what was in the mind of the Genesis author?

     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     
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  2

  More Research on Cult Behaviour.

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  came across this research today, on why cult leaders can induce so much conformity among the cult's membership.

  it may be of interest to some here.. abstract: .

  "several pieces of literature suggest that most individuals who are successfully integrated into cults do not typically manifest symptoms of mental illness.

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  fulltimestudent

  Came across this research today, on why cult leaders can induce so much conformity among the cult's membership. It may be of interest to some here.

  Abstract:

  "Several pieces of literature suggest that most individuals who are successfully integrated into cults do not typically manifest symptoms of mental illness. However, the public is often taken aback by the lack of autonomy displayed by cult members and is bewildered by the ability of the cult leader and other cult members to transform fundamental personality functioning in an individual. Within the framework of an object relations model of personality structure and functioning as delineated by Otto Kernberg and using existing data concerning the cult experience, the authors engage in a theoretical exploration of cult membership. The authors propose that some behaviors exhibited by cult members may be a function of an object relations-level regression, which is exemplified by the activation of primitive defensive operations that are usually relegated to those suffering with severe personality disorders."

  Link: https://psychotherapy.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2011.65.4.381?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TrendMD_APA3month_Nov2018
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  15

  Hey jesus! So tell us all about heaven!

  by nowwhat? in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i always wondered, how come the apostles never asked jesus what heaven is like compare to earth.

  and wouldn't they be bugging jesus to tell them all kind of stories of such?.

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  fulltimestudent

  Steve2 wwrote: "I’m sure not every conversation he had with his early followers was (eventually) recorded (or remembered). Which is very different from arguing that his followers never asked what heaven was like."

  And then there is the problem of knowing what Jesus really did say and teach, Of course, our former loving brothers believe that everything in the gospel accounts records exactly what jesus said and did. But these accounts were written at least two decades after jesus died.

  Can you recount precisely conversations you had with someone 20 or 30 years ago? That's why the holy spirit mythology was likely invented.

  Of course, the Jewish homeland was by then, heavily influenced by Hellenic (Greek) thinking and beliefs. And, it was a common belief that the Greek gods could come down and walk among humans and have conversations with them. Does any today, imagine that those conversations and visitations were real? But, back then it was a common belief.
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  28

  Myriads and Myriads of Angels ... What Do They Do?

  by RubaDub in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i never understood this in my entire life in the borg.. who knows how many angels there are, millions, billions?.

  an angel protected rahab when the walls of jericho fell.

  then one angel killed 24,000 one night.. yet there seems to be this paranoia in the borg like the bunker video and the field video where jw's are under attack and apparently alone or at least it appears alone.. can't a few angels be put on overtime and protect the brothers from the potential "authorities" that wish to harm or eliminate them?.

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  fulltimestudent

  (smle) - we shouldn't ask silly questions that embarrass christians (of any brand).
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  6

  The Murderous Rule of the Hasmonean King (and High Priest) Alexander Jannaeus

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  alexander janneaus ruled (and also served as high priest) in jerusalem between 103 and 76 bce.

  the books of maccabees provide information for the start of this historical period, brought to an end by herod the great now archaeological evidence has emerged in jerusalem of his murderous reign.

  this times of israel article diuscusses the evidence and how the story was put together.

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  fulltimestudent

  Alexander Janneaus ruled (and also served as High Priest) in Jerusalem between 103 and 76 BCE. The books of Maccabees provide information for the start of this historical period, brought to an end by Herod the Great Now archaeological evidence has emerged in Jerusalem of his murderous reign

  This Times of Israel article diuscusses the evidence and how the story was put together. We could ask the question, If YHWH was real, why did he allow these atrocities?

  Find the story at this link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/mass-burial-site-uncovered-in-jerusalem-evidence-of-holy-kings-bloody-reign/
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  242

  Do You Think President Trump Will Be Impeached?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  whether you like him or not.... it doesn’t matter.

  do you think he will be impeached?

  ?.

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  fulltimestudent

  The UK Spectator magazine is a conservative (right wing) news magazine that seems to nearly always support the UK Conservative party/government.

  So I was surprised to see them publishing this story by a BBC reporter:

  Trumpworld is spinning out of control

  The fate of Donald Trump’s presidency now hangs on what Michael Cohen will say

  But if there was no highly organised conspiracy, that does leave open the possibility of collusion. When the Russians offered help, the Trump campaign seemed only too eager to accept. Does that mean President Trump knew of Russian hacking and other illegal acts before they took place? Lanny Davies, Cohen’s lawyer, hints that it does mean exactly that. The President may have known ‘ahead of time’ what the Russians were doing. The fate of the Trump presidency now hangs on what Michael Cohen will say.

  We live in interesting times, don't we? Trump sloganised that he would make American Great again. Perhaps he will further diminish the American Empire.
  

  Link: https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/08/trumpworld-is-spinning-out-of-control/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=250818_Weekly_Highlights_34_NONSUBS&utm_campaign=Weekly_Highlights