with all of the legal mumbo jumbo and technicalties that the organization uses (recently brought to light in the australian case), i couldn't help but wonder what power the "no longer one of jehovah's witnesses" really has or even means from a technical standpoint, since the organization is so technical.
we know what it means when the announcement is made, but in reality, so-and-so never really belonged to any of the groups in the first place.
the law says that association or membership is voluntary, therefore the organization has the right to expel and shun someone for not following the guidelines expected of members.. what are the rank and file members of?.
@Leolaia
So, it would be correct to say that the tetragram is transliterated
JHVH, and pronounced Jehovah
-- or --
YHVH, and pronounced Yahweh
Right?
And no translation is involved, since that would involve giving a meaning to the name, which is something else altogether.
Transliteration, pronunciation, and translation are three different things that are sometimes confused.
TD said, "William Schnell (Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave) had a change of heart and wanted back shortly before he died."
I was unaware that he returned. Does anyone know of articles or threads where I can read more about that?
I don't think it's possible to go back to actually believing what you've learned isn't true...the Santa Claus illustration is a good one. However, some people might go through the motions of returning for other reasons, like getting family ,friends, and a sense of being in a community back. There are many Witnesses who are doing that anyway, but they were never out of the organization in the first place.
so recently i realized again via nutjob cults in the news that when you predict the end of world and fail...some people notice...and you have to cover your ass and say something happened invisibly right?...sounds familar i know.... so i tell wife to from now on knock on doors and say "hi, im one of jehovahs witnesses and even though we predicted for one hundred and forty consecutive years that the world would end in the twentieth century...i would still like you to accept my free home bible study".
of course i cant even get her to look inside an awake cover from before 1995 where indeed it says this....and prior to 19oo russell preached the end would occur in 1914 starting in 1874 i believe and that jesus had already come invisibly of course.
and then i realizied that the scripture is so simple it does not need interpretation...."nobody can know the day nor hour...not even the son" or something like that...so isnt it ironic that the entire basis for this religion as founded by russell was for that exact same reason!!!
@ Oompa, who suggested this presentation, "Hi, im one of jehovahs witnesses and even though we predicted for one hundred and forty consecutive years that the world would end in the twentieth century...i would still like you to accept my free home bible study"
I love that presentation. It's what all of JWs would be saying if they were honest about their religion.
@ AGuest, who said, "If your dear wife hasn't had a single Bible study in 15 years... it's because SHE isn't convinced as to their "truth". If she were, she wouldn't SETTLE for no studies."
Truer words were never spoken, IMHO. Many JWs, I feel, are simply going through motions because it's become their way of life. Perhaps, in part, because of what Oompa's remark above illustrates...that they know they've made false predictions even if they don't admit it, and many are sick to death of it themselves...they don't believe it anymore. But they can't let go because it would mean developing a whole new life, and that isn't easy. They simply stick with what they know, but their heart is no longer in it. For the supposed 1 1/2 billion hours put into the field ministry annually, the amount of increase is pathetic.
.style1 { border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; } .style2 { color: #ff0000; } tri-fold ajwrb.org blood brochure.
to use, print and distribute at no charge.
(print quality is far better (600dpi) than you see on this screen or in the thumbnail.
The second page (?), the one with Zen's photo, is titled...
"Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for the Reform on Blood"
'the Reform'? The word 'the' is out of place and should be removed.
.style1 { border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; } .style2 { color: #ff0000; } tri-fold ajwrb.org blood brochure.
to use, print and distribute at no charge.
(print quality is far better (600dpi) than you see on this screen or in the thumbnail.
On the page that says "Dear Watchtower Society", the last line says,
"Best Luck to you all in your endeavors,"
Has the word 'of' been left out between Best and Luck?
Also, is this line trying to be overly polite? I don't think I could sign a document that wishes the Society the best of luck in all their endeavors. That would include their awful policies on child molesting, disfellowshipping, and treatment of ex-members. There must be a better 'polite way' of ending that.
.style1 { border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; } .style2 { color: #ff0000; } tri-fold ajwrb.org blood brochure.
to use, print and distribute at no charge.
(print quality is far better (600dpi) than you see on this screen or in the thumbnail.
A question about this statistic...
In speaking about the fractionalized blood that JWs can accept, the brocure says,
"This amounts to about 97% of whole blood. The remaining 3% of blood is expressly forbidden and considered very sinful to take..."
In a deep discussion on this forum, I read that hemoglobin, which JWs can now take, is 97% of red blood cells. But does this fraction of 97% hold true for all blood parts, including whole blood?
how could rolf furuli be an elder considering his secular background?.
a friend from norway said he is the service overseer in his congregation.
does anyone have any info to validate this claim?.
Isn't he a dedicated and baptised Witness? What is in his secular background that would keep him from being an elder?
the wt study edition is getting a facelift for the new year.. the january issue had been posted on jw.org but.... the boes hadn't received notice by letter of such a change.. the wts likes to play up every opportunity to have a new release.. this time the jw.org techies jumped the gun and went on to post.
the issues for download according to their established schedule.. unfortunately, they went ahead of the fds/gb who too late .
realized the cat was out of the bag, sort of saying.. well, it got pulled off the website, for now at least.. what's so secretive about it?.
Modernizing Gilead and making it practical would require intelligence and creativity, qualities which are scorned the higher up you go in the organization.
Also, modernizing Gilead wouldn't pay. It's expensive to operate the school and support the missionaries in their assignments. If the majority of the increase these days is coming from 3rd world, underdevloped countries, that means no money is coming in from those lands; the people are too poor to contribute. The society may even be pumping money in to those countries to build KHs and such. Like any business, if it doesn't pay, it gets cut.
So why bother at all with poor countries? Maybe because if it wasn't for them the organizational increase would be precious little. In most developed lands there isn't much increase from the field at all. What increase there is, is internal, children being baptised. The organization must have it's increase in numbers, new peaks, etc.
i have never ridden/driven a motorcycle or a scooter.
but, i'm thinking about getting one.. in fact, a chinese scooter!.
they get 100 mpg on gasoline and they are under $900 bucks.. .
Years ago I rode a Vespa scooter, and have since ridden motorcycles of all sizes. Scooters are very easy to ride, and will zip you around town, and in and out of your driveway and parking spaces very easily. Even a small car will seem cumbersome in comparison.
You are vulnerable on any kind of motorcycle. Always be defensive. Never assume other drivers see you. If you are about to cross the path of a car at a stop sign, make eye contact with the driver to be sure he sees you and to determine his intentions. Same thing if a driver is about to turn left in front of you (you are driving toward him). Many, many accidents happen is these scenarios because the driver just didn't see the motorcycle.
A helmet is a must, whether it's the law in your state or not.
Among the machines I've had was a Honda 110cc trail bike...light, maneuverable, good on gas, not that different from a scooter. Wish I still had it.
If you are careful, cautious, defensive, you will have fun. Happy riding.
