Posts by John Aquila

19

As a Work of Literature The Bible is Just Dreadful

by cofty in

of course it's easy to criticise the bible for all manner of serious flaws, but it fails on a more basic level.. it is just a terrible piece of literature.. this piece on "southern skeptic" is well worth a read.. god is a terrible writer....

John Aquila

2. Revelations from God are intended to be public, including written ones.

That’s why the book of Revelation should never have been accepted as being from God.

(Revelation 9:7-10) . . .And the likenesses of the locusts resembled horses prepared for battle; and upon their heads [were] what seemed to be crowns like gold, and their faces [were] as men’s faces, 8 but they had hair as women’s hair. And their teeth were as those of lions; 9 and they had breastplates like iron breastplates. And the sound of their wings [was] as the sound of chariots of many horses running into battle. 10 Also, they have tails and stings like scorpions; and in their tails is their authority to hurt . . .

Image result for pic of locust with men's head revelation book

20

Futility of being right

by JWdaughter in

so, on another thread, about pluto, grreat teacher said something that speaks to my feelings about religon.

"i've kinda been sad since pluto has been demoted to dwarf planet.. you talk about 9 planets and all the little kids at school will correct you real quick and tell you that now there are only 8 planets in the solar system!".

nothing in the universe has changed but the opinion of men.

John Aquila

I've kinda been sad since Pluto has been demoted to dwarf planet. Nothing in the universe has changed but the opinion of men. Some men. And because some men say there are only 8 planets, now there are 8.I would like to blame it on JW thinking/upbringing,but its not just a JW thing. Its a character flaw that I think being a JW can exacerbate

Most every religious debate is pointless. What "I" think about any of it fundamentally doesnt matter if I am an asshole to the the people around me.

Totally agree. When I first left the WT, I would listen to every single debate on every religious subject and take sides. Now I’m at the point where I really don’t care what other people believe. I don’t even care if JWs continue to be trapped in that cult. The door is open to anyone who wants to walk out. If they are happy being in, it’s not my concern anymore.

Thanks for the demotion. I'm dwarf a planet now, huh!

Image result for pluto dog pic

8

Seeking First

by berrygerry in

in response to a post on reddit, i would like to make this long withheld post.on more than one occasion, i have experienced what seemed like miracles.due to whatever circumstances, in retrospect, largely caused by borg directive, our family became perpetually "in need.

"my efforts, as the "head," to do the right borg thing, service, meeting attendance, family worship, never seemed to provide the relief promised by wts.mentally, i have always wrestled with the contradiction of job and of matt.

6:33.satan challenged that if a jw were tested with material, etc.

John Aquila

If you get a chance to read some of the comments made by lottery winners, you will see many saying;

"Thank you God for answering my prayer"

So what about this, why was this prayer "NOT" answered?

Image result for baby dying and vulture

8

P.S. To All members of the Worldwide Order of Special Full-Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses

by The Searcher in

based on the org's doctrine regarding john 5:28, 29 "do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment", namely - .

that "those resurrected to life on earth will be judged "according to their deeds" during judgment day", then be prepared to lock up your house, possessions, & daughters during christ's 1000 years reign, because the "faithful slave" says that evil people will be judged for doing evil things after they are resurrected and living in the new world!.

that doesn't sound like a paradise to me!

John Aquila

because the "faithful slave" says that evil people will be judged for doing evil things after they are resurrected and living in the new world!

Lol TS. That's a good one. That just proves how easy it is to get the Bible to say anything you want. No wonder it's the best business a person can get into- plus the business is tax exempt.

18

Disfellowshipped people are quickly reinstated / Japan

by nakanozzi in

i hear a number of disfellowshiped are quickly reinstated in acertain circuit in japan.one disfellowshipped person who are obviously in worldly.

clothings, attended a meeting.whole congregation thought that person was not yet sincerely repented,but, announcement was made that the person was reinstated.branch office and circuit overseers are eager to bringdisfellowshiped back to the organization.local elders are not very pleased about it..

John Aquila

When I was disfellowshipped for the second time, it took 2 years and 5 letters requesting reinstatement for me to finally get reinstated.

Wow IRG- I think some of those elders don't like you or are jealous of you for some reason.

9

Does it say anything in the bible about being a “spiritual head” or the head being responsible for everyone’s “spiritual growth”?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

my wife is really getting on my case about not being spiritual and leading the family spiritually.

at this point, i really dont go to meetings anymore nor do i have the desire to go.

i guess its not enough that i work 50 hours a week and pay the majority of the household bills with no complaints.

John Aquila

The spiritual head is something the WT made up like everything else.

I would ask your wife to show you where in the Bible it says a spiritual head is responsible for "Anyone's Life" and then show her this.

(Galatians 6:5) . . .For each one will carry his own load.

(2 Corinthians 1:24) . . .Not that we are the masters over YOUR faith, but we are fellow workers for YOUR joy, for it is by [YOUR] faith that YOU are standing.

63

How the Watchtower Screws Up Your View of Scripture

by CalebInFloroda in

while i do not argue the stand of atheism (because as a jew i find it totally logical and acceptable), i have noticed that there are odd carryover preconceptions about scripture that some hold as axiomatic about the bible (at least the hebrew texts), misconceptions that have nothing to do with the jewish scriptures themselves.. so regardless of what you may think of scripture, whether you believe it is of g-d or not, i thought some of you might enjoy a reference to see how much the watchtower teaching on scripture might still be influencing the conclusions you are making today...at least about the tanakh.

jews read their texts acknowledging the following:.

1. no scriptural concept of original sin.

John Aquila

They are not accepted as part of the Hebrew Bible because they were not composed in the Hebrew language. These are Jewish writings that were composed in Greek.You see Jews divide their sacred texts by different categories, and we also don't view "canonization" in the same light that Christians do. (In fact, the Scripture "canon" was invented by the Christian Gnostic heretic Marcion of Sinope, and even the word "canon" is Greek, not Hebrew.)

Thanks Caleb, pretty good information

26

Bethelite"s wife storms out of headquarters and leaves him...she was forced into Bethel. My story begins....

by Witness 007 in

we were all in our 20's the 1990's pioneers who still hoped the 1914 generation was for real.

jenny {names changed} loved peter who was younger then me and very handsome.

he wanted to go to bethel since he was a kid.

John Aquila

A broken spirit 38 years old. Sorry I couldn't help you Jenny.

That's not to bad when i compare her with some sisters that will turn 70 in a few years. Never married, never had kids, never bought a home, all because some CO told them to wait for the New Order just around the corner.

It's so sad and I dare not tell them about TTATT at this point in their life, because it just won't benefit them in anyway.

69

The 1995 Generation Change

by sloppyjoe2 in

jw
friends

i was just a teenager and have a vivid memory of sitting in a chair doing a microphone for the sunday meeting.

everyone was commenting that it didn't mean the end was far off, and it didn't change the condition of the dead, or the 144,000, or the trinity so we should still remain faithful.

this is my first memory as a kid being just a teen that i ever had a single doubt.

John Aquila

OEJ

I guess a lot of people either missed it altogether or just couldn't accept it.

To this day about 95% of my old congregation members will not accept the overlapping generation change. They tell me that new light will reveal that the old light was correct.

DOC

She dumped him cold. I'm sure she's still glad she did, but she's still a "faithful" JW sister, now remarried, and still not very happy. (Maybe it was HER?)

LOL! Not “Maybe” it was her

(IT WAS HER)

That’s just so funny, I’ll be cracking up all day.

63

How the Watchtower Screws Up Your View of Scripture

by CalebInFloroda in

while i do not argue the stand of atheism (because as a jew i find it totally logical and acceptable), i have noticed that there are odd carryover preconceptions about scripture that some hold as axiomatic about the bible (at least the hebrew texts), misconceptions that have nothing to do with the jewish scriptures themselves.. so regardless of what you may think of scripture, whether you believe it is of g-d or not, i thought some of you might enjoy a reference to see how much the watchtower teaching on scripture might still be influencing the conclusions you are making today...at least about the tanakh.

jews read their texts acknowledging the following:.

1. no scriptural concept of original sin.

John Aquila

The word “firmament” is not a water canopy.

Hey Caleb, I never understood that reading until today. Thanks!