https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-october-2020/how-to-conduct-a-bible-study-that-leads-to-baptism-part-two/.
i recently came across the above watchtower article which spoke about conducting bible studies which lead to baptism.
it progressed to say that if the bible study instructor does not see growth within the student or the desire to work towards baptism, then the studies should end.
In the years leading up to 1975, the early 70ies, a limit of 6 month was put up per wt instructions on duration of a bible "study". period. after that, with no baptism the hapless candidate was left to face Armageddon on his own. ha ha. j
The demonstrations of "studies", in the week's sales practice sessions are wishful thinking, destined for the publisher themselfs. No intelligent person will allow himself to be subjected to tha childish question and answer routine.
i was told that if a jw now gets caught reading or with old jw literature they can get dfed.
i doubt this is true but wanted to know for sure.
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if they spread these ideas printed then and there as applying now, as eternal truth they would.
some may be interested in this research from the scripps research institute.. this research and its conclusion builds on previous work, quote: "in a study published in the chemistry journal angewandte chemie, they demonstrated that a simple compound called diamidophosphate (dap), which was plausibly present on earth before life arose, could have chemically knitted together tiny dna building blocks called deoxynucleosides into strands of primordial dna.. the finding is the latest in a series of discoveries, over the past several years, pointing to the possibility that dna and its close chemical cousin rna arose together as products of similar chemical reactions, and that the first self-replicating molecules -- the first life forms on earth -- were mixes of the two.".
read more at this science daily web-site .... link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201228095428.htm.
fts thank you for those details. but no matter how you describe the process, it still amounts to work accomplished with energy and laws that the universe was endowed with. energy that is uncreated. laws that would not exist if they were not providing a viable platform to operate in.
the Y question is another matter, a minor detail.
the wt sponsored zoom meetings reduce individual freedom, spirituality.
the wt sponsored zoom meetings enables ego maniacs, narcissists to have their influence beamed right into your living room.
conversations that were private, personal are now broadcast, forced on all participants.
switching off the camera.
LHG, all true. we even tape the camera up, because all these features can be hacked, remotely turned on and recorded
A cult has arisen here of showing new decorations, expansive kitchens, using circular light to highlight the face, all kinds of theater. ha haa.
Imagine face recognition will catch all elders when the time comes.
"judgement starts with the house of god" the guardians.
the watchtower—study edition | august 1, 2001. make your advancement manifest.
8 first, since “oneness” is to be observed, a mature christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned.
he does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to bible understanding.
The bird is not alone. There are others in that cage that weekly reinforce this attitude. so:
It is hard to fly like an eagle * when you are surrounded by turkeys.
* eagle. the symbol of wisdom in the scriptures. rising without effort, in thermals, slope winds. Isa. 40:31.
i have a few jw relatives who are true believers.
by this i mean, they believe with all their heart that 1914 was the beginning of the last days, that this is the last generation, that we are in the very last of the last hour of this system of things, and that you should obey the governing body even if it does not make sense.
all of them are in their 60s and up into their 90s there is nothing you can say or show them to convince them or even cause a small doubt that the wt is not god organization.
source of psychological angst for JWs in that situation to uphold such a contrived interpretation, sbf:
When you were facing death by firing squad or guillotine, and wondered whether it was allowable to work raising furry animals whose pelts were used to line Luftwaffe high altitude suits.
These were true believers, not like our latter day "elders" pushing kids to pioneer while presiding over their $$$ estates.
i have a few jw relatives who are true believers.
by this i mean, they believe with all their heart that 1914 was the beginning of the last days, that this is the last generation, that we are in the very last of the last hour of this system of things, and that you should obey the governing body even if it does not make sense.
all of them are in their 60s and up into their 90s there is nothing you can say or show them to convince them or even cause a small doubt that the wt is not god organization.
intentionally misled ***JWs into a false understanding of Romans 13 because it bolstered their resolve in the face of hostile governments in the 1940s. sbf:
I was involved remotely with the class of Gilead in 1958, and a brother from germany there related how divisive, disruptive this teaching was for those in the camps, cut off from the outside and facing death for their stand based on these teaching differences !929 / 1939.
*** there is biblical precedent for that in the contest of the prophets before Ahab's death. another reason to view the whole enterprise with well founded scepticism
True believers in truth.
i have a few jw relatives who are true believers.
by this i mean, they believe with all their heart that 1914 was the beginning of the last days, that this is the last generation, that we are in the very last of the last hour of this system of things, and that you should obey the governing body even if it does not make sense.
all of them are in their 60s and up into their 90s there is nothing you can say or show them to convince them or even cause a small doubt that the wt is not god organization.
But here is where your “Gradations” in belief start to appear----------1975 After 1975 the House started to crumble slowly. pp:
before that was the revealing reversal of the Superior / supreme Authorities, Ja1 and Je2 vs the governments in the 60s.
Wt inc was wrong and Babylon t.G. was right. all along,
Nobody in their right mind could ever have absolute confidence in current wt teachings after that again. on any subject, object-tively.
here is one of the many commandments jesus instructed his twelve apostles to keep, follow, and obey!.
here is anthony morris ( supposedly selected by jehovah to keep, follow and obey the sayings of jesus ) name-calling and condemning enemies!
the pharisees used to label people as well.
look at the bible, the sermon on the mount pages quoted in the OP, nearly untouched.
i have a few jw relatives who are true believers.
by this i mean, they believe with all their heart that 1914 was the beginning of the last days, that this is the last generation, that we are in the very last of the last hour of this system of things, and that you should obey the governing body even if it does not make sense.
all of them are in their 60s and up into their 90s there is nothing you can say or show them to convince them or even cause a small doubt that the wt is not god organization.
define true belief.
In my day in the 50s, some had pet beliefs, mine based on Rev 11: !8, god will destroy war mongers. others were virulent anti clergy, because of abuse they suffered.
I now see belief in the GB among elders and elderly to sustain their hope, hope is not faith or belief. however.
As was said, wt wants [us] old ones to go, take their embarrassing knowledge with them, ,but leave their estates to wt $ inc. (or elders who have been known to be fellow-harvesters).
how many are true believers, or just doing the best bet , reverse insurance option? Playing for the crowd? on a power trip? hard to put a figure on the unknown.
