just heard that the society is going to stop mailed subscriptions.
magazines will all have to be picked up at the kingdom hall.
not sure when it's starting, but soon, i suppose.. sorry if this has been posted before, but i think this is very new info.
Just heard that the Society is going to stop mailed subscriptions. Magazines will all have to be picked up at the Kingdom Hall. Not sure when it's starting, but soon, I suppose.
Sorry if this has been posted before, but I think this is VERY new info.
but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.
still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.
how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?
Why is it self-important Bible explainers are so long-winded? And seem to have serious trouble using paragraphs? Cloudy, confused writing usually reflects cloudy, confused thinking. And while you're certainly welcome to your ideas, it doesn't make them very valuable ideas.
And what kind of God would have to "chastise" one of us for being wrong? Teachers who do that in schools are simply known as imcompetent. I'd expect more out of a god - even the one in the Bible - though it seems punishment is one of his favorite "teaching" tools.
Sorry to be so negative about this, but it is tiring to try to understand the ravings of pretend Bible scholar ego-maniacs. Just get a bumper sticker or wear a sign saying: "Hey!! Look at ME! I can give you another nonsense explanation of the Bible! Just ask!"
Please, take some time to study early Christianity. This statement: "In my discussion I was talking solely about those teachers who were chosen by Jehovah through Christ. Those one's who were taking the lead in preaching and teaching." Don't you understand that ALL "those one's" (sic) "taking the lead" then were claiming to be chosen by God and Christ?
Who do you think the Judaizers and "superfine apostles" were that Paul ranted about? Early Christian leaders that he disagreed with, but who claimed divine direction. Among many who became known as gnostics there were individuals who were opposed to the whole developing split in the congregation between the individual members and those who were being appointed as overseers and "priests," as it were. All being anointed with holy spirit, as they claimed, they should all have had equal rights in teaching.
It was all nonsense of course. In reality the 1st century was a huge power struggle to control Christianity, and it took a few hundred years to even come to a consensus about what writings were to be included in what we now term the Greek Scriptures. There were massive differences in Christian teachings for centuries. Still are of course, even based on those writings that eventually got accepted into the canon.
When you write - "The Bible writers were inspired. The Book itself is an inspired book." - you are starting with a false premise to begin with. It's the old circular reasoning thing again. "The Bible is inspired. How do we know that? It says it is. How do we know that statement is true? Because the Bible is inspired." Repeat. Ad nauseum.
S4
but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.
still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.
how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?
"“So everything we believe and teach must be exactly in harmony with those 1st Century Christians with absolutely no deviation.” --BP"
Does this guy know ANYTHING abut 1st Century Christianity?? Bill - go read Elaine Pagels "The Gnostic Gospels." There was massive dissension among 1st century Christians - and that is plain even in the Bible. One simple example: The elders in Acts 15 state that they were to keep free from anything sacraficed to idols. But at 1 Co. 10:25, in the midst of a discussion of this very subject, the writer says don't inquire about the matter unless you know it's going to stumble someone.
I think this is just the bleatings of another self-important Bible beater. All these folks who know just what God means and wants us all to do. Where would we be without them??? Using our brains.
S4
although i don't agree with your general motives you have accomplished some good.
it appears the watchtower has altered its official policy judging from the reports on the recent elder seminar.. allowing serial cases to be counted as two or more witnesses is similar to the exception courts make in child abuse cases.
ordinariily a jury is not to consider evidence from one case as bearing on another case but this is allowed in the case of child abuse.. i never expected them to fold this easily.
Both Silentlambs and Seeker are correct. In judicial cases the Society has allowed the testimony of two Witnesses to two seperate acts of wrongdoing by a single person for at least 20 years, I would say. At least.
This is NOT a new point and is no indication of a change in the WTS policy.
S4
hello everyone,.
i have had alot of surprises this past year since leaving the organization.it was scary at first.. one thing in particular i have realized recently is how much i subconsciencely reinforced the wts negative view of the world when i was a witness.. for example,i used to watch more negative tv programs which convinced me that the jws were right.shows such as 911,cops,true crime stories,new detectives,unsolved mysterys,cnn.....on and on.. i still like these shows and see nothing wrong with them.i can just see that i never watched anything positive when i was a jw.. or when i heard some tragedy i dwelt on it but ignored positive things.. just before i quit going to meetings i started looking at the world with new eyes.. it was very strange and confusing at first to see things more clearly.. we were taught that the word is wicked and there are just a few good people.. i have found the complete opposite to be true.. the good in this world far out ways the bad.. does anyone understand what i am saying?.
ranchette.
Your comment reminded me of an essay in a magazine I read the other day. The writer teaches a university media course on TV. The essay was making a point about how TV shapes our view of the kind of world we live in - one filled with violence and bad people.
One of the first questions he asks his students is: On average, how often does an innner-city Chicago cop fire his gun in the line of duty? He starts with once a day, and says that even the most skeptical students say that it is at least once a year. The reality? Once every 16.5 years - or just ONCE in their entire career.
He says that without TV, he lives in a much more real, more calm, and much less scary world.
S4
but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.
still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.
how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?
What are you trying to say?
This paragraph is as confusing a piece of circular thinking, disassociated quotes and gobblygook nonsense as I've ever read. Reread this and try again:
"Those He taught were able to accomplish that earthshaking preaching campaign because they were worshiping the Father in “spirit and truth.” What exactly does that mean? Turning to 1 John 5:6 informs in part: “the spirit is the truth.” In 2 Peter 1: 19-21 we learn this: “So we have conformation of what was said in prophecies and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises rises in your minds. At the same time we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual. Why? Because no prophecy ever came from man’s initiative. When men spoke for God it was the Holy Spirit that moved them.” In 1 John 5:6 we learn that “the Spirit is the truth.” The Apostle John informs us “that no lie can come from the truth.” 1 John 2:21. Compare Titus I: 2-Hebrews 6:18. Speaking about those faithful men who took the lead in the first century the Apostle John in Revelation 14:5 tells us about them: “ They never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.” Every word they taught was exactly what Jehovah wanted them to say. They were all “filled with Holy Spirit.” They gained and maintained that Spirit right to the end of their lives. That is why they were able to fully accomplish their ministry. Acts 2: 1-13, 14-21"
WHAT???? You make less sense than the WTS at times.
S4
dear all.
watched parkinson last week (week before?
), anyway, the one that starred elton john (for those not in the uk, parkinson is a bbc saturday night chat show hosted by mr michael p.).
No one thinks THEY have an accent, just other people.
And to make up for Elton singing with an American accent, Madonna talks in a fake English accent. Jesus, what a puff she is! Little mid-Western girl pretending to be something special. In a lot of ways Madonna is the epitome to me of all the worst things that people allow celebrity to do to them.
But Elton, there's a bloke that never puts on airs!!!!!!
S4
some of you are aware of my feelings about the role of women in the christian congregation and know i chose a female priest (and someone who is now a good friend) to conduct thirdson and mrs. thirdsons wedding.
what got me thinking was yesterdays review of the results of the "all colleague survey" with my manager when we discussed where we as department were doing well and where we needed improvement.
my boss scored an approval rating of over 85% on nearly every topic.
Excellent post. Having been raised a JW and served as an elder or MS for 25 years, I've done a lot of thinking about this entire gender thing. It became obvious to me even as a Witness that we were being misled in this.
For instance the quotes from the 1962 Watchtower really have dominated WTS thinking for the past half-century: "These truths arise from the fact that, basically, women feel while men think. Women frequently measure up to men and surpass them in intelligence, but they are handicapped by the weight of emotional drag. Men have more practical minds; they can judge, organize, direct."
I have frequently heard that "women feel, men think" phrase quoted by Witnesses in the decades since this WT came out. I remember how it was explained that women didn't have the emotional strength to serve as elders and leaders in the congregation. They would be too emotionally involved to deal with the difficult issues elders handle. Then I started dealing with women as managers, bosses, supervisors and therapists in the world, and realized what a bunch of bullshit that was.
I totally feel sorry for the way women are treated in the congregations. It is an ancient cultural view from a world where women and children were viewed as property. Paul just brought it into the Christian theology. And JT is do dead-on that the decision makers in the WTS are really men who have come from an essentially late-1800's Victorian mindset. For god's sake, women engineers and lawyers at Bethel still have to work under male supervision. How pathetic.
Leadership, problem-solving and interpersonal skills are in no way gender specific. Another proof of how human-influenced the WTS and the Bible really are.
S4
who here understands the role of the 'think tank' the community action network?.
have you looked at the site in-depth, especially the funding resources section?.
what assistance in direct community led activity in assistance of others, their enabling, would you like to see ideally take place?.
Celtic,
Be more specific. What exactly do you mean? As a journalizt, I've covered numerous Community Action Networks - from those dealing with hunger in my area to anti-nuclear organizations. Some make noise, and some make serious changes. What exactly are you talking about?
I have some good press connections - but these folks are not interested in things unless they are newsworthy. Silentlambs' work is an example of how an issue becomes a major news story. Paying several hundred dollars to have 500 press releases sent out will do little good if the story the release is about is not newsworthy. I get dozens of press releases each week. Most go in the recycling bin.
Are you talking about creating media events, or about trying to educate the public about JWs?
S4
there is a word going on down here that the wt society has changed president, and that the new guy apointed for the job is non - anoited.
is that posibly thruth or just a joke going arround?
has anyone heard such a thing?
I'm not sure where you've been Explorer, but I guess not exploring the WTS!
In Oct. 2000, over a year ago, the Society totally changed its legal arrangement. Max Larsen is now president. None of the Gov Body hold any legal positions (pres/vice pres/sec/treas) for any of the legal entities that make up the WTS.
Doctrinal changes? Nah. Covering their collective asses in case of legal action against a Gov Body that has had its head up its ass for decades, along with its foot in its mouth, resulting in a lot of embarrassing, and potentially dangerous (ie: think lawsuits) organizational decisions.
S4
