Topics Started by M.J.
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33
Were dinosaurs part of a pre-Adamic "paradise"?
by M.J. inthe wts seems to affirm a lot that adam's blunder really screwed up the earth, and that the earth was not meant to be this place full of killing, disease, death, pain, etc.. but according to the wts version of the story, did god create the earth with these types of features before adam even came on the scene?
the wts does not deny the existance of dinosaurs, who in their words were created prior to mankind during the 5th or 6th symbolic day-ages.
yet its clear from fossilized remains that dinosaurs killed each other, had a high mortality rate, often died young, suffered from disease such as cancerous tumors: .
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20
Philosophy: Satan's tool?
by M.J. ini have heard much railing from the wts about the snares of "worldly philosophies".
according to the wts, much of what is evil in the world, including the teachings of "babylon the great" is rooted in philosophy.
this appears to be one of their hotbutton "buzzwords" to promote irrational fear about anything related to philosophy.
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42
How many partook in 1935?--BIG discrepancy in the WTS numbers
by M.J. inin a 1996 questions from readers, the watchtower reported the following regarding the number of partakers in 1935: .
w96 8/15 p. 31 questions from readers ***.
the facts over the decades reflect both the completion of the calling of the anointed and jehovahs blessing on the growing "great crowd," who hope to survive "the great tribulation.
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49
JWs in Field Service Today--Christmas.
by M.J. ini guess the local kh is doing a special field service outing today, which my wife will be a part of...on christmas morning.
i think this is intrusive and disrespectful.. did any of you do fs on christmas?.
is this a common thing among jws?
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14
Family Vacation in Colorado. Suggestions?
by M.J. ini would really love to take my family (including a couple of small kids...and maybe the dog) on a road trip to the colorado rockies in late summer.
i'd like to spend at least a week out there.
any ideas on places with some good scenery, activities, places to stay (a cabin would be cool).. i haven't been out there before, and i don't know if i want to just stay in one area or make some sort of "grand circuit".
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8
Sunday's WT study
by M.J. inhi, just popped in to scan the board for some kind of review of this past sunday's wt study.
i couldn't seem to find anything.. i'm assuming no one is doing a "wt comments" type of thread any more, but i missed it can someone point it out?
i found a couple of interesting statements made and wanted to brush up on the implications (it's been a while so i need a refresher).
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29
2 Pet. 3:10 "earth and the works in it will be discovered"?? or burned up?
by M.J. inhere's the nwt rendering of the verse:.
(2 peter 3:10) 10 yet jehovahs day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be discovered.. other translations say the earth will "burn up".. nkj: but the day of the lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.. ylt: and it will come -- the day of the lord -- as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.. same goes for every other translation i've found.. the word in question, katakaio according to the lexicons i've seen only point to the meaning of: burn & consume by fire.. where did the nwt get "discovered" from?.
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9
Are Christadelphians the Faithful Discreet Slave?
by M.J. inprior to the "passing inspection" by christ , the international bible students:had no prohibition against birthdayshad no prohibitions against holidays such as christmasbelieved that all true christians went to heavenhad no prohibition to participating in governmenthad no prohibition against votinghad no prohibition against joining the military.
christadelphians had, at least for half a century before the watchtower, prohibited birthdays, "pagan holidays", government involvement, voting, participating in war and joining the military.
they also taught that true christians would not go to heaven but will inhabit a paradise on earth.. rutherford eventually instituted all these teachings.
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4
Blood doctrine vs. Theocratic War Strategy
by M.J. inin some cases, the wts's teaches that committing an act that the bible condemns is acceptable if it upholds a higher aim or principle.. one example of this is in the wts position on lying.. although the wts teaches that in general one should not lie, "protecting the interests of god's cause" is a higher aim than always being truthful (6-1-60 wt, p 352)...and so in such a case one can go ahead and lie.. incidentally, liars, aka "everyone who loves and practices lying" are classed with murderers, idolaters, abominable persons, etc., in the book of revelation.
(rev 21:8; 26-27; 22:15)...yet, according to the wts, there is a heirarchy of commandments and aims involved.
lying is permissible if it upholds the higher aim of furthering god's cause (i.e., protecting the organization).. conversely, the wts teaches that the dietary rule regarding the eating of blood must be followed without exception.
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82
Division between soul and spirit
by M.J. inhebrews 4:12
for the word of god is living and active.
sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.