mizpah

Joined

• started 11 topics
• posted 652 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by mizpah

• 
  38

  Halloween after leaving the JW's

  by TresHappy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was a kid, we did halloween every year.

  no big deal, just costumes and trick or treating, but that was the 70's.

  when i was 11 we stopped celebrating everything, and several years ago i left the jw's.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  Sirona:

  I don't understand why you think there is a conflict in our statements. Did you not agree that Halloween was from "pagan" and "occult" sources and that witches were from the same? In my first posting, I merely agreed with TresHappy about his feelings on the holiday and added that I thought it was a "major" occult holiday. Do you disagree with this?

  Please note that I did not say in my second posting that all pagans viewed witches in a bad light. What I noted was that some historians noted that "some" pagans persecuted witches as well. One noted the Celts in particular. And I also said "if true" then it would be hard to understand why witches would celebrate a holiday in which they were persecuted.

  Rather than call names, I wish you would read my postings more carefully.
• 
  32

  JWD "Secret Lingo"

  by imallgrowedup in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thanks to tinkerbell, i just learned what "bttt" stands for!

  i'm just feeling so special now!

  imwtk, (inquiring minds want to know).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  NTRAT: "Now to remember all this!"
• 
  2

  Latest on Besier

  by Jerry Bergman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  note: i have received what purports to be professor gerhard besier's speech that he delivered at the opening of the scientology's cult's "human rights" office in brussels, belgium on september 17. .

  see, also my response to scientology's "proclamation on religion, human rights and society.".

  http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/writings/armstrong-ltr-2003-09-28-brussels.html.

  1. 
  2. 
• 

  mizpah

  JB:

  Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Scientology is one of the scariest cults around. It is far worse than the Watchtower Society. If reports are to be believed, it has used threats, harrassment and violence to discourage former members in their opposition. Like the Society, it maintains a battery of lawyers who initiate countersuits to any litigation. In this way, it browbeats and outspends the few voices that have been raised against it.

  It's ironic that such a intolerant "religious" organization should cry "foul" when it is restricted in other countries because of its quesionable status. If freedom of religion is a right as it demands, then let it begin in the Church of Scientology itselfl!
• 
  10

  Visible org

  by A Paduan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've heard that jws explain their non-links to early christianity by some sort of imagined "competition of religions" that they "won" - is this true?

  or else, how else do they explain away writings like this -

  "all the ancient records of the roman bishops which have been handed down to us by

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  One only has to consider the historical and biblical example of Israel to realize how fast apostasy spread. The early Church fathers had a definate agenda to establish the church in Rome to secure their own authority in the church. It was an issue that eventually rent the church into opposing groups. Orthodox believers today cite their origins in the "patriarchs" of the early churches and insist on the doctrine of equal primacy.

  It's hardly a failing of God no more than it was in Israel. God predicted the events and foretold of the apostasy. Likewise, He did the same respecting the "Christian" church.
• 
  40

  Disassociation and Ray Franz

  by greatteacher in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  does anyone think that the rule which states that "associating with a disassociated person is a disfellowshipping offense" was created to disfellowship ray franz?

  the reason i ask this is because i noticed that the watchtower published many articles with that rule at the same time period franz left bethal, but published nothing about it before around 1981.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  I understood it as Blondie did. The rule was made after but applied retroactively to Ray. The GB has undoubtedly denied its own responsiblity in his disfellowshipping by putting it upon the elders in Gadsden. But under the circumstances, the elders of that congregation would never have dared to do it on their own without constant communication with the Governing Body members. Clearly, the GB used the elders of the congregation to do its own dirty work.

  Then, there is the question of why the Watchtower Society made a $10,000 settlement with a "disfellowshipped" person. Did it fear a major lawsuit? The hypocrisy and deceit of the Watchtower Society is clearly evident in its treatment of Ray Franz
• 
  29

  I had to DF my brother a few days ago!

  by cyberguy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i had to df my brother a few days ago!

  i just wanted to visit him and my family late december.

  anyway, he said, "we don?t want you here!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  Cyberguy:

  I was sorry to read about your separation from your brother. It is a very painful experience that many of us have gone through. However, let me assure you that you can survive the pain and hurt.

  My wife and I decided that it is best not to initiate the break by discussing religous matters with our loved ones who remain in the organization. We only speak of our love and concern for them. And we reassure them that they are always welcome in our house. On occasion we have send notes to let them know we think of them and miss them.

  And even if we don't get a response, we feel we have done our part to try to keep the door open. We also hope that the reminder will some day "prick" their consciences. If they ever do decide to leave the organization, they know they have family waiting for them.
• 
  31

  An Elder Visited Me Today At Work

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a very nice elder came by to invite me to the circuit overseer's visit, which will be next week.

  i was told that i was very missed by him and many others and he got teary eyed.

  i told him that i truly appreciated his concern and always liked him as a fine person.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  minimus:

  It sounds as if you handled the whole situation with kindness and discretion. It also appears that the elder has his own problems with the others in the congregation. He's come to help you this time...perhaps, next time you will be able to help him.
• 
  4

  Interesting article on the Boston Globe: Building Blood

  by observador in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  http://www.boston.com/business/technology/biotechnology/articles/2003/11/03/building_blood/

  building blood companies face high hurdles in the quest for a safe substitute

  by ross kerber, globe staff, 11/3/2003.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  I'm sure in the mind of most JWs that their proscription of blood transfusions is mainly reponsible for this kind of medical research. But the article mentioned that other problems that beset the medical field with regard to blood is the major reason for this development. There are real problems with transfusions aside from the peculiar scriptural view of the Watchtower Society. So any blood substitute will be welcomed news for everyone...not only JWs.
• 
  10

  A knock at the door - by others

  by A Paduan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  .

  do jws give to charitable orgs that knock at their door ?

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  Twenty years ago, we were discouraged from giving any contributions to charitable organizations. It was reasoned that we could do much more good by contributing to the Watchtower Society because people would find "everlasting life" instead of temporary help in this "old system of things."

  It was definately wrong to give to any religious organization, such as the Salvation Army, because of their association with "Babylon the Great."

  If only the Watchtower had followed the example of the Salvation Army and other churches in providing food, clothing and assistance to the poor and needy, it might have followed in the footsteps of Christ. It's so good to have left the narrow view of Jehovah's Witnesses behind and to be able to contribute from the heart to some of these worthy causes.
• 
  5

  Biblical Unitarians ? / Christian Educational Services?

  by hooberus in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there is a popular website that advertsies on many forums including here and e-bay.

  this group is called "biblical unitarians" i believe that they are associated with "christian educational services" .

  i believe that there are several problems with the beliefs of this group.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  mizpah

  hooberus:

  From the information on their site, I understood it as you did. If you look up the information listed under John 1:1 it goes into even more detail about their views. As I understand it, these Unitarians do not believe that the "Word" was Jesus in his prehuman existence.