Posts by StarTrekAngel

16

How the Watchtower organization does, in fact, claim to be an inspired prophet.

by Island Man in

draw any jw's attention to watchtower's history of false predictions and invariably, somewhere down the line of the conversation, the jw will tell you that watchtower never claimed to be an inspired prophet and therefore cannot be accused of being a false prophet.

but is it really true that watchtower has never claimed to be an inspired prophet?.

technically speaking, the answer is yes - i think (if i'm wrong i'd love to see the quote).

StarTrekAngel

Good summary. Despite this, even if that claim can be substantiated (the claim of no, we never said we were a prophet), the fact is that they more than once attempted to prophesied in the name of Jehovah and that is enough to be a self-proclaimed prophet. Regarding the holy spirit direction or inspiration, it is very obvious in the view of most people that they are one and the same, yet the watchtower insists on making a differentiation. Such that can not be sustained in their own writings. I have spoken to two JWs already regarding this and both have come up with the same standard answer. To quote "the society does not claim to be spirit inspired but merely spirit directed". Upon requesting an explanation on the difference, all I get is silence. I then proceed to point them to their own library or website and to search the term "Inspiration" and you will find that, under the explanation, both terms are used interchangeably to define inspiration.

My other and probably biggest pet peeve of mine is this. If the organization truly admits to not being inspired by holy spirit, how is it that they remind us 3 to 10 times a meeting that everything we get comes from Jehovah (literature, counsel, elders, etc) but only reminds us of the not-inspired every so many years, when they are in hot water?

9

how many of you are parents of adult children who still follow the wt and think you are misled?

by sowhatnow in

what have you done so far as to convince them they are misled?

what has worked for you.. it is inconceivable to me, that if my mother or father showed me proof of why the wt org is false, that i wouldn't take them seriously, after all they are older and should know better, but it seems there are some of you who have the opposite outcome, where your children think you are misled and senile, and grandparents are surely labeled as senile.

one would reason then, if this were truly the case, that you are 'senile' or demented, then wouldn't that be taken into consideration when having loving contact with your parents?

StarTrekAngel

Very true Simon. Just as painful or even more so, is to watch your children being indoctrinated in front of your very eyes and not be able to do as much as you wish you could. This has many times brought me to the question... is it ok for one respect your relatives wish, specially your wife, to continue on this belief and think its her choice? If you truly love her, isn't it your duty to keep her from what you perceive as harm?

36

How many JWs really believe the end will come "soon"?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

this topic has been on my mind lately.

i have been looking around at jws and wondering how many truly believe the end is as near as they are told.

from my personal experience, i know that my parents fully believe the end is imminent and may come any time now.

StarTrekAngel

There is a couple in our cong. He is a hardline elder, opposed to even using tablets at meetings, despite the GB doing exactly that at the last major assembly. She is pioneer and claims to be of the anointed. Up until 2 years or so ago, she would prepend the following disclaimer to every comment she made, wether at meeting, book study comments or personal conversation. Specially if the subject was related to future plans or events in her or someone else's life...

"...if this system of things lasts until next year, which I seriously doubt, we are planning to go/do/buy, this or that..."

It has since stop, or at least I have not heard her made the comment

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

StarTrekAngel

True.. I attend a spanish congo and I did notice that.

41

How many were baptized in your area, last assembly?

by brandnew in

jw
friends

how many were baptized in your area, last assembly?.

santa paula, ca..........17..

StarTrekAngel

La Feria, Texas. Two weeks ago. Was not paying all that much attention but for sure less than 10 (guaranteed or your money back), including a couple of kids. Total cost for that one day assembly, about 2000 people in attendance... $8,500. Two hours before closing time the financial statement said we had a deficit of $6,900

56

PBS program

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

watching the pbs program as i write...........

StarTrekAngel

Any chance that NPR will pick this up?

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

StarTrekAngel

Where there is a will, there is a way. If they are as eager to rebrand their bad image, they will find a way to do so without martyrs.

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

StarTrekAngel

I am a believer, despite everything I now know about the org, that things can actually change. I mean, worst things have changed. It just would take longer than many of us would hope for. While we all know the blood issue has not completely vanished, the truth is that is not as prevalent anymore. True, we can forget those unnecessary deaths. I am not apologizing for them, just citing an example on how some teaching that were central to the religion before, while still alive, are slowly fading.

16

The Watchtower logically prefers everyone that knows TTATT to disfellowship themselves

by enigma1863 in

every active jw that stays in hiding their knowledge about ttatt is a hole in the watchtower wall.

i propose those who can stay in, should, especially if they have high positions.

how else can we know what they are up to?

StarTrekAngel

Not only that. If you were alone, I could see how you would take that as a humanitarian mission. But if you have family inside, it would be the worst suffering ever to watch your family follow along

17

Caleb & Sophia video Getting Big Coverage

by freemindfade in

wow, i am kind of surprised the amount of attention this appalling video is getting from the media.

not surprised because it is appalling but that something that i grew up with was encapsulated in a cartoon and is exposing the witnesses publicly for mind control.. www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jehovah-witnesses-video-slammed-threats-kids-article-1.2116873.

StarTrekAngel

The funny thing is that this somewhat came up this weekend. As it turns out, this isn't the first time they try this. While it wasn't as obvious before, it did happen. Check the "My book of Bible Stories". There is a chapter called "The boy who fell asleep". Speaks of a time when Paul was getting ready to leave a certain place and everyone stayed up until late, listening to him. Someone (can't remember if it was a boy for sure) fell asleep and fell down a window from a 3rd floor. They show how he was resurrected but the WTBTS adds the following phrase at the end... "You can be sure he did not fall asleep again".