Srecko Sostar

1) When does blood cease to be blood?
According to WT's interpretation blood stops, ceases being blood if it is divided into smaller portions, so-called fractions.
WT believes (according to some medical science research) that there are 4 major parts, components of which the blood consists. This are:
... four primary blood components—red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma. (source: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008086)
WT teaches its believers that it is unacceptable (under threat of excommunication) to take blood and any of these 4 major blood components. But a personal decision of a JW member is permissible if accepts some of the fractions that can be obtained from this 4 major components.
 
2) When does a new human being, person (or animal creature) emerge? By conception or by birth? Can life come only from 2 sex cells (specialized cells) during fertilization?
Please note also that the Bible does not say that a woman conceives a piece of tissue. Instead, it states: “An able-bodied man has been conceived!” (Job 3:3) This too indicates that according to the Bible, a child exists as a person from the time of his conception. Yes, that is when human life begins. (source: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102009202)
In this case, WT stands for the position that only two cells (only two components as the primary, major components) forms, creates a new person. Man consists of several different types and sizes of tissues. Tissues forms organs. How much tissues and organs man should have that would be called a man? According to WT, man is a man, person if he consists of only two cells. It does not have to be composed of tissues and organs to be called a man. Have to be only 2 cells. Only two coupled cells are needed for the existence of one new person, the new man. Two cells in comparison to 4 major components in blood issue. Human body consists of more than 50,000 billion cells. In 1 liter of human blood there are about 4.5-5 x 1012  red cells. Interesting comparison?! 
Imagine! 4.5-5 x 1012  red cells are needed to make this part of the blood to be called "major, primary part of the blood". And such  part may not be used to treat a disease or operation for JW member, because it is called "holy, sacred". Blood is holy - red cells are holy - white cells are holy - plasma is holy - platelets are holy. Holy means forbidden in this case.   
On the other hand, only two connected, coupled cells are needed to be called sacred, holy, person, life.  Interestingly and controversial.

I'll just say this to you Billy.... At least Anna believes some of what I say and agrees with me on somethings. Whereas you just put your head in the sand, call all victims liars (by your comments) and think the Org is squeaky clean. 
I really don't care what you 'have not been made aware of', you are not important to me, whereas the Victims of Child Abuse are important to me.  
I'll tell you the same as i told Anna. if the elders want to disfellowship someone they will create a 'reason' to do it. 
And one false reason they use is that a person is 'Causing a division in the congregation' which could mean anything..

RULE NO. 1.)  ... IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY!
RULE NO. 2.) .... SEE RULE NO. 1.)
This is true when ANY religion evolves to the point that the Leadership does not have to do hard labor in the commercial world, such as the Apostle Paul did, making tents .. and the Apostle Luke did, as a physician, or the other Apostles did as fishermen or day laborers.
It gets worse when any religion starts collecting Real Estate, and the Leaders never miss any meals, and always sleep warm at night.
In the history of the world, there have never, EVER been any exceptions ....
...and there arn't any now.
 

money!

@The Librarian you mentioned computer games i believe or PS4 and such like. Many of such games are for one person only, one player, and sometimes people shut themselves off in a room all alone to play these games. Mo son who is now 24 does this. It may be a 'wind down' after work for him but he does spend many hours through the night playing such games. 
As for Chess I used to love it at school, but it seemed to fade out of my life as i became more active as a teenager.  Mods didn't play chess, they danced, rode scooters and spent their money on clothes and records. 
Agree with @Srecko Sostar that Jesus wasn't concerned about such trivial things. 
But there are many things one could disagree with if one was as piccy as the GB. For instance Bridesmaids at weddings. Yes JW's have Bridesmaids even if they call them by a different name. But of course Bridesmaids are based on superstition and traditions of men. 
There was once I was at a Witness gathering / party and the youngsters were playing music. I had to say no no to one song which they started to play, but no one else seemed to object to it. The song 'I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby'. It's horrible.
Yet many years ago when I lived in Bristol a popular Elder of the Avonmouth Congregation would go around whistling 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. When i objected to it and told him why, he didn't care and continued to whistle it.  The song by Queen was sung by a homosexual and was about murder.  'Put a gun against his head, pulled the trigger now he's dead', Yes, lovely.
So you see we could object to so much in life. GB stop trying to turn people into puppets. You already have your Elder puppets,
'Hey GB leave the Congregants alone'  (sorry it's a take off of Another Brick in the Wall ) 'Hey teacher leave those kids alone' 

Jesus was only 3 1/2 years on Earth in a role of Teacher and Master. He had not enough time for "stupid" subjects .....
.... for example;
( would his  true disciple reject false, pagan customs, as playing chess, toasting,  exchange gifts and feast, Pinata... etc)
(or what sort of intimacy  are allowed and what are forbidden  between male and female couple ......)   :))).

Um, seems we are back to square one. All part and parcel as to why I left. Not just the actual abuse but how it isn't dealt with. 
In my opinion ALL Child Abuse accusations should be handed over to the Police immediately, and Social Services / Children's Welfare should be involved if a child is in danger.
Congregations should be told that if a child or adult makes an accusation then the Police and authorities will be informed directly. That would give those making accusations advanced warning and it would leave it in their hands to make accusation or not, removing the problem of a case mentioned earlier on another topic where by Elders were moaned at for reporting it. And if it's a child making the accusation that would mean that it is happening right now (not in the past) so immediate attention is needed. 
So, now it is Spain that is reporting Child Abuse in the JW Org. I hadn't heard of this before. We are getting closer to what I've said before IT'S EARTHWIDE.  I'm hoping that by the end of this year all countries will be reporting any abuse of any kind within the JW org.  But there are some countries that will have more of a problem of course, where women and children are treated poorly generally. 
We now have :-
Spain, Netherlands, Australia, America, Canada and UK.
If anyone has any news of other countries involved I would like to have information please.  I've started to write details in a book for my own information as I find it difficult to retain it all in my head. 
Are the GB still saying it's a 'few apostates telling lies' ? 
( Special message for S. M.  I am only interested in what is happening within the JW Org earthwide )

Jesus was only 3 1/2 years on Earth in a role of Teacher and Master. He had not enough time for "stupid" subjects .....
.... for example;
( would his  true disciple reject false, pagan customs, as playing chess, toasting,  exchange gifts and feast, Pinata... etc)
(or what sort of intimacy  are allowed and what are forbidden  between male and female couple ......)   :))).

.....and to make warning to membership of congregation and local "worldly" community about such ones? 

When I was in my 20's, I considered the Watchtower's "Questions", phrased in such a way as to make being COMPLETELY idiotic and clueless, and the opinions of writers living in an artificial fantasy bubble of their own construction,, plausibly deniable as the rantings of agenda driven shut-ins.
They were also against riding a motorcycle, skydiving, surfing, SCUBA diving and anything that stretched a person's mind and imagination.
To me... about such things they had absolutely NO credibility whatsoever.
Now, I am an old man, and look back with great fondness at my youth for having done such things .. and my "bucket list"is a lot shallower, and has many less items in it.
King David was most of his early life a bloodied combat soldier ... and was in the end described as "Old and satisfied with his days".
I can just see his response if some "Pharisee" told him it was a bad idea to play a game of chess.
Jesus stated that the poor would ALWAYS be with us.
He never addressed that the determined STUPID would always be with us.

Awake 73 March 22 p.12 "the spirit of competition between players can lead to unpleasant circumstances...in some homes tensions linger long past checkmate...Chess has been a game of war since it originated...the games connection to war is obvious....a play substitute for the art of war...there is a danger of stirring uo competition with one another even developing hostility with one another something the bible warns against....What effect does playing Chess have on one? Is it a wholesome effect? ....there are questions regarding it that each one who plays chess should consider."

 

....
 

Dear @admin you can close this topic down now. I think it's served its purpose. Thankyou 

Martha having been a JW before her 40 year period of being inactive as a JW from 1974 to 2014 (or pick any 40 year period prior to January 2015), Martha would have still believed the truth was that organ transplants were cannibalism and were prone to causing personality changes.  This ‘truth’ didn’t change until 1980, and by 1989 organ transplants were being commended as having helped people.
Blood transfusions-----even of the component parts of blood----were a disfellowshipping offense back when Martha became inactive.  She’ll find that now the truth has changed again and blood transfusions are acceptable as long as the whole blood is broken down into fractions.  Also that violating the WTS ban on blood does not bring disfellowshipping but disassociation (a distinction without a difference since the punishment is the same for both: shunning.)

Samuel Herd alludes to the writing as being done by others, the GB’s 30+ helpers.  In a recent video on slaving for “Jehovah” given to the Bethelites he said, “While all major decisions and approval are made by the FDS, we have 30 qualified helpers and several other brothers who work hard in assisting us in accomplishing our responsibilities of feeding and caring for Jehovah’s sheep.”

As he runs down the long list of organizational (BUSINESS) matters needing to be addressed, including “looking into legal fights we’re having all over the world”, he finally says, “involved with all teachings”. “Now some of us may be viewed as iron chefs, but we’re not the only ones in the kitchen, you better believe that”.

How could anyone listening to this talk miss the priorities given to running a corporation – a business, over simply feeding the sheep as the early apostles did? 

He begins his talk on slavery by saying, “Paul told the early Christians in Corinth, “you do not belong to yourselves, for you were bought with a price”. 

He broke up two scriptures to create his own. 

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6:19,20

Initially, one would believe he is speaking of Christ’s sacrifice, but after hearing his talk, I can only surmise he means one is “bought” through baptism when relinquishing one’s identity, and donning a new one in the name of a corporation, becoming its slave.  This whole business in the name of God contradicts scripture, but it has persuaded so many to become "company men", devoted to its running, and convinced that God is backing it.  

Obviously, this scripture was not part of his talk:  “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men”. 1 Cor 7:23

Or this one:  “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Gal 1:10

And not this one: “No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money”.  Matt 6:24

Or this one:   “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

Definitely not this one: “And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15. 
http://pearl-disgustingthing.blogspot.com/
 


 

Come back to what, Anna?  And who’s forgiveness do we seek? Is it the organization and under man's decision of acceptability and worthiness?  Or do the scriptures say we repent and come back to God and Christ?  God isn't the organization, is he?
Isa 46:5 - “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?”
John the Baptist told the Jewish people, to repent of their wrongdoings, never leading them to an organization, but preparing them for Christ.  Jesus' message was to his own people, to repent.  They did this by recognizing who he was and his salvation for all of us.  Matt 4:17
Should we equate salvation with what man has built, or should we respectfully give credit of salvation to Christ and the Father?
1 Cor 7:23 - "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men."
We become "slaves of men" when putting our salvation in their hands, as if they are the ones who read our hearts.
Jer 17:10 -  "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
 
Ps 139: 23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."
Rom 8:27 - "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
The Catholic Church uses a false priest and confessional, becoming mediator between man and Christ.  The Watchtower uses false priests, called a judicial committee, and the back room, becoming mediator between man and Christ.
 

What seems to me to be missing from the brochure is any mention of those returning being disciplined. Why is that?
Martha's story stood out because of the length of time she was an inactive JW, and because her sins were of the gross kind to the WTS: politics, birthdays, churches.  But no mention of the elders sitting down and talking to her to determine what her sins were for those 40 years, how many times she had committed those sins, and which ones, if any,she was still practicing. The brochure's recounting of Martha's experience gives the impression that after having confessed her sins to Jehovah and evidently been forgiven by him, she returned to the meetings and was welcomed back with open arms.
Is that the correct message the WTS is trying to convey?
We both know "return to Jehovah" means "return to the WTS", don't we.

Aranua, I think you were replying to me on this post. I don't think I am leaving YHWH out of anything, but rather it is the men who call themselves elders who have left YHWH out of it and took it upon themselves to determine who is repentant and who is not. I mean, think about this for a moment, Who establishes the "rule" or criteria for how long a person must "study" WT material before they can be baptized? Is it YHWH or is it men? Looking at the Bible, specifically Acts 8:29-39, what did the Ethiopian have to do? What were the requirements for him? None, but yet there are these requirements made by men within the Org? How about the requirement to show up late and leave early for meetings to prove your repentance to the elders, if one were disfellowshipped, and for how long must one be under this bondage to be considered "good enough"? Did Jesus require this of the thief next to Him in Luke 23:42&43? What was the requirement?

Right, and I agree with you on the point that God knows,  but Is there a real difference between willful and out of weakness? Even in weakness we have a conscience. Where in the Bible does it say the degrees of severity of sin? 
 
My thought on this matter is who does elder so and so think he is by determining who is and who is not repentant? Is that not God's job? 

Because knowing ... when others do not ... is what has given, scam artists, flim-flam men, shamans, priests, and ecclesiastical tap-dancers  power prestige, and money, and position in various societies, since four guys went hunting for animals, and OG, the caveman,  supposedly was the only one who knew where the best hunting grounds were.
You do not actually have to BE a wise man, or in the case of Punxsutawney Phil, a weather predicting Groundhog in Gobbler's Knob Pennsylvania .... you only need the REPUTATION !
Clergy by ANY nomenclature are trained experts at "knowing the mind of God".
It's their Busine$$.
 
 

So if this is the basis for your belief, then probably what you'll want to do is first of all find out which bible book your foundational scripture is in. (It's Exodus by the way.)
 
Ex 1:6 - Eventually Joseph died, and also all his brothers and all that generation.
 
It's not a complicated scripture.
Let me ask you this. If you die in 2017 and all your brothers and all your generation also die at some point, what does "generation" mean if you don't impose any weirdness on the text? Do your precise birth and death times change the fundamental meaning of the word generation?
Of course there are overlaps in a "generation". The only possible way for there not to be overlaps would be for each generation to have a batch of children be born at the same minute of a certain year, and die at a simultanous minute of a later year.
But does your grandfather suddenly become part of your generation just because your life overlapped with him? Does that overlap of a few years between you and your brothers give latitude to distort the language to allow for President Kennedy to be of your generation even if your life overlapped with him?
 
 
 
 

At a relative's house, their 4 year old daughter showed the same appreciation, and asked if she could "say grace" at dinner.
She bowed her head, put her fingers together, and prayed
"Our Father, who art in heaven, Howard be thy name ..."

@Gone Away  Um, erroneous eh ? 
15 February 1983 Watchtower, pp 12-13, article Four Requirements for Salvation: “Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.”
Watchtower March 1, 1985 p 14: “Only Christian witnesses of Jehovah who successfully pass this test will survive and come forth like fire-refined gold for God’s use in his precious new order.”
Watchtower September 1, 1989 p 19: "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower September 15, 1993 p 22: “But if we were to draw away from Jehovah’s organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy.”
Watchtower May 15, 2006: "During the final period of the ancient world that perished in the Flood, Noah was a faithful preacher of righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5) In these last days of the present system of things, Jehovah's people are making known God's righteous standards and are declaring good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world. (2 Peter 3:9-13) Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah's universal organization."
Watchtower December 15, 2007: "But Jehovah's servants already belong to the only organization that will survive the end of this wicked system of things."
Now i will admit that i haven't looked up these Watchtowers and checked the quotes, so maybe if you disagree with them you may want to check them out yourself. 

For an actor, timing is very important!

John Wayne was for 20 years buried without a headstone, but he was buried after death. in Corona Del Mar, California.