What gets me is the constant mention of "mother's day" as if that day was somehow more significant to the death of the son than any other day. People get so weirdly sentimental over stuff that has been made up by people anyway. Folks arn't real anymore, it's all a facade and drama.

Honestly, I cannot imagine our group overseer ever sending a text like that. Nor anyone else in our cong. for that matter. Especially not the "I just need to keep a track of you" bit. That just sounds too creepy. But everybody is different, as are cultures. What sounds ok to some, sounds weird to another.

On 5/13/2019 at 12:37 AM, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

but the reason you "save" stuff like this is because there are people who are agenda driven in their reasoning abilities

I guess that's why I've saved it

23 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

 

I just checked again, now.   Someone has re-posted the "Men's Version" of the video.   Here is the link.

 

The free program, Freemake Video Downloader, can be used to download it to your hard drive, should you want to do so, before it is gone, again.

Thanks, but I don't want to watch it again. (I already have it saved, no idea why though, since I don't want to watch it again...)

2 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

According to that theory, the Nazis were merely trying to bring the glories of German Civilization to the underprivileged of the world.

Well yes, I am sure that WAS actually the theory. In practice of course it turned nasty. Even then it's a matter of opinion for some. As you know, there are people who believe the Holocaust never happened. BUT there is an arbiter of all wrongs and rights and that is God of course. He is the only one who has the right and ability to designate between the two. We humans, although created in his image, can never perfectly match his standards. In my opinion, both videos were absolutely awful 🤮. But I wonder how the new Bethelites see it.  What if instead of sniggering about it among themselves, or making other disparaging remarks, they actually find it helpful?? Who knows??

19 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

most insane and cringeworthy videos ever created .

I must admit, I agree with you. But then I wonder, maybe it's me who is seeing it "wrong". Attitude, after all, is everything...

19 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

deliberate faults of JW Org. 

Whether this is deliberate or not is a matter of opinion of course. In any case, I would hesitate to say that anyone makes deliberate mistakes unless they are truly evil. So you are suggesting that the GB are evil. Well, I do not think they are evil.

19 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Quote " For example there are those who condone things that God hates and implicitly rejects (eg. practicing homosexuals). "

I see you didn't mention Pedophilia then. You really are blind. 

No one condones Pedophilia.

19 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

That is because those people serve the Org as their god. They do not look for truth, they are just spoonfed and accept it all. Even when the meanings of scriptures are changed by the GB or writing dept', the congregants do not even question it, they dare not for fear of being disfellowshipped. Those poor people do not know any other life, they are trapped inside that giant bubble, and frightened to look for God themselves. They rely on men that are not anointed with Holy Spirit, to guide them. The blind leading the blind, and we know what happens next. 

You make very general sweeping statements here about what and how Witnesses believe. Most of the Witnesses I know (I would say 99.9%) have a deep and private relationship with God themselves, with Jesus as their mediator. It must be just your idea to somehow involve a third party, the GB,  in this relationship. I do not know anyone who does that!

Oh my. It seems Billy the Kid's imagination is running away with him!

On 5/5/2019 at 11:52 AM, JW Insider said:

On 5/5/2019 at 11:01 AM, JOHN BUTLER said:

OK, let's get down to basics. what exactly was Anna saying about people that reject the JW Org ?

I'll let her answer that.

What I was saying is that not everyone who has faith in God, is recognized by God as a true worshiper. It is true that ultimately God reads hearts and reads motives, and that we cannot judge anyone, but it is also true that there are many people whose faith is obviously misguided and not in harmony with scripture at all. For example there are those who condone things that God hates and implicitly rejects (eg. practicing homosexuals). Then there are those who have so much faith in God that they will kill thousands of people including themselves, imagining  they have rendered a sacred service to God and will wake up in paradise.

My answer was to" Witness" who suggested that faith in God was enough to please God, and therefor those who leave the org. but still have faith in God are "ok". So I said it's not about the organization as "Witness" sees it. Firstly, the organization is only in place because of the preaching work. I do not know any other establishment, besides Jehovah's Witnesses, all of whose members go out preaching. Secondly, the organization strives to strictly adhere to the scriptures. I do not know any other establishment that does this. Also, as far as I am aware, those who "leave the org." do not continue to preach, and no longer strictly adhere to the scriptures. But, some of those "who leave the org." also come back.

All those reasons you listed John, I can why someone could feel offended by them, but I also know they are arguable, and if anyone wants to learn the facts about these things they can, but many don't.  There are also many that do not see those things you listed as reasons to leave the org. because they have understood the cause of them is not due to maliciousness or evilness, but rather over-eagerness, naivete, over-zealousness, pride, fear, and other human failings that have been written about in the Bible as being possessed by  persons who God viewed favorably, despite those failings. These individuals were chastised for these weaknesses, but they never permanently lost God's favour.

21 hours ago, Witness said:

Hundreds of people are disfellowshipped every year for rejecting the organization, but STILL maintain their faith in God and Christ. 

It really is not about rejecting the organization, it's because not everyone who has faith in God qualifies to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It's about rejecting God's standards. For example, you may have faith in God, but believe the Trinity. Or you may have faith in God but see nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas, or practicing homosexuality, or living an immoral life style, or smoking......etc.

Painting by Briton Riviere

Loyalty vs. faithfulness in a dog (as explained by Outta here) is I think just a case of semantics. Although Outta here was correct in what he said, in practice people understand it the way they want. People like to project human emotions and behaviour on to animals. I do believe though that dogs are able to communicate with humans because they "know" how to react like us. They are sad when we are sad, and happy when we are happy and they show it the same way (ok, not quite). I think dogs were made for people 🙂

19 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Jehovah God did NOT create ANY dogs.  They are the sole creation of mankind .... using the life and genetic potential God gave the Grey Wolf.

Yes, I know they share same genetics. But I think that when God created the domestic animals as per Genesis, he created the dog as a domestic animal 😀. I don't care what science says about the origin of dogs, they say the same about cows, sheep, chickens, pigs.....in that case, what would be the point of Genesis specifically differentiating between wild animals and domestic animals. (Actually, science says that everything came from prokaroytic microbes...)

38 minutes ago, Indiana said:

The most loyal human can't compare to the level of  loyalty of a dog to his master... 

I love dogs, and I think Jehovah took special care to make the dog a loyal companion for humans, more than any other animal, but I would disagree that humans cannot be as loyal. There are many accounts in history where humans sacrificed their life for another human. In fact it is more of a sacrifice on the human's part since most of the time they are fully aware of what they are doing. Dogs act on their loyal instinct that Jehovah put in them.

Anybody here speak Dutch?

7 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

denomination normally avoids contact with non-ecclesiastical authorities

This claim is actually totally false.

14 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

they will give a child a new $ which will replace the one who ended up in the donation box.

Yes, that is what will most likely happen

10 hours ago, Jack Ryan said:

But that cannot be proven.

Actually, all the reasons you have stated for why, and the manner in which AM purchased alcohol is speculation and cannot be proven.

As for Sophia's ice cream; do you think Sophia will never have any ice cream again in her life? Obviously she will, as will real children.

9 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

but that it's just 'nice to drink

It is! I love Baileys!

13 hours ago, JW Insider said:

"A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."

That's one of my favourite quotes. And it's so true!

6 hours ago, Outta Here said:

Quite the contrary. This makes him even more interesting! You can knock my door any time Bro.Morris!

Believe it or not (well you probably will believe it) on a certain ex-jw forum there are over 40 pages of discussion over this video already! I only read a  few, but as True Tom would say, they are in an absolute frenzy over this (actually TTH would use a different word). It's kind of sad, post a video of a man buying several bottles of Scotch, and it gets analyzed to kingdom come.....

13 minutes ago, Queen Esther said:

Do you know what it is to EDIT A VIDEO? I explain it to you.
It is a process by which an editor places fragments of video, digital effects and any other audiovisual material on a tape or a computer file. To edit a video is simply to MANIPULATE it, that is, to join some images to others, eliminating some, enlarging or reducing others already edited, incorporating music and sound, digital effects, titles and any other mate

Doesn't look like an edited video to me.

On 10/6/2018 at 1:50 AM, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

"Freemake Video Downloader"

My McAfee warns me to download this is dangerous - viruses and spyware. 

19 minutes ago, Space Merchant said:

@James Thomas Rook Jr. All that because someone allegedly bought wine? Remembrance of our Lord is, literally, around the corner.

At this point you can expect someone to dress up as Jesus buying wine somewhere.

That being said, how else did such ones prep for the Lord's day before if this is something new?

It probably wasn't wine but expensive Scotch.

Cat's

9 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Your daily reminder that you are not a predator

I dunno ... when I go to Golden Corral for breakfast, and load up on bacon, pork chops, fried chicken, sausages, eggs, I occasionally think of the TRILLIONS of animals that we kill each year to gobble up with gusto.

Actually, humans are the greatest, and most efficient predator that has ever lived on this planet, by a considerable margin.

Think about it!

 

 

 

Since when do he cows have udders? I suppose since this cartoon.