Srecko Sostar

both children and pets are not able to make informed decisions like the adults are, If you allow me to say, I see a little problem here. WT Society looking with happiness when 7 - 17 years old children making "informed decision" to be baptized. Also, Organization are proud when Court making decision to allow minor children to make own "informed decision" on medical treatment (refuse blood). This two sort of examples making issue more complicated. Because, will you allow or not allow - that children making own "informed decisions"? And should that be general rule for all children? Or you put final decision on adult (Judicial Committee .... Worldly Court) does children enough "mature" to make own "informed decision" or not? Etc. Here i see some theological issue. If God who see things in advance not gave clear command to his people about blood and say - do not eat, do not drink, do not transfuse blood, how is possible that people interpret blood ban as ban about blood transfusion or some other medical treatment that will come in the future? If we try to explain how his people (or people in general) didn't know nothing about transfusion, so God didn't want to made his command unclear or incomprehensible to them, than i see another proof how GB explanation about need to obey their command and instructions despite the fact how such "Life Saving" instructions are not reasonable or understandable from "human standpoint" is just human interpretations and manipulation. If God not want to burden people more than it is needed, and he was done that with clear and sound commandants, readable in Law - ...... Why would He allow and be agreeable, with GB ideas .... who giving obscure and questionable instructions, to His people about way of worshiping?

First of all, thank you TTH that you did made this big answer on my reaction comment. You may think about my comments as "tauntingly". If i or somebody else ("apostate") told you, how this or that in WT Society is wrong, with more or less evidence, you would not accept it, because that is apostate lies. If some making "sarcastic" comments, that also will not help you because such "approach" is not good for you, too. Maybe you are right how this way is not "spiritual enough", "loving enough", "theocratic enough", "legalistic enough" to be acceptable to you or to some other person from JW Church. But this is how it is. I can't change you, and you can't change me. :)) About quote above. I am not sure, but thinking how Paul was talking about Scriptures that was considered "inspired" and God's Word, in their point/period of time. Well, i think he spoke about Pentateuch, Prophetic books, Psalms as ..... Scriptures. So, what he had in mind with terminology/word - Scriptures - it is/was not some other Letters or Writings in HIS TIME. But ONLY WHAT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HIM. MANY YEARS BEFORE HIM. So, when we today going to use his words, "All Scripture" than we must be more precisely. Because, His Idea and Our Idea about what is CONTENT and MEANING of wording "All Scripture" IS NOT The SAME. :)) Nothing Ironic, Sarcastic, Taunting in comment i didn't put. Just tried to be more explicit. Well, if people today quoting something from Bible, it would be correct and fair to know how people in past (Paul in this case) had some OTHER THINGS in his/their mind when they used word (and quotes from) "Scriptures".

In that case, I think how JW layer had enough time to explain before Court ALL and EVERY SMALL DETAILS on SHUNNING POLICY. But he didn't. WHY? Why not to explain all about JW way of living and how they practice Bible principles, to all this people involved in case? It would be Great Witnessing ... and he will make JHVH to be very proud. :))

Br. Herd's comments are something to do with his age As GB member and in a special position as one who Take a Lead of God's People on Earth, Br. Herd obviously, in that particular moment when gave this speech, was not Led by Spirit or Guide by Bible and Angels .... but he was Led by his Age. :)) Another thing. While reading comments, one think, one thing, came on my mind. About not going to army service and "learning to fight". I made parallels with another sort of "weapon, gun". That is words. It looks to me, because people can "learn" good and bad things, it is not always good to send people in school to learn how to read and write and giving talk. :))) Because sometimes, when some of such people wrote and/or said something from position of Teacher (spiritual in our example) then he can make more "killings"(spiritual stoning) than some soldier on battle field.

Bold mine. Not sure I quite agree with you there. In my opinion I do not think we are ashamed, but we think others will simply not understand our, what appears to be a loveless stance. Perhaps it can be said in this way. When JW members defending "the truth", in such or similar issue, inside own private or congregational circle than they are proud on temporary doctrines. But when JW member have to defend some sorts of practice before "worldly people" (for example, not pick up the phone to dfd daughter or let baby to die because of blood and fraction policy) caused by accepting official doctrines and interpretations of Bible verses, then i can be sure how some shadow of shame is possible to come on face of some (maybe not all) JW's. Perhaps some very good observer and reader of micro facial expressions, mimics and gestures, would be able to see that. And even that same JW member would feel some sort of short term discomfort.

Sorry, I am not familiar with this author and text of him. I will try to find something on internet to learn about his writings. Thanks for subject. :))

... fluctuation of people, from here to there, is always good way that the other part can be able to understand more - other people reality :)))

Words has power to influence. Preaching Service, for example, is tool to make influence on people to change according to message. Words cannot change reality, but they can change how people perceive reality. Words create filters through which people view the world around them. A single word can make the difference between liking a person and disliking that person. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201011/words-have-power

For very long time WT publications doing this - point out on any religion - with strong criticism and opposition, because all other religions are devil structures made to deceive people. Remember 1980 decade and "attack" on Roman Catholic Church and other parts of "Christendom". Perhaps today is little different about Judges and their affiliation/belongings to some Religion. Did someone in GB or any of JW members asking about, for example, to what religion belongs ARC Hon. Justice Peter McClellan ?! Is that really matter? But it can be important IF you want defend own position with attack on person - who this man is, if he is Catholic than he Must be against us, because he belong to God's enemies ... etc. Similarity can be seen in that how JW and WT sees Russian attack on JW Church .... they (enemies) are/belong to Russian Orthodox Church. Who are Judges in Russia Courts? Orthodox members? Who attacks JW and WT Society? Church members, Church Structures or ... devil? Or some standards (of society, moral, religion, civil) are different about some issues than in your home? In that sort of logic, people can questioning - why so many lawyers (perhaps not all) who defending/representing WT Society or particular member/s of JW Church ARE also Jehovah's Witnesses??!! Agenda? Or, do JW Church prefer Atheist people (to be judges and lawyers) as better solution, more justice and sincere? :)) History repeats itself all the time. :))

I wrote word "reader" - ONLY this word, and not - honest reader You are Constructor of other people sentences ! Do not add words that i had never say ! I think that i will stop further conversation with you ! Shameful !!!

When i was arrested by Civil Police and handed to Military Police and after they transported me to place where i have to serve army, they treated me as Soldier even i was in civil clothes. Later i understand that all young people who passed age of old (17) when they went to medical examination /recruitment / and been put in evidence for serving in army, were under the law and considered as future soldier, especially in moment when you are literally, physically inside Military Camp.

causing insubordination, disloyalty and refusal of duty in the military and naval forces of the United States of America when the United States was at war . . . by personal solicitations, letters, public speeches Please, what do you know about this?

Clearly I do not, therefore unlike you, I do not call a people with the accusation of being under demonic influence In Trinity topic you used such accusations, this are quotes of yours (addressed to me): 1) Your own claims are forfeit because there were merely lies, more so, satanic lies ... 2) For he is a Satanic hypocrite to the highest degree in this sense. Something is wrong with your mirror ! :))

You said 2 classes GROUP: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/group a number of people or things that are put together or considered as a unit: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/group a number of individuals assembled together or having some unifying relationship CLASS: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/class to consider someone or something to belong to a particular groupbecause of their qualities https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/class a group of persons or things having characteristics in common:

.... this means that it is not problem if you are not "inspired"? Because you are "spirit led"??? :))) What is this? All this what you described looks like this, to me: top level 1) Inspired middle level 2) spirit led lower level 3) uninspired lowest level 4) all other Ones again. Give me 1 or 2 Bible verses where is stated in clear and simple words to understand: A) Paul is inspired B) Paul is infallible Just that, not an essay with 1679 words.

But perhaps .... "Overlapping Lawyers"

Well, well.... you addressed your displeasure with @Witness and me. But @Space Merchant is excluded from your feelings ? :))) Do you agree Tom, about idea SM offered in his "revelation" ? Would you be so kind and offer Bible verses on SM claims? Perhaps he is right, but again, he offered no verses that give some possibility to think of "inspired and uninspired" Christians in 1 century. And especially about INFALLIBLE followers of Jesus. :)) SM speaking about Paul as Infallible : ))) Who will be next??

Practically regarding what the Bible says, which is the proof right there. And this is answer? :)) Extraordinary ! Do you want to tell here how (Paul was both inspired and infallible) means: 1) He became infallible because he was accept Christianity 2) He was infallible because he was inspired 24/7 3) He was inspired because he became infallible or Paul was came down from Heaven like Jesus and that is reason for his infallibleness :)) And of course, you offer NO SINGLE VERSE that say/quote: Paul was INSPIRED or Paul was INFALLIBLE. !!!!! Maybe such verses exist, i don't know. But you prove nothing - NO BIBLE VERSES - ONLY Practically regarding what the Bible says, which is the proof right there. - Later you just made DESCRIPTION about some names in scriptures. And put those names in TWO GROUPS, Inspired and Uninspired Christians. You can be "academic" how much you want, but so many words you put in comments, without any Bible verse that supports your opinions. And as result of this statement you made: i think that i can't believe in your teachings/explanations because: you are not "inspired" ... and you are not "infallible" !

I see this from text. First, they "Compromise their Neutrality" by Obeying Censor and Not God. :))) Second, why to speak about Worldly things (wars and weapons and politics) IF they want to be "Neutral" about Politics and Worldly Things? :))) IF someone want to be Neutral about something then He/They Have NO Opinion on something or at least They must "shut their mouth" and NOT to Tell WHAT IS Their Opinion, Thinking, Attitude. :)))) With this behavior you show your "neutrality"! :)) and not taking sides.

Perhaps The WT Society (as New Government on Earth after Armageddon) similarly misunderstand many ex JW who want to be "neutral" on acts and laws of WT Society. And try to act according to own Conscience. By that they were, in eyes of WT Society, acted as "traitors" aka apostates. Sedition, crime against the state. Though sedition may have the same ultimate effect as treason, it is generally limited to the offense of organizing or encouraging opposition to government in a manner (such as in speech or writing) that falls short of the more dangerous offenses constituting treason. - https://www.britannica.com/topic/sedition Sedition is the illegal act of inciting people to resist or rebel against the government in power. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sedition

huh.... if you sure about that as your personal belief , it is something that is possible to accept. But only as your Interpretation and personal attitude ..... of hope. Now, when Writing Department and "Minister of Internal Truth" gave green light on text to be print with wording that IT IS in magazine, your argumentation is not so powerful. Because, all those smart people in Betel and around the Betel who working hard on wording in articles would used different lexis with clear and sound meaning IF they want to tell what you tell here. :))

Yes. In fact WHY they have to call Legal Department for advice on - to call or not to call - if Bible PRINCIPLES and GUIDANCE of holy spirit are powers SUFFICIENT for Elders when making decisions? :))

If, then, the clergy-laity distinction is not based on the model set by Jesus’ apostles and other early Christians, does that make it wrong? According to the Bible, yes....... Spiritually older men did, of course, serve as overseers, which included being shepherds and teachers. (Acts 20:28) However, these men were not paid clerics........ Sadly, when people disregard that divinely inspired directive, spiritual harm usually results, and that is true of the clergy-laity arrangement. How so? Please consider the following six points. 1. The separation of a clergy class implies that one must have a special calling to be a minister of God. 2. The clergy-laity distinction exalts the clergy class, an evidence being adulatory religious titles. 3. A paid clergy class can impose a heavy financial burden on the laity, especially when the former have lavish lifestyles. 4. Because a clergyman may depend on others for financial support, he might be tempted to dilute the Bible’s message in order to please parishioners. 5. The clergy-laity distinction tends to cause lay people to relegate religion to the clergy, while the laity just turn up for weekly services. 6. When the laity are Biblically uninformed, they can easily be misled by clerics, even exploited by them. source: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102009288 When GB, Elders and WT Lawyers defend themselves before Courts how in JW Congregations Worldwide existing clergy penitence as answer to Judges why they not want to give verbal or written testimony to Court, than all this what was said in Awake is worth NOTHING. We can also discuss some other claims here about this 6 points and found it problematic. Dear @Anna answer would not come by WT Society loud public claim how clergy penitence WILL STOP TO exist in congregations. Well, according to Awake that same THING doesn't exist at all in WT Society or JW Church. :))))..... because JW have not CLERGY :)))) ... only on Courts cases when millions of $ are at stake.

What evidences and proofs you have to offer us for such claim? By which/what standards and methods you came to conclusion who was and who wasn't "inspired"? What Paul is and have done to be called "inspired"? .... and what Clement, Chloe and Epaphras are not and not done that you put them in group of "uninspired" Christians? Question come for our time. Who are "inspired" and who are "uninspired" Christians TODAY? Give us some names or tell us, where we can find this individuals in places we live today? Another question. You separate Christians in TWO CLASSES. What is the role of each one class ?

It seems sometimes how this "chariot" making speedy turns in ALL Directions IN the Same Time