Srecko Sostar

This is interesting thought! And also is interesting, significant, when in the magazine Awake interviewed highly educated individuals who have become JW. In our language edition of magazine, Croatian, during the interview, they are addressed with personal pronouns, You (plural). How come that brother interview other brother or sister with plural You. :))) for what reason? -but this introduction is just for little fun time :)))))) JW redefine education? No, they was redefine the purpose of life today, by telling people what to do and what not. They redefined the "normal" human needs in a way to speak to them, wait, you will be art painter, musician, scientist .... in the near future after Armagedon. Today you need to work some simple job just to have "bread and water", rest money give to Corporation for preaching work. You will be happy that way because bible teaching so. I am "average" person. Average job. Working since my age of 17, worked various jobs; bookbinder, metal worker, all kind of house jobs that people need, gardener, and last 12 years am janitor in one high school. Last 2 years went to extra education, and last month successfully finished it. Now have diploma for "business secretary" and this last two years working half time as janitor and other half as school administrator. And i like it. Little in school administration with papers and peoples, other part some fixing works, going to town on delivery jobs. Communicate with all sort and age of people. Twice time i was helped and participate in school stage art, performance and went with drama group to few Croatian towns, to Italy, San Remo, take first place twice :)))). So called "worldly" education is for all people, not only for "worldly" :)))))))))))))

The problem arises when people who choose themselves to be "the foolish things of the world" became really foolish in generating doctrines and instructions that have no connection to god. But they convinced themselves how they are wise in the presence of, before God. So, who can help them? Man? God? No one.  Because why would they listen to "wise man in a flesh"? An with god, god decide to live them in their security of false wisdom to show to others how look the end of human wisdom, again. With or without prefix - "wise" or "foolish" Â

i think how number problem of 144000 in the year 1935 give reason to WT leaders of those days to make solution on issue and found verses in bible to confirm idea of heavenly class. Just opinion that exist among people. If Jesus want rulers (kings and priests) they can do that job living on Earth too. Must not go to heaven. To rule " above, on, upon" the earth. Rulers must not be 500 km in earth orbit be able acting as kings. They can do the same job walking in midst of their subjects. But real relation between 144000 and people must be better and higher than king-subject relationship. But not like in old Israel time, that people must working for kings and their courtiers. :)))))))) give them food, gold, sons and daughters, ahahhaha. You never know, people are perishable goods, especially when they have money and power over other human. Why would God need them in the heaven? They can do the same job on earth too. Jesus as man show how this is possible. He was the ruler, king and priest - walking with his feet on earth, on dust and water. And people liked him :))

my Croatian name Srećko in english is Happy, Lucky (Felix) :)))))))))) maybe i will be lucky at the end of life, have to wait to see, ahahhahaaa

I forgot JHVH. He changing roles and jobs but still hold same name JHVH. Â

like your previous comment. What was first job of The Word? Create! What was the first job of Michael? To fight! What was the first job of Jesus? To dye! So Jesus get back to previous job position - to fight,again. After he will finish fighting, then he will get back to first job of creating, again? Or to some other future job change with name change? Â

do i understand well? You are talking only about Jewish society, earthly people? You are not talking, i guess, about possibility that Spirits society members passing through the transition of changing names? I don't no what verse show us that angels or princes go through some personal drama in heaven and get new, different name. Or do i must lightening a little :))))

"Divine Education is Worth a Thousand Years of College" I can agree only if we make public consensus that "divine" have nothing against all other "education" that people not consider as "divine". But, all what it is in fact "education" can not be cut to pieces, with our personal inclinations to make distinction between two main level of "education", that JW member head thinks exist; religious, spiritual (in fact WT) education, and on other side all earthly, worldly, scientifically, materialy education (in other name (fanatical expressed ) "satanic" education"). If god create universe and life as most of us believe, then he have not only "divine" but also "college" degree education :))))) Divine education is all sort of educations,and not just "knowing" few verses from bible, hehe.

My understanding is that Jesus is one person, Michael is another person. If anyhow Jesus would be the Michael, than at the end of his prayer, bro on stage would be able to tell with no problem, and without surprise to public, "in Michael name, amen" :)))))))))

Both Samson's ladies was manipulators. And Samson was type of person who like that in some way. He personally choosing first and second wife. So, you can not blame one and other not. Both are "guilty as charged" :))))

I am very sad because all kids in the world who died because of various reasons. Â

As my memory serves me, MAIN, PRIMAR reason for collecting money (in this or that methodology or organizational way how to do it)  IS TO HELP POOR MEMBERS OR CONGREGATIONS. Read the Bible, not old Jew type and anti-type GB illustrations.  and explanations models. NOT to building headquarter (cathedral :))), branch Bethels, ..... but helping people to have enough for life, in flesh and spirit.   Â

- one thing that i like with Paul is that he worked (if bible reports are correct in this )))) with own hands on "worldly job" to be able supporting himself. Most of elders and ministerial servants doing in this way too, and that is ok. But top elders in Bethel and in WT are not good example to be compared with Paul in this matter. Wish you all best. Â

Do not know, of course, what Raymond knew and not about paedophilia. When i was said "huge" i was thinking as big in in relation to; a) the general attitude of the JW organization and the excitement that its members are a highly moral person b) the number of members worldwide and the number of victims and their perpetrators, which are not publicly known, except for the Australian number that has become public, some write about 20-30 thousand pedophiles in JW. That's not a small figure for 8 million JW. Publication WT once wrote that every year some 80,000 members are excluded/disfellowshipped. So it is "huge" number no matter what was "sin". or on luxury of new headquarters and WT logo on drain elements, huh members are preaching for sure, but one big part of WT religious bureaucracy have different mission Thanks for conversation.

"Germany Grants Highest Legal Status to Jehovah’s Witnesses" - i tried to found this article on Croatian JWorg to see how some terminology was translated to be able better understand the article but there is not existing this article - ?? Some quote from main source JWorg (english): "Now that the Witnesses have finally been granted public law status in all German states, they are viewed as a single religious entity and enjoy the benefits that this status provides....the Witnesses applied for public law status because of the benefits...registered throughout the country as a public law corporation,...more than 2,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany now function under a single corporate structure... Adjustments in an association’s structure resulting from an appointment of new elders, purchase of property, or the renaming or merging of congregations had to be reported to the government...A longtime elder in one congregation commented: “Now we have greater freedom to use donated funds to support the public ministry of congregation members.”...Without the superior legal status of public law, Jehovah’s Witnesses were not viewed as a mainstream religion...many false allegations against the Witnesses can be refuted....false allegation that they belonged to a ‘sect’ rather than to a religion.”... All in all, WT corporation in Germany are now lifted on higher level of religious bureaucracy (german people always has been organized very well :))) and WT long asking, searching that JW be recognized as mainstream religion was successful. Now they are officially joined to Babylon the Great with all others mainstream and less mainstream religions. Because of money issue of course, as first and main reason :))) at least they are now "function under single e corporate structure" according to article. Definition of corporate Merriam-Webster 1a :formed into an association and endowed by law with the rights and liabilities of an individual :incorporated b :of or relating to a corporation - a plan to reorganize the corporate structure c :of, relating to, or being the large corporations of a country or region considered as a unit - the latest trend in corporate America d :having qualities (such as commercialism or lack of originality) associated with large corporations or attributed to their influence or control - corporate rock music -corporate art 2:of, relating to, or formed into a unified body of individuals Human law arises by the corporate action of a people … —George H. Sabine

I agree. Everything is relative, depend where some man position is. If you are victim nothing is easy, but if you are just observer who is not touched by other people suffering or problem, indeed all that is "relative" :(((( How can you be so insensitive again?? First with other people's feelings and problems in life, and now with other people's money? Drop? That is not drop because most of JW members are not rich with money, have modest income. And everything have to be payed, even own lawyers in this way or another Yes it is! And still now you have no one court case or settlement out of court announced on JWorg TV, not mentioned about how much money they paid to victims in his reports. No columns in Yearbook on that issue. That is nothing but hiding. "Two or three witness rule principe" are also great. haha

Dear , "new circumstances" are in this; problem of child molestation in JWorg are incredibly huge. And it was "huge" because of numbers of victims and court cases, and millions of $ that WT Corporation have to pay. It is also because it was hidden in front JW members all this decades. "Principles" is/are something else. Principles are not that, after reading some bible verses or reports man come to conclusion, to inspirational "new light" and say; "this is bible principle!" No, verses, events that you are reading are other people experience and way how they solve their problems. That is not always role model how you, today must solving your problems. "Principles" - with this word, especially when someone add "Bible principles", human leaders in WT corp. are caused more problems than would be without such idea. Bible is "TWO EDGED SWORD" !

Hi, as i see you have good intention. But in JW org there is/are no alternative nor suggestions. Only "obey" WT. :)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Biblical practice that was legalized on the level of religious and political authority in the Israeli people. As all Bible books are inspired, than this particular text, reports are given by authority of god through Moses and other leaders in those patriarchal days are also for benefit not only for past days but for this days too :)). But it should be borne in mind that such customs, in fact laws, war laws and other laws, are not unique to the Israeli nation alone. This was the case with the nations that existed before Israel, during Israel and after Israel. So, that is how we come to the first question. Why does the Israeli newborn nation have, as some today presume, "exalted, superior moral laws", but in these decrees, are the same as the laws of pagan peoples. Go through books, Numbers 31, Deuteronomy 13:16; 20:14; Judge 5:30, and especially for this comment i would put accent on Deuteronomy 21:10-14. After reading verses and context, ask your conscience as first step - Would you do that as male, soldier for god?? How would you respond if your family been attacked from such soldiers? And if you female - how would you feel that strangers kill your family and took you with them as war spoil? To take you because you are beautiful and virgin, because he, soldier want you? What is inspired and divine and loving in such commands? But, hey this is normal practice for pagans and normal "bible" practice for god's chosen people. Here we come to issue of slavery. . When the Bible refers to female slaves who do not “please” their masters, we’re talking about the sexual use of slaves. Likewise when the Bible spells out the conditions for marrying a slave (see Exodus 21:7-11). We have examples as Abraham and Sara. Sara gave her female slave to be sexual slave to her husband for particular reason. We have Joseph who has been in young age, slave for others, but later he became lord, dynast and have own slaves, and generating slavery in Egypt, in time of food shortage. We can talk also about, military slavery, debt slavery and economic slavery for reasons of natural catastrophes and social problems on small or grand scale. If someone think that slavery has been better, more compassionate, more merciful in Israel then in "pagan" nations i will put ? on that. To go back on the beginning of post, practice and customs in old Israel today causing disgust and disbelief in modern people's life even, i supposed in the mind of every normal JW member. Celebrating birth of own child looks very harmless and innocent to me. Have a good day and night without nightmares after picturing, visualize yourself bible events and customs and practice about which you will never hear, study in public talks or study editions of WT

hehe, ok i will take time, not immediately, please be little patient, and will pick few things that was "biblical" practice of old Jew nation. Such things, rules, paragraphs was incorporate in the Law, and by that legislative body in Israel nation was just obey what God has said (if God said that!?) and legalised practice, custom and rules that, in fact was not, i think, something specific for nation of Israel only, but for all or many other nations way of dealing with similar life matters in those time.

Your apple. :)) and the tree of knowledge.

I was not listen yet Annual Meeting, in fact this is meeting which should be called with real name Annual Shareholders assembly :)))) Ok, on angels. Nothing is new about that. They always have this idea, of helping angels, because of some bible texts. And they promote that idea from time to time. For us who has been inside JW for long time, knowing that very well. For newbie is new.

:)))) i would not call you naive but sincere, it sounds better

Oh dear, do you want to tell by this sentence how Master has been silence in past decades? and that He is not One who showed old light to GB/FDS? I am not "attacking" without knowledge about "old and new light". What i am doing is something that is very good in fact. Actually - 1) „It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false. … To make a public exposure of false religion is … a public service.“ - Watchtower magazine, Nov 15, 1963, Article: „Execution of Divine Judgement upon False Religion“, page 688, par. 3. 2) It also does not hold back from exposing religious falsehood.—Matthew 15:9; 23:27, 28. - https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/which-religion-is-true/ As you can see "old light" from 1963 is the same as "new light" on JW library in 21 century. In other words nothing has changed, The Same Light Still Shining.