Srecko Sostar

Since all people are “imperfect,” then one could say that some BSs probably also had racist feelings thanks to their American culture, heritage, and social environment.

No, in no way. But perhaps "spirit reader" :)))) This is something you will notice as soon as you start traveling in Bulgaria – Bulgarians are one of the few peoples around the world who shake their heads for saying ‘yes’ and nod for ‘no’. But how has this come to be? Here’s everything you need to know. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/bulgaria/articles/why-do-bulgarians-shake-their-heads-to-say-yes/

SM has a special mill that requires water to go uphill so it can run.

No, i can't. On the other hand, I don’t even need to confirm things that belong to the behaviors of the human species. The behavior of the human species in general confirms that these and many other things burden human relationships. Also, JW publications and other verbal topics that can be heard at JW meetings confirm that some JW members have trouble overcoming negative feelings towards others. Among other things, these are national and racial and social differences that create divisions within some assemblies. I come from a region and a time when people of many nationalities of the former Yugoslavia belonged to the same assemblies. I also visited the so-called "Yugoslav" assemblies outside the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), which had great tensions after the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991. So I kind of know what I'm talking about. If this was the case in this part of Europe, why would racial and segregation issues not have a greater impact on the lives of JW assemblies in America? And not only in the "period of segregation" in the years mentioned in the comments, but also today? Proof? Do some scientific research and you will get official data. Which will be able to be challenged because some will not want to believe in them.

I know what you had say about BS and JW at that era. You actually expressed your opinion in which you justify the segregation of that time which was the norm of behavior for BS and JW (in America) of that time. Can you provide evidence from WT publications from those period of time where they condemning racism and / or justifying segregation? Which WT publication from that time says that one should listen to Caesar more than God in matter of racism and segregation? Do you suggest how BS/JW out of fear of men, knowingly violated God's norm that all men are equal before Him?

You justify other people's actions nicely. So, can one act unethically, morally questionable, or even unjustly because “unbelieving” people and (one other kind of Christians) Bible Students and later JWs lived in a time period when racism (or anything else) was the norm? The norm of behavior in different time periods of history and the present does not coincide with the interpretations of some norms we find in the doctrines of different religious communities before or now. This only confirms that the manifestation of religious beliefs can be manifested in at least two ways. Consistent and fanatical adherence to doctrines at the cost of ridicule, rejection, persecution and even death , to the point that compromises are made in order not to experience condemnation from the environment and society, under the pretext that it is okay because God does not ask for more. (society required them to do so + kept neutrality and adhere to secular laws and customs.) In some of the behaviors of JW members, it was clear that the neutrality they displayed was not related to obedience to the laws and customs of society.

Personal or collective maneuvers from GB are visible through written texts in publications, and they are even more colorful when you watch them via JWTV. A close and fresh example is Stephan Lett's statement (March 2020) that these are "the last days of the last days",........... and Tony Morris (February 2022), with a grimace of disapproval in his face as he repeats his colleague's words, says it is "beautiful expression, but words are powerful".

They often cling to (follow) their own interpretations of biblical passages. For this reason, they need a "new light" along the way/road.

Believe? Do you believe that GB members are under the guidance of the spirit 24/7?

Russell found himself in a controversial situation with such a statement. But he is not the only one or the last to do so. GB has the same approach. Russell claims, contrary to the biblical verses ("father of lie"), that the devil (sometimes) tells the truth. GB claims that they also (sometimes) tell the truth regardless of imperfection. Also can be said like this; that even GB (sometimes) tells a lie regardless of God’s guidance. (A truth presented by GB themselves is just as true as a truth stated by God)

Okay, what do we want to talk about? About the authenticity of old records or about the character of the Jews?

The Bible speaks about Jews, isn't that enough for me?

Mankind has had faith all this time. That is why we are now in the era of the Internet and virtual reality, among other things (with faith in God and with faith in people). Copies of the copies have been found and we have been using them for a long time. What if those saved and found copies are the ones with errors (accidental or intentional) in copying? If we believe that the writing of the original text was inspired by God, that is one thing. But no copyist of the first copy until the last copy was inspired to copy. What is not inspired automatically implies the occurrence of an error.

JW elders have access via their password to log in to an electronic database that is not available to other JW members. How big the database is and what it contains depends on how much permission their status gives them, which they received from Bethel or WTJWorg. Can each elder access the same database as high-ranking Bethelite? Probably not. But let those who know say. Although it is not surprising that not every JW member can access the entire database of the organization to which he belongs (because this is the case in all other normal "secular" organizations/institutions, so WTJWorg is no different in this regard, because it is ultimately "human organization"), remains a worrying realization that the history of "God's earthly organization" contains doctrines and practices that cannot be attributed to a "God's guidance" and "true truth" that clearly separates the right from the wrong.

I can agree. And you should agree that this is about believing in multiple factors. Faith in those who wrote. Faith in those who made copies. Faith in those who found copies of copies. Faith in those who interpret copies of copies............Faith in a God who allows deception to happen.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1492048509507354626

Is the Bible a book with a linear text or a non-linear one? People who, after many centuries, and after various written Old and New Testament texts, came up with the idea to collect writings and try to arrange them in chronological order left us a book as we know it today. Various Bible scholars, as well as other ordinary people, have sought to find the hidden meanings of literal or prophetic or symbolic words. That would mean trying to understand the Bible in a non-linear way. That is why there are various footnotes, links and other non-biblical and secular texts that interpret Biblical texts and enable the reader to "explore". Because the Bible does not contain information or clues as to what was before Adam and Eve in heaven and whether angels were also subjected to a test of faithfulness like the people of Eden, we can only assume. Eternity and immortality, are there any differences? Maybe only linguistically (semantic), because these values do not exist experientially in people's lives, and are therefore in some way meaningless to discuss. Except in a philosophical sense. What part of religious belief (doctrine) is the philosophical part in the lives of JW believers? It is similar with the use of the terms perfect, imperfect, sinful and sinless. And so. It is now clearer why GB thinks they are acting flawlessly (blamelessly) in various actions. They can err but such errors are not for reproach.

You probably won’t turn into a pillar of salt, just as you won’t die in Armageddon if you disobey GB.

I am of the opinion that "truth" is discernible through several (and more) possibilities; Through believing in the one who speaks to us. Through the meaning and logic of what was said. Through determining the credibility of what was said. Through factual examination. By assuming that something is possible for which accuracy or inaccuracy cannot be established. Or all this and something else about proving, is left to others to decide for us, so we accept without much need to be suspicious. Genesis chapter 3: 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” What is a lie here? Do we know anything about the possible fact that YHVH may have told the angels that they (angels) would die if they disobeyed him, God? Was there a "Tree" for angels in the heaven? If we assume something like this, because angels are only slightly "bigger (higher)" than humans, so the "free will" test could be valid for them as well. If the devil "ate the fruit of the tree in the heavenly paradise" and did not die because of it, then his claim to Eve that neither she nor Adam would die was merely an experiential claim based on the current situation or current state of the rebellious angel. Then his claim was not a lie, but only a product of his experience, and that is, that he as a rebel was not punished by death, so he "assumed" that neither Adam and Eve would die violating the same kind of prohibition. Moreover, the second part of his (devil) statement that Adam and Eve would become gods and know what good and evil are proved to be completely true, because YHVH himself said exactly the same thing when he said: 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Pilate's question; “What is true (truth)”, was a good question.

One word. One faith in the same God. Two interpretations.

GB+Helpers+Writing department fall under that category too? This is your personal opinion. Did Jesus and the apostles cringed over on what people thought of them. What kind of spiritual and physical damage have they controlled in RUSSIA? By former Jehovah's Witnesses across the world, voicing their obtuse demands for fake justice? Has anybody stopped you from posting? You are causing spiritual damage, yet you are allowed, why? Various legal teams and WTJWorg's complaints to the world's Western institutions are trying to reduce the damage in Russia. But Russia is far from the United States and is considered an enemy of Western Democracy, so things are complicated. Hunting through legal teams for some YouTubers and bloggers who deal with WTJWorg shows that my observation is good. My comments on this forum may not be interesting enough for WTJWorg or they don't consider me a threat. And maybe they don’t even know this Open Club exists. :)) little humor is always welcomed.

If we conclude from all the events of several thousand years of human history known to us, then we would say that God allows all things, not just some or certain. If God allows good and evil to live together, then one could also expect man to imitate God's example in his way of life and allow good and evil to happen in everything, too. That would be weird, wouldn't it? So, we do not agree that evil is allowed, but we try to suppress it and punish those who do it. What do I mean? The mantra in the saying; God allows this or that, it has no special value, because we humans do not want to allow this or that to happen if it harms us and if we can resist. If something is hurting WTJWorg, then we see that the people running the organization are engaging in harm prevention activities. In an administrative way, they fight against spiritual and physical damage. Do JW members emulate that example and prevent the damage inflicted on them by GB and their representatives?

If our perception is conditioned by the seduction that came from WTJWorg then the individual is not the only culprit for his own deficient ability to observe.

Do you think this is a thing of the past? And that there is no dogmatism today? If you believe that then you are seduced, unfortunately. “New lights,” like the overlapping generation, Gog and Magog, GB going to heaven, etc. are nothing but a construction of the human imagination. When such ideas are translated into the official text of publications then they become official teachings. Any intellectual resistance is an alarm for elders who are obliged to suppress the appearance of opposing views or criticisms. At that moment, it becomes clear that this is a dogma, which needs to be kept above water in order to stay alive. If a JW member commented in a private or public setting that he saw no justification for believing in, say, an “overlapping generation,” and if that meant free discussion of all present, without punishment, then we could say the organization is not dogmatic. That she is ready to be subjected to "examinations of the spirit" by her own members. Because they are legitimately called upon (by Bible) to question the correctness of teaching.

....... Does that mean you sometimes agree, the governing body and church elders are overreaching, since you stated at times the Watchtower can be dogmatic? As far as I can remember, the publications of WTJWorg, ie the authors of the articles, have confirmed literally that some things said in the literature are nothing but dogmatism. How is the state of dogma confirmed? By imposing a teaching, the construction of which is later changed or completely rejected. While the dogma is in force there are dire consequences for those who oppose it. WTJWorg is full of dogmatic approaches. Older members should be more aware of this than those who have only recently joined JWorg.