Evacuated

Of course they were inadequate. The medical profession do wonderful work and are continually making progress. But they were just not up to the task of accommodating the conscientiously held view of this individual, who felt that non-blood medical management was the only option for them within the particular medical circumstances of their case. I would have to add "at the time and within the experience of those medical practitioners involved". Historical cases will always highlight the inadequacy of medical services in handling requests for non-blood medical management. However, those inadequacies are addressed and, in time, and for a host of reasons, vastly improved procedures become available to those who choose this route of medical treatment. And improvements will continue to be made I am sure. However, there is a forum section for the discussion of this area of interest I believe. I just wanted to clarify my perception of why the audience in the example cited would wish to applaud in the context of such a sad circumstance.

Since this post was entered, Placed a lot of literature with folks from places far away from territory, including seamen on rest days. Arranged and followed up return visits with people previously met but impossible to find at home. One study started this way. Met several inactive ones, starting one Bible study with someone unbaptised raised in the truth but away from meeting 16 years. This is in a fairly remote small town. Must be great in a big city. My suggestion? Stick with it. Get known in the community. Make yourself available to the angels.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-500430/Doctors-gave-20oz-baby-dead---I-saved-life-cuddle.html

This clapping seems to be in recognition of the faith and obedience of this young man. Clapping over the inadequacy of the medical services to prevent a death in this case is an unlikely scenario.

@Ann O'Maly Unfortunately you are digging into motive that cannot possibly be known from the information provided. You present an unproven and emotive claim as fact, and then draw conclusions based on that assumption. You also appear to be fuelling the fire of controversy with a statement about dedication/commitment to an Organisation To assert such an assessment of motive on the basis of a video that describes briefly an interaction between two persons unknown (to me) about an incident not witnessed (by me) is a step too far (for me). All I see (from the videos you cite) is a father exercising his parental right to withhold an maturity related privilege. I cannot accept your extrapolation of motive and strategy without actually speaking to the parties involved and assessing the event, the motives, the understanding, the outcomes etc, What you are doing reminds me of Ahasuerus wrongly interpreting the intentions of Haman at Esther 7:8. Obviously, bribing or coercing minors to dedicate themselves to Jehovah to obtain a drivers permit is unacceptable. It is also stupid, as it would render void that dedication anyway. On that basis alone, your interpretation of Anthony Morris's intention in relating this matter seems to me (on face value at least) highly implausible.

Interesting question. Baptism is a symbol of dedication to Jehovah, the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. It isn't dedication to a teaching but to a person. (some might want to argue that the forgoing statement is a teaching of course, but I am not going to get into a "who created God?" loop). So if I am dedicated to Jehovah, then I believe that no lasting harm can come to me if I fulfil the terms of that dedication. I am quite happy to comply with "teachings" that change from what I learned prior to dedication simply because I did not dedicate myself to a body of instructions. It's a bit like what Paul described at 1Cor.9:17.

This statement quoting @HollyW misrepresents our belief in itself. No further evidence is required for that. 2 points worth pondering are: 1. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden to stop them from eating from the tree of life. There is no mention of them eating from this tree prior to sinning or that they even knew of it's existence. So, whilst perfect and not subject to sin and it's consequence death, they still had not been granted everlasting life by Jehovah by being permitted to eat from that tree. So it is quite in harmony with this to conceive that humans resurrected in post Armageddon society along with the Armageddon survivors would eventually be restored to perfection PRIOR to being granted everlasting life. The final destruction of Satan and any who side with him described at Rev. 20:7-15 will enable Jehovah to make His final judgement as to who of the human family now restored to perfection will be granted everlasting life. Adam lost the opportunity for guaranteed life everlasting by rebelling whilst perfect prior to receiving that guarantee. Obedient, perfected and sin-cleansed, mankind on earth will receive that guarantee, once having demonstrated their unbreakable loyalty to Jehovah as the rightful Sovereign Lord of the Universe and all that this entails. Jehovah will have full confidence to those humans declaring them righteous for life. He certainly will not be granting everlasting life to any that He feels will sin again! 2. Immortality (and it's closely associated terms, incorruptible and indestructible) has to do with the quality of life enjoyed by Jehovah himself and certain others of His creation, namely Jesus and his 144000 associate king-priests. Their life also has the quality of being everlasting. The life enjoyed by other spirit creatures whilst potentially everlasting, is not immortal (otherwise how could Satan and his spirit supporters be destroyed?) Human life by its very nature can never be immortal (as discussed in detail previously, see 1Cor.15:50). But it can be everlasting. And will have to be in order to fulfil the promise of Ps.37:29. And the right to that everlasting life (never enjoyed by the sinner Adam) will be enjoyed by the obedient, perfect human family once the thousand years of Christ's rule has ended. Rev.20:5.

All - but not in German

Which works best for you?

Bit short-sighted this. It could change, like those who have names of past partners tattooed on their arms or elsewhere.

Let the readers judge.

Ad well as misrepresenting the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, this statement appears to confuse the concepts of immortality in the heavens and everlasting life on earth. I don't think it is necessary to revisit the many scriptures already quoted to establish the fact that the vast majority of human servants of Jehovah will live on earth as humans, but without the curse of sin and it's companion death. The word in scripture for immortality (athanasia) is said to mean deathlessness as a quality of life. Because it goes hand in hand with incorruption, (1 Cor.15:53), the description at Heb.7:16 of Jesus having indissoluble life ("indestructible" NWT, rather than the weak "endless" in KJV) is apt. This is the quality or nature of life he enjoys and also is enjoyed by the 144000 who are resurrected to rule with him in the heavens. However, by it's very nature, human life cannot be immortal. As long as humans are alive on earth, which will be forever (Ps.37:29), they will need to breath the right mix of gases, eat the right balance of nutrients, sleep when tired, eliminate waste products, repair worn or damaged tissue, and do whatever else is required to maintain physically the organism with which Jehovah endowed his human creation. And then, their obedience to the requirements of the creator, for whose purpose they were created and given that living organism, will ensure that that grant of life will be, just as the Bible says, everlasting but never immortal.

They all look a bit clean-shaven, wiry, and European don't they? And they would never get a job on a KH construction site dressed like that!!

There is no easy answer to this. It depends entirely on where you are located (a fact you do not provide). Average household numbers vary greatly depending on statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it (demographics). For example there may be an average household count in an area based on overall figures, but this number will vary greatly on a local level depending on average age, income distribution, ethnic origin, property type etc. This will always be a "guesstimate" at best. It will also depend on how organised administratively the area is in which your territory falls. Figures are often available from central and/or local authorities in developed countries. One method, is to get the population of an area and divide by the number of households. Some local authorities will have a record of how many domestic tax bills they send out which is useful if they bill households rather than individuals. Census records will give a population count. Land registry records and registers of electors can be useful although not exhaustive. Just searching your area on Google with phrases like "population of..." and "number of households in..." etc will give many results, but they will never be completely accurate as there is always a delay in publishing, not everyone provides data etc. You will then see just how variable the information is. Take a look at this website for example: https://suburbanstats.org/ However, bear in mind that congregation territory boundaries do not necessarily follow those of the civil authorities, so the best persons to ask would be your local service overseer and the pioneers in your congregation.

Just noticed I never got back on your post. I think coercion and blackmail are too extreme as terms for what is going on in your hypothetical scenario. But I do see a father using his authority unwisely, unfairly, and unkindly. Unfairly particularly, because the level of maturity indicated by the son's sensible attitude to the seriousness of the marriage commitment has no relevance to his qualifying for permission to obtain a driver's permit. As for the scenario's validity to the discussion on a minor prioritising working toward dedication over seeking a driving permit or vice-versa, I see absolutely no relevance at all. As previously stated:

1972_-_Paradise_Restored_to_Mankind_By_Theocracy.pdf

Why don't you post the book here?

Wonderful and interesting @JW Insider

This is sad. Understanding the role of Jesus as a Mediator should have been a thrilling insight. It makes no difference to the benefits we gain as a result of the ransom and the hope we have for the future as Christians, whether anointed or not. This spirit reminds me of the disciples squabbling over seats in the kingdom (Matt 20:20-28). Jesus responded "You do not know what you are asking for"

I do not recall an announcement on jw.org as to the fact that the "Great Tribulation has already started". I think that might have got the attention of many if so. There is likely quite a history to understanding of the timing of the "great tribulation". JW Insider might be able to provide a synopsis of this. My first recollection on this subject is what was said in the 1966 book Life Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God which stated on page 357 para 29: "The "great tribulation" that Jesus Christ predicted in harmony with Daniel 12:l began in the year 1914 C.E.". Later in the book (page 371 para 54) it was stated "that Jehovah God had cut short the days of tribulation in the year 1918 to permit the sealing of the remnant of the "chosen ones" and the gathering of the "great crowd,". This view has been considerably adjusted in the interim years. Some recent discussion on jw.org regarding the great tribulation can be found here: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/jesus-prophecy-last-days/ https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20150715/rapture-anointed-great-tribulation/ https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/gods-kingdom/promises/kingdom-enemies-removed/

Some of the comment above is pretty erratic to me. Will there be non-JWs in the New World? Of course there will!! Probably billions if we are to believe what the Bible says about the resurrection. Will they stay non-JWs once they are resurrected? Of course not. Psalm 150:6 "Every breathing thing - let it praise Jah. Praise Jah!" However, will non-JWs survive Armageddon? Well, I haven't seen a clear statement on that, even in the small print, so having personally understood at least the basics of Jesus' warnings about the coming end of this system of things, I'm not going to take any chances on that one for my self anyway. Why the shock over using non-JW sources for pictures, music, clips? Surprise maybe I would expect if it's a new approach (although the literature has been using stock images for years). I can't see any problem with it at all as long as copyright is respected. Let's be honest, one of the basic tools of communication we use which is verbal language, is borrowed, stolen, inherited, absorbed, and no one blinks at all except brand owners or strap-line originators. (Lyric theft is a whole separate subject). No one serving Jehovah complains that language with all it's idiom, metaphor etc. has "worldly" origin as long as it is used within the parameters laid out in scripture. As for diaphanous garb? Well, for those like me with 20/20 vision or less surely it's a bit of a stretch, although imagination is well-known for playing tricks with what people think they actually see. (Thanks @Jay Witnesses for sourcing out these bits and pieces however. Most interesting). Depictions of paradise will always reflect the cultural background and tastes of the creators. Some may view certain elements as a bit "cheesy", others as lacking "diversity". Then there are those who ask all sorts of technical questions based on small details, forgetting that these are just imaginative suggestions. However, we have come on leaps and bounds from some of the earlier attempts I remember. (e.g the first one I saw is below). Lets not forget the basic message in these paradise illustrations regardless of the media, that "soon, all earth's woes will be past!" (I'm sure that phrase is borrowed from somewhere!...)

This implementation of the disfellowshipping provision is disappointing. Hopefully the more enlightened view presented in this extract from https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/ now prevails: "We do not automatically disfellowship someone who commits a serious sin. If, however, a baptized Witness makes a practice of breaking the Bible’s moral code and does not repent, he or she will be shunned or disfellowshipped. The Bible clearly states: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”—1 Corinthians 5:13."

It won't just be humans reconstructing paradise

Wasn't Gilead Jepthah's father?