Is this board usefull? (page 3)

joelbear

Hmmm.

Not sure what my sexual orientation has to do with the usefulness of this board. I openly acknowledge my homosexuality and the fact that being homosexual certainly played into the decisions I have made regarding the Watchtower organization. However, as I have pointed out before, homosexuality was not the central issue that was involved in my leaving the organization, hypocrisy was.

Arg infers that I deceive people. I would like to see evidence on any of my posts where I try to deceive anyone.

The message of my posts are simple. LIVE LIFE, love others, do what you can to make the world a better place. Is that deceitful?

I urge people to make the most of their lives and if there is a future reward great, but not to make the future reward the focus of their goals.

As I have said many times, my goal is not to get people to stop being Jehovah's Witnesses if they are happy as a witness. If the Witness life is fulfilling to you then you should by all means put your heart and soul into being a Witness. When it was fulfilling to me, I put my heart and soul into it. When it stopped being fulfilling to me, I stopped focusing my efforts there.

Based on my experience, I don't think the witness life is fulfilling to very many people. If it was, they would be happier. If going to meetings 5 times a week and going in field service made people truly happy then the Watchtower Society would not have to constantly be urging people to do it and to not pursue careers, hobbies, family activities and education that people find more fulfilling and which makes them happier.

No, instead, the Watchtower uses fear of being ostracized and fear of destruction along with guilt to keep people involved. Fear and guiltridden unfulfilled people are not happy.

This board is useful in that it provides a choice for Jehovah's Witnesses to see the experiences and thoughts of those who have found life to be more fulfilling outside of the Watchtower organization. It is their choice whether to come here and read what we have to say. It is their choice as to whether they remain a Jehovah's Witness or not.

No idea presented here goes unchallenged, no matter which side of the argument it is coming from. There are witnesses or at least pseudowitnesses who defend the Watchtower's position. Plus, the Watchtower itself defends it's position weekly in its publications.

This site allows a free discussion of the positions of both sides without either side being edited or monitored. It is therefore enormously useful.

peace

Joel

larc

Arg,

If you are still with us, I have a few questions regarding the scriptures you quoted. What is the difference between a question and a foolish question? Can you define this for me? Also, who defines what is a "healthful teaching". Some of us here believe that some WT teachings are not healthful.

Certainly, the Society has had some unhealthy teachings regarding education, the draft, and blood. Now, of course, they have given a little lee way in these areas, but not much.

SlayerLayer

The problem is when we try to deceive others, that is what an apostate does.

Is it? How do you know that? In 1974, if anyone said that 1975 wa NOT going to be the year, were they being deceitful? No, because obviously nothing happened in 1975, and they were correct. Does that sound like someone that is trying to deceive? Or someone that is trying to help others to see the truth of the matter?

The word apostate does NOT = deception. It's actually quite hilarious how JW's are taught that we are evil liars and make up things just for the sake of being evil.

You may not agree with what may be said, but that does not mean that the person saying it is trying to deceive anyone.

Slayer

somebody

Arg,

I just don't agree with all the JW bashing that goes on in this board.

If I started a publishing business, and I published material that taught that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses and all other religions except for the religion of my incorporated publishing business is part of satan's organization, and got all my followers to go door-to-door distributing the material for me, would you consider that "bashing" the JW religion? ( now that was one long run-on sentence!)

peace,
somebody

voltaire

This board allows me to express myself and ask questions without fear of reprisal. It is EXTREMELY useful to me. If it's not useful to you, feel free to go elsewhere. If you want to talk about your beliefs and feelings on witness-related topics, stick around. You'll get some benefit from the board since it's the ONLY place you can do so freely.

Michael3000

**Do I enjoy debate? I do.**

Hard to understand how you get so much enjoyment out of something you're so ill-equipped to participate in! Tell me, is this sort of thing encouraged in your new "Shepherding" book for elders?

;)

--Michael

"Any day spent NOT knocking on doors is a good day!"

proplog2

Somebody:

Yes JW's do more than their share of bashing---unfortunately. I don't like it when they do it.

There is a certain arrogance to bashing that turns me off. I am sure others feel the same way.

larc

If you want to see some real bashing, you should read Rutherford's books. About 30-50 pages in most of them is devoted to bashing the Catholic Church with as much vitriol as he can muster.
Is it any wonder that the Witnesses were disliked back in those days.

D wiltshire

This board has helped me because I can find more true hear than the KH.

Unadulterated truth.

Not saying everything is truth, but only that there is a lot more hear than in the WT.

I'll defend your right to say it, but it doesn't mean I beleive it.

patio34

Red Horse Woman,

That was a brilliant little piece of decuction about whether you choose to be heterosexual or are born that way. It slices both ways, huh? I'll remember that one!

Joelbear,

It is beyond my understanding what your personal life has to do with your opinions on this thread. It sure does get brought up a lot by the more 'Christian' persons on this board. Well, I'm glad you are so capable at handling this.

The original question of this thread is is this board useful? IMO, absolutely! I really enjoy this group of people.

Pat

Is this board usefull?

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