by Geronimo 32 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I wonder why
Hi DD
Well, for starters I hold to an entirely nonliteral view of the Bible. My sister thinks that is a dangerous heresy originating from "the Pit." I take a strong stand against religious folks forcing their lifestyle on others via politics, and that too is a no-no. Our family has been deeply affected by Christian fundamentalism.
Yes, I know you were being insulting, but I chose to enlighten you rather than insult you in return.
G
Considering every religion requires faith, in other words, a belief in something that can not be proven, I find it very disturbing when people become judgemental fundamentalists. I have to agree that any religion that teaches a God who will burn in Hell forever some poor soul that lived in a part of the world with no access to the Bible is every bit as vindictive and manipulative as the WTS.
Thank you JW facts, it's much appreciated. Now, with this post taken care of, I can turn this account over to Nadine. Bright blessings to you JW Facts. G
Personally, though not a fundy, I am insulted by those who lack tolerance for those they disagree with doctrinally.
I see this thread as an effront to any who dare have an opinion that varies from yours. It is insulting, and unfairly biased, and paints an entire body of persons with a single brush-stroke.
It lacks compassionate understanding of differences in belief and ideology, and classes all who disagree as uninsightful Pharisees, according to your header.
I rarely take a harsh line against posts, but this one is vulgar in it's naked predudice. I had plenty of that as a Jdub.
Jeff
Geronimo's original post was spot-on.
Clearly, he was not referring to the many outstanding members of this board who consider themselves christian, but not of the fundamentalist variety. I have met many open minded and perfectly reasonable christians on JWD. Nonetheless, the fundies are here also.
Having been here several years, I can say from experience that the majority of xtian "fundamentalists" here are virtually indistinguishable from a JW in terms of their overall "universal view". Like the JWs, they believe in a vengeful, vindictive sky-god who will slaughter all non-christians in some glorious moment of "judgement". Not 30 seconds ago, one such individual posted on another thread something to the effect that all those rejecting christ will burn in hell for eternity or some such fundy rubbish. Worse, the majority of them still are willing to exactly mimic the outrageous anti-evolution and anti-science stupidity espoused by the Watchtower. In addition, they hold the same bigotry as any run of the mill JW in terms of their attitudes towards gays, non-christians, abortion, etc ect. A fundamentalist is a fundamentalist. The "label": "JW" or "born-again", or whatever, is totally irrelevant. While I applaud their willing critique of the WT "corporation", it is tragic to observe someone coming so close to being freed from enslavement to superstition and primordial religious paranoia, and then choosing to simply exchange one drug for another.
Geronimo,
What you wrote basically holds true for fanatics in general, not one particular group. Your post brought to my mind the example of the students at Columbia who assaulted minutemen speakers and drove them of the podium they'd been invited to speak at by the University. They called the first speaker insulting racial epitaphs, unfurled an insulting banner, and otherwise engaged in intolerant and possibly even criminal behavior. Were those kids fundies? No, they proudly proclaimed themselve to be liberals!
People like them want to impose their world view on everybody else with the force of law. They criminalise criticism of their view, or lifestyle in the case of some, when they can get lawmakers to do it as they've done in most of Europe, Canada, and parts of the United States. They make it the law wherever they can that children be indoctrinated in their world view in the schools as they have done in the same places. When they can't get the lawmakers to do their bidding, they go to like-minded judges and have their views enforced as law, just like they've done in Europe, Canada, and parts of the United States (does the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ring a bell to anyone?). Where's the difference between the fundies and your own fanatical wing of the left? I see none. And please don't bore me with the old, worn out, liberal excuse that the, so called, "oppressed" have the right to act like that because they are "oppressed." That dog won't hunt with me.
If you can't condemn the same conduct on the part of the far-left, then your words are insincere and hollow. I've gone on record on this forum as condemning fanatics of all stripes. I consider the threat of fanatical "fundamentalists" very serious and have pointed out more than once that the Dominionists (that's your really fanatical fundie group) should be watched very carefully. But I've also said the same of fanatical liberal groups, which include many Gays, feminists, environmentalists, and others. I have no big problem with folks having different views and opinions than me in these areas. What I do have a problem with are the militant fanatics who would deny me the right to my opinions. They are just as hypocritical and dangerous as the "fundies" you claim to abhor. They, on both sides of the issues, are the ones who are dividing this nation.
Forscher
Forscher
Basically I hate labels of all kinds. It seeks to discredit individualism and character within each labelled faction. Generally I do not agree with those labelled 'liberal', politically as example, but I hesitate to personally label them individually, as it smacks of prejudicial pre-judgment. Liberal is as wide a stripe as is fundy. And both stripes contain multiplicity too broad to catagorize with a simple condemnation or glorification. Both ends of the spectrum have always been dangerous, but I don't want to place people in the cubby. Not my place.
Jeff
I agree with you Jeff. Liberals do indeed come in just as wide a stripe as fundies and not all of either group are intrinsically evil. That was why I kept stressing the word "fanatical," which more properly applied and would've made Geronimo's post have more credibility if he'd made the distinction.
Forscher
I think the world view of JWs is delusional.
But know what? I would never talk down to them as lesser people than myself.
G
I take a strong stand against religious folks forcing their lifestyle on others via politics...
What exactly are religious folks forcing you to do?
D Dog
Jeff, stop the self righteous outrage act already. Pull out that butt plug and shrink back down to size. I'm referring to the Christian equivalents of the Muslim nutjobs, not reasonable folks who are also Christian fundamentalists. My own sister is a Southern Baptist thru and thru but she isn't a nut. She isn't of the same spirit as the JWs, but many Christian fundamentalists are. They're the same as Muslim fundamentalists or Jewish fundamentalists or Buddhist fundamentalists. Jeff, you might wish to consider taking up smoking marijuana or taking saint johns wort, or maybe just knocking back a few every day. Relax. Sheesh. G
