After reading many topics.. I'm confused. Is this a JW forum or an ANTI-JW?

by MichaelM 105 Replies latest jw friends

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    The reasoning they use does sound correct doesn't it?

    Ask Steve Hassan [the worlds foremost expert on cults] if the doctrine of the Moonies sounded correct. He will tell you it did - and that it drove him to join, and recruit others. Years later it took a major effort to get him out of that cult. They always make it sound right - like it is the only 'Truth'.

    As far as the doctrines you mention - Jw's are not the only one's who believe in using God's personal name. Many use Yahweh, some use Jehovah, others a differing variation of the tetragrammaton, almost all Christian churches use the name in song and praise, though less frequently than Jw's do.

    I am very close to my earthly father, love him dearly, and have molded much of my life based on his wisdom and training. Yet, not once, formally or informally, have I used his personal name of address, except in identifying him to others perhaps. I feel much closer to my father by showing him respectful address using the title that makes him special - my dad or father. Jesus seemed to use the same pattern - he never once prayed to Jehovah by name [even in the NWT] - it was always to his Father - that is what made him close to God - not the use of the divine Hebrew name of God.

    And much of what you are learning with Jw's is 'time tested'. That is, they know that it sounds good to the ear - especially the uneducated [from a biblical perspective] ear.

    Michael - I am PM'ing you my phone number. I would love to talk to you sometime. I must go for now - but please look around here. Investigate Investigate Investigate. 'Truth' if it is such - has no enemy in investigation, though Jw's will tell you not to do that. Give yourself time before you committ. Say six months. If in that time, you are still convinced [after honest investigation] that it is the 'truth', let me know. I will come to your immersion personally. If not, you will have reasons too solid to discuss here in a few minutes time, believe me.

    Jeff

  • eclipse
    eclipse

    Michael, Welcome! Do your homework! I was in this religion for 30 years. I am not Disfellowshipped or Disassociated. I had to leave or have a nervous breakdown because the stress of never feeling like I could measure up...and the NAGGING DOUBTS that became too loud for me to ignore. (I lost formating abilities so I had to switch to non HTML...sorry if my links are not clickable. simply copy-paste them into your browser address field.) IF you want to go into this religion, you need the FACTS about what they teach and believe...not just the watered down, sugary sweet version. You will thank us later, I promise. http://www.jwfiles.com/outline.htm http://www.silentlambs.org/ http://www.freeminds.org/ -eclipse

  • MichaelM
    MichaelM

    Well thanks guys. You seem to be an ok bunch. I'm not really a JW so I can do as I please. I do have to admit they have some VERY strict rules and i'm still iffy about the Watchtower Organization. I will admit that the biggest beef I have with the JW's is their Bible. They claim to say that all the other bibles are fixated around certain doctrines yet theirs is too.... My "mentor" says that there are many non-JW's that say the NWT is the best translation and I ask "Well Can you tell me who all translated this Bible then I would like to know.." and he said that they don't share the names of the people who Translated it because they don't want to take any credit because it's God's word and not theirs. *shrugs* I really do have to sleep though. 3:37am for me and I gotta be up in 6 hours. I appreciate the responses and perhaps I'll talk more about how I got into this tommorow. Signing off.

  • AK - Jeff
  • eclipse
    eclipse

    Thank you Jeff!

    (When I pass my curser over the icons of ''bold'' ''underline'' ''cut'', copy'' ,''paste'' ,''quote'', etc, they dissapear...maybe it's because I am using a different browser than IE)

    Thank you for making the links clickable

  • stevenyc
    stevenyc

    MichaelM, welcome to JWD

    I would recommend before you change your life by devoting it to any organization read this book:

    Scripture Twisting: Twenty Ways the Cults Misread the Bible

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877846111/christianministr

    If you check out the chapter headings, you will start to see how denominations such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons alike coerce people by misrepresenting the bible.

    steve

  • AlmostAtheist
    AlmostAtheist

    Hi Michael,

    It's worth noting, I think, that the ex-JW's you've encountered so far on this site have encouraged you to look around, check it all out. The JW you're studying with -- who believes sincerely that they have your best interests at heart -- will DIScourage you from talking to anyone that doesn't believe the way the Watchtower does.

    If you were buying a car, it would make sense to listen to those that once had the car and got rid of it. You wouldn't just talk to the salesman. If you found many people had quit working for a particular company, you would listen to them before taking a job there. Likewise, be sure to listen to what your JW friend is saying as well as what you read here. Get both sides. Then make your own logical conclusions.

    Dave

  • Honesty
    Honesty

    Ask the JW's if anyone become a Jehovah’s Witness after reading the bible alone without the aid of Watchtower material?

    Ask, "If I were to join the Jehovah’s Witnesses, would it be okay for me to do research into the Watchtower’s past by reading non-Watchtower material?"

    If the Watchtower’s teaching that the 144,000 were filled in 1935 is correct, can you explain how Jesus, his apostles and their immediate followers couldn’t get 144,000 converts in 1800 years, but the Watchtower got 6 million converts in 125 years?

    Why does the Watchtower teach that only 144,000 people are born-again when 1 John 5:1 says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God?

    Why is there only one judgment period from God to test the endurance and worthiness of the 144,000 before they are guaranteed of eternal life, but the other sheep have to endure through this life, the 1000 year millennium plus pass an unknown final test before they are counted worthy of eternal life? Why is salvation so much easier for the 144,000?

    If Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are not part of the 144,000 with a heavenly hope, why does Jesus say in Matthew 8:11 that they will be in the kingdom of heaven?

  • mouthy
    mouthy

    Welcome to the site Michael------- I was a JW for 25 years. You will find most in the religion are very nice people. But once you become entrenched you become self satisfied, thinking you are now in the ONLY TRUE religion.

    I made 10 people Jehovahs Witnesses - for which I am now ashamed.

    Their bible is altered..... I have 8 translations, theirs is changed to get their message across.

    DO please check this out before you get baptised. I would have studied with you 6 months & by that time I would have convinced you it was the TRUTH!!! Only because I was under mind control. But It is the "LIE" that we are warned about in Deut 18:20,21
    Not one of the prophecy have come true....

    You have a p.m.

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk

    Hi MichaelM!

    You're getting some great views from alot of intelligent and kind people here.

    I just want to throw in my 2 cents.

    I was 4th generation JW, my son would be 5th.

    What did I come to find out or realize about the Jehovah's Witness religion that made me willing to walk away from being an elder with many "privileges" of service and the perspective of everlasting, trouble-free life in a Paradise earth together with my JW family?

    Too many lies! Unhappiness everywhere I looked. Dysfunctional families. Conditional love. More lies!

    Research, trust your instincts, read, read, and read some more!

    Best wishes to you friend,

    Nvr

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