JW's The friendliest people in the world

by Celtic 5 Replies latest jw friends

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  Celtic

  A short while back I was sitting on the doorstep enjoying a rollie when from nowhere, this thought pattern appeared in my head on the subject of friendliness and JW's.

  The way I saw things was from the perspective that here you have this guy called Jesus, who despite churning things up quite a bit in the first century, was in fact not a bad guy to bump into. In fact I reckon he was pretty cool.

  To strangers he gave his time, his company and support. He got to know people on the local level and mixed without barriers to all communities of all sorts. He didn't care to put one man above another but treated everyone the same.

  Now, I don't make a song and dance out of believing in Jesus, I just quietly believe this character, but what of the experience of growing up JW? Can really the same be said? Are JW followers really imitating the life of Christ? Or are they like the git who walked past in time of trouble?

  I used to always say within the congregation that to segregate ourselves away from society, not able to make friends with people on the outside was tantamout to alienation or strangulation of true spirituality and common progress. Somehow this independent thinking got me into all kinds of bother. But still the thought would never go away that, how on earth are people going to listen to us if within the community there are no fine fruits demonstrable by action, no extensions of friendship, no bridges that people can relate with/to.

  That was it really, the strikingly obvious non parrallel existence /experience between teacher and man made religious organisation fakes.

  Just musing....

  celtic
• 

  RedhorseWoman

  I used to muse about the same things, Celtic. I could never quite understand how placing magazines and having Bible studies was better than actually helping.

  Jesus didn't limit his time and his ministry to his followers only. Many of those he helped eventually became his followers, but there were also those who didn't (at least not immediately).

  But, then again, we are not dealing with an organization that is interested in following Jesus. We are dealing with an organization that is interested in power and control.
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  Flip

  I could never quite understand how placing magazines and having Bible studies was better than actually helping.

  Jehovah Gods son did not have the benefit of high-speed colored printing presses during the first Century, otherwise he would have published and placed the Watchtower and Awake!

  The only recourse he had at his disposal was a low tech hands on approach. However, things have improved and become much more effective since His day.

  If Jesus were alive today, the truth is, he, just as we do today, would marvel at the wonderful improvements the effects of his words through the mass marketing of the WTBTS have had on mankind throughout the world.

  I can provide many, many examples of His blessings regarding the former but I’m the Watchtower Study conductor this Sunday and have more important things to do than explain the obvious to you morons.

  PS the above is my response to the thread if I were a still a Jehovah’s Witness.

  Flip
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  DazedAndConfused

  I would liken the supposed, or maybe the term should be "alleged", friendliness of Witnesses to that of many "worldly" organisations. Take for example............AA. It requires that it is their way or the highway. Let's go further and liken it to many pyramid schemes. ie., many jobs (Amway, insurance, prepaid legal) they are so upbeat it is almost sickening. But in reality, they become that way because of "initial" programming. Once reality sets in so does depression and self deprication. On the subject of the friendliness of Witnesses..........In the 70's I knew of a couple, personally, who got the whole congregation at their house at some point. And they spent many hours with these people. Well..........these people thought because of the care and concern these people showed MUST mean God is behind it. They got baptised, and he became a MS. But when they became baptised they wondered where their "friends" went. Once they could no longer count time at their house they drifted away. Is that genuine caring?
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  Eyebrow

  Hey...

  I used to be a JW

  I used to sell insurance and mutual funds

  I used to be in Amway and another similiar scheme

  Oh my god! 3 out of 4?????

  What does that say about me? Good thing I am not a drunk, heehe!
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  wallaby jack

  G'day Celtic,

  Good thoughts. Of course your talking total pigs twaddle when it comes to jesus the sandle wearing nazarite, but i well understand the sentiments about the mythical God/man hero raising up the weak and saving us from our human condition. Matthew is a good book and expresses much along the way of forgiveness, mercy, redemption etc.. as are the tales of Camelot and the Arthurial knights.

  Your observations about the flaws in the JW power structure are spot on. How neive we were to think it could be any different in an organization such as that.

  best wishes, you're an interesting character .. cigar belching, pipe puffing wj.