to disgruntled Christians (page 2)

dhook

Thank you for your remarks, Hillary; I found them quite interesting. The idea that Jehovah's Witnesses are the only Christians on the planet seems to contradict what Jesus said about the wheat and the weeds growing together until the harvest. It would be more reasonable to assume that true Christians would be scattered across the entire world, existing within and without any religion. I guess it's all a matter of heart.
dhook

Undecided

Hi dHook,

I have been looking for some evidence of God in any religion. All the scriptures that have been used to prove Jesus is at the door has proven to be misapplied. Why should I expect any better performance in the future?

I see no real evidence that the Holy Spirit(holy spirit, depending on how you view it) has done anything that I can verify at all. Most churches, religions, or whatever you might call God's people are like all others, with the same failings and faults, even though many have covered them over very well in the past. The good principles practiced by some are also practiced by those who don't beleive in God. The bible has some good ideas of how to live decently, but this is not exclusive to the bible.

I will just live my life as I see fit and let others do the same, as long as they don't cause harm to me or my family. I'm tired of trying to figure out God.

My 2 cents,

Ken P.

ISP

KenP, that seems to be a fair summary! I am of the opinion that God is not doing a lot.

ISP

DIM

well, i'm still an active JW as of today, and I sincerely doubt I'll be affiliated w/ any organized religion once I leave. I have a really hard time accepting Paul's sexist writings, and I also question many things that are written in the bible. I'm not bent on the Watchtowers destruction, but I'd really like my friends and family to see that its just another religion - not the "truth". I try not to be bitter about things, but sometimes I cannot help myself.

i'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight-short-sighted-narrow minded hypocritics. all i want is the truth just gimme some truth - John Lennon

jst2laws

Dhook,
Many here have been hurt severely. It is possible my younger brother would still be alive if it were not for the extreme religion in which he was raised. Its is possible my good friend Dennis would be alive if he would have responded better to the needs of his young disturbed sons instead of taking the standard JW hard line approach. Its possible I would have avoided years of depression if I hadn’t believed that the WT bs regarding mental health problems.

On the other hand I appreciate many things I got from being a witness. And although there were many missed opportunities and some harm in my life due to WT control, who can confidently say if they changed certain events in their past life that it would not have taken other wrong turns and turned out worse. This feeling will not be shared by many here because of the level of harm they have endured.

As to moving on, I am ready to just be a Christian and read the Bible regular with some friends. The more the friends the better. But I am compelled to bring as many of my old friends along too. So I’m here, and I still attend some meetings with the purpose of sharing the truth.

As to your thoughts to “disgruntled Christians”, I mostly agree. But the important thing is that hopefully we are CHRISTIANS, disgruntled or not.

Jst2laws

dhook

I guess anyone who believes (or wants to believe) in Christianity has experienced the same quest as you: some evidence of God within their religion. We don't see mountains quaking, fingers writing cryptic messages on our walls, or do we even have dreams of things to come. I don't expect we ever will. The fact is (or seems to be)that what the Scripture says atMatthew 12:39, has been applied to our generation too. No sign. Maybe that's what faith is all about. Also, the Scripture at 2 Peter 1:20+21 points out that God has already spoke through prophets of old, "... men spoke from God as they were borne along by Holy Spirit." And, I guess, the things we don't see... the things that are drawing the nations toward Armegeddon, these are the things we should be taking note of. By doing that, we will not only build our faith, but we'll be certain that God is very much alive and active.

I hope this helps. Thanks for your comments.
dhook

dhook

As long as people on this earth are subject to Satan's Power, we will have problems with false prophets. Until Christ takes full reign and ousts Satan, we will never know for certain what course to take. All I know (or think I know)is that the Bible is the written word of God. For me, I guess, it's my task to continue to study the Scriptures and try to connect the lines until I get a picture that makes sense. Of course it helps when you have other like-minded people to bounce your ideas off of, thereby keeping you from going off the deep end of reality... as some tend to wander in that direction. But in the finale, Jehovah will be the judge of matters. However, living life the best you can, and making an honest effort to apply Scriptural teachings in your everyday dealings... what else can we do? I know of nothing else.
Thanks for your remarks.
dhook

dhook

jst2laws

No one on this planet has all the answers. If there is, they're keeping it a secret. All through the Scriptures we read about the terrible things that have happened to this one and that because of a wrong course chosen. Nothing has changed. A thoughtless act can still bring mysery and suffering to innocent others. My own life is testimony to that fact.

As Robert Frost said in his poem, The Road Not Taken "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference."

Sure, there were many times I could have taken a different path; in retrospect, I should have! But here I am. Here we are. Now what? As I kid my pal Bill (a contributor to this board): We're here for the ride so, for good or bad, we might as well see it through. I believe the game is in the final inning so why stop now?

As for the pains we all have experienced (or inflicted) over the years, maybe we haven't taken to heart the familiar Scripture found at Revelation 21:4. If we strive to comply with what we know of God's will for us, the past errors will eventually be forgotten... forever. Those we lost may be returned to us. We may just get a fair shake, another chance to make amends.

But trying to live a Christian Life in a sick and twisted world is by no means an easy choice nor voyage. But we knew that, already... right? When we joined we were told that it wouldn't be a cake-walk. Well, they were right there! It hasn't been. So we do as you suggest: read the Bible with some friends... kick around some ideas... and don't be afraid of "speculating" a little if it helps kindle your flame. That's what I'm doing too.

Thanks for your comments.
dhook

sunscapes

Chappy said:

You mentioned "basics of spiritual truth" learned from the WT.
Could you list the ones unique to the WT? They need to be unique and true.

That's the problem I have about the Society dogging other religions and developing dogma based on trying to be "unique" and different from everyone else. This shows up in spades in not celebrating holidays, for instance. But if you come right down to it, every time we breathe we could be following Pagan traditions; whereas the spirit of Christmas is thrown out with the bathwater! Could you imagine what would happen if no one celebrated Christmas or suchlike holidays at all? It's a world that I wouldn't want to live in. Failure to look at the positive aspects of things is the downfall of the WTBTS, and it's their loss. Too bad for them. The earlier Bible students had it better: at least while celebrating holidays, they humbly accepted the title of "students" and didn't make as many outrageous claims. Now they have, by the accumulated evidence presented in this forum over the past several years in this (and H20) forum, have lost complete credibility. That is why my posts carry the below-mentioned signature.

When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers ... we are ripping the foundations of justice from beneath future generations.

formerly "Theocracy Rules Again"
circa 1996-1999

josephus

nice to hear from you dhook. i hope to find a group someday that i can get behind.

to me the bible is still very important. perhaps in coming hear you mistook what the majority feel.

without insulting anyone. the world is full of different people. only a small amount will care about
the bible.

in the "truth" the same applies. we all know about such ones when we were going to meetings.

it would seem to me that searching exwitnesses was exactly the wrong kind of place to seek
commited cristians on masse. since most here have at least for a time been very angry at any
religious notion. any many left exactly because they didnt beleive in god.

of course many here are very interested in religion (many, much more than me).
perhaps they will form up and make a new religion.

i hope you find an answer to your questions. i havent.

anyway i wish i wrote my mixed feelings about the wtbts as well as you do.

regards

josephus
my favorite bible era historian

to disgruntled Christians

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