Jehovah's Witnesses - Are they loving?

by brotherdan 81 Replies latest jw friends

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  brotherdan

  you are either full blown Christian or not

  When did I EVER say that? I hold very strongly to the belief of 1John 5:1. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God". I never said you had to view the scriptures as inerrant to be a Christian.

  Do I view the Bible as inerrant currently? Yes I do. But I never set any other standard for people than that which is set in the Bible. And the Bible does not say that you MUST view it as inerrant to be a Christian. I DID say that for ME I can't be inbetween. I could never throw out parts of the Bible that don't seem to go along with my view of who God is and still pick the good parts about love that I DO believe in.

  But that is for me to decide. And I don't judge anyone like Psac or Tec as not being Christian because they don't feel the same way.

  The conception of most people is that all religions have the same basic attitude that JWs have. "If you don't agree with me, then you are going to die." But from my experience thus far, I've seen baptists talk about pentacostals as fellow believers in Christ. I've seen the same with Lutherans, Catholics, and non-denominational churches. The body of Christ is not an organization, as we all know. It's made up of individual people from very diverse backgrounds.

  On the flip side, if you DON'T believe Jesus is the Christ, then by definition you are not a Christian. If you don't claim the second part of the verse "to be born of God" (like most JWs) I don't see how you can be Christian. But I can't judge that for sure since I'm in no position to give that sort of judgement. I'm just attempting to repeat the Bible.
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  sabastious

  Brilliant, misery, brilliant!

  -Sab
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  highdose

  are they loving? ... they are as loving as the nazIs! as freindly as the north koreans! and as keen on basic human rights as the chinese!
• 

  SweetBabyCheezits

  Are they loving?

  Here are my thoughts, and they are only that - thoughts. There's no good in generalizing here. JWs are humans, subject the the same negative characteristics that stem from the mind, just like you and me. Some suppress the negative traits better than others.

  Unfortunately, the WT Society promotes ignorance and pride in the highly-potent form of prejudice.

  The Society does it's best to get members to bury most negative traits but, for its own health, does not discourage religious pride. (See last year's DC symposium on pride. Religious pride was set apart from judgment and ENCOURAGED instead of DISCOURAGED.)

  But again there are varying degrees how prejudice is displayed even among JWs. If you poke someone in their pride enough, chances are the prejudice will bleed through. For Eggnog, it doesn't seem to take a lot.

  Dan, you know JWN members carry a label. Though the label isn't an invention of the Watchtower Society, they have become increasingly skilled at using it to promote extreme prejudice. As long as Eggnog can view you behind that label, he can continue to elevate himself and treat you like crap when you get to him, without too many (or any) pangs of conscience.

  So are they loving? I'd say the organization contains members who are, by nature, loving... but it creates an environment for prejudice, which opposes love. It depends on the individual as to how well they suppress the display of their prejudice.
• 

  jay88

  BrotherD-On the flip side, if you DON'T believe Jesus is the Christ, then by definition you are not a Christian. If you don't claim the second part of the verse "to be born of God" (like most JWs) I don't see how you can be Christian. But I can't judge that for sure since I'm in no position to give that sort of judgement. I'm just attempting to repeat the Bible.

  BrotherD-BrotherD-No, I wasn't saying that. But for one to be considered a Christian John 13:35 requires them to be loving people. I know alot of loving atheists, agnostics, muslims, jews, etc...

  >>>>>>>>

  I am a bit confused with these two statements. If God is love and the only way there can be love is to "believe Jesus is the Christ" and "to be born of God" then love by any other means is not love, whether atheists, agnostics, hindu, buddhist etc,......

  Only "True Christians" have and know what love is.
• 

  Joliette

  Brotherdan, please ignore the spammers around here. I dont understand how many so called hardcore dubbers can come on here and talk about us, when their faithful and discreet slave tells them not to visit internet sites like this.
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  troubled mind

  Please everyone go back and read Sweetbabycheezits Comment it was awesome ! Thank you that is all ....
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  brotherdan

  If God is love and the only way there can be love is to "believe Jesus is the Christ" and "to be born of God" then love by any other means is not love, whether atheists, agnostics, hindu, buddhist etc,......

  Only "True Christians" have and know what love is.

  I seriously don't know how your reading this into my posts, dude. I never said that only Christians have and know what love is. Yes, God is love. That does not mean that He IS the actual QUALITY. It means that he is the source. We are made in His image (you, I, Cheeze, PSac, everyone). So we ALL have that ability to love. So no, not just Christians have love.

  I think you're trying to twist my words and make me sound like I'm judging non-Christians. What I have said is that if you CLAIM to be a Christian, then you MUST show love for it to be real. It's supposed to be a sign of a Christian.

  But because we all have the capacity to love, there can be (and are) very loving people that are not Christians. I don't know how else to explain it to you.

  As Chris Tucker said in "Rush Hour"

  "DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?!?"
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  brotherdan

  I'd say the organization contains members who are, by nature, loving... but it creates an environment for prejudice, which opposes love.

  Very well said. I guess a more appropriate question could have been - "The Watchtower - Is it a a loving organization". I admit that I knew and KNOW some fantastic JWs. The sad thing is that they will stop showing love if I write a DA letter. At least I believe they will.
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  White Dove

  Some are and some aren't. As a group, I must say no, they aren't.

  Given the anonymity of the Internet, JW and anyone else seem to be a bit braver in how they talk to each other.

  Few would talk like that to your face.

  The Internet has brought forth the true feelings of JW's toward those who are not JW's.

  It has betrayed their lack of social skills and lack of Christ-like love for their fellow humans.

  The nastiest posts I've ever seen were by JW's.

  They pull out all the stops and become jury, judge, and executioner in just one response.

  Jesus would slap their silly faces off.

  I don't blame you. I'd be angry, too, and plenty hurt by that poster's comments to you.