can somebody shed some light on me? (page 2)

WontLeave

Going from Catholic to Jehovah's Witnesses is a step toward truth. The JWs lead toward truth, but only unadulterated Scripture is truth. Jesus is truth and when an organization tells you they're "truth", they're calling Christ a liar unless they are an exact representation of him. JWs are not, but they're truth-ish.

They will teach you to question what you have been told the Bible means, but then they will substitute that with what they tell you the Bible means. They pull you out of a spiritual rut, but then replace it with another one, if you allow them to.

If you're the apathetic type who went with the flow in Catholicism because you couldn't be bothered to find out for yourself what the Bible actually teaches, JWs can shock you out of your funk. You can use that momentum to launch you into a search for Bible truth or you can just let them put you back into a different apathetic funk of their own design.

The JWs are a stepping stone to enlightenment as to what the Bible actually contains. Some on this forum have decided the Bible isn't truth and that's a separate issue. If you believe in the Bible, JWs can point you in the right direction, but if you follow them all the way, they will eventually lead you into idolatry by placing the Watchtower over Scripture and the Governing Body over Christ. So, use them as God uses them, but jump off the train before it derails into blasphemy and idolatry for 7 old men and a magazine. Just remember, only Christ can save you; the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society can't.

jean-luc picard

This link might interest you:

http://www.drugsandalcoholhelp.com/addiction-recovery-and-religion-help-or-hindrance/

psychiatric

Hi everyone and wow thankyou all so much for a very quick response.

I should make it clear the drug problem is over with and i am free from that.

I have carried on in the faith and attended meetings etc, but these last few weeks i have really questioned things i have been told. I used to just accept it and carried on with my studies. i agree strongly with what heaven had to say - that inorder to do the works of christ is something any of us can do by helping others and loving others, and not being told that the works we must do the WILL we must do is door ot door preaching. I hear it all the time how wonderful it is howthey all love it, but when i think about it, it just sounds like a gruelling humiliating thing and waste of life/time.

i guess in the bible where it says at matthew 24, jesus says several times int his chapter, he relaly emphasizes how people will come inthe last days claiming to be the christ. And says do not be misled! they tell me these htings, and yet i cant help but feel maybe THEY are the ones doing so! appearing to be these angels of light, yet misleading (even the chosen ones) !

Hey, i dont know, i feel like a lost little boy and its given me a big headache.

What i beileve is, yes there is a God. Anyone can have a relationship with God, anyone can pray to god anytime.You dont need to attend meetings, you dont need to read the watchtower publications and so on.

Yes they all follow the bible, but lets face it, and correct me if i am wrong, but dont they read and study MORE literature thats been published by the watchtower? and then justify that they ONLY follow what the bible says? and call these other publications simply an "aid".

ill be returning to new zealand at the end of the month, it will be great to se emy mum and dad, my dad didnt speak to me for months because of me doing this too.

I might go to a hall there and keep searching. i guess this is my spiritual journey in life. trying to make sense of life and everything. Theres just so much stuff out there which plays with your mind.

Thanks to you all for all of your responses!

ps quick question to each of you who know the so called truth, do you celebrate any birthdays or anything like that...christmas and so on? is it REALLY worng to do that?

WontLeave

birthdays or anything like that...christmas and so on? is it REALLY worng to do that?

JWs aren't the only ones who understood Christmas to be an interfaith construct of Christianity and Paganism. It's been banned throughout history by several churches. That being said, do your own research and decide for yourself.

Birthdays, on the other hand, may have actually been celebrated by early Jews. Many Bible scholars believe Job 1:4 is talking about his sons' birthdays. While 2 birthdays are definitely mentioned in the Bible where people were executed, the party being demonized along with the murders is a logical leap of epic proportions. The only person in the Bible to be described as "fat" was in opposition to Jehovah (Judges 3:17), so should we extrapolate from that example that being fat is also evil? And his killer, who was sent by Jehovah, was left-handed (Judges 3:15). By JW logic, wouldn't that make left-handedness good?

One [man] judges one day as above another; another [man] judges one day as all others; let each [man] be fully convinced in his own mind. - Rom 14:5

Heaven

dont they read and study MORE literature thats been published by the watchtower?

You are correct. Most JWs do not really know the Bible. They know the Watchtower's interpretation of the Bible. There is a big difference.

quick question to each of you who know the so called truth, do you celebrate any birthdays or anything like that...christmas and so on? is it REALLY worng to do that?

Yes I celebrate the holidays and birthdays. The scripture at Colossians 2:16 states:

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." -- NIV

Darren, you said you feel lost. This is not a nice feeling to have. I suggest you start with what you know about yourself; what do you like to do and what do you want to do with your life?

If you have not already done so, I highly recommend you read Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

sizemik

Believe it or not . . . you are not as lost as you think Darren. You're applying a degree of critical thinking early in your journey . . . and that will serve you well if you continue to ask questions that deserve an answer.

As to your question . . . My whole family left the religion about 6 years ago . . . my 3 sons, the eldest being your age were all "born in". We do celebrate Birthdays and Christmas . . . and we enjoy doing so without any WT induced guilt . . . it's not unscriptural until the JW's put their twist on it.

May I be the first to welcome you back to NZ . . . enjoy you're stay.

Mat

Hi Darren.

I understand your dilama. They helped you a lot but now you have doubts about them and are in two minds about joining them. Do you go ahead and join them keeping your doubts hidden, or do you follow your instincts and leave them while losing everything they provide?

I advise you find friends outside that religion. Perhaps start a University degree or a secular interst group. There are nicer Chruches- perhaps one that doesn't take it's doctrines too seriously but does have good ethics.

About Christmas and Birthdays- so what they have Pagan orogins? Pagan just means another culture besides Christian (or Muslim or Jewish). That doesn't make it evil. There is no harm in celebrating them.

AnnOMaly

Welcome psychiatric!

Ironically, you're in a sense exchanging one Catholic religion for another. Like Catholicism, JWs consider themselves the only true church today. Instead of following the leadership of the Pope (and thus following Christ), they follow the leadership of the Governing Body (and thus follow Christ). See p. 212 of Penton's book on Google books for a rough comparison:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=38SYXalMLeQC&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=Penton+theocratic+government+jehovah's+witnesses&source=bl&ots=wucSYPvFjI&sig=K_cfnjpoCEedfKrtgnlt-o3hx-8&hl=en&ei=AGnFTdClGtGKhQew1KXzAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CE4Q6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

I echo what others have said: listen to what your gut is telling you and don't be bamboozled into a belief system and a situation that you'll find hard to undo later.

poopsiecakes

In my opinion, it's not only important to examine WHAT you believe but WHY you believe what you believe. If you're honest with yourself, the answers may surprise you.

Welcome!

sleepingbeauty

Darren.

They became the crutch when you needed someone. Now though you've learnt to stand on your own 2 feet & you've had that wake up call.

Do plenty of research. If its the Truth it will withstand any critisim. You will soon find out the Truth about the so called Truth :0 Were all here for you so ask away with any queries / questions you have :)

xx

can somebody shed some light on me?

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