Why are you following me around the boards and posting things that don't answer the OP Designs? Trying to get rid of me?
Where are Gods people
by frigginconfused 45 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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designs
Don't be so paranoid silly. Education is just a natural part of the post JW experience.
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poopsiecakes
I live in a world where morals and ethics dont exist. Im tired of feeling alone all the time. People are flaky fake liars. Wish I knew of a group dedicated to integrity and serving god.
A comment like this makes me worry that a) you're trying to start a cult or b) that you're about to strap a bomb to yourself and walk into a crowded mall. Either way, please get some therapy because your view of the world around you is deluded and dangerous.
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punkofnice
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
--- Max Ehrmann, 1927 -
ShadesofGrey
Either way, please get some therapy because your view of the world around you is deluded and dangerous.
I agree.
This is where it comes from:
From its inception the Watchtower Society consistently has been preaching doom and how unliveable life is.
Watchtower 1894 July 15 p.227 "… Our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain."
To be a Witness requires a special thinking process, one that motivates a person to urgency in these unprecedented wicked 'last days'. Negative imagery is constantly presented to keep members in a constant downcast state about the people around and the times we live in. Global catastrophies are welcomed as 'proof' that few years are left before Armageddon.
For instance over the last 53 years, the Scripture "critical times hard to deal with" is referred to 897 times whilst the well known verse from Psalm 23:1 "Jehovah is my Shepherd. I shall lack nothing" is only mentioned 111 times in the Watchtower. The following are typical Watchtower statements.
Kingdom Ministry April 2005 p.1 "Critical times are here. Civil strife, ethnic wars, natural disasters, and other horrific events are common place. Now more then ever, the human family needs good news."
The reality of the times we live in is quite different. A study of history shows that now is a time of comparable peace. Human rights, particularly for women and children are far greater than ever. Medical advances mean that the life expectancy in many countries has doubled in the last 100 years and can be enjoyed with far less pain. The average person living in developed countries enjoy luxuries few Kings had access to in centuries gone by. It was stated in the March 24-28th 2005 Australian Financial Review that we are living in the healthiest, most peaceful, best period of time in all history.
The Watchtower needs to prove conditions are far worse than they really are to prove it to be the Last Days and create urgency in followers to devote themselves to growing the organisation. Healthy religions do not need to create negative urgency as they are based around serving God rather than serving for salvation. Positive religions focus on improvement in life by establishment of schools, hospitals and charities, whilst a Witness waits and waits for a future time when things will get better.
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designs
All christians are forced to operate under the presumption that there is going to be a special day of Judgement for the human race and a 'few' get saved and the majority get 'punished'. This was a central idea of the writers of the Gospels so its places those words in the mouth of the Leader, Jesus of Nazareth; Matt.24,25. 'God's people' becomes this hyper-specialized mysterious group that Groups and Individuals have made the claim to being a part of ever since then.