by Fernando 19 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Hey Knowsnothing!
I'm not really sure how to answer, but imagine it is both.
For me religion has always had a hostile relationship with (authentic) science and (authentic) philosophy.
Since leaving religion and embracing spirituality instead, my respect and love for both (science and philosophy) has grown.
I see no need to leave family for Jesus, if family members are reasonable and agree to disagree, instead of being perpetual troublemongers.
When I was a JW kid I saw people using religion as a crutch. I never felt I needed the crutch. I thought that if there was a True Religion that the WT was probably it, but never thought about it too much. Fear of death at Armageddon was the only reason for membership, but even in 1975 I couldn't bring myself to get baptised. I knew too well that if Jehovah didn't show up and kill the non-Dubs that I wouldn't stay with the religion and would probably be DFd and shunned.
27 years later, my Dad, in a desperate attempt to get me to join before Jehovah killed me, turned the light on and I Googled 'Jehovah's Witness false prophets'.
I hadn't been going any WHERE. Now what?
I bought myself a selection of Bibles at a charity book sale and started reading the gospels in chronological order. In a few days I was a born again Christian. I kept reading. I got to the story about Jesus cursing the fig tree and analysed it. If there was a WHERE, it wasn't in this book with this very human god. I was only reading it because I had been born to a family that had a version of it. It didn't matter which translation I read, I couldn't bring myself to misuse grammer or context, or ignore the intention of the authors, enough to let me believe that this collection of old books from an ancient culture on the other side of the planet, wasn't just men's thoughts about god.
I didn't need to go any WHERE. I'd been in the right place all the time, but was surrounded by people so determined to distract me with their gods that I couldn't see it.
Cheers
Chris
First, that directly contradicts what is in their own Bible. Their own Bible asks "To WHOM shall we go", not "WHERE." This is the first fallacy.
Second, if anyone is industrious enough to do additional research or open minded enough to look at other sources, you will find that Jesus wasn't the only person to fit the description. You can find something like 20 others, and Horus is a prime example. All of them are allegories for THE SUN! Yup, the sun. Of course, the Jesus one is the most worthless of them--and the only one that comes with a guilt price attached.
Now, if Christians didn't so zealously destroy ancient religions and their evidence, there would be plenty of other places and beings to turn to. First, how many other gods were there that actually helped people? Anyone else wonder why "primitive" tribes get so much insight, so much inner strength, and so much of a rich culture that we don't see these days? It is because their ancient religions provided actual spiritual guidance. And yes, they were Satanic religions. Their chief god was, invariably, another name for Satan. Lucifer and Enki come to mind. You hear of Baal worship, Beelzebub, and Astaroth (all of whom have alternate names in different cultures). I could go to them, and probably get better spiritual enlightenment (if I wasn't so spiritually dead from decades of spiritual abuse from Christianity--my own or that of those in charge).
To whom shall we go? The sun, Satan, and Astaroth. Hopefully, that will answer their question.
The idea of "searching" and "seeking" for Divine guidance in a world brimfull of religious charlatans strikes me as wrong-faced. Surely, if there is a Divine presence, it needs to get off its lazy backside and find me. Thank you.
if there is a Divine presence, it needs to get off its lazy backside and find me
Do you have a son steve2?
Would it be cool if you told your son to go do something and he said "get off your lazy backside and [find a way to] make me"?
My Mom said this the other day, and yes she misquoted by saying where instead of whom (common for witlesses). We were talking about the seeming corruption in our conned-green-nation and she was feeling discouraged. She was trying to tell me that we need to stop being so negative about the cong because that will only lead to more discouragement and "we all know where that leads." She then went on about jayhoovers borganization being run by imperfect men so we need to have understanding, besides "where else would we go?”
Really? What a lame excuse for doubting dubs to reaffirm there failing devotion to mother; if that's the only thing keeping you (not knowing where to go next), then why are you there? If humanity said, "I don't know where else to go so I'll just sit tight" we'd never advance, EVER, and we’d still be in the dark ages.
Hey steve2!
I hear you and hope I understand at least in part where you're coming from.
May I say God has already written YOU a detailed letter. It is also a detailed map. All you have to do is find, read and follow it!
The name of the map is the "unabridged gospel" or message or letter.
It is in relation to the legal custody battle between your father and step-father over YOU.
If you choose religion you choose your evil step-father.
If you choose the gospel you choose to return to your father's family.
You will know the above is true IF you find and study the full map and then compare it to the depleted or truncated map promoted by religion to subvert your chances of finding your father and reading his full letter.
Do you have a father N.drew...would it be cool for him to sit on his backside and watch you starve to death?
would it be cool for him to sit on his backside and watch you starve to death?
Are you advocating manna still thinking?
Would it be cool if you told your son to go do something and he said "get off your lazy backside and [find a way to] make me"?
Hadn't realized this thread continued.
In answer to your question: Yes, it would be cool - especially if I had heard so many contradictory claims about my father and read a "Book" claiming to be his word describing his involvement in instigating genocide (as recorded in the Old testament) and because from a Biblical perspective, he is portrayed as misogynistic and pro-slavery.
BTW, I would never have spoken to my birth father that way because my [JW] father was closely involved in my upbringing, kept his word and was loyal to his family, including me. He could have taught the Biblical "god" a thing or two about decency and respect towards human kind.
