YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER is not such a good idea.

by Englishman 8 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Englishman

  The biggest problem that Jehovahs witnesses have to deal with, is that they expect to live forever.

  I think that this belief messes up their minds, interferes with their personal growth and also stops them from learning how to live with loss. It is, after all, a totally unnatural belief. Everything around us comes and goes, lives then decays.

  Believing that you can live forever means that you can never risk taking time away from your beliefs so that you can re-appraise them

  Believing that you can live forever means that you can never grieve properly. It means that you never lose a loved one, rather you just “mislay” them for a while. It prevents many from re-marrying, how can you face your resurrected spouse when you`ve been bedding another partner – and that IS what it`s all about, isn`t it?

  Believing that you can live forever makes you childishly immature. Children glory in the prospect of a long life, death is what happens to old people. However, it is the prospect of death that makes many determined to get the most out of life whilst they can. I have known quite a number of people in their 80`s who say “I`ve had a good life, I don`t mind the thought of dying”.

  Accepting loss as a normal part of ageing, is, IMO, a very necessary part of getting the most out of life. Jehovahs witnesses non-acceptance of loss is, I believe, one of the reasons that most of them are so backward in their personal development. I believe that this is the reason why they are so incapable of seeing anyone else`s point of view, believing that you can live forever has to be the ultimate in arrogance.

  Englishman.
• 

  mommy

  Englishman,
  I love your posts! I have thought alot about this recently, and my thoughts are along your lines as well. I feel they live in a temporary world. Always expecting the end to get here with no thought of anything else. This thought of all being temporary limits the amount of feelings they have. Thus making it easier to turn their backs on their own blood. It also helps to justify other things for them as well. They look to the wtbts for their link to God and are not able to really appreciate what God and Jesus have done for us. If anyone of them really put God in their heart then they would be able to Love all men and see that God does too.
  Vey interesting thought, thank you for posting.
  wendy
• 

  Fredhall

  Talking about minds being mess up; who took a scoop to your brain lately?
• 

  RedhorseWoman

  Good thoughts, Englishman. I think this "live forever" attitude also contributes to the typical JW mindset of "let Jehovah take care of it", and the refusal to take responsibility for making life better now for themselves and others.

  It enables JWs to turn their backs on injustice and cruelty because "it will all be straightened out in the New System".
• 

  ianao

  "it will all be straightened out in the New System"

  Not dissimilar to:

  "Shoot'um all and let God sort it out."
• 

  riz

  Englishman,
  This is an interesting point to raise. I agree with what you said about witnesses thinking they will live forever being so arrogant. I always hated it when we would be out in service, and the people in the cargroup would be picking out the houses that they would occupy in the new order. Because, of course, the householder didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of surviving armageddon. How sad that most truly believe this. I've always figured, that if the witnesses I have known were going to be the ones inhabiting the earth in the new order, I'll go ahead and take my chances in the 'world.'

  riz

  Edited by - riz on 14 March 2001 17:45:5
• 

  Englishman

  Riz,

  Wow! You say people (JW`s) were actually selecting the homes that they would take over after "Armageddon"?

  Who are these people? Squatters?

  Englishman.
• 

  expatbrit

  Englishman:

  I remember hearing many times the comment along the lines of:

  "ah yes, the death of a loved one is certainly very sad. But thank goodness we don't have the inconsolable or hopeless grief that worldly people suffer....".

  Used to think it myself, in fact.

  Now I'm out I recognise the reality: I never have come to real terms with the deaths of family and friends. I've never really comprehended the loss.

  Yet another stage to go through in WT recovery.

  Expatbrit.
• 

  riz

  Englishman,

  yes, apparently after armageddon, these houses will be up for grabs. lol. and surviving on a janitor's income, this is probably a comforting thought.

  riz