What stupid question would you like to ask? (page 8)

logansrun

Xena,

Woman, I just do not understand you.

Bradley

gumby

Bradley,

So you think an inteligent person would always know Organisational and doctrinal teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses?

Gumpy,

You said:

Not knowing the Organisation well is no barometer for peoples intelligence.

Okay, this MIGHT be true. But let's see what you say next...

Many just never REALLY wanted to know why the dubs teach as they do. They were satisfied that the few things that convinced them the dubs had the truth, and that was good enough for them. No need to learn all the whys and what fors........".just get the lesson studied so you can get it over with".

Does the above person then sound INTELLIGENT? Hmmm.....

SixofNine

What stupid question would you like to ask?

Are there any beautiful feminist?

logansrun

Gumpy,

So you think an inteligent person would always know Organisational and doctrinal teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses?

Well, I don't like to take an absolutistic stand on much of anything. But, let me say this: First, we are talking about someone who was going along with the JW belief system; being baptised, believing it and all. If I were someone who claimed to believe and practice such a system -- a religion that claimed the stakes were so high! -- then I would want to be as informed as I possibly could. That's what I did.

Bradley

LittleToe

Bradley:

Boo-hoo, let me play my violin.

That was uncalled for, IMHO...

Woman, I just do not understand you.

No, you don't do you. Hmm maybe there's a pattern developing...

Most people that start "stupid question" threads are not hurting emotionally.

And your evidence for that statement, beyond your own self-determined opinion?...

If I were someone who claimed to believe and practice such a system -- a religion that claimed the stakes were so high! -- then I would want to be as informed as I possibly could. That's what I did.

Now we're getting there!
That's what you did, hence everyone else must think and reason like you do.

Bradley, to be frank (not Frank), you have proved yourself a reet antagonistic wee meppan!
I don't like seeing lassies feelings getting hurt, at the best of times, far less good friend's.
I would seriously suggest (and it is only a suggestion, for your own good and that of others) that you adjust your manners.

When you first started posting I enjoyed your comments and style. Of late it has taken a serious downturn, in my estimation (and that of a few others, it would seem). For goodness sake, bring back the bright, intelligent, semi-polite guy that we first got a glimpse at!

LT, of the "I'm getting p*ssed at the diatribe, class"

gumby

If I were someone who claimed to believe and practice such a system -- a religion that claimed the stakes were so high! -- then I would want to be as informed as I possibly could. That's what I did.

Bradley,

I'm not sure I follow you. You were raised a witness, then at the age of 24 you then decided to look into your faith. My question is.........do you think you weren't intelligent BEFORE you turned 24?

Gumby

outnfree

I'm reading this thread and mostly saying "Amen!" to Xena....

First, we are talking about someone who was going along with the JW belief system; being baptised, believing it and all.

So, you were raised a witness, but you never got baptized?

If I were someone who claimed to believe and practice such a system -- a religion that claimed the stakes were so high!

Actually, I think most religions are of the opinion that adhering to their tenets means everlasting life with some sort of nice reward at the end.

-- then I would want to be as informed as I possibly could. That's what I did.

Well, some of us -- I was an [intelligent] adult convert -- may have joined because the JWs were the best fit to our personal beliefs. In my case, I rejected mainstream Christianity because I could not espouse the trinity doctrine and didn't want to be a hypocrite. The JWs were the only ostensibly "Christian" religion that I knew of who did NOT preach the trinity. My own desire to be seen as "good" and yet be allowed to disbelieve Jesus=God was the real reason for my investigation. My pragmatic side won when I met my divorced, Catholic, now husband of 25 years, and I stopped my study. My fear of Armageddon swallowing up my daughter led me back to a study with the witnesses some 10 years later. It still took me another 5 years before I was dunked. (I guess I don't brainwash that easily, but I DO brainwash.) Almost immediately, I perceived problems. It still took me another 11+ years to make the break. I didn't want the dream of me and my family making it into paradise to end. I DID want to worship SOMEWHERE and knew no other Christian religion still (Universalist/Unitarian excepted and I was still too conservative to consider that route) that would let me voice my disbelief in the trinity freely. I kept making excuses, until finally I could do so no longer.

Obviously, the Witness religion gives something to its converts and adherents. For me, it was the simplicity of "do this and this and this, and you're in good with God; no worries." Unfortunately, my [admittedly weak] analytical skills and affinity for studying DID lead me to investigate the claims put forth by the Society on several subjects. And I found THEIR reasoning faulty or their deceit apparent, and made my break.

But lots of people leave purely for the hurt that the Society or the "Friends" put on them with judgmental ways and lack of love.

Sorta like how I feel you're making people feel at the moment, Bradley.

outnfree

logansrun

Little Toe,

Woman, I just do not understand you.
No, you don't do you. Hmm maybe there's a pattern developing...

No, not really. I addressed my comments to Xena and that says nothing of my relations with anyone else.

Most people that start "stupid question" threads are not hurting emotionally.
And your evidence for that statement, beyond your own self-determined opinion?...

It's just an observation, one I still feel is true. You feel I am wrong?

If I were someone who claimed to believe and practice such a system -- a religion that claimed the stakes were so high! -- then I would want to be as informed as I possibly could. That's what I did.
Now we're getting there!
That's what you did, hence everyone else must think and reason like you do.

So, you believe that someone who goes through such a system and dedicates their life to it and does not try and understand it -- is that the mark of intelligence? Think about it; that's what you are implying. I'm not making a moral judgement on people like that -- hell, it's a system of worship I no longer agree with. Plus, people can change and/or enhance their thinking ability. I'm not sure if you read all the threads leading up to this statement or noticed the context in which it was made. Really, we're arguing a moot point.

Bradley, to be frank (not Frank), you have proved yourself a reet antagonistic wee meppan!

Is there something wrong with being an antagonist? Some great people throughout history have been antagonists. There is something to be said for such a quality, imho.

I don't like seeing lassies feelings getting hurt, at the best of times, far less good friend's.
I would seriously suggest (and it is only a suggestion, for your own good and that of others) that you adjust your manners.

Lassies Anyway -- my comment at Xena was made in partial jest. Was she overly "whiney" at the moment? I think so. A little rough humor is what people need sometimes (myself included).

Bradley

logansrun

Outnfree,

I'm glad you found your way out.

Bradley

logansrun

Gumpy,

do you think you weren't intelligent BEFORE you turned 24?

Yes, I think I was intelligent before. When I turned 17 I got baptised and soon absorbed myself in personal study. For the next four years I learned the in's and out's of the Society (as much as a faithful JW could at that age) as well as the Bible. I felt I needed to know the reasons for my faith. Questions like "are the 2,520 years of Daniel solar years (365 days) or prophetic years (360 days)?" were things I tackled. I couldn't understand how my peers -- and practically everyone else in the congregation -- could just "go with the flow" when it came to what we were learning and preaching. It was inconceivable to me at the time, and I still feel this way.

I guess everyone is different. That doesn't mean one way isn't better than the next, though.

Bradley (hiding under the table just waiting for the storm to pass)

What stupid question would you like to ask?

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