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Delta20

Hi all,

My name is Jaron, 19 years old, I'm from the Netherlands, and in about a month I am going to start joining the JW's meetings and i'm kind of looking forward to become a JW. I can of course tell ya'll my entire spiritual story, but that would take an entire bookwork. In a nuttshell: my father is an ex-JW, my half-sis (from an earlier marriage from my dads) is one of those "special pioneers", and I am jewish (my mom is jewish). My parents are divorced, I live with my mom, I was always interested in JW's, read all their lecture, but my mom never allowed me to go to a meeting, then i went to some on sunday in secret, mom found out, told me she would kick me out of the house (that was 3 years ago) yadda yadda... now in 1 month im moving out of house, going to live with 2 friends. So now I'm not living under my moms roof i can start going to meetings etcetera.

So what I gathered from the few minutes browsing this forum is that most of you are ex-JW's and will probably agree with my mom that JW's are trying to "brainwash" people, etcetera. After having read some of your posts I understand that most of you had personal problems with family, or with some of the doctrines, etcetera etcetera. Now I am not someone who is easily brainwashed, and I like to listen to both sides of a story before i make up my mind. So my question to you guys is the following (I have many, but this is my primary).

Is there a serious religion which is better then JW's? Better in terms of the actual religion. I mean, its impressive how much JW's know about the bible, how loving and caring they (well, most of them) are. And they made mistakes in interpreting the bible, of course! But they've also done very good things and changed much peoples lives to the better. If you guys are really Ex-JW's then you know what I'm talking about. Every Watchtouwer features a story of someone that has been 'saved'. Hell, I even met people like that myself! But besides all of that, is there something else worth considering besides JW's for someone who believes in God and the Bible?

OldSoul

WELCOME!!!!

Hello Jaron ... one thing you are not so likely to find here is people who want to tell you what to think. In my experience, almost every religion has success stories of those rescued from various vices and the clutches of this or that. If you just keep an open mind, don't let your questions be brushed aside, and make sure the answers are based in a source you personally have confidence in, you should be fine.

Respectfully,
OldSoul

a friend in need

Jaron ... if you want to believe in God and the bible ... Get out of here !!!!!

Valis

But besides all of that, is there something else worth considering besides JW's for someone who believes in God and the Bible?

I have come to the conclusion that people who desire to be Christians only need to have the the two highlited things, and any religious affiliation is a secondary concern. However if you ask the Witnesses that question the answer will be the reverse. I hope that answers your question.. BTW, welcome!

BTW don't pay attention to a friend in need....he likes scaring new members into leaving our board.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

avishai

But they've also done very good things and changed much peoples lives to the better. If you guys are really Ex-JW's then you know what I'm talking about.

LOL!!! Yeah, here's how they made my brother's life better!!!! Try waking up te a four year old screaming every night because a man is molesting him and threatening to kill him if he tells!!

.

stillajwexelder

welcome

NewLight2

Welcome to JWD, Jaron!

Please ignore 'a friend in need'. She is just here to 'put in her service time'. She claims to be an active JW but yet she hurls insults at posters who only ask her to quote the scriptual proof for the core doctrine of JW's - that being the authority of the Governing Body. Why not read the following thread, even though it is very long, it is worth the time and effort:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/84617/1.ashx

If this FDS doctrine cannot be proven using scripture alone, then what right does the Governing Body have claiming to be 'God's Sole Channel on earth today'. Before you decide to join up with that religion, you should at least try to answer that question for yourself.

Here is a link that can help you in your research:

Jehovah's Witnesses: A Critical Analysis

Using this outline to study the Bible will help you to study it within its originial context:

A Bible Study Outline

These two contain many links to important information regarding the Watchtower Society.

NewLight2's Links Page

Johannes Greber's Home Page

Here is one that deals with Mind Control and Cults
Mind Control - The BITE Model

Kenneson

Jaron,

Welcome!

A friend in need tells you to get out of here if you want to know about God and the Bible. But don't expect her to give you any answers from the Bible. She will send you to http://www.watchtower.org and if you can't get the answers there to go to talk to the elders at the Kingdom Hall. So what do you think? Do you think that the Watchtower Society and the elders have a monoply on God and the Bible? Personally, I think just the opposite. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide his followers (John 14:15-18). The Holy Spirit is competent enough to do Jesus' mission and doesn't need the Watchtower Society's nor the elders' approval. See also John 3:8

Outlawed

Hi, and welcome. This is my first day here too.

See;

http://websitemaker.kennisnet.nl/JehoshuaFellowship/index.htm

Groetjes

Robert

fairchild

Welcome to the forum, Jaron. Let's see if I can answer your question. I am just looking at the cover of the fourth edition of Crisis Of Conscience, which is written by Raymond Franz, who used to be a member of the governing body of Jehovah's witnesses.

On the cover it says "The struggle between loyalty to God and loyalty to one's religion". Think about that carefully. You don't need to belong to any religious group in order to be loyal to God. For example, by becoming a JW, you would have to be loyal to the Watch tower society. I am halfway through reading the book Crisis of Conscience, and I am more than ever convinced that the Watch tower society is NOT God's organization on earth.

Jehovah God is your friend. Do you not approach all your friends directly? If someone stepped forward tomorrow and told you to do a few things on behalf of your best friend, would you do it, or would you try and figure out first if the information really came from your best friend? See, we have the bible and the bible contains many things we need to know in order to do the will of God. Being loyal to an earthly organization which pretends to be God's mouthpiece is not one of them.

Good luck.

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