Should JW's be trying to convert others to their faith?

by Rod P 18 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Satanus

  Evangelism is a meat grinder that processes people in it's path. I think evangelism of any kind is wrong, religious, political, corporate, philosophical, economic. Very much blood has been spilled and many lives ruined as a result of the group fanatacism that usually results.

  Marxism is a good example for discussion. It's originators were on fire and they were sure that it would traverse the globe in prairie fire fashion, toppling all govts in it's path. When it didn't, marxists slaughtered millions of innocents and destroyed russia in their zeal. Russia has still not recovered. Marxists have been killing people and despoiling countries since then, and continue today - example zimbabwe.

  The taiping rebellion is a not so well known example of christianity doing similarly.

  Evangelism is a form of power abuse, imo. Change should be more gradual, more natural. As people see the benefits of a thing, they naturally adopt it. Evangelism often creates a need where there is none and then fills it. People end up w something that they generally don't need.

  But, monkeys will be monkeys, the superior/stronger/smarter/more aggressive dominating the weaker less aggressive.

  S
• 

  TresHappy

  If the Witnesses didn't convert, what would their talks and assemblies be about...how many talks can you have about blood transfusions?
• 

  El blanko

  Change should be more gradual, more natural. As people see the benefits of a thing, they naturally adopt it. Evangelism often creates a need where there is none and then fills it. People end up w something that they generally don't need.

  Life is not always that straight forward. We have a short period of time on the earth and if the society I am living in has convinced me of bogus ethics, then I appreciate a person from the outside presenting good, rational information to me.

  For instance, I might feel it is ok to be a Nazi (an extreme example) and need re-educating. How will this happen within my short life if another force for good does not interact with me and show me a better and fairer way to live?

  Do you know what I am getting at here?

  Preaching is fine in my books. I have the ability to sift the information and take from it what I choose.
• 

  LittleToe

  I would take another angle on this - that of each individual being judged by their own standards.

  According to WTS beliefs it is a requirement for them to evangelise. Should they be trying to convert others to their faith? Yes! Even if this will cause a divided home and difficulties? Yes!

  Do I like it, or think they are in any way correct with their doctrines, or the manner in which they treat family relationships in a "divided" situation? A resounding NO!!! Do I wish they would give it up and either turn mainstream else get of of the religion business? Yes!! Do I think they are likely to do that? No - aside from it still having a healthy financial turnover (albeit which individuals never see in a direct manner), I believe there's too much power involved, which appears to be a prime motivator in this case.
• 

  Ellie

  erm...no
• 

  Rod P

  JW's believe and teach that they are the one right religion on planet earth. There is no true salvation outside of their Organization.

  The Mormons believe and teach that they are the one right religion on planet earth. There is no true salvation outside of the church.

  The Catholics believe and teach that they are the one right religion on planet earth. There is no true salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

  How many other religions believe and teach the same thing?

  And yet in matters of doctrine and other essential "truths", they are different from one another, even contradictory amongst these respective exclusivists.

  Where does that leave the unsuspecting public? It seems to me we are all caught between a rock and a hard place, because our very eternal salvation depends on our making the right choice. Make the wrong one, well-intentioned or not, and we are up the creek without a paddle.

  Have you heard the hypothetical story about the missionary in the heart of Africa driving along this dirt road going to an African village filled with people who had never heard of Jesus Christ or the Gospel. Along the way the car gets a flat tire, and the missionary is forced to get out and fix it. Meanwhile, an earthquake comes along and destroys the village, and everyone is killed. If the missionary did not have that flat tire, he might have made it to the village in time to convert one or more persons. But because of a quirk of fate, those villagers are now damned for all eternity. There are religions who teach a predestination doctrine, with an absolute foreknowledge of God. And unless a man be born of the water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Unless he confesses that Jesus is the Christ, he cannot be saved. There is no other name under heaven by which man can be saved. And so, if you die before accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour, you cannot be saved. So here is another kind of religion preaching the only way to salvation.

  Can we not see the utter futility of all this? Our whole eternal destiny hinges on timing and circumstances, as well as our intellectual capacity to make the right choice, or else that is just too bad for you and I !!!!

  True story: There was a woman who had been preached to by people of so many different religions, each one claiming to be the one and only right religion, and the only path to God. Her solution was to join them all. She became a professional joiner, because that way she would be guaranteed to belong to the right church, and hence find salvation. How funny!....How sad!

  And so, again I ask the question, "Should JW's (or any other religion) be trying to convert others to their faith or religion?"

  Rod P.
• 

  Satanus

  El blanko

  Hitler was an evangelist.

  So, which breed of evangelical horse do you ride?

  S
• 

  LittleToe

  Rod:
  If I've been reading your posts correctly you've been a member of all three groups.
  Has that covered your bases, or are you absolutely damned for having left all three?
• 

  Rod P

  Little Toe,

  Yep. Three groups: JW, Mormon and now Ex-JW/Ex-Mormon (i.e. Apostate)

  I was disfellowshipped by the JW's for joining the Mormons. I was excommunicated from the Mormon Church essentially because, as an Elder, I asked to have my name removed from the membership rolls, and the only way they can do that is to excommunicate.

  Now, as a Non-Believer, don't you Apostates go excommunicating me from this forum, cuz then I got nowhere else to go! I promise, I won't believe. I promise! I promise!

  Rod P.