Paul,
What do you think of the blood doctrine?
And how do you fit the prodigal son example with the religion's take on shunning, holding secret judicial committees etc.
Just interested.
Alive!
JoinedPosts by Alive!
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96
Is the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses really an inferior form of Christianity?
by nicolaou inseems to be quite a few posters recently pulling down the beliefs of jw's as not biblical or truly christian.
maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, i really don't care.. in some important ways though mainstream christians often behave better than jehovah's witnesses; most don't practice shunning or impose lethal medical prohibitions on their members.
many are far more tolerant of the lgbt community and a few even make the awkward attempt to square the fact of evolution with their faith.. please note that i'm saying some, not all.. so i suppose it's fair to say that differing forms of christianity can be better or worse for individuals, families and the wider community.
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Governing Body Martyrs
by Alive! inthe early apostles were always on the front line from scriptural accounts.. they led the ministry, enthusiastically speaking in high places, in market places to courts and kings relying on the 'power of the spirit' and constantly were in danger for their lives.
they put their very souls at risk.
they promised that they did not circulate amongst the early disciples with clever 'smooth ' words but with works of power.
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Alive!
The early Apostles were always on the front line from scriptural accounts.
They led the ministry, enthusiastically speaking in high places, in market places to courts and kings relying on the 'power of the spirit' and constantly were in danger for their lives. They put their very souls at risk.
They promised that they did not circulate amongst the early disciples with clever 'smooth ' words but with works of power. They suffers, went without and earned their own keep.
As Christ's brothers - they did not stock up on assets, but it would seem, they lived hand to mouth.
Can anyone show me modern day GBs ( since Russells time) who have died from refusing blood transfusions and/ or obeying God rather than men?
Did any GB member turn up at the nazi camps and cry at the gates 'let my people go or let me suffer with them?'
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96
Is the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses really an inferior form of Christianity?
by nicolaou inseems to be quite a few posters recently pulling down the beliefs of jw's as not biblical or truly christian.
maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, i really don't care.. in some important ways though mainstream christians often behave better than jehovah's witnesses; most don't practice shunning or impose lethal medical prohibitions on their members.
many are far more tolerant of the lgbt community and a few even make the awkward attempt to square the fact of evolution with their faith.. please note that i'm saying some, not all.. so i suppose it's fair to say that differing forms of christianity can be better or worse for individuals, families and the wider community.
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Alive!
Why would that be so, Paul?
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96
Is the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses really an inferior form of Christianity?
by nicolaou inseems to be quite a few posters recently pulling down the beliefs of jw's as not biblical or truly christian.
maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, i really don't care.. in some important ways though mainstream christians often behave better than jehovah's witnesses; most don't practice shunning or impose lethal medical prohibitions on their members.
many are far more tolerant of the lgbt community and a few even make the awkward attempt to square the fact of evolution with their faith.. please note that i'm saying some, not all.. so i suppose it's fair to say that differing forms of christianity can be better or worse for individuals, families and the wider community.
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Alive!
This group that shuns former members, even if they are blood relations, is not of the same cloth as those who recorded Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, the one where the father watches each day for the return of his sinful child and, when the boy does return, embraces him with love even before he begs forgiveness. The JW religion claims this beautiful, heart-warming and rich mythology as their heritage?
This story of the prodigal son, myth or otherwise is in stark contrast to the Father figure the WT projects. -
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Your Jehovah’s Witness Is Showing
by David_Jay insince i just signed up and posted a few times without doing this yet, here is my story..
i think that i became a jehovahs witness because of my immaturity.
i had some quirky personality traits, and i joined finding that i fit in because, as i said to myself: these people get me.
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Alive!
Hi David Jay,
I've re-read your posts on this thread several times - I felt like someone had put into words the very things I am working through....and beautifully written too, thank you!
Like you, I would have been considered 'bright' - had a reputation amongst friends for being 'quirky' with a tendency to live to the beat of my own drum.
I was 'loveable' to some lovely friends, on a one to one basis I developed loving, long lasting relationships - but I was not the sort that 'easily fitted in' to the big crowd social scene. I was a one to one person.....
My quirky idealism found fertile soil when I met some JWs informally - and like you, I quickly declared 'this has the ring of truth'.
I loved studying, pouring over scripture and making the 'truth' my own.
As we all know, the truth is that the truth was never 'my own' but someone else's - and was subject to change at a whim. So after hours upon hours, years upon years of self indoctrination, plying awkward scripture to make it fit 'new light' - my inner light, my inner gut was really struggling, if that makes sense.
After years of loving the 'food' - I'd read publications and felt spiritually and intellectually impoverished, literally.
I turned to the writings of great poets and writers, I felt rest and peace in sharing their thoughts, I felt I saw 'the image of God' in the entire human race with a new clarity.
What I mean is that, I started to 'humanise' and being amongst JWs, being carved into a corporate branded form of 'Christianity' felt painful.
i wouldn't say I'm 'thriving' post fading away from the JWs....at 60 years and a touch menopausal (lol) I'm fighting for a stronger will and more energy - it's been one hell of a journey! But wonderful life keeps rolling out and I'm trying to balance self- discovery and a strong desire to 'know myself' and face my less 'godly' aspects, whilst keeping perspective on why I was attracted to the strange cult like environment of JWs.
So 'showing your JW' was a phrase that got my attention.......cheers. A great read...and for me personally, immaculate timing!
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We are living in the 21st Century , When , Are We Going to Bury Religious Superstition ? Once and for all ?
by smiddy inthe christian bible / cannon is different , depending on what religion you profess ,around the world.. russian orthodox ,greek orthodox ,christian gnostics ,roman catholics , polish national catholics ,c.of e , etc,etc,.
the very many christian bible translations that exist today differ according to different interpretations of the translators.. the jewish translators of the hebrew scriptures add a whole new concept to the traditional interpretation by christian translators of the old testament... throw in the mix all of the fundamentalist religions that have sprung up these past couple of centuries including the j.w.`s , s.d.a.`s , mormons , t.v.
evangelists , etc, etc,.
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Alive!
And as old Rutherford famously said....religion is a snare and a racket!
It was true then and ironically true today!
But some aspects of some religion will produce acceptable and productive things.....
Personally, I'm not searching for a religion or clean cut answers, not in the JW way that I was falsely led by....my goodness, wasn't that Watchtower Revelation book a disaster?
Answers indeed!!!
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We are living in the 21st Century , When , Are We Going to Bury Religious Superstition ? Once and for all ?
by smiddy inthe christian bible / cannon is different , depending on what religion you profess ,around the world.. russian orthodox ,greek orthodox ,christian gnostics ,roman catholics , polish national catholics ,c.of e , etc,etc,.
the very many christian bible translations that exist today differ according to different interpretations of the translators.. the jewish translators of the hebrew scriptures add a whole new concept to the traditional interpretation by christian translators of the old testament... throw in the mix all of the fundamentalist religions that have sprung up these past couple of centuries including the j.w.`s , s.d.a.`s , mormons , t.v.
evangelists , etc, etc,.
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Alive!
I hear ya.
I have some thoughts about these things......don't laugh, but somehow, I don't blame 'the higher power' - it's our man made foolishness that creates the stuff that hurts and betrays.
Sometimes I read a beautiful book or a stirring piece of poetry, 'scripture' is everywhere .....the heart has a desire and joy in the spiritual, you know?
Our myths, our collective stories since the time we could first record human experience calls for life, for future life untainted, a paradise/ heaven if you like.
My gut feeling says keep searching, keep faith.
The JWs are tiny, absolutely a tiny, tiny episode in the history of mankind - the hard part is having trusted so much, in the face of such spiritual deceit and bullying of our consciences.
But really, the WT is only as big and significant as they perceive themselves....my bad for listening and ignoring warning bells.
But there just a 'convert's' experience. Different to one who was born in.
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We are living in the 21st Century , When , Are We Going to Bury Religious Superstition ? Once and for all ?
by smiddy inthe christian bible / cannon is different , depending on what religion you profess ,around the world.. russian orthodox ,greek orthodox ,christian gnostics ,roman catholics , polish national catholics ,c.of e , etc,etc,.
the very many christian bible translations that exist today differ according to different interpretations of the translators.. the jewish translators of the hebrew scriptures add a whole new concept to the traditional interpretation by christian translators of the old testament... throw in the mix all of the fundamentalist religions that have sprung up these past couple of centuries including the j.w.`s , s.d.a.`s , mormons , t.v.
evangelists , etc, etc,.
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Alive!
I don't know Smiddy - I've had a gut feeling all my life that there is something, a power....I don't want to put a name to that in this thread.
The urge in me to 'search' has been so strong - it's hard to put into words.
Faith and hope seem to be part of the human condition....and not just amongst the ignorant or uneducated, by any means.
It's what it is.....I guess.
Somehow, I have faith it all means something.....I'm not preaching at you nor laying out everything I believe...it's an evolving process right now :-)
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Are the 2015 Belgium Concert for Delegates and Kingdom Hall Cowboy Footloose Videos on Youtube for real?
by Maryo inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0fxyk4iba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qxdgtaskfm.
i find these shocking.
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Alive!
Rosemarie - I'm interested in your comments.
Who is Jehovsh going to discipline?
The GB? Does that follow that he will discipline those who support the GB by going to meetings, distributing their writings and doctrines?
So the JWs who endure 'the way they are being treated' and also continue to recruit others into this way of life or show support by their presence etc - are these beyond discipline?
Look, I know the JWs are in a mess, confused and generally spiritually beaten up - from the BEGINNING, from the days of CT Russell they have been exposed to spiritistic teachings, crazy false prophecies ( resurrection of old prophets to live at purpose built mansion in San Deigo) and wickedly, have never been allowed to question each new teaching.
I understand, everyone deserves some light relief - it's just, it's almost like another 'new light' - coming out of nowhere, suddenly dancing, yelping and so on is OK. Our music now mimics mainstream wordly churches - after years of saying their style was disrespectful and encouraged emotionalism.
I'm not beng sour grapes - I just makes me shake my head. :-)
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To all JDub lurkers: How can you continue to preach knowing that you are telling lies?
by macys inthis is a damn serious question.
you must know by now that jerusalem was not destroyed in 607 bce and that 607 was initially picked by ct russell by using his "pyramid scheme" measurements.
there is no hiding these facts yet you continue to preach this nonsense.
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Alive!
@newday,
it must be tough with a spouse still firmly in - I know that if my husband had started to reveal that he didn't believe the JWS were 'the truth' when I was fully believing.....well, I would have freaked, badly I think.