AhHah

Joined

• started 14 topics
• posted 277 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by AhHah

• 
  7

  Did you Doodle?

  by Tigger in

  1. social
  2. humour

  hey who here as a kid added little embelishments to the wtbt publications?

  a real favourite was drawing in arrows and spears on the guys on the inside cover of the song book.

  you know the ones clutching both hands to their chest as they sang their hearts out....well all of mine were actually clutching at an arrow that was sticking out of their chest.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  How about changing some of the words to the songs just loud enough for the person next to you to hear? ... such sacriledge!
• 
  89

  Do you believe ...

  by AhHah in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  simply respond to each question with a yes or no answer (or '?

  ' if unsure):.

  before answering, please see my comments on general/main - "how about a survey?"..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Welcome Theophilus.

  Thanks for introducing yourself with your response to this survey.

  You seem to have a good knowledge of the Bible -- your points were well stated from a Biblical perspective. I have found that the active posters here are also well versed in Scripture.

  You may have noticed though, if you have been reading some recent posts, that some of us are no longer convinced that God is completely and accurately revealed in the Bible, or that the entire Bible is necessarily from God or the Creator.

  I couldn't help but be curious about your reasons for posting on a JW forum, since you said that you have not attended their meetings. You are more than welcome, it is just unusual, and I was wondering if you would like to share your reasons. Do you have any other favorite forums that you enjoy reading or posting?

  Again, welcome!
• 
  58

  Why Does God Allow Evil?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahhah .

  i did not want to complicate paths thread.

  although this is directed to you, ahhah, naturally i welcome comments by all who participate here.. in reference to a portion of what i posted to seven:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Seven,

  If God expects us to believe and even die for beliefs that are incomprehensible, then why then did God give us a rational mind capable of the discussions that we are having?

  Can one truly comprehend the incomprehensible?

  If faith is God's gift and increases spirituality, then how should one feel about oneself if one does not have faith, or if one's faith wavers?

  Since so many have devout faith in totally contradictory concepts of God, are all of them receiving a gift of faith from God? If so, does it matter then in what one has faith? If not, then what is the value of the faith if it causes different people to believe that they comprehend totally different concepts of God? If they are equally valuable, then what incomprehensible truths are real?

  Does it really just come down to the fact that we prefer to believe in God because it feels better than not believing? If so, then would you agree that there is no basis for presumimg that others will be judged by God according to our personal faith and concept of God?
• 
  58

  Why Does God Allow Evil?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahhah .

  i did not want to complicate paths thread.

  although this is directed to you, ahhah, naturally i welcome comments by all who participate here.. in reference to a portion of what i posted to seven:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Waiting,

  I thought that your illustration of whether or not to murder those of your pets who don't seem to acknowledge or love you was excellent and really makes the point. (I'll bet you always got a 'G' on that speech counsel point.)

  When you put it like that it seems ridiculous, doesn't it?

  **************************************************
  If a loving God wants everyone to believe in him, and if it is so important that everyone's afterlife depends on it, then why doesn't God personally reveal himself to every person on the planet? Is he just too busy? Is our afterlife not important enough?

  Or, does everyone get an afterlife no matter what, and then God reveals himself, as we are then better able to understand the revelations?

  Edited by - AhHah on 13 October 2000 2:11:26
• 
  58

  Why Does God Allow Evil?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahhah .

  i did not want to complicate paths thread.

  although this is directed to you, ahhah, naturally i welcome comments by all who participate here.. in reference to a portion of what i posted to seven:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  But if there is a God and he wants his creation to seek him out then the believer returns and the non-believer does not. That is the difference. I think that this is a very big difference.

  Not even the Bible says that the non-believer does not return. I am unable to reconcile why an all-powerful, loving God would deny any afterlife he has planned for humans, simply because the person was not able to become convinced of his existence. I find some atheists to be much more "God-like" in their actions than many "Christians" that I have known. As I have stated before, I personally believe (at this time) that it is more likely that any afterlife is assured. I also believe that how one lives one's life is more important than any profession of belief. I believe that the threat of no after life is a very human, unloving device to enslave others with fear.
• 
  6

  What Makes us so Special

  by Angharad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today at my son's nursery school parents were invited to a harvest festival.. all the children brought in a contribution (tin of soup, fruit,veg), a local minister came in and talked to the kids about how seeds grow into food (but not tins of soup), and how we should be grateful for our food and then they sang a few songs they had learnt, basically they had fun.

  there was nothing particularly religious about it apart from the minister being there.. there were children of all different religions there including my son as i could not see the harm in allowing him to stay and join in.. however there were some other witnesses there to collect their children so they would not be a part of it which is their choice and i respect it but i was given alot of disapproving looks and some people completly ignored me.. was it really so wrong to allow my 3 year old (who really has no concept of religion) to join in and have fun and not be made to feel different and left out?.

  also the food which was contributed was later going to be distributed to the elderly and infirm in the community - what is more useful to them, a box of food or a watchtower.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Just another example of JW separateness from "the world" causing them to invalidate the spirit of Christianity and of love.

  The required separateness is, of course, just another proof that they are indeed a cult, with all of the negative consequences that go with it.

  Christ required his followers to be separate from the world's spirit, not from people, whom he himself sought out to demonstrate the power of love.

  The example you described shows the human inclination to "strain out the gnat and gulp down the camel". By their cultist separation, they deny the obvious spirit of love and charity of the event.

  IMO, your actions were Christian, and the JWs' were not.
• 
  6

  What Makes us so Special

  by Angharad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today at my son's nursery school parents were invited to a harvest festival.. all the children brought in a contribution (tin of soup, fruit,veg), a local minister came in and talked to the kids about how seeds grow into food (but not tins of soup), and how we should be grateful for our food and then they sang a few songs they had learnt, basically they had fun.

  there was nothing particularly religious about it apart from the minister being there.. there were children of all different religions there including my son as i could not see the harm in allowing him to stay and join in.. however there were some other witnesses there to collect their children so they would not be a part of it which is their choice and i respect it but i was given alot of disapproving looks and some people completly ignored me.. was it really so wrong to allow my 3 year old (who really has no concept of religion) to join in and have fun and not be made to feel different and left out?.

  also the food which was contributed was later going to be distributed to the elderly and infirm in the community - what is more useful to them, a box of food or a watchtower.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Sorry, we are experiencing technical difficulties ... please stay tuned ...

  Edited by - AhHah on 12 October 2000 13:26:32
• 
  58

  Why Does God Allow Evil?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahhah .

  i did not want to complicate paths thread.

  although this is directed to you, ahhah, naturally i welcome comments by all who participate here.. in reference to a portion of what i posted to seven:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  Again, welcome jwsdefender,

  I just responded to another of your posts. Your words remind me very much of myself at one time.

  In my other response, to your post about the Bible's standards for true worship, I encouraged you to read Ray Franz's books if you truly want all the evidence about Jehovah's Witnesses (much of which is purposely kept hidden from the non-Governing Body members of Jehovah's Witnesses).

  I would also encourage you to read the Christian Greek scriptures separately from the Bible study aids of JW's. As you read them, ask yourself if the way JWs practice their religion (again, here you need more facts than just a couple of meetings) really conforms to the spirit and standards of Christianity.

  Apply the Bible's own standards of recognizing a true prophet from God to the history of JWs since their formation in the late 1800s. Again, here you will need access to honest information which JWs now attempt to hide from their members. Remember, the truth has nothing to fear from examination. Proceed carefully. Much is at stake.

  Also remember your own wise advice:

  do not trust in nobles or any earhtling man

  Edited by - AhHah on 12 October 2000 2:43:47
• 
  5

  GB, Education, Jack-ass, Witnet?

  by Pathofthorns in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  very interesting comments in this thread at witnet.

  the original poster suggests how it was perceived by some to be shocking that dan sydlik (gb member) used the word "jack-ass" in a talk.. but as pointed out by bodhissatva in the following post, that it was who dan sydlik referred to as "jack-asses" that was the sad thing.. brother sydlik was saying that bethel especially needs people with skills, certifications, and qualifications.

  to make this point, he said (in his characteristic booming voice), "of course, any jackass can swing a hammer.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  I am embarrased to say that I was unaware of many doctrinal changes from early periods. I was aware of the many wrong date interpretations over the years, but they had convinced me that it was a good thing -- being in eager anticipation, even if they were wrong -- just like the wrong expectations of the apostles with Christ. (BTW an important difference there that I missed was that the apostles were not making prophecies about dates or expectations for Christ to assume kingship.)

  I was aware of some small adjustments and 180's (Sodom and Gomorrah resurrection, oral sex between married partners), but I perceived these as relatively minor, not essential to faith, and comparatively small matters that should be allowed due to human imperfection.

  One thing that I never questioned that I should have, was why the FDS class could hide behind human imperfection when dates come and go (1975), but that they retain the priviledge until they admit their mistake to disfellowship as apostates those who dare to speak up in disagreement. They should be accountable. If they are truly God's channel of spiritual light to the world and speak under the direct influence of God's holy spirit, then they must be judged accordingly as the Bible they use says to judge a prophet of God. When judged by the Bible's standards they must be considered a false prophet. If they admit to not being a prophet (depends on which book or article you read) then they must allow difference of opinion without consequence.

  Surprisingly, what bothered me most were policies, procedures, unwritten rules, written rules which had no Biblical basis, which were nonetheless enforced as though they did. However, the true attitude of the GB toward the sheep were very much manifest by their rules and betrayed their motives to me, even if it was not on a conscious level for some time. I was especially irate about their irresponsible discouragement of education, which I eventually ignored anyway.

  As an addendum to this, I should add that although I was drawing away from total mental support for several years before I left, I still believed that JW was the true religion. Until I read and studied COC and ISOCF by Ray Franz, I did not put the whole overwhelming picture together. I was also very unaware of many older and embarrasing prohibitions (e.g. vaccinations) as well as false prophecies, which were often later blamed on the brotherhood!

  Edited by - AhHah on 12 October 2000 0:0:56
• 
  58

  Why Does God Allow Evil?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahhah .

  i did not want to complicate paths thread.

  although this is directed to you, ahhah, naturally i welcome comments by all who participate here.. in reference to a portion of what i posted to seven:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AhHah

  I can appreciate also your and puppylove's views on God. It's just as difficult to believe as it is not to. In the end one can prove neither. I don't know that it really makes that much difference after all is said. If one truly believes that he is coming back and dies with that strong belief then it really doesn't matter that he doesn't come back, does it? He never really knows that he was wrong, he entered eternity with a happy thought that can never be discredited.

  In the end the believer is no worst off than the unbeliever if there is no God. However, there is fifty-fifty chance that the believer is right. And boy what a difference that will make if he is.

  The big question: What will be the difference?

  Edited by - AhHah on 12 October 2000 2:35:1