Posts by blacksheep

24

Do you regret ever getting baptized

by ikhandi in

jw
friends

thousand of witnesses do it every year and for what they believe are good reasons.

i did it because i was pressured by elders.

its interesting to note how elders can target young people into committing their life to something they really know nothing about.

blacksheep

Regret? What I regret was having no choice as a child to do anything else. If I hadn't expressed an interest in getting baptized at 12-13, then I'd be harranged about it by my family, my peers, the entire congregation. So I did it basically due to pressue. Then they throw this "you made your dedication to Jehovah and then went back on it" in my face as an excuse to shun me when I realized at an ADULT, away from all the JW pressure, that I don't believe it.

That JW baptism means nothing to me; it was NOT a real, informed choice I made. It had nothing to do with spirituality, nothing to do with serving God; it had everything to do with the JW's using it as a control mechanism.

The only thing I regret is being raised in a cult. Which was out of my hands.

96

Has The Internet REALLY Hurt Jehovah's Witnesses?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the watchtower society tries to "demonize" the internet.

what damage do you think the internet has caused on the jehovah's witness religion??

?

blacksheep

It's terribly threatening to them. Any form of communication with others which they have no control over, which they cannot rely on a group of JW spies to report (as in, I saw Sister X talking to Apostate B at the store yesterday), ruins their MO. Just like the recent article warning against cell phone usage for young people. Wouldn't want these young people to actually TALK to their friends throughout the day outside of the wary eyes and ears of their controlling JW parents.

Perhaps nothing in a long time as underscored the JW's Orwellian attitude toward communication and information than the internet.

23

Do you respect God?

by micheal in

you know the saying, you have to earn respect.

has god earned it?

thousands of years of human suffering does it all for me.

blacksheep

"Couldn't you argue that the world is the way it is because society has turned from God? He respects the wishes of people who turn from Him by leaving them alone. So couldn't that be why the world is so terrible, He's leaving those alone who want to be left alone? I respect Him for giving us a chance to take the help He offers through His son Jesus Christ."

So, as a parent who is actually PRESENT and AVAILABLE to my children, how much respect would I garner if I just left my kids "alone?" Just passively waited till they came to me when they were in trouble?

I created these beings. I have the responsiblity to train, teach, protect them, and to help them develop slowly and surely to independent, civil, responsible, ethical, productive human beings.

How rational would it be if I just let them "try it on their own" and once they failed, come crawling back to me. Or if they seemed to be just "loners" leave them alone and assume if they want my advice and help, they'll ask?

The scriptures are filled with father/son/daughter similarities between God and humans. How would God rate as a parent?

30

Is the Koran an Inspired Book?

by Happythoughts in

from what i gather--in my opinion--here i go again the book is very negative; it's obsessed with the punishment in the hereafter for the "unbelievers" (an oft cited word in the book) and speaks of them being : chastised in the fire.

" i lost count of the number of times this phrase is used.

the book does not present a loving god--but a vindictive harsh one, more concerned with punishment than life and forgiveness.

blacksheep

As others have said in one way or another...I think the Koran is as "inspired" as the Bible. And that ain't much.

23

Do you respect God?

by micheal in

you know the saying, you have to earn respect.

has god earned it?

thousands of years of human suffering does it all for me.

blacksheep

"Stinky and Gadget got it straight. How could you respect some one who created our world only to let it rot under the boots of wicked men?"

Oh, but this just illustrates God's love...he gave humans the opportunity to try to govern themselves, and they've failed miserably. Only those who realize they cannot rule themselves and make decisions outside of God's will will be saved.

Yes, that's REALLY deserving of respect...it is according to the JW's at least.

59

If you knew there was no reward for serving God would you still serve him?

by Happythoughts in

.

do you think most people would serve him?

blacksheep

Well, let's see. I don't "serve" God now (whatever that means, but I'm pretty sure I don't). For all I know, I'll be damned to hell for not doing so. If I don't serve God, in spite of that fearful possibility, I sure as heck wouldn't do it if there's merely "no reward."

Either way, you can't be sure of anything.

26

Why doesn't the WTS website have a discussion forum?

by Holey_Cheeses*King_of_the juice. in

jw
friends

since the jws main mission in their miserable lives is to 'preach the good news of the kingdom', why is is that there is really no means to interact with the wts website?.

certainly, many pioneers could be engaged in the activity of answering the many enquiries that would be directed through such an 'official' discussion board, and it would definitely be a means for the pioneers of accumulating many precious hours of witnessing to those 'hungering for the truth'.. surely the society couldn't believe that such a site would be inundated with doubting and disgruntled individuals with an 'axe to grind' with them.

i am sure that there would be many members here who would have many sincere enquiries to make with the society, without wanting to disrupt, or harass.

blacksheep

I think what they need to do is invite people to an online discussion. Then send out a GB approved narrative of what will be discussed, complete with a list of questions which moderator will ask. Everyone can read the narrative ahead of time. During the disussion, posters will have an opportunity to answer the questions on the list (one at a time) by reciting (or closely paraphrasing) what's in the narrative.

Since that's JW's idea of a "discussion" I see no reason why they cannot take it to the Internet.

91

Do You Vote and/or Get Involved In Politics Now?

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.....

blacksheep

"I believe that the recall is legal and has been approved by California voters as provided for by law, and should proceed. But wanting to recall him for signing a bill that passed the Legislature seems a bit shortsighted."

Oh, that's not the only reason this guy needs to be recalled. Do you really think this guy is not playing over politics?

"And as far as the "blatant ploy" thing, my friend Darrell Issa (yes, he is my friend and former boss) spent 1.7 million dollars of his own money on this recall campaign in a blatant ploy to try to get the inside shot on becoming governor. He-he. Oops. Good thing he's got more. That's politics."

And, obviously Mr. Issa bowed out of the race very early on. Don't quite see your point.

81

Bowling for Columbine

by drwtsn32 in

i just watched this documentary tonight and enjoyed it.

it's amazing to me the number of gun-related murders in the us... over 11,000 in one year.

i don't remember the exact figure, but canada, japan, and germany combined had less than 500 gun-related murders.

blacksheep

"Maybe they should pass a law that makes it illegal to kill someone with a knife while they are shopping."

Sorry, if you're attempting humor, it's quite lost. Murder is murder. A death due to stabbing isn't funny. I'm amazed you think it is.

91

Do You Vote and/or Get Involved In Politics Now?

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.....

blacksheep

“I assume that if Gray Davis broke the law, he would be charged with something; last time I checked, governors do not sponsor laws, legislators do. So that means that dems and repubs together passed a bill that was sent to him, which he signed.”

Hmm… but yet he twice vetoed a bill that was far less radical than this one. He had VETO power as governor. And signature power. As the Commandar in Chief and President has. Maybe need to check your history books again. This is a blantant ploy to gain Latino votes, legal and illegal.

“This irritates me; it is NOT a basis for a recall. It just means that if I care about it, I need to get out the vote next election. You talk as if Gray Davis is the only person running the state of CA; he has to work with a legislature, no? Write to you congressman, don't try to re run the election YOU lost.”

First off, I did not vote in the last election: it was too nauseating. And yes, Davis is working with a legislature. Pretty much as a mafia don would work with the government.