Hiya Bug and Welcome!
Ive been associating with jws for some time now (6/7 years), and I can honestly say they are some of the nicest ppl you will meet! In fact, 50% are NOW my social circle. They live simple lives without complications. In other words, they live in their own world (literally). At times, I find this comforting as Im in dire need for solitude (not getting it at home - main reason I cling to them). Other times, through research on this website and the book "Crisis of Conscience", Ive come to understand that the Jehovah's Witness Organisation is not God's mouthpiece nor should it think for me. Still.....I associate with them because I have a good time (one of em is my best friend) and am somewhat hesitant to bring to their attention 'my findings' so to speak - in fear I will be shunned :(
When I was asked to come along to my 1st Jehovah's Witness meeting I was scared - really scared. Once I arrived I was greeted with smiles, handshakes, a well dressed crowd and friendly conversation. To top it all off the speaker was amazing! He was very animated and believed/meant every word he said - very well spoken. I quickly pictured myself becoming "one of them" in the space of 2 hours!!!! A day to remember.....
So I continued to make appearances, kept showing my face every two weeks until one day I disagreed with with one of the Brother's. I recall this....
"...you may come across from time to time 'Worldly people' who take pleasure in bad-mouthing Jehovah's Witnesses. For example, some of these people lurk on the Internet and trick you into believing that Jehovah God hates you - these people are called 'Apostates'. Apostates are people we want nothing to do with for they are one with Satan. Satan the Devil will do anything he can to steer you away from the truth.....It is imperative that we safeguard ourselves from all apostate sources and 'shut-out' anything negative worldly people have to say about us - for its not true - it is all lies. Do not find yourself questioning the truth, for without it, we are with the wicked one not God.... Do not let your guard down..."
I couldnt believe it. There he was bad mouthing me implying I was "one with Satan" because I am a worldy person and not one with the Truth :( That was my first bitter taste...Im an open minded person....and for the Brothers to imply we should only read what they feed us seemed wrong in my book. I've found if you question your faith and do your research - you're at peace with yourself not the organisation :)
From what I gather so far, Jehovah's Witnesses like to isolate themselves. And once your isolated, you surrender the ability to think for yourself.
Let us know how ur first meeting turned out!
And1
Posts by And1
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41Going to my first meeting this morning
by Bug inhi there i'm new here, my name is fiona i am not yet a jw and have not started to study yet.
i am very interested in doing so but since i am still new to all this i thought i should attend some meetings first.
i am going to my first one today at the kelvin hall in glasgow, i am quite nervous as i do not know what to expect but also excited at the same time since it could be the beginning of a huge change in my life.
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And1
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9
Conversation Starters with JW Friends
by cab1000 ini am always looking for "nice" things to say to my witness family.
things that would at least make them try to think outside of their box.
here are my some of my favorites.. right now my top favorite is "tell me truly, honestly, the god of this universe, almighty in power, lord and master of all, all knowing, eternal, god of gods, (yes, hammer that point), has picked the jehovah's witnesses, out of all people, and out of all religions, worldwide, to represent him and his wishes, even though, the jehovah's witnesses have been wrong in the past, now, right now, if any person on this earth, any person on this earth, does not pay attention to the jehovah's witnesses, he or she will forever be destroyed at armeggedon?
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And1
interesting point,
God may be proving a point, my JW friends even claim God is always "testing us" to justify reality. My buddy refers back to the Garden of Eden... "If God could 'start over' what is the point of being alive"? ..."Its like having your memory erased and not knowing about it - God has nothing to hide"
As far as insignifcant as Ants go....I have no comment (fears Jehovah :P) -
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How do I obtain the early publishings of the Watchtower on cd-rom???
by And1 ini want to do some reseach :) .
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thanks and1
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And1
I want to do some reseach :)
Thanks And1 -
43
tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
thanks everyone!!!! The links are great! Out of all the quotes I read from Watchtower publications/Awake I was most DISTURBED by this
*** Awake! 1951 May 8 ***
…who is preaching the teaching of Pastor Russell? Certainly not Jehovah's Witnesses! They can not be accused of following him, for they neither quote him as an authority nor publish or distribute his writing.
I cant believe... -
43
tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
What are some good questions to ask the Witness camp?
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43
tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
no one likes to be told "This is the way you should live your life" another quote that pops up regularly with the person i study with. It seems they can preach to us but we cant preach to them.
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43
tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
they love to say they 'don't interpret the Bible, they let the Bible interpret itself.' Of course, if that were really true, there would be no need for Watchtower's, books, cd's, or even meetings of a doctrinal nature. The Bible would interpret itself, why discuss it?
...exactly.
I'll challenge them when I get more info - facts. Part of me doesnt want to debate however. IF THEY BELIEVE - thats all that matters sometimes....u know -
43
tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
thankyou all for the string of responses.
it appears Ive angered some and thats understandable. the truth....blah blah, who cares??? to my knowledge "The Truth" is another way of saying "Im a witness" - that is all. I can only speak what I know off. Yes, I dont accept it as the truth, its just a way of saying it. Some of my best friends are witnesses and part of me feels reluctant to talk to them about anything I have concern with.
thanks jgnat. -
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tug of war ensuing
by And1 inladies and gents, how are you all?
great...now thats out of the way, i need you guys to do me a favour, i have been reading up on jws for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!
i come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."hope".
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And1
Ladies and Gents, how are you all? Great...now thats out of the way, I need you guys to do me a favour, I have been reading up on JWS for the past three/four years, the people are pleasent enough and live fairly ordinary lives....some could say boring....(lets call up susie for a game of cards!!!!!)
I come here with a problem....my problem is simple and clear cut, it could even be summed up in one word..."HOPE". Is this important??? To go further, to have hope for everlasting life.
To cut a long story short when I ask JW friends why ppl fall out of the truth, the answer is "they couldnt handle it" --- "they wanted to do things their way not God's" --- Of course its easier to appreciate one side of the story and to discount the other....and Ive done that for far too long. Then again when I ask Jws about "Apostates" and I quote from last years Convention "Ignore ALL apostate sources especially the Internet for it deceives all followers of the truth" So here I am....with a question - Why did you fall out of the truth and how? Feel free to incorporate how Hope was lost to the organisation
Thanks a bunch!
And1