Posts by Sheepish

Course I am coming from a Christian point of view, but bringing trees into the home was never forbidden in The Bible... Decorating them, turning them into idols and worshipping them was.

One of my favorite scriptures is from Hosea 14:8 "...I am like a green fir tree...

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Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

I think there are moral absolutes, or laws if you wish, just as there are physical ones.

45

Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

There is no such thing as "absolute truth".

I suggest an experiment. Jump out the third floor of a building, or off a cliff. You will absolutely fall to the ground. I think you get the point...there really are absolutes. You might not like em, but they exist.(ps. I am not in any way shape or form suggesting you try this, I am only trying to make a point! I don't want you to jump off a cliff...just making sure you understand.)

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They saw my Xmas tree! What do I say?

by Rayvin in

jw
friends

this is what i am worried will be going through my mind in less then a month.

i have always wanted a big christmas tree but since i was a full fledged jw till 5 yrs ago i never had one.

i just last year was able to get a small table top tree for christmas.

Sheepish

Seven: I wish I had the guts to print up a bunch of those pictures as cards, and use them as my Christmas cards this year. Utterly perfect!

Although there has been a lot of really good ideas here, I think the use of humor, especially, is really really important to fight the emotional tension this all brings.It reminds us of how stooopid it all really is.

It seems blaming it on your husband is the easiest thing to do, or jumping into the cold water and just being as forthcoming as you need to be, would be my second choice. I wouldn't give em anything. Let em ask.Seems they probably know, and will not push anything if they don't "have" to. I would try to explain to the child that it hurts their Grandparents feelings to talk about Christmas, but if the kid slips up, well, gosh he/she is only a kid and shouldn't be made to feel badly. THAT will really put a pallor over any Christmas joy. Make sure the child realized the problem is with their Grandparents,so his/her Christmas memories aren't tinged with JW tarnish.Don't forget children pick up on whatever is really going on in the house, so try to find a solution that will work for you, and get settled about it, so you can enjoy the season!

It took me a while to celebrate Christmas, cause my conscience was still tuned to the Witness Way. I gradually got free of the false guilt, and realized: You can't worship a pagan god by accident! You either are, or you are not. Nobody I know worships a tree (no offense intended to any druids out there) There is lots of info on how ridiculous the Christmas prohibition is, read up and be at peace about it.

45

Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

Then, are you saying those of us who do not believe in the Bible are NOT alive in the spirit, and thus DEAD? How small and narrow must we make a god that so many can be separated from like that?

Jt: I didn't say that.Either you are alive in the spirit or not. You would know.I don't think you can logically make conclusions about the size of the God I worship, from the question I asked. I think you may be assuming some things.

I see my mention of "knock you upside the head" upset you. Please accept my apology, I meant it in a metaphorical concerned sense, not a physical and hurtful one. Funny how you can love reading a book filled with murder and violence, death and destruction, and take such offense at a few words of mine.

Naw, didn't upset me. Just wanted to point out your approach.(The word I ment to put there was "Bully" by the way). You know, I love living, and this world is "filled with murder and violence, death and destruction." It is what is. Again, I didn't take offense. I've had many many discussions with people of other beliefs, after I left the JWs. And I do listen to see if they have a better way to live life, and any better understanding of things.Or even just peace. Some of my best friends are athiests, and agnostics-really. So other views are not alien to me.I also don't get angry or take offense when mine is to others.

45

Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

Are you saying that those who don't accept our Source as being the diminutive one described in the Bible, are somehow not "alive"?

JamesThomas: I was asking if anyone was alive in the Spirit, rather than had given up. Those who are know what I mean.Someone who wants to "hit me upside the head" because I don't agree with their belief in a bunch of Gods, or their view of the the God of the Bible, seems a bit of a bull. I have considered many religions and have come to an understanding,believing the Bible to be true. It seems these days the most upsetting thing to unbelievers is that someone else finds there is an absolute truth.

For the others that replied as if I was blindly following an unsubstantiated book of fables, I can only say (for the sake of those who are still searching and reading this) that just making angry, derisive statements about The Bible and the God of the Bible does not make it so. There is plenty of information to document The Bible historically. It's lasteded for thousands of years basically unchanged. The person of Jesus impacted the world to an unprecedented degree.And those who truly follow it's precepts are better people, people you yourself would rather know, than those prone to "knocking other people in the head" for not agreeing.

All this is just touching on the intellectual experience...those alive in the Spirit experience a whole world of life over and above this.I wasn't trying to get into a big discussion trying to convince you (or anyone else) of my beliefs. I was just trying to find out who was out there.

45

Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

Thanks everybody for your responses. I know it's hard to rebuild after the JWs, and I don't mean to pressure anyone, just wondering if anyone "made it out alive!"

onacruise: How do I define Biblical criteria/Biblical understanding? I guess, by reading the entire book and letting it interpret itself...there is plenty in it that is completely understandable even to a child.The rest becomes clearer as you pursue it. Seek and ye shall find, you know. Every mother's son comes up with their own endtimes scenario...but most agree on how we are supposed to live and behave until whatever happens happens.

ts: "how do you like them apples?" Well, since you asked-not much. They seem pretty sour to me.

misspeaches: I went through the same thing.I think everyone does who comes out of such a regimented religion. If you desire to know your Creator and live in the way that is best for you (cause you'd think that the Creator would show you the best way to live) just keep praying, and asking and seeking. If the God of the Bible is true, you will get answers, cause that is what is promised...Your subconscience deals with what you feed it.

blindS (sorry forgot your whole moniker!) That doctrine of the "one true organization" is key.If you read the Bible from an objective point of view, you will see how pumped up the society made itself on the basis of what is given for Church organization.(Scripture talks about being set free, and the freedom in Christ, and the load of Jesus being light! Does that sound like JWs?)The second key is the the JWs translation which is blatantly mistranslated.Without thoses two key features, the JWs doctrine just crumbles to the ground.