one of the things jws pride themselves in as that they know their bible (new world translation).
someone once asked me about why jws don't celebrate birthday... i tried to respond, but the arguments were so senseless, that i couldn't respond
People still ask me why JW's don't celebrate birthdays, thanksgiving, mother's day etc. My response now is "Because they're a cult - and it's no fun being in a cult unless you're different than everyone else". They look at me like.... and I laugh and say "see why I left?!"
did you always call the elders or talk to them about things?
did you have a favorite elder that you confided to about everything?
if someone was acting inappropriately, did you feel obliged to "report" them to the elders?
I never told on other people - but told on myself a few times. I always had a guilty conscience about something. Not that I was a bad kid - just always felt I wasn't good enough.
Now that I'm older, I'm much easier on myself. I realize that I'm human, and we all make mistakes. So - live and learn.
from the perspective of a uk observer it seems to me that the divide between 'the world' as it is in conservative heartlands of the us, and the mindset of the jehovah's witness is getting narrower by the day.. is there really a big difference between a jw and a majority of people in such places?
in the newspaper today i read how the new film alexander was being slated for showing alexander the great as a bisexual.
the uk independent reported that one online critic has warned christians that are considering seeing the film to "speak to your pastors immediately because satan is attempting to enter your mind".
What really amuses me is that this critic is worried about the sexual morality of a militaristic dictator who killed hundreds of thousands of people. Talk about a lack of perspective!
Gee - somewhat ironic isn't it?
I have to agree with Gretchen too - you shouldn't try to change "history" because it doesn't fit the moral/political corectness/whatever. Perhaps the christians that are speaking out about Alexander should also be angry about any moveis portraying Lot and Sodom/Gomorah?!
I'm a christian - and am quite frankly embarassed at some of the shallow and simple minded/close minded attitutudes that some other professed christians portray . But alas - we are all human and all somewhat simple minded in some areas - if we're willing to admit it I am sure each one of us can find an area where we're pretty much "My way or the highway" on. It's human nature. I know I've got my shallow zones too.
one of the things jws pride themselves in as that they know their bible (new world translation).
I believe that if JWs really studied the Bible rather than the WTS publications, they would start wondering too.
Exactly Blondie. This is what finally opened my eyes that the WTS was wrong. I picked up my bible and just started reading it all by itself.
My father (an elder) told me I'd never be able to understand the bible without the help of the FDS and their literature. Well - he was wrong. I understood it just fine - and it was clear that the WTS/FDS had taken many things out of context and added to many things that simply weren't in the scriptures.
pontius pilate asked, and now i'm asking.
i've been reading many topics in here, now i am wondering... what is truth?
i'm both respectful and broadminded enough to allow for any other viewpoint, whether or not i agree.
Hi OldSoul - and welcome.
I also had a lot of these same questions as you so I know where you're coming from. I found the book "Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah's Witnesses" by Ron Rhoades to be an extremely helpful research tool. It addresses a lot of these questions, explains the scriptures as used by the WTBS, and also includes other scriptures (some of which I had never read before or thought much of). I think it might help you out.
However - the biggest hurdle I had to overcome was to acknowledge that I may not be able to answer EVERYTHING. Being raised a JW I was used to being given an answer to every question - after all, they had an answer for everything because it was the "truth". Learning that some of these "answers/truths" were incorrect - I have to ask myself, which is better (1) not knowing the answer, or (2) thinking I have the answer when it's actually false.
I decided that option (1) was best for me. I've continued my search for many answers and have found that the journey itself, that journey to find the truth, has in fact offered me more than if someone simply gave me an answer. I have learned to think for myself, to consider possibilities I had never considered before, to listen to alternate theories and test these against facts before weighing in on my decision. Most of all, I've learned that this is not a quick fix - it is a lifetime journey, but well worth it.
As the old saying goes "Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination". I wish you the best on your journey to find the Truth.
my wife and i got on a discussion about something i never would've guessed we'd need to.
she wants to teach our new baby about santa claus, easter bunny, & tooth fairy, but i don't.
of course, as witnesses we never would have taught that, and i have to acknowledge that i may only be reasoning using that old set of values.. i don't want to look into my kid's eyes and tell her something that i know for a fact isn't true.
I Its really a personal decision - I'm sure that whatever you decide is best for you and your children will be the right thing to do. Being raised JW I was inclined not to teach my kids about Santa - but my husband (never a JW) insisted. I went along with his wishes.
My son (now an adult) was about 9 when he figured out Santa couldn't be real. He wasn't upset - but when he asked me for the truth I told him. I explained about the legend of St. Nick and why people still like to "pretend" that he exists - and that we wanted him to have fun and experience the holidays as a magical time. My daughter (now 6) still believes.
Some kids may resent that their parents lied (like Big Tex) - but I think it really depends on the relationship you have with your kids. If a parent has been untrustworthy and a terrible parent the child will most likely just chalk the Santa lie up as one more thing they did wrong. However, if a child has parents that really love them, and they feel protected and cherished - they probably won't resent their parents for perpetuating a chrismas time fantasy.
(((badboy))) There's not much I can say except I am sorry for your loss.
no, not jws (although if i think too long about it, i'm sorely tempted to decorate my car a la christmas and park it at the kh during a meeting... *evil grin* ).
i belong to a 'non-religious' message board (have since 2001) that seems to have a large proportion of newly-arrived christians on it.
normally, i could care less if they're there; the topic is not religion, there's plenty of places to post that don't even smack of religion.
...and glory be to the most high....
no, not jws (although if i think too long about it, i'm sorely tempted to decorate my car a la christmas and park it at the kh during a meeting... *evil grin* ).
i belong to a 'non-religious' message board (have since 2001) that seems to have a large proportion of newly-arrived christians on it.
normally, i could care less if they're there; the topic is not religion, there's plenty of places to post that don't even smack of religion.
...sorry - couldn't resist.
the details of who to send a gift to will be getting pm'd to you all either friday afternoon or saturday morning!
according to the information i've found online the last posting day for standard parcels is dec 11th for usa and december 15th for the uk/europe, so you should all have plenty of time to select and send a gift, although sending sooner rather than later is prefered.
can everyone taking part post on this thread what things they like, what their interests are etc so that the person who is buying a gift for you has some idea what to get you.
Sent my gift on.........to someone in California. (gee that really narrows it down doesn't it )
