Has anyone else had a moment like this? Be interesting to know how it occurred.
Paul
i have posted my thread regarding that i went back to a few meetings.
within that the debate came up about 607 v 587.. for me i have seen many criticisms against the wt society that i agree with.
but i have never been able to find conclusive or 100% proof that doctrines or beliefs are wrong.
Has anyone else had a moment like this? Be interesting to know how it occurred.
Paul
does anybody know of any words, which are spelt and pronounced the same, which are used in other languages but which mean completely different things?
as an example (which doesn't work i know) love in english means affection, but love in say, spanish, means hate?
dumb example i know, but do you catch my drift?
Fancy a shag?
Paul
i have posted my thread regarding that i went back to a few meetings.
within that the debate came up about 607 v 587.. for me i have seen many criticisms against the wt society that i agree with.
but i have never been able to find conclusive or 100% proof that doctrines or beliefs are wrong.
I have posted my thread regarding that i went back to a few meetings. Within that the debate came up about 607 v 587.
For me i have seen many criticisms against the WT society that i agree with. But i have never been able to find conclusive or 100% proof that doctrines or beliefs are wrong. For me i always thought that 587 was the correct date for the fall of Jerusalem but could never harmonise it with the 70 year Jewish exile. This always left me thinking that maybe, just maybe the 607 date is right.
So thanks to Lance (A@G) who posted how that 70 year exile could apply to the Babylonian rule, suddenly the penny dropped. I have now looked at critics of this view and cannot find any substance to the Jewish exile argument. Do you know that Eureka moment? That moment when you think thats it! Suddenly it all harmonised to me. Yes conclusively the WT are wrong! It's took me 11 years but finally i can see the proof for myself that the WT have it wrong on doctrine.
If they are 100% wrong on this then they are 100% wrong on other stuff too. It got me thinking about what an effect the WT has had on my life. On Friday at work, i was thinking all day about this. You see i am a window cleaner and with every window i was cleaning i was thinking i wouldn't be doing this if i hadn't have been a JW. But i must move forward and look to the future, rather than look back. I start a part time law course in October which i have posted about here, so on completion i can put those ladders away.
I have always had a firm anti WT stance. Many of their doctrines and beliefs do not sit well with me. But i could never say for 100% certainty, only 99.99999999% if that makes any sense. Finally crossing that line feels empowering.
Paul
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
july 6, 2008 tablet ignites debate on messiah and resurrection by ethan bronner jerusalem a three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.
if such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized jewish tradition at the time.
Paul
i have not heard of one single (non-shroud of turin) piece of evidence that jesus ever walked the earth.
please give me non-biblical and non-shroud of turin evidence that has been found that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the jesus of the bible walked the earth.. is that too much to ask?
the bible says it happened but gives no proof to support its statements.. the shroud of turin has not been established as proof of anything beyond a good wax and dye job.. .
In all seriousness the one thing that makes me believe that he existed is the year. Why would our years be based upon a man that never existed. I am not saying Jesus is God or God's son, but he must have been an important man to have the calender based upon him.
Paul
one of the most important things i learned in university was critical reading... when you read something, look at who's writing it, are they credible, do they have a known bias?
if they are quoting, is the quote taken in context?
the wts seem to be masters at trying to curtail critical thinking because then their bias, credibility and context would be shot.!
For me i began this critical thinking of WT publications when i started college. I started studying a bit of philosophy, which makes you question even the most basic. It always amazes me when JW's quote a particular scripture (can't think which one) that basically says how people went out to check for themselves the teachings. They say that JW's must do this too, but only within the confines of using WT publications.
When i started university my critical thinking really kicked in and made me question everything that i was taught.
Paul
just read this today: .
http://news.aol.co.uk/prayer-refusal-pupils-disciplined/article/20080704162734190726835 .
an education authority is investigating claims that two school pupils were punished for refusing to kneel down and pray to allah during a religious education lesson.
I read about his a couple of days ago. This is political correctness gone mad. Britain has such a diverse culture the education system has to make allowances for these kids. My kids go to a multicultural school, predominently Sikhs, i have no issues with them joining in Divali and celebrations such as these. I think it only adds to the kids acceptence of the diverseness within this society, especially in the Midlands where i live.
However, the line has to be drawn in forcing kids to pray or take part in a religious, rather than cultural practice. This is diabolical, how certain decision makers within the education system think that by doing this they are encompassing all cultures.
As for Sharia law in this country:-
llbh, I was referring to the recent decision by Lord Chief Justice Lord Philips that "Those entering into a contractual agreement can agree that the agreement shall be governed by a law other than English law." The problem is is that this ruling opens the door wide open for the most barbaric Islamic practices, such as honor killings, forced female circumcision, as well as forced marriages. The Chief Justice basically is saying that English law does not apply there, at least it could easily be construed to mean that.
There is no debate in this country as to whether Sharia law is going to supercede English law. Honor killings and forced female circumcision is not what this debate is about. If you think that allowing Muslims to practice Shariah law in this country is going to bring about these things you speak of you really have missed the point. Muslims in this country use the the elders in the Mosque in a similar way as JW's uses elders. For example with reference to marriage, a Muslim may get a divorce by the law of the land, but they may not with reference to their religion, the same for JW's. The debate in this country is how to allow shariah law run ALONGSIDE English law, not over and above it. To say that this will allow honor killings and forced female circumsion is scaremongering.
There is a large Muslim population in this country and IMO their views should be taken into consideration, whether that be in the education system, family life, etc, but not when it is in direct contradiction to the law of the land.
Paul
hi folks!
im new here.
i've been lookin at this site for the last two weeks and find this site very interesting.
Welcome to the board and happy independence day from across the pond.
Paul
michelle, my dear girl :.
with all that you went through last year how could you felt yourself be sucked into a similar trap?
and when you saw yourseld going a certain way why didn't you ask for help?
Hi chelle
Welcome to the board.
More unsolicited fatherly advice here...
I wish i had your "balls" when i was 17. At that age i started working part-time to pioneer, never went on to college, married young as most do. It looks like you really have your head screwed on. Just focus and concentrate on what you want to do and what you want out of life. It will take time to deal with the issues surrounded by your being df'd. But never let go of that focus and live your life how you want.
Concentrate on standing on your own two feet, boyfriends may come and go, that said it sounds like you have a good one.
Go out there and live that life of yours to the full, without all the WT b***sh*t.
Thats my fatherly bit over.
Welcome and hope you stick around.
Paul (but to you Uncle Paul )
Welcome to the board.
Shunning is so unchristian
Paul