Posts by Brother Apostate

55

Are JW's a Cult?

by PinTail in

pintail

Brother Apostate

Mad,

I think nvrgnbk's post characterizes what a cult is most succinctly:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/131169/2332741/post.ashx#2332741

And as far as a simple dictionary(ies) definition(s) goes:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

or a one-man-band- Mad

So, anyone who puts faith in God and Christ, rather than an organized religion, or a man, or group of men, is a one man band, eh?

BA- Puts faith in God, not men.

PS- After praying in faith for God's Holy Spirit, try reading the Scriptures without referring to the WTBTS literature for it's "correct interpretation", you'll be surprised what you comprehend.

77

The Question Non-Jws hate to hear! (Unless they're athiests)

by Mad in

did jesus have a god that he worshipped?

Brother Apostate

WORSHIP.............
what is it?

Reverence, honor, respect, to the point of imitation.

That is how I would define it.

BA

63

My self-worth does not actually depend on another poster's opinion of me.

by Frannie Banannie in

jw
friends

i've been trashed and bullied by one poster for posting info off the internet that i was offering to someone in need of hope.

i began a thread on the subject of whether it is right or wrong to offer hope to someone in desperate circumstances in order that the poster could see that theirs wasn't the only opinion of any value.

while most who responded were in agreement with the validity of being encouraging and offering hopeful info that can be looked into or not, it's the viewer's choice, that poster has continued his bullying, stating that i'm mentally, literally incompetent, basically stupid and irresponsible, though i'm so incompetent that i shouldn't be actually held accountable for my well-meant ignorance.

Brother Apostate

Frannie,
Eventually, what I learned, not only from this board, but a couple of others, is this: Be kind to those who are kind to you, but if you need to be an asshole to assholes, so be it. And don't apologise to them either.
Warlock

Well put, Warlock. My thoughts exactly. A thick skin is called for when posting in a public forum.

BA- What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

20

Maybe this was posted

by mouthy in

before ...but anyway for those who didnt see it( if it was ).

jan15th 06 page 23 of the watchtower.

"because of listening to the devil & not rejecting his lies.the first human pair apostatized.so,then,should we listen to apostates,read theor literature ,or examine their web sites on the internet?if we love god& the truth,we will not do so.we should not allow apostates into our homes,or even greet them,for such actions would make us "sharers in their wicked works".

Brother Apostate

Jan15th 06 page 23 of the Watchtower
"Because of listening to the Devil & not rejecting his lies.the first human pair apostatized.So,then,should we listen to apostates,read theor literature ,or examine their Web sites on the Internet?If we love GOD& the truth,we will not do so.We should not allow apostates into our homes,or even greet them,for such actions would make us "sharers in their wicked works"

It is so transparent to a thinking person- the WTBTS continues to equate anyone who exposes their errors as "Apostates"!

Those errors are well known- the support for the majority of their teachings comes, not from Scripture, but from mere humans in Brookln, NY.

The real Apostates are those who teach "teachings and traditions of men" as being equal to, and even above Scripture.

The WTBTS teaches that one is not even to study the Bible without using the WTBTS literature to understand it.

The WTBTS, and JWs, then, are the real Apostates. They are the ones who are like the Devil , lied to the the first humans, and continue to do so.

But I think it's funny the way they use their twisted logic to call those who believe the Scriptures, not man-made doctrines "Apostate", lol.

So say hello to an Apostate folks a HAPPY to be free one.

Hello, fellow happy & free "Apostate"!!!

BA- Clearing up any confusion about who the "Apostates" and who the Apostates really are.

56

How did I conclude it was not the 'truth'?

by jgnat in

a new board member asked me this.

i asked if it would be all right to publish my reply.

the question, in full, is, .

Brother Apostate

Fred,

False is based on intent to deceive.

Not when it comes to Prophecy.

None of God's Prophets listed in the Scriptures delivered False Prophecies.

As stated in Dueteronomy, it's easy to tell if a Prophet is from God, or not.

If the prophecy does not come true, then they are False Prophets.

It is clear, then, that the JW Governing Body have been, and are now,False Prophets.

BA

24

Question for JWS and EXJWS

by Fisherman in

1 do you now reject all of the wts teachings and doctrines?

2 what doctrines do you still believe in?

3 what doctrines have you stopped believing in?

Brother Apostate

1 Do you now reject all of the wts teachings and doctrines?

I would prefer to say that I have come to my own conclusions by studying the Scriptures without the WTBTS blinders (their literature) on. After so doing, I share some teachings and doctrines with JWs as well as other sects of Christainity, and some that perhaps none of them hold.

2 What doctrines do you still believe in?

Those that can be clearly proven from Scripture without having to resort to supplemental material to support a clearly preconcieved doctrine.

For example, start with the Law of Love, then add to that those other things (all summed up in that law, but fully expounded on elsewhere) as follows:

Putting faith in God, his Son, Jesus Christ, his Son's ransom sacrifice's power to redeem us, and his inspired word the Holy Bible - Hebrews 10:12, 26; 11:6; 11:1-40; John 3:16-21; Romans chapters 4, 5 & 6; Romans 10: 9-17; Acts 4:12; 10:43; Matthew 26:28; Mark 3:28-30; James 4:17; 5:15; 1 John 4:9-14;Luke 13:23,24; 1 Timothy 4:10.

Practicing the fruitages of the Holy Spirit, doing our utmost to avoid sin -Galatians 5:19-25;1 Corinthians 6: 9,10; Matthew 12:31

Prayer - Matthew 5:44, 6:9, 26:41; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16; Romans 12:21; Phillipians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:7.

3 What doctrines have you stopped believing in?

All those that have no Scriptural support, and those that can be interpreted to have multiple, soundly Scripturally based, conclusions.

4 What doctrines are you not sure about?

If we're talking JW doctines, most. I believe only some of the doctrines taught by JWs (and organized Christian religions) have clear Scriptural support, in other words, there are, Scripturally, multiple ways to interpret the basis for many doctrines.

If one prays for Holy Sprit in faith, and studies the New Testament with the intent of examining each topic as to whether it is a law or rule that must be obeyed for salvation, versus a principle, suggestion, admonition, etc, versus chronology, prophesy, etc, one finds that the "core beliefs" are those necessary for each individuals salvation, while most of Scripture is for other purposes, and should be treated accordingly.

God judges the heart (cf. Hebrews 4:12), not whether one thinks the "right thoughts" in doctrinal matters of belief.

In the end, God will judge each of us as individuals, not as part of a "religion", "group", "organization", etc. Many hide behind the mask of their religion’s beliefs, letting them decide what is right and wrong, what is necessary for salvation, etc. It takes personal study, research, and the ensuing Love, Faith, and other Fruitages, along with the aforementioned Scriptural practices, to gain salvation.

That is why, imo, Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 7:13,14: "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

BA

30

"Trinitarians" how can you "lie" to the truth? Is truth a person?

by booker-t in

jw
friends

i was talking to this jw's elder who i believe has to be the best debater against the "trinity" doctrine that jw's have he brought up several point which i feel needs to be addressed by trinitarians.

first of all he argured that acts 5:3-4 about lying to the holy spirit in no way makes the holy spirit a person any more that "lying to the truth" in james makes "truth" a person.

i have never seen that verse before about lying to the truth.

Brother Apostate

Interesting discussion here.

I hold the Arian viewpoint of God's nature, yet I'm not so dogmatic in my view that I can't honestly see how another may interpret God's nature as a Trinity, using Scripture.

I think discussions such as this one on this thread point out major differences between the JW mindset (althogh not exclusively theirs), and the mindset that Christ and his disciples promoted.

In the context of Christian search for truth, praying for Holy Spirit to direct one's study and understanding of the Holy Scriptures is necessary.

As one progresses studying God's Word in this manner, it will become clear that many, many (perhaps most) scriptures can be interpreted numerous ways.

The question then arises, if there are some scriptures that can only be interpreted one way (or no interpretation is necessary), yet others can have numerous interpretations, why do the JWs feel that they must always have THE answer? They are always setting themselves up for future re-interpretation ad nauseum.

This is one of the many reasons I left the dubs, that they feel it is necessary to have only one "company line" conclusion on each topic from Scripture, when numerous other interpretations of Scripture exist, soundly based on Scripture.

I believe it really does come down to Agape, or a lack thereof, coupled with haughtiness- "we, the GB" are the only ones with the "correct" interpretation.

The "unity" and "love" is enforced by a narrow view, which is often changed, and sometimes changed back again.

And I'm not saying the JWs are the only ones guilty of this.

Think about it- if only those Scriptural teachings that need no interpretation form the basis of our core beliefs, then there is no need to disfellowship those who hold alternative, Scripturally based interpretations on other matters.

This promotes an atmosphere of true loving brotherhood and open-minded search for the truth.

It requires true humilty and love, the two earmarks of God's sevants throughout time.

Something you unfortunately won't find in the JWs, or organized Christianity as a whole, imo.

BA- Individuals sometimes want to have the "right" conclusion, when there exists no "right" conclusion.

PS- It's LOVE and HUMILITY to admit "I don't know" -there's not enough proof for most dogma- it is leaven of a devisive nature.

9

Need Help!

by LibraLady in

jw
friends

i really need some advice for a problem that is really bothering me and that is why i signed on to this site.

i have become estranged completely from my dear sister who has become a dedicated jw.

i am sure that many of you have heard stories like this before but it really hurts me.

Brother Apostate

There's always hope!

If you try to expose the truth about the JWs by talking to her directly, she could (likely will) dig her nails in deeper to the cult, pulling further away from you.

Or, you could try anonymously mailing her Bible Scriptures that conflict with the JW teachings, previous JW articles that they have flip-flopped on, information on identifying a cult mentalty, etc. All of these can be found on this forum. I would make sure the mails are sporadic and anonymous, lest she cut you off alltogether.

Or, you could be patient, hoping she figures it out on her own.

She's in a cult, after all.

BA- Been there, done that.

8

Are you a faster typer because of the forum?

by avidbiblereader in

most people that i am around in real estate are peckers or pickers, they can't type fast, has the forum made you a faster typer.. yes or no?.

abr.

Brother Apostate

Most people that I am around in Real Estate are peckers

Yes.

BA-

20

Check out this hypocrital conduct

by avidbiblereader in

last night was my oldest daughters birthday (22), we went out for supper with some friends and family, we went into the texas roadhouse where she serves bar and waits tables, they have this one thing they do for birthdays where all the servers sing, yell and clap, they also ask you to "saddle up" which means to sit on a saddle they bring out on wheels as they all yell and howler, real fun, though!.

well sitting behind us is a whole table of witness from my sister hall that i use to go to, mother with three grown kids (25, 22, 21) and their spouses, they watched and didn't say a word to me and wouldn't even make eye contact with me, oooh i am the bogey man.. well guess what they did after we left, they didn't know my daughter didn't leave yet.

saddled up two of their own, clapped and sang birthday songs..

Brother Apostate

Nothing they do surprises me anymore. nothing!

Me neither.

BA