just to recap, ive had a nice baptist pastor stopping by my house about once a month for the past 8 months.a very kind soul, we always have the most interesting discussions.him learning about how i was raised as a jw and their belief system, and i learning about his being born again, the trinity, heaven, views on armageddon, etc.
it has all been very interesting, me being raised a jw and now hearing what another denomination believes, especially about the 144,000 and why they feel it isn't a literal number.
also, i am on his regular "field ministry,", and this is shocking to me as i was always taught the other religions don't go door to door like us, with the exception of mormons - lds.. anyway, he made the comment to me that very view christian denominations did not believe in the trinity.he stated that really only small handful of denominations such as jws, mormons, and a few other cultic types dont accept the trinity.this was shocking to me, because asjw i always believed most everyone outside of catholicism and lutheranism believed as jw did, that jesus was gods son, and a totally separate created being.
Wing,
Here is an example of Orthodox writing:
http://www.pelagia.org/htm/b02.en.orthodox_psychotherapy.03.htm#so1
It is not about the Trinity....the article is on the Soul....I have not read it all, however, what I have read is very interesting: hope you have more free time than I do.
Vernon Williams
Monett, Mo.
just to recap, ive had a nice baptist pastor stopping by my house about once a month for the past 8 months.a very kind soul, we always have the most interesting discussions.him learning about how i was raised as a jw and their belief system, and i learning about his being born again, the trinity, heaven, views on armageddon, etc.
it has all been very interesting, me being raised a jw and now hearing what another denomination believes, especially about the 144,000 and why they feel it isn't a literal number.
also, i am on his regular "field ministry,", and this is shocking to me as i was always taught the other religions don't go door to door like us, with the exception of mormons - lds.. anyway, he made the comment to me that very view christian denominations did not believe in the trinity.he stated that really only small handful of denominations such as jws, mormons, and a few other cultic types dont accept the trinity.this was shocking to me, because asjw i always believed most everyone outside of catholicism and lutheranism believed as jw did, that jesus was gods son, and a totally separate created being.
Wing,
The Trinity is a very complex topic. You are wise to note the influence of the false teaching of the WT in regard to reasoning on this: we come from a background that is filled with historical re-writes and half truths.
I want to recommend a book, however, I loaned it to a young pastor. It is not about the Trinity, however, it deals in depth with the "Arian contraversy." I will get that to you.
Meanwhile, I would encourage you to do some research on the Eastern Orthodox perspective of the Trinity.
Also, as the Trinity is NEVER mentioned in congregations that I have attended, please, please do NOT let this doctrine hold you back from all the positive things that come about by association with "believers."
I will post the name of the book, later.
PM if you want....
V
our congregation had a number of elderly ones who regularly complained that no one ever helped them.
since the elders didn't really want to be responsible for them, they decreed that the family should help out first.
fair enough.
I wil not comment on this thread: the last thing we need is one more rant....and, I am not up to it....
On the Awake cover:
(and, I am not homophobic.....)
Why is it the covers that are posted only show "hot" sisters and guys that are sorta "effeminate?"
Something going on.....
V
yes, as far as jehovahs witnesses are concerned, apostates are evil, wicked, faithless liars.. i was wanting to ask - assuming most if not all who come here are in the jw category of apostate, how do you feel about the fact that you are portrayed in such a light by the org?.
i will be the first to admit - i always thought that those who criticized the org were untruthful or exaggerating.
its not until now i have considered what you guys have to say and how you feel that i realize that what you have to say is all truthful (tinged with a bit of anger perhaps).. personally i think its verging on character assassination.
Being labeled an "Apostate" (capital "A") by the WT is the highest honer a truth seeking individual can attain. Anytime a history re-writing, Scripture lifting, lying, half-truth telling, group of hypocrites tells you you are out of sync with them: well, it just does not get any better....
V
almost 25 years ago, at 17, i fell under the spell of this gorgeous, sexy, blond sister from a neighboring cong'.
i carried this crush like a pathetic puppy for almost 2 years, never summoning the nerve to ask her out.
i deservedly lost the girl.
I am holding a stick you dynamite....should I lite the fuse and just watch it burn?
V
hello, i just wanted to introduce myself to everyone here - as i will be posting here.. i grew up a jw and pioneered, was a ministerial servant, ect, i was in the organization for 17 years.
i left and naturally my family did as they were told and cut off all communication with me.
this left a horrible taste in my mouth for not just jw's, but any religion for that matter.
Father,
I am not totally believing your story...
Which Bishop ordained you?
Where is the parish you are serving: town and name, please....
Forgive me Father.....I smell a con, here.....
Vernon Williams
Monett, MO
i actually saved a classified ad from an east coast paper that needed experienced crew on a 48' sailing yacht.
i was at this town for my 10th wedding anniversary and staying at a nice b&b.
this was back in april.
O,
I wish I could go sailing...I never have....saw the movie "Wind" and the racing part was so cool...
On another note: you mentioned JWs were "good" or something like that.
Here is the base line:
Almost ALL JWs will lie as a pledge of loyalty to the GB and, thus, they think, to God.
At the bottom of their hearts they feel a justificaition to falsify information to please a man or men.
You have removed yourself from the company of this type of person.
That means your base line and their base line is ninety degress from each other: +
You intersected with them once. In this universe, if the rules about lines are correct it was a one time encournter.
Thankfully for you.
V
shunning still hurts for me, i admit it.
though i have no common ground with these people any longer, it is just the idea that i am treated as evil for nothing more than exiting the religion.
i was in a chinese rest on wednesday.
Jeff,
Shortly after being booted I was "shunned" by three brothers: I came home and told my family that these three had shunned me. Also, I said, there were two commonalities with the three:
THEY HAD ALL BEEN DF'ED FOR ADULTRY
and
THEY WERE ALL SHUNNING ME BECAUSE I WAS A "TRUTH-TELLER.'
Hey, bro, only in a cult would this kind of thing happen.
Your experience: another "cost of freedom" debit on you tab.
Hang tough and, seriously, you are in better company.....even including people like me. :-)
Later,
V
i actually saved a classified ad from an east coast paper that needed experienced crew on a 48' sailing yacht.
i was at this town for my 10th wedding anniversary and staying at a nice b&b.
this was back in april.
O,
On the "screw them" comment: I was not talking about your old JW friends: I was referencing the GB.
V
when i was younger i used to have terrible convulsions and hear "voices".
my mom was convinced that it must be "the demons".
the congregation prayed over me and eventually i went to a doctor that was able to figure out why i was so sickly and presto: everyone's prayers were answered..
Looking back, only at JW meetings and various other times of WT association.
V
