would it have any effect on you at all?
The only reason that it might bother me is the fact that the labels are intended as a slur on one's character and are forms of defamation.
I agree with Scully. No one wants to be the object of slander. But it still wouldn't convince me to go back. I don't take kindly to intimidation tactics.
On a happier note, Happy Birthday, Bumble Bee!
everyone needs to know what you're doing, who you associate with, what movies and tv you see, whether you plan on extended schooling, what you do on weekends, etc.. they want you to account to them.
if they believe you're acting not quite in accord with their standards, they'll inquire about your business.. the elders believe they are literally, god's gift to everyone else.
they expect total openess in every matter including your love life, your goals and your secrets.. like i said, witnesses are so (too) nosy..
You know, if I were convinced that the JWs genuinely cared about me, I wouldn't mind some openness about my life (and vice versa), But they don't really care about people. It's all about control.
Only a few. They were the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary, fear-driven, Puritan-like religion.
everyone needs to know what you're doing, who you associate with, what movies and tv you see, whether you plan on extended schooling, what you do on weekends, etc.. they want you to account to them.
if they believe you're acting not quite in accord with their standards, they'll inquire about your business.. the elders believe they are literally, god's gift to everyone else.
they expect total openess in every matter including your love life, your goals and your secrets.. like i said, witnesses are so (too) nosy..
Were they pornographic books oe something??
Nope. I just have regular books. My interests pretty much run the gamut (ancient history - manga - crafts - religion). But no porn.
everyone needs to know what you're doing, who you associate with, what movies and tv you see, whether you plan on extended schooling, what you do on weekends, etc.. they want you to account to them.
if they believe you're acting not quite in accord with their standards, they'll inquire about your business.. the elders believe they are literally, god's gift to everyone else.
they expect total openess in every matter including your love life, your goals and your secrets.. like i said, witnesses are so (too) nosy..
Urg...yes, they are.
A few years ago, I moved to a new residence, and instantly became the talk of my new congregation, when it was discovered that I had (gasp!) non-WT books in my possession! One elderette even proclaimed rather disparagingly that I was "addicted to books" (!) Well, how did the rest of the cong. know about this? Because said elderette was (unfortunately) also my landlady, and she had blabbed to the whole cong. about my belongings! Needless to say, as soon as the lease was up, I got out of there as fast as I could!
....following a false prophet?.
jesus and the bible do not at any point mention birthdays, xmas etc.
however it does have clear rules regarding following false prophets.. .
The Bible's stance against false prophets is quite clear:
Deut 18:22
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
Eze 14:10
And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired,
Rev 19: 20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Birthdays:
There are no explicit sanctions against birthday celebrations in the Bible.
Christmas:
There are no explicit sanctions prohibiting the celebration of Christmas in the Bible. On the other hand, there is more than enough historical evidence to link ancient Christmas celebrations with the celebration of various winter festivals, most notably Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun - Roman), Saturnalia (Festival of Saturn - Roman), and Shabe-e Yalda (Longest Night of the Year Festival - Persian). However, for most people, the pagan symbolism that was once conflated with Christmas has long been forgotten.
What's worse, celebrating birthdays, Xmas, or following false prophets? Well, concerning birthdays and Christmas, it is up to the discretion of the individual Christian. Remember Paul's words in 1Cor 10:31:
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
As for false prophets, the only road that lies before them is death.
as i announced some time ago, jwd as it is will not continue .... ... but .... it's clear from people's comments that they do like the site and many would like it or something else like it to continue.. one issue was the forum software that was self-developed and not really in a good state to hand-over to anyone but i've been working on that and can now reveal the first release of what will probably be called jwn (son of jwd):.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/.
it is still work-in-progress so not all features are enabled yet but it will allow you to browse the site in a similar way to this one and it is pointing at the same database (although because of the way the caching works, new posts made on this site won't appear immediately).
Bless you, Simon.
JWD has helped countless lives that have been shattered by the Society's endless deceptions, so I'm glad to see that the site will continue. It's not indulging in hyperbole to say that some of us regard this site as a godsend.
I didn't like being single. I definitely prefer being married...
complete the following:.
even if its not the truth...... .
.
Even if it's not the truth, it still is one of the most successful religious scams in modern history.
That has to count for something, right?
for me, it was a combination of things over a long period of time.
.
how about you?
ditto minimus....wasn't one thing..just a bunch of things I kept putting in the back of my head and then finally it just couldn't be pushed back any further.
Double ditto.
