I'd become ONE of them, to avoid being "benefitted more fully by the spirtual food from 'the faithful & discreet slave classs'! heh
This is the number one reason I will never be a JW Mad.
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
I'd become ONE of them, to avoid being "benefitted more fully by the spirtual food from 'the faithful & discreet slave classs'! heh
This is the number one reason I will never be a JW Mad.
How many here had/have doubts and still go to the meetings? How many discussed and expressed those doubts outside of the KH to others? How many here wanted JWs to be true and held on tooth and nail to a belief sytem they had been taught for years, wanting/needing it to be true until someone said/did that one thing that blew that myth out of the water? Ray Franz comes to mind.
Just sayin'.
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
I agree AN disagree with you view of churches; yes they have a lot of great people...but the lies agianst God and Christ befoul it ALL! Do the good deeds they do mean more than the foul? And WHAT can be MORE foul than LYING about God & Christ?
And therein Mad, lies the duty within each of us who call ourselves christians to be the bigger person and not return hate for hate. By walking the walk and talking the talk, more will see that you or I or any other christian are striving to live the life as close to jesus' example as possible. When they or we fall short, we discuss, as adults. The responsibility is on us, christians, to not resort to hypocrisy or judging. Turn the other cheek, forgive, and try to reach the person who offended you by following jesus' example. That is what I was trying to say earlier.
I've seen those on this board attack, me included. However, I have also seen situations where, once the person stopped and reflected on their approach and with all honesty began to discuss what was really at the root of the "hate", the person was rallied around and support and understanding was offered, in abundance.
I really wish I was a better writer.
Palmtree, thank you.
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
Yes, and that's all I GIVE, MB.
Ok MadJW, then I have to ask, how do you think your responses here to some posters, provoked or not, justified in your mind (or mine) or not, fall in line with being a christian? As one who is studying with witnesses, trying to find my own way on my spiritual path, it comes across as hypocritical and judgemental.
I understand your passion, and that is one of the things I admire about witnesses. When you read some comments on this board, there is a part of you that wants to shout out "that's not who we are." But you have to remind yourself that the task is not to be defensive, but instead to try to
understand how these myths (as you see them) came to be.
We all know a hypocrite when we see one but surprisingly don't always see or catch ourselves being hypocritical. When those outside of the church say Christians are hypocritical they do not find hypocrisy the problem. They understand that we all have that inside of us, we all can be hypocritical to a degree; what they dislike about Christians that are hypocritical is that we are not honest about it. We either say with our attitudes or words that we have it all together, we have it all figured out, but our actions obviously do not convey that. Those outside the church want us to be honest, to be transparent, to be real with them and many are not seeing that. I'm not seeing that. Many posters here aren't seeing that.
I read somewhere that newspapers a hundred years ago had the power, among other things, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. How accurate of a statement is that for what Jesus came to do? Or what we are called to do? I think that is a pretty good mission for Christians. We are here to comfort those in pain, working through junk and to make you uncomfortable if you have become satisfied with where God has placed you. Because God always has more work to do inside each one of us than we have breath to live on this earth.
The Pharisees. So what does Jesus say about the Pharisees, the religious folks of his day. He starts by saying you should listen and obey what they tell you because they are teaching from the Law of Moses. They are teaching the right things! The problem: they don't live what they teach, they don't practice what they preach. They don't follow their own advice. Sound familiar? Jesus says "They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi...' "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either" (Matthew 23:4-7, 13-14).
Everything they do is for show. They don’t practice what they preach. Harsh words from Jesus that end with being blocked from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. I read these words and it is impossible for me not to look in the mirror and ask some questions: where do I fall short practicing what I preach? Do I do everything just for show? Where do I put up impossible religious demands without lifting a finger to help? Because I am certainly a hypocrite.
Today, Jesus may make the very same charges against us. We think we teach the right stuff, the good stuff but we don’t follow our own advice. We tell other people to be honest, to be generous, to follow purity in our relationships, to give to the poor, to help those who need a friend, and to follow Christ in all we do. We believe we have the best way to live, the most complete way to have life and live it to the full in this life and in the next. But when we tell other people about it, it comes off as judgmental, condescending, and self-righteous.
One solution is to stop holding ourselves and other Christians to standards. That’s one way to stop being a hypocrite but not the best in my book. I believe the solution is not to get rid of our standards in any of those areas but to be real, to be honest about where we struggle. Yes I strive to be honest in all things but I mess up. Yes, I try to have purity in my relationships but I don’t always get it right. Yes, I try to be generous but I still spend way too much on myself. It is telling the truth about lifestyle standards but offering grace as well, just as Jesus did.
So what are outsiders looking for? What are most of us here looking for? Christians to be honest and authentic, that even though we have standards we try to reach, we are not perfect. We do not get it right every time with our words or actions. This is what they want to see. We need to find that balance of truth, having standards, and of grace, showing forgiveness when we don’t make it. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to not have it all figured out. It’s okay to be honest. You don’t have to have all your stuff together before coming to church, much less before coming to Jesus.
Churches today still struggle with how to create an honest, authentic community where you don’t have to put on airs that you are all put together. It's my hope that we strive for the standards God has set out for us in the good life but be honest with ourselves, with others, and with Christ when we fall short. May we then get up and try again.
That's it, I know I rambled. I'm not the best debator or wordsmith. I hope you take this for how I intended it.
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
Mad, do you consider yourself a christian? I ask this in all sincerity.
here in czech republic wtbs opened new bethel home for some 60 workers about 18 years ago.
it was presented as a proof jhvh is blessing and aproving wtbs and of course as a sign that the end is so close.... recently i had with my mil discusions about wtbs selling their property in many countries and cuting costs... she did not believe me..... last week we went to visit her and she told me there was an anouncment at her meeting, that bethel is closing down and the building will be sold.
only translating department will remain in the country in other premises and everything else will be moved to slovakia.. recently there is bethel closing down in spain and italy and several assembly halls being sold here in europe.. i hope this will open eyes to many jw to see the gb in fact does not believe in end being so close .... albert.
They're preparing for the move to the island. Kool-aid anyone?
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
Because this doesn't sound like talk from any JW I know. So in my mind, you could not have been referring to JWs. No game, at least not on my end.
Despite what bad experiences some her may have been thru- it DOESN'T change the fact that we have the TRUTH about God- albeit with some of the goofy opinions on prophecy, and the GB with the Apostle Complex (thinking too much of themselves)...
http://abcnews.go.com/health/video/johovahs-witness-seeks-bloodless-surgery-11681184.
look at the faux confidence in this jw mom's wt-trained brain.. *sigh*.
once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away...i was an uber dub and i was married to one, too.
yes-lotta nonsense; a self-proclaimed "slave class" that is not a prophet but like a prophet, giving so awfully embarrasing opinions that are supposed to be automatically acceted by all of us jws...pretenders...mistakes... and moves not "discreet" at all- like the ngo united nations membership they secretly had for awhile....terrible, isn't it?.
i mean, look at the inspiring example we have in churchianity: such wonderful dogma- such as the three sadist-gods who have been torturing billions of men, women, and children for thousands of years- with eternity to go...and god making the universe in 72 hours...and backing the wars of their governments- "god and country!
", as they send their men out to war, telling them they will be blessed for it, and so many more wonderful revelations: the rapture, once-saved, tithing, etc.
Sorry, MB- not true; I waited for YOU to answer a question- never did. Maybe YOU don't live here, either.
You said this:
First- it is NOT about the WTBS- its about my beliefs; are they a fallacy as most? Putting them to the TEST is the most effective way of ascertaining weteher they are or not- and what better place than HERE!
Furthermore, the deceptive NAME of this site lures people wanting to learn more about use- and all this Coprolite is hurled around...
I am on MANY sites, talking to MANY people, respecting those that thing, playing games with those that DON'T.
Despite what bad experiences some her may have been thru- it DOESN'T change the fact that we have the TRUTH about God- albeit with some of the goofy opinions on prophecy, and the GB with the Apostle Complex (thinking too much of themselves)...
I asked this:
You said "it DOESN'T change the fact that we have the TRUTH about God". Who are we?
Outlaw posted a comment and you went off on that, even though I said:
I thought we were having a nice discussion.
and:
Well, I guess you truly aren't here for real discussion. I find that sad. Best of luck to you.
So, no, I'm not wrong. You showed your true intentions for being here. And as for "not living here", my question was made 6 minutes after yours and 35 minutes before you starting trading taunts with outlaw. K?
i remember growing up and hearing all sorts of stories about demonic activity from people.
some would be experiences that people had going door to door and visiting a "witch" or "warlock".
some would inadvertently go to a fortune tellers door and have a demonic experience.. i was always facinated by all the stories.
*** w62 12/1 p. 723 Hypnotism and Spiritism ***
Hypnotism and Spiritism
Is hypnotism spiritism? Yes, for the one who submits to hypnotism is under the control and influence of another person. (Deut. 18:11) This controlling influence is apparently a human, but it puts its victim under a spell; it can lead to a hypnotized person's producing spiritistic phenomena. For instance, the French psychologist Richet experimented with subjects whom he had previously hypnotized. He claimed that, while in this state, they were often able to identify playing cards even though they were enclosed within opaque envelopes. Thus a number of hypnotized persons have given evidence of ESP or extrasensory perception. A more recent series of tests was made by a British extrasensory perceiver, to see whether other persons could develop ESP. Writing in his autobiography Clock Without Hands, he said:
"I found that when I hypnotised some people they seemed to be able to ‘borrow' my E.S.P. faculty. . . . Strangely enough I found I could get no E.S.P. myself . . . when I was actually conducting my experiments. . . . The results suggest that either I was able to transfer my E.S.P. ability to other people, or I was able to remove in them some barrier which repressed . . . psychic powers. . . . My own experiments seem to indicate that hypnotism may be a means of developing the psi faculty."
The true Christian who is dedicated to God for the doing of his divine will will not surrender control of his power of reason and his will to another human, much less undergo the risk of allowing demon powers to move in on a hypnotized mind. No, the Christian does not seek ESP, and hypnotism's link to such spiritistic practices further exposes it as something not for Christians.