jehovah's witnesses are peaceful folks, just ask them.
having been one till many years ago i used to know the stock answers to questions about that fine line between being peaceable and defending oneself.. this came to front and center during the past several days with that horrific arizona shooting where some 7 folks have lost their lives.
it could have been more if it weren't for several onlookers ganging up on the perpetrator after he emptied the first magazine of bullets, getting ready for his spare magazine.. these onlookers instinctively became aggressive and restrained the perpetrator, one of them choking the man when needed, etc., and etc.. heroes, all of them, in my opinion.. none of them remained passive, thinking that this man wasn't really a threat to them personally so why get involved.
Good comments, all. I agree with all your sentiments.
What's surprising to me is that no one, including JW lurkers, have posted anything definitive as to the Watchtower's official position. It just may be that WT hasn't been definitive and that's a surprise to me since they are one of the most legalistic corporations I've seen.
Len
jehovah's witnesses are peaceful folks, just ask them.
having been one till many years ago i used to know the stock answers to questions about that fine line between being peaceable and defending oneself.. this came to front and center during the past several days with that horrific arizona shooting where some 7 folks have lost their lives.
it could have been more if it weren't for several onlookers ganging up on the perpetrator after he emptied the first magazine of bullets, getting ready for his spare magazine.. these onlookers instinctively became aggressive and restrained the perpetrator, one of them choking the man when needed, etc., and etc.. heroes, all of them, in my opinion.. none of them remained passive, thinking that this man wasn't really a threat to them personally so why get involved.
Jehovah's Witnesses are peaceful folks, just ask them. Having been one till many years ago I used to know the stock answers to questions about that fine line between being peaceable and defending oneself.
This came to front and center during the past several days with that horrific Arizona shooting where some 7 folks have lost their lives. It could have been more if it weren't for several onlookers ganging up on the perpetrator after he emptied the first magazine of bullets, getting ready for his spare magazine.
These onlookers instinctively became aggressive and restrained the perpetrator, one of them choking the man when needed, etc., and etc.
Heroes, all of them, in my opinion.
None of them remained passive, thinking that this man wasn't really a threat to them personally so why get involved. No, they were unselfishly (and instinctively) thinking of all those around them. Had this man placed his spare full magazine inside his weapon there would have been some 31 more rounds that would have taken numerous other lives, wounding many more to boot.
So, the question is, how does the modern JW feel the fine line is defined when it comes to remaining peaceable or defensive?
Defend yourself but only if you are attacked?
Defend yourself and your immediate family but only if you or they are attacked? Spouse, children, father, mother.
Ditto the above but include siblings -- brothers and sisters?
Ditto the above but also include the immediate family of your siblings?
Ditto the above but also include first cousins, their children, your aunts and uncles.
I think you get the point by now. We could go on and on and on -- including an entire nation of people since we're all virtually related to everybody in some way.
Fact is, none of the lines of blood relations was crossed with that real life example in Arizona. Those people were not even related yet the heroic bystanders stepped in and squelched this sick person from destroying and harming more people.
Recently, someone close to me posed a similar question when talking to one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He cited the recent case of a bystander going into a public rest room where this bystander saw a rapist doing his horrific deed at the expense of some pre-teen girl. The bystander did nothing. The bystander reportedly even suffered no legal ramifications for being passive -- but that's not my point. My friend asked this JW, "What would you have done if you were the bystander?" The JW responded with some diversionary answer (a red herring), in order to avoid a direct answer that he suspected would be weak.
So my dear friends -- the question remains, where does the modern JW feel the line is defined between remaining peaceful and being aggressive?
Len
coffee break time.
what will happen next?.
.
Coffee break time. What will happen next?
Touché, Terry.
Len
Sometimes, children can see through GB stupidity easier than adults.
Len
jw boys can't get by with anything these days.
len.. .
JW boys can't get by with anything these days. Len.
this article must have been written by bethels most advanced scientific mind......this is why we need a college education.. .
watchtower 1973 july 15 p.7 "question from readers.
when did the dinosuars become extinct?
Witness 007: .... This is why we NEED a college education.
Who needs college when you've got the Awake! ???
part 1 - my parents.
it's a funny thing, time.
notwithstanding einstein's relativity, time means vastly different things throughout life.
Hi Farkel,
A great read. Please keep them coming.
"... and she even tried to force an enema on me when I was twelve years old. "
Sounds Watchtoweresque to me. It brings back recollections from my early JW years (the 50's) and a certain special pioneer couple who hailed from the 30's, believing everything they read from Brooklyn headquarters. Yes, one feature of their lifestyle was enemas. Modern JW's don't realize that Golden Age (which preceded Consolation, which in turn, preceded Awake!) endorsed frequent enemas (named System of Elimination).
Barnes, L. D. "The Ehret System of Elimination." Golden Age April 3, 1929 p. 434.
Shelton, Herbert M. "More About the Ehret System." Golden Age May 29, 1929 p. 564.
"The Ehret System of Elimination." Golden Age March 20, 1929 p. 399-401.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/medical/91612/1/A-drastic-medical-view
Len
recently someone asked for a pamphlet to leave with a neighbour that started studying with jws.
i noticed that they was not a lot available, so have put together something.
please let me know your opinion and any errors.
Hi Paul,
Very well organized. Thank you for all that work -- and sharing.
Len Miller.
The following are suggested fixes [usually between brackets] for:
http://jwfacts.com/pdf/jw-pamphlet-2page-usl.pdf, page 1
Jehovah’s Witnesses live by a strict moral
code based on [a] fundamentalist interpretation
of the Bible
Unquestioning [unquestioned] obedience
http://jwfacts.com/pdf/jw-pamphlet-2page-usl.pdf, page 2
The Watchtower claims there has [have] always been Jehovah’s
Witnesses.
Even during the 2,000 year period since Jesus, the Watchtower
has been unable to identify a single group that adheres to all the
teachings they claim are required for a "true Christian" to be
acceptable to God.
Did you actually intend?
Even during the nearly 1,900 year period From Jesus to Russell, the Watchtower
has been unable to identify a single group that adheres to all the
teachings they claim are required for a "true Christian" to be
acceptable to God.
A number of key Watchtower doctrine [doctrines] are based on flawed
assumptions.
. However, the history of this doctrine should put
doubt [as] to its validity.
These are the same historians the Watchtower trusts as a
basis for all other prophetic interpretation. [interpretations]
Although they claim 607 is necessary to make Bible prophecy
accurate, this in [is] incorrect.
The Watchtower is an eschatological, apocalyptic, end-
time religion. In addition to 1914 [until 19XX, thought to be 1874] originally being the year
for the world’s end, consider the following statements.
Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom. The Nations Shall
Know That I Am Jehovah p.216 [1971]
What affect [effect] have these falsehoods had on the lives
and decisions of followers?
