Posts by Justin

13

Are JWs the Only Christian Religion who Do Not Fight in Wars?

by blondie in

*** w90 2/1 p. 22 exposing "the man of lawlessness" ***in our century, which religion has obeyed this law of love?

surely not the religions of christendom, for they have slaughtered one another by the tens of millions in two world wars and other conflicts.

it is jehovahs witnesses who have obeyed the law of love earth wide.

Justin

Seventh Day Adventists

Christadelphians

14

ANYBODY STILL HAVE A WITNESS MENTALITY?

by stillAwitness in

o.k so i am living the "double life" i suppose.

but its funny how sometimes i still catch myself doing or saying things that only a "really spiritual" preason would.

like the other day when i saw a cute tank top on sale but it said "libra" on it.

As we detach from the Witness mentality or identity, we might find that it is one of several identities we have. An identity is like a mask or a persona that one can put on and off and use when required. What we do professionally is like another identity which isn't, strictly speaking, the Witness identity (although were taught that being a JW was supposed to affect everything else in our lives). Family relationships we might have are not, strictly speaking, the Witness identity. If we have tried to learn and practice another religion, that isn't the Witness identity. If we have a hobby, that isn't the Witness identity, either. So the real "me" is not any of these identities.

Our various identities can be used like friends we turn to for advice in our life journies. If the Witness identity offers us some advice once in awhile, it's OK to consider what is suggested. It might be right or it might be wrong. But then we make the decision to act according to what is best for us.

11

Teaching Prior to 1935 about heaven

by golden age in

it is all over the net that in 1935 rutherford got a flash of light stating that his followers would start to have an earthly hope.

the great multitude that is.

and that prior to that there were some classes of earthly salvation but it did not appear to be his followers that would be involved in that.

Justin

So the original preaching work about "restitution" - or the possibility of living after Armageddon on the restored earth - was not in any way a threat ("you better do this or else") but was merely a "witness" or testimony of what would come to all people. (Matt. 24:14) Out of the people who took an interest in this message would be those who would consecrate or dedicate their all to God and would be in line to become members of the "little flock." But if they then failed to make good on their consecration, they would most likely end up in the "great multitude" which was thought to be a secondary heavenly class rather than in the second death. (The "ancient worthies" or pre-Christian servants of God were expected to be resurrected as princes on earth - this may be your "fourth class.") When Rutherford started making changes, it only very gradually came to be realized that a new picture was emerging. And the idea of theocratic organization had to be enhanced along with the change in the great multitude for the newer JW concept of selective salvation to emerge. Certainly the JWs became aware of these matters before they ever announced them to the public. Even today, no one goes to the doorstep and says "you may live forever on earth if you'll join our organization."

11

Teaching Prior to 1935 about heaven

by golden age in

it is all over the net that in 1935 rutherford got a flash of light stating that his followers would start to have an earthly hope.

the great multitude that is.

and that prior to that there were some classes of earthly salvation but it did not appear to be his followers that would be involved in that.

Justin

It is never quite clear what you're getting at, but it seems your interest is in regard to the heavenly and earthly hopes, what the Society at one time believed and how that came to change. Have you ever read the Divine Plan of the Ages, published by Charles Russell in 1886 wherein he explains the various classes then thought to be in existence and how people may qualify to be in one class or another? If you read that, you will find conspicuously absent any requirement to belong to an organization in order to belong to any class. Various Bible Student groups still publish this, or you may even read it online at http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbnon/indexa.htm .

31

Anyone been baptised in another religon since leaving the dubs?

by misspeaches in

i was just wondering if any of you have been baptised into another religon since leaving the jw's.. if you don't mind sharing i would love to know if it was a monumental decision for you to make?.

what was your status when you did it?

disphellowshipped?

Justin

While it is true that Christian churches generally do not accept JW baptisms, it is also true that if you were baptized before you became a JW they will accept that as your real baptism and disregard the JW one. I have never wanted to go through the grief of another full initiation, and have managed to get into the "back door" of wherever I went. I have, however, been "confirmed" in a couple of churches.

As pointed out, the reason for rejecting JW baptism is a trinitarian one - the JWs don't use the formula "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" while at the same time teaching against the Trinity.

12

Dogs and Communion

by Justin in

i have been attending an independent church lately where they allow people to bring their pets (dogs) and give them communion.

for those who don't know the procedure, people file down to the front of the church and receive a piece of bread and a sip of wine - of course, they don't have two classes.

well, if you have your doggie with you, the pet can also receive (i assume only the bread - what a mess it would make for them to slurp from the chalice!).

Justin

I have been attending an independent church lately where they allow people to bring their pets (dogs) and give them communion. For those who don't know the procedure, people file down to the front of the church and receive a piece of bread and a sip of wine - of course, they don't have two classes. Well, if you have your doggie with you, the pet can also receive (I assume only the bread - what a mess it would make for them to slurp from the chalice!).

Well, it wouldn't be such a big deal if the priest didn't make an issue of it - impressing on all that this is the church where it is done. I told him most Christians would be offended, as Christ died for humans and not animals, and that animals can't meet the prerequisite of even having faith. But he said when he sees a dog playing with children, this is true communion.

The congregation is so small I imagine someone started bringing their dog, feeling they couldn't leave it home. Then when they got it to church, they couldn't tie it up while they went forward, so doggie went with them. And then, not to leave the good boy (or girl) out, it began getting its tastey biscuit.

Any thoughts?

12

What's the JW view on food intake?

by sonnyboy in

.

i've been thinking, if the jws won't allow smoking, excessive drinking, or the alteration of the outer body, do they also have rules about caloric, saturated fat, transfat, and sodium intake?

these things can be just as harmful to the body in the long run.

Justin

Good food, and plenty of it!

5

Another "truth" alternative

by Justin in

ever hear of harold camping, president of family radio?

he's an elderly gentleman who periodically sets dates for the end of the world and pleads with people to leave their churches, claiming that the "harvest" has now commenced.

sound familiar?

Justin

Ever hear of Harold Camping, president of Family Radio? He's an elderly gentleman who periodically sets dates for the end of the world and pleads with people to leave their churches, claiming that the "harvest" has now commenced. Sound familiar? You can check their website at http://www.familyradio.com/ .

At first they may seem like another fundamentalist, evangelical group - the difference will become apparent with exposure. They do not have an organization to run your life for you, but if you need someone to give you your answers perhaps this will hit the spot.

3

if no new light published?

by carla in

what is the official stance on if there has not been 'new light' published?

i thought if no new light published the 'old' still stands.

what about the ridiculous?

Justin

It's really difficult, when something has been dropped from the publications, to determine if it has been dropped for good. For example, when I was "in" over 25 years ago, it seemed they had stopped mentioning the significance of the 1918 date (the 'cleansing of the temple') and were interested in 1919 (release from Babylon the Great) instead. From reading the posts on this forum, it seems they have started mentioning 1918 again. There was another recent discussion as to whether they still believe each of the creative days is exactly 7,000 years, and it was brought out that recent publications don't give this exact figure but merely state the days are thousands of years in length. But you never know if they have abandoned the old idea unless they say so, or else state something which flatly contradicts it.

20

Future of the Preaching Work?

by NeonMadman in

i wrote the following comments in a response to joelbear's thread on the 4 steps to the new system.

but they were sort of off topic there, and i thought they might be of interest as a separate thread.

at one time, door to door work was highly effective.

Justin

If they wanted to, they could have had a TV program for the last half of the twentieth century. But, they don't want anything that will take the responsibility off the shoulders of the individual JW. By forcing the people to spend their time engaging in a humiliating, time-consuming work that is no pleasure for the majority, they exercise control over them. That is the name of the game: control. They are not going to give this up for a more efficient, high-tech way of proclaiming the message.