not that i'm thinking about it, even for a brief nano-second, but something i have thought about is this, is there any way you could go back and not have people look at you with the stink eye?
after admitting your true feelings, how in the world could people ever look at you the same?
if you were in the situation of welcoming someone back, would you be able to look past the errors?
I would go back if two things happened: 1. They stop disfellowshipping and shunning. 2. They realize they're wrong about blood transfusions and allow them.
I don't think either of those things will happen in my lifetime. And the only reason I would return would be to have my family back. But unless they change those things, I can't. I won't risk my daughter for that.
here's some quotes from that article:.
the bible says, for example, that if your worship is to be acceptable to god, it must be a sacred service with your power of reason.
in other words, you must worship god in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.
As a JW, I would leaf through the mags and read what caught my eye. I didn't read the mags as much as I was told to, but when I did read something outside of studying, it was usually out of the Awake.
Mr. Monroe,
That's a great list. Saving that!
Lol! I don't remember the water canopy. I know that the story of creation in Genesis is exactly how the Babylonians believed the world was made, the firmament of the sky with doors that open and land floating on top of water, etc.
So seriously, they believe there was a water canopy that would have blocked out the sun?
i'm looking for someone to help with some research.
i need to find out about the culture and beliefs of jw's.
it must be from a genuine jw, not hear say from someone who 'knows' about the faith or has previously been a jw, i need to hear the view as a positive.. if anyone can help i'd be grateful if you could get in touch.
Charlotte,
This book might help too! You might be able to find it a library.
Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement by Andrew Holden
In this academic study, Holden, a British sociologist, attempts to understand why the strict and austere Watch Tower Society continues to enjoy rapid growth. This is neither a primer on the danger of "cults" nor an endorsement of the Witnesses' distinctive beliefs, but a balanced ethnography that draws upon interviews with both adherents and ex-members to help readers understand what it is like to be part of the Society.
If they were up on genographic research at all, they would have made Adam and Eve african with dark skin.
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-family-tree-3706-interactive
here's some quotes from that article:.
the bible says, for example, that if your worship is to be acceptable to god, it must be a sacred service with your power of reason.
in other words, you must worship god in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.
Mad Sweeney
'The "examine your faith" counsel applies to the "worldly" people who will be reading this magazine after I leave it at the coin-laundry. I have already examined my faith by comparing it with the counsel in the WT magazine.'
This is what I was thinking too. I've already seen this from my dad. He said you don't have to experience other religions to know that only JW's have true unity, as an example the International we went to in Mexico. Maybe if I turn it on me, as in I've never examined this against the Bible really and this is what I've found so why was I taught this?
I don't know. I'm really anxious not to out myself as an apostate because I know what will happen. But I still feel like I should try with him. Of course, already being df'd makes it that much harder. It helps to bounce this off other people though, and any input is greatly appreciated!
here's some quotes from that article:.
the bible says, for example, that if your worship is to be acceptable to god, it must be a sacred service with your power of reason.
in other words, you must worship god in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.
Here's some quotes from that article:
The Bible says, for example, that if your worship is to be “acceptable to God,” it must be “a sacred service with your power of reason.” In other words, you must worship God “in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.” (Romans 12:1; The Jerusalem Bible) So the faith described in the Bible is not something blind and irrational, or a leap of faith, as some have called it. And it is not credulity. Rather, it is something you have thought through carefully—resulting in trust in God and his Word, which is firmly based on reason.
Of course, if you are to reason properly, you need accurate information. Even the most powerful computer programs designed on solid principles of logic will come up with some very strange conclusions if they are fed inaccurate data. Likewise, the quality of your faith will depend greatly on what you hear or on how dependable the information you feed your mind proves to be. Appropriately, the Bible says that “faith follows the thing heard.” —Romans 10:17.
A fundamental requirement for faith is “an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) Only “the truth,” says the Bible, “will set you free,” free from misleading beliefs, whether they are scientific or religious. (John 8:32) The Bible warns you not to put faith “in every word.” (Proverbs 14:15) Rather, it says that you should “make sure of all things”—or test out the things you hear before believing them. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Why should you do research and test out your beliefs? Because faith based on falsehood is only a delusion. Some noble-minded people from the ancient city of Beroea set a fine example in acquiring proper faith. Even though these individuals really wanted to believe what Christian missionaries taught them, they made a point of “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." --Acts17:11.
The Bible describes true faith as “the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Hebrews 11:1) Clearly, far from being naive, a person with real faith has based his beliefs on a careful scrutiny of all available data. Reasoning on such information produces the conviction that even things that cannot be seen with the literal eye are, nonetheless, realities.
What, though, if what you learn seems to contradict some of your deeply held beliefs? Should you just ignore it? Of course not. There may well be times when it is eminently reasonable to consider powerful evidence that appears to contradict what you believe. In the Bible, God promises to reward sincere individuals who search for truth by granting them knowledge, discernment, and thinkng ability. -- Proverbs 2:1-12.
The kind of faith built on what the Bible teaches is compatible with reason. What kind of faith do you have? Many people have “inherited” their religious beliefs and have never seriously examined them in the light of reason. Yet, it is not a sign of disrespect to examine what you believe so as to ‘prove to yourself’ that your thinking is in harmony with God’s Word. (Romans 12:2) The Bible admonishes us to “test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God.” (1 John 4:1) If you do that, you will be in a position, even when your beliefs are challenged, to “make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you.” —1 Peter 3:15.
Now leaving aside the claim that the Bible will set you free from misleading scientific beliefs (seriously? ) This is right in front of them. How many JW's have checked the reliability of the information they receive? Are they aware that they're allowed to?
I'm planning on showing this to my dad, not expecting much though. But that last paragraph is especially true for me. I inherited my religious beliefs and after a careful examination, found them to be false. No disrespect at all. They're not in harmony with God's Word.
I'd love any input on how to present this without alarm bells going off.
this was my poststrong conviction does not make your belief true, people die for lies every daythis is his-you're spot on.
truth really matters:.
john 17:17 - god's word is truth.
How can you determine truth when you can't examine all the available information?
***w092/15pp.24-26pars.3-7they"keepfollowingthelamb"***.
3 jesus has appointed the faithful and discreet slave "over his domestics," that is, the individual members of the slave class, "to give them their food at the proper time.
" he has also appointed the slave "over all his belongings.
Their proofs are timely spiritual food and preaching in over 230 lands. No other religion teaches it's followers or preaches in other lands. Yep.
there are many times when i'd think did the wbts they just make that up, so that they could print it within their article or did that happen they for real !
... well here is an example within the february 2011 awake (page 32).
i quote:.
No problem with Dr's asking that. I do have a problem with the mother's reply that it's wrong for anyone to play with one's private parts. Yes, let's teach our kids that the parts God made on them are not to be touched....at all. They're naughty, dirty, off-limits. No future problems for a kid with that approach.
