Curtains

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Posts by Curtains

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  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

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  Curtains

  I have a feeling we are all talking at cross purposes -so I think I'm going to let this thread die. thanks to you all for commenting
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  46

  Abusive Families Drawn Like Moths to a Flame or Does WTS Help Develop Abusive Attitude?

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so many ex-jw's are stepping forward here and other places and relaying information about their upbringing in the jw's being an abusive one.. we have the two types of abuse- physical and sexual.

  i thought i would give a chance to everyone to ponder on what's up with the high levels within watchtower congregations.

  i know the subject has been covered before, but some fresh voices and some new readers might want to know that they are not the freak, not the problem in their family, not alone, able to relate to others.. as far as physical abuse goes, i consider the attitude of wts that is passed on- beat the littlest of children in order to keep them quiet during meetings.

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  Curtains

  hi soft+gentle

  welcome

  abuse is as you say part of all stratas of society. This has been an eye opener for me. And then we also have our own propensity for abuse when we adhere too closely to our own individuality. But the thing about the WTS (perhaps you have come across this yourself) is that they discourage exploring outside help when one finds oneself in a difficult situation or when one's intuition suggests that there may be kinder, gentler ways of bringing up children, or in dealing with disabled members of one's family for example. Short sessions of counselling may enable a family to gain some insight that is beyond the scope of busy imperfect elders to provide.

  you have a nice name btw
• 
  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Curtains

  mad sweeney

  About the term "myth" I think you should have used it. Enough of us here know what the word actually means in the academic sense.

  so what does myth mean in the academic sense?

  and btw I used the word "only" in a question

  concerned jw, please refer back to godrulz's post above regarding 1cor12-14. I say this because if you look at the context, starting in 1cor12 and read all the way through to the end of chapter 14 you will see that Paul is writing about the use and abuse of gifts and emphasizes that love is paramount. godrulz' theology is sound (his faults notwithstanding)

  Also at 1cor 13:9 the word το τεγειον that is translated as the perfect thing in the kingdom interlinear is a noun and a more direct translation would be perfection.
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  22

  My brand new Greek Bible!

  by Wonderment in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i just received my brand new greek bible:.

  = the holy scriptures - new world translation.

  why bother?

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  Curtains

  hi wonderment

  great addition to your library. I also like to do comparisons
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  25

  Watchtower 2011 July 15 Study Edition: Are all study editions like this?

  by Tuber in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so during my research on the wts, i stubled across a link to the july 15th watchtower.. .

  http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/w_e_20110715.pdf.

  i'm assuming that the study editions are the ones that they only give to members/ those who attend meetings.. .

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  Curtains

  oh my steve2, you appear to have the sense of a flea

  I believe from what i have read, as I wasn't there, that Rutherford's era marked a time of great change, even a break between Russell's time and rutherford's time. Huge numbers left and Jehovahs witnesses as a group renewed themselves in accordance with extremisms of the day. Breakthroughs occurred in people who'd left. Is that better for you
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  25

  Watchtower 2011 July 15 Study Edition: Are all study editions like this?

  by Tuber in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  so during my research on the wts, i stubled across a link to the july 15th watchtower.. .

  http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/w_e_20110715.pdf.

  i'm assuming that the study editions are the ones that they only give to members/ those who attend meetings.. .

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  Curtains

  hi tuber

  I was pretty surprised by just how many chances they took to refer to apostates and disfellowshipping. Do most study editions have this kind of "hidden message" (well, not so well hidden, as you'll see)? Or are all study editions full of anti-apostate, pro-disfellowshipping propoganda?

  I have been noting this development with interest. It seems to be a recent thing and isn't sustainable imo because it is going to become pretty ridiculous and may eventually make the the WTS seem absurd. perhaps breakdown will lead to breakthrough
• 
  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Curtains

  concerned JW I have to agree with godrulz on 1cor 13 and 14. Do you have a kingdom interlinear? At verse 10 of 1 cor 13 Paul clearly says that whenever that which is perfect arrives tongues will be done away with. Perfection has not arrived yet and Jehovahs witnesses admit to this in evey other way except here at 1cor13:10 it seems.

  regarding your points about atheism and Richard Dawkins, I think you are right. The important thing is to resist the herd instinct and practice doing so both inside the congregation and outside of it. Your posting here is a form of resistance
• 
  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Curtains

  phew concerned JW you forced me to think. okay now finished editing my reply to you.
• 
  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Curtains

  omg NC that is awful.
• 
  48

  religion only to do with belief?

  by Curtains in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.

  are other like religions like this also?

  do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Curtains

  concerned JW

  All forms of belief have structure and certain boundaries. It could be argued that Atheism is a form of social religion which looks to people such as Richard Dawkins as spiritual leaders for guidance.

  I think we need to make a distinction between dogma and creed which imo lead to closed systems of thought. In this system a human organisation/leader has the final say. Richard Dawkins encourages a scientifc approach. I've read some of his books and this comes accross clearly. But what you say about social religion is true. People very often have a strong desire to be led, to be secure and indeed look to people such as Richard Dawkins for spiritual guidance and in doing so anaesthetize themselves.

  concerned JW: A lot of Religions have grown from philosophical origins like buddhism, Taoism that have added spiritual practises to their beliefs and come to worship their originators.

  Now this is what I am contesting. I rather think that practice came first then formulations of explanations in the form of stories that were enacted rather than taught as beliefs per se. But modernity came to focus on belief and improvement by means of belief. we need to reverse this imo

  concerned JW: Jews, Christians and Muslims all have roots from the Bible and claim their main beliefs originate with the bible. That being said you have noticed as with Pentacostals that some of their practises are drawn from outside the bible. Like having a lively spectacle based religion that are designed to be very popular and entertaining.

  Yes. In fact the bible is full of lively spectacle - the sacrifices and festivals in the OT, vivid prophecies that were often enacted. Gifts of the spirit in the NT, huge outpourings of love and faith etc. but the enlightenment has misdirected us towards focusing us on beliefs - so I agree with you

  please excuse all the bold - I don't know waht happened