i would like those of you former jws turned christian to post here.
specific denominations can be mentioned.
i'd just like to get an idea of how many of you there are.
Do the priests actively disuade them from praying to Christ?
While some denominations practice open [usually verbal] warfare against other denominations, I'm not one of that type, prefering an ecumenical approach. But for all my tolerance and broadmindedness, I still can't find it in myself to call JWs "Christian".
i would like those of you former jws turned christian to post here.
specific denominations can be mentioned.
i'd just like to get an idea of how many of you there are.
Frankie:
It depends how you define the term "Christian". About the only folks who define JWs as Christians are JWs. Methinks that maybe there should generally be a group consensus on what the group is called and how its defined, no?
Likewise, I could set up a wierd and wacky cult, but I'm guessing that the Scientologists wouldn't accept my claim to their title; or if I set up a food chain selling genuine pigswill, I doubt very much whether high class restaurants would gladly include my business into their fold.
Most Christians would agree that a Christian is one who "follows Christ, in a personal sense". While the JWs would lay a claim to the first part of that statement, I think you would agree that having an active "personal" relationship with him is not encouraged.
hey guys, .
have you ever considered what god thinks about atheists?
assume for a moment that he/she/it is there: what's the reaction to non-believers?
Content.
I've spent a few days wondering exactly what emotional reaction this thread has been bringing out in me, since its been such a long time since I've experienced it. I've finally discovered that its acute embarrassment at the ignorance of another...
i would like those of you former jws turned christian to post here.
specific denominations can be mentioned.
i'd just like to get an idea of how many of you there are.
I "turned Christian" 28th June 2001. I left the JWs the following January, having been an Elder for several years.
My spiritual path has been unabashedly unorthodox, though I do include in it the enjoyment of regular communal worship with a local Presbyterian Calvinist denomination as part of my religious devotional life.
i've been posting on here for four years now, and so much has changed in my life.
everything seemed to be going wrong then, but time has done wonders and things are real good now.
lots of people on the board helped and supported me through that, as well as new non-witness friends that i made.
I'm just back home from the wedding, after flying down for the weekend, so I've missed the happy couple's departure to sunnier climes.
It was a wonderful wedding, tastefully done and lovely to meet so many of Paul and Claire's extended family. The weather was nice and bright, as forecast, and I anticipate that the photos will be great (although the kids commandeered the cameras at the evening reception, so goodness knows what they will contain - hehehe).
Congrats to the happy couple, who looked fantastic and seemed to enjoy the day, even when the mad scotsmen took to the dance floor in kilts
predestination is something ive been thinking a bit about of late, mainly due to a wt article on the subject printed in the may awake, which i read after skimming through the magazine at the weekend.
i believe the wt reasoning on the subject is that god has the ability to see into the future, but that he chooses not to look into the future, as it would negate our free will, although the recent may article was more a criticism of predestination, and although they didnt assert their own position, what struck me from reading the article, and contemplating the wt article in general is that they seem to focus on time a lot, and its this part where the wt idea of predestination seems to fall down to me.
if god created the universe and everything in it, as a jw would assert, this would also mean he would have had to have created time (which is a product of our universe) and so before god created time, it, obviously, wouldnt have existed, and without time, there cant be a past, present and future.
Dawn:
Jesus said "all you" "take my yoke upon you". I think I have a basic problem with the idea that God doesn't freely offer the salvation to all. You suggest that he chooses the individuals to save.
So from our perspective of having completely free wills, we have a choice to make, no? In "real life" how is that impinged in our experience by "God's perspective"?
It suggests that people like me are lacking something that people like you are not.
Only if you assume that you're not chosen. What are you basing that conclusion on? Some specific spritual experience? Some particular point in "time"?
Although I doubt I'll be changing my heathen ways LOL
Nor would I expect you to. But you already know that
Simon:
Retaining his eternity as the lamb but the finite and specific point/event of his sacrifice
A question to answer a question - [before the world did he / does he still] bear the wounds?
Gumby:Ya got me there, but at least I'm not flatulent
general apathy about religion.. i don't know precisely when it happened.
but at some point i began to stop needing anything 'organized' in my life religiously.
not too long ago - as attested to by multiple threads i started here - i was still wishing to replace the ritual of religion at the kingdom hall with some other church.
Gumby:
The journey out of dubdom and into other religions usually comes to a dead end.......if the person is honest with themselves and has researched to a fair degree just what religion is all about.
Interesting black-and-white comment, with insinuations that those who retain some element of religion in their lives are not being honest if they have truly researched the topic.
general apathy about religion.. i don't know precisely when it happened.
but at some point i began to stop needing anything 'organized' in my life religiously.
not too long ago - as attested to by multiple threads i started here - i was still wishing to replace the ritual of religion at the kingdom hall with some other church.
Its nice to do what you do because you want to do it, rather than having it foisted on you, huh?
Jeff:
Does there have to exist an honest person before we call one who misrepresents facts a liar?
Yes. Labels work by contrast. If there were no contrast the label would be meaningless.
predestination is something ive been thinking a bit about of late, mainly due to a wt article on the subject printed in the may awake, which i read after skimming through the magazine at the weekend.
i believe the wt reasoning on the subject is that god has the ability to see into the future, but that he chooses not to look into the future, as it would negate our free will, although the recent may article was more a criticism of predestination, and although they didnt assert their own position, what struck me from reading the article, and contemplating the wt article in general is that they seem to focus on time a lot, and its this part where the wt idea of predestination seems to fall down to me.
if god created the universe and everything in it, as a jw would assert, this would also mean he would have had to have created time (which is a product of our universe) and so before god created time, it, obviously, wouldnt have existed, and without time, there cant be a past, present and future.
Gumby:
You've got a perverse idea of fairness if you're suggesting that I have to share my cookies (even with friends) just because its the "fair" thing to do. To the victor go the spoils
