Hello. I'm an atheist, and I'd like to take some time to talk about why I hold a great deal of respect for the Jehovah's witnesses, and some words of encouragement that may put an end to the ridicule and disrespect you seem to get from, well, all sorts of people.
I never gave this kind of criticism a second thought: I knew nothing about you, and I figured you were just another fringe group of christianity. I now feel terrible about this, and I wish to apologize for my (admittedly never spoken) disrespect. While I do feel that many of the Watchtower's stances on various issues (such as the scientific theory of evolution) are problematic, I can honestly say that I'm not bothered too much.
Because the Witnesses are the only branch of Christianity that has the courage to denounce what I feel is the single most evil idea ever contrived by anyone: The Hell of Eternal Fire And Brimstone.
Oh, not every christian in other denominations believes in hell, but this is always a personal opinion, and not the official church doctrine. Not so with you guys. You don't feel the need to skirt around the issue, or be evasive and vague, oh no, not at all. When I told a Jehovah's Witness who came to my house that I left christianity because I feel that hell is evil and sadistic, he flat out agreed with me.
Thus I find myself deeply disturbed when I hear of people leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses and joining another Christian religion. How can they sleep at night having embraced the idea of hell? And then they have the nerve to criticize your ethical stances?
Your stance on hell is extremely admirable, and the disrespect you receive is completely uncalled for. Nobody I talk to seems to be aware of your moral stances, and seems to just know of you as "those crazy door-to-door proselytizers."
Which brings me to my words of advice:
Be more vocal about your beliefs about hell. Make videos on youtube talking about how hell is inconsistent with a loving God. When I wrote my term paper recently about hell, I could only find one book, reasoning from the scriptures, that contained excellent quotes.
Let your moral views about hell be known. Do this, and the whole secular community will gain a higher opinion of you. Not only that, but maybe some of the Atheists who were driven away from God solely because of the idea of Hell will join you guys!
Thanks for listening.
RaustBD
JoinedPosts by RaustBD
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Why This Atheist Respects the Jehovah's Witnesses-And why other Atheists should too!
by RaustBD ini'm an atheist, and i'd like to take some time to talk about why i hold a great deal of respect for the jehovah's witnesses, and some words of encouragement that may put an end to the ridicule and disrespect you seem to get from, well, all sorts of people.. .
i never gave this kind of criticism a second thought: i knew nothing about you, and i figured you were just another fringe group of christianity.
i now feel terrible about this, and i wish to apologize for my (admittedly never spoken) disrespect.
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RaustBD
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Welcome !
by Simon inwelcome to the newest jehovah's witness discussion forum on the net.. please register so that you can post to the forum and turn this into a welcoming place for other brothers and sisters online
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RaustBD
Hey, I just joined yesterday, nice to meet you guys. I'm an Atheist, but for reasons I'd like to discuss in a separate thread (once I get topic rights), I hold a great deal of respect for the Jehovah's witnesses.