i've seen it mentioned by a few on the forum that at some point there was a realization that had they not been born a jw, they never would've converted no matter how many times the jws tried to study with them.
this was my experience too, and i'm wondering how universal it is for those that were born-in but eventually left.
i think i started having this thought (more specifically that if i were not born a jw, i would surely have become an atheist by now) in my late teens.
The reason I thought when I was a witness that if my parents had not become JW then I wouldn't is because my personality wouldn't have allowed me.
when I left home I rarely attended assemblies in their entirety the bookstudy was the first meeting I stopped attending.
so I always felt thankful they had become witnesses and I tailored it to my personality
a jacket has to fit
i've seen it mentioned by a few on the forum that at some point there was a realization that had they not been born a jw, they never would've converted no matter how many times the jws tried to study with them.
this was my experience too, and i'm wondering how universal it is for those that were born-in but eventually left.
i think i started having this thought (more specifically that if i were not born a jw, i would surely have become an atheist by now) in my late teens.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
which is what our discussion is all about and not about whether the WT Bible interpretations are right and wrong in their Bible interpretations or whether it is wrong not to understand the Bible correctly and teach and apply a bible understanding later shown not to be true- and accuses the WT of sharing in this attitude, there is no proof the WT has ever shared in any of this attitude and your entire argument in our discussion is to show that the WT has been wrong in their teaching about "the end" and that is why the related article applies to WT -so you conclude.
This was my first post responding to something you said.
But JW have done no wrong in adjusting their beliefs in light of facts and clearer understanding. The Bible is written in the form of an ironic poem crossword puzzle and there is nothing bad or wrong in not understanding it all but trying to solve. If you have ever done a crozzword puzzle you know that you have to write with a pencil.
When I have done a crossword puzzle or some other puzzle it was a bit of fun my life didn't depend on getting it right. I viewed being a JW and what we were preaching as much more important than puzzles.
This thread is What is truth?
The Good News 'includes all the truths about which Jesus spoke and his disciples wrote.' (Insight) so my comments about what has been preached are not out of place on this thread or in responding to your post.
Witnesses come to my door and tell me the same message. I believe in Christ and his teachings but differ on 1914 so according to the Watchtower I quoted, my family and I have no hope of salvation. I have shown you and you admit they have changed their teachings when time has shown them to be wrong all though they have claimed great things and you think this is morally right. I don't agree. The Good News should not be changed. That is my view.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
People had faith in these things as it was presented from God's mouthpiece as part of the Good News.
Watchtower June 1 1968 page 331
On the Joyful March to Mankind’s Millennium
Arguing against a literal future millennial fule by Christ, some have claimed that such a teaching would chill the missionary ardour of Christians to make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 28:19,20) But not so! Today no people are more zealous in carrying out this missionary commission than are the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, who believe that the 1,000-year reign of Christ is literal and future. In comparatively few years these have grown to more than a million. Today they are carrying out this commission in 197 lands and islands of the sea and that in 169 languages. Last year they devoted 184 million hours to this work!
And no wonder. What good news they have to tell the people! They proclaim the good news that the millennial rule of Christ will begin with this generation and that it will mean ever so many blessings for the people :..
Faith is the assured expectation
In the Insight book under Faith on page 803 it says that the word used that is translated assured expectation is common to business documents and conveys the idea of something that underlies visible conditions and guarantees a future possession.
Like the title deed to a property.
In the book "Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand" on page 29 it says.
"After all that we have gone through since 1914, our generation would be, of all generations the "most to be pitied".Think of it, though! Worthy ones of this generation of mankind will be saved alive out of the rest of this world distress so as to survive the worst of it and enter into God's Messianic new system of things and not need a resurrection from the dead to life on earth! This is a valid hope well founded on what was said by Jesus Christ..." (Evidently not)
“most to be pitied” taken from 1 Corinthians 15 when Paul is talking of the resurrection of Christ and our faith being in vain if this has not taken place.
To me it would be like taking what Paul said about the resurrection as pencilled in in a puzzle book if I were to take your view point.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
People based big decisions in there life on these truths that were shared. Some people didn't have children, gave up education, moved somewhere cheaper to have a more active share in the work, didn't take pensions.
They told us that they were typified in the bible by Ezekiel. They were doing a work like he was. He was specific with the destruction of Jerusalem and vindicated as prophet when it occurred. In the same book they said
'Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern anti-type of Jerusalem, Christendom'
They weren't like Ezekiel. They weren't vindicated.
maybe you where one whose strong faith moved them to a more active share or maybe you were doing a crossword puzzle with your pencil.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
If you need exactly what the Bible means in its entirety in one shot to have faith, ok, or maybe you are looking for excuses.
I'm not talking about this. I'm talking about preaching the end will come in the twentieth century, within a generation,
saying that you are God's mouthpiece when these are said and tying them to the Good News and later finding it doesn't occur which damages faith.
In the Kingdom Ministry Oct 1974 back page under Presenting The Good News it talks about the "Eternal Purpose" book and how it can be used in the ministry. This book gave the date of the 7th creative day starting and half-way point, saying Armageddon would come before the last thousand years, the reign of Christ.
This was part of our witnessing, our lives depended preaching this. Is this what you refer to as something pencilled in. Subject to change if it doesn't quite happen.
Nothing to do with pencilling in crossword puzzles.
Yes I was a Witness
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
Fisherman I used the word guessing because you made reference to doing a puzzle and using a pencil so that the answer could be erased which suggested that it was a guess and you were not sure.
Yes I was a Witness you misunderstood.
I'm not particularly interested in whether a person is claiming to be guided by Holy spirit or inspired
In the book Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom page 11/12 it says
'So a witness relates facts from direct personal knowledge, or he proclaims views or truths of which he is convinced'
When my parents became Witnesses they recieved and studied the Look booklet which I no longer have but found on the internet and I quote from.
Here http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/booklets/look.html
Your safety and the whole future of yourself and your family depend on now studying the Bible, associating with the New World society of Jehovah's witnesses, dedicating yourself to your Creator, Jehovah God, and witnessing for him. Do not let the pursuit of material things or the cares of life rob you of this wonderful opportunity of life.
and this quote from the Watchtower years later
"Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.19
For my parents to be Jehovah's Witnesses they needed to witness as the name suggests. They needed to be convinced they had the truth. This they received from the modern day Ezekiel class. ('Since Ezekiel himself was a "portent" or a "sign" (AV) of someone to come, and since he was not a type or prophetic figure of Jesus Christ , whom did the prophet Ezekiel typify in carrying out his divine commission?' Nations shall know that I am Jehovah pg 56/57) Their lives and the lives of their children depended on witnessing. And you mention pencilling in some ideas in a crossword.
hey all.
i haven't posted in forever and a day, but i feel like this is a great place to ask this question because of so many people who are unsure of their beliefs.
my mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer about four years ago.
Why did you decide it was all real or all fake?
A sad time when someone dies and someone being diagnosed with cancer and then living with it is difficult.
I still have faith that it is 'all real' and I was surprised when I came on this site and found lots don't after being a Witness.
There is someone that I know who is struggling with their faith and belief in God and I said they should speak to the elders which they did. One of the elders is quite elderly and he gave a couple of experiences in his life that helped him have faith. It didn't help much from what I was told, the person hadn't had the same experiences themselves . My experiences and my reasons I don't think will help either. I don't know if there is just one thing although sometimes I think there is.
I have always found prayer helpful.
As others have said I am sorry to hear of your loss
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
I had faith
also as a witness i understood you had to be sure of what you were talking about. not guessing. if they didn't know what they were talking about they shouldn't have referred to themselves as a prophet like Ezekiel.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
But JW have done no wrong in adjusting their beliefs in light of facts and clearer understanding. The Bible is written in the form of an ironic poem crossword puzzle and there is nothing bad or wrong in not understanding it all but trying to solve. If you have ever done a crozzword puzzle you know that you have to write with a pencil.
When I have done a crossword puzzle or some other puzzle it was a bit of fun my life didn't depend on getting it right. I viewed being a JW and what we were preaching as much more important than puzzles.
