1st john 4:18 .
18 there is no fear in love,+ but perfect love casts* fear out, because fear restrains us.
indeed, the one who is fearful has not been made perfect in love.+.
That statement that we have all heard in talks time and again is the ultimate JW-oxymoron.
Interestingly, and correct me if I'm wrong, no where in the scriptures does it specify that the type of "fear of God" is not a morbid fear. It's always just stated as, "Fear Jehovah your God," "Fear God"...etc.
recent events and book reads (one suggested by cofty i believe- thank you) have lead me to the only logical and acceptable conclusion:.
there is no god.. simple logical reasoning: matter can neither me created or destroyed.
so the amount of mass in the universe is constant.
Heaven:
Openly Secular Day approaches (Apr 23): http://www.openlysecular.org/.
Has anyone here signed up or done a video?
I would love to. It's too soon into my fade to come out completely this year.
i wonder if the religious freedom laws would allow active jws to discriminate against former jws?
could a business owner decide not to serve or sell to someone they consider "apostate" according to their beliefs?
if so it could take shunning to a whole new level in some states.
1st john 4:18 .
18 there is no fear in love,+ but perfect love casts* fear out, because fear restrains us.
indeed, the one who is fearful has not been made perfect in love.+.
It's the Fear of Jehovah as motivation that stands out to me.
"It's not a morbid fear, it's a fear of displeasing him!"
Yeah, but if we displease him, don't we get mortal consequences? How is that not a morbid fear?
Religion is so ridiculous.
i know i'm angry.
i was curious if others are too.
i feel completely justified in my anger as well.
I will try this, if it'll help me not be so pissed then thats good. I don't like having such a short fuse when it used to be much much longer.
It's called "Mindfulness Meditation." Google it to see how to do it. It's not easy at first, because our minds are naturally busy and noisy. But it helps calm the emotions and give some clarity. Buddhists are some who practice it, but it's not at all based on any weird supernatural or outlandish beliefs and you don't have to be a buddhist to practice it or benefit from it.
i'm not sure how everyone else feels, but i'd kind of like to be able to see how many likes or dislikes my own post gets.
i think it's be good, and a nice way to gauge your own reception to a discussion and maybe know when to back off or leave on a high note, lol.
the penalty of this charge??
yes, disfellowshipping.. bad association?
excessive time at work?
For things like Uncleanness and Brazen Conduct, you can be counseled without a Judicial Committee. But if you don't take the counsel well when it's given, it can escalate to a JC.
My wife and I confessed (I know, idiots) to some Uncleanness (not fornication) before marriage. Two elders came by, talked to us, reasoned with us from the scriptures that we shouldn't beat ourselves up over it, that it's normal for people to have weak moments, and that was it.
i was fortunate enough to have a fairly smooth exit from the cult.
a major factor in this transition was retaining the one and only family connection that was important to me.
even though the relationship was challenged, it didn't end, and in many ways, the very nature of it being tested proved its strength.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Like the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt says, "You can stand anything for 10 seconds."
i know i'm angry.
i was curious if others are too.
i feel completely justified in my anger as well.
The anger passes as you continue to explore and expand your world view. For me it took about 6 weeks from when I admitted to myself I no longer believed to when I stopped being angry. (I am likely an exception as I just hate feeling angry. It angers me to feel angry :P)
I do still have some resentment. But that's different than anger.
Meditation has helped. Not the weird, transcendantal, metaphysical kind of meditation. Just finding a quiet place, being alone with my thoughts and focusing on nothing but enjoying each breath even for as little as 15 minutes a day has helped ease the anger and resentment.
I actually feel more of a pity now for those that still believe. It's a sad sad thing to see people waste their lives trying to please a made up thing.
what is the wackiest...strangest....most unusual jw teaching or practice?
I was just discussing this with a fader friend this morning.
One of the things I can't just get my head around is, why can't they just have a calm, rational discussion about doubts? and why can't they just agree to disagree, have a drink and move on with their lives instead of making a federal case about it?
Anyway, that's not nearly as wacky as getting together every year to pass a plate of bread and a glass of wine that not even 1% of your followers will partake of.
