i appreciate 10 commandments because they try to ensure law and order in the society.
however, i have problem with introductory statements that say: “you shall have no other gods before[a] me… you shall not bow down to them or worship them; for i, the lord your god, am a jealous god, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (exodus 20:3-6).
1) this contradicts the characteristics of god described in mathew 5:44-48 where love is described as loving everyone without thinking whether others reciprocate or not.
Only after I woke up I actually read about other ancient laws with great interest.
I had always simply accepted the claim that 'God's law' (or so the myth tells us) was highly superior to the barbaric practises of the heathens.
Until I actually read the contents of these old laws. They are very much alike....except that Moses was almost 1500 years late. So much for being superior.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ancient_legal_codes?wprov=sfla1
i realize that prayer is a really personal thing, but representing a group in prayer has become so full of cliche's that i just want to vomit sometimes.
co week almost every prayer has the phrase "special week of activity" in it.. then there's "please look after the sick and afflicted.".
not so much anymore, "please bless this food and the hands that prepared it.".
Pomo with pimi wife here.
I get slightly amused whenever my wife says a bedtime prayer for our 2 year old child.
So whenever my wife is not there and my kid asks atheist me to pray, I do.
Hi grandma, you made lovely dinner tonight, thanks you for that! Oh and we had ice creams, thank you random dude! Also thank you dad for providing. Thank you teacher for being nice. Thank you [child] for being lovely today and making fun with mom and dad. Thanks everybody for a nice day. Now let's sleep well!
'Prayer' is for atheists too ;-)
i would like to thank the operators of this website and all the others here who support those who are walking up.
perhaps i'll share some personal story stuff at another time but i've been lurking here for a while, maybe 2 years or so.
finally got the bearings to create an account :).
Was the Wrongdoer’s Baptism Valid?
46. When dealing with wrongdoers,the elders should not raise questions about the validity of the individual’s baptism.If the individual raises the issue, the elders may refer him to the February 15, 2010,Watchtower,page 22. Further information on rebaptism can be found in the February 15,1964,Watchtower,pages 123-126, and the March 1,1960,Watchtower,pages 159-160. Rebaptism is a personal matter.
48. There are rare occasions when it is obvious that the baptism was invalid because serious wrongdoing did not cease before baptism, even for a brief period of time. For example, it may be that at the time of baptism, the individual was living immorally with a member of the opposite or the same sex, was a member of a non-neutral organization, or some-thing similar. If there are questions, the branch office should be consulted.
Source: Shepherd the Flock of God (secret elders manual).
According to these rules, your buddy may get what he wishes since the military is a 'non-neutral organization'. But I doubt it will really fly.
Especially if he ever signed some paperwork (for Bethel service, RBC or whatever) after he left the military reserves; then they might argue he signed with Watchtower showed his decision to be a true Christian (e.g. a JW).
And fear not, even if his baptism is declared null and void, the effect will most likely be the same as when DFed or DAed: the big shun will start. After all, those who ever chose Watchtower Jehovah cannot simply walk away.
absolutely thrilled to give you the news that my younger brother, a zealous full-time pioneer has left the witnesses!!.
i haven't seen or spoke to him in a year.
i'd lost all contact with him, no facebook, no mobile number, i didn't even know his address because he'd moved house.
Congratulations for both of you!
just curious how we all think.. what prompted or influenced your choice of username for this forum?.
there are some really amazing names, and it would be great to hear the stories behind them.... mine was nothing fancy.
i just felt "stuck in a rut too" along with so many others.
Depending on context 'anders' can mean 'different' or '(or) else' in my native language (Dutch).
'Andersen' means 'son of Anders'.
So I'm Different (exjw in a JW social circle), son of Different (my dad was a new recruit, the only jw in his family).
I'm really something else :-D
Also it's a quite common Scandinavian name, which I liked because I love Norway (although I later realized Anders(en) both as first name and family name is typical Danish, not Norse).
By strange coincidence my child later got a present: a little book titled 'Anders is leuk' ('Anders is nice' / 'Different is fun') that tells a story how you should be yourself instead of forcing yourself to be like others, even if other make fun of you at first. Sounds familiar?
Fun fact related to names and Denmark: My real first name is also Danish (and Polish) slang for pimp. So I learned at at an international convention in Copenhagen I visited.
i thought this forum was for people who were ex jw`s and pro jw`s and the like to debate ,discuss and reasonably talk about our differences ,and sometimes drift off into politics world events and whatever.. however over a period of time i have come across cold steel `s many posts which are nothing more than promoting his mormon religions point of view./beliefs what has that got to do with jehovahs witnesses and the concerns many have with the jw religion.?.
it seems to me he is using this forum to promote his religion and is getting away with it over a long period of time.. how long before other cult religions see this as a springboard for promoting their own religion such as .
sda`s ,christian scientists , christadelphians ,beroean bible students ,etc.etc.. where will it end if he is able to keep doing this ?.
Non violent free speech should be the right of everyone on the planet.
....but that doesn't mean those who provide a platform (like a forum, newspaper, tv channel) have to allow everyone to speak on their platform.
Denying someone the use of your platform is not an infringement on free speech per se....
if you are, you know it is not easy to remain intimate with someone who thinks you are basically "walking dead".. any thoughts or tips to share with the board?.
what has been the greatest issue for your marriage?.
need to vent?.
Raises hand.
It sucks somewhat. Especially with a young child...
becoming fools... enjoy!.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewehb4qm1hg&app=desktop.
Also check out the other videos by TheraminTrees. They're all good and might help (especially born-ins) process the process of how they got sucked into the JW cult.
jehovah's witnesses...that's the trademark of the religion, the use of the name "jehovah.
" if there is anything jws and non-jws can agree on is that this one thing sets them apart from everybody else.. i have only had witnesses come to my door less than five times since i left in the 1990s.
i guess they don't work the territory i live in often, or perhaps after that first time (which was still after the year 2000) they have marked the words "jew who knows a lot" or something in their notes on my address.
Awesome read, both posts. Thanks!
we had a special talk (streaming) today from g. jackson, announcing the new revised bible in dutch.
there are many many changes, even some of the the dutch 'jw-language' will change because bible verses changed.
also brother jackson admitted (be it in a joking way ) that whole talks in the past (until now) had been based on wrong translated bible verses.
Looking through the new Bible I noticed a list of events. All dates were just a year (e.g. 33 ce) except 1914....that one is circa 1914....
Interesting....
