Each "ritual" has a reason. Just like in Judaism.
Prayer shawls and rosaries.
I'm with Botr... it ties back to the Christian community of the early centuries. There's something dignified about that for me as well.
the priest acted as if he was the reason why people were there.
he was about 80 and totally disinterested in the affair although he married the deceased and her husband 15 years earlier.. his sermon's gist was that we need faith to accept that the reason why god has us die is so that we can go to heaven.
and that's it.. the only interesting (touching) time was when the grandkids gave testimonials about their beloved grandma.. oh, and one more thing.
Each "ritual" has a reason. Just like in Judaism.
Prayer shawls and rosaries.
I'm with Botr... it ties back to the Christian community of the early centuries. There's something dignified about that for me as well.
it has been nice talking with you.but i seem to upset a few because of my faith.. so have a great christmas.... & be good, i wont be here to send you to your rooms .
i have grown close to many of you.... if i have ever said anything to hurt you sorry!!!!.
when i kick the bucket i am sure "mary" who ssometimes post will let you know.. mouthy grace gough.
I'll be praying that some of your relationships with family is repaired, Mouthy.
Log on if you need some strength. We're all here!
god ordered the killing of men women and children and animals and pillaging of various nations around them.
in some instances god apparently led the way with his might arm.. this is not a question of wether it is right or wrong, but moreso a question(s) of:.
1. if you were there would you have personally participated in those killings or would you ignore the commands?.
similar to what would you have done if you were living in nazi germany during the 30s and early 40s (being of germanic descent that is). the answer is, nobody knows. different times, huge pressure, no way out.
I agree. I can't say what rationalization I'd use if convicted in my own righteousness. I'd have to be THOROUGHLY convinced that the message was actually from God and not some insane dictator.
1. If you were there would you have personally participated in those killings or would you ignore the commands?
2. Yes would you personally take out your sword and run it through the belly of a pregnant woman the way your god commanded?
3. Would you have crushed in the skull of your child that was disrespectful to you?
When I read #1, shunning came to mind. I think about the participation of congregations against individuals.
When I read #2, shunning came to mind. I thought of the pregnant females saddened by the knowledge that their mothers and fathers would never develop relationships with their grandchildren.
When I read #3, shunning came to mind. I wondered which was worse, being shunned or dying so as not to have to suffer through knowing you'd never be around those that you loved dearly.
Participating with others in the destruction of another physically, mentally OR emotionally is wrong in my eyes, but I've read it's condoned in some circles. *sigh*
Btw, I'm a theist.
ok so today while at breakfast get a phone call fom my daughter asking were i am because an elder/ friend had stoped by my house hoping to see me.
its been a few months since ive seen this guy and the only one that seems to actually care.
so anyway he meets me at were i was having breakfast and we start to talk.
So I ask my jw, "you mean I can't understand the Bible without the wt and I can't understand the wt's/awakes unless I go to the meeting?!" jw-"Yes! now you got it!" me-why the hell bother with handing out stuff people can't understand then?- crickets, change the subject.
Oh, so true.
I went to a few meetings, then asked questions about the presentation's contents with respect to the Bible and guess what the results from elders and others were?
Crickets.
As a non-jw, I mentioned my concerns about Christ not being my mediator and a pompous 'sister' loudly said, "You're obviously confused! Don't you read your Bible?" I smiled as she rolled her eyes. Maybe one day she'll figure it out and remember our conversation. I used to be appalled by these types of conversations but because I have a better grasp of the mindset, I'm now entertained by it.
my mom showed me how ferocious a mind-controlled person may be.. i started talking to her about the septuagint... i don't know at what point the conversation went wrong but she just got angry and said, "well, i trust that jehovah has kept the bible intact... i want to end this conversation"... and i said, "mom, you haven't even let me finish.
"i don't want to continue this conversation!
stop the car".
I've seen that reaction before! After being insulted, screamed at and walked away from, it doesn't affect me so much anymore. You should have seen the reaction I got from my "Jehovah is a word made up by a Roman Catholic monk" fiasco in a parking lot. The result was mind-boggling for me but that was a whole 2 years ago. Now the person practically apologizes for using it around me (yeah yeah I know you don't believe that's His name). I can still see feel the confusion in their spirit.
I'll be having a similar conversation with someone later today. I was told a few weeks ago ..something about everyone believing the same - unlike the churches. (oooh that gets my blood boiling)
Today, I was going to start the conversation off with, "now I'm curious. If everyone believes the same thing, do you ALL believe Matt 1:16 or Luke 3:23? How about 1 Kings 4:26 or 2 Chron 9:25 - like how wealthy was he? What do you ALL believe Christ's last words were; Matt 27:46 & 50, John 19:30, or Luke 23:46 and WHY do you ALL believe that over the other two?... Or do you believe all three - how does that work? I'm fascinated by everyone believing the SAME THING with so many different angles to the Bible."
Remember I'm a theist so I'm not attacking the scriptures. :)
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/242023/1/a-year-in-the-e2809capostasye2809d#.un6uaxb1kso.
today is my two-year anniversary of joining jwn.
whats new with me?
WOW! You've really been working on these!
GREAT JOB LONDO! I am so frippin' proud of you!
yesterday i was at a supermarket and i walked right in the arms of a nice jw couple.. they are so nice, they could be our family friends, if we went to the congregation.. how it went: mr nice walked by and said "hello" and walked straight on, without looking to me.. his very nice wife smiled and looked surprised to see me, a look only a jw can have, looking to a poor fader like me.. she said "hello, how are you?
see you, good bye?
how can these nice people so cold?.
Shirley,
I'm sorry... I would have looked at others nearby and motioned towards him (so they could see what he was doing) before I caused the scene by screaming...
"SOMEBODY CALL A DOCTOR!!!! I THINK SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THIS GUY!!!!"
Betcha he would have moved THEN!
Talk about maturity. Now that story's hilarious.
Gorb: I would have been a little loud about my response to the back of her head. *giggling*
http://www.kptv.com/story/23479184/woman-who-lived-in-hazel-dell-files-child-sex-abuse-suit-against-jehovahs-witnesses.
hazel dell woman files child sex abuse suit against jehovah's witnessesposted: sep 19, 2013 5:17 pm updated: sep 19, 2013 5:27 pm by fox 12 staff - emailvancouver, wa (kptv) - the fourth in a series of child sex abuse civil lawsuits against jehovah's witnesses congregations around the country was filed in washington state this week.
a now 39-year-old woman said she was abused starting at the age of 8 at the hazel dell kingdom hall on 109th street.
Hi!
What/who gave you the courage to do this?
Unstop! Congratulations!!!!!
I read your posts and I am incredibly proud of how much you've learned about your newfound faith. :) You are so excited and typically using a language I understand which tells me you're geniunely having fun and now you're GETTING it.
Now have fun....
today, and just today i've decided to go over to the dark side.
be forewarned this is an intenesely negative thread.
maybe i had a bad day.
Psssst.... Stauros, your name totally gives your affiliation away.