ok, i apologise in advance if this seems irreverent to those who believe in god.. but, the bible says that god (jehovah) impregnated mary.
without her consent.
so that would seem to be rape...right?.
...the bible says that God (Jehovah) impregnated Mary. WITHOUT HER CONSENT. So that would seem to be Rape...right?
Never thought of it that way, but to me the entire event compared to the way things actually happened... I think that those involved would be so surprised about what their story have become today.
let's play devils advocate here.. put yourself in the governing body's shoes.
they are well aware of all the issues they are facing.
they know their numbers (they 'do the math' as they say in the us).
Put yourself in the Governing Body's shoes. They are well aware of all the issues they are facing. They know their numbers (They 'do the math' as they say in the US). They MUST do something (AND SOON) to end all the bad press and the consequential loss in membership.
So what steps do the leadership need to take in order to turn things around before it's too late?.
In another post I attacked what I believe are the worst operational things in that organization. I'm not going to repeat that post, but here are a few things I believe that are doing wrong now:
That's just the basics. If they can change a good 80% of that, they could be more successful.
after being a jw for 25 years and finding every weasel way to 'maintain christian neutrality', i now find myself in a completely 'new light'.. i quit abruptly, four years ago and have lived a jw free life with the exception of my born-in wife.when i see the ceremony of the national anthem, it not only reaffirms the absolute beauty of personal freedom, but it also allows me to see that most people are good and loyal to one another.
i treasure my life and have become a patriot.
now i feel ashamed that i was a government/authority rejecting, isolationist that benefited from living in the greatest country in the world.
I don't cry but I like standing up during the anthem. Doing that is in fact, a great feeling. To me is more about reclaiming my choice and my sense of belonging in the world.
about everytime i go to the grocery store just after sunrise, i can see the witnesses sitting and waiting inside their cars to distribute literature.
it is not against the law for them to do that.
i was wondering do they allow parking lot witnessing in your area?.
I was wondering do they allow parking lot witnessing in your area?
Some property owners allow them, some don't. Some think that having JWs nearby adds some kind of layer of security.
those of us still attending meeting are actively encouraged to use out tablets or smartphones to direct people to jw.org.
how about, after doing the standard presentation casually say to householder, you can also look at this forum to read of experiences of life as a jw as well as the official version?.
obviously you need to be working by yourself or with a pimo jw..
That's a good idea. It reminds me of my first wordly friend. He was someone I was giving bible studies, and I started going by myself and one day i just told him that I am leaving the JWs. He then told me that he suspected that of me, and started asking real questions, and I started giving him real answers. He became a great friend.
So yes, counterpreaching works.
my uber elder cousin and his wife got the "privilege" of having one last "toast" of wine at the rooftop garden at the towers in nyc since the jw's are vacating to warwick.
his oldest daughter and son in law are quite high up in the inner circle so they get invited to all the "inner circle" activities.
even though they aren't supposed to toast to anything it was pretty darn close.
My uber elder cousin and his wife got the "privilege" of having one last "toast" of wine at the rooftop garden at the Towers in NYC since the JW's are vacating to Warwick. His oldest daughter and son in law are quite high up in the inner circle so they get invited to all the "inner circle" activities. Even though they aren't supposed to toast to anything it was pretty darn close. Saw it on Instagram!
I think it's just human nature to have some kind of closure to something that has been there for them for over a hundred years.
Good that they get their closure.
this thread is quite morbid so i apologize in advance.. a few days ago i was having a conversation with my girlfriend in which she mentioned in passing that she's signed up to donate her organs after her death.
i was quite surprised because she mentioned it like it was no big deal.
i asked her which organs.
I am donating my organs too. I see no reason for them to rut while another person may need it to live. If it's morally wrong, so are a whole lot of things that I've done, so...
how have you all coped with facing the reality of our mortality?.
most of us were raised to firmly believe we would never get old or die... so here we are now having to face the reality that are getting older... we are going to die.. sometimes it really pisses me off that we were never helped to comprehend this most basic of facts.
we were given a utopian dream as a "fact", and hence never taught how to face our inevitable futures.... thoughts?.
How have you all coped with facing the reality of our mortality?
Even though I am born in, that issue was never something that caused any fear or problem. I guess that since I was a little boy I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it to paradise, I grew up knowing that one day I will die.
I take life and death for what they are. I don't want to die too soon, but I accept that it will happen one day.
have any of you heard some theories from jws that are not based on scripture?
i have, in the past few days, heard a couple that have me shaking my head.. first one is that since satan was around during the creation period and probably watched on as things were being made, it is possible that he is responsible for the creation of some of the more hideous and nasty creatures that live among us.
surely god wouldn't make horrible things.. second one is that satan already had a bad attitude before the creation of adam and eve and was collecting followers among the other angels early on and stirring trouble.
Have any of you heard some theories from JWs that are not based on scripture?
Never heard those theories that you mentioned. I do know, however, that the WT makes up a whole lot of things in their teachings. If you are a believer in the Bible, this could be a great opportunity for you to research on your own and make your own decision about what to believe.
i dont know if any one else is feeling this but after waking up i feel like i matured mentally etc.. im only 13 maybe its just me but i wanted to know if any had this feeling just a quick post..
I remember that feeling of independent thinking and decisions made solely by me. There was a little bit of fear, but I got over it soon. Your post brings good memories.
