the universe can be observed to be expanding.. an expanding universe must have had a beginning.
whatever begins to exist had a cause.
therefore the universe had a cause.
Interestingly, if you go online, some are starting to think the universe always existed. "This is exciting, what a great way to get rid of God!" Maybe I should translate that a little different:
Psalm: 2:3. "Let's break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us."
Anyway, what is ironic, is that we hear all the drones say, "Who created God?"
So we can say that the universe always existed. Umm...we don't have a problem with that.... Ummm....but "Who created God?"...umm...hmmm...yeah...ok
for the many years i was mentally " in " the congregation, i equated the organisation as interchangeable with the persona of jehovah, in effect whatever the organisation said or thought, that was what jehovah thought and that was what jehovah said.... it was that simple.
so when i found out the ttatt and the cynical moves of the organisation over the years,including 1975 , the donation arrangements, the united nations, etc i was devastated and thought " where's jehovah in all of this?".
the god who i'd poured my heart out to on many occasions and who i thought was silently listening and hearing my pleas ..... was not there , .
2 Corinthians: 13:5: "Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified."
When you leave the organization, it becomes a huge test. Did you really have faith in God and his word? Or was your faith really in the organization?
Many have found, (and you can almost point these individuals out) , that there faith was misplaced. There basis for faith was "the worldwide brotherhood", "preaching work", "evidence of last days", "unity", among other Watchtower "visible" nonsense.
As one person said, the Watchtower screams day and night. But the Bible sits alone quietly on the shelf. So easy to ignore. For me personally, it truly was a test. It takes time and patience. But it allowed me to study and reflect deeply. No matter what subject I studied online however, one thing would not go away. It was this:
Isaiah: 30:21: "and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way. Walk in it."
I could not ignore that voice. Rather than abandoning me, I learned that Yahweh is NOT my friend. Rather, Jesus revealed the father. I am his child. (The Watchtower tried to deny this relationship). That relationship changes everything. I never call him by name. At least when I'm directing my prayers to him.
Also, in the Watchtower, you never knew Christ. They didn't want you to give him too much attention. But now Christ is EVERYTHING. Mark: 9:7: "A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Also, Philippians: 2:10: "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth..."
By allowing Christ in my life, and learning my true relationship with God, I have moved on from turmoil to a true peace of mind. I have never experienced Christ's words until now. Matthew: 11: 28-30: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
So, where is Yahweh?
Acts: 17. 27: "that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
i mean this with all due respect, i would like to hear from genuine people who think jw have it wrong and then what is the truth?.
im not talking about silly little quibbles here and there.. is jehovah real?
the the bible is word?
Formerbrorher, do you remember these words from a Watchtower? 7/15 page 11.
We also love theorganization that Jehovah uses to teach uswonderful truths. It was Jehovah’s organization that taught us about Jehovah’s name and what it means, his purpose for the earth, what happens to us when we die, and the hope of the resurrection. Do you remember how happy you were when you first learned these and other truths? Then do not allow the lies from false teachers to turn you against the organization that taught you thesetruths.—John 6:66-69
Well, my friend, this was one big propaganda lie. See below. Same group.
i've been confronting my mother with her dubious parenting skills (abuse) of me as a child.
particularly the beatings i would get with the wooden spoon.
not a light smack but hitting me as hard as she could for as long as she could.
Of course.
Ages 1-4. Hand
Ages 5-6. Tupperware spoon
Ages 6-15. Leather belt, tree branches, forced to stand on knees in the middle of room for hour or more (otherwise you were beaten with leather belt until welts or blood appeared)
Attempted to throw you down a dark basement. Forced to do unusual chores like wax washers, dryers, etc. (otherwise, see above)
Screaming so loud you could hear him almost a block away. Hmm..anything else? Oh, one more thing. Bad= spilling tea on table at dinner.
Oh the joys of theocratic life! I did speak with elders due to beating my toddler sister and screaming at my 8 month old brother in the middle of the night. I was told that I needed to respect my dad.
since i have left the watchtower's dung behind, reading and learning has accelerated at an unbelievable pace for me.
i am sure that is true for most here.
i have always been a big time reader.
As my post stated, I am still a Christian. My fairh has been strengthen. When you are a Watchtower slave, no need to look anywhere else. My point being, that this place has simplified things as far as what to research. It is so easy to get swept up into naturalism, which is different than science. But when you peel back and dig through what has been accepted by pop culture, you find quite a different story. Even I had never heard of the Jesus/Horus story. Now I literally laugh. Bart Ehrman is another one. By means of careful words he misleads people to draw a conclusion that simply isn't true. It might be technically true, but that is where the devil is. That is the pattern I see when it comes to many lines of thought. Technically true, but not the whole story and that includes the points Cofty has outlined. People go out of the way, spending there whole lives trying to disprove a Creator and the Bible. That speaks volumes. Christianity is such an evidence based faith like no other. I feel it is the most reasonable of the worldviews. What I am finding, is that studying these things has lead to using critical thinking skills on a higher level, due to what I said about pop culture. No need to be fearful of studying any subject. If a person wants to, they can shut out all the"noise" that we are bombarded with, and draw the same conclusion. The Watchtower never gave me the faith I have today.
i just recalled something from my past that i've not thought about in a very long time, but it did have a significant impact on me whether i knew it or not at the time....... i have a sister who was born when i was 15. my family are not jw's thank the universe!
but me as an uberdub at the time convinced my young sister to have a study.
she was about 14 or 15 at the time i'd guess.
I enjoyed the program "The Amish", on the Discovery Channel. I loved how the one man assisted them to escape. It really captured how there world was the only world they knew. It was always a passing thought for me, about how perhaps I was in a similar situation. "Maybe I can't see beyond the umbrella. Maybe I haven't really experienced life. Maybe my reality is not reality." I would quickly dismiss this idea, thinking that our situation is different. However, every time I watched that show, the same thought would come to mind.
That thought, more than I realise, actually planted a deep seed. And when I finally woke up, that program came to mind.
anyone else feel like they were just woke up from a long coma?
or emerged from a time capsule?.
i mean seriously, its rather creepy and disturbing , some of us are at sea without a compass .. like an orphan, like someone said, , heres a birth certificate go find yourself.
I agree with the catch up thing. I try not to over think it. To say I never experienced life at all, is just not true. Even though I may feel that way at times.
Yes, when I left my heart to stone. It was the darkest time of my life. Didn't know what to think or feel. My former friends abandoned me. My mom stopped seeing and talking to me. Was unsure of my wife and kids reaction. I was heart broken. Then, a scripture came to mind. I forgot the exact details other than a blind man being thrown out of the synagogue. So I looked it up. Here is what it says. I felt Jesus was speaking to me. Afterall, he knows the motivations as to why I left.
John: 9: 34-37: They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."
Jesus heard he was thrown out. This was important to Jesus. That is why he sought out the man. He knew the heart of the man. That was the beginning of my spiritual journey out of the Watchtower. I do not feel lost anymore. Psalm: 26:12- "My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh."
since i have left the watchtower's dung behind, reading and learning has accelerated at an unbelievable pace for me.
i am sure that is true for most here.
i have always been a big time reader.
so for the first time ever i went to a church service at my local church (coe) and i have to say it was awful!
it was just like a ritual.
the vicar would say something and then the congregation would all say a phrase in unison back to him.
so for the first time ever i went to a church service at my local church (coe) and i have to say it was awful!
it was just like a ritual.
the vicar would say something and then the congregation would all say a phrase in unison back to him.
I personally was looking for a group of Bible students that was family like and serious students of the Bible. My friend indirectly introduced me to a group just like that. The core beliefs we have in common. Conscience matters are left as that. Today, I gave a "talk". I came up with the subject matter. The talk was more of a discussion as I intermingled questions throughout, and that allowed everyone to share there thoughts. We take breaks and have snacks. It seems to draw witnesses. If you take a look at the website and it's affiliate, you can see why.
