As it happens I am remotely interested.
The book of John is a favourite with many people due to its emphasis on love. Never a bad thing whatever its context in my opinion.
THE GLADIATOR
JoinedPosts by THE GLADIATOR
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If you are remotely interested, I reread the Gospel of John!
by TimothyT in.
the following scriptures all taken from john point to the fact that jesus christ is the only saviour of the people on this earth.
there is no mention of organisation or any other form of salvation within this book.
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What is the best book about JWs (written by non JWs, of course), in your opinion?
by Chemical Emotions ini've never read any, so i'd like to know everyone's opinion..
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THE GLADIATOR
A book that you may find helpful…
A book that may find helpful is called: Opening the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses by Trevor Willis If you are interested, go to Lulu.com and type or paste into the search box the number 5456415.
You will be able to read the about the book before downloading it. The book was first published in 2002. This edition is still available from Amazom.co.uk but not shipped abroad.
In 2006 it was updated and offered as a print to order book on Lulu.com or a download has been made available as part of an awareness campaign. Your comments about the book can be made on the Lulu site. Below is the text from the back cover of the book.
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Opening the Door to Jehovah’s Witnesses
How many times have Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked at your door? Are you aware that there are approaching 6,000,000 active members calling from door to door? They are found in over 200 countries and produce literature in 150 languages. Each year over one billion hours are spent calling on people like you.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. This book, written by someone who spent the first thirty years of his life as a Jehovah’s Witness, provides a fascinating insight into their beliefs and lifestyle. The many claims of the Watchtower Society - who govern the membership and produce all literature - are examined.
The methods they use to draw people into their religion
What they presently believe
The beliefs they previously held
What is expected of the members
How members are instructed to view outsiders
This easy to read book is a goldmine, for those wanting to avoid the pitfalls along the way in their search for truth.
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GoodBookStall Review:
I have read this book carefully, to see for myself how this subject has been handled. I found a very readable book, written by one who had spent a childhood and many adult years working wholeheartedly for the Society, before becoming disillusioned as he found out more about the inner workings of the Watchtower and the Jehovah's Witnesses. His respect for, and belief in the integrity of the ordinary members I found heart-warming, the overall picture, chilling. Theirs is not Christ's message.
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THE GLADIATOR
still wondering... Thinking of you at this most difficult and painful time.
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God's son / spirit / leader of the Jah horde joins forum...what nick?
by Qcmbr inthere is a fringe discussion that pops up now and then regarding jesus' name.
if he joined jwd ( and let's be honest - 'where else would he go?
') what username would he choose because that would cause all sorts of theological threads alone...?.
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THE GLADIATOR
watersprout I appreciate your well intentioned response.
By the way, your original suggestion -
" Maybe i'm missing something, but what is the purpose of this thread? Other than to mock those who follow Jaheshua..."
- is too long for a username.
ateb Looks like you have pretty well nailed the torture stake/cross theme.
Got any less gruesome ideas for the squeamish among us?
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God's son / spirit / leader of the Jah horde joins forum...what nick?
by Qcmbr inthere is a fringe discussion that pops up now and then regarding jesus' name.
if he joined jwd ( and let's be honest - 'where else would he go?
') what username would he choose because that would cause all sorts of theological threads alone...?.
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THE GLADIATOR
"Other than to mock those who follow Jaheshua..." you mean there's more than one?
What you may be missing is humour dear watersprout
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God's son / spirit / leader of the Jah horde joins forum...what nick?
by Qcmbr inthere is a fringe discussion that pops up now and then regarding jesus' name.
if he joined jwd ( and let's be honest - 'where else would he go?
') what username would he choose because that would cause all sorts of theological threads alone...?.
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THE GLADIATOR
Jesus@JWnet
GetBehindMe
FastForFortyDiet
TramplingTheGrapes
www.Jaheshua .com
ThisGenerationBlues
LifeOnTheThrone
InYourMidstAgain
WhoWantsToRuleTheWorld
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Police inquiry over Jehovah's Witness magazine 'mentally diseased' article
by koolaid-man inhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8791196/police-inquiry-over-jehovahs-witness-magazine-mentally-diseased-article.html.
friday 30 september 2011. log in | register | subscribe.
police inquiry over jehovah's witness magazine 'mentally diseased' articlean official magazine for jehovah's witnesses that described those who leave the church as "mentally diseased" is at the centre of a police inquiry, it has emerged.the watchtower is the official magazine of jehovah's witnesses photo: alamy9:58am bst 27 sep 2011. detectives are investigating whether the article, published in julys edition of the watchtower, is in breach of britains religious hatred laws.. the article, published in the magazine which is distributed by jehovah's witnesses across the globe, reportedly warned followers to avoid "false teachers" which it condemned as being "mentally diseased".. "suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease," part of the article stated.. "you would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning.
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THE GLADIATOR
Your not wrong there wha happened?
Of course becoming increasingly outspoken could prove to be counterproductive for the Watchtower Society.
The member may become uncomfortable with their hate campaign. Pushing people too far can be a mistake.
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Police inquiry over Jehovah's Witness magazine 'mentally diseased' article
by koolaid-man inhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8791196/police-inquiry-over-jehovahs-witness-magazine-mentally-diseased-article.html.
friday 30 september 2011. log in | register | subscribe.
police inquiry over jehovah's witness magazine 'mentally diseased' articlean official magazine for jehovah's witnesses that described those who leave the church as "mentally diseased" is at the centre of a police inquiry, it has emerged.the watchtower is the official magazine of jehovah's witnesses photo: alamy9:58am bst 27 sep 2011. detectives are investigating whether the article, published in julys edition of the watchtower, is in breach of britains religious hatred laws.. the article, published in the magazine which is distributed by jehovah's witnesses across the globe, reportedly warned followers to avoid "false teachers" which it condemned as being "mentally diseased".. "suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease," part of the article stated.. "you would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning.
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THE GLADIATOR
Call me strange if you like but having left the Watchtower Society's organization, I really don’t care what they think of me or what they call me. Left means completely gone.
Apostate, mentally diseased, disloyal, lazy, demonized, redneck son of a bitch that has returned to his own vomit; still sounds a hell of a lot better than being a brain-dead, mislead, hypocritical, grovelling, bible bashing, Watchtower slave with his head up his own kingdom hall rostrum.
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what do jws have to say when getting baptised ? do they dedicate to god and jesus or the watchtower ?
by looloo in -
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THE GLADIATOR
Baptism
I was just thirteen years old when I qualified for baptism. It seems very young looking back, but at the time I was aware that to be fully accepted and to be sure of surviving Armageddon, it was a step I had to make. Failing this I would have had to rely on my parent’s baptism to count for me. Baptism only takes place at the twice-yearly assemblies or larger annual assemblies. The candidates for baptism sit at the front of the audience and listen to a short lecture, and are then asked to stand and collectively answer two questions, which are read out loud to them. Prayer is then offered and they then depart to the baptism pool. Sometimes this is in the same venue, in which case the whole audience of perhaps a thousand people will witness this event. Should it be an international assembly in a sports stadium then many tens of thousands will watch.
In my own case, the baptism, which was a happy occasion, took place in a specially constructed small baptism pool built into the floor of one of the Kingdom Halls, near where the assembly was taking place. The water was warm and the people present were kind and happy for me. The event brought great joy to the brothers and sisters who knew me. I was warmly congratulated and experienced a feeling of well-being and deep satisfaction, that I was pleasing those I loved and dedicating my life to God. It is interesting to note the change that has taken place in the vows taken just prior to baptism. The two questions that I was expected to give an affirmative to are shown here,
“Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognising yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his son Jesus Christ?”
“On the basis of this faith in God and his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening holy spirit?”
These questions, or vows, were changed in 1985 to alter the emphasis place on Jesus and in favour of the organization:
“On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?”
“Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
The above changes are rather significant. The lines that I have highlighted change the basis of the dedication. The new vows bind the candidate to the Watchtower Society. Also there is no longer any mention of the revealing of God’s will through Jesus Christ or the Bible by means of Holy Spirit.
There is a legal significance to this. Should a member who has been excommunicated for apostasy try to sue the Society on the basis that their vows were to serve God through Jesus Christ and claim that they are still doing this, the Society could respond by saying that their vows specified that they remain a Witness, under the direction of the Society. This further illustrates the way that the Watchtower Society has slowly moved itself into the position that many other Christians have reserved for Jesus.
Having been baptised, I was now expected to earn my salvation, in order to be saved, paying by instalments. If I failed at any point, or disagreed with any new teachings the Society introduced, I thought I would lose all the credit I had built up and either lose my salvation or knuckle down and start again. The Society’s publication “ Babylon the Great has Fallen” 1963 explains:
“The person now righteous in God’s sight should keep on practising righteousness. The one who is holy as a slave of God should continue being made holy. Otherwise they will lose all the credit they have built up by their previous righteousness and holiness. But if they keep on in righteousness and holiness, they will at last have an accumulated credit with God and be richly rewarded for this. What a warning and an encouragement!” Page 672
This is in contrast to the Bible passages shown below:
“For it is by his grace you are saved, through trusting in him; it is not your own doing. It is God’s gift, not a reward for work done.” Ephesians 2:8
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom (paid) by Jesus Christ.” Romans 3: 22-24 The New English Bible
The Bible indicates that there is a standard for Christians but states that being declared righteous is a free gift and not the result of accumulated credit. Nevertheless a trained Witness may persuade you otherwise and encourage you to join and earn your salvation. Working hard to please Jehovah God, as directed by the Watchtower Society, is the essence of being a good member.
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Which songs/Albums were considered "Demonic" in your Congregation...did you toss some?
by Witness 007 in"hotel california" was considered a major demonic song.
ac/dc stood for anti-christ devils children....{not according to the band} kiss stood for knight s in satans service {not according to the band} anyone else have to toss albums?.
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THE GLADIATOR
Which songs/Albums were considered "Demonic" in your Congregation?
Everything except the kingdom songs.
Did you toss some?
That's none of your business!