Posts by EdenOne

44

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Happy?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know of the local congregation's issues, per an elder i know quite well.

he has said that nearly everyone in the congregation is suffering emotionally and mentally.

he said he has never seen so many witnesses with so many problems.

EdenOne

There are happy and unhappy people everywhere. Many JWs have unhappy lives due to issues of diverse nature and find solace in the meetings and their brethren and their hope. However, many lead "good, clean, christian" lives and yet feel miserable and depressed, and they don't even stop to consider the negative impact that their religion is having in their lives. The mere thought of that is enough to make them feel guilty, and they supress those thoughts. Elders will also make sure that the religion won't be blamed for any problems whatsoever, because "Jehovah knows what's best for us".

Eden

36

...Which Way is the Cat Going?!...

by OUTLAW in

i found this on yahoo news... while it doesn`t raise an important question... it raises an interesting question... .

........................................... ..........................

EdenOne

Down

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

EdenOne

Chris Hannover
If you do what you're told, you're called spiritual.

This. It boils down to this. You may be an elder, pioneer, participate in every "privilege" ... the moment you hesitate in doing what you're told, question the direction or teaching ... you're no longer spiritually healthy.

Eden

2

Sex and the Church - BBC2

by cofty in

if you are in the uk check out an interesting new documentary series that starts on bbc2 at 9pm, this evening or catch up on iplayer.. from pleasure to sindiarmaid macculloch explores how christianity has shaped western attitudes to sex, gender and sexuality throughout history, beginning by examining how the early christians transformed intercourse from a biological necessity into a vice and from a pleasure into a sin.

the historian explains how greek ideas of sexual abstinence were adopted by the early christians, looks at how st paul, st jerome and st augustine developed increasingly negative ideas about sex, and tells the story of the rise of monasticism across the west.

EdenOne

Interesting. Will look forward to get this in my country. Diarmaid MacCulloch is a great author. His work "Christianity - The First Three Thousand Years" is a remarkable book.

Eden

16

When did Christianity Separate from Judaism?

by fulltimestudent in

this is a subject of some importance, the view of the witnesses, likely inherited from franz's influence, seems to be that early christianity developed as a separate religion to the jews.. the view of most contemporary scholars is that the separation occurred slowly, and that influential early christians (e.g.

such as paul, peter, john and james) still saw themselves as jews.. to those of us that are no longer christians (and, most ex-witnesses here, seem to gradually move to that position) this is not an important issue.. but to an organisation that claims it has "the truth," surely it should know the truth about its origins.

yet the evidence is that the modern day religion of jehovah's witnesses, does not know the "truth" concerning the origins of early christianity.

EdenOne

The history regarding the Ebionites and the Nazorean groups should be of great interest, because they represent the best glimpse we got into the earlier core group of jewish folowers of Jesus, led or inspired by James, the Just and the descendants of one of Jesus' brothers, Joses. If we are to understand better what Jesus was and make an educated guess at what were his teachings and his world view, that's where we have to focus.

Although stretching a bit some conclusions, and not an easy reading, I recommend Robert Eisenman's "James, The Brother Of Jesus"; also the excellent work of James D. Tabor: "Paul and Jesus - How The Apostle Transformed Christianity". They should persuade you that the Jesus movement was not about starting a new religion separated from judaism, but it was Paul that took it in that direction.

Eden

20

"jehovah loves all sorts of people"

by stuckinarut2 in

ok, so if you haven't as yet watched the new cartoon clip on the website, be prepared to throw up!.

it is called "jehovah loves all sorts of people", and features an awful song about how "jehovah loves everyone" even "different colors", etc....yep...they actually say that!.

huh??????.

EdenOne

Does Jehovah love apostates too? Oh wait - apostates aren't people.

Eden

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

EdenOne

It's entirely legit to test if God is on your side. Gideon tested Jehovah with a fleece and wasn't chastised for it. - Judges 6:36-40

Eden

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

EdenOne

Watch it, mutt ! There's a nuke in store for you too.

Eden

205

Hi Everyone. Answer to prayer countdown...

by Stumpy in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.

you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!

what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.

EdenOne

Welcome to this forum, and what a great way to challenge a thinking Witness.

Indeed, if Jehovah is leading this Organization and even helps a contractor to find a leak so he can go to a meeting, for sure he can answer a prayer of a long faithful couple regarding if this is the truth or not. Well played!

Let's just hope that an invitation to the DC doesn't appear in your mailbox on the next 7 hours ...

Eden

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

EdenOne

Viviane: Ah, so not present like a student absent from class, existing, possibly with naughty bits implying a gender, then?

Eden