Good approach!
Questions always make people think, and that is exacly what JW:s are not supposed to do.
Bugbear
as i was laying in bed i thought of a question to ask my wife.
"when the wt has an article on the next change in teaching or new light, just guessing, what do you think it might be?".
it does not need to be phrased just like that, but i thought it might be a powerful question since it would make the jw subconsciously question all of the current teachings, something they are not taught to do.
Good approach!
Questions always make people think, and that is exacly what JW:s are not supposed to do.
Bugbear
among several hundreds of candidates i have only picked 3, my question is, who of these is the world s biggest religious fraud?.
founded by russel, claiming to have about 8 mill.
followers, who are dedicated to give their time and money voluntary to 8 old men sitting in a golden palace, whit a number of treasure directors, investing in bonds and real estates.
Thank you Pistoff, Band on the run, Hortensia Simon and.......
Thank you all for your answers. Your thoughts have given much to my mind. I do believe that religion is a very dangerous mind trap. When you do believe in a God, and think that this God have a message especially for you, these thoughts could become so real to you that you actually think that you must follow the god’s orders (in your brain). These mind traps could be transmitted direct to you or via some very charismatic prophet. They could make you do anything, just to fulfill your gods wishes.
This “normal” function of the human brain (science says that over 95% of humans have it), have caused humanity so much suffering, that it is countless of victims, wars started, bomb carriers, mind abusing, and dictatorships that was caused from this ignition point.
Now why do we have this need for something to believe in? How can we help weak people, not to be trapped into these mind traps? How can we prevent “wolves in sheep furs”, to use these people and to deceive our brothers and sisters.
Only by enlightenment, continuing enlightenment, persistent enlightenment. Bring all facts up to light.
Thank you folks
Bugbear
among several hundreds of candidates i have only picked 3, my question is, who of these is the world s biggest religious fraud?.
founded by russel, claiming to have about 8 mill.
followers, who are dedicated to give their time and money voluntary to 8 old men sitting in a golden palace, whit a number of treasure directors, investing in bonds and real estates.
Among several hundreds of candidates I have only picked 3, my question is, who of these is the world´s biggest religious fraud?
1./WBTS. Founded by Russel, claiming to have about 8 mill. Followers, who are dedicated to give their time and money “voluntary” to 8 old men sitting in a golden palace, whit a number of treasure directors, investing in bonds and real estates. Registered as an Religious Aid organization, with no (or small) tax obligations. Have been preaching that “the end is near” more than a hundred years. No tax oblig.
2./Latter day Saints (Mormons) founded by a self-appointed prophet , Josef Smith, who lost the wholly script, translated (via Urim and tummin) given by un angel (moronic) who never turned back again, Members are expected to pay 10% of their income, to the church, guided by 12 “apostles” . They claim to have 12 million followers. Have been preaching the end is near more than a hundred years, members are expected to bunker food and other “survival stuff”. No tax oblig.
3./ Church of Scientologi. Founded by Ron L Hubbard after measuring the electricity waves in tomatoes. Saying they have secret knowledge, stored in books that you can get, if you only pay them some money for tests with an auditing e-meter. These tests must done several times and costs a lot of money. You will have to pass a number of these tests before you have been found “clear” and can have the “secret knowledge” . Today ruled by David Miscavige, one of Ron L Hubbards pupils. They claim to have a least 25.000 followers in the US. No tax oblig. (except in certain countries)
What is your opinion!
Bugbear
i read article after article about the billions the gb rakes in from fleecing the sheep but i've never heard anyone explain what happens to the money.. i mean is it in a swiss account?
are the gb living in private mansions?
where does the $ go?.
The WTBS is as faar as I know registred in the US as a religious or communal "help" organization, with no taxation demands.
All other AID organization (Red cross, Save the children, redhalvmoon, Unicef) you mention it, are obligated in all other states are demanded to fill in their financial statement, and declere how they have used the money.
The WTBS are scared to death if the even the US gov. should demand such a statement from the Bros. As long as no one tells the tax. authorities in the US, that perhaps the WBTS, is not un org. to those needy, they can go on and save their money on some bank account on caymanisland.
Bugbear
i thought i'd done a thread on this before but can't find it.. so.
did jesus actually exist?.
without using the bible i'd like to see obvious proof..
Black Man!
Sorry didn´t understand your Bttt?
Bugbear
i thought i'd done a thread on this before but can't find it.. so.
did jesus actually exist?.
without using the bible i'd like to see obvious proof..
Did Socrate exist, did Plato exist, did Aristotle exist? These persons existed to their name obviously 300-400 years BC. And thanks to the Arabs we have quite well documented a lot of things that makes it believable, they must have existed. We know of a man that had a wife named Xhantippe, and a son about 5-7 years of age. We know what the name of his friends and that he committed suicide the year 399 bc. By taken poison. This due to a court decision and because he had seduced “the young man”..?. We know the men who wrote about him, Plato and Aristotle.
The proof of what the old Greek thought and believed is far more documented, then anything written in the NT. When you read these “testaments” it seems like they are all contradiction themselves on numerous of occasions. And this above all they want us to believe in supernatural gifts, like resurrected from death, walking on water, being given birth by a virgin a.s.f. No modern court of law could possibly use these witnesses as proof for the existing of Jesus they are contradicting themselves!
But there is a far more complicated issue. It is the very basic for Christian tradition.
According to the bible the very core of Christian believes is that God did gives his beloved son to humans, so that everyone who does believe in him should have eternal life!!
What did the human race do when (according to the bible) Jesus came to earth on his father’s order?
We beat him spit on him killed him, and dissimulated him, laugh at him betrayed him and finally we put him on a stake (or a cross).
And now the human races are saved? All thanks to God´s mercy!
According to me all this is very illogical! There is no way a father could forgive the “human race” for killing his son. For betraying his son – for spitting on or for making him suffer.
The very basic for Christianity must be explained in a better way, at least to make me “believer”.
Until proper explanations is given I simply can’t have any believes in fairy tales, with no proper proves. But I do believe that Socrates existed.
Bugbear
hello all, it is nice to have a forum for former jw's and see i wasn't the only one out there having serious doubts.
my parents got into it when i was about 4 years old.
my family was part of the granville ny congregation.. my dad in time became an elder.
Welcome. would like to hear more from your experiencies.
Bugbear
many emails are sent to me through my website, watchtowerdocuments.com.
all are answered.
remember 1corinthians 6: 1-2 (i'll answer this question.
I would like to add some comments to my previous. I think i would be apropriate to also give him your own website:
http://watchtowerdocuments.com/index.html
It will giv him most of the answers he would like from you. (If he dare to read)
Bugbear
many emails are sent to me through my website, watchtowerdocuments.com.
all are answered.
remember 1corinthians 6: 1-2 (i'll answer this question.
I think the men either do have problems with the answers on all these questions, or he is just a disguised elder who wants to nail you or make you a fool if you answer one of these questions in a not proper way. If I were you, I would only take all these questions in one sack turn them back to him (perhaps a little bit converted) and ask him why he does not ask the elders in his congregation for the answer. This naturally in his own name openly and amongst all other friends. If he does, he will have no chance do get baptized or if he is baptized, he will be Df.sh.
I think that such an experience will make him understand that the org. is not guided by god, but by greedy men, just concerning of their own power.
Bugbear
i have noticed that there are different reactions to learning the "truth about the truth".
some become quite bitter and angry and become very activist.
others seem to just move on quite easily.. .
I am not angry nor bitter, I am relieved.But I was angry for over more then 30 years, for not dare saying to all the friends, that something was very, very wrong with the Soc.
I was angry for all the time spent on assemblies, alla the mile runned accross my country, holding speeches, all the hours spent "in the service", trying to carrying ot a big fat lie.
But now I am relieved, all my 6 children has left this org. only my wife is still in. I only regret that I hadn´t the strength to quit earlier.
Bugbear