Posts by logansrun

43

Why Are So Many JWs Ex-Catholic?

by SpannerintheWorks in

is it just my imagination, or are a disproportionate of jws ex-catholic?.

were you a catholic before a jw?.

why did you feel that the jw religion was "better" than the "catholic" one?.

logansrun

I confess I have not read through this thread, so if my comment is a repeat..forgive.

My take on why there are so many ex-Catholic JWs (including my mother's family): because, by and large, most Catholics are total ignoramus'es when it comes to the Bible. The average Catholic has NO CLUE as to what is even in the Bible that, when the readily trained JW shows up at their door, they can run scriptural circles around them. They "wow" them with their knowledge, faulty as it may be.

Am I anti-Catholic? No. But, through many field service experiences I am confident in saying that the Catholics are clueless when it comes to scripture. Easy targets.

Bradley

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

logansrun

Mizpah,

I did answer your question. There is nothing unique about the "loving" aspect of Christianity that you mentioned. I heartily agree to it. So there.

Now, answer mine.

Bradley

As for "sidetracking" the thread...riiight, like this thread was really going places before that . Hooberus and the other Bible-thumpers jump into other threads related to evolution all the time. If someone wants a fluffy discussion about how great Jesus is, by all means, comment!

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

logansrun

Mizpah,

No, what I am saying is offer me something better than the Christian teaching to enrich my life and to help others. Is the "Christain worldview" to love one's neighbors, to help the poor and to live a decent moral live so flawed? Then, offer your alternative. I'll be more than happy to listen and to consider another "world view."
Christians have always been encouraged to "test" faith. But when other beliefs fail to satisfy the above, then a Christian resolve is to "stand firm" and to continue faith in Christ.

Ever hear of Mahatma Ghandi? The Dalai Lama? Love for fellow man and charity are near universals when it comes to religion. The Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Jews all have variations of this theme. So does the modern Secular Humanist movement.

Think about it.

Bradley

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

logansrun

Mizpah,

You ignored my request! I asked you to think about what someone should say if Christianity is in fact false and you didn't even broach the subject! If something is false and you don't have a fully-functional belief system to replace it with (complete with Deity and afterlife) does that mean one should NOT "tear down" the false idea?

You then say:

If you can offer me something better than "love your neighbor as yourself" or "love God with your whole heart, soul and mind" I might be interested. What do you offer to "replace it?"

The problem is that is not ALL Christianity says. I have NO problem with the "golden rule." Many atheists and non-Christians follow this axiom. In fact, Jesus was not the first or only figure to state this. Confucious, Hillel the Elder and many other figures independent of Jesus have espoused this. Case closed.

Now, I DO have a problem with the second statement of "loving God..." Why? Because there is no proof of any deity's existence, period. Also, to state that these two statments (love god and neighbor) are the totality of Christianity is also false. What about the destruction and bloodshed in the OT? What about the "bad advice" of Jesus? Or the contradictions and mythological elements of the Bible? Is that to be believed just because SOME aspects of Christianity are beneficial?

Bradley

10

Will it happen again?!?

by BornAgainGirl! in

happy august to you!.

i apologize if this has been brought up before, but what is everyone's take:.

will the wtbts yet again set forth a date for the end?.

logansrun

A big "NO."

Bradley

15

Sins against the holy spirit...

by shamus in

jw
friends

so, what the heck is a sin against the holy spirit that cannot be forgiven?

they never had a clear answer in the whole time that i was in the cult..... what is it?

any ideaz?

logansrun

To me, any idea of an unchangeable mindset is scientifically and philisophically false. It simply makes no sense.

Bradley

7

About "encouragement for new members"

by freein89 in

i agree with beryl and the poster who said he likes ambivilence.

i honestly do not know anymore and i think that belief in christianity is too narrow.

i do not think christianity is bad or wrong, just that it closes the door to many other possibilites.

logansrun

While we're at it, what do you say we all refrain from using the word "encouragement" in any of our title threads. That word gives me the creeps, ala my dub past.

B

7

About "encouragement for new members"

by freein89 in

i agree with beryl and the poster who said he likes ambivilence.

i honestly do not know anymore and i think that belief in christianity is too narrow.

i do not think christianity is bad or wrong, just that it closes the door to many other possibilites.

logansrun

I do not think Christianity is bad or wrong, just that it closes the door to many other possibilites.

So how is that not at best, wrong, at worst, bad?

Bradley

16

Working in the DC chairman's office....

by logansrun in

jw
friends

let me go back about six years to the 1997 district convention.

i was an "up and coming" ms at the time (only 20 years old!

) and was asked by my po (a circuit "heavy") to be his assistant (read: gopher) in the chariman's office.

logansrun

Amazing,

Boy, where I was "groomed" I was told EVERYTHING was important. My "mentor" was John P. King (if anyone knows him) -- former Bethelite, now sub-CO. Total you-know-what. In my congregation we were instructed we had to always have our suit-jackets buttoned when we held microphones. To show just how anal-retentive this hall was, when a brother forgot to do this you would often see the aforementioned elder get up from his seat and whisper in the brother's ear. Suddenly their jackets were buttoned. Everything was "to the letter/by the book."

Hence, this is why I'm so anal. Years of indoctrination. Damn. I'm screwed.

Bradley

16

Working in the DC chairman's office....

by logansrun in

jw
friends

let me go back about six years to the 1997 district convention.

i was an "up and coming" ms at the time (only 20 years old!

) and was asked by my po (a circuit "heavy") to be his assistant (read: gopher) in the chariman's office.

logansrun

Ozzie,

I agree absolutely. It's human nature. But, that's the point! This is supposed to be "God's organization" -- a spritual paradise where everyone is equal and personal foibles are done away with. Certainly, the WT or any other publication would never fess up and say how things REALLY are.

Bradley