Ariell

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Posts by Ariell

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  19

  Have you really left?

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sure we all view the watchtower society as a mind controlling dictatorship that has systematically destroyed our lives is some shape or form.

  i'm sure this is why we've all left, but have we really?

  someone can physically leave a religion, but emotionally they're still there.

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  Ariell

  ................................continued

  At first we are all excited to learn about the deciet of this organization and confirm our long lived suspicions, but then reality hits: "I'm going to die one day." "I'm never going to see my child, mother, or sister again." That's a hard pill to swallow. However, some of us choose to accept it and come to the conclusion that we will never know the "truth" until after we die, if at all. We go on with our lives and don't dwell on it. Yet there are others who need an answer. They need the "truth". It's like they're replacing one drug with another. Not only do they feel the need to believe again. They also (not all, but some) feel the need to convert. Sounds familiar? Likewise, I find myself trying to convert others to my agnostic views. So I have to ask myself.........Have I really left?

  P.S. Does anyone else have problems with submitting long posts?
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  19

  Have you really left?

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm sure we all view the watchtower society as a mind controlling dictatorship that has systematically destroyed our lives is some shape or form.

  i'm sure this is why we've all left, but have we really?

  someone can physically leave a religion, but emotionally they're still there.

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  Ariell

  I'm sure we all view the Watchtower Society as a mind controlling dictatorship that has systematically destroyed our lives is some shape or form. I'm sure this is why we've all left, but have we really? Someone can physically leave a religion, but emotionally they're still there. They still believe. Whereas a person who no longer believes stays physically becauses he/she wishes for no one to learn of their secret demise. I would consider the one who is no long a believer as the person who has truly left and the former as very much still in. This is a black and white situation though. It's not always that simple. Let me explain:

  There are Jehovah's Witnesses who can't imagine leaving the faith and living their life as is. Some go to great lengths in order to find another religion or another way of understanding the bible before offically leaving. It's like a person who is in a relationship, but afraid to be alone. So they go out to find another person to be with before deciding to leave their spouse or significant other.
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  9

  The Watchtower's Version of God

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it really bugs me when people say we've been brainwashed by the watchtower's version of god, but the fact of the matter is, the bible says what it says.

  these acts of silliness, cruelty, and injustice are clearly stated.

  jehovah's witnesses aren't the only ones disturbed by things they've read in the bible.

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  Ariell

  So what are you saying? That the real God of the bible isn't totally screwed? Or are you just pulling my chain?
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  9

  The Watchtower's Version of God

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it really bugs me when people say we've been brainwashed by the watchtower's version of god, but the fact of the matter is, the bible says what it says.

  these acts of silliness, cruelty, and injustice are clearly stated.

  jehovah's witnesses aren't the only ones disturbed by things they've read in the bible.

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  Ariell

  .........Continued
  

  I'm glad that there are people who stop to think "this can't be right". I believe those men who crashed into the world trade center on 9/11 believed they were doing the right thing. The suicide bombers in the Middle East believe they are justified in their actions simply because of a religion. That's scary. But no matter how many religions come and go, there are always those people who see the fallacy. That to me speaks volumes. If we're made in the image of God, then why is his idea of justice so different from ours? Would you think it right to stone your child to death for speaking back to you, or even slapping you? Would you think it okay to stone a woman to death for commiting adultery? Would you think the president of this country would be justified in ordering American soilders to slay all the Iraqi children? Of course not. So why was it okay thousands of years ago?
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  9

  The Watchtower's Version of God

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it really bugs me when people say we've been brainwashed by the watchtower's version of god, but the fact of the matter is, the bible says what it says.

  these acts of silliness, cruelty, and injustice are clearly stated.

  jehovah's witnesses aren't the only ones disturbed by things they've read in the bible.

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  Ariell

  It really bugs me when people say we've been brainwashed by the Watchtower's version of God, but the fact of the matter is, the bible says what it says. These acts of silliness, cruelty, and injustice are clearly stated. Jehovah's Witnesses aren't the only ones disturbed by things they've read in the bible. Compassion, kindess, and love is--i hope-- the thread that binds us together. It's what makes us human. To say that the things written in the bible is okay would go against that. It would make us inhumane.
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  17

  Slavery in the BIble

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  leviticus 25:44-46 "your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

  you may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

  you can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow israelites ruthlessly.

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  Ariell

  well, there was the 'minor' skermish that changed they way things were run.... it was called The Civil War.

  Yea, and the side that opposed it had to come to a conclusion that it was wrong, which surprises me, as I'm sure most, if not all, where Christian.
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  17

  Slavery in the BIble

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  leviticus 25:44-46 "your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

  you may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

  you can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow israelites ruthlessly.

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  Ariell

  Think about it; even in today's society: not everyone can be rich. Wal-Mart, McDonalds, IBM......do the employees make as much as the owners? Of course not. A waitress doesn't make the same as the owner of a restaurant. If everyone were equally rich, our economy would be screwed as who could you possibly get to work for you?

  Being a slave and being poor is two completely different things. A slave is owned. McDonalds doesn't own it's employees. When I say equal, I mean equal in a sense that no one is superior than the other in terms or race and ethnic background, not whether they are high class or low class.

  In alot of cases we simply can't judge the morality of a 5,000 year old culture and apply it to our terms today.

  But this is the bible we're talking about and a God who is suppose to be just and fair, not just a people and a culture. In that case, I think we can judge and should.
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  17

  Slavery in the BIble

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  leviticus 25:44-46 "your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

  you may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

  you can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow israelites ruthlessly.

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  Ariell

  Isn't outlawing slavery an overt act agains gawd?

  Exactly. If I was a bible believing slave owner 200 years ago I would think slavery was okay too. I'm surprised they outlawed it.
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  17

  Slavery in the BIble

  by Ariell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  leviticus 25:44-46 "your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

  you may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

  you can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow israelites ruthlessly.

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  Ariell

  Leviticus 25:44-46 "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly."

  Exodus 21:20-21 "If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property"

  Doesn't this go against the notion that God is impartial? How do you decide which will be the master and which will be the slave? Why was it even allowed? Why would humans be given servants if we're all created equal? I guess this is a question for the believers. I want to understand how you can justify this and then maybe I can understand how I managed to ignore it myself for so long.
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  2

  Open Letter to JW's on Anti-Religion web site

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some others have posted about this strong anti-religion (spoof?

  ) site in other posts, but it seems that the jw reaction is so strong (to the suggested 'ban religion' resolution at the un) as to prompt the author to post an open letter to jw's in the news page that starts like this www.formulism.org/news.html.

  actually, the whole site reads like it's designed to hook jw's... open letter to jehovah's witnesses - 1st feb 04. over the past few days i have received literally dozens of e-mails from jehovah's witnesses.

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  Ariell

  Couldn't they get rid of that horrid music. Midi files???? Blah

  That in itself makes it seem like a spoof.