Posts by bemused

10

How long will it take?

by John Aquila in

at some point in the future, it has to finally dawn on people that something is seriously flawed about the idea of jesus coming in the clouds to save everyone who believes- and kill everyone who doesnt..

will people still believe in jesus in another 1000 years?

will people still be saying in the year 5015;.

bemused

In the UK, regular churchgoers account for about 12% of the population. Some of the other 88% may tick 'Church of England' on the census form out of habit but I think it's reasonable to conclude that a significant majority of the population of the UK doesn't believe that Jesus was the son of God.

As for "Jesus coming in the clouds to save everyone who believes- and kill everyone who doesn’t", I would say less than 1% believes that - this isn't a doctrine that the Catholics or the Church of England actively preaches.

I'm hearing people talk very negatively about religion as a result of the rise of Islamic State. It's not just Islam that is coming in for criticism but all religions with their received wisdom and absolute certainties. People seem generally far more sceptical and prepared to challenge these days and while no doubt there will be some believers for many, many years yet, at least in the UK I would expect Christians to become an ever smaller group.

JWs may not suffer as badly because of their shunning policy holding people in. Even then, it's one thing subscribing to a particular religion when most other people are religious, but quite another when almost everyone else is secular - the feeling of otherness must grow for the still-in Witnesses.

37

W 15 july - members of others religions not destroyed???

by paradisebeauty in

please tell me what do you understand from this quote that is taken from w july 2015, the article your deliverance is close paragraph 5.. i understand that not all members of other religions will be destroyed at armageddon.

i talked to a jw.

he says he understands differently: they will not be destroyed when the babylon the great will be destroyed but they will be destroyed in armageddon.

bemused

Any hope for atheists?

24

Org is going to appeal!

by The Searcher in

the english woman who has been awarded 275,000 compensation for being abused by the ministerial servant paedophile, will now have to wait while the org fights to keep hold of its precious money, by appealing the court's decision.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33201010.

bemused

I guess an appeal was inevitable. If they think they have a decent chance of winning then it's a no-brainer and, even if their chances are slim, they have to try to stop the flood gates from opening.

I so hope they will lose and get stung for another massive legal costs bill. A key problem that I see for the WT is that they hold up the office of ministerial servant as one to be aspired to and so by implication that the holders of the office are trustworthy christians. In fact, didn't one of the GB (Tony Morris?) recently say that women should not consider marrying someone who was not a ministerial servant? If the organization has concerns about an MS but say nothing, it's very hard to see how they are not at fault.

11

Unconvincing Evidence in September Watchtower

by bemused in

i was looking at the september 2015 issue of the watchtower, which, unlike the simplified and study editions, appears to be aimed at non-jws.

a couple of articles caught my eye that quote biblical sources which are somewhat less than convincing to a non-believer.. firstly 'what do jehovah's witnesses believe?

' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial'.

bemused

I was looking at the September 2015 issue of the Watchtower, which, unlike the simplified and study editions, appears to be aimed at non-JWs. A couple of articles caught my eye that quote biblical sources which are somewhat less than convincing to a non-believer.

Firstly 'What do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial'. Leaving aside questions such as just how beneficial the advice on the appropriate severity with which to beat your slaves is, I noticed that they make it clear that this is a direct quote from the bible (Timothy). So, hang on, - JW's believe the bible is divinely inspired because the bible says it is divinely inspired? I think their obsession with biblical quotes has caught out the WT here.

The second article is entitled 'Bible Questions Answered' and deals with biblical prophecies. Essentially it is saying that because some biblical prophecies have been fulfilled then we can be confident that the remaining prophecies (Armageddon etc) will also come about. OK - so what evidence do they put forward to support their claim that prophecies have been fulfilled? Well, they use Luke where it says:

"However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. 21 Then let those in Ju·de′a begin fleeing to the mountains, let those in the midst of her leave, and let those in the countryside not enter into her, 22 because these are days for meting out justice in order that all the things written may be fulfilled."

In other words, if you see a city besieged by bloodthirsty armies don't go there. And the WT goes on to argue that because those early Christians weren't daft enough to ignore this sound advice and so survived by heading for the hills we can therefore be sure that all prophecies in the bible will come true so get yourself down to a Kingdom Hall pronto.

If that's the best they can come up with it's no surprise that there is little growth in developed countries outside of births. I just wonder if the people writing this stuff ever have moments of doubt when trying to put an argument together.

30

Re: Music at Theocratic Events

by pixel in

this is a crappy letter from the watchtower.

i'm only posting it to show how micro-managers these fools are.

and at the end, they say: "we should avoid making specific rules about somewhat technical matters".

bemused

I love that they found biblical references to back up instructions on the right level to play music at.

Presumably a lot of effort went into producing this letter and no doubt there will then have been review committees and the like. It's not wonder they are having cash flow problems if they are wasting time and resources on such issues.

60

Being shunned only increases my certainty that the WBT$ is a cult

by punkofnice in

well, i don't wanna rant too much but sometimes things cut you don't they.. a family member had a get together for the family, jw and non jw and of course i wasn't invited being da'd.. i understand why they couldn't invite me but it just made me think.

in normal society this wouldn't happen.

i'd have been there.. the shunning is so unnatural and damaging.

bemused

Sorry to hear that Punk.

You say that the party was also for non-JW relatives. Do they know that you were deliberately excluded? If not, you might want to point that out to them. I'm a never-in and I would think twice about attending the party if someone was excluded just for no longer believing in a religious doctrine.

134

Young Girl Exposes Jehovah's Witnesses at school video goes VIRAL last 2 days 273,000 views

by Watchtower-Free in

original thread here.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/291080001/brave-high-school-student-exposes-abuse-corruption-within-jehovahs-witnesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvt_gyq-ls.

bemused

Now 567,783 views.

134

Young Girl Exposes Jehovah's Witnesses at school video goes VIRAL last 2 days 273,000 views

by Watchtower-Free in

original thread here.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/291080001/brave-high-school-student-exposes-abuse-corruption-within-jehovahs-witnesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvt_gyq-ls.

bemused

Smiddy

Dawkins retweeted @ALFLiberty's tweet.

If you want to see Dawkins retweet you'll have to go on Twitter and check out his tweets on May 26 (it should be 7 from the bottom for that day).

39

Does What We Say Here Or In Person Really Help JWs To Get Out Of The Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if we are in the congregation, do you think our comments or questions actually reach elders or others in the congregation?

do our comments on this board affect witnesses to the point of questioning their faith?

bemused

I hope so, although it's hard for me to say as a never-in. However I'd have thought that at the least sites like this must persuade some potential recruits not to join. People are so used to doing Google searches now before committing to something, that some must come across sites like this and be put off joining as a result.

It must be a real problem for the WT when recruiting. Do they try to persuade potential recruits not to look at the internet? It would be like a hotel trying to get you to book a holiday with them but saying whatever you do, don't look at Trip Adviser!

134

Young Girl Exposes Jehovah's Witnesses at school video goes VIRAL last 2 days 273,000 views

by Watchtower-Free in

original thread here.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/291080001/brave-high-school-student-exposes-abuse-corruption-within-jehovahs-witnesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdvt_gyq-ls.

bemused

Richard Dawkins tweeted the link yesterday to his 1.1m followers.