Do you think you have 'chosen sides'?

by AK - Jeff 54 Replies latest jw friends

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    In a recent online conversation with a current JW [or at least I think this to be true], I was accused of 'being on the wrong side'.

    I countered with my opinion that there are thousands of 'sides' - since every religion believes itself to be the 'right side'. I know that I left one 'side' that is wrong - full of lies, deceptions, and false doctrines. But I don't consider myself to have taken any other side - that is, I believe myself to be entirely neutral in such matters - I just don't have enough centuries of life to sort out who might have the 'right side'. Certainly, the more I look at religion of all stripes - the more it looks like that entire side of things is just like the JW's, only typically more compassionate when it comes to it's membership.

    Of course, the Jw's believe that there are only two sides - those who worship Jehover - and those who don't. Of course those who worship Jehover outside the walls of the KH are still on the wrong side - even if they are more right than those who are on the 'right side'. LOL

    I was just reflecting on how insane such thinking is for those people. They really think that a 19th century clothier was chosen to lead them to light that no-one else can ever find outside his little book-publishing circle.

    Geesh. Did I really believe such nonsense?

    Jeff [of the now on the side of reality class - wherever it might be found]

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    When I read that over it seems pretty muddy. Sorry. LOL

    What I mean to say is that I didn't intend to 'choose' any side of anything, by leaving the religion. I chose to leave something that was wrong, but not to join something to replace it.

    Apparently the JW mind cannot comprehend that wrong and right are not tied to organizational affiliation. Or that facets of view can exist that preclude entirely the idea of black/white right/wrong.

    Jeff

  • Satanus
    Satanus

    Kind of infantile, in their narrow our side, and everyone else type of thing. I see it as not choosing another side, but graduating from a lower level to a higher one. Or, perhaps, growing .

    S

  • drwtsn32
    drwtsn32

    This is not limited to JW's. Black and white thinking seems to affect many religious minds.

    I am an agnostic atheist because I don't believe there is evidence for god. A coworker says I have rejected god. In his mind there are only two options: accept or reject. I think it stems from the black and white thinking that the bible promotes like in Luke 11:23 "he that is not with me is against me".

    I agree with him that I have not accepted god, but I disagree with the rejection part. Rejection requires contra-evidence, for which I don't believe exists. (I don't think there's evidence for or against the Judeo-Christian god.) I told him I'm in a third state: non-acceptance because of lack of evidence. He doesn't agree at all. :)

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    My point exactly drwtsn.

    Whilst I certainly did reject the JW's - that does not mean I have rejected God - potentially at least.

    What a sad state of mind - to live in perpetual opinion that everyone is adversary unless he joins our little club. Overall, I think that religion in general treats the matter as you describe. It's almost as stupid as believing that if I paint my house yellow I am evil, because you believe that white houses are the only correct color. All objective reason is subjugated to subjective reason. Wow.

    Jeff

  • Chalam
    Chalam

    Hi,

    Yes I have taken a side. We all do with our choices in life.

    According to the bible there are only two sides, light and dark.

    John 1:5 (English Standard Version)

    5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    JWs might think they are worshipping the Father and only their organisation are the only ones doing so but they have made a false "jehovah" god and worshipping are worshipping it.

    Isaiah 45 (New International Version)

    5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
    apart from me there is no God.
    I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,

    6 so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
    men may know there is none besides me.
    I am the LORD, and there is no other.

    7 I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the LORD, do all these things.

    8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
    let the clouds shower it down.
    Let the earth open wide,
    let salvation spring up,
    let righteousness grow with it;
    I, the LORD, have created it.

    9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,
    to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
    Does the clay say to the potter,
    'What are you making?'
    Does your work say,
    'He has no hands'?

    10 Woe to him who says to his father,
    'What have you begotten?'
    or to his mother,
    'What have you brought to birth?'

    11 "This is what the LORD says—
    the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
    Concerning things to come,
    do you question me about my children,
    or give me orders about the work of my hands?

    12 It is I who made the earth
    and created mankind upon it.
    My own hands stretched out the heavens;
    I marshaled their starry hosts.

    13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:
    I will make all his ways straight.
    He will rebuild my city
    and set my exiles free,
    but not for a price or reward,
    says the LORD Almighty."

    14 This is what the LORD says:
    "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,
    and those tall Sabeans—
    they will come over to you
    and will be yours;
    they will trudge behind you,
    coming over to you in chains.
    They will bow down before you
    and plead with you, saying,
    'Surely God is with you, and there is no other;
    there is no other god.' "

    15 Truly you are a God who hides himself,
    O God and Savior of Israel.

    16 All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced;
    they will go off into disgrace together.

    17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD
    with an everlasting salvation;
    you will never be put to shame or disgraced,
    to ages everlasting.

    18 For this is what the LORD says—
    he who created the heavens,
    he is God;
    he who fashioned and made the earth,
    he founded it;
    he did not create it to be empty,
    but formed it to be inhabited—
    he says:
    "I am the LORD,
    and there is no other.

    19 I have not spoken in secret,
    from somewhere in a land of darkness;
    I have not said to Jacob's descendants,
    'Seek me in vain.'
    I, the LORD, speak the truth;
    I declare what is right.

    20 "Gather together and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
    Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.

    21 Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
    Who foretold this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?
    Was it not I, the LORD ?
    And there is no God apart from me,
    a righteous God and a Savior;
    there is none but me.

    22 "Turn to me and be saved,
    all you ends of the earth;
    for I am God, and there is no other.

    23 By myself I have sworn,
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity
    a word that will not be revoked:
    Before me every knee will bow;
    by me every tongue will swear.

    24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
    are righteousness and strength.' "
    All who have raged against him
    will come to him and be put to shame.

    25 But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel
    will be found righteous and will exult.

    Now who the Holy One (v11)? Jesus Luke 4:34

    Who is our maker (v11 & 18)? Jesus John 1:3

    Who is our saviour (v15, 17, 21 & 22)? Jesus Luke 2:11

    Who is THE truth (v19)? Jesus John 14:6

    Who will every knee bow and every tongue confess to? Jesus John 14:6

    JWs will dispute that every single thing I have listed here and say the this passage is talking about the Father only.

    They will come up with some "answers" and "explanations" to the cross references with the NT I have drawn.

    However, the bible has already explained clearly who Jesus is John 10:30 Matthew 1:23 John 20:28 Philippians 2:6

    The most dangerous thing about the WT false teaching regarding Jesus is that He is THE way to the Father, there is NO other.

    John 14:6 (New International Version)

    6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    All the best,

    Stephen

  • Satanus
    Satanus

    You were saying?

    S

  • drwtsn32
    drwtsn32
    According to the bible there are only two sides, light and dark.

    Yep, the bible promotes black and white thinking. It's easier to control people that way.

  • watson
    watson
    What a sad state of mind - to live in perpetual opinion that everyone is adversary unless he joins our little club.

    It's a warm and safe place for many.

  • snowbird
    snowbird

    Two sides - Light and darkness.

    One Way - Jesus of Nazareth.

    Sylvia

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