Olivia says:
Why is Jehovah allowing His name to be disgraced?
"Jehovah"? Where?
I asked myself this same question.
But, aren't Dubs not allowed to ask questions? Tisk, tisk!
What with the UN scandal and now Pedophile's lurking amongst us!
Baby, the UN thing's been going on for 10 years, and the molestation for even longer than you've been in this religion!
What next? These situations have caused me a great deal of anguish in my attempt to understand it.
Doubtlessly!
It is my conclusion that, having the imperfect mind of a human, and having no scriptural explanation for this strange twist of events, I must accept that this is as inexplicable and incomrehensible as Infinty!
I'll presume you meant "infinity". Sadly, Olivia, the explanation is much simpler than that. Humans caused the problem, a very specific group of humans called the Governing Body and their subordinates. "God" had zilch to do with it!
ONLY Jehovah knows why these things have been permitted,
Really? Maybe you could bring him out of hiding so he could tell us why then!
and ONLY He can bring to completion His plan for lovers of righteousness amongst mankind.
Yeah, such a pity that that plan involves the deaths of 6 billion people. Makes Al Quaeda look like a wet candle in a rainstorm!
Despite it being a perplexing time, I consider it a test of my "loyalty" to Jehovah God.
No, Olivia, it is a test to see if your mind-meme has taken hard enough for you to ignore all negative things about the publishing company formerly known as a religion you profess to worship in.
Will I abandon pure worship because of the sins of imperfect men?
"Pure worship" is not the correct phrase to use here. Please define pure worship, because as far as most people on this board can tell, what's currently happening in Dubland is sure as hell not "pure worship"!
Not when I myself am also a sinner.
YOU'RE GUILTY! We just don't know what you're guilty of yet, but we've scheduled a Judicial Comittee for you anyway!
That would be so self-righteous! I do not worship an "Organization" directed by imperfect people...
BULL-SH*T! You know you do!
I worship our Creator, the Supreme God Jehovah!
That one elusive entity no-one has EVER seen, except some guys way back 4000 years ago in a Biblical legend! Well, they saw his nostrils blowing open a space in the Red Sea for them at least, although no account is given of how donkeys and carts managed to get through the sludge, coral reefs, and sandbanks on the bottom of the sea! HAHAHAH! Bloody ridiculous book!
I do not fear what "men" can do to me, but I do fear the displeasure of Jehovah God.
A religion based on fear...like most religions! There is a striking similiarity between your God and a homicidal maniac...only most homocidal maniacs are accountable for their actions!
"Men" cannot grant me life eternal!
Yes they can, and it's coming soon at convenient prices thanks to genetic research, my dear!
Neither can they take away my life, because it is Jehovah's Spirit that sustains me.
Now, you are not making much sense anymore!
What meaning has life if I become Spiritually dead?
By Spiritually dead you mean not handing out Watchtower publications and listening to people drone the same thing in your ears every second night for the rest of your life? I'd rather be dead then! So, Olivia, has it ever beset you to try and ask a QUESTION at the Watchtower Study? Obviously not, because you are IN A CULT! You're not allowed to question what you're being taught! That's the fast track to disfellowshipping, y'know!
The Bible is the roadmap and my source of directions.
Even these bits? Or do you selectively ignore them?
Genesis:
Noah kills the "clean beasts" and burns their dead bodies for God. According to 7:8 this would have caused the extinction of all "clean" animals since only two of each were taken onto the ark. "And the Lord smelled a sweet savor." After this God "said in his heart" that he'd never do it again because "man's heart is evil from his youth." So God killed all living things (6:5) because humans are evil, and then promises not to do it again (8:21) because humans are evil. The mind of God is a frightening thing. 8:20-21
Lot and his daughters camp out in a cave for a while. The daughters get their "just and righteous" father drunk, and have sexual intercourse with him, and each conceives and bears a son (wouldn't you know it!). Just another wholesome family values Bible story. 19:30-38
Jacob displays his (and God's) knowledge of biology by having goats copulate while looking at streaked rods. The result is streaked baby goats. 30:37-39
Exodus:
The Israelite population went from 70 (or 75) to several million in a few hundred years. 1:5,7, 12:37, 38:26
God divided the sea with a "blast of [his] nostrils." 15:8 I LOVE THIS ONE! IT'S AWESOME! GOD IS MAN, AND HE HAS NOSTRILS!
God gives detailed instructions for performing ritualistic animal sacrifices. such bloody rituals must be important to God, judging from the number of times that he repeats their instructions. Indeed the entire first nine chapters of Leviticus can be summarized as follows: Get an animal, kill it, sprinkle the blood around, cut the dead animal into pieces, and burn it for a "sweet savor unto the Lord." Chapters 1 - 9
God gives instructions for "wave offerings" and "heave offerings." He says these offerings are to be made perpetually "by a statute for ever." Have you made your heave offering today? 7:30-36
Be sure to watch out for those "other flying creeping things which have four feet." (I wish God wouldn't get so technical!) I guess he must mean four-legged insects. You'd think that since God made the insects, and so many of them (at least several million species), that he would know how many legs they have! 11:23
God's treatment for leprosy: Get two birds. Kill one. Dip the live bird in the blood of the dead one. Sprinkle the blood on the leper seven times, and then let the blood-soaked bird fly off. Next find a lamb and kill it. Wipe some of its blood on the patient's right ear, thumb, and big toe. Sprinkle seven times with oil and wipe some of the oil on his right ear, thumb and big toe. Repeat. Finally kill a couple doves and offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 14:2-32
Deuteronomy:
After God instructs the Israelites to mercilessly slaughter all the strangers that they encounter (Dt.7:2, 16), he tells them to "love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." 10:19
Sigh...but enough of that. Have you ever wondered what all that BS meant when you were reading it during your meetings, Olivia? I SURE DID!
Remember, our faith will be tested to the max.
Yeah, your faith in the above pronouncements of "God". Gee, how exciting for you, to have your ridiculous beliefs called into question!
Satan is very clever and deceptive,
Plus, no-one has ever seen him, so he must be very sneaky indeed!
so I must constantly evaluate my thoughts
Didn't you know that you must not have "independent thinking" going on in that noggin of yours? That's against the Society's rules, and I can show you where to find the laws in the publications too!
so he doesn't influence my heart. At first, I was overwhelmed with sadness and hurt that Jehovah's name was being so defamed.
Well, at least you're human, I'll give you that.
I cried rivers over it! I was filled with rage against the Society.
Feel the hatred, Luke. Let it grow inside you, let it become STRONG!
Ultimately, I realized that I am not responsible for the actions of the Society.
No, but you are responsible for getting more people INTO the Society to be victims of their decisions, young lady!
I am only accountable for my own thoughts and actions.
See above point about "independent thinking".
Jehovah will judge us all according to our deeds.
Damn, I forgot to do all those sacrifice rituals. I guess I'm going to die "real soon now"!
When Jehovah's day of glory arrives,
Any day now!
it is out of everybodies hands!
But, at least we get to finally see this "Jehovah" guy!
After all, my purpose for being a JW is to share in the Sanctification of Jehovah's great name.
I suggest you speak to AlanF about that name and why you probably shouldn't be using it if you are serious about this stuff, which evidently you are!
How much better can I do that, than by remaining Loyal to Him and proving Satan a liar?
Satan lied? Did you record it on tape?
So let's not add confusion to our faithful course by trying to understand what is above our ability to understand.
Ah yes, no "independent thought" is allowed. Right, got it.
Rather, "throw our burden on Jehovah",
Yeah, sure, he'll sort out those child molesters in the end! Who gives a screw about how many more kids they molest before Armageddon, comes (any day now (TM))?
knowing He will "provide escape" by giving us the peace and endurance to persevere in trying times.
Well, I hope he gives peace and endurance to those little kids while they get ************ by ***************.
Sometimes we can try so hard to understand what seems to be complex, when in reality, it is very simple.
But, didn't you just say that this problem is infinitely complex? Make up your mind! Besides, you shouldn't be reaching conclusions, since that is a sign of "independent thought", which you are not supposed to be doing!
As the expression goes, "You can't see the forest for the trees."
Well, you can't see the planet!
As since the beginning of mankinds existance, it is a matter of faith and obedience!
Faith, obedience, fear, what's the difference?
May our Awesome God Jehovah bless his sheeplike ones!
Like he's blessing those little kids right now? I think I'd prefer to go without his blessing in that case thank you!
"Vaccination has never saved a human life. It does not prevent smallpox." The Golden Age, Feb 4 1931 p. 293-4 - The Sacredness of Human Blood (Reasons why vaccination is unscriptural)
