Posts by FairMind

37

Smoking = Disfellowshiping is it justified?? Do you do it now?

by Witness 007 in

isn't smoking just as bad as "defiling the body our temple" with alcohol or drugs legal or illegal?

if i have glucoma will i be disfellowshiped if i smoke pot, since it is a doctor perscribed treatment?

those who smoke how do you justify ruining your health and finances?.

FairMind

I stopped smoking in 1973 when it became a DF..ing offense. Glad I did as I enjoy good health today while all of my birth family members have been long dead due to tobacco related health problems. I would never start smoking again even if DF’d, simply due to not wanting to hurt my health.

Having said the above, the WT’s anti-smoking stance is based primarily on their belief that smoking is a spiritistic practice. Note the following from

***w739/1p.543DoYouRemember?***

?

WhydoJehovah’switnessesnotacceptforbaptismpersonswhoareaddictedtotobacco?

Tobacco befouls the body and is harmful to health; hence, its use reflects disrespect for the Giver of life, Jehovah God. The use of tobacco does not harmonize with the Biblical admonition for Christians to ‘cleanse themselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit.’ Then, too, tobacco contains an addictive drug, nicotine. Therefore tobacco can be classed with the addictive drugs like those that provided the source for the Greek term phar·ma·ki´a, “druggery.” The Bible specifically states that “druggers,” whether those who personally make a practice of using such drugs or those who urge others to indulge in such a practice, will not gain divine approval. (Gal. 5:20; Rev. 9:21; 2 Cor. 7:1)—Pp. 338, 339.

27

Local Needs.

by strawberry cake in

this week, my husband and myself were the subject of local needs.

our older children were there...we stayed away.

reported by my sons... it started thus.."do not leave the organization!

FairMind

He ended his item with "Do not leave the organization!" again

That's kinda like tell the boss you quit and he says, "if you quit you're fired". (:

13

Southern Test.

by hillbilly in

jw
friends

how i know i have entered the south... if i order "sweet tea" and the wait-staff does not point at the sugar and sweet-n-low on the table.. that's a high 90% indication i am in the "south".. florida may not always be the south... the paradox that comes from being as far east as it is south.

even ocala and winter haven are overun with michigan and new yorkers now days.. oklahoma is ok... some parts or southern... others , western buy so far i dont find many "yankees" around here.. parts of michigan may be in the south... during ww2 much of the south went up and stayed.

in some places you find grits easier than german sausage.

FairMind

My daughter and I visited Washington state a few years back and ordered sweet tea in a resteruant. The waitress didn't know what sweet tea was and seemed kinda uppity about the whole thing. I suppose the only reason people live up north is becaue they have jobs there.

6

Site News

by B_Deserter in

just to let you all know, my website, the skeptics' annotated watchtower, has been completely revamped and updated.

you can see it at http://skepticsannotatedwatchtower.org

FairMind

Double clicking my IE browser back arrow did the trick, no problem.

22

What is Heaven?

by Robert7 in

jw
friends

based on my research the last few months, i think i realize what heaven is.

this is not a new concept, and i'm sure many have come to this conclusion... .

thousands of years ago, the belief was an 'earth-centric' universe.

FairMind

No, heaven is not a myth but it is beyond our ability to comprehend it. Heaven is the dwelling place of God but it is not a physical place since God created all things physical (i.e. the universe). We can't explain it because it is beyound our ability to understand it.

6

Resolution

by JH in

jw
friends

$50 a month is needed for my car, gas and time i spend here posting interesting topics that strengthens your faith.. with 1000 active posters here, it's only 5 cents each.. since we can't raise our hands here, just post a yes if you agree to contribute and no if you don't.. keep this verse in mind when you vote : "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

" (luke 12:34).

i would also need 2 posters, one to present this resolution and one to second it.

FairMind

I know I'll be shunned but I oppose this resolution.

47

Accessibility to guns to blame for violence?

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

with all the talk about the increased violence in schools and among society, it still surprises me that the accessibility to guns argument often tends to trump the cultural argument.. maybe i'm out of touch but showing saw iii uncut on hbo at 10pm and releasing the most violent video games in history and the marketing of violent and perverse music, these are the things to me that desensitises young people first and then may trigger some hurt and unstable kids long before they go and buy a gun.. okay, ready to be blasted (pardon the pun)!.

.

FairMind

Simply stated, Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

46

Do you consider your time as a JW wasted time??

by karter in

many of us have devoted a lot of time and energy to the jw's at the expense of other things like education , planing for retirement , family time just to name a few.. i don't consider it all wasted time there was a lot of good i learnt however i'm doing things now as a jw i never would have.. i don't have the same time pressure and never fell guilty about taking a lot of time out for myself as one elder said to me"if we don't keep you brothers real busy in the work of the kingdom you get swallowed up by the world" .

karter.

FairMind

No, I don’t feel it was a waste of time.

1. As a JW I quit smoking 35 years ago, otherwise I’m sure I would have died years ago.

2. I stopped cheating on my wife.

3. I learned to be poised when talking to a group of people and to be more organized/disciplined in my approach to work.

4. I have learned a lot of Bible teachings and have great faith in God and Jesus.

5. I have distrust for any organization claiming to be God’s chosen one.

6. I’ve learned a lot about how peoples minds can be led through mind control techniques.

7. I now know what cognitive dissonance is.

8. I’m much more cautious when it comes to trusting people, especially those with power.

32

Is it "Healthy" for every JW to think alike like they do....

by JH in

i like variety and different opinions and i don't see that in the jw's...... what can this lead to?.

FairMind

Jehovah's Witnesses are for all apperances united in the same line of religious thought. However there is a wide variety of differences when it comes to JW individuals and their personal likes, dislikes, hobbies, recreation, etc.

94

The Spread of Muslims in Europe

by serotonin_wraith in

the spread of muslims in europe.

it seems inevitable that a hundred or two hundred years from now, the majority of people in europe will be muslim.

this is based on the number of children they are having compared to non muslims, and the presumption that they will be told from a very early age they are muslim too, and taught to believe the same things as their parents.

FairMind

I agree with most of what you said. The problem is there are many who don't understand the truth of the threat the Muslim world poses. So these people become road blocks to any action that will head off the calamaties to come. Frustrating as hell isn't it!