i am gearing up to have "the big discussion" with my boyfriend about his witness beliefs... and i was wondering what are some good questions to ask him?
at this point, im not bent on "proving him wrong" as i think that is a bad attitude to take into a discussion of this nature, but i do plan on asking him to make sense of some of the more questionable practices of the jws... (dubs?
the questions i have so far are .
I ask this because I just don't know all the issues yet... thats one of the reasons why I joined this site. I know whats important to ME... but I dont know how that relates to his particular beliefs... got me? I dont need a cheerleading squad!! Thats definitely not what Im looking for.
I will for sure ask about the blood issue... but a good example of "not knowing" is... I never knew about "silent lambs" or the abuse issues until I got here and started reading.
Anyways... thanks for youe help
i am gearing up to have "the big discussion" with my boyfriend about his witness beliefs... and i was wondering what are some good questions to ask him?
at this point, im not bent on "proving him wrong" as i think that is a bad attitude to take into a discussion of this nature, but i do plan on asking him to make sense of some of the more questionable practices of the jws... (dubs?
the questions i have so far are .
Hello everyone!!
I am gearing up to have "the big discussion" with my boyfriend about his witness beliefs... and I was wondering what are some good questions to ask him? At this point, Im not bent on "proving him wrong" as I think that is a bad attitude to take into a discussion of this nature, but I do plan on asking him to make sense of some of the more questionable practices of the JWs... (dubs? I learned a new word lol)
The questions I have so far are
1) Does the WTS claim to speak for God? If so... explain the false prophecies and constantly changing doctrine [without using the words "new" or "light"] If the WTS does NOT speak for God, why would you follow their interpretations of the bible?
2) Do you believe that the New World Translation is correct, inerrant and unbiased? If so, please explain why the society has been known to change the scripture when it makes a doctrinal change.
3) If you claim that the name of God has been removed thousands of times from the OT...and this is wrong... why is it right for the NWT to add the word Jehovah 200+ times where it was never written. The WTS itself states that no Greek manuscript was ever found that uses the Lord's "full name" ... so isn't removing the name just as bad as adding it where it never was to begin with?
Ok.... thats all I have so far!! I mean there are several offshoots questions that can be asked from those three... but Im not an "insider" so I wouldn't really know the best things to ask about
So... If you were me...what would you ask him?
there have been a couple of threads started lately (and i'm sure many in the past as well) of dubs ask us apostates what they have since leaving the borg.
most people have responded that they enjoy their freedom, the ability to think independently.
but freedom and independent thinking are shunned by the dubs.. so i ask the question, .
As some of you know... Im not a witness and never was.... but I'm here and I will toss in my two pennies all the same
But it blows my mind that people wouldn't understand that the very NATURE of the God they are wishing to serve is undercut and handcuffed by much of the Watchtower rhetoric. God is LOVE (its in the Bible) so why would you turn your back on someone who has been "disfellowshipped"? Thats not very loving.
The Bible says to "test all things", to constantly make sure you are still in the faith and to STUDY to show thyself approved. It also says that "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
A very cursory examination of the scriptures would show that many witness beliefs are just not true. If you want to be "of noble character" test the doctrines of the WTS against the scripture........ I mean....if the Bereans tested Paul....why can't you test the WTS?
"I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." Psalms 119
Oh and.... for us newbies and "nons" ...... quick clarification ...but whats a borg and a dub? mmmkayThanks!
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
I can't thank you guys enough. As you probably know...its kind of difficult to glean useful info from practicing witnesses. It also brings me solace that most of you are older (and wiser) than me so I'm very much so appreciative of your insight.
*sigh*
I take it I'm in for an uphill battle....So unfortunate...He would be worth the battle...but its very nice to know what I'm getting myself into... straight from the horses mouth so to speak.
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
Thanks peach & steve... & everyone else (Im not recalling names right now sowwy)
I also apologize if this is repetitive post...Im sure we "nons" post this sort of topic repeatedly
What I'm sure I need to do is leave the "lawyer" in me at home and have an honest, non-accusational, non-judgmental discussion on the subject with him, if that possible. But thank you guys again for arming me with some knowledge.
Sidebar: It seems such a shame that an emotion as wonderful and God-given as LOVE could be stifled and undermined because of something like this. It truly makes my heart sad.
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
@Gumby (I haven't figured out how to quote people yet ) he didnt specify which hall. I feel bad for not being willing to go with him and he has even accused me of not supporting his walk with God (which made me feel even worse) But...my best friend in high school was a witness and she was one of the saddest, conflicted people I've ever known. She had to sneak to talk on the phone with me... and she was no better off as a human being than I was! In fact she was worse because she was painfully shy, afraid of males and very self conscious. I dont dispute that there are wonderful people out there who are witnesses (my boyfriend is one of them) but (excuse me if I offend...I really dont mean too) judgmentalism seems to be present in spades...and isn't THAT wrong too?
He quotes the bible and says that "bad associations corrupt good character" which is not untrue. But I am a good person. Ive been blessed. Im a (conscientious) law student, former teacher, I volunteer with the homeless and juveniles...Im empathetic, hard working and God-fearing.... I dont mean sound like Im tooting my own horn because God is responsible for my growth but I hate the idea that Im may not good enough for him to date. I also don't want to be put in a situation where I have to force him to choose between me and them!
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest guys! The lawyer in me tends to shoot off 50 questions in a row when I talk to him about it and that seems to be a quick way to put people on the defensive
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
Hmmmmmm.... Im not liking what Im hearing so far!! Are all the particular Halls the same (I dont know what to call them... chapters? i dont know) What I mean is... is the threat of excommunication for dating "someone like me" something that is a universal practice? Its sanctioned by the folks in Brooklyn? Really? I've read about it on other sites...but the Watchtower official site makes them sound so friendly and loving lol...its this just for appearances?
He will not let me meet his mother.... he jokes about it....but Im beggining to think that the two issues are related...? *sigh* This makes me very sad because he is a wonderful person but I don't know if I can get past this. I don't like how I feel like an "outsider." In hindsight...his best friend did question me about my religious beliefs when I first met him. Then when I saw him the next time, he barely spoke to me very very sad indeed.
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
He said he didn't tell me because he didn't know how I would react. He swears that the JWs are NOT a denomination but instead are indeed the chosen people of God... He knows my stance on "denominational Christianity" (I am adamantly opposed to it--I feel as if it is divisive and absurd)
We're in a holding pattern right now...putting off the inevitable clash *sigh*
Thanks for the feedback... and the welcomes....I think I'll stick around for awhile.
hello everyone... im new here!
i have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight.
i have a boyfriend whom i looooooove.
Hello everyone... Im new here! Welcome me
I have a question...maybe you guys can give me some insight. I have a boyfriend whom I looooooove. Hes a wonderful person, treats me well etc etc. Recently, though, I had to piece together the fact that he is a JW. I mean....we talk about everything. We have discussed marriage. I trusted him explicitly. Our communication was great (so I thought). We live about an hour away from eachother (2.5 in traffic...its L.A. what can you do) so...hes able to do all those witness things without me really knowing. But...long story short, from certain things about his lifestyle I concluded that he was a witness. I confronted him about it and he admitted to it, claiming it was a big part of who he is and a lot of the things I love about him are part of his character because he's a witness....
So I guess my question is...under what circumstances would a person HIDE something like this? (it was almost like he was ashamed...) Should I be waiving a red flag? Is this a big deal? Do relationships like this work? I've researched the JWs and I have informed him that under NO circumstances will I become one. (no offense to anyone....but its just not for me...at all) He recommends that I visit the Kingdom Hall just to see what its about. I'm not willing. I have a strong (non-denominational, non-churchy) Christian background and I love the Lord as much as the next guy but.... do you guys think we are headed for major problems? All his friends and family are witnesses... Im the only "non" from what I can see.
So knowing what you guys know about the JWs... do you think it will be a big issue? Big enough to be prohibitive?
Thnaks in advance!
