Posts by Cold Steel

29

Guns And Self Defense??

by Cold Steel in

i know jehovah's witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force?

also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?.

.

Wow...thanks, Blondie. Those excerpts made me ill. Don't resist, you might get hurt! If you get spray, it might come back and burn your eyes. Karate? You might get hurt in a practice session! This shows me just how far a religion can go when it deals with the "precepts of men."

In my own religion, weapons ownership and use is not looked down upon and we're taught that a man who cannot or will not protect his family is a coward. Yes, a man who lives by the sword dies by the sword, but there's a far cry between a Christian and the Sopranos. Which lives by the sword? Do both? Hardly! Peter lopped off the guard's ear, but why did he have the sword? There's a far cry between Jesus not resisting what he had come to Earth to do, which was to atone for the sins of all men, and someone resisting someone who would butcher their family.

My religion, and many other Christian denominations, would protect the chastity of women in a heartbeat over spinelessly allowing it to happen. In fact, not defending one's self, I think, would be a greater sin by far than allowing the wicked to abuse the righteous. Taking the life of a murderer or rapist is fully and completely justified in the eyes of God if one is threatened.

Again, many people with handguns don't ever have to fire a shot. And if one allows a murderer or rapist to have his way and murder or rape again, then the blood of the innocent victims in the future may be on their heads.

The Bible does not anywhere teach that one does not have the right to self defense or, that if one has the means to self defense that he or she is not justified in using it. After Jesus left his disciples, he instructed them: "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36) The apostle Paul also wrote: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (I Timothy 5:8) In those days, men were expected to provide not only food and shelter for their families, but defense as well.

And what of those who cravenly cowered before their attackers with downcast eyes lest they be smitten? Proverbs 25:26 states: "A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well." The JW Governing Body shamefully teaches its members to be cowards.

In the law given to Moses, the commandment was given, "Thalt shall not MURDER." The word "kill" is a mistranslation as virtually every scholar today admits. The difference is that murder is the shedding of INNOCENT blood. Why would God make the distinction if self defense was to be forbidden? It doesn't make sense. In fact, the Law of Moses makes ample room for self defense. If God never changes and is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why would self defense be discouraged or outlawed? Besides, the law of God before that given to Moses states, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." (Gen. 6) If a murderer is to be killed as part of God's law, then why is it any different to slay him in defense of one's family and loved ones?

The Governing Body thus lacks God's authority and teaches for commandments the precepts of men, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Members of the church, therefore, are not only fully justified, but commanded to take whatever means at hand to protect their families. And if their wives or daughters are threatened with rape or murder, they are charged with protecting them, even if they have to put large holes into the foreheads of the miscreants.

"Nobody has to...surrender his right of self-defense for fear of hurting somebody else, guilty or innocent. When someone comes at you with a gun, if you have one ounce of self-esteem, you will answer him by force, never mind who he is or who is behind him. If he is out to destroy you, that is what you owe to the sanctity of your own life."

-- Ayn Rand Ford Hall Forum 1972: "A Nation's Unity"

45

Jehovah's Witnesses And The Paranormal

by Cold Steel in

i understand that the jehovah's witnesses are paranoid when it comes to the paranormal.. how far do the roots of this paranoia go?

has anyone ever had any personal paranormal experiences or know of anyone who has (first hand)?.

and what are some of the more popular stories that get retold in jw circles?.

Cold Steel

I had nightmares the night I got it, told my mom about the dream and she went on a witch hut looking for items we bought recently and it was concluded my ring was the source of the bad dream and SHE THREW MY $20 RING AWAY, that I paid for!!)

Well, what if you picked out one of your mother's nice possessions and fingered that! (No pun intended.)

You lost a $20 ring...how about picking one of your mum's rings, hats, whatever??

I suspect that if you had nightmares about something expensive your mother had that it would be more rationalized, hmmm?

30

How Does One Get Into The GB?

by Cold Steel in

if one wanted to get onto the governing body, how would one go about it?

and who is currently the head of the gb?

how often do occupancies arise?.

Cold Steel

I find this fascinating. Curious, though. Who does the ordaining of elders?

Now let's say I joined the holy brotherhood in the church. Then in a few years I claimed to know I was anointed. If pressed, I could say I had a number of dreams where I was anointed by Father Adam and ushered into Heaven. Upon waking I had a small amount of oil on the crown of my head. Naturally my wife could back me up. Would this be over the top?

Or suppose I just began to be studious and intelligent and not say much. Then when the emblems were passed, I'd partake of them.

When people partake of the emblems, do other people whisper and gossip? Do they ever say, "Oh that Brother Jones. Can you believe he actually partook of the emblems (or whatever)! He's got some nerve. He's only been a member for two years and now he thinks he's anointed!"? Would I be "talked to" by an elder if I did it? Or would people just take it for what it's worth?

Is it better to be anointed or to be an elder? Wouldn't most people prefer being anointed and in Heaven rather than stuck in some crummy garden for eternity? I've seen the pictures of people in the garden and it doesn't look appealing.

3

Visions and Revelation

by Cold Steel in

in the book of joel, it's prophesied that people would have visions and dreams in the last days, and that they would prophesy.. how does the church react to people who claim to have inspired dreams or visions, and to prophesy?.

.

Cold Steel

How do JWs treat people who they think are possessed with demons? Who are the eight "faithful and discreet slaves"? And what makes them discreet? Are they from Las Vegas? What happens in Bethel stays in Bethel?

29

Guns And Self Defense??

by Cold Steel in

i know jehovah's witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force?

also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?.

.

Cold Steel

Wait...are you saying that JWs in the U.S. aren't allowed to own handguns? What about the recreational use? Competition? And many JWs have said they were allowed to have them, no problem.

Does anyone know of any situations where someone with a handgun was visited by an elder and told he or she had to get rid of them? What if one had a beautiful Colt Python or Gold Cup? And even if someone told you to get rid of your handguns, how would they ever know? Also, everone has the right to self defense. Would the church really prefer a woman to be raped and murdered rather than have a handgun?

I recall a magazine cover of a beautiful blonde with a stainless Ruger Security-Six .357 w/a 6-inch barrel. Inside was the story of how she saved herself from a known rapist with the Ruger. No one got killed; she held him for the police and actually made him make the phone call. He had a long criminal record and he had been raping women, murdering two. I kept the magazine for a long time (I worked for the National Rifle Association). I talked to many people who had used handguns for personal protection (including Roy Rogers and F. Lee Bailey). None had ever shot anyone much less killed them. I also interviewed people in prison, including some on death row. Many were caught by citizens with handguns.

The idea that handguns are only made for killing people is ridiculous. And no church has the right to tell you you can't own one for defense.

45

Jehovah's Witnesses And The Paranormal

by Cold Steel in

i understand that the jehovah's witnesses are paranoid when it comes to the paranormal.. how far do the roots of this paranoia go?

has anyone ever had any personal paranormal experiences or know of anyone who has (first hand)?.

and what are some of the more popular stories that get retold in jw circles?.

Cold Steel

Did anyone ever SEE a demon??

3

Visions and Revelation

by Cold Steel in

in the book of joel, it's prophesied that people would have visions and dreams in the last days, and that they would prophesy.. how does the church react to people who claim to have inspired dreams or visions, and to prophesy?.

.

Cold Steel

In the book of Joel, it's prophesied that people would have visions and dreams in the last days, and that they would prophesy.

How does the church react to people who claim to have inspired dreams or visions, and to prophesy?

30

How Does One Get Into The GB?

by Cold Steel in

if one wanted to get onto the governing body, how would one go about it?

and who is currently the head of the gb?

how often do occupancies arise?.

Cold Steel

How much power do Elders have in a Kingdom Hall? Do any Elders help their friends become Elders?

As for the Governing Body, who heads it up? Is there any one person who is the leader of the rest? As for proving one is anointed, how does a person do that? I can see where previous religious orientation might be a factor in...er...misleading a person into thinking they're anointed. And imbalanced people might also be a problem. But how would a person prove they're anointed? How are people supposed to "know"? Is it revealed to them in a mystical fashion?

45

Jehovah's Witnesses And The Paranormal

by Cold Steel in

i understand that the jehovah's witnesses are paranoid when it comes to the paranormal.. how far do the roots of this paranoia go?

has anyone ever had any personal paranormal experiences or know of anyone who has (first hand)?.

and what are some of the more popular stories that get retold in jw circles?.

Cold Steel

I understand that the Jehovah's Witnesses are paranoid when it comes to the paranormal.

How far do the roots of this paranoia go? Has anyone ever had any personal paranormal experiences or know of anyone who has (first hand)?

And what are some of the more popular stories that get retold in JW circles?

29

Guns And Self Defense??

by Cold Steel in

i know jehovah's witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force?

also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?.

.

Cold Steel

I know Jehovah's Witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force? Also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?