Posts by Heaven

My Mom would not allow us kids to make any baptismal decisions until we were adults. She felt Jesus' example was the best way. But we all know Watchtower has other ideas.

What is interesting about my family is that none of us kids ever got baptized into any religion. Fundamentalism doesn't work for kids. We all saw the BS and said no thanks. Why don't we all sign up? Because the religious claims are not backed up by reality. For me, it wasa combination of the issue of theodicy and disagreeing with Watchtower interpretation of scripture and their doctrines.

As children, we are all told an interpretation of what god is. As we get older, we formulate our own ideas based on what we are told versus what Science has discovered and what reality shows us. When the god stories don't match the facts, when hypocrisy is evident, we move away from it.

As for the OP, I would not leap to such a huge conclusion that 'god is the answer'. We all know what an oppressive god does to people ala the Watchtower. I suspect the stats for children raised in a fundamentalist/extremist/oppressive religion would not support 'happier and healthier' children. I, for one, put plans together as a teenager to get away from my parents religion.

Spirituality is a very personal thing. Many connect it with a belief in 'god'. I do not. I have experienced the feeling of 'grace' outside of any religious type activity or thought. Many of my experiences in nature have given me this feeling.

I think if a child is raised in a loving, positive, uplifting, supportive environment where compassion for others is taught, you will have happy, healthy children. No one needs 'god' for this.

53

Some Questions About Jesus

by Coded Logic in

why didn't jesus ever write anything?

why are there no letters to jesus?

no painting of jesus from that time?

Heaven

Why didn't Jesus write anything?

1) He was unable to.

2) He did not care to.

3) He did not exist.

There were a lot of messiahs in existence during that time. If Jesus did exist, I suspect most people thought he was a crack pot.

5

What does God really convey through Jesus?

by economy in

bible shows that jesus was passionate about people receiving `life in all its fullness' in the here and now, he loved fiercely, challenged corruption and hypocrisy of religious authority, feasted with the marginalized, chastised the holier-than-thou types, healed the sick, fed the hungry, restored broken lives, taught through stories and offered a drastically new kingdom where the last would be first and those that served would be known as greatest..... so good a personality, and a supreme ideal indeed to be imitated..

yet what was his finality?

rejection by people (and even by his own disciples who witnessed all supernatural miraclesincluding his resurrecting the dead) and a cruel and torturous death..

Heaven

Jesus was purported to be a miracle worker yet was incapable of eradicating slavery.

23

Every Governing Body Decision is from Jehovah

by B4Right in

how do you convince a jw that every decision that comes from the governing body is not from god?.

my mom who is a pioneer said that the students are getting their work book a month early, then proceeded to say " jehovah knows what we need".. for you who now know ttat what did it take for you?.

Heaven

About 30 years ago, while visiting my parents, I asked both of them at the same time if God was directing the Watchtower?

At exactly the same time my Dad says "No." and my Mom says "Yes".

'You shoulda seen the 'holy shite' look pass between them.

I'm like 'uh huh'.

It actually doesn't matter what the answer is to that question.

If it is "Yes" than either Jeehoopla is f'ing with the Watchtower by constantly telling them wrong stuff or they are dumb asses and not 'getting' it right. Why subject oneself to this wackiness? As a JW you're on the front lines and you're going to have to defend this BS when you are challenged. How can you call this The Truth when it's wrong and constantly changing?

If it is "No", then why follow them? - they are just another religion making up crap as they go along. Just like all religion has done since it's inception

2

It's All Crazy - But Do We Really Know What Is Out There After?

by yodastar in

just a thought!

after everything we were taught where is the evidence?

heaven, hell, reincarnation, universal energy or all of them?.

Heaven

And it is precisely because we do not know which makes life so awesome. The quest for knowledge continues.

I for one am very pumped to find out what Science discovers in the rest of my lifetime.

I was very excited to learn about the discovery last year of a planet similar to Earth (Kepler-186f).

It is also very wonderful that we know what we do know. And that time and time again, Science has proven religion to be false.

At one time Religion claimed that the Earth was flat, that it does not move and is the centre of the universe, that the heavens are static/unchangeable, that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that if you are afflicted in some way (say with leprosy or epilepsy or some other issue) that you are an abomination - you are evil or in disfavour with God or that demons possess you or you are in league with Lucifer.

The hunger for and pursuit of knowledge has been the one thing that has lifted us out of the tyranny of those who believe mythology is truth.

I would suggest that you begin to regularly check in with the Scientific community.

7

Religions Are - Awesome Quote

by yodastar in

my wife grew up without a religious upbringing.

she was passed down a german bible given to her grandfather in 1935 which had a hand written inscription by two jewish colleagues of her grandfather at the time.

inside was a quote either written by her relatives or anonymous, not sure which but i really had to share it as it really sums it up for me - enjoy!.

Heaven

Religions Are ..
The fossilized philosophies and petrified politics of past ages. Managed and modified by myths and legends to mystify and mollify the masses when they question the meaning of life.

Awesome quote!

Morals are innate.

Religion and God are unnecessary. Many are living their lives just fine without them.

Edited to add: 'disgard all that is a hindrance'. To me, Religion and God definitely fall under 'hindrance'.

5

I had every intention of going to the Memorial last night.......

by dubstepped in

i wanted to go and to do it for jehovah and jesus and what they've done for me.

i wanted it to be a personal thing between them and i. i haven't been to a meeting in close to a year, not that anyone notices or cares.

this isn't my first stint away, and nobody would notice or care if i was found dead.

Heaven

Once you've seen the man behind the curtain, the magic is lost. Once you know history, you can't unknow it.

Religious buildings of any kind just creep me out now.