Posts by garyneal

226

You atheist really annoyed me

by confusedandalone in

jw
friends

when i first came to this site.

whenever i would try to talk about somethign from the bible that the jw's got wrong or reason on a scripture that had so much feeling you would stomp all over it.

talking about "flying spaghetti gods" and laugh at what seemed to be my expense and then leave the thread never to return and add any substance.

I guess what got me was the fact that the books in our Bibles were chosen by priests, which ones were included, which ones weren't. Also that some Bibles have books that are not in the current Protestant canon and that some books in our canon references books that were excluded from the canon. Kind of casts doubt on the whole idea that it is the infallible word of God.

Not to mention how many sects and even individuals in the same sect bicker and argue over seemingly minor details of the Bible.

Most Christians are quick to say that they must follow the word of God as closely as possible but at the same time most don't even know what exactly are they following other than 'what the pastor says.' Either that or they go to their specific religious literature that their pastor (or other church leader) finds agreeable. That's not much different than what witnesses do, eh? "If it did not come from JW.ORG you better not read it for it may be apostate," said my Mother-In-Law to my wife one day.

Add to that the fact that most Christians (and that includes Jehovah's Witnesses) do not care about doctrine and it makes you wonder why should anyone care. Especially when the true answer cannot be found (we do not have the original writings anymore) and most every believer relies on some religious leader to supply it. I truly think that they (the religious leaders) will be judged most harshly due to (if for no other reason) their position of power and influence.

10

Attention Lurkers, newbies and fence sitters and shunned ones!!!!

by Crazyguy in

its time to be blunt, the jw religions denies their members the messiah.

do your research people, go to your cd library and type the word "mediator" in brackets or parentheses, and then hit search button.

after reading all you can you'll see that according to them, jesus only mediates for the 144k.

garyneal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki0QM8sHdC8

18

Connection Between Captives of a Concept and the Governing Bodys New Light?

by Cameron_Don in

jw
friends

some have wondered if captives of a concept had anything to do with why the governing body changed their interpretation of the most important scripture in their theology - matthew 24:45-47. of course there is no way of knowing.

but since some of the changes deal with matters that are brought out in the book, it does seem fair to wonder.

the book makes the major point that according to their former interpretation the only way the society could be gods faithful and discreet slave organization today is if they had received jesus belongings appointment in 1919. .

garyneal

I believe these latest changes are causing my wife to wake up. However, and she has told me this herself, I don't think she will truly give it up until her mom passes away.

11

Mormon's using the web to escape their cult.

by cantleave in

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.

when fellow believers in sweden first began coming to him with information from the internet that contradicted the churchs history and teachings, he dismissed it as anti-mormon propaganda, the whisperings of lucifer.

he asked his superiors for help in responding to the members doubts, and when they seemed to only sidestep the questions, mr. mattsson began his own investigation.. but when he discovered credible evidence that the churchs founder, joseph smith, was a polygamist and that thebook of mormon and other scriptures were rife with historical anomalies, mr. mattsson said he felt that the foundation on which he had built his life began to crumble.. around the world and in the united states, where the faith was founded, the mormon church is grappling with a wave of doubt and disillusionment among members who encountered information on the internet that sabotaged what they were taught about their faith, according to interviews with dozens of mormons and those who study the church.. i felt like i had an earthquake under my feet, said mr. mattsson, now an emeritus area authority.

garyneal

See other thread on this article here.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/257445/1/Some-Mormons-Search-the-Web-and-Find-Doubt

If anyone cares.

6

Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt

by NewYork44M in

jw
friends

here is an interesting article in today's new york times.. while it seems to be rough times for the cults of the world becuase of the internet, it is interesting that the end of the story suggests that the individuals are "still attached to their mormon faith.".

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html?pagewanted=1&hp.

garyneal

From the article:

In the last 10 or 15 years, he said, “the church has come to realize that transparency and candor and historical accuracy are really the only way to go.”

This is what the Watchtower needs to do. Not whitewash their history but allow for candid discussions regarding their short history (which is shorter than the Mormon church).

“Sometimes people are furious because they feel they haven’t been told the truth growing up,” he said. “They feel like they were tricked or betrayed.”

Imagine how many of the rank and file witnesses would feel if they really learned their true history.

Mr. Mattsson said that when he started sharing what he had learned with other Mormons in Sweden, the stake president (who oversees a cluster of congregations) told him not to talk about it to any members, even his wife and children. He did not obey: “I said to them, why are you afraid for the truth?”

Brave man and well said. As it has been said here and in other places, truth has nothing to fear from a critical examination.

The Mattssons have tried other churches, but they are still attached to their Mormon faith.

This is where a lot of witnesses, including my wife, will probably find themselves at.

“I don’t want to hurt the church,” Mr. Mattsson said. “I just want the truth.”

It is good to see that the Mormon church is beginning to recognize that there needs to be more transparency with its members. I wonder if Governing Body 2.0 will every realize this?

73

Bitter apostates

by Laika in

witnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.

when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.

it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.

garyneal

Believe what you wish, my friend, but very few of the early LDS leaders led peaceful, happy lives. They were imprisoned, mobbed, run out of their homes and forced to leave their property to those who ran them off. Some had their children shot in front of them, or, in at least one case, saw their children's heads bashed in. (They boasted that it saved ammunition.) The only thing that would have motivated me to stay with such a movement is that if I knew it was true. And, finally, keep in mind that Martin spent his entire wealth financing the church's interest, including publishing the Book of Mormon, which often was given away or sold well below cost.

Jews were persecuted during the holocaust, Christians are reportedly persecuted in many places, even Jehovah's Witnesses faced persecution. As much as I hate to see people hurt for any reason (especially for their beliefs and their convictions), I cannot use that as a basis for judging that their religion is the correct one. Can you?

272

A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC

by Londo111 in

this is the main series playlist:.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.

this is the accompanying video appendix:.

garyneal

Perhaps now is the time to reflect on what Randy Watters said in this thread.

272

A Video Series about 607 BC vs 587 BC

by Londo111 in

this is the main series playlist:.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plynx0om_bmgbfmnapjr_v5fe9_pf8sqa1.

this is the accompanying video appendix:.

garyneal

Scholar is back and I see he is up to his tired old tricks again.

Scholar, where in the Bible does it speak about the desolation of Jerusalem for 70 years?

73

Bitter apostates

by Laika in

witnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.

when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.

it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.

garyneal

Each of those three witnesses, incidentally, were well respected and known for their integrity and honesty.

According to wikipedia, Martin Harris is known for being very superstitious. Surely a man like that can be convinced to believe just like he was depicted in the cartoon, eh?

73

Bitter apostates

by Laika in

witnesses often go on about apostates being spiteful and bitter.

when you get cut off, shunned, or threatened with shunning just for the audacity of thinking differently, it's not surprising that getting angry at the witnesses is the reaction - it's like a self fulfilling prophecy.. but also, i recently posted an email from a 'friend' on this board who told me that everyone he'd spoken to about me said i had changed, become like another person.

it didn't occur to him that the day before i told my parents i'd quit the religion just 3 weeks ago, i met him for lunch, we had a good time and he didn't know anything was up.

garyneal

All About Mormons "Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum" from chewisniewski on Vimeo.

Sorry, but if this is even remotely accurate, it would be tough sledding indeed to get most outsiders to believe it.

All About Mormons "Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum" from chewisniewski on Vimeo.