Posts by ABibleStudent

153

Jesus' Teachings - Helpful or Harmful?

by jgnat in

spinning off from another thread, have jesus' teachings been less than universally helpful to mankind?

how do we measure if a particular philosophy is helpful or harmful?.

i am going to use the "universal morals" listed here.

ABibleStudent

jgnat - Personally I find Jesus' apocalyptic teachings to be harmful, and the expectations of persecution that goes along with that. I have seen people defer living because of this teaching.

Hi jgnat, Is this a case of killing the messenger because of not liking the message? From what I read in the Bible, IMHO Jewish leaders appeared to use BITE control techniques to victimize Jews just like the WTBTS victimizes JWs. Although I would not tell people how Jesus Christ is attributed to have said in MT 10 & 24 (and apocalyptic teachings that you refer to), I do feel that MT 10 is a fairly accurate prediction of what a Jew would encounter if he no longer believed that Jewish leaders represented God. According to many people on JWN, they have experienced similar behavior from loved ones when their loved ones suspected that they no longer believed that the WTBTS was God's organization on earth.

I'm not saying that the Bible is the perfect channel for God to spread his message by itself. I also wonder like many others why God does not help end human suffering more actively. I can only say that my life experiences have proven to me that I remember lessons longer when I had to work very hard to overcome challanges and that I'm a happier and more moral, ethical, and compasionate person because of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

33

Should I reconnect with my Bible students? What do you think?

by KateWild in

i reprted 5 studies the month i was df'd.

more than a year has passed since i have seen any of my students.

i got on so well with many of them, we became friends.. did i do the right thing?

ABibleStudent

Go for it KateWild!! But, don't tell them about TTATT. Ask them simple questions to find out how they feel and how they feel about the WTBTS. Then, ask them simple questions about TTATT and how you learned about TTATT after visiting _______ website.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

40

ARE YOU AN ANGRY and BITTER APOSTATE?

by Hummingbird001 in

jw
friends

i have noticed that there are different reactions to learning the "truth about the truth".

some become quite bitter and angry and become very activist.

others seem to just move on quite easily.. .

ABibleStudent

Nope. I'm a Christian and not a JW. The WTBTS is very good at making poor, angry, bitter, jealous, and frustrated apostates (i.e., JWs).

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

44

How would you answer these questions that came to me in an email through my website? ...

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

many emails are sent to me through my website, watchtowerdocuments.com.

all are answered.

remember 1corinthians 6: 1-2 (i'll answer this question.

ABibleStudent

Hi Barbara, Is it possible to answer just one question now, and then ask him what other question causes him the most doubt about the WTBTS? Obviously, he has doubts or why would he be asking you for answers. If you answer his questions, he will not gain as much insight as if he would by doing his own research.

You could also ask him if he has visited www.jwfacts.com for answers to most of his other questions, or to join JWN and ask questions about his doubts.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

108

"Jehovah ALWAYS had/used an organization". How would you reply?

by EdenOne in

in a recent meeting with elders, an argument was used to the effect that jehovah has always [= throughout history] used, or operated through, an organization; therefore, the wts must be that organization today, since god must be using one.

naturally, i know what arguments i've used to counter that argument.

but i'm interested in hearing yours.

ABibleStudent

EdenOne - In a recent meeting with Elders, an argument was used to the effect that Jehovah has always [= throughout history] used, or operated through, an organization; therefore, the WTS must be that organization today, since God must be using one.

Hi EdenOne, Thanks for starting this thread so that people can express how they would counter the WTBTS's false doctrine that God needs an organization. You got to love the circular logic that the WTBTS uses to stupify JWs.

I have four questions for JWs. 1) Please name the organizations that God has used in the past? How did people decide that God was working through that organization? What miracles or accurate prophesies did the organizations perform to demostrate that God was working through them? 2) How many organizations claim to represent God now? What miracles or accurate prophesies have they performed to demonstrate that God works through them? 3) How do people know when God no longer works through an organization? Does God send Jesus Christ to fire the leaders of the organization like he did with the Pharisees and Sadducces? 4) Does God really need an organization, since Jesus Christ said that after his ressurection, God would send the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ's disciples? In Acts God also sent the Holy Spirit to a Roman legionnaire.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

40

How Would You Recommend Getting Rid Of Jehovah's Witnesses?

by minimus in

jw
friends

....at your door?.

my gf mistakenly took brochures/pamphlets and now they drop things in the doorway every week (at least).. any suggestions?

?.

ABibleStudent

Ask them if they would accept information in return for a WTBTS phamplet. After you overcome their intial objections of not being able to accept religious material, by you saying that the information is not. Get a Sharpie and write a website URL like www.jwfacts.com or www.freedomofmind.com, which are secular, on the propaganda. Hand it back to them with a smile, as you tell them that you felt sooo much better after visiting the website that you just wrote down on the propaganda.

Worst case scenerio is that the JWs will not return to your home and throw away the propaganda. Best case scenerio is that they may visit the website.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

52

Theists - does your god DESERVE to be respected or worshipped?

by cantleave in

or should she abdicate for lack of action / leadership?.

ABibleStudent

unstopableravens - Robert matthew 4:4, and the father says the son should be worshiped hebrews 1:5, 6

unstopableravens - Or verses 5-9 in matthew 4

Hi unstopableravens, If MT 22:37-38 is the greatest commandment, is it possible to love God by following the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ and applying those principles to interpet Bible verses such as MT 4-4 and MT 5-10? What is your definition of worship? My definition would be showing some form of subjugation to a deity like bowing down to Satan in MT 4:9. If we could agree with a definition of worship, that it involves some form of subjugation, and that when Jesus Christ quotes scriptures it does need to be interpreted using MT 22:37-40, then is it possible to intrepret what Jesus said in MT 4:4 and MT 4:10 to Satan as nothing more than live a moral and truthful life? If we could agree with a definition of worship involving some form of subjugation and that Jesus Christ was telling Satan to live a moral and truthful life, would you agree then that God does not want to subjugate people but wants them to live a moral and truthful life?

Mt 22: 37-38 27 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [ c ] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

MT 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

MT 4:5-10

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ [ c ] ”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ [ d ] ”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

The Bible is a difficult book to understan and people interpret it differently. I am only offering my interpretation. I hope that people interpret the Bible free from coercion by others and live a moral and truthful life.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

52

Theists - does your god DESERVE to be respected or worshipped?

by cantleave in

or should she abdicate for lack of action / leadership?.

ABibleStudent

Why does God need to be worshipped? If MT 22:37-40 are the greatist commandments, where did Jesus Christ state in the Bible that God needed to be worshipped? Is it possible to interpret MT 22:37-40 to just mean desire to be truthful and forgiving to others, instead of desiring to hurt other people, lying, and other negative emotions?

I prefer to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to live a healtier and happier life instead of getting into heaven. I prefer to live in the here and now instead of some possible future fantasy.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

25

wt exposer strikes in rest.

by JunkYardDog in

jw
friends

i in a rest.

eating lunch an older lady comes in with her 2 kids.

the lady is fussy and i give her my table.

ABibleStudent

Hi JunkYardDog, At least you care enough about those JWs to hold JWs accountable for their actions. Everyone has an opinion as well as a rectum, but fewer people have enough courage to follow their convictions.

Your version of tough love might plant seeds of doubt in JWs so continue exposing JWs to the WTBTS's hypocrisy.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

19

i finally had "the truth" talk with the hubby

by monis in

jw
friends

i have been inactive for a couple of years.

he has too, but wants to go back.

he has never researched anything about jws.

ABibleStudent

Hi monis, Ask your husband, what would cause him to lose faith in the WTBTS and then ask him simple questions for him to prove to you (actually himself) that the WTBTS has the truth. IMHO if he considers himself a Christian he should be following Jesus Christ instead of the WTBTS, so how can the WTBTS be teaching the "Truth" if the WTBTS's doctrines and teachings are contray to the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert