This must be the truth because the Governing Body says it is. Circular reasoning! If I said that I was the truth and was appointed by God, I would be branded an apostate, but its ok for them to say it.
TimothyT
JoinedPosts by TimothyT
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Ridiculous reasons that "this MUST be the truth"!!!
by stillstuckcruz inever since i began researching about mind control, the organization, etc....i've really been paying attention to the actions and comments of the members of the congregation.
i've been noticing how so many people(usually the sisters) make up such ludicrous statements of how "this must be the truth"!.
for instance, the other day a brother at our hall who is only his early 40's was admitted to the hospital because of a bad infection.
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Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!
by TimothyT inone thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.
when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.
am i missing something here!?!?
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TimothyT
Haha... thanks for your responses eggnog.
Do you know... i cant be bothered. I have better things to be doing than arguing about doctrine. Just like I will be, i encourage you to continue reading your bible and getting the best from it. Best of all I encourage you to continue to BE a Christian doing good to your neighbours, etc.
I see no point in quoting scrips to you because, as was always the way with the JWs, it seems you have a clever answer in response to everything.
However i will give you one of the discrepencies. As quoted above there is a huge difference between John 3:16 and many other verses in John regarding Jesus as the means of salvation, compared to this quote from the Watchtower: " To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12. A BIG difference there!
:)
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Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!
by TimothyT inone thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.
when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.
am i missing something here!?!?
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TimothyT
Djeggnog...
With all due respect you just talk far too much. I cannot keep up with what you are saying. I have read and reread what you have stated in your post but I don’t see where you are coming from. I work better with shorter and more succinct to the point paragraphs.
As I gather from your post, I totally agree that I do not know a lot about the bible. I can’t name the 66 books... I can’t name the 12 disciples... I can’t reel off scriptures and tell you exactly where they come from... I do not understand a lot about the Old Testament... and there are MANY things I don’t understand. However, I understand that Jesus is the Lord and that salvation is through him and him alone (John 14:6). When you read the scriptures, it is made very clear to us that simple faith and belief in Jesus is what will save us. (John 3:16) His teachings are simple and good for us. These I know and am well versed in.
I can’t give you an essay on the technicalities of Christianity and how the JW group adopt these, but I can say that when I read the gospels plainly, I can see huge discrepancies between Jesus teachings and this organisations. Jesus load is simple; the organisation’s isn’t. Jesus taught x; they teach y. Jesus shown mercy; the organisation doesn’t. Jesus focused on the more important things; the organisation focuses on petty little things. Even as a JW it is undeniable that what the bible says is different to what the JWs teach. The differences are so blatantly staring all of us in the face.
Timmy x
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Gay and proud for a year
by TimothyT inwow... i cant believe it has now been a year since i accepted that im gay.
it has been the best year of my life for so many reasons.
i have met my boyfriend who i adore, i have stopped lying to myself, my family and my friends, i am doing really well financially and spiritually, and of course, i am no longer a part of a deluded and oppressive religion.. it feels so good to be free!
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TimothyT
Wow… I can’t believe it has now been a year since I accepted that I’m gay. It has been the best year of my life for so many reasons. I have met my boyfriend who I adore, I have stopped lying to myself, my family and my friends, I am doing really well financially and spiritually, and of course, I am no longer a part of a deluded and oppressive religion.
It feels so good to be free!
Timmy xxx
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Question about the memorial :)
by TimothyT ini have no doubt that in a few weeks when the campaign to spread memorials invites is underway that my good friend, the jw, will give me an invitation.
she has already told me that she would support me when walking in, telling me that i could sit next to her and she wouldnt give a damn what others would think that she was encouraging a disfellowshipped person.
she is very sweet, and i appreciate her thoughts.. however, i would rather not go because i believe the whole thing is done wrong anyway.
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TimothyT
Thanks for your comments everyone. Just looking at that last post i checked on wikipedia. I wonder who wrote this:
All present view this as an opportunity to show that they accept the belief that Jesus Christ is the one who sacrificed himself in behalf of redemption for all mankind, becoming the only mediator between Jehovah God and mankind (John 3:16). At the same time, it is an opportunity to publicly show thanks for that worldwide redemption.
Apart from the bit about him being the only mediator which i think is quite an odd thing to say as they believe that the faithful slave is in between Jesus and them, I just wonder why they feel that they only have to show their thanks once a year. Surely they can show this thanks every day. As some have pointed out, communion in churches is done usualy every week. Does it matter how its done? Does it even matter IF its done? Surely the symbols and emblems themselves are not important, but its the faith in them which is?
In any event, i dont see why i need to go to show my thanks to Jesus. :)
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Matthew 7 and Jehovah's Witnesses!
by TimothyT ini am writing another letter to a jw friend who still feels that she can convince me to come back to the organisation.
in the letter i realised that i was quoting a lot from matthew 7, and i decided it may be beneficial to just make some notes about some of the verses in the chapter with regards to the organisation and how it compares.
enjoy reading them:.
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TimothyT
I am writing another letter to a JW friend who still feels that she can convince me to come back to the organisation. In the letter I realised that I was quoting a lot from Matthew 7, and I decided it may be beneficial to just make some notes about some of the verses in the chapter with regards to the organisation and how it compares. Enjoy reading them:
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
The organisation is VERY judgemental of others, their beliefs and their actions both on a personal level and a grouped level. Straight away they have disregarded one of Jesus primary pieces of advice. Jesus himself states that they will be judged for this.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
The organisation clearly is imperfect and is full of imperfect men who make mistakes and figuratively have planks in their own eyes. Jesus says it is therefore incorrect for them to tell someone else that what they are doing is wrong. He calls such ones hypocrites. They have no right whatsoever to judge others.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
False prophets are recognised by the fruits of their actions and words. Perhaps here the organisation should consider where it stands. Are they producing good fruit or is it rotten fruit? There is a lot of goodness in this world and many are teaching the truth from the bible – the truth about Jesus and the goodness of his teachings. However are Jehovah’s Witnesses doing the same or are they teaching unchristian things? As Jesus said false prophets can be recognised by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Those who do the will of the father in heaven will enter into the kingdom of heaven. What is his will? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses doing it? Just because they may preach worldwide and do many so called powerful works in his name, it does not automatically grant them access to the kingdom. This scripture is hardly ever applied to them but perhaps it is time that they ask themselves this question honestly: are they doing the will of God? As an organisation I do not feel they are. I feel they have diverted from his will.
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12% of JWs Think Gay Is OK? Really?
by metatron ini was reading pat buchanan's book, "suicide of a superpower".
on page 71, he speaks about the growing acceptance of homosexuality amidst religions.
he claims that 12% of jw's think gay behavior is ok.. really?
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TimothyT
What are you talking about eggnog? :)
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Question about the memorial :)
by TimothyT ini have no doubt that in a few weeks when the campaign to spread memorials invites is underway that my good friend, the jw, will give me an invitation.
she has already told me that she would support me when walking in, telling me that i could sit next to her and she wouldnt give a damn what others would think that she was encouraging a disfellowshipped person.
she is very sweet, and i appreciate her thoughts.. however, i would rather not go because i believe the whole thing is done wrong anyway.
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TimothyT
I have no doubt that in a few weeks when the campaign to spread Memorials Invites is underway that my good friend, the JW, will give me an invitation. She has already told me that she would support me when walking in, telling me that I could sit next to her and she wouldn’t give a damn what others would think that she was encouraging a disfellowshipped person. She is very sweet, and I appreciate her thoughts.
However, I would rather not go because I believe the whole thing is done wrong anyway. This will be the first memorial in my life that I have missed. From my studies and my reading the bible, I THINK I have come to appreciate though that I do not need to attend such a meeting to show my appreciation for Jesus. I already appreciate who he is, and I ESPECIALY appreciate what he has done for me. In fact I think I appreciate this more than MANY JW's ever will!
So do I really need to go to a commemoration of Jesus death?
Tim
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Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!
by TimothyT inone thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.
when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.
am i missing something here!?!?
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TimothyT
Hi Eggnog!
Im trying to make a point that this organisation is most opressive. Almost EVERY thing i did as a JW was frowned upon. I wanted a beard, NO. I spiked by hair, NO. I cut my hair off, NO. I went to college, NO. I went to uni, NO. I wore trainers for the meeting, NO. I wore a creased shirt, NO. I didnt do my top button up, NO. I didnt wear a matching suit, NO. I did after school activities, NO. I had non JW friends, NO, I wish my friend a happy birthday, NO. I eat a piece of bday cake, NO. I take part in a toast, NO. I have the internet in my room, NO.... I could go on... and on... and on... and on...
In the end, when i read the scriptures where Jesus correctly shown the pharisees up because of their holding to such silly traditions, it reminds me exactly how the organisation do the very same thing. They are not so much rules and laws, just what they call 'principles'. Jesus two main laws make ALL these things invalid. The bible is so clear on that.
When I read the bible, i cannot help but notice how far removed from it this organisation has become. If anyone sat down and read it cover to cover, without any Watchtower or Awake, any Christian magazine, any journal articles to do indepth research, they would read pure and unadulterated truth. When that is compared with Watchtower philosophy, they are very different. It surprises me how JWs cannot see this.
Tim x
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Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!
by TimothyT inone thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.
when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.
am i missing something here!?!?
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TimothyT
One thing that I have ALWAYS noticed even when I was a JW is that the JW org has LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make NO difference. When you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law. Am i missing something here!?!? Then we read articles like this from the latest Watchtower:
3 The Pharisees’ rules and traditions made the application of the Law burdensome for the common people.
The Mosaic Law furnished the overall structure for Israel’s worship of Jehovah. However, minute details were not provided. For instance, the Law forbade work on the Sabbath, but it did not explicitly define what constituted work and what did not. (Ex. 20:10) The Pharisees sought to fill in such supposed gaps by means of their laws, definitions, and traditions. While Jesus ignored the arbitrary rules of the Pharisees, he did observe the Mosaic Law. (Matt. 5:17, 18; 23:23) He saw beyond the letter of the Law. Jesus discerned the spirit behind the Law and the need for mercy and compassion. He was reasonable, even when his followers failed him. For example, although he urged three of his apostles to stay awake and keep on the watch on the night of his arrest, they fell asleep repeatedly. Nevertheless, he sympathetically remarked: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”—Mark 14:34-42.
Questions for meditation: Do I seek to lay down arbitrary, inflexible rules or to turn my personal opinions into law? Am I reasonable in what I expect of others?
Reflect on the contrast between Jesus’ teaching and that of the Pharisees. Do you see ways in which you could improve? If so, why not resolve to do so?
Errrr yeah... ok... I decided this wasnt reflective enough, so i decided to change it to a more modern day interpretation. See what you think!
3 The governing body’s rules and traditions make the application of the Jesus’ Laws burdensome for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Law of Christianity furnished the overall structure for all worship of Jehovah. However, minute details were not provided. The governing body seek to fill in such supposed gaps by means of their laws, definitions, and traditions. While Jesus ignores the arbitrary rules of the governing body, he does observe the Law of Christianity. (Matt. 22:36-40) He saw beyond the letter of the Law. Jesus discerned the spirit behind the Law and the need for mercy and compassion. He was reasonable, even when his followers failed him. For example, although he urged three of his apostles to stay awake and keep on the watch on the night of his arrest, they fell asleep repeatedly. Nevertheless, he sympathetically remarked: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”—Mark 14:34-42.
Questions for meditation: Does the governing body seek to lay down arbitrary, inflexible rules or to turn their personal opinions into law? Are they reasonable in what they expect of others?
Reflect on the contrast between Jesus’ teaching and that of the governing body. Do you see ways in which they could improve? If so, why do they not resolve to do so?