Posts by ShadesofGrey

37

Paul's Out-Of-Body Experience - How did we Miss This?

by wordfamine.com in

the watchtower teaches that there is no such thing as a spirit or soul leaving the body that can consciously experience anything in heaven unless you are annointed and you die.

and the body certainly couldn't go in their view.

however the apostle paul plainly taught otherwise.

ShadesofGrey

6

"Listen To God and Live Forever" brochure

by lilbluekitty in

i just recieved a "care package" from my mother (i'm inactive, haven't been to a meeting in a few months but haven't specifically said to her that i don't want to be a jw anymore) and in it, among other things, are 2 new brochures (one is simplified) called listen to god and live forever.. has anyone else seen these?

i think you can get them in pdf form on the jw.org website.

has anyone else noticed some of the weird pictures?

ShadesofGrey

Interested in hearing more about what is wrong with these brochures.

It seems to me a single scripture out of context and then another is bad all by itself, but I have come to be suspicious of the WT publication's illustrations.

19

A Question About Satan (For Those Who Believe In The Bible)

by Philadelphia Ponos in

when the bible mentions satan do you believe it's speaking of a paticular indivuial or is the term satan used for multiple people?

to be more specific, do believe the satan that tempted eve, told david to take a census, tested job, and tempted jesus are the same person or 4 different people?.

ShadesofGrey

As a newborn, I can't learn everything at once. I came here looking for answers, rather than to give my own.

This is pretty much the extent of my knowlege on the subject of Satan:

Hebrews 2: 14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly partook of the same things, that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil; 15 and [that] he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives.

I have assumed that there is only one Satan, since I take God at his word, and the Bible says one, in more places than this.

Shades

15

Shattering The Myth Of Mother Teresa

by Bangalore in

shattering the myth of mother teresa.. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/05/mother-teresa.html.

http://indianrealist.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/the-squalid-truth-behind-the-legacy-of-mother-teresa/.

bangalore.

ShadesofGrey

Hmmm... sound familiar?

Teresa considered converting the sick and the poor to be a higher priority than providing for their actual needs, and believed that human suffering was beneficial and even "beautiful".

Here is one of interest to Christians:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1655720,00.html

39

Halloween as a Jehovah's Witness Kid

by Badfish in

jw
friends

what was your experience like as a kid on halloween growing up in a jw family?.

i was raised in a jw family but never got baptized.. my father used to make me and my sister put old awakes and watchtower's in the trick or treaters' bags.

we would say: "i don't celebrate halloween but here's a treat for you!

ShadesofGrey

Mrs. Jones: Thank you, friend.

39

Halloween as a Jehovah's Witness Kid

by Badfish in

jw
friends

what was your experience like as a kid on halloween growing up in a jw family?.

i was raised in a jw family but never got baptized.. my father used to make me and my sister put old awakes and watchtower's in the trick or treaters' bags.

we would say: "i don't celebrate halloween but here's a treat for you!

ShadesofGrey

As Christians, we had decided not to celebrate Halloween. So we told our daughter we would not be giving out candy. We took our kids to an alternative party a week prior to Halloween and dressed up in non-scary costumes and got a lot of candy. But Halloween itself was still a no. So we turned off the porch light and closed the window and the kids were peeping through the slats to see the trick or treaters just as I did when I was a JW kid (torture).

My daughter could take it no more and opened the window. Doorbell rings. Candy for all of the cutesy spidermen, pirates and princesses. Joy on all faces. Neighbors (the parents) waving to me. Lecture for daughter. "But I just want to make the little kids happy." I understand. Do we love our neighbors that are going to the effort to trick or treat and understand that they have their own conscience or do we take a stand on the holiday? Confusion in my heart.

Shades.

62

Baptism in Holy Spirit and in Fire

by Inkie in

jw
friends

this morning my brother asked me a question about the following biblical text.

i indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than i, whose shoes i am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the holy spirit and in fire.matthew 3:11. .

apparently, it seems, the brothers statement came from the societys cd-rom.

ShadesofGrey

Not arguing with SA at all (love to you my friend), just giving my perspective.

My brother is named Michael. His in-laws call him Miguel. He doesn't mind. They show that they love him and spend more time with him than those that use his given name.

At this time I do occassionally use Hebrew names for my Lord and my God, but I use either Jesus or Jehovah when speaking to others, as they are familiar with those names.

The term name has more meaning than the mere name as we think of it... as a label. When we do things in God's name, we are doing things by His power. When we know God's name, we know Him. There are people who know me as a different name, due to the way I post on forums, but know me better than those that know my given name.

Either or both of us could be mistaken. That does not mean that we are not Children of God. I do not require children to have all of the details right about me before adopting them, and God is more loving than I am.

Shades.

28

Undeserved Kindness vs Grace - Watchtower flaw in a NUTSHELL

by sabastious in

romans 1:7. new international version.

"to all in rome who are loved by god and called to be saints: .

grace and peace to you from god our father and from the lord jesus christ.".

ShadesofGrey

Thanks so much for bumping this back up. I had been questioning this very thing. What really is grace?

In bible study we were told that God would grant us the grace to get through a trial. Undeserved kindness and loyal love do not seem to replace the word there.

I have been discouraged lately and this thread is really lifting me up. I will be readngg with rapt attention.

Sister Shades

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

ShadesofGrey

As a Christian, I believe that Hellfire preachers cause harm. They are representing my God, the God of grace and justice. In the OT not every sin required the death penalty did it? In the NT there were 4 slaves mentioned in Luke chapter 12... not only 2.

1495

An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

by AK - Jeff in

estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

ShadesofGrey

Here is an idea: Religion and a relationship with God are two different things. Religion is man-made and evil, and it is exactly what Christ came to earth to get rid of.

When he spoke of people being condemned who was he speaking to/about? Religious leaders.

Shades