Posts by ShadesofGrey

55

sincere question .....What could make you believe in God ?

by caliber in

please discuss why you don't believe in god and that which could convince you to believe in god ??

?.

ShadesofGrey

". . .If believers in, say, the Mormon faith, or the Baha'i faith, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, were found to be far healthier, wealthier, and happier than believers in other faiths, if their prayers came true significantly more often, if they had far fewer accidents and birth defects and genetic diseases and pediatric cancer -- and this difference was statistically significant, much greater than could be accounted for by higher wealth or social status or something -- I would be persuaded that God existed, and that this faith was the correct one, and that God was rewarding these believers for the correctness of their faith."

See to me this makes no sense because the test is finding Christ despite religion.

I know this OP is not directed to me, so I actually did not answer it with what made me believe in God. I will try not to be bothersome, honestly.

55

sincere question .....What could make you believe in God ?

by caliber in

please discuss why you don't believe in god and that which could convince you to believe in god ??

?.

ShadesofGrey

Nice discussion so far. $100. lol!

After I left I became an evanglical christian for about 9 years. It eventually occurred to me that I was doing the same sort of mental gynmnastics to protect my faith in god. When I applied the same intellectual honesty to my faith in god it failed just as my trust in the Watchtower had previously. Yes, I can very much see this happening.

I did not so much go on to discover the failings in the bible I just owned up to then for the first time. That doesn't bother me, which is funny, because when I was a JW I did not have a relationship with God and I fiercely defended the Bible as perfect. I don't have a relationship with the Bible and don't believe that it is perfect.

I also immersed myself in science and discovered that god is at best surplus to requirements. Forgive my ignorance. What does surplus to requirements mean?

Proof of the supernatural would be very easy indeed for god if he existed. According to the NT he delighted in supporting the apostles preaching with all sorts of signs and wonders. Oh don't worry. He will.

8 The fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

10 Then the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.

A member of Christ's body,

ShadesofGrey

85

Hello--new to the witnesses...and you

by LKM in

jw
friends

just wanted to introduce myself.

i went to the kh for the first time 2 weeks ago...and will go again tomorrow.

i don't believe anything witnessy...(i was raised in the assembly of god church and now the closest thing i "do" with religion is yoga or sometimes the buddhist temple).... but the man i'm in love with is a df'd jw (we've been together for 6 years).... and he wants to get reinstated just to talk to his family again (i can assure you he does not believe it).... and he wants his family to accept me because we are about to get married... so, i'm going to meetings...its very interesting, but only because it shows me more about how he was raised.

ShadesofGrey

This is a good point too: Does he have any family at all, maybe extended, that is not JW that he could be in contact with?

I have found so many!

85

Hello--new to the witnesses...and you

by LKM in

jw
friends

just wanted to introduce myself.

i went to the kh for the first time 2 weeks ago...and will go again tomorrow.

i don't believe anything witnessy...(i was raised in the assembly of god church and now the closest thing i "do" with religion is yoga or sometimes the buddhist temple).... but the man i'm in love with is a df'd jw (we've been together for 6 years).... and he wants to get reinstated just to talk to his family again (i can assure you he does not believe it).... and he wants his family to accept me because we are about to get married... so, i'm going to meetings...its very interesting, but only because it shows me more about how he was raised.

ShadesofGrey

I couldn't agree more with pbrow. Standing ovation!

I agree with all, but just highlighting this part:

He needs to sacrifice his past friendships and family contacts for the emotional well being of his kids.

Not only do you run the risk of your kids becoming JWs and losing them as a result, but my DD (9 years old and we were never very active) has already picked up on the JW phobias of death and the Great Tribulation. I have had to really work to get the fear of death out of her. Phobias are evil and JW organization is run on them. Don't put the kids through that. Set them free.

45

Unconditional love?

by Snoozy in

whatever happened to "unconditional love"?.

why is it today so many are willing to shun a friend or relative because they are just too much trouble or they do something that irritates them.... they claim that the other person is "not healty for them" or "harmful to their mental health" be it a relative or a goof friend.

too ready to write them off so to speak.. what happened to the kind of unconditional love that loves in good and bad times..... i don't get it... i guess "unconditional love" doesn't exist anymore.

ShadesofGrey

Thanks 00DAD, I have to learn so much now. I do much better if I go on leanings instead of thinking too much. ;)

59

Disfellowshipping Rescinded!

by 00DAD in

has anyone been successful in getting their disfellowshipping rescinded?

i specifically do not mean getting reinstated.

i want to know if anyone that was disfellowshipped was able to officially and through the congregation and/or the organization have their status as a "disfellowshipped person" changed without getting "reinstated" through the normal procedures?.

ShadesofGrey

I didn't read all of the replies, but that would really shock me. My hearing was admittedly handled very badly... I should not have been called names and then d-fed for being too emotional about it. THEY HATE WOMEN! But I digress... the elder who called me names actually apologized and asked for forgiveness, but it changed nothing. I was d-fed for a full year, even tho one of the elders was pushing for early re-instatment due to my attitude, my attending two bookstudies on different days, and that I was pg and the baby was going to be born.

45

Unconditional love?

by Snoozy in

whatever happened to "unconditional love"?.

why is it today so many are willing to shun a friend or relative because they are just too much trouble or they do something that irritates them.... they claim that the other person is "not healty for them" or "harmful to their mental health" be it a relative or a goof friend.

too ready to write them off so to speak.. what happened to the kind of unconditional love that loves in good and bad times..... i don't get it... i guess "unconditional love" doesn't exist anymore.

ShadesofGrey

Well said everyone! Thank you my friends!

Another question: What about friends, neighbors, family who repeatedly borrow money and never seem to be able to take care of themselves? I understand and love them, and feel sorry, really, not judging (my husband takes care of my sorry butt, so who am I? lol), but does unconditional love require that I keep offering to bail them out, making myself and my family suffer (no shoes for you) in order to help them (so and so needs gas)?

45

Unconditional love?

by Snoozy in

whatever happened to "unconditional love"?.

why is it today so many are willing to shun a friend or relative because they are just too much trouble or they do something that irritates them.... they claim that the other person is "not healty for them" or "harmful to their mental health" be it a relative or a goof friend.

too ready to write them off so to speak.. what happened to the kind of unconditional love that loves in good and bad times..... i don't get it... i guess "unconditional love" doesn't exist anymore.

ShadesofGrey

Honest question: What about people who avoid contact with a narcissistic abusive person (a parent) who messes them up every time they see them? Are they not showing unconditional love? The rest of their family suffers when they see this person, should they not put their children and mate first?

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

But the truth is, that is not my religion...that's the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!

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.