my definition of a cult is just this:if you are not allowed to research outside of your religion's published sources, you are in a cult.what other religions (cults) are there that absolutely forbid outside research on threat of punishment / shunning?
Today me and my wife visited one of her friends from the Kingdom Hall who is about 90 years old.
She kept going on and on about this book she was reading about the second coming of christ. She then showed us and it wasnt anything printed by the WTS. It was actually an evangelical book.
I laughed . I wasnt sure if she was losing her marbles or just didnt care anymore. Anywho i told my wife to keep her mouth shut about it. I think one of her studys in the old folks home might be converting her.
i work with a nurse who served for 2 years in the army of cyprus as is compulsory in that country.
i happened to ask about jw's and their consequential punishment for not doing it.
he laughed and stated that since 2009 they have to do it and that he personally knew several that 'served.
Cypress offers alternative service for objecters. All of Europe is moving away from conscription.
this is the first time i've read through a watchtower magazine in about a year.
although i've been our only 8 months it really git me how crazy i must have sounded when i was a jw talking to non jws.. while other bible based religions talk about the 4 horsemen and back up their theories with other scriptures or historical evidence, the watchtower have taken so such steps.
1914 is thrown in there as if it's universally agreed that jesus started ruling since then.. even when i was a jw i never really understood why, if the pale horse represents jesus, why is he first?
I always thought the four horsemen were Rick Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blandard and Lex Luger?
what i sense from the conversations of my family members and relatives who are jws is that at least some jws are not as zealous before with regard to the major subjects such as “sanctification of god’s name,” “vindication of his sovereignty” etc.
they begin to feel that such subjects are imaginary issues.. this is a good sign.
it shows people are worried about their own day-to-day worries.
What i have found kind of strange is how little evidence of dubs being dubs on there facebook accounts.
what i sense from the conversations of my family members and relatives who are jws is that at least some jws are not as zealous before with regard to the major subjects such as “sanctification of god’s name,” “vindication of his sovereignty” etc.
they begin to feel that such subjects are imaginary issues.. this is a good sign.
it shows people are worried about their own day-to-day worries.
i think the loyality assembly last summer really was a punch in the teeth. For all the dubs trying to deny it isnt a cult and to produce something that disgustingly cultish. It seems to suck the soul out of a few dubs i know. There really was no way to put a positive spin on that.
the american psychiatry association lists nine symptoms – if someone ticks five of these, they could have narcissistic personality disorder.
the nine points of narcissism.
has a grandiose sense of self-importance.. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.. believes that he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people.. requires excessive admiration.. has a sense of entitlement.. is inter-personally exploitative (takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).. lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.. .
When my wife was pregnant she was called to a special meeting with two elders. Just a friendly little reminder it was her duty to die for god if something went wrong.
I knew this meeting was going on so I walked in uninvited. I was visibility pissed off and the one elder decided to stop it.
He looked at me and started asking about how i felt about his authority? It was insane how deluded he was. He thought i was the bad guy because i didnt think my wifes womb or unborn child were any of his business. It still shocks me.
i've been thinking about this for a while.. did jesus diee on a cross?
does it really matter?
it doesn't change anything that i can see.. is god a trinity?
The more research i have done on the subject of the trinity, its really the half assed out of context presentation of the wts that made me stop going to meetings.
They discount what the Book of John says, they discount what Paul says, they fail to make any connection to the old testament.
Its all just circular chicken and egg arguments. Its all just " why would jesus say that if he was god "....because he was human......" how can a human be god". Round and Round.
i've been thinking about this for a while.. did jesus diee on a cross?
does it really matter?
it doesn't change anything that i can see.. is god a trinity?
i think studying what new testament thought about who Jesus was and how it all comes from the old testament is important wether you study the bible from a bibical christinity or secular academic point of view.
It can save a life time of pointless field service and boring assemblies.
anybody have any ideas where they are going with the "new light" they have been pushing last week and this week?
for instance in this weeks study article one section reads:.
in years gone by, we believed that jehovah became displeased with his people because they did not have a zealous share in the preaching work during world war i. we concluded that for this reason, jehovah allowed babylon the great to take them captive for a short time.
Every week needs to be something utterly insane and particular to the Wts. I think they are just running out of shit to talk about.
the year book tells us that some activity in fs is being performed in countries that are banned, is this accurate?
how on earth is it accomplished?
do anyone have any experience?.
Jws are not preachers or christians. They are just telemarketers with a prepackaged sales pitch who dont have an theological understanding of the scriptures.
The evangelical church grows by members just finding 5 to 10 people in your life that aren't christians and just becoming their friends. Volunteer your time , help people out and invite them to your church.
Even in countries where being a christian can be dangerous or isnt encouraged. this approach to evangelism has been incredibly successful in places like China, India, muslim world etc. There are tens of millions of people involved in the house church movement.
I have very little sympathy for the poor brothers rotting in prison because they cant bang on your door saturday morning.
