Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

[YoursTrue]

I'm not a Buddhist. I am an atheist who follows the Buddha's teachings. You can Google both the religions that evolved from Buddha's teachings and also Google mindfulness. I'm not here for hours on end to explain my lifestyle and how I got here and don't really want to anyway.
There is nothing difficult except letting your ego and stories take a backseat to real life. That takes many years of practice.

Lol, I wonder if Freud had that idea also about the ego. The Bible gives instruction on leaving selfishness. Psalm 119:36 "Incline my heart to your reminders, Not to selfish gain."

 

[YoursTrue]

I knew better than to get sucked back into this thread.

And it pretty much reinforces my original thought on not becoming a JW.

Good day

Lol. I still see no benefit in nothingness.

 

[YoursTrue]

The Bible is a translation of copies which words were written down after the fact.

There were original writings, yes, they were copied and translated.

 

[savagewind]

There were original writings, yes, they were copied and translated.

Inform the Press!

 

[YoursTrue]

Inform the Press!

Most intelligent press understand that.

 

[savagewind]

Most intelligent press understand that.

No, really? <sarcasm.

 

[wandering peacefully]

Lol. I still see no benefit in nothingness.

And that is a problem that only you can solve.

 

[YoursTrue]

And that is a problem that only you can solve.

Well, because a person believes nothingness is the ultimate destination, does that make it true?

 

[wandering peacefully]

Well, because a person believes nothingness is the ultimate destination, does that make it true?

Nothingness is not the destination it is the ultimate here and now. It is the way to oneness and is true if you live it.

That's all I have to say about this topic. Thanks for your interest.

 

[YoursTrue]

Nothingness is not the destination it is the ultimate here and now. It is the way to oneness and is true if you live it.

That's all I have to say about this topic. Thanks for your interest.

Ok, I am interested in what you think. Thank you for explaining some things, sorry if I misunderstood.

 

[QuestioningMind]

Think of it like this. You believe in science because the verifiable evidence, but now you have to choose a university to study, or teach or do science things in.

I believe the Bible. That isn't an issue. 99% of Christianity doesn't teach the Bible, they teach life lessons, and Greek philosophy. Those aren't an option for me. The Jehovah's Witnesses, aside from a few minor eccentricities and imperfections, teach the Bible.

The difference is that established science is established science... doesn't matter where you go, the science remains the same. One university may have better instructors or focus more on one area of science than another, but the stablished scientific theories that are taught are exactly the same. You don't have one school that interprets the theory of relativity in one way and another school that interprets it in an entirely different way. You don't have scientists at Yale claiming that the scientists at Stanford aren't true theory of evolution scientists.

 

[stvdv]

The difference is that established science is established science... doesn't matter where you go, the science remains the same. One university may have better instructors or focus more on one area of science than another, but the stablished scientific theories that are taught are exactly the same. You don't have one school that interprets the theory of relativity in one way and another school that interprets it in an entirely different way. You don't have scientists at Yale claiming that the scientists at Stanford aren't true theory of evolution scientists.

Well, Jehova Witnesses are very Scientific in that way: All the Jehova Witnesses all over the world read the same Bible (app) + have the same weekly sermons (lectures they receive) translated in their own language

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Well, Jehova Witnesses are very Scientific in that way: All the Jehova Witnesses all over the world read the same Bible (app) + have the same weekly sermons (lectures they receive) translated in their own language

That’s not “scientific” - I believe they are referring to the scientific method; when an experiment is repeated and gets the same results which leads to the same conclusions.
That’s very different from indoctrinating a group of people to all believe in the same conclusions about the bible or else they are an “apostate” in which they should be shunned by their church, family and friends. I’ve heard the JW’s are more lenient now but certainly when my father grew up in the religion they had apostasy laws. People were shunned and some even made homeless due to their family disowning them for believing differently. It destroyed a lot of families and after ruining peoples lives, the leaders will come out with “new light” talking about how god has revealed something new to them in order to make the religion more marketable after bad press

 

[stvdv]

That’s not “scientific” - I believe they are referring to the scientific method; when an experiment is repeated and gets the same results which leads to the same

Don't misrepresent what I said

I said clearly "Science in that way"
So, how it was phrased
Even coloring it red

You can't blame me, if it was phrased differently by the person I replied to (not you) from what you had in mind

Your mistake, not mine

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Don't misrepresent what I said

I said clearly "Science in that way"
So, how it was phrased
Even coloring it red

You can't blame me, if it was phrased differently by the person I replied to (not you) from what you had in mind

Your mistake, not mine

Ok but what you said was a bit pointless because that’s not what is meant when a scientific theory is accepted fact

 

[Samael_Khan]

That’s not “scientific” - I believe they are referring to the scientific method; when an experiment is repeated and gets the same results which leads to the same conclusions.
That’s very different from indoctrinating a group of people to all believe in the same conclusions about the bible or else they are an “apostate” in which they should be shunned by their church, family and friends. I’ve heard the JW’s are more lenient now but certainly when my father grew up in the religion they had apostasy laws. People were shunned and some even made homeless due to their family disowning them for believing differently. It destroyed a lot of families and after ruining peoples lives, the leaders will come out with “new light” talking about how god has revealed something new to them in order to make the religion more marketable after bad press

People are still shunned today because of apostacy laws. Interestingly, if i remember correctly, apostacy laws and shunning only really came into effect in any significant manner in the 80's when one of the leaders left the group.

And about that "new light": for years if a man wore a beard he would be seen as spiritually immature and couldn't move up the ranks. Now one of the leaders wears a beard because new light said that beards are ok. That is recent. I think sisters can now go out in the ministry wearing pants too. Just goes to show how flawed their system is.

 

[stvdv]

Ok but what you said was a bit pointless because that’s not what is meant when a scientific theory is accepted fact

True

BUT

As the OP of this thread asked whether or not to join Jehova Witnesses, I just mentioned a good thing about them: their weekly same study subject in all J.W. groups all over the world.

Note: I am not part of J.W. so I don't proselytize

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

People are still shunned today because of apostacy laws. Interestingly, if i remember correctly, apostacy laws and shunning only really came into effect in any significant manner in the 80's when one of the leaders left the group.

And about that "new light": for years if a man wore a beard he would be seen as spiritually immature and couldn't move up the ranks. Now one of the leaders wears a beard because new light said that beards are ok. That is recent. I think sisters can now go out in the ministry wearing pants too. Just goes to show how flawed their system is.

I think these days they are a bit more lenient with shunning. I’m sure some families still do it but I’ve known of people who have been disfellowshipped and they haven’t been shunned so I think they may be leaving it up to people to decide whether or not they want to shun, but in the day, it was heavily encouraged to shun.
The worst thing is the lack of accountability when bringing in “new light” - people have suffered significant emotional/psychological damage from shunning and I wonder where the official statement or compensation is for the people who have been harmed?
There was also the time when they used scripture to justify not reporting child sexual abuse disclosures to police and disencouraged parents from reporting because, “you shouldn’t take your brother (in religion) to court.” But they would encourage their followers to snitch on each other for having sex outside marriage or being seen on a date without a chaperone or wearing a short skirt but they couldn’t “snitch” to police regarding child abuse.
It was a shambles!

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

People are still shunned today because of apostacy laws. Interestingly, if i remember correctly, apostacy laws and shunning only really came into effect in any significant manner in the 80's when one of the leaders left the group.

And about that "new light": for years if a man wore a beard he would be seen as spiritually immature and couldn't move up the ranks. Now one of the leaders wears a beard because new light said that beards are ok. That is recent. I think sisters can now go out in the ministry wearing pants too. Just goes to show how flawed their system is.

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/

You’re right they do still promote shunning as part of their official teachings, which is awful for the people born into it who don’t have a support system outside of it

 

[BeeWeezer]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

I don't mean to offend, but what makes Jehovah's Witnesses special, considering that this religion has changed its doctrines and beliefs numerous times? Not to mention its failed prophecies and is trying to sugar-coated it just to save faces?