What does the first part of that sentence mean? Do you mean JWs are looked down upon or their rule that guns are ok is looked down upon?
(The link is not to a Jehovah's Witness site.)
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Wonder??? Why my J.W. friends left this site?
- Thread starter jeager106
- Start date
(The link is not to a Jehovah's Witness site.)
Burl
Active Member
I believe the intent of the sentence is not meant to obfuscate.
Back on topic: True or misleading?: "...4. Agreement. Jw's must agree with everything the Watchtower says.
JW's avoid independent thinking because they believe that questioning doctrines leads to apostasy and excommunication from their church..."
Back on topic: True or misleading?: "...4. Agreement. Jw's must agree with everything the Watchtower says.
JW's avoid independent thinking because they believe that questioning doctrines leads to apostasy and excommunication from their church..."
I agree. It was a mistake imo.
Do you mean is the statement true or exaggerated? It is not exaggerated. It is what JWs are really taught.1 Corinthians 1:10.
It is what is taught. Do you want another scripture?
Define misleading: giving the wrong idea or impression.
All their ideas they glean from the Bible. It would be real apostasy to teach that the scriptures mislead.
All their ideas they glean from the Bible. It would be real apostasy to teach that the scriptures mislead.
Preaching and teaching are encouraged by Jehovah and so has nothing to do with anyone's blacklist.
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And they do..........
blue taylor
Active Member
I believe the old Anabaptist sects do the same.
About J.W.'s and firearms ownership.
In my experience owning firearms was really frowned upon though it was
generally acknowledged that hunting for food was o.k. but still not at all promoted
in any way.
I've heard that J.W.'s that live in areas where taking a moose or elk means
having a large supply of food is an o.k. practice.
Don't know.
I was TOLD by a J.W. that I had a Bible study with to toss my hunting weapons
in the nearest river!
NOT HARDLY! And that from a J.W. that served in combat in Korea.
Huh!
Like so many fundamentalist Christian denominations J.W.'s have rules
and dogma that are a bit "out there".
Pass a basket of rattlesnakes anyone?
In my experience owning firearms was really frowned upon though it was
generally acknowledged that hunting for food was o.k. but still not at all promoted
in any way.
I've heard that J.W.'s that live in areas where taking a moose or elk means
having a large supply of food is an o.k. practice.
Don't know.
I was TOLD by a J.W. that I had a Bible study with to toss my hunting weapons
in the nearest river!
NOT HARDLY! And that from a J.W. that served in combat in Korea.
Huh!
Like so many fundamentalist Christian denominations J.W.'s have rules
and dogma that are a bit "out there".
Pass a basket of rattlesnakes anyone?
djhwoodwerks
Well-Known Member
This is true, independent thinking is of satan! But I don't think they are too clear on the subject tho.
In 1972 they praised independent thinking. Then it made man capable of exercising "fine qualities" of love and loyalty.
*** w72 3/15 pp. 169-170 par. 7 The Delight of Jehovah Will Succeed ***
7 Jehovah is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and all things therein, including man. More than just starting them off, however, and leaving them to carry on, he has a lasting purpose in their creation. This is confirmed by what John, in vision, heard those in heaven say: “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11) We are not creatures of chance, still less the products of some process of evolution, blind and impersonal. Rather, as the Bible says, man was created “in God’s image.” (Gen. 1:27) Man possesses a mind and a heart, not controlled automatically by instinct, but capable of independent thinking and reasoning, making plans and decisions, exercising a free will, building up strong desires and motivation. That is why you are capable of exercising the fine qualities of love and loyalty, of devotion and integrity. That is why you are also capable of understanding what God has revealed in his Word respecting his will and purpose, and how you can find achievement and contentment in bringing your own life into complete harmony therewith.
In 1983 it's a totally different view! Independent thinking is from satan, used to infect God's people.
*** w83 1/15 p. 22 pars. 20-21 Exposing the Devil’s Subtle Designs ***
20 From the very outset of his rebellion Satan called into question God’s way of doing things. He promoted independent thinking. ‘You can decide for yourself what is good and bad,’ Satan told Eve. ‘You don’t have to listen to God. He is not really telling you the truth.’ (Genesis 3:1-5) To this day, it has been Satan’s subtle design to infect God’s people with this type of thinking.—2 Timothy 3:1, 13.
21 How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization.
Man posses a mind that is capable of independent thinking and reasoning, "which is why you are capable of exercising the fine qualities of love and loyalty, of devotion and integrity" but according to the watchtower, God doesn't want us to use it!
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djhwoodwerks
Well-Known Member
That's not all they discourage their youngsters from. Look for "Kim Mikey" on YouTube and watch their latest video on the JW's 2016 convention. It's sad, to say the least. They play a video at the convention that shows a young boy wanting to play the violin and wants to go to a conservatory to learn more, but his dad destroys any hope of the boys dream, claiming it will destroy him. The boy said it was the only thing he was good at, and still the father shot him down. Instead of being a concert musician, he will end up a window washer or janitor.
About J.W.'s and firearms ownership.
In my experience owning firearms was really frowned upon though it was
generally acknowledged that hunting for food was o.k. but still not at all promoted
in any way.
I've heard that J.W.'s that live in areas where taking a moose or elk means
having a large supply of food is an o.k. practice.
Don't know.
I was TOLD by a J.W. that I had a Bible study with to toss my hunting weapons
in the nearest river!
NOT HARDLY! And that from a J.W. that served in combat in Korea.
Huh!
Like so many fundamentalist Christian denominations J.W.'s have rules
and dogma that are a bit "out there".
Pass a basket of rattlesnakes anyone?
I am bemused as to why any JW would want to be friends with someone who is as disrespectful of their beliefs as you appear to be?
Reading over some of your comments here, it appears as if you believe we are a bunch of deluded clowns.....we will just have to see who ends up wearing the wig and the big red nose...won't we?
Perhaps you need to change your description to "insulting Jehovah's Witnesses"?
There are a few here, who would love to be your friend on that basis. 
Walter Russell
Member
I once had a neighbor friend that was a JW. Real cool guy and we had many religious conversations. The one point I always tried to make with him was that if he truly believed he had the truth, it would withstand any test of opposing views and he shouldn't be afraid to test his belief sgainst others.
Considering I was a Life long Christian at the time and applying that same principle in my own life lead me discover my religion had me brain washed. I can see why JW leadership tries to keep such tight control of their followers.
Their afraid their followers will be awakened to the truth.
"I am bemused as to why any JW would want to be friends with someone who is as disrespectful of their beliefs as you appear to be?"
It isn't so much the beliefs as the PEOPLE that profess those beliefs.
Those people are FEW indeed.
I don't have many "friends" in general and none are J.W.
Not by choice by anyone; just happenstance.
I've had really baaaaad experiences with some (few) J.W.s
Most J.W.'s I knew were very fine, sincere, dedicated, people.
Of all of the Christian denominations I personally feel the J.W.'s have Scripture nailed
down very well. Perhaps better than any other Christian denomination.
My very closet friends are in recovery from addiction and two of them are openly gay men
who I dearly love and respect.
I'm quite sure any dedicated J.W. would think very badly of me for my, ah, tolerance.
Tell me. Are you still a practicing J.W.?
If so aren't you not supposed to be on this site posting at all according to the W.T.B.&T.S.?
A J.W. molested my sister when she was but 12 and was attending a Bible study
with him & his wife. Thing is his wife new nothing of this and wasn't attending the
"study".
A J.W. elder was screwing a married woman 25 years his junior and having a study
with me.
hummm????
I arrested a J.W. man for having sex with his granddaughter (age 14).
J.W.'s are no more immune from immorality than any other group of religious
people.
I STILL think the W.T.B.&T.S. has Scripture nailed down pretty darned well.
People are people no matter what they profess to be.
One of my baptized J.W. friends was drafted and went to war in Viet Nam, killing
many combatants. ( he told me of his experiences )
He was disfellowshipped and after a year of shunning reinstated.
I still have a great deal of respect for him.
It isn't so much the beliefs as the PEOPLE that profess those beliefs.
Those people are FEW indeed.
I don't have many "friends" in general and none are J.W.
Not by choice by anyone; just happenstance.
I've had really baaaaad experiences with some (few) J.W.s
Most J.W.'s I knew were very fine, sincere, dedicated, people.
Of all of the Christian denominations I personally feel the J.W.'s have Scripture nailed
down very well. Perhaps better than any other Christian denomination.
My very closet friends are in recovery from addiction and two of them are openly gay men
who I dearly love and respect.
I'm quite sure any dedicated J.W. would think very badly of me for my, ah, tolerance.
Tell me. Are you still a practicing J.W.?
If so aren't you not supposed to be on this site posting at all according to the W.T.B.&T.S.?
A J.W. molested my sister when she was but 12 and was attending a Bible study
with him & his wife. Thing is his wife new nothing of this and wasn't attending the
"study".
A J.W. elder was screwing a married woman 25 years his junior and having a study
with me.
hummm????
I arrested a J.W. man for having sex with his granddaughter (age 14).
J.W.'s are no more immune from immorality than any other group of religious
people.
I STILL think the W.T.B.&T.S. has Scripture nailed down pretty darned well.
People are people no matter what they profess to be.
One of my baptized J.W. friends was drafted and went to war in Viet Nam, killing
many combatants. ( he told me of his experiences )
He was disfellowshipped and after a year of shunning reinstated.
I still have a great deal of respect for him.
About addiction and the J.W. view of recovery.
Addiction is (was) largely ignored by the Society and viewed only as a "sin".
Sadly this led to a bad end for some who were addicts (alcohol mostly)
as those poor people were often disfellowshipped for being drunks which is
a "sin".
Those views have been changed I'm told. I hope so.
The W.T.B&T Society takes a very, very, dim view of Alcoholic Anonymous
due to it not being Society approved.
Believe me one cannot just pray oneself out of addiction though prayer and
meditation are essential to recovery in A.A.
"God" as we understand Him is necessary for recovery.
I believe that the W.T.B.&T.S. has lightened up on recovering members attending
A.A. meetings but I'm not sure.
A.A. members are strongly encouraged to find a "god" of their own understanding
as addiction IS a disease of the mind, body and spirit.
It's entirely possible to stop using ___________ (insert drug of choice) but true
recovery REQUIRES spiritual growth.
You see true recovery isn't recovery from a chemical but recovery from SELF!
(self will specifically)
Addiction is (was) largely ignored by the Society and viewed only as a "sin".
Sadly this led to a bad end for some who were addicts (alcohol mostly)
as those poor people were often disfellowshipped for being drunks which is
a "sin".
Those views have been changed I'm told. I hope so.
The W.T.B&T Society takes a very, very, dim view of Alcoholic Anonymous
due to it not being Society approved.
Believe me one cannot just pray oneself out of addiction though prayer and
meditation are essential to recovery in A.A.
"God" as we understand Him is necessary for recovery.
I believe that the W.T.B.&T.S. has lightened up on recovering members attending
A.A. meetings but I'm not sure.
A.A. members are strongly encouraged to find a "god" of their own understanding
as addiction IS a disease of the mind, body and spirit.
It's entirely possible to stop using ___________ (insert drug of choice) but true
recovery REQUIRES spiritual growth.
You see true recovery isn't recovery from a chemical but recovery from SELF!
(self will specifically)
As a side note I think most people here know I'm alcoholic and in recovery.
I'm also diabetic now. (resent discovery!)
If I drink alcohol I'll die. Period.
Yet the addiction is so strong I might convince me that it's o.k. to have just a
few.
That will lead to full scale addiction and I'd soon be dead.
We (Dee and I) were recently in Florida for a few weeks & I was in an A.A. meeting
EVERY DAY and sometimes 2 X a day to ensure my alcoholic mind didn't kill me.
Trust me that Alcoholism is awful and leads to a nasty death.
That disease killed my mother and dad and most all their brothers.
The offspring of those (my cousins) have all fought addiction and it killed several.
(64 1st cousins on dad's side alone!)
(prolific hillbillies what?)
I'm also diabetic now. (resent discovery!)
If I drink alcohol I'll die. Period.
Yet the addiction is so strong I might convince me that it's o.k. to have just a
few.
That will lead to full scale addiction and I'd soon be dead.
We (Dee and I) were recently in Florida for a few weeks & I was in an A.A. meeting
EVERY DAY and sometimes 2 X a day to ensure my alcoholic mind didn't kill me.
Trust me that Alcoholism is awful and leads to a nasty death.
That disease killed my mother and dad and most all their brothers.
The offspring of those (my cousins) have all fought addiction and it killed several.
(64 1st cousins on dad's side alone!)
(prolific hillbillies what?)