JWs believe in one Capital G God, Jehovah/Yaweh; the Sovereign of the universe. This belief comes from the bible.
They also believe that the use of the word “god” in the bible identifies men as gods, Satan as a god, inanimate items as god, Jesus as a god, and even a man’s belly given to gluttony as a god.
If you’d like to know the biblical cites for that----and if you’d like I’ll provide them in context and the source language/word from an interlinear----please post an appropriate question in GQ.
If you’re already familiar with the cites and you think the JWs are all wet on the matter, plase post the question in GD, and I’ll be pleased to discuss it with you.
cosmosdan, do I have any legal rights to turn the hose on anyone just for ignoring a request to go away? I find this doubtful. Besides if I am going to sink to such levels, I would rather be able to use the phrase, “Release the Hounds!” even though I only have one medium size Labby mix. the raindog, thank you for your patient explanations of why some JWs will tolerate the hatred they engender by their actions on behalf of their beliefs. I hope you can at understand why many have an anger that is justified by their own belief system. That of the rights of respecting private property.
I’m basing it off of the raindog’s previous statements. My initial comment was that the JWs appear to be selectively interpreting requests in such a way as to look for excuses to keep proselytizing.
I’m not talking about popularity for its own sake. I’m saying that people (in my opinion) would be more likely to seek out the JWs if they did not have a reputation for annoying people. That would mean more converts, which would be a good thing for the group, would it not?
You know, The Pew Research Group did a survey recently and found that JWs were one of the faster growing religions. They also said they had one of the higher attrition rates for young people leaving the faith.
I suppose you’d understand it, however if the JWs say, “Meh” about such numbers. (In fact, I only know about the Pew study because I heard a snippet on NPR) In their views, JW they are doing what Christ commanded of Christians, and while they work very hard to be more effective “at the door”, it isn’t about the numbers.
I’ve known a couple “d*icks” although very, very, very few.
I am absolutely convinced, however, that much of what is posted here though is simply not true. I’ve seen my share of Mensa threads. It doesn’t take much thought to see that a story that plays extremely well on a message board (full of twenty somethings) doesn’t translate well if held up to any level of RL scrutiny.
Every once in a while I see a post that rings of truth, although the majority of those are embellished. Every so often I see a post where someone had a legitimately bad experience and I cringe.
So yea, there are some bonehead JWs. There are many, many more however, that are simply made up on message boards. (and that goes for any group in the hands of someone with an ax to grind)
I’d love to as time allows. I’ve long wanted to have a comprehensive discussion about the Trinity.
I think you’re a reasonable person with reasonable grievances. I think you’ve posted them in a responsible, measured way, and I appreciate you giving me a fair hearing.
I have a feeling this will get this thread moved to GD, and for that, my apologies.
Here is what bothers me about the JWs and quite a few other denominations. From here:
Why do the Witnesses call on people who have their own religion?
In doing this they follow Jesus’ example. He went to the Jews. The Jews had their own religion, but in many ways it had turned away from the Word of God. (Matthew 15:1-9) All nations have religions of some kind, whether so-called Christian or non-Christian. It is vitally important for people to hold beliefs that conform to God’s own Word, and the efforts of the Witnesses to assist them in doing this constitute a showing of neighbor love.
I believe in God. I do believe I am a Christian, because I have accepted him as my Savior. This paragraph above tells me that you would not accept me as a fellow Christian unless I were a Witness as well - it even goes out of the way to say, “So-called Christian” instead of just, “Christian.”
I believe God wants us all to be one. Denominational differences are doing their dead level best to tear that apart. I see this the same as the Southern Baptists, who have gone on witnessing campaigns against the Latter Day Saints, the Jews, and just about everyone else: that they do not believe that the aforementioned are saved. This is why I left the SBC and have not found a church yet. Why would I want to jump from the frying pan into the fire, as it were? I read the Bible, I pray, and I seek God’s will every day. Why should I listen to some denomination to tell me what to do when I can hear it from the Man himself if I just take the time to stop and listen?
Depending on my mood when they stop by I can be a real asshole or I’ve just told them, “I’m Jewish”… I’m not but they don’t seem to have an argument for it and just tell me to have a nice day and leave.
If you’re going to call people liars, at least have the balls to say it outright. You’ve repeatedly accused Annie-Xmas of making up her story about her sister’s transplant, but all the evidence you’ve posted in support of that claim is “I don’t know any JWs like that.” Put up or shut up.
You know, because of your post I took the time to read all the rules in this forum, the registration agreement, including the FAQ Rules for Posting in ATMB. (I hadn’t read any of them previously)
I’d also point out that in this thread I passed the 2000 post count, and I’ve been a member for 4+ years. That said, I believe the “Official Warning” Marley 23 gave me in this thread is the first warning I believe I’ve ever received. (and even after scouring the rules I couldn’t find the rule that warranted the warning)
I offer that only as an indication that I have no history of rules violations. Perhaps you haven’t read my posts in this thread, as to whether they have “balls.”
Yet, Friar Ted posed a legitimate question as whether some of the the litany of charges/allegations made towards JWs here might be valid. It’s a valid question, and I offered a valid answer.
I think it is a dynamic of message boards, and the internet in general, that the relative anonymity causes many to exaggerate, and some to simply fabricate. I would venture that this is a well known dynamic, and the source of stand up humor regarding the internet and the truth.
I will refrain from calling “Bulls**t” on any given poster. It is a valid point, however, that this well known dynamic may explain why the experiences related about JWs here are often at stark contrast with the experiences of so many----including many non-JWs who have posted to that effect.
IOW, in a community where our IQs are 40 points higher, and our penises 6" longer, than in IRL, it is at least possible that some of the JWs who have been reported to have climbed over your security fence to place a Watchtower may have only done it here at SDMB.
I told Annie X-Mas and the raindog earlier that personal criticisms belong in the Pit, not here. That applies to everyone.
the raindog, you specifically said Annie X-Mas was making up stories. I let the general comments about people on message boards go, but that was out of bounds, so I advised you to stop. I warned you when you continued.
Any further discussion of whether anyone is lying, or is accusing anyone of lying, does not belong in this thread.
That’s like saying “I wish I could kill you without you being dead.”
You wanna be oscene and mean, be that way. You wanna be polite, be polite. But you can’t be both.
Personally, I’d say that whether it’s Jehovah’s Witnesses or a travelling salesman at your door, yelling “No” and slamming the door seems more than sufficient.
Usually, when we run into someone proselytizing on the street, I’ll tell them, “No, thank you: but I’ll be praying for you.” That has always ended the discussion.
I had a question on the previous page, however, that got completely ignored.
