I didn’t put your handle in there, but since you are the resident expert with the JWs, I figured you would respond. 
I don’t think you should allow any denomination ‘tell you what to do.’
That said, I think there is historical precedent that shows the early Christian Church (1st Century) was arranged with a structure, and some “governing body” of some sort, whose job it was to teach and, in some cases, sort out disputes. (which, of course, had the effect of setting doctrine)
Clearly those who submitted themselves to that Church believed the ‘leaders’ were teaching them things that they believed were true.
Still, I agree with you that a Christian’s relationship with Jesus or God is a personal one, and for a person of faith it seems to me that ‘seeking God’s will every day’ as you mentioned, would be the way to start.
So it seems to me that the basis of a Christian’s faith begins with The Man. As to whether someone should align themselves with a given church—or no church at all----I suppose begins with what type of authority one accepts as valid.
I’ll stop here for now. Note that I am not advocating for JWs, although my association with them is clear. If we talk further, it will quickly require some variation of witnessing and/or debate—at which point it would probably be best to take it offline, or to GD. (and maybe even GQ, depending what you’re interested in)
ETA: And when I say take it GD, I mean a new thread. It’s pointless to move a thread that’s now approaching 300 posts over a hijack.
Apparently not.
I find this fascinating–I have addressed several comments to you, and named you in at least one and yet my posts are also ignored.
Please believe me when I say to you that 2 JWs do indeed stand sentinel in front of my hospital on Sunday mornings, when it is neither raining or too cold and hand out Watchtowers to all passersby. I did not make that up or exaggerate it–why would I? There is no need for hyperbole re this situation. You’re welcome to go down to my hospital on a Sunday morning and meet them yourself.
I have had many, many JWs as pts over the years, and most of them have been very nice: polite and not preachy at all. I won’t go into the depths of ignorance they display about basic health and physiology because I don’t know that I can attribute that ignorance to their religion. Indeed, the depth of ignorance shown by the general public re their own health is downright scary, but that’s another thread.
Marley–I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that I should have alerted a mod instead of posting re the witnessing. I won’t do it again.
FriarTed– Huffy? More like exasperated at him just not listening to what is being said. We point out the illogic within his statements and get posts asking us about our knowledge of Jesus. Maybe that doesn’t exasperate you. It does me.
the raindog, thanks for your candidness in this thread. I don’t agree with a lot of the Witnesses teachings, but then again, I don’t agree 100% with any denomination thus far. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate it.
I did wonder if turning the hose on someone might be assault. I don’t know. Obviously there is no intent to do any harm. I’m thinking that once you pointed it at them and started a countdown that would be enough. I seriously doubt there would be any serious repercussions for hosing those who ignored my no soliciting sign or my not interested.
Really? (Not questioning you, obviously, just surprised). So it’s not the same as the “holy trinity” that the catholics believe in, where the father (god) the son (jesus) and the holy ghost (jesus’ ghost? Always been a bit confused on that one) are three different foms of the same entity? That’s interesting, didn’t know that.
Also of interest is the whole thing where the bible says you have to believe in Yahweh (or however you spell it) above all others, which is commonly translated as believe in only one god, first started out in the ancient Jewish tradition in which there were several gods, Yahweh being top dog and the creator and all that. Be he had a wife (sometimes called Asherah). I’ve even read a text from ancient Egypt, tax documents and such of a jewish family living on elephantinee (sp?) island around 470-440BC if I remember correctly, talking about 7 different jewish gods. This was all well before rabinical judaism, of course, but gives one an idea on some of the (really long) history of the jewish people.
couldn’t find a great cite, but here are a couple ok ones
http://www.classicalhebrewblog.com/2008/05/25/married-deities-asherah-and-yahweh-in-early-israelite-religion/
http://www.dhushara.com/book/orsin/asherah.htm#anchor1038268
So OK, let’s play some more of your word games.
“I am not interested” ins a pretty ordinary English present tense sentence.
How long DOES it apply for?
Why not come back as soon as you get to the end of the driveway? Surely the time the sentence applies has long since passed.
Or is it still “The present” then, but sometime between then and whenever it is convenient for JW to come back, the words magically don’t apply anymore?
It is really all about the convenience of the JW, not respect for the speaker isn’t it?
Reminds of me of Verizon’s “Can you hear me now?” campaign …
I’ve done that in the past to no avail. The regulars there denied the existence of any such thing. Again in multiple places. In one, maybe the 2 elderly Witnesses figured they were really close to their heavenly reward and now was no time to stop pushing and forging ahead.
On the No Soliciting sign issue, I generally agree with your interpretation of the Court rulings I am aware of.
Yet if you claim '“Free Speech” and a simple “no thanks” is enough to make us go away", why is it not enough to exercise Free Speech by placing a plain English sign that is no longer then “No thanks” and have it be respected?
Why doesn’t Free Speech work both ways for JW?
So it is actually part of your religion to seek out as many people behind as many doors as possible and with no process for effectiveness, annoy all but a tiny tiny percentage?
Even though I am not Christian, I understand the Biblical reason for the proselytizing.
But why the rejection of a process, any process at all, to improve the effectiveness, or reduce the annoyance factor?
Same goes for Mormons by the way, but this is a thread about your group.
so you will trumpet the 37K as a sign of success that you can point to as a group, but if a group of the opposite of success is pointed out to you, you deny its existence?
What is good or bad for the goose is good or bad for the gander too. You can’t have statistics used for you if you don’t want them to be used the same way for a different analysis.
No one here is denying that maybe you did persuade 37K people to join up using your methods. Why do you deny that at least an equal number feel they have been treated badly by the minions, and some of them are vocal and visible about it?
In truth I don’t really want to be offensive towards them, they just get on my nerves as they call at the most inconvenient times.
Admittedly they don’t call all that often, probably about 3-4 times in the last 2 years despite me asking them politely not to bother me again.
They seem to take note of my request for a short time and then they’re back.
It could be that they wondered if I’d moved on and that new owners are at my house, I dunno
not_alice, it’s apparent you’ve read at least some of my posts in this thread, However you haven’t asked a single question that hasn’t/wasn’t asked and answered in detail. (and frankly, more effectively)
You’ve repackaged and redelivered those questions, but considering there is nothing new, I’m not going to repackage my answers.
I stand my my answers.
That being true means many others have no penis at all and some even have negative penis. The poor bastards.
I expect you to pay for a new keyboard if I can’t get the coffee out of this one.
Yes, JWs are not Trinitarians, and believe Jesus is the Son of God, and not God. (or Og)