jehovahs witnesses
jehovahs witnesses are amazing. they live a great life and are very honest people. in costa rica they are growing fast. if only the world would listen to them. love to hear your opinions
26 Answers
Some have come by my house before, are they a type of Chistian, like Baptist, Catholic, or Holiness? Or are they a complety different religion?
They are a completely different religion, as even they like to claim. They do not want to be associated in any way with any other "Christian" groups. They believe that they are the only ones that have the truth, and that one has no hope if he is not a member in good standing with their group. By definition, that makes them a cult. (This is not a defamatory remark; just look up any generally accepted definition of cult.)
One very revealing thing to note about the JWs is that they had to write (they say "translate") their own "Bible," which they keep revising to try to get out all the obvious contradictions (belive me, I can send you lists), to be able to "prove" their strange, new, non-orthodox doctrines. I have studied Biblical Greek at the college level, and no reputable Greek scholar will endorse their "translation" in the least.
They are easily distinguished by their thorough use of the Bible, and the use of Bible study aids and publications such as the Watchtower and Awake magazines. They encourage people to examine the contents of the Bible ...
Another noteworthy point of fact regarding their "thorough use of the Bible" ... one study of JW material documented that their materials use less than 7% of the Bible. I apologize that I don't have the documentation or reference handy, but my personal study of their material would not indicate anything contrary to that claim. Their "use of Bible study aids and publications such as the Watchtower and Awake magazines" is a must for their survival, because no one would naturally come to the doctrinal conclusions they do without reading well-written but twisted explanations of small portions (e.g., one verse or sentence) of Bible passages taken out of their context. If you take a JW two verses back or ahead of the one he is trying to instruct you on, he is totally lost and clueless. I speak from extensive experience!
Just one more ... If one will study their history, he will find that the JWs have changed their stand on matters they previously taught as absolutes. It is important to note their predictions of an "Armageddon" (an end-of-the-world war) to occur in 1914, 1925, and 1975. It turns out they were wrong every time!! The Bible says that if someone prophesies (foretells) something that doesn't come true, one is not to have any respect for that person:
"When a prophet speaketh in the Name of the LORD [Jehovah], if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD [Jehovah] hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." -Deuteronomy 18:22
Although I do not recommend Wikipedia as an authority on matters of religion or theology, and although I have not read or verified all of this article, a cursory reading of it seems to be factually correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWs
Hehe, Eddy, you know, an integral part of every communication is the exchange of ideas, information, emotions, points of view etc. To anyone participating in this ungodly activity, it can mean changing one's own ideas on the subject. Do you view it differently?
By the way, I saw another thread on this forum where an asian guy was asking about dating advice, and he was shot down by your fellow administrator. Are there any guidelines on what subjects are acceptable, or is it all based on whim?
Regarding religion, my view is that all religious people deserve the fate their gods deem right for their opponents. In that regard, jehovahs witnesses are somewhat (only somewhat) less distasteful than other christians de mejor fama.
Have a nice day, and keep that mind open to ideas.
I have given my opinion on the Jehovah's and no amount of discussion will change it. This doesn't mean I have a closed mind per se just on this subject. I never liked Frank Sinatra, are you suggesting an in depth discussion will change my mind? I doubt it.
With regards the subject of threads, please see our rules link below. We used to have a "Bible" group on our old site before its demise. I decided to leave this thread for that reason. Also on the basis of the question, what's other members opinions. Who knows, someone might even give an opinion in Spanish, hehe
Regarding religion? probably the main cause of wars throughout the ages.
Keep an open mind, please refer to my Frank Sinatra comment.
Eddy, I think you were right in leaving the thread open once it was going. No, we definitely don't want to provide a venue for people to start attacking or bashing each other, but as long as it is a civil exchange of ideas and opinions, I think that is good. If someone doesn't like the topic, they don't have to read it or participate in it. It is, after all, in the "General Discussions" forum, which claims, "Any topic you can think of can be discussed here."
The thing that bothers me, and one reason I might find justifiable to disallow a thread like this, is that sometimes people will join this site just to post things like this. You see their post and notice that they just joined that day and it is their first post. That makes it appear that they are not joining here to learn anything about Spanish or English, just to promote whatever point of view they want to promote. To me, it's just like the advertisers. Again, I am not against having a "General Discussions" forum for members to converse about things not related to language/culture; rather, I am in favor of it. But if someone who has just joined comes to this forum and opens a thread like this one (and there are two of those on this thread), I wouldn't cry "censorship" if it were closed. I would probably feel differently about it if you closed a thread like this that were opened by a member who contributes in other areas of the forum.
That is why I felt the other Administrator was correct in closing the thread where the Asian guy was asking about dating. It was his first post. I wouldn't have a problem with his question (it was general in nature, not soliciting candidates), if it came from a member who participates in other areas of the site/forum.
Thanks for all you do to keep this site a place we all enjoy coming back to.
P.S. If someone wishes to speak/write publicly for their group or religion, it is a better presentation if the person is literate and capable of writing with proper grammar and punctuation, or at least has someone who is such to proofread and edit before submitting.
The grave problem with humanity is that what is good for some individuals is not necessarily good (or should I say 'acceptable') for others. And then there are the in-between opinions in all sorts of human endeavors. So there is a great diversity of likes, dislikes, opinions, beliefs, etc. In my view it is arrogant to claim that what I believe is the absolute truth and that it is what is good for the rest of humanity even if the great majority is not aware of it. This is the main cause of wars and tyranny. Where is the truth? In the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud, the Upanishads'? There is a myriad of religions and they all point in the same direction, yet we cling on to the minute differences rather than the things that unite us. What is good has to be good for everybody despite our differences. In the face of truth my beliefs, likes and dislikes are immaterial because in the end my mistakes will prove fatal not only for me but for all. So we will keep on fighting over what is right and what is wrong up until the very end, to the point where there is no return. We will never know what the truth is because we are unable to compromise, unable to put our beliefs aside to contemplate the thoughts of others and arrive at an agreement for the good of all humanity. Open your eyes and look at the world'bent on destruction'at all levels! Such is mankind'such is our fate.
With all due respect to your point of view, the fateful end of that line of thinking is that there are no absolutes. Maybe that is what you were trying to get across. Just because there are a myriad of exclusive, opposing views claiming to be the absolute truth, one should not conclude that there is no absolute truth, but rather seek and investigate to find what is the absolute truth.
If I were to be diagnosed with cancer, I would be bombarded on all sides by different philosophies of treatment, non-treatment, natural, chemo-, radiation, nutritional, supernutrients, etc. With such an overload of information, all of which seems to have its merits, one could make the foolish mistake of rejecting it all and doing nothing. But with one's life on the line, most people decide either to blindly follow what they are told by a certain physician (or other person), or to do their own research and choose a path they believe to be the correct one. How much more important should this "searching" be when the stakes are one's eternal destiny and not just physical death?
While I agree with you that it would be arrogant to think that "what I believe is the absolute truth and that it is what is good for the rest of humanity," just because it is what I believe, that doesn't mean that one cannot or should not be convinced that he is correct in what he believes, because he has searched the matter out and come to his own conclusion, and not just accepted what he has been fed. For example, if I believe that it is not healthy, neither spiritually nor physically, for people to grind up their ancestors' bones, mix the remains in water, and drink it (and yes, this is a religious rite in some places), and I am convinced that my belief holds true for all humanity, that does not make me "arrogant." Or if I believe it is neither right nor religiously beneficial to sacrifice my children to the gods (literally, as in kill them--and yes, that, too, is practiced still today), am I, just by believing that, or by sharing that with others, "arrogant," "intolerant," or "tyrannical"? If so, I guess the West's "arrogant" and "tyrannical" (not your word, but others') way of "shoving its ways down the throat of the third world" (as some categorize it) should have never taken place. We should have let the third world go on in ignorance about sanitation, vaccination, antibiotics, hygiene, etc. After all, that was their way, their beliefs, their absolutes. Who are we to suggest that there is a better way, or that we have "absolute truth" regarding these matters?
One last point ... While it is not my intention to bash anyone for their opinion, or to trash anyone for their religious beliefs (or the lack thereof), I would like to let One Who most people consider to be, at the least, the founder of a major world religion, speak for Himself.
Jesus Christ said: "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6
Wow, He threw down the gauntlet! Either He is THE (only) way, THE (only) truth, and THE (only) life; or He was the most arrogant, conceited, self-aggrandizing "teacher" to walk the face of the earth.
His followers taught the same thing, unashamedly. Just one example: speaking of the Name of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter said:
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -Acts 4:12
That's pretty exclusive! No wonder some of Christ's followers are so bold as to try to introduce others to Him. It is not a matter of "arrogance," but of compassion, if they really believe that He is the only way.
Having allowed the opinions of a various cross section of members and observing that "buckley", who started the discussion, still holds onto his original beliefs that they are a great organisation, I think it is time to close the thread.
Moderators - this is probably a good time to close this thread.
thankyou all for your replys. When giving comments on subjects its good to know facts. alot of these replies are way of the track,
facts jehovahs witnesses see the bible as the word of God. the watchtower and awake are all bible based. please read the magazine and read the quoted scriptures then you will see they are only bible aid.
they apply what jesus said at john 13:34 you will know my disciples if they have love amongst themselves. when a kingdom hall is built, it really is amazing to watch. THREE days and it is finished. now on a building site you dont get much love, trust me i know but to see these amazing men and women working together really is reflecting Gods spirit.
preaching is thier life, and as the bible says this good news must be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations then the end will come...
they are all like family together. i can travel all around the world and be welcomed by people i have never met. i would have meals and accomidation if i needed it.
i please encourage you to take the time to listen to Jehovahs witnesses when they come knocking on your door. you dont judge a book befor you read it so take the time to listen...
Why sure! I could do that in a post on a message board! I'll bet you'd even enjoy it if I took a whole thread for that.
However, there are message boards devoted to those discussions. A far better idea would be for you to go to one of them to engage in the kind of debate you seek.
Feel free to take all the time you need there.
Greg, I'm not impressed. And I suspect that you're not either, but if this is the best that you can do, then this is your identity. But please reach for something greater.
Somebody is right, here, and somebody is wrong. I prefer to believe that the church of Jesus has continuity from the time of Christ until now, and didn't need any "restoration" by some group in the 19th century.
Why can't both factions be totally wrong? Please explain carefully, and take all the time you need.
Why sure! I could do that in a post on a message board! I'll bet you'd even enjoy it if I took a whole thread for that.
However, there are message boards devoted to those discussions. A far better idea would be for you to go to one of them to engage in the kind of debate you seek.
Feel free to take all the time you need there.
Regarding religion? probably the main cause of wars throughout the ages.
"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." -- G. K. Chesterton
How can religion be the cause of wars when no one actually practices what they preach? How can Christianity be blamed for anything when the only true Christian is said to have died 2,000 years ago'
Somebody is right, here, and somebody is wrong. I prefer to believe that the church of Jesus has continuity from the time of Christ until now, and didn't need any "restoration" by some group in the 19th century.
Why can't both factions be totally wrong? Please explain carefully, and take all the time you need.
if you really want to know all about JWs just read this book,
The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses by Heather and Gary Botting
if you do nothing more than read the reviews on Amazon you will get a picture of the organization. The book was written by someone who was raised as a JW then contrary to their teachings went to university. It is well-researched, easy to read. If you are a JW you will be shunned if anyone thinks you even know about this book 
I never liked Frank Sinatra, are you suggesting an in depth discussion will change my mind? I doubt it.
His music is not to my taste either 
.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, formed in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russel, claims for itself to be the "only true religion". And pretty much all Christian churches claim the Jehovah's Witnesses are false.
So while Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Churches of Christ, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Adventists, Orthodox and darn near all the rest have their disagreemtns, they mostly accept one another as legit (if misguided) and JWs as illegitimate. And to JWs, they are legit, and all the rest are illegitimate.
Major point: All the above groups believe in the divinity of Jesus, and say that is an essential point of doctrine. the JWs believe Jesus is a very special angel, but a created being like all the rest.
Somebody is right, here, and somebody is wrong. I prefer to believe that the church of Jesus has continuity from the time of Christ until now, and didn't need any "restoration" by some group in the 19th century.
Hehe, Eddy, you know, an integral part of every communication is the exchange of ideas, information, emotions, points of view etc. To anyone participating in this ungodly activity, it can mean changing one's own ideas on the subject. Do you view it differently?
By the way, I saw another thread on this forum where an asian guy was asking about dating advice, and he was shot down by your fellow administrator. Are there any guidelines on what subjects are acceptable, or is it all based on whim?
Regarding religion, my view is that all religious people deserve the fate their gods deem right for their opponents. In that regard, jehovahs witnesses are somewhat (only somewhat) less distasteful than other christians de mejor fama.
Have a nice day, and keep that mind open to ideas.
I have given my opinion on the Jehovah's and no amount of discussion will change it. This doesn't mean I have a closed mind per se just on this subject. I never liked Frank Sinatra, are you suggesting an in depth discussion will change my mind? I doubt it.
With regards the subject of threads, please see our rules link below. We used to have a "Bible" group on our old site before its demise. I decided to leave this thread for that reason. Also on the basis of the question, what's other members opinions. Who knows, someone might even give an opinion in Spanish, hehe
Regarding religion? probably the main cause of wars throughout the ages.
Keep an open mind, please refer to my Frank Sinatra comment.
Rules
This may well be the case and you are entitled to your opinion, however, I was asked for my opinion regarding Jehovah's witnesses and gave it. Please do not try to convince me that I am wrong. My opinion may well seem simplistic in your eyes but it is not in mine. I have been asked to close this thread on the basis that it can result in being contentious and have refused to do so. Please give your opinions without trying to influence me or others to change their's.
Hehe, Eddy, you know, an integral part of every communication is the exchange of ideas, information, emotions, points of view etc. To anyone participating in this ungodly activity, it can mean changing one's own ideas on the subject. Do you view it differently?
By the way, I saw another thread on this forum where an asian guy was asking about dating advice, and he was shot down by your fellow administrator. Are there any guidelines on what subjects are acceptable, or is it all based on whim?
Regarding religion, my view is that all religious people deserve the fate their gods deem right for their opponents. In that regard, jehovahs witnesses are somewhat (only somewhat) less distasteful than other christians de mejor fama.
Have a nice day, and keep that mind open to ideas.
