Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

Disciple of Jesus said:

Such as?

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Disciple of Jesus said:

As opposed to being vague, or using a broad description? Hmm...
That would be, what, almost every religion designator, on the forums? Most, at least.

Are you saying that nothing listed, common, or broad listing, like "christian", also common, tells you more?

What is the differential, between nothing listed, a vague listing, or more than one description?

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Disciple of Jesus said:

Not really. Many realize that my beliefs are similar to Early Church, or, are Early Church. Not really a big deal. It's called being descriptive, as opposed to secretive.

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Disciple of Jesus said:

What is a christian, in your understanding?

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Disciple of Jesus said:

I didn't realize that religious beliefs should be a popularity contest.

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That isn't what religion is, to me.

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RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

I'm a formerly practicing homosexual. I've been to the gay bars, the roadside gathering places, the parks and the rest areas. Homosexuals tend to be more spiritually inclined than the average straight guy. I certainly wouldn't be homophobic or rude about it. Though I've seen some pretty dark stuff. Friends dying of AIDS, the promiscuity, unsafe sex practices, the drugs and alcohol. The married guys who's wives would keel over and die if they knew what sort of things their secretly gay or bisexual husbands were doing. That's the dark side of it. Though, it seems to be the norm.

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RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

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.

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Ellen Brown said:

No.

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RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

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?

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ObjectOfMercy said:

Why do you think Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth? They don't. JW say that Jesus is not God. You cannot be saved by believing these lies of the devil. Jesus most certainly is God. It is taught throughout the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself told some Jews that they would die in their sins if they did not believe that He is God. It is no different for anyone else.

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RedhorseWoman said:

Tell us, Deeje, who are the ones that the JWs believe are on that Ark?

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ObjectOfMercy said:

And why would you want a Savior who is not God? The Old Testament says God alone is Savior, in the book of Isaiah. JW go against the Old Testament. Genuine Christians do not go against any part of the Bible in such blatant opposition to the truth. JW is a cult. Their name is also a misnomer, because they are not witnesses of the true Jehovah. God said Christ Jesus is His Son. In the book of Genesis we are taught that kind produces kind. After their kind they produce. The Son of God is of the same nature as God the Father- the Divine nature.

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ObjectOfMercy said:

In the book of Genesis we are taught that kind produces kind. After their kind they produce. The Son of God is of the same nature as God the Father- the Divine nature.

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Earthling said:

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.

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shunyadragon said:

I thought you were a JW? You have cited JW sources to support your argument.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck it is obviously a duck.

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wandering peacefully said:

"Someone like me and the JW's ideally are satisfied with the rejection of their offering as they are the acceptance, because the point is not necessarily to convert, but to give the opportunity for an informed choice. The frustration on my part is due to a hindrance or mocking of that opportunity which is uncalled for because it isn't what it is often perceived to be. There are many negative uninformed assumptions."

Interesting. I think most grown adults are capable of making their own informed choices about what abstract beliefs they think are valid or want to follow or not follow. I just never understand the mindset of those who are so certain of their own abstract beliefs they go out of their way, indeed spend a majority of their lives trying to "inform" others they have the only right answers to life and death. Which of course, they can't possibly have. It just doesn't make sense to me.

But no, I probably wouldn't be unkind to the people going door to door, I just won't answer the door anymore. I do feel so sorry for the children they drag along with them and find that offensive because those children will never have a chance to think for themselves about how they view the abstract and are forced to grow up uneducated. It's not really fair to them or their future and the impact on society that will have.

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Earthling said:

That's interesting, why, may I ask, would you say that?

The benefits for me that I couldn't get on my own are baptism, fellowship, and if they are Jehovah's earthly organization I should want to be a part of that. For spiritual protection, encouragement, support. The field ministry is something that I could do on my own, though probably not as effective or accurate as if I were one of them. Perhaps isolationism is a detriment to spiritual growth and improvement.

It's like the Frank Herbert quote I have on every page of my website: "Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty." I firmly believe in that.

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Earthling said:

That's great for you, but the sciences is to me what the Bible teachings might be to you and to me the Bible is what the sciences are to you. I have always found the sciences boring. Bible teachings I find fascinating, interesting, mind blowing stuff. Now, that's just me and you. I've know people who found both very rewarding.

As for the JW's being a cult, that's just a pejorative connotation from mainstream Christendom who have left the Bible teachings and subscribed to pagan myth and legends. I would never become part of what I see as a lie that is the modern day apostate Christendom's teachings and practices. It would be the Watchtower or nothing.

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Earthling said:

I'm a formerly practicing homosexual. I've been to the gay bars, the roadside gathering places, the parks and the rest areas. Homosexuals tend to be more spiritually inclined than the average straight guy. I certainly wouldn't be homophobic or rude about it. Though I've seen some pretty dark stuff. Friends dying of AIDS, the promiscuity, unsafe sex practices, the drugs and alcohol. The married guys who's wives would keel over and die if they knew what sort of things their secretly gay or bisexual husbands were doing. That's the dark side of it. Though, it seems to be the norm.

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Sharikind said:

Now that you mention it, it could look like, walk like, and talk like a duck but maybe it's not.

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shunyadragon said:

I not ever seen any animal the walks, talks, and of course,looks like a duck, and it is not a duck.

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SomeRandom said:

To be fair I've known a couple of people who were shocked that a platypus wasn't at least a distant cousin to the duck.

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