questions for Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses are hunting recruits all over my town. They’re stationed every 300 metres with pamphlets claiming to explain what the Bible really means, in several languages to maximise their potential audience. They come to our door in twos with friendly smiles and more pamphlets. And they stop us in the street like lost souls looking for directions, before launching into their sales pitch and thrusting yet more pamphlets at us.
They inspire me to start a “Reject This Silly God Nonsense” campaign, assaulting people in their homes and about town with my views on the non-existence of any creator deities. However, so far I’ve just ignored them or cast stern glares in their direction. But I think it’s time I start looking up some facts about their friendly little religion and engage them in some sort of meaningful dialogue.
1. What new lifestyle rules might I have to follow if I join your cult?
It seems there are some rather harsh changes that would need to be made in my life. Examples of wrongdoing, such as drinking and smoking, can be found on the official site:
For instance, suppose a brother who in the past had a drinking problem drank too much once or twice when home alone. Or perhaps one who long ago abandoned the use of tobacco smoked privately a time or two in a moment of weakness.
Other examples of wrongdoing could be having a blood transfusion to save your life or your child’s life. Or having a moustache that is not neatly trimmed, or a hairstyle that is unkempt, or not the recommended style for your sex. Or having a Christmas tree.
2. Why are you so afraid of apostates?
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a peculiar attitude towards people who leave their fold, hiding from them like terrified bunny rabbits. As with any cult, the leadership knows that people who have spotted the holes from the inside and escaped their clutches could easily bring the whole sham tumbling down. Basically, don’t even say hello to apostates and by no means should you find out what their opinions are, as we learn from this an interesting article on apostasy (that relies on the cultish Bible quotes that many mainstream Christian denominations have cherry picked out of their practices):
Would faithful Christians welcome apostates into their presence, either personally or by reading their literature?
2 John 9, 10: “Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.”
Would any serious harm come from satisfying one’s curiosity about the thinking of apostates?
Prov. 11:9: “By his mouth the one who is an apostate brings his fellowman to ruin.”
3. Why are there so many support groups for people who used to be Jehovah’s Witnesses?
A quick google of “Jehovah’s Witness Support Groups” comes back with hundreds of sites packed with thousands of stories from people who left the JWs and are dealing with the subsequent trauma. They are alienated, or shunned, from their family and friends, and feel they’ve lost years of their lives to lies. Does that sound like a good cult to join? I think it’s a sensible rule of thumb to avoid any organisation that spawns thousands of support groups for traumatised former members. If you know anyone considering going to a Jehovah’s Witness group meeting, encourage them to check out these forums before dipping their toes in the murky waters of cultish entrapment.
Hopefully next time my path crosses with an eager Jehovah’s Witness pampleteer, I’ll feel ready to greet their enthusiastic evangelising with some sincere enquiries, and maybe a little evangelising of my own.
Unfortunately it will not be possible for me to help you with this Violet, but I once owned every Watchtower book gong back to the original Millennial dawn series written by Russel except one. I spent years with JW’s. I also was an expert on their theology and history. If interested in their history please see THIS
“The following links are two sides of a cassette tape of myself lecturing on the history of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) in 1988 when I was 24 years old. Being that this is 2 and a half decades ago and from magnetic tape recorded on a small Radio Shack tape machine, the quality is horrible. There is however a wealth of useful information here drawn from a ton of research from original source documents. This was also the very first public speaking I’d ever done in my life (I think) so please have mercy on my “ums” and uhs” and “know what I means” 🙂
I did a bunch of apologetics and polemics teaching back then and had maybe 25 tapes. We lost them when we lost the house. This is the only survivor because I gave dear Hank and Ruth Robinson copies a few years ago. Brings back memories and makes me feel weird. I was still blonde then 😀
[audio src="http://tiribulus.net/audio/1wt.mp3" /]
[audio src="http://tiribulus.net/audio/2wt.mp3" /]
The second side of the tape was preserved better for some reason.”
I do still have volume yow where Russel predicted the end of the world in 1914. I hung on to that VERY rare book and managed to save it.
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[audio src="http://tiribulus.net/audio/1wt.mp3" /]
[audio src="http://tiribulus.net/audio/2wt.mp3" /]
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Its’ your site Violet. Sorry. Copy and paste the links if you’re interested in listening to a very young me give a, I must humbly say, capable lecture on Watchtower history 26 years ago.
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You used to be one? How interesting! I can’t see how you reconcile the ‘truths’ you believed when you were with them with your beliefs now. For instance, their stance on the lack of any kind of trinity of gods is a much more rational belief based on what’s in the Bible. I’m afraid I have even less time that I used to and I won’t be able to listen to your undoubtedly stunning recordings.
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(Just saw this)
No, I never was. I spent years (4) in my apartment getting to know them, their history and their theology. That’s what I meant by “with them”. Not among them. I did cult ministry back in those days.
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Can I ask why? That seems like a rather bizarre use of your time. And if you know so much about them, what do you think is their oddest belief?
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“That seems like a rather bizarre use of your time.” – So far, I’ve found nothing about T that isn’t bizarre.
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It’s just nice that you’ve found another internet friend to bond with. Ark’s only entertaining for so long …
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You make “bond” sound like such a nasty word!
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Arch says: “So far, I’ve found nothing about T that isn’t bizarre.”
Actually Arch, I’ve found nothing about you so far that IS bizarre. You are exactly what the bible tells me to expect. 🙂 That’s not even being sarcastic.
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Considering what I think of the Bible, that doesn’t bother me in the least. The only reason I even bother to capitalize it, is that it’s a book, and I respect books.
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Violet you can ask me anything you want. Never hesitate. 🙂
2 Reasons. Number 1 is because I want them as brothers and sisters in Christ. I love them. Actually I want everybody as my brothers and sisters in Christ though I will not get it.
Truth be told in the late 80’s it is no exaggeration to say that I knew more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Say Saints than 99.99% of anybody ever born. (that’s not an exaggeration) I spent more time on them than the JW’s, but they require more time because their history and beliefs are a thousand times more complex. VERY interesting though.
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As for their “oddest” belief? It depends on what you mean by “odd”. Their most unbiblical belief is their doctrine of God. The Arian heresy dealt with 1700 years ago. If by “odd” you mean “weird”, I don’t know that they have anything THAT weird, as in shocking. Their refusal to take blood transfusions based on Acts 15 is absolutely not supported by the text and is really rather pointless.
NOTHING the Watchtower teaches however, even distantly approaches the flat down comic book science fiction of Mormonism though. (There’s another cue Arch)
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Still seems like an odd use of your time, although I can understand indulging some hours in having a laugh about Mormonism.
“Their most unbiblical belief is their doctrine of God. The Arian heresy dealt with 1700 years ago.”
Aw, poor Tiribulus! The one point in their favour, they actually make sense of the god God using the Bible, unlikely most of the rest of Christianity, duped by a poor argument made 1700 years ago, pitifully cobbled together to make the character Jesus as important as the character God. I love that you think logic is heretical. If you’re going to believe the Bible is written by the god God and is in any way important, you have to reject this laughable ‘Trinity’ heresy.
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NONSENSE WOMAN!!! 🙂
The bible everywhere declares there is but one true and living God. It also calls and treats three persons as that one God and and all of the divine attributes of that one God are seen in all three. Not only that, but all of philosophies conundrums are also solved in the eternal triunity of this God. Equally ultimate one and many. It’s perfect. Which only makes sense because we’re talkin about God after all.
It’s bad enough to be an apostate Violet, but you’re not even good at at. 😉 Try again please. Ruth remains the only one on this site with any idea at all of what Christianity actually is.
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“Ruth remains the only one on this site with any idea at all of what Christianity actually is.” – I can’t speak for Ruth, but you’ve made it clear, T, that that certainly includes you.
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You’re entitled to your interpretation of the Bible, but please direct me to the passage in the Bible that mentions three gods in one. Otherwise, it’s just a fabricated post-Bible jumble of nonsense dreamt up by yet more MEN who didn’t even write the Bible. Surely the Word of the god God mentions trinity somewhere …. 😉
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“Hopefully next time my path crosses with an eager Jehovah’s Witness pampleteer, I’ll feel ready to greet their enthusiastic evangelising with some sincere enquiries, and maybe a little evangelising of my own.”
If I were you, I’d take that a step further – find out where THEY live and take that message to THEIR homes!
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I’d love to! I seriously toy with the idea of an evangelical atheism mission. It’s ridiculous how many people fall for god beliefs.
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You’d save a ton on pamphlets. All you need is blank paper. 🙂
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She lives! How are you, my Pict friend?
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Tell me, John – do they still paint themselves like refugees from “Avatar”?
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I believe yes, but only on Tuesdays, after 3pm
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I’m well, my Brazilian buddy. We’re heading down your hemisphere in a couple of months. I’ll wave to you. What have you been up to? Not much posting last time I looked.
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Whistle as you fly over. Are you going down to rescue Cristina?
No, not much posting, been instead penning a treatise on our Omnimalevolent Creator, Mr. Devil.
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I look forward to learning the Truth about our origins.
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Welcome back.
I passed a woman with such pamphlets, one asking “Has the Bible a message for us today?” I caught her eye, said “No”, and was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
A friend of mine was disfellowshipped by her mother for apostasy.
If you did try to reverse-evangelise them, they would carry on spouting their stuff, and you would realise what courage it takes to keep on message against all that resistance.
I have just found a type of woad that does not run when I sweat! I must tell you the recipe!
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“I have just found a type of woad that does not run when I sweat! I must tell you the recipe!” What on earth does that mean?
“A friend of mine was disfellowshipped by her mother for apostasy.”
The internet is full of similar sad stories, what silly people. They definitely fill all the dodgy cult criteria.
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At least woad as a Scottish stereotype is better than meanness. Being up for a fight is preferable to “first out of the taxi and last into the bar”. Being a bit savage could be attractive…
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Sorry, my brain isn’t quite in gear and I still have no idea what you mean. Although I have found out that woad is Scottish face paint?
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It was what Arch said. You better be better than this when you start on the Witnesses. Here you find that woad is English and Welsh too.
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“You better be better than this when you start on the Witnesses.” Yeah, maybe I’ll wait a year or two before I set up my anti-JW shop ….
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A pair of Jehovah’s Witnesses showed up at this guys front door carrying copies of the New World Translation. His strategy. 😉
Great to see you, Violet.
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Good idea! Perhaps I’ll engage them in conversation interested in coming along to one of their meetings with my girlfriend.
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The next time you encounter a JW, or someone else who claims to be Christian that preaches to you, show them Colossians 1:23 clearly states that the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven, and ask the person why he or she is preaching to you, since Col 1:23 proves that the command to preach the gospel to every creature was fulfilled by the time that Colossians was written, that should quiet the person down rather quickly 🙂
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Colossians 1:23 be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard and which was preached to every creature under heaven
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Hmm, I’m sure they’d just fire a passage back at me about spreading the word of their god.
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Well, that shows you that they are led by the flesh, not by the Spirit, no one led by the Holy Spirit would ever keep pushing their beliefs on you, especially after you showed the person that the gospel has already been preached to every creature under heaven, the New Testament doesn’t support the teaching that says, the gospel must be preached to everyone in the world today. No wonder people turn away from Christianity, it has been hijacked by people that claim to be Christian that clearly are not led by the Spirit.
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Ah yes, I forgot you are in sole possession of the correct divinely revealed message. It’s such a burden for so many of you! It must be frustrating to see how everyone else misinterprets the Bible, while you smugly receive inspiration to understand it correctly. Just like the JWs! And Tiribulus! And the Catholics! And the Mormons! If the Christian god did exist, he would really have to amend his means of communication.
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LOL! I agree with what God had the Apostles teach, what I have spoken to you is the truth that many people that claim to be Christian do not speak, but I can tell by your comment to me that you really don’t care about the truth, you just want to cause trouble, you are no different than the false church that says that they are Christian when clearly they are not led by the Holy Spirit
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Bless you my son, now go and sin no more —
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LOL! I’m not your son
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Nothing like Tiribulus.
My views were the majority views of this continent until the 20th century and are still held by many millions worldwide alive today. Come on Violet. Even yer gal Ruth told you guys that.
Mark is all by himself and the God of the Watchtower was exposed and condemned at Nicaea in the person of Arius of Alexandria 1700 years ago. Your ex JW friend (who is very cute btw, though I mean that in only the most proper manner I assure you 🙂 ) will know that.
The story of Catholicism is well known and Mormonism is the money and sex scam of a man who was actually arrested several times as a con artist before finally getting some people to believe his tales.
bornfromabove7 (Mark) unfriended me when I gently manhandled him and his screwballery on my Facebook page. Just like here before.
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“My views were the majority views of this continent until the 20th century and are still held by many millions worldwide alive today.”
Catholicism is the majority Christian view in the world, since Christianity began. It beats you black and blue every time you attempt to justify to relatively small belief system that has only existed for a few hundred years …
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It speaks loudly of the god, that this god who alledgedly informed people to write the Bible as some sort of holy scripture and a “revelation”, blundered with the text so totally, that people in good faith – like the Jehowas Wittnesses – have a need to explain the book…
The moustache thing is a strange fab as the Bible CLEARLY dictates, in rules for human conduct alledgedly given straight from said god, that men should not even trim their beards (in the same set of law, that also defines homosexuality between men a capital offence and forbids tattoos and makeup). Or does it not?
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That’s a great point about the beards, I wonder how they reconcile that. It’s a shame that none of them are allowed to read things like this so they can’t pop over and explain.
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Hi Vi, good to see you again.
Please waste no time trying to engage with them, especially when they are two.
Back when I was a theology student, we had special courses to deal with them. They are conditioned, literally brainwashed into endlessly repeating the same passages of scripture, sometimes from their linguistically inaccurate translation… Unfortunately they are not of the brightest either, as those intelligent enough, at one point or another will defect. Their main grip on people is a mixture of apocalyptic threats, and exclusivistic belonging to a select few, who shall inherit the earth.
The only chance is talking to them alone, and convince them of whatever you believe, or not, but you need steong logical arguments.
I haven’t met many who succeded convincing them. They usually lose grounds when starting to read relevant, anti JW literature.
Good luck…;-)
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Actually, I dumbfounded two of them who came to my door, by explaining how Moses didn’t write the books ascribed to him. After a brief history lesson on who actually did, they thanked me, offered me a Watchtower, left, and none have ever been back.
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Thanks, that’s all really interesting. I’m sure it’s impossible to convince them by randomly chatting in the street. They have so much to lose if they leave, which must make it difficult to even consider questioning things.
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Unfortunately my friend, unknown to many, the main duty of JWs is to give out as many Watchtowers as possible, as these could turn into money generating subscriptions, which are the JW main revenue, plus the tithes. Watchtower is a publishing empire with fabulous incomes. JWs who don’t make the quotas are put on observation. The editorial board makes sure their “theology” adapts, to make it more palatable.
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“JWs who don’t make the quotas are put on observation.” And it gets every most sinister! A dodgy sales scam.
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Since 2000 they don’t take donations for their publications, but they seem to be freely distributed, paid by the JWs membership. Nevertheless, as “The Public Edition has an average monthly print run of about 53,000,000 copies, making it the magazine with the largest circulation in the world. The monthly print run of the Study Edition is not stated in the English edition; the Russian edition states a print run of nearly 15,000,000.” it would take an awful lot of money to print these publications, and I guess someone makes a profit on them…
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I’d love to know where all the money comes from, and how it’s spent.
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“voluntary donations”…
What’s unclear?
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Interesting is it not; there seems to be a support group for every religion and every apostate to help them with the trauma of deconversion, which is crucial in some cases as many ex-religious are shunned by friends and family alike.
One never seems to hear of ordinary, well-balanced folk suddenly chucking everything and adopting religion. There is always an emotional issue prior to accepting ‘The Lord’, often because of sex drugs or ”rock n roll’. Odd then that when people deconvert the trauma is often as bad or worse.
It is a bit like reading of Clapton’s heroin addiction.
And the JW’s are nutters. There are a few on the wife’s side of the family. Really odd ducks.
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Yes, I’m sure you’d have trouble keeping your moustache sufficiently tidy.
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Allow me.
1. How much drinking is deemed ‘enough’ will depend on which congregation you join. Rest assured that alcohol is served at JW ‘get-togethers’ (never parties) and many partake freely.
Smoking is a big no-no, just don’t. You’ll get a stern talking to and dressing down from creepy old men if you do.
No holidays. None. No Halloween or birthdays or Christmas or anything. You can keep your anniversaries though.
No blood, lest you be shunned. Blood products will just get you heavy side eye.
Facial hair is okay if you are a European JW, but it is clean-cut or cut up here in the Land of the Free.
2. Apostate fear is especially high among any group that has made multitudes of end of the world predicitions in the recent past. The prophecy jets have been cooled, but anyone that digs up incriminating documents is a bad news bear. Meanwhile, ‘New Light’ is all the rage. Scratch that, it’s all the kool-aid.
3. JWs are among the most cultish of religions. Once disfellowshipped, one is cut off from every person in the not-church. When your whole life is pulled from under you (even if you are still a teen at home), support comes in handy.
Sincerely,
I Grew Up in That Bullshit
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“Facial hair is okay if you are a European JW, but it is clean-cut or cut up here in the Land of the Free.” – Whatever happened to, “Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard!” – (or something like that)?
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I never claimed their customs make sense. 😛
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Thanks for your comment – a genuine apostate! Is there anything you miss? Must be horrible to be cut off from everyone when you leave.
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I was never baptized, so I got to keep the family and friends I wanted that wanted me.
What do I miss? Hmmmmmm.
Um, the dramas at conventions were entertaining. But that was mostly in comparison to the boring talks. The feelings of superiority were nice on a base, mammalian level.
Everything but the people are replacable and there are some I miss. That’s about it.
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Oh yes indeed, that feeling of superiority is a gift for most Christian denominations. I felt it too … I do miss not being part of an imaginary elect, despised by those who couldn’t understand.
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Tiribulus, you are so full of yourself, I deleted you because you speak false, I deleted you because I don’t associate with people like you, I”m not your friend, what you said to me on Facebook is absolutely false, your arrogance proves you are led by the flesh, that’s the truth about you
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I don’t know much else about him, but the man definitely knows Tiribulus!
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The problem with the internet age for people like you Mark is that everything is recorded. It’s still up on my page. You refused to answer questions (like you always do) and then unfriended me because I kept pushing you for answers. For the record I never would have unfriended you.
Arch says: “I don’t know much else about him, but the man definitely knows Tiribulus!”
I’m sorry to learn that your grip on reality has still not improved since we last spoke Arch. I will never be able to take you seriously until I see YOUR definition of probably. Not a copy and paste job from some simpleton website. I heroically persist in holding out hope.
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What would you know about reality? It is to laugh —
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1 more thing Tiribulus, Christ said that he will deny many that believe in him, and Christ said few will enter the gate that leads to life, therefore your statement, “there are millions of people that believe what you believe” means absolutely nothing in regards to being born of the Spirit.
Matt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matt 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
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Well thank you so very much for that Mark. I quoted that passage of Jesus words to some CATHOLICS yesterday.
Repent. Forsake your idolatrous imaginary false Christ, beg the real one to forgive you and live.
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I’ll bet they took that really well –!
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You must admit that Mark makes a great point. You are so keen to suggest that your Christian sect is mainstream somewhere at some point in time, but actually the passages he’s quoting here suggest that the more mainstream you are, the less likely you are to be right. It’s a bit of a quandary for each and every one of the tens of thousands of Christian sects and denominations. Are you popular because you’re correct and the god God has blessed you with the Truth, or does popularity mean you’re not one of the very select few that could find the Truth?
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Violetwisp, what I speak and teach isn’t popular at all, many people that claim to be Christian have called me a false teacher, not too many people believe what I believe, and that’s fine, but my beliefs agree with what is written in the Bible.
I was born of the Spirit 20 years ago, but for 18 of those years, I was part of mainstream Christianity, once I saw the truth, I left that group of people (church), when I left that church, I lost a lot, but after seeing the truth, I could no longer associate with anyone that claimed to be Christian that did not speak the truth that is written in the Bible. I am not a JW, but they definitely speak the truth when they say, “Christ (God’s Son) isn’t God.”
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Mark says: ” what I speak and teach isn’t popular at all,”
Being that you are THE only proponent, I would have to agree. 😉
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“many people that claim to be Christian have called me a false teacher, not too many people believe what I believe”
Certainly sounds like what’s written in the Bible. Obviously the less popular your interpretation is, the more likely it is to be true. For a Bible believer. You certainly have Greg on that one.
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2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Yeshua Christ [the Messiah] Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua Christ [the Messiah].
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Tiribulus, being popular isn’t a prerequisite of being born the Spirit, and I am not the only one that believes what I believe, but I am definitely in the minority, I am one of the ‘few” that has found the difficult way that leads to life that is written about in Matt 7:14, halleluYah !
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No, Mark does not make a great point. Mark shouldn’t be allowed in the same zip code with a bible. Where and when you are, determines how much popularity means what for your beliefs. For William Bradford and the Plymouth colony EVERYBODY believed what I believe. (the main parts) It was 100%. That’s why they came here. It can’t get any more popular than that. As the population grew the religious norms remained Christian and the Christin norms remained Calvinistic. As the country slid further and further into sin and wickedness the true biblical religion naturally became less and less popular.
Actually it was the slippage from true and sound biblical Christian belief as normative that facilitated this now free fall into death and debauchery. Even still the core of my beliefs are on every continent though vastly fallen from favor. My beliefs were also taught in 4th century . ALL the big ones.
Mark’s beliefs are taught by HIM.
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“For William Bradford and the Plymouth colony EVERYBODY believed what I believe. (the main parts) It was 100%. That’s why they came here. It can’t get any more popular than that. ”
Em, it could get more popular than that, because the world is big and history is relatively long. Besides, Mark already made the point that popular interpretations are clearly wrong, according to the Bible. You have to be hated and despised by the majority. You have to be misunderstood and reviled and the object of derision. Just like you treat Mark. 🙂
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Tiribulus, your arrogance blinds you from seeing the truth that is written in the Bible, and once again, the words that you speak about me are absolutely false, a devil (false accuser) is what you are
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Yeah and I don’t have a beautiful old black n bound Les Paul, with ebony fretboard, pearl inlay and jumbo frets and looks like gold tuning machines either. (looks like the nut might be bone, tough to tell from that shot.) Do you have anywhere I can hear your playing?
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Unfortunately Greg, God made me sell that guitar a few years ago so that I could pay rent, I paid $1000 for the guitar, I bought it when I lived in Hawaii, and when it came time to sell it, I received $1000 for it, I should have a few videos on Facebook of me playing the guitar, do you play the guitar ?
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Yeah, T – what he said!
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Tiribulus, I’m glad that conversation is still on your page because what I spoke is the truth, I didn’t answer your questions to your satisfaction, but I definitely gave you the answers that are according to the New Testament, Tiribulus, I deleted you not because I couldn’t answer your questions, I deleted because you speak false, you were lying about me then, and you are lying about me now
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LOL! Tiribulus, your words to me, speak of you, not me, I know without a doubt that I am born from above (born of the Spirit), halleluYah!
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Matt 7:21-23 is talking about you Tiribulus, Christ will deny you if you keep speaking false
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Sound like the early apostles and their work. (Acts 5:27-32) . . .So they brought them and stood them before the Sanʹhe·drin. Then the high priest questioned them 28 and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have FILLED Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” (Acts 5:27-32) . . .So they brought them and stood them before the Sanʹhe·drin. Then the high priest questioned them 28 and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” 29 In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.
It is good to have them calling regularly. I know of three suicides we have saved because of our calling. Another older lady fell off the toilet and got jammed against the wall. JWs heard her moans and called 911 and got someone to cut away the wall and save her.
The big thing about Jehovah’s Witnesses is that they don’t pass a collection plate! Could any religion but the True religion survive without a collection plate?
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The big thing about The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is that they have the wrong god and the wrong Jesus Jerry.
2nd Corinthians:
3-But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4-For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. …….. 13-For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14-No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15-Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
Satan does not show up at the door as a hideous horrifying beast. He comes all smiles and friendly and helpful and generous. He’s been at his game a very long time. He’s good at it. He will help you with money, health, happiness and contentment as long as you do NOT trust the true and risen Christ who was in the beginning both with God and God Himself.
Now I know better than to argue with you about this because I have spent more time doing so than any 5 people you’re likely to meet. I’ve had your own books (originals) laid across my couch showing numerous doctrinal flip flops throughout the 20th century. I demonstrated the utter incompetency of the NWT translation committee. I showed them where their magazines did things like quote AT. Robertson’s “Greek Grammar of the New Testament in Light of Historical Research” as supporting their butchery of John 1:1 when I had the book on my shelf and looked up their quote right in front of their face and showed unassailable evidence of how they outright LIED about what that towering giant of Koine Greek was actually saying.
I showed them originals of their own books where the end of world was predicted 4 times in the early 20th century and even as late as 1975 when multitudes in the early 70’s sold all they had to dedicate it to the society with nary so much as an apology for our all still being here. I showed them Ray Franz’s book, who depending on how old you are, you may or may not know about. He was Fred Franz’s nephew. The main translator for the original New World Translation. Ray Franz was a member of the governing body for many years. I KNOW you know who they are. He left when he couldn’t take the lying, manipulation and corruption anymore. Of course the society regards him as a Satanic apostate as they do anybody bringing actual truth.
Depending on your story, I know how painful it would be for you to be convinced it’s true, but your religion is a lie. Built on lies by a liar. (That’s your cue Arch)
I linked this at the top of the page. I know you are absolutely forbidden from doing so because anything your pre-approved society materials is regarded as automatically apostate and reading or listening to them is an actionable offense in your hall if discovered. If however you are ever interested in a comprehensively documented treatment of the society’s history, from original source materials which I held in my hand, please see THIS
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“…but your religion is a lie. Built on lies by a liar. (That’s your cue Arch)” – Far be it from me to disappoint – all religion is lies, built on lies, by liars.
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Thank you so much for commenting Jerry. It’s great to have a current Jehovah’s Witness give their perspective. Your collection plate comment is a fantastic point, as is the benefits of having strangers knocking on the doors of people needing help. However …
“We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”
Are you not just a wee bit concerned that JW’s have to obey the rules that another group of random men have written about the god God, rather than directly praying and reading the Bible for yourself? Doesn’t really make sense, especially when you’re not supposed to question or explore your faith by spending time with people who don’t share your beliefs.
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These silly conversations about who’s got the “right” religious beliefs reminded me of this:
GTFU
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Reminds me of the Lilliputians in “Gulliver’s Travels,” going to war over which end of an egg to open.
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Not bad Arch. That’s pretty funny. 😀
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Love it!
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Hello Violet. I take it congratulations are in order for a wisplet?
Not got anything to say about JWs apart from No. Thank. You. Somewhat like double glazing.
But re the comment above. My neighbour fell off the toilet. She had neighbours, JWs weren’t necessary. Neither was an emergency service.
Weren’t they they rose up the … brigade or were those Mormons? All the same to me, happily.
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Hello, hope your ankle is finally better. And yes, got another little wisplet, so not expecting to be blogging too often but nice to pop in and out.
I quite like the idea that the JWs saved an old lady stuck on the floor. But I guess there will also be instances where their door ringing startled an old lady making her fall off the toilet and get stuck on the floor. I’m sure the negative consequences will at least cancel out (but probably outweigh) any positive effects of their unwelcome visits.
I think these are the ones that constantly think the world is going to end and that their physical bodies will come up out the grave, but I could be wrong. Maybe they don’t even believe in an afterlife. Like you say, all the same at some point. One version of nonsense, another version of nonsense …
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Aaah, you are still here. Boom boom!
As for getting rid of pesky JW salesmen, you’ve given us the answer, no?
All we have to do is simply say “I’m an apostate Jehovah’s Witness” and while they’re recoiling in shock/horror/dismay, follow quickly with “I’m FREE~! Why don’t you cast off your chains, break free and join m—” by which time they are at least a hundred yards away and still accelerating.
Dammit, I can’t wait for the next lot to knock at our door …
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Oh my goodness! That is so obvious and I didn’t see it. I’ll get an apostate mask as well, it’ll be so much fun! Thanks doggy!!
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I’ve always found answering the door naked with a cold can of Bud in hand to be rather effective.
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Yeah if you’re trying to get jumped for your beer. JW’s can do some drinkin.
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Maybe cigarettes and a Father Christmas top would do the trick then.
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Hey Arch, you link to a WordPress blog now, what’s that all about?
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That’s news to me – which one? About five years ago, when I was first looking to begin a blog, I looked into WP and actually opened an account, but never used it. Recently (this past year), I have been invited to guest-post on “Kuba’s” “Knowledge Guild,” but I had no idea that that would link me to it – would that be the one? I’ve been asked by one other WP blogger if I was “Kuba.”
Ark also (believe it or not) invited me to guest-post on his blog, but as he has a reputation as an author to uphold, I’ve so far declined, not wanting to give his followers a standard of comparison that could be less than favorable to him. He’s not a bad guy – considering.
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Yes, you link to knowledge guild.
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Then that would be why.
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