I have no problem with religion as long as it's someone's PERSONAL choice, and as long they do not bother me in any way. However, when people are given practically no choice - or simply have no will to understand that there is a choice - that just makes me sad.

No, your grades show how well you performed on a class's (supposedly) standardized scale.

Heres a tip, if you are going to argue against an entire board about your religion, at least understand what you are talking about, don't just cite us meaningless quotes from your book. Then again, most religious people I have ever met have been like that anyway.

And answer Koobies damn question, or, maybe your book doesn't say anything about that.

Ech. Silly rules and ridiculous contradictions, all I ever hear come out of religion. I'm tired of it. <3 not belonging to a religion, that way you can belive in God and not have some silly belief structure run your life.

Especially when it's entirely based off of one random guy saying, "OMQ God just told me that he changed his mind with out warning and we're doing everything differently now! lolz!" How he found so many people to believe him is beyond me. Of course, they have almost completely changed everything since it started. And they deny it.

hehe man.. this is a lot of talk. i didn't finish reading all of it BC thars so much

I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses

======================
What Is the Condition of the Dead?

The Bible is clear when it describes the condition of the dead. It simply states: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . Their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished . . . There is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [mankind’s common grave], the place to which you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10) True worshipers of God have long embraced this basic Bible truth. They have understood that the soul, rather than being immortal, can die and be destroyed. (Ezekiel 18:4) They have also known that spirits of the dead do not exist. (Psalm 146:4) In ancient times, Jehovah strictly commanded his people to separate themselves completely from any custom or ritual that was associated with the belief that the dead are conscious and are able to influence the living.—Deuteronomy 14:1; 18:9-13; Isaiah 8:19, 20.

First-century Christians likewise avoided any traditional custom or rite that was associated with false religious teaching. (2 Corinthians 6:15-17) Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses, regardless of race, tribe, or background, shun traditions and customs that are connected with the false teaching that something in man survives death.

Online Bible
so u can look them up if u whant
===================
WHAT JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES BELIEVE

Belief-------------------------------------------------- Scriptural Reason

Bible is God’s Word and -------------------------2 Tim. 3:16, 17;
is truth -----------------------------------------------2 Pet. 1:20, 21; John 17:17

Bible is more reliable --------------------------Matt. 15:3; Col. 2:8
than tradition

God’s name is Jehovah----------------------- Ps. 83:18; Isa. 26:4; 42:8, AS;
---------------------------------------------------------Ex. 6:3

Christ is God’s Son and---------------------- Matt. 3:17; John 8:42; 14:28;
is inferior to Him ---------------------------------20:17; 1 Cor. 11:3; 15:28

Christ was first of God’s ---------------------Col. 1:15; Rev. 3:14
creations

Christ died on a stake, -----------------------Gal. 3:13; Acts 5:30
not a cross

Christ’s human life was----------------------- Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6;
paid as a ransom for ---------------------------1 Pet. 2:24
obedient humans

Christ’s one sacrifice --------------------------Rom. 6:10; Heb. 9:25-28
was sufficient

Christ was raised from ------------------------1 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 6:9;
the dead as an immortal---------------------- Rev. 1:17, 18
spirit person

Christ’s presence is in------------------------- John 14:19; Matt. 24:3;
spirit --------------------------------------------------2 Cor. 5:16; Ps. 110:1, 2

We are now in the ‘time of ------------------Matt. 24:3-14; 2 Tim. 3:1-5;
the end’--------------------------------------------- Luke 17:26-30

Kingdom under Christ will ---------------------Isa. 9:6, 7; 11:1-5;
rule earth in righteousness --------------------Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 6:10
and peace

Kingdom will bring ideal -------------------------Ps. 72:1-4;
living conditions to earth----------------------- Rev. 7:9, 10, 13-17; 21:3, 4

Earth will never be destroyed -----------------Eccl. 1:4; Isa. 45:18; Ps. 78:69
or depopulated

God will eliminate present --------------------------Rev. 16:14, 16; Zeph. 3:8;
system of things in the -----------------------------Dan. 2:44; Isa. 34:2; 55:10, 11
battle at Har–Magedon

Wicked will be eternally --------------------------Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9
destroyed

People God approves will ------------------------John 3:16; 10:27, 28; 17:3;
receive everlasting life ------------------------------Mark 10:29, 30

There is only one road to -------------------------Matt. 7:13, 14; Eph. 4:4, 5
life

Human death is due to -----------------------------Rom. 5:12; 6:23
Adam’s sin

The human soul ceases to ------------------------Ezek. 18:4; Eccl. 9:10;
exist at death ------------------------------------------Ps. 6:5; 146:4; John 11:11-14

Hell is mankind’s common ------------------------Job 14:13, Dy;
grave------------------------------------------------------ Rev. 20:13, 14, AV (margin)

Hope for dead is --------------------------------------1 Cor. 15:20-22;
resurrection-------------------------------------------- John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26

Adamic death will cease ---------------------------1 Cor. 15:26, 54; Rev. 21:4;
--------------------------------------------------------------Isa. 25:8

Only a little flock of---------------------------------- Luke 12:32; Rev. 14:1, 3;
144,000 go to heaven and ------------------------1 Cor. 15:40-53; Rev. 5:9, 10
rule with Christ

The 144,000 are born again----------------------- 1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:3;
as spiritual sons of God----------------------------- Rev. 7:3, 4

New covenant is made with ------------------------Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:10-13
spiritual Israel

Christ’s congregation is----------------------------- Eph. 2:20; Isa. 28:16;
built upon himself -------------------------------------Matt. 21:42

Prayers are to be directed --------------------------John 14:6, 13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5
only to Jehovah through Christ

Images should not be used in------------------------- Ex. 20:4, 5; Lev. 26:1;
worship -------------------------------------------------------1 Cor. 10:14; Ps. 115:4-8

Spiritism must be shunned ----------------------------Deut. 18:10-12; Gal. 5:19-21;
-------------------------------------------------------------------Lev. 19:31

Satan is invisible ruler of ------------------------------1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:4;
world John 12:31

A Christian ought to have no -------------------------2 Cor. 6:14-17; 11:13-15;
part in interfaith movements --------------------------Gal. 5:9; Deut. 7:1-5

A Christian should keep ----------------------------Jas. 4:4; 1 John 2:15;
separate from world -----------------------------------John 15:19; 17:16

Obey human laws that do not-------------------- Matt. 22:20, 21;
conflict with God’s laws ---------------------------1 Pet. 2:12; 4:15

Taking blood into body -----------------------------Gen. 9:3, 4; Lev. 17:14;
through mouth or veins ---------------------------Acts 15:28, 29
violates God’s laws

Bible’s laws on morals must --------------------1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Heb. 13:4;
be obeyed ----------------------------------------------1 Tim. 3:2; Prov. 5:1-23

Sabbath observance was given ------------------Deut. 5:15; Ex. 31:13; Rom. 10:4;
only to Israel and ended ----------------------------Gal. 4:9, 10; Col. 2:16, 17
with Mosaic Law

A clergy class and special------------------------- Matt. 23:8-12; 20:25-27;
titles are improper------------------------------------ Job 32:21, 22

Man did not evolve but was------------------------ Isa. 45:12; Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4
created

Christ set example that must --------------------1 Pet. 2:21; Heb. 10:7;
be followed in serving God------------------------- John 4:34; 6:38

Baptism by complete immersion --------------Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:23;
symbolizes dedication -----------------------------Acts 19:4, 5

Christians gladly give public -----------------------Rom. 10:10; Heb. 13:15;
testimony to Scriptural truth----------------------- Isa. 43:10-12
-----
and she may be shi or some thang but i hope she starts to tell people win thay asks here some thang

.

.

I find it EXTREMELY interesting that your Bible (On the watchtower website) is different than the King James Version.

Especially in reference to Jesus hanging on a stake? Both verses in the King James version say tree. And... I saw a history channel special about crucifixtion and IT said the Romans sometimes would just nail a board sideways to a tree.
Perhaps Jesus just carried a board, and not a tradition 'cross.' But that's my own personal thoughts. Nothing to do with religious doctrine. Still, your Bible does seem to change things.

I'm a non-denomination Christian that believe the Bible and has a relationship with Christ.
I find this website very interesting and suggest you check it out.

http://www.carm.org/

Especially the stuff on Jehovah's Witnesses.

I recently bought a book called "How to live for ever on paradise on earth." It was all about why Jehovah's Witnesses believe what they do. Interesting, but I don't believe it's true.

That's just my thoughts. For now.

hehe ya, god is a title like boss or king and so on Jehovah is his name

Isaiah 43:8
“I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.


Psalm 83:18
18 That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Now SOME bibles have taken out his name and thay have put LORD or GOD in caps and thats ware his name go's now some new bibles have put it back or and have stopt puting it in caps

Jehovah

ya not every buddy thinks the same thang but you can find this is in the bible. but i am just a friendly JW well i hope this helps and i don't thank GoldG explained every thing well he may just have a hard time expressing him self, and the subjects keep jumping hehe that makes it hard N-e-who

.

Skipping the entire thread:

It's possible these kids don't believe what their parents want them to, but because it's such an intense religion, they can't defy their parents, so instead of saying their parents said no because of their religion, they make excuses.

I didn't take the time to read all of what I saw as a degenerating argument with SF_GoldG, however, as I see it (from my limited, casual readings of JW literature), the Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. because these are holidays that are only duciously Christianized pagan celebration. As the Church expanded, the pill was made easier to swallow by shaping existing celebrations to fit the Christian worldview. They don't celebrate these specific holidays, and I can certainly understand that after they explained it that way, and instead try to see every day as a celebration of God's Creation. What I don't understand is why they purposely make sure they DON'T do any celebrating of any kind on those holidays, less so than on any other day.

As for the girl in your school, I imagine that she was brought up to be suspicious of peers making fun of or picking apart her religion. Personally, I find constant religious debates to be rather taxing and pointless.

"religious debates to be rather taxing and pointless."


ya debating doesn't do n-e thing
but if some one whants to now about why we do things the way we do i tri to do the best i can to gave them a answer

if thats all than i will b going now. i have been working so i am sleepy, but if i whant to now more than post. other wise i don't see what we are geting done.

Can you explain the reasoning behind the the JW translation of the Bible?

I have a friend that used to be a JW, but his parents pushed him like that, so he's athiest now I believe

ok.hehe i have a King James Version to. and some other ones and u can get the truth from tham to, but i find it makes me sad win i read a bible and it takes Jehovahs name out. its like if u read about a dear friend and some buddy takes his name out.

that was the big reason thay made that bible. B4 that JW's use the King James
and in some Languages we have not made a bible yet in that Language so we use what is out thare. i hope that answers your question.


and sry about my spelling...

God has a name... haha. The idea of labels is so engrained into humans, it's sad.

Anyway:

Bible is God’s Word and -------------------------2 Tim. 3:16, 17;
is truth -----------------------------------------------2 Pet. 1:20, 21; John 17:17

A book that tells you how important it is isn't a credible source. I still don't understand how you can base all of your beliefs and ideals on a book, and not on what you yourself actually believe.

Welcome to the fun fair. No bible is the same. Contradictions abound. Hidden gospels, false gospels, rumoured gospels, lost gospels....

You guys should read it in Hebrew. Much more interesting. And Y-H-V-H is God's name throughout most of the Hebrew bible except for a few chapters here and there with the most notable exception of Genesis 1.

I SO AGREE WITH THAT!!!! Nail on the ****ing head! Period. Discussion over.

Kirby wins! Burn your bibles.

"Move along."

Er, I used a KJV for rollpaper once. Not for myself, but still.

I remember last year I got really upset with some of my friends who used one of the pocket bibles that get handed out around campus for roll papers. I don't know why it upset me so. Looking back on it, it doesn't really bother me. I don't believe in god anyway.

Normally this is true... if it were "just a book". But we believe the Bible is more than a book just written by a bunch of different authors thousands of years ago. We believe it is the inspired Word of God.

And besides, where would a Christian get their beliefs from if not from the Bible? A written record is far more reliable than word of mouth. I believe personal experience (or revelation if you prefer) has helped many believe more, but they have to take that step of faith and believe in the Bible first. There are very few exceptions (one being St. Paul).

As for God's name... I think Christian belief would be to call him Father, or Friend (and have the appropriate relationship to match).

http://www.letusreason.org/JW14.htm

If you don't have better things to do, you could read this article. It's about God's name and how the JW's changed it throughout the Bible...

Are you suggesting that there are sources of authority on the issue of morality beyond Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged? Whoa.


As for this thread... the idea that this person MUST provide justification for her religious beliefs on demand is thinly veiled persecution. Why don't you just respect her space and mind your own business? The way Jehovah's Witnesses are referred to in this thread seems a bit degrading. It almost sounds like the freaking Inquisition---that's bad.

Lot's of people have ridiculous beliefs. Some people, for example, think that people evolved from apes. In reality, we are aliens cloned here by true human beings, our protective overlords from a distant planet. War and environmental destruction had so devestated their planet that they set aside a moral code for us to follow. Unfortuantely, we, the aliens, are all-too-human.

hehe thares

the bible talks about some stuff that never b4 cud have hapnd
unprecedented warfare - Matt 24:7; Rev 6:4
famine - matt 24:7
pestilences luke 21:11
increasing lawlessness mat 24:12
earthquakes mat 24:7
critical times hard to deal with 2 timothy 3:1
inordinate love of money 2 timothy 3:2
disobedience to parents 2 timothy 3:2
a lack of natural affection 2 timothy 3:3
loving pleasures rather than god 2 timothy 3:4
a lack of self-control 2timothy 3:3
without love of goodness 2 timothy 3:3
taking no note of the impending danger matt24:39
ridiculers rejecting proof of the last days 2 peter 3:3,4
global preaching og god's kingdom matt 24:14

and i know about the preaching hehe and i know u do to we keep calling on you ehhe all of this is to b in the last days all over,and know other time has it been to this ex-st-int and i am just tird of tipe-ing hehe n-e-way jw's are in all the earth preaching thares not much left that dont have at lest one of us hehe, but i can see your pont.

To MZZTer:

And that's where I don't understand. You think a book is the inspired work of a diety. That's where we part ways, and I just can't take your beliefs structure seriously.

Consider this coming from someone who was a catholic bible studies teacher. I didn't force the kids to believe in the bible, but instead told them what it said, and asked them to come to their own conclusions; which were almost always within catholic boundaries. This way, the kids formed their own belief structures with their own logic, rather than the pre-defined ideas that most denominations force on people.

Basically, I'm not saying you can't borrow beliefs from a book, but they should make sense to you, and you should actually BELIEVE them because they make sense and apply to you. Lots and lots of books say the earth isn't flat. I don't just flat out believe them unless they prove it to me, or it makes sense to me. And just because a book is right about the world being round, doesn't mean they're right about the M-theory.

JediKirby

Good, but I can't see yours. Could you try using punctuation and avoid abbreviations? It'll make your arguments a lot more compelling.

We shall see on Judgement Day...

[ Whoopsies, let's not! ]

well this is my last post in this thread if u want to know more than i am shear u will see us again... may be soon hehe tell next time

.

[ This isn't the post you're looking for ]

Kirby really hits the nail on the head for me about the label we give God. We give God a name, gender, and act like he cares about things that are COMPLETLY human creations. Like marriage, God didn't invent marriage, it is a complete human incranation, yet he act like God cares about whether we have sex before marriage for whether two people of the same sex get married. All these rules are made by humans and humans alone. Again, I think there is a God, but not the all-knowing, all-powerful entity that most religions refer to.

Haha, Jehovah's Witness. What a waste.

I have to kind of see things for myself or have an incredibly reliable present source to usually believe things, but this is the reason why I trust the Bible. If I trust someone they have to prove something to me. My mom and dad have proved they have loved me so I have faith in what they're saying and my professor's predictions in labs have usually been correct so I trust what he says on information in that given field. So faith has to be initiated by proof by whomever I channel my trust to. The thing with Christianity and Christ Himself is the night I accepted Him I had a dream that was unlike any other dream, the plot was way too coherent and composed of elements I couldn't have come up with at the time and felt so real that there was no way my subconscious could have assembled that randomly. It was this message that initiated a major chunk of my faith, without this and a lot of other events that have happened I wouldn't have the faith I have today. I'm not saying to jump into Christianity because i'm saying this, its better if you yourself seek the truth sincerely. In doing this if God never reveals Himself to you, then Christianity is a lie.

That's a logical fallacy.

Finding a cure for cancer vs. going to the moon is a matter of technology, not a matter of funding. We had the technology at the time to go to the moon, so that's what we did.

Giving out money to homeless people or using it to buy food isn't really helping anyone, it's just temporarily alleviating problems.

Fixed.

I was going to post, but now it seems I don't have to. Everything has either been taken care of or left dangling forever. Thank goodness.