Jehovah’s Witnesses Claiming to Follow the Christ

Jehovah’s Witnesses Claiming to Follow the Christ

According to an article in the Cherry Hill N.J. Courier-Post, Jehovah’s Witnesses aim to “debunk myths” about their faith by adopting the topic “Follow the Christ!” at the District Conventions. The article mentions only the one convention being held in Reading, Pa., but of course the program is an identical thing everywhere, and it’s not as though it’s an actual “conference” type of convention at which one might expect discussions, debates, new scholarship, pastoral support, and the like. It’s reinforcement and rah-rah. The JW assemblies were fun because it was a chance to meet other JWS, and it had a celebratory air for that reason. Now it seems they are using it as a preaching tool. They must have gleaned some tips from Falwell, et al. Too bad for the young ones seeking a mate – they’ll have to sort through all the non-JWs that attend.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Jersey are knocking on doors and inviting their neighbors to attend the convention, which will explain how following Bible principles that Christ promoted can help people improve their family life, draw closer to God and gain everlasting life, said Mark Weaver, a spokesman for the Reading conventions.

Here’s a funny bit: “There also will be a public talk debating the question: Who are the real followers of Christ?” Debating? Hee-hee. Not likely. Any guesses on who they will claim as the “real” followers?

Last year, the district convention was all about the “Deliverance at Hand” – meaning that the loving God is about to kill off most of the people on the planet. So this year, it’s a PR move. They want to fight the perception that “their denomination isn’t a Christian religion.”

Why fight a perception? That’s like saying that you should undermine an insight. They should at least say they are fighting an “inaccurate impression.”

I think that people have the perception that Jehovah’s Witnesses (I call them Watchtowerites) aren’t Christian because of different and larger issues than simply their non-celebration of Christmas and Easter, which is the only reason given in the article (Even mainstream Christians are somewhat aware of the history of the development of these two holidays). No, there is a much larger set of issues. Grace, forgiveness, compassion… for starters.

They miss Jesus’ whole point (and in this they are not alone, of course), and so this topic is very pertinent to their problem. Unfortunately, they won’t address it at all. It takes a very narrow focus to try to claim that JWs follow Christ, and many things must be unspoken in order for them to attempt to do so.

Since comments on the article were allowed, here is the one I posted:

In some ways, JWs follow Jesus. They preach, like the disciples. They accept persecution, as did the early Christians. They will die for their beliefs – even as the beliefs change. They believe that the Christ has a mediating function in prayer, although they do not think it through but merely invoke the name.

However, I don’t think that anyone who looks more closely would believe that they are Christians. They are more like Watchtowerites.

They believe that Jesus, as Archangel Michael, very shortly will act as God’s hand to destroy “this satanic system of things,” including most of the people. They do not have a communion, only a yearly memorial of the last supper, during which only those who feel that they are of the 144,000 (destined to rule as kings over the earth) may partake of the bread and wine. The “emblems” are actually passed over every person present. In the years that I was a JW, I never witnessed any of them eat or drink in remembrance of Jesus. The ceremony is a reminder that they are not part of the communion. But hey, most of them would rather live on paradise earth anyway (once all the pesky bones have been cleaned up).

It seems to me that they have become more rule-bound and less able to make Christian decisions in my lifetime – but I am surely biased on that since I receive letters and questions from people who have been hurt by their myriad and often senseless cruelties. In judging comments from other former JWs, remember that they have cause for anger.

In their most destructive aspects, JWs not only divide families and cause paranoia and isolationism, but also protect predators – not only through their infamous “two-witness” requirement, but also by discouraging their members to deal with worldly (satanic) powers such as the police. Although they have furthered civil rights legislation in the US, they do not offer such democratic structures within their system. There is no discussion or debate, only endless repetitions of the “guidance” of the governing body in Brooklyn.

What they produce is a free sales force, driven by self-righteousness and fear, not compassion. And it is exploitative, too, since members often end up paying for the publications themselves. For a population that has been discouraged from higher education, and whose primary investment might be a few of those (strategic blending-in camouflage) three-piece suits, this is a hardship. They are kept busy and isolated – if members have questions of faith, they are labeled rather than mentored.

The rank and file JW is a good “sheep” – submissive, obedient. At least you can say that they are doing what they believe God wants of them – sometimes at great sacrifice. But the leadership, for all they call themselves “slaves,” are all-powerful to members. Some would even say that they have put themselves in the God-position. And they hide it under anonymity; you will look in vain for writer’s credits in any of their publications.

Local elders, who hold power over each JW’s life, have no training in languages, biblical interpretation, or even basic pastoral counseling. But there is a huge investment in their legal team. Recently, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Corporations succeeded in settling multiple cases about child abuse and pedophilia out of court – with a gag order.

If this is a Christian group, then the Christian message of reconciliation between God and humanity has been warped beyond all recognition. They have no concept of grace whatsoever. They are neither forgiving nor kind. Their only concept of service to others is to offer them the “good news” of how people might be able to survive the approaching destruction from their loving God. That’s it. The only community they are concerned about is their own.

Like some other fringe groups that have risen in influence, they are of the sort that would be more than happy to throw the first stone. They have completely missed the message.

I still don’t salute the flag – I think it’s a very creepy nationalistic ritual, but in most other ways, I have found that there are higher spiritual standards than the ones they can offer.

The recovering JWs that do best are those who have curiosity, like to read, and can locate their sense of humor. And, if you leave in freedom, you do have another advantage. You have learned to recognize the methods of control, and you have one step ahead in resisting them from other directions.

For those who are being shunned by their families and the people they thought were their life-long friends – know that you are not alone! Hang in there – it gets better.

75 thoughts on “Jehovah’s Witnesses Claiming to Follow the Christ

  1. Whew Heidi, I think I’m exhausted now after reading all of that. You did good girl! Thank goodness I’ve got you and others to rely on for this stuff, ’cause I’m just plain sick of it all. Maybe I’m the one who still retains some bitterness towards the JW’s due to tons of experiences I had, but the more time passes the more I simply don’t give a damn. I’m just glad I’m finally out.

    Lin’s last blog post..Technology and Children – A Wake Up Call For Parents

  2. Of course., every thing that ‘YOU’ don’t believe to be true Virushead is ludicrous…since the Truth you’ve rejected.

    But I will enlightened you. Of course..you can answer the question of why God is called Jehovah…but then again…since you’ve gotten much of everything else of what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe all twisted and backwards…then i will set you straight.

    Even God’s son Jesus Christ was consistent with the dominant theme of the Bible,. The preaching done by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry highlighted the theme: “The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” (Matt. 4:17)

    How was that theme developed? More than 110 times in the four Gospels, reference is made to that Kingdom. But Jesus did more than use the term “kingdom” repeatedly. Both by what he taught and by the miracles he performed, Jesus made clear that he, the one who was present, was the Son of God, the Messiah, the one to whom Jehovah would give the Kingdom. Jesus also showed that through him the way was being opened for others to share in that Kingdom. He identified the qualities that must be demonstrated by those who would be given that privilege. By his teachings and the powerful works he performed, he made clear what God’s Kingdom would mean in the lives of people and pointed out that his expelling of demons by means of God’s spirit was evidence that ‘the kingdom of God had really overtaken’ his hearers. (Luke 11:20) It was concerning that Kingdom that Jesus commissioned his followers to bear witness.—Matt. 10:7; 24:14.

  3. Now…let me talk about God’s name Jehovah of which you say:

    “never meant to be uttered outside the holiest of holies of the temple”

    THAT IS NOT TRUE!!!

    Even secular authorites know this.

    Hananiah ben Teradion was a Jewish scholar of the second century C.E., and he was known for holding open meetings where he taught from the Sefer Torah, a scroll containing the first five books of the Bible. Ben Teradion was also known for using the personal name of God and teaching it to others. Considering that the first five books of the Bible contain the name of God more than 1,800 times, how could he teach the Torah without teaching about God’s name?

    Ben Teradion’s day, however, was a dangerous time for Jewish scholars. According to Jewish historians, the Roman emperor had made it illegal under penalty of death to teach or practice Judaism. Eventually, the Romans arrested Ben Teradion. At his arrest he was holding a copy of the Sefer Torah. When responding to his accusers, he candidly admitted that in teaching the Bible, he was merely obeying a divine command. Still, he received the death sentence.

    Although the Romans were responsible for this brutal execution of Ben Teradion, the Talmud states that “the punishment of being burnt came upon him because he pronounced the Name in its full spelling.
    Evidently, during the first and second centuries C.E., a superstition regarding the use of God’s name took hold among the Jews. The Mishnah (a collection of rabbinic commentaries that became the foundation of the Talmud) states that “one who pronounces the divine name as it is spelt” has no portion in the future earthly Paradise promised by God.

    What was the origin of such a prohibition? Some claim that the Jews considered the name of God too sacred for imperfect humans to pronounce. Eventually, there was a hesitancy even to write the name. According to one source, that fear arose because of a concern that the document in which the name was written might later end up in the trash, resulting in a desecration of the divine name.

    The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” The third of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites states: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Exodus 20:7) Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

    The widespread failure to use God’s name is based strictly on human tradition and not on Bible teachings. “Nothing in the Torah prohibits a person from pronouncing the Name of God. Indeed, it is evident from scripture that God’s Name was pronounced routinely,” explains Jewish researcher Tracey R. Rich, author of the Internet site Judaism 101. Yes, in Bible times God’s worshipers used his name.

  4. Now..concerning Go’s name Jehovah…you believe as stated above..which many people believe also..that God’s name was:

    “never meant to be uttered outside the holiest of holies of the temple”
    THAT IS COMPLETELY FALSE!
    Even the secular authorities knows this…yet you don’t! Let me help you.

    Hananiah ben Teradion was a Jewish scholar of the second century C.E., and he was known for holding open meetings where he taught from the Sefer Torah, a scroll containing the first five books of the Bible. Ben Teradion was also known for using the personal name of God and teaching it to others. Considering that the first five books of the Bible contain the name of God more than 1,800 times, how could he teach the Torah without teaching about God’s name?

    Ben Teradion’s day, however, was a dangerous time for Jewish scholars. According to Jewish historians, the Roman emperor had made it illegal under penalty of death to teach or practice Judaism. Eventually, the Romans arrested Ben Teradion. At his arrest he was holding a copy of the Sefer Torah. When responding to his accusers, he candidly admitted that in teaching the Bible, he was merely obeying a divine command. Still, he received the death sentence.

    On the day of his execution, Ben Teradion was wrapped in the very scroll of the Bible that he was holding when arrested. Then he was burned at the stake. The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “in order to prolong his agony tufts of wool soaked in water were placed over his heart so that he should not die quickly.” As part of his punishment, his wife was also executed and his daughter sold to a brothel.

    Although the Romans were responsible for this brutal execution of Ben Teradion, the Talmud states that “the punishment of being burnt came upon him because he pronounced the Name in its full spelling.

    Evidently, during the first and second centuries C.E., a superstition regarding the use of God’s name took hold among the Jews. The Mishnah (a collection of rabbinic commentaries that became the foundation of the Talmud) states that “one who pronounces the divine name as it is spelt” has no portion in the future earthly Paradise promised by God.

    What was the origin of such a prohibition? Some claim that the Jews considered the name of God too sacred for imperfect humans to pronounce. Eventually, there was a hesitancy even to write the name. According to one source, that fear arose because of a concern that the document in which the name was written might later end up in the trash, resulting in a desecration of the divine name.

    The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” The third of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites states: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Exodus 20:7) Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

    Yes Virushead…you along with much of the world has accepted this notion of God’s name being twisted into a SUPERSTITION!

  5. the average person who is unfamiliar with Biblical scholarship might conclude that there is no name for God, that the term “Jehovah” is an invention that has no basis in fact. So a fundamental question to ask now is: “Does God have a name?”

    Why not inquire of God himself as to whether he has a name. Where can we go to do this? To the record he inspired by his holy spirit, which record is the Holy Bible. In that Word of God it states, according to the Roman Catholic Douay version: “Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy NAME.” (Matt. 6:9) A more recent translation, the Revised Standard Version, states at Psalm 22:22: “I will tell of thy NAME to my brethren.” The widely used King James Version renders Isaiah 12:4 this way: “And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his NAME, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his NAME is exalted.” The Catholic Knox translation of Jesus’ words at John 17:6 says: “I have made thy NAME known.”

    While there are many more scriptures from many more translations that could be quoted to show the same thing, must we not forcefully conclude from these samples that God has a name? All reasonable persons would have to acknowledge, Yes. But is that name “God” or “Lord”? No, for these are not names but titles, much as you might be called “Mister” or “Sir.”

    That it is vital to know the name of God and to use it, God’s own Word makes clear, for at Romans chapter 10, verse 13, which is a quotation from Joel chapter 2, verse 32, it states: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”—Catholic Douay version.

    The evidence from God’s Word is therefore conclusive that God indeed has a name and that it is important for life seekers to know it and to use it. Doubting that God has a name is much more FOOLISH than doubting that you have a name.

  6. While there is no doubt that God does have a name, the question still remains, What is it?

    In the Hebrew portion of the Scriptures that name is clearly spelled out for us in four Hebrew letters, called the tetragrammaton. These four Hebrew letters are the equivalent of our four English letters YHWH (or JHVH). The previously mentioned article in the Washington Evening Star said in this regard that the divine name “was spelled in Hebrew letters which are equivalent to YHWH.” Said Our Sunday Visitor: “It was written with consonants only: YHWH.” The preface of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible spoke of “the four consonants YHWH of the Name.”

    Since the Hebrew letters of the Divine Name are so well known, why should there be any difficulty in determining what the name is? The difficulty comes in translating the ancient Hebrew language. In the ancient Hebrew writing only consonants were used, no vowels. Those who spoke it supplied vowel sounds by their knowledge of Hebrew pronunciation.

    It is because the Divine Name is represented by four Hebrew consonants, and no vowels, that the difficulty presents itself. Those familiar with Hebrew, as were Jesus and the ancient Hebrews before him, certainly well knew and correctly pronounced the name, since it was found 6,962 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. But especially after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., the correct pronunciation gradually came to be lost. Added to this was the apostate Jewish superstition that it was a sin to pronounce the Divine Name, which superstition, of course, was not shared by Jesus, the early Christians, or the ancient faithful Hebrews. So in time the proper pronunciation of YHWH became generally unknown.

    What pronunciation do Jehovah’s witnesses view as more correct? On page 25 of the foreword of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1950, the translators stated that they inclined “to view the pronunciation ‘Yah.weh,’ as the more correct way.”

    If the publishing agency for Jehovah’s witnesses recognizes that “Yahweh” is more correct, why do they use “Jehovah” in their translation, writing and worship instead? Because the form “Jehovah” has been familiar to people for many centuries, and that form of The Name, just as faithfully as other forms, preserves the sounds of the four consonants of the tetragrammaton. Furthermore, we do not speak Hebrew today! We speak other languages. When we speak English, for example, then we use the English pronunciation of the Divine Name, which is “Jehovah.” In other languages the divine name is pronounced differently, although quite similarly most of the time.

    Those who reject the English “Jehovah” and insist on using the Hebrew pronunciation would do well to ask themselves why they say “Jesus Christ,” when that was not the way his name was pronounced in Hebrew. That is the English way, derived from the Greek language. In Hebrew, Jesus would be closer to “Yehóshua” and Christ would be “Mashíahh.” So, as we say “Jesus Christ” in the English language, we also say “Jehovah,” both being correct when speaking English.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8, 1910 edition, page 329, notes the correctness of using “Jehovah” in English when it states: “Jehovah, the proper name of God in the Old Testament.” Interestingly, it adds: “It has been maintained by some recent scholars that the word Jehovah dates only from the year 1520. . . . But the writers of the sixteenth century, Catholic and Protestant, are perfectly familiar with the word. . . . Besides, Drusius discovered it in Porchetus, a theologian of the fourteenth century. Finally, the word is found even in the ‘Pugio fidei’ of Raymund Martin, a work written about 1270. Probably the introduction of the name Jehovah antedates even R. Martin.”

    Hence, it is perfectly correct for the King James Version to say at Psalm 83:18: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” It is also correct for other translations, such as the American Standard Version, Moulton’s Modern Reader’s Bible, Robert Young’s translation, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, and others, to use “Jehovah” in English. Translations in many other languages use the Divine Name in their own tongues.

  7. Snowhoney – I’m so honored! You’ve done some research. Sure, we can go on with this, but before we do, I have a requirement.

    When you cut and paste long quotations as though they were your own words, it is called plagiarism. It is therefore customary to cite your sources. Please don’t insult everyone’s intelligence by saying the words that you’ve copied are your own. Your own words are very clearly yours.

    Your quotations need to be credited to their actual authors (and whatever dates, issues or page numbers that you might be able to find.) If, for example, your argument comes from a Watchtower magazine or other publication, then you would also have to provide the internal footnotes (such as they may be). Which biblical scholars, for example, make the claims above?

    I absolve myself of all legal responsibility for this sort of use of copyrighted material. The responsibility is yours and yours alone. I have allowed publication of these comments on my site for illustrative, heuristic reasons. I would highly recommend that you provide the sources for your quotations. I will not be held legally liable for the publication or distribution of such materials without proper referencing (such as has happened to another former JW’s site) – all such responsibility is yours as the author of your comments.

    At such time as you will properly indicate the quotations, along with the references, then I will take your comments more seriously.

  8. Do as you will…like you’ve always done! It wouldn’t matter rather I give you the entire Watchtower volume. You will spit your vernom on it anyway….just like you do with everything else.

    Your user name suites you just fine..VIRUS…because the venom that comes from your ‘HEAD’…is a ‘VIRUS’…that infects others.

    Since you are spiritual lost..you want others to be spiritual lost. ‘THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND”

  9. After reading over much of your site…I see that you are a very hateful person…and that hate you have is unleashed upon Jehovah’s people.

    Grant you…you’ve been hurt and believe that those with responsibilities in the Christian Congregation have caused you pain. It seems that you’ve directed your hatred towards all those who are Jehovah’s Witnesses…and you ‘TWIST’ things to suit your own thinking…believing that you are helping others who’ve also had a bad experienced within the Congregation.

    Your anger is very apparent in all that you say. And I see that whenever one subject is discussed…you go on the ‘defense’ and ATTACK…because you can’t seem to stick to one subject. Your comments get “ONE MILE LONG” and you begin to go from subject to another subject without substance….like you are rabbling! At first I thought it was just me you did this too…but as I’ve read over your site…you do this to everyone who’s against what you say.

    You think you know something about Jehovah’s Witnesses…just because you where raised in a home of Witnesses…But you don’t and after a time from being away from the Truth…the things you think you know…are lost…mixed-up…and muddle in your mind! You use scare tatics…telling us as Witnesses…

    “that reading and internet browsing were strongly discouraged…. And you’re reading the blog of an ex-JW, I don’t want you to get into any trouble”

    Sure you do! You want us to get in trouble…but you really DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT” You are truly LOST! Plus…you are NOT A ‘EX-JW’S. Remember you were never baptized. (OR SO YOU SAY)

    But the fact is…YOU ARE LOST..in a world of words. Wrapped up in Satan’s web…just were he wants you!

    Believe me…I will NOT CHANGE MY MIND! I know you will delete this so that no one else reads it…..but you truly have a Problem….

  10. Snowhoney – This is really getting silly. You simply need to provide references for your quotations so that I can address them. You’ve used the words of others without crediting them.

    You can attack me all you like, if you must, if it makes you feel better.

    If you want to engage in a dialogue, provide the references for what you have quoted.

    If not, feel free to leave.

    I’m not persecuting you. You are here at your own individual initiative. I don’t think you’re setting the best example, but again, that’s your own decision.

    Provide the references, show a little basic civility, and you might be taken a little more seriously.

  11. Wow – so much “theological reasoning” surrounding matters that God might appear to have revealed to us quite simply. God’s name? If we could just humble ourselves at the foot of the cross, and through the blood of Christ allow Him to remove the clutter (possibly bitterness, anger, pride) that can in subtle fashion, over time, strangle our hearts and obfuscates our understanding, then the Lord might just reveal Himself to each of us personally, and we might hear His name clearly, and begin to understand who He is…
    … “I AM WHO I AM!…I AM the Lord!…This is my name forever!” (Exod. 3:14,15; 6:2)

  12. I hear you Dave, but the insistence on God’s name and other matters such as these are the foundations upon which JWs claim that they are the only Christians, the ones with the “Truth.”

  13. And Snowhoney, my original question regarding the names was to ask why JWs refer “Jehovah God” as though Jehovah were the name and God the title, or Jehovah the first name and God the last name.

    Why not “Jehovah the God” or just God, Lord, Elohim or any of the many other titles?

    And if it’s “Jehovah God”, why not “Satan Devil” or “Sa-tan Adversary” or “Sa-Tan Lucifer”, etc?

    You never answered the question that was asked, and you haven’t credited what you did cut and paste. What I would ask of you is to actually try to think, or even just to remember something that you learned.

  14. Uh, Wow. I stopped by to spend a bit of time on your site this afternoon and noticed these comments on your sidebar.

    What I find interesting is that the question you asked was never answered. I remember having many questions and not only were they not answered, they were deflected with the response “You must rely on Jehovah.” I remember doing and saying the very same thing when I studied with people in the field as well.

    I was once (toward the end of my time as a JW) told by a neighbor of mine that I was nothing like any Witness she’d ever met before because I was kind and not a ‘know it all’ and I didn’t talk down to her. I felt guilty at the time; like I was failing again; but now, I am most grateful that I am who I am. Kindness and concern for one another is vital…in my opinion.

    I live next door to a JW and we even work for the same place (although in different departments). This woman has a reputation here that is not pleasant. I wonder how on earth JW’s are supposed to witness if they don’t succeed in drawing people by their behavior as well. I mean, seriously, what is the draw otherwise?

    Snowhoney reminds me of so many I knew. It just makes me sad…and gives me a stomach ache too. *sigh*

    traci’s last blog post..part twenty-six

  15. I accidentally stumbled upon this website, and wow did I find this discussion interesting! As a past JW and elder, I applaud Virushead for the mature level of engagement and debate. I do agree that no independent thinking and questioning is tolerated amongst JWs (and I am writing from South Africa). I guess I, too, will be accused of never really loving Jehovah, blah blah blah, and never having made the truth my own. Hell, I sacrificed my life for this cause, including a career, my family and the cursed academic studies. Having made the decision to stop being an automaton controlled from Brooklyn, I feel so much more liberated, and am able to identify with all human beings, as challenging as that may be. Gone are the days of repeating after the “annointed remnant” or “slave” class, to the point of dangerously plagiarising their work. By the way, the “Society” probably does not mind such plagiarism as it is in keeping with their ideology of controlling the minds of their followers.
    Snowhoney, please, learn to develop your humanity, based on true spiritual insights. I invite you to come visit South Africa, and notice firtshand the damage done by men who placed themselves in the place of God. Alternatively, look at the similarities between the Bush government and the Governing Body. I pray to the universal spirit to expedite the process of spiritual enlightenment. Too many extremists, like JWs, are trapped in spiritual darkness and poverty. Indoctrination and subjugation is not equal to faith, love and the other fruits of the spirt.

    Love from South Africa

  16. Most of you all here are apostates!! Therefore you’ve fallen into SATAN”S Trap. SO sad…that’s why Virushead has this web-site..because you all are on Satan’s side!

    Yeap! You’re deserving of Jehovah’s WRATH.

  17. This is what it breaks down to, dear readers. Take a good look.

    Now anyone that reads the blog is also an apostate? Honey, Snowhoney, most of my readers are not actually former Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    Therefore, even by your own guidance from the “faithful and discreet slave” of the governing body, you have to admit that you have overstepped. I know that you are told that someone like me is really evil and possessed of Satan and all of that, but I actually have a rich spiritual life and I have spent most of my life trying to discern the ways of a compassionate ethic.

    I admit, sometimes it can be very difficult and trying. I bow to you, in that you have appeared as an adversary, one not unlike a psychic vampire. It’s your kind of approach, your kind of assumptions, your inferiority/superiorly feedback link, and all the rest – that can truly make me approach despair. I feel the same way in politics sometimes.

    So, we are all on Satan’s side? How do you think we might have been recruited? Does Satan have an agent for that, perhaps, like for sports teams? Or do you imagine that everyone who reads this is a secret member of a satanic cabal of some sort? If that sort of thing attracts you, look at the origins and documents of the early days of your own, presumably true-as-a-tupperware-party religious history. If you think I’m Satanic, you should get a look at some of this stuff by your founders. They loved that “new world order thing” and they had interesting grave sites and properties of various kinds.

    Jehovah has no reason to be wrathful with me, not if Jesus is, as you say, his son. I still wonder why this god was always alone in the universe, with no mate, but that’s another story for another day… I am like all women – Ruth and Naomi and Eve and Mary and the excellent woman of Proverbs and the Shulamite Maiden and a million others. This is a complex cosmos, and I expect the spiritual principle – personalized or not – that resonates so brilliantly here to be a complex being also, unlike anything that we can capture and call truth by human standards. Jesus would be appalled by your use of his words, but you’re not alone.

    I feel that there are many groups that share methods of “shaping” their members’ worldview with the JWs. My interest was more personal when I was young. But that was a long time ago now.

    Snowhoney – just look back on what you wrote. I’ll give it one more go here, ok?

    Understand: To my very best awareness, there is no Satan patronage here. We are not sponsored by Satan, or by Hell, Inc. We have not been selected for team membership, and we are not necessarily deserving of Jehovah’s wrath. Speaking for myself, I’m not exactly sure if some of the biblical texts might not have been somewhat slanderous of God. I prefer the somewhat more mature God character, the one of love and compassion. Perhaps God became whatever we needed . It must have helped when the once urgent factors of land acquisition and tribal rivalries are sorted out. That’s when religious groups of people are able to focus once again on the transcendent values.

    I would not be so adamant about some of the things I say on this blog if I saw humility anywhere. Every religion has its good points and its not-so-points, at least for me. But I have never seen such a combination of complete derision and fear-based insecurity as is instilled in Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because they are completely manipulated, they think they are humble. Not so. In a moment, they will turn from the service attitude – usually the most fake of the structures – to the vehement hatred of anyone that could possibly be having fun of any kind. Dour.

    I somehow don’t feel certain that you truly feel sad if you do indeed believe (and there’s no way of knowing) that I have “fallen into Satan’s trap.” I mean, I feel so confident about taking your hand so that you can save me. (Oh I don’t want to be patronizing in tone, but literalism is a curse in so many ways, and I am a little irritable today, and so I’m pointing out that the previous sentence is heavily sarcastic, if not outright mocking).

    Snowhoney – you have made your judgment. Several times. Why do you return and return when you obviously don’t have any interest in discussion?

  18. Satan’s most successful trap has been religion. Those caught in that quagmire of religion have conveniently and deviously divided themselves into true and false religion. And they for centuries have behaved like political powers, seeking to gain power for themselves and abuse the poor and naked. No wonder that the only interpretation of kingdom is government – some narrow-minded zealots are still vying for political power, and telling everyone else not to become part of an earthly political system.

    Look Snowhoney, if being kind, thoughtful, able to reason logically and intelligently, reaching out to others and expending oneself on their behalf is what Satan promotes, then he is doing a darn good job. All you have done is insult, abuse, ridicule, name call and judge. Whose spirit are you manifesting? Do you remember what the works of the flesh are? You are giving a very bad witness, and you need to acknowledge your limited training. And please do not report your efforts at proselytising us “Satanists” as informal witnessing. But then again, Jehovah, in your interpretation and indoctrination, probably loves field service reports and publisher record cards. As if there are not more important things to do, such as demonstrating love, joy, peace and humanity…

    Now I feel true sadness……

  19. I don’t have to be ‘TAUGHT’ to see that you are ‘EVIL’..Plus…I did not say…..”ALL” I said…”MOST”…try to read my words correctly.

    I can see and read from your own words…to know that you are evil…that is plain as day! Evil…hateful…and spiritual lost. Deserving of Jehovah’s wrath!

    Yes…you and ‘MOST’ of your readers…are puppets..being used and guided by the master of Puppeteers…Satan the Devil.’..your Father!

  20. I think this has gone far enough.

    I do have a comment policy.

    Snowhoney, I thought that maybe you could recover and find some traces of the fruits of the spirit – or basic civility – within you, so I gave you some leeway.

    However, this is really over the top now. I really cannot allow this kind of malicious abuse and hate speech.

    In all fairness to readers, I will point out that even among Jehovah’s Witnesses, Snowhoney is setting a very bad example here.

    While JWs are trained to believe these things about worldly people and especially former JWs, they are not trained to spew this kind of hate in public.

    Goodbye, Snowhoney. No further comments from you will be approved for publication.

  21. I haven’t read all the comments here just yet. But I’d just like to say that Snowhoney (if that is her real porn name…) is doing a great job or pretending to be a crazy-fied Jehovah’s Witness just to get all of us to stop going to our Kingdom Halls. Great job, Snowhoney. Wonderful performance. Take a bow. But you’ve been outed, ya gosh darn apostate. Heh heh.

    I mean, if Snowhoney really was a frothing at the mouth JW, ready to attack anyone who dared criticize her beloved WTS by cultishly quote mining the Society’s publications and posting 5 page-long responses to Virushead’s article before anyone could even stop to give her a reaction, I would accuse her of letting her “enthusiasm” (or blind psycho roid rage) of getting the better of her. Perhaps even undermining the whole point of her posting here in the first place.

    After all, you can’t convince people you don’t belong to a cult by acting like someone who belongs to a cult. Especially if your cult of choice is on the hunt for new recruits. It kinda undermines your program. No? So it’s all pretty obvious when you think about it. I mean, how could anyone be that dense?

    Anyway, I’m sure Virushead put you up to it, Snowhoney. Nice job, both of you. This is me, clapping. Wait, I’m still clapping. Be done in a sec.

    There.

    So it was a planned performance…right? [Insert nervous laughter here.] Sure was convincing…heh heh. Now that I think about it.

    Hello? Anybody?

    Oh crap. Sorry. [Backs quietly out of the room.]

  22. This is really interesting. I dropped in looking for answers as to why there are no windows in Kingdom Halls and ended up at this thread. All I can say is, “Wow.”

    I’m no expert on JW doctrine, but if their halls were more welcoming, perhaps their weekly witnessing quotas would be easier to obtain?

    To comment specifically on one aspect of the discussion, Romans 3:23 reads, “for all of sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, it’s not just the so-called apostates here, but each and every person on the planet. And the ONLY reason any of us can hold out hope is because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (who, by the way, is also the fully human and fully divine son of the living God).

    Snowhoney, Matthew 28:19 records Jesus instructing His disciples (and by extension, us) to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

    Where I come from, that means the power we have working through us to make disciples is from a triune God (Father, Son, & Spirit).

    I’ve read that Mr. Russell and his followers set about systematically editing out the inconvenient truths in Scripture (inconvenient to them, anyway). I’m afraid this is not going to turn out well for JWs. But take heart, there is still time – although that is getting short – to find truth.

    Praying you (Snowhoney) do, before it’s too late.

    X

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