katyjay 4,987 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 2 hours ago, Cliff Ton said: Whenever the subject comes up I always wonder if Jehovah's Witnesses have ever converted anyone, anywhere at any time. There's a joke about that. 2 Jehovah Witnesses rang a door bell, the old fella opens the door to them. "Good morning, we want to talk to you about our religion " one says. Short on visitors, the old man welcomes them inside. He sits them down on the settee, sits opposite them and says, "OK, what do you want to tell me?" They reply, "We don't know. We've never got this far before!" 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,336 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 2 hours ago, Cliff Ton said: Whenever the subject comes up I always wonder if Jehovah's Witnesses have ever converted anyone, anywhere at any time. They must do or they would just die out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 9,951 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Speaking from admittedly very limited experience of the subject............I don't think they actually convert any new customers, the continuity is achieved within families. Newcomers are children of existing believers; it doesn't expand outside those who are already there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 797 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Interesting I would have thought it a declining population as children do not always follow the religion of their parents. I think the men and women of the faith can exert great pressure on those who do not follow the path determined for them by the elders. A great film to watch that is about being "disfellowshipped" by the JW's.............. Apostacy. I recommend it as a good but discomforting watch. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,336 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Agree with both the above posts. Had some experience with it over the years. I am not and never have been JW. Disfellowshipping is a powerful weapon against any who dare to disagree. Shunning by closest family has to be potentially emotionally devastating. Certainly not Biblical. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 9,572 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Not very Christian, either! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,336 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 They are not a Christian group no matter what they may say. They have their own version of the Bible in which their translators took some diabolical liberties. They are not as biblically literate as they pretend. Just a few verses twisted to fit their various heresies. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,359 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Various Christian groups put their own interpretation on the Bible. Transubstantiation is a significant example. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,336 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Main difference is we don't shun those who may differ with us on doctrines that are not central to the faith. Eg. dress codes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 797 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 What history does tell us is that unhappily religion appears to be one of the greatest reasons for humans to slaughter one another never mind disfellowshipping or transubstantiation. Though recently I have noticed an increasing interest in those words that begin with Trans....... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeverilPeril 3,153 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Sorry to disagree siddha - but it is ABUSE of religion that is a reason for us slaughtering one another. Using religion as a tool for power. Religion itself is a necessary ingredient in life for most. Although I am an agnostic, my Christian upbringing is still an integral part of my being. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,336 Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Haven't seen a post here I really disagree with. Some crazy fanatics do, unfortunately use it as an excuse to bump off those they don't like. I can honestly say I"ve never met a genuine Baptist (my crowd) who wanted to murder anybody. We just hold 'em down for a long time and drown 'em. On that positive note I'll bow out of this interesting exchange 'cus it is just supposed to be about our day. I'm busy barking, cough and cold. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 797 Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 14 hours ago, PeverilPeril said: but it is ABUSE of religion that is a reason for us slaughtering one another. OK I see that as a helpful way to describe the horrors of the last few centuries that have been justified by one religion or another. I am obviously not certain of this; but I suspect that those that have killed and hurt other in the name of their particular belief system would not recognise the idea that they are abusing their religion. Anyway forgive my sloppy use of language. The more I think about this then I see it is probably impossible to separate out religious from economic and political motives in such a way that religious intentions can be understood to be without violence. Loppylugs is right this thread is "How's the day" and here its sunny and bright with a good frost that's frozen the water my hens (and wild birds too) need so off to see what I can do to improve things for them. The plans for the day include pruning of apple trees and mending a broken music stand. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha 162 Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 To me the so-called holy bible is merely a collection of myths and contributions from those who included their own particular thoughts and interpretations many years or centuries after the particular event as the truth, of which was merely of significant interest to them. For example, feeding the five thousand with a few fish and loaves of bread went way beyond sensible comprehension. With all the other impossible miracles that have supposedly happened should these stories be taken as what actually happened or just the dreaming of a few of the excessively uncompromising? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 5,359 Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 I've got a first edition of the Bible, personally signed by Jesus Christ! I bought it from a book shop in Golder's Green. Hymie the manager assured me it was Kosher. 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 4,272 Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Funny that Phil., it were the same bloke who sold me a George 3rd record player. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 797 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Today I shall be mostly coming to Bulwell in Nottingham ; many many years since I have been there. Then on to Leicester ........... feel like a travelling salesman. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 15,495 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Enjoy Bulwell Siddha.........if you fancy breakfast or even just a coffee....Jerholme's on main street is excellent........no market today but Bulwell is always good........ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David sheridan 157 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 23 hours ago, Alpha said: To me the so-called holy bible is merely a collection of myths and contributions from those who included their own particular thoughts and interpretations many years or centuries after the particular event as the truth, of which was merely of significant interest to them. For example, feeding the five thousand with a few fish and loaves of bread went way beyond sensible comprehension. With all the other impossible miracles that have supposedly happened should these stories be taken as what actually happened or just the dreaming of a few of the excessively uncompromising? God's ways are beyond our understanding, please do not mock the Lord's work . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David sheridan 157 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 On 1/21/2023 at 7:49 PM, Jill Sparrow said: Whoops. Forgot it was Saturday. Got nabbed by the Jehovah's Witnesses this morning. I listened politely to their script then gave them a lecture on Buddhist philosophy. As expected, their eyes glazed over as the brainwashing kicked in. Don't listen, don't listen!!! Basically, said I, you're looking at God right now and so am I. If you look at the cat in the window, you're still looking at God and that earthworm on the path is also God. We are all the same. No difference. They scuttled off to bother someone else. One day, they might wake up? Bothering people on a Saturday morning gives them something to do, I suppose... otherwise they might start robbing banks (but not blood banks, of course). Hahaha you didn't get your copy of the watch tower then Jill?????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David sheridan 157 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 On 1/22/2023 at 3:55 AM, PeverilPeril said: Sorry to disagree siddha - but it is ABUSE of religion that is a reason for us slaughtering one another. Using religion as a tool for power. Religion itself is a necessary ingredient in life for most. Although I am an agnostic, my Christian upbringing is still an integral part of my being. Well said PP 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,097 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Wash day again today, Got most of the chemicals Mrs P need to do the washing just got to get her to stop swinging that ponch around and get on with it Rog 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 4,272 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Spot on Rog., Mrs P looks quite fetching with that ponch. Does she take in washing? Give her my regards and ask her if she bakes bread too. Cheers to you both. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,097 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 She's got to get the mangle from the outhouse when she's finished the washing, more moaning and grunting Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 9,572 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I remember Fairy Soap. Mum used the blocks, along with Sunlight, for cleaning. In 1955, just before my sister's fifth birthday and before I was born, mum had a miscarriage and was hospitalized at Peel Street for roughly a week. My father had to look after my sister. When mum came home, she was horrified to see her daughter's face was red and scaly. Dad had been washing it with Fairy Soap instead of the Pears Soap mum always used for her children! Bless him, he wouldn't have known the difference! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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