DVDizzy Forum

Siren wrote:IMO...I wish all religions acted that way. Minded their own business, stayed happy being who they are and what they believed in, and stopped bothering the rest of us. No more Jehovah Witnesses knocking at my door at 10AM on a Saturday

Jehovah's Witnesses are doing exactly what Jesus said to do, to go forth and preach the good news of God's Kingdom. They knock on your door because they care about you and the rest of the people in your neighborhood. It is their obligation as Christians.

Alright, alright...

I've talked negatively about religion, so I will now talk about the good things.

My family was like me a few years ago; they believed, and respected, the figure of God, but we weren't going to a religion. But in 2005, my family faced many terrible moments in our lives. My grandmother had died, which sent mom to a deep depression, causing her to go out and drink her guts out, something I didn't mind. But she kept doing it to the point where it began to be a bother, and it nearly caused a divorce.

My father then got very depressed to the point where he too became an alcoholic and one night just disappeared and got very drunk, standing in the middle of the roads hoping to get run over.

We also had to sell our house because we couldn't keep paying the house, something that truly hurt mom. My sister instead of helping kept blaming for not stepping in and working things out between my parents, which I didn't do because both of them had promised me they were working on it.

But the worst thing that happened was that my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was the last straw for us. We felt like the world hated us and wanted us to suffer. It got so bad that I grew insecure about my family and about my friends. I too started drinking, both because I wanted to forget everything and because I was trying hard to fit in with my friends.

During this ordeal we met several people from the Adventist Christian Church. My parents first started learning about the Bible and its teachings. At first I was apathetic towards the idea and figured they would be dropping it soon. But then I heard their teachings and mom was telling to the priest how she had failed as a mother and as a wife and wanted nothing more than the forgiveness of her family, and most importantly God.

This was when I noticed that they were taking the studies very seriously. I still didn't care and hell, at first I mocked the idea as a shallow attempt. But then they started going to church on Saturdays. What really convinced me, however, that they were committed to this faith was that they got baptized, symbolizing that they were born again and cleaned of sin.

Yes, we have argued here that you can't be born again. But this was a miracle for us. They TRULY changed after they got baptized. They became better people. To me, they reverted back to the lovely people I called my parents.

Since then, no matter what issues we faced there's an aura of peace in the house. We always find a solution to everything. When they were depressed I couldn't be around them, it felt awkward all the time. Now I spent many hours talking to them about everything.

But the best part was that they respected my decision to not commit myself to this church. I explained to them what I told you guys and they didn't say anything against in. In fact they told me this...

"The reason we haven't forced you to go to Church is because you are already a great young man. You treat people with respect, you help people when they need it, you have good values, you are not a party, alcohol drinking person, you are kind and sympathetic towards people. We believe you are blessed because you have faced many trials, including being bullied by abusive people, nearly being prevented a full scholarship and even what we went through. You are special, and the only thing we ask is for you to pray more, follow the teachings, respect this religion and continue being who you are ".

From that moment on, I decided to honor their newfound faith. I stopped drinking for good, and have been sober for nearly 3 years. I try to do my best with my prayers and my teachings.

Even if I disagree with some of the teachings (like the ones I mentioned before) I am grateful that they helped my parents realize the error of their ways and find a path towards peace and happiness as both a couple and a family.

That's why I haven't completely ditched our faith because I saw with my eyes how it transformed us as people and as a family. I still question some things, but I am grateful in that my parents understand that you can't shove a religion down someone's throat and to let people have their faith and be happy with their lives, just like they did .

Jack wrote:

Siren wrote:IMO...I wish all religions acted that way. Minded their own business, stayed happy being who they are and what they believed in, and stopped bothering the rest of us. No more Jehovah Witnesses knocking at my door at 10AM on a Saturday

Jehovah's Witnesses are doing exactly what Jesus said to do, to go forth and preach the good news of God's Kingdom. They knock on your door because they care about you and the rest of the people in your neighborhood. It is their obligation as Christians.

They also told me to die too. And its acceptable to protect pedophiles.

http://lotusopening.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... abase.html

I am 100% for freedom of religion, but its also freedom FROM religion. I'm sorry, I think going door to door, be it ANY religion doing it, shouldn't be part of that right. Its my private property. I have put signs up for "no trespassing/no solicitation" and they still do it. If they want to stand on the sidewalk and hold a sign about how their God is great, doesn't bother me a bit, but you come to my house, and knock on my door on my day off, you are gonna see me raise hell. Or better yet, play mind games with them. As my two dogs are barking, yell at them, "Satan, Lucifer! Shut up and go eat your lamb's heart!....Hi, how can I help you?"...that usually gets them to leave. I don't want their papers. I am an environmentalist, I have no use for their papers and will just throw them away or burn them in my fire pit, with the rest of the junk mail. I tell them to keep them and give them to someone willing to convert, because they will never have me. I'd be a hypocrite to join them, since I got a blood transfusion.

We have "Do not call" lists for telemarketers, the need to have "Do not knock" lists. So I can tell them not to come back and legally, they can't. But even after I ask them not to, they still do. Christ wanted them to spread his message, not annoy the living hell out of people. They give a sales pitch more than preach.

I mind my own business. But once someone tries to squash my rights to freedom of religion, they are going to hear me.

Mind you, I have NO problem buying candy from kids selling money to help raise funds for their religious school's camp, field trip, band, etc. I donate to religious groups all the time. And having the no soliciting sign often means the legitimate kids lose out because the only reason I have it there is because of the Jehovah Witnesses who think they are above it anyways. I even asked a couple of them point blank if they read it, and they said they didn't think it was for them because they were spreading the word of God. I'm gonna start bringing my cauldron to their houses and tell them how they need to know about Goddess.

BTW, every single time I've tried to turn the tables on them about Goddess, they won't listen. Even judge me for it. Calling it Satanism to my face. I am so done with them, really. And this is the big time of year they show up it seems...right around Halloween, gotta stop the nasty Pagans from celebrating their new year.

Good points about religion as a whole. It often brings communities together. They often help those who are having difficult times. There is a local church who helps people pay for their light and water bills. And also provides them food. They often help to open soup kitchens and homeless shelters. They give children structure, meaning, and a stronger conscience.

Wicca for me is comfortable. Its being able to connect with God and Goddess anywhere outdoors. I do stuff indoors too, but it gets more outdoors more. I talk to them, a lot. I don't do many spells, but when I do, all of them have so far worked as planned and helped me to be where I needed to be. I tend to look at things in a different light than others. While some see something as a pest, evil, and pointless, nature wise, I see something so much more.

Goliath wrote:a-net fan: You basically just said that only people who believe in God can be good people. All other people are potential killers, who have no moral compass. That's what you say. And you have every right to your supremist delusions. But I have also the right to state that, to anyone with half a functioning braincell, you are a complete moran for saying such things. You clearly don't know anything about ethics or morality. I advice you to stay clear of those topics, before you make an ever bigger fool of yourself..

If thats what you got out of what I said then you must be the one with the half functioning brain cell. I think everyone else understood what I was saying. You seem to be the only person causing problems in this thread with your close mindedness and extremely negative attitude. Everyone else here is being very respectful....(and thanks everyone BTW for that)

Sirene: you and I are different in the details of our religious beliefs but on the other hand very much the same in the way we view people who are different then we are. I love how you are open to supporting school kids and religious organizations even tho you arent affiliated with them personally. That says a lot about you and I want to say I admire that and I feel the same way. I feel that we have a responsibility to our communites and the people around us that trancends religion or personal belief. If another human being is willing to do something to better the community or the world we share....they have my support regardless of who they are and what they believe. ALSO Even tho I am a Christian I also agree with you that nobody should be trying to sell religion to you on your own doorstep. That is very intrucive. I do think tho that missions are ok and that its ok to share your faith with others ....but it should never be forced....but rather offered as an option for someone to consider if they so choose.

Pap64. Lots of respect for you. Thank you for sharing your families story of how God worked in their life. You know...your parents are doing right. They sound like great people and I wish all Christians treated others who think differently the way they treated you. It sounds like they are truely living their lives according to Christs example. Im so glad that you were able to build a stronger relationship with them and that in the process of their personal change you found a way to make huge improvements in your own life. Congrats on that! Just an awesome story.

Everybody is free to believe what they believe. Go ahead. I'm not here to 'convert' anyone. I don't want to, nor do I care. I may not believe what you believe, but that's okay, because I don't have to, and neither does anybody have to agree with my beliefs. I will, however, reserve the right to criticize people who use their religious beliefs to accuse others of 'bad' or 'evil' deeds (you know who you are). And I will reserve the right to laugh at people who think they have proven that God exists. I mean, we can all agree that is pretty silly, right?

Jack wrote:Jehovah's Witnesses are doing exactly what Jesus said to do, to go forth and preach the good news of God's Kingdom. They knock on your door because they care about you and the rest of the people in your neighborhood. It is their obligation as Christians.

You don't have to come to other people's doors to preach about God. I mean, I'm sure the whole world has already heard about him. So if they wanted to believe in them, they would've done so. Jehovah's Witnesses are annoying, because they actively try to ram their faith down other people's throats. Have you never thought of the possibility that your approach turns more people off your faith, than attracting people?

Goliath wrote:

Jack wrote:Jehovah's Witnesses are doing exactly what Jesus said to do, to go forth and preach the good news of God's Kingdom. They knock on your door because they care about you and the rest of the people in your neighborhood. It is their obligation as Christians.

You don't have to come to other people's doors to preach about God. I mean, I'm sure the whole world has already heard about him. So if they wanted to believe in them, they would've done so. Jehovah's Witnesses are annoying, because they actively try to ram their faith down other people's throats. Have you never thought of the possibility that your approach turns more people off your faith, than attracting people?

The point is that if you have a problem with people sharing their faith, then you have a problem with Jesus and his teachings, as that is exactly what he did: preach to others about God's Kingdom and tell others to spread the word. He even specifically said to go door to door: read Matthew 10. And not coincidentally he was very unpopular for this in his day just as several of you have problems with it today. The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are the only Christian organization known for going from house to house shows they are living up to their name as Christians.

As for Siren's comments: I have trouble believing what you say. I've never known Jehovah's Witnesses to be that intrusive and disrespectful of people. They do have a "do-not-call" list - if you specifically say not to call, they leave. The reason they call again and again is because people move, or people change their minds over time and become more receptive to what they're sharing.

Jack wrote:The point is that if you have a problem with people sharing their faith,

I have a problem with people coming to my home, bothering me in my own time to preach to me that I'm unworthy unless I accept *their* faith. Yes, that tends to piss off people.

Jack wrote:then you have a problem with Jesus and his teachings, as that is exactly what he did: preach to others about God's Kingdom and tell others to spread the word. He even specifically said to go door to door: read Matthew 10.

Yeah, well, you weren't there, so you can't know. And those people who wrote about Jesus of Nazareth in the Bible also weren't there. Those stories were written long after Jesus had lived. I don't see the Bible as a history book, so I can't be bothered with that.

Jack wrote:And not coincidentally he was very unpopular for this in his day just as several of you have problems with it today. The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are the only Christian organization known for going from house to house shows they are living up to their name as Christians.

Well, isn't that a surprise: a religious organization whose main concern it is to pat itself on the back for being the "only true" believers...

If we want to believe what you believe, we'll let you know, 'kay?

Goliath wrote:If we want to believe what you believe, we'll let you know, 'kay?

Agreed. If I wanted to join your religion, I'd already done so, so stop bothering me about it.

We actually had Jehova's Witnesses come to our door late this morning. The exact same ones who knocked on our door just a few days ago. My boyfriend had answered that first time, gave them a polite but firm "no" as we made it clear we weren't interested . . . did they really have to come back and try again just a few days later? We didn't bother answering this time.

The last time I opened the door to a Jehovah's Witness, the FBI stormed in and tried to arrest the butler. Of course, he wasn't the butler, and they couldn't arrest him anyway. He was dead.

albert

Jack wrote:
As for Siren's comments: I have trouble believing what you say.

Are you accusing me of lying?

I've never known Jehovah's Witnesses to be that intrusive and disrespectful of people.

I've never known anyone who visited Guam, but I know its there. Just because you don't know...or better yet, are in denial...about how intrusive and disrespectful some people can be doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

They do have a "do-not-call" list - if you specifically say not to call, they leave. The reason they call again and again is because people move, or people change their minds over time and become more receptive to what they're sharing.

Then what the hell is the point of having a "do not call" list....kinda like if a guy tries to have sex with a woman, she says no, and he comes back a day later and asks her again. NO IS NO.

When one of my friends told me she was Wiccan...it was a "NO" from me. She left me alone. I was Catholic at the time...I went to Wicca on my own free will. No one convinced me. No one influenced me. No one made a sales pitch.

The door to door cheapens their religion, IMO. It makes it sound like they are selling something. A woman came to me while I was in my car waiting in the parking lot for my dad. She tells me something like, "I know you know how the country and world is in such turmoil, the answer is here." and tries to give me her book. Only Billy Mays could sell their religion better.

I find the whole thing hypocritical. What happened to "do onto others as you would have them do onto you"? Tell me...if I knocked at your door one morning, wearing my Wiccan finest, holding my Book of Shadows would you be incline to listen to me without judgment? Accept God AND Goddess in your heart? If you won't do that for me, don't expect me to do it for you.



Frankly, I DO believe some of what the Bible says IS true. Archeology has proven some of the events happened. But other parts, have been debunked. For instance, there is no evidence the pyramids were built on the backs of slaves. Egypt had slaves yes, but the people who build the pyramids lived quite well. They even got medical care, including surgery to heal broken bones and even brain surgery. They ate well. They had important funerals. They had possession, money, their writings showed they were paid employees who were educated in architecture. But then a few years back, they did a really cool program about how the plagues could really have happened, as well as the parting of the Red Sea, and Noah's flood. Finding physical evidence as well as writings from non-Jewish communities writing about witnessing such things. There was evidence of a huge flood in the region Noah was from...it wasn't a worldwide flood...but at the time it was viewed as one, since they didn't know about the New World and many other parts of the East.

You know what's the best way to troll a Jehovah's Witnesses?

Go to their church and constantly advertise your "fake religion" or any outlandish product.

I did it once and it works so well.

I find it better to come on to them. If you act like a hyper-sexual and incredibly horny person, i.e. me, they tend to leave. And if they don't, you might have a fun afternoon.

I've never had a problem with Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on my door. They are simply doing what they believe is right, and I can respect that. I've had a few stop by to talk, and I've always politely told them I wasn't interested. They usually will give you some reading material and leave. They never come back unless you seem interested, or ask them too (at least from my experience).

Goliath wrote:And now that we're on the subject: why doesn't he just do that and get it all over with? I mean, he could literally stop all the religious wars and terror acts right now if he just came down and told us what the deal is.

Isn't it awfully weird that the last person he ever reveiled himself to was living, like, 2000 years ago, and he hasn't contacted us since? Why do we think he cares about us, then? Maybe he has found a new hobby? Why does he need us to believe in him in the first place? I mean, he's a supreme being! What does he cares if a person believes in him or not? Is he insecure?

God is supposed to be like us, and have feelings like us. Or rather, we have feelings like him/her. I would want people to believe in me by looking at all I made and giving them a book or feeling it in themselves. But according to a certain someone's own logic, we can't know what a supreme being would or wouldn't be like, the logic of a simple human couldn't figure out many things like that, let alone why who created everything doesn't reveal themselves. Yet, we were once told, and a book still tells, that at least we can know this being is like us, it's what we have, and that makes sense to me, and I like it very much, and so...oh, and I certainly do think you can use logic to figure some things about any creating being and the rest of the mysteries of the universe, that only makes sense to me. Logical sense? Hm. There is more than just logical sense...many things can make sense to people who do not use logic.

Also, some people may have heard of God, and still not believe, but they have not heard things that convince them or help them believe. Thinking of the joke that a woman passed on many people helping her because she said God would save her, and then she died and God told her he sent people to save her, it makes sense to me that we should all try to help each other out, even with believing...as long as it's not really bothering them and they are okay with it. If someone is not open to hearing it, then that's that, they don't want it, and on you go.

Pap, that was a fantastic story and I am quite happy for you and your family.

Jack, isn't possible some Jehovah's Witnesses are simply not following their religion as no one is perfect, after all? Also, Jesus may have said you could go door to door, but he didn't say you had to or you would go to Hell either.

Escapay wrote:The last time I opened the door to a Jehovah's Witness, the FBI stormed in and tried to arrest the butler. Of course, he wasn't the butler, and they couldn't arrest him anyway. He was dead.

Did you go home and sleep with your wife after?

my chicken is infected wrote:

Escapay wrote:The last time I opened the door to a Jehovah's Witness, the FBI stormed in and tried to arrest the butler. Of course, he wasn't the butler, and they couldn't arrest him anyway. He was dead.

Did you go home and sleep with your wife after?

I don't know. I was about to but suddenly I froze and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" started playing out of nowhere.

albert

Well at least you didn't end up with your head cut off. Along with you...you knooowwwwww.

True. It was a fairly interesting evening, though. Except for the dead bodies that kept piling up. I DIDN'T DO IT!

albert