Kevin's Watch

Thanks Nathan.

Do they consider themselves christians?

And what do they think about the other brands of christianity?

Yes they consider themselves Christians and believe all other Christians not to be true Christians (although they will call them Christians for the wnt of anything else to call them).

The reason for them knocking on people's doors is that the bible says "preach the good news of the kingdom", they take this to mean they should tell absolutely everybody about it, and they aim to have preached 'the good news' to everybody everywhere in the near future.

Every single Jehovah's witness will go knocking on people's doors unless they have a disability that prevents them from doing so. If they don't knock on doors they are betraying their faith and "Just as a body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead".

Thanks again

I guess then that they are christians, according to the dictionary definition; Professing belief in Jesus as Christ

No wonder you guys (christians) have such a rough time with your belief. Even the people who call themselves christians can't agree that others who call themselves the same thing are christians. You've got enough problems sorting out who is a christian without even going into the differences of other religions.

And I suppose that therein lies the problem with most, if not all, organised religion. Instead of just taking the original message, you argue over what was really meant -- as it relates to you (your brand) specifically.

I wonder what Jesus would think?

Take it Easy folks
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Thanks Nathan...sorry about that...I must've been missing the point the guy was trying to make about Jesus' nature (wonder what all that stuff about Adam was about, then...). As far as the whole retranslating to fit their purposes goes, yeah, I'd say that's a fairly accurate description...for example:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." - NIV
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." - NWT (emphasis added)

Quite amazing how one little change completely chages the meaning of the text...going by the greek here, the NWT is inaccurate, because the order of the text indicates that "the Word" has "the same substance and nature" as "God." Dr. Julius R. Mantey was a scholar who studied Greek for more than 65 years, and he co-authored A Manu­al Grammar of the Greek New Testa­ment with Dr. H. E. Dana. In an interview with Dr. Martin of the Christian Research Institute, he said "...ninety-nine percent of the scholars of the world who know Greek and who have helped translate the Bible are in disagree­ment with the JWs."

full article

On the other hand, the Jehovah's witnesses are the only Christian organisation I would ever consider joining (although that seems very unlikely).
They have come closest (for me at least) to showing me something I can believe in, and their dedication is amazing, because ALL of them are so dedicated. There are lots of people in every religion and every division of every religion that are dedicated, but each and every Jehovah's witness is happy to devote lots of their own time to preaching and helping others.
As an organisation I would say they are admirable, loving, caring, very nice people. I know they believe they've got it right, and they show a lot of love for others by so aggressively trying to pass on their good news and I admire them for it, it takes a lot of courage. It's just a shame that, ultimately they've got it wrong.
I'm saddened that so many people including my father and my older sister are wasting their lives this way (although it could be considered not a waste if they feel fulfilled when they die), and I've spent a lot of time wishing and hoping that my dad would pack it in.

Oh well, that's life. I guess I picked the short straw this time.

If you want to base your beliefs in how dedicated and kind a group is, you could join the Mormons too...some of the nicest and most dedicated people you'd ever meet...but then, my youth group was the same way, and the choir I sing with, and the Profs that taught me in Bible College, and the Pastors that continue to teach me...

Every group attempts to change things so that they appear to be right. It's probably part of the human condition.

I think Nathan has the right idea, in his descision to consider all religions to try and find one thats right for him.

If nothing else, it'll give you a good idea of people.

Later
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I just saw this thread from another thread and I would love to read Baradakas' research on the Catholic church. I am Catholic but do not entirely subscribe to everything that this church teaches. However, I do not agree that the Catholic church is the Whore of Babylon. However, I am powerfully provoked to read your research, baradakas - with an open mind.