JW looking clarity followup

[Won2blv]

But your point was that the people had no issues and didn't want to speak out and they got shunned anyway. If they're dissenting voices then they can't try to play coy when confronted with their words and actions.

My point was in response to something you had said:

Discussing beliefs with people in a calm respectful way is upbuilding to humanity

I was pointing out that the Watchtower organization only agrees with this when it benefits them.  If you decide to discuss ideas or beliefs that the leadership does not agree with, it doesn't matter how respectful or calm you are: they expect you to stop, or face removal.  And they consider this to be a serious enough offense that they instructed congregations to consider it sufficient for a person to hold such views, whether or not they were discussing them at all.

I went through that same phase as you seem to be going through when I realized I was an atheist; it's a challenge to recognize that JWs aren't any different than any other religious group when it comes to the validity of their beliefs.  It's based on the same thing: human interpretation (often self-serving) of a book formed by mashing together a lot of ancient stories.  The fact that their policies and interpretations change so often should be a red flag: why wouldn't god help them get it right the first time?

Their stance on blood transfusions is a very good example.  Considering that they base this belief on a couple of short and simple Biblical texts, it's amazing that they have had to revise it time and again, sometimes undoing prior revisions entirely.  That might set them apart from other denominations, but not in a good way, IMO.

It just doesn't make sense to me that someone could be df'd for only holding a view without discussing it. If your view is out in the open, it can only come from discussing it. And I know that it is not a lightly taken accusation. Even the bible gives a burden of 2 or 3 witnesses, it usually takes dozens of witnesses to deem someone as spreading apostate beliefs. 

We're you a witness then? If so, as an atheist this point is moot but, if jw's serve Jehovah then they can trust in him to set matters straight. IMO, the bible does not teach the trinity, hellfire, holidays, our spirit going on after we die, etc. Not many religions agree with those stances. So, if someone believes truly that major doctrines are not covered correctly in the kingdom halls then that is their prerogative. But those are beliefs that witnesses have held for decades and I assume will never change. And for me, I don't care if Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 BCE. Or what the generation means, or to what degree one can accept blood products. I want to know if I believe in god or not. I have two people close to me that are apostates. This does not speak for all, just the two i know, but they are both miserable. And I feel like you can go back to a point and say, "you know, if they just applied this one bible principle they could have saved a lot of heartache." Is this because of the divinity of scriptures? The broken clock fallacy? Just bullshit from me? I don't know. But its my experience and its what makes it hard to break free from what I assume is true, that there is no god. 

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I want it to be clear that I am not saying that the medical professionals actively say that blood transfusions do more harm than good but here are some links

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/...rch.health
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/medi...e_patients
http://www.pennmedicine.org/bloodless/ab...tages.html

What does any of this have to do with what I asked?

BTW, what is the 30/30 rule?

You should know this; when you registered for the forum, you agreed to abide by our rules, which aren't hard to find, even after you register.

Jehovah's witnesses don't meddle in politics. We don't try to force our beliefs into the school system like many other religions. We're pro life but we stay out of peoples business when it doesn't affect us. Same with gay marriage. We don't tell people that they're dead mom, son, daughter, etc is an angel now. We're trained to be honest, kind, respectful. We're immune from a lot of the hypocritical accusations that a lot of secularist use, like celebrating holidays. We own our beliefs, which is not easy today. And I know you'll probably down play anything I've claimed. I'm not saying that only JW's are good people. Atheists, muslims, christians, etc can be good people. It is up to an individual to choose how they want to act in life, however, I do believe JW's are extra prodded towards acting in respectful ways to all humans. I know that there will be disagreement there. People do get super annoyed with our door to door work, but if that is our worse offense that we do to others... I can live with that.

Again: no idea what this has to to do with what I asked you.

The false beliefs that I mentioned would be the ones that Satan spread, if he exists... People don't usually purposely spread false beliefs. I get that, sorry for the broad statement

So, how do you know Satan's not spreading false beliefs to you?

And as far as the fallacies. I want to clarify another time, I am NOT making arguments or statements in favor of believing in god. I am expressing in my words what makes me hold on to my beliefs for the time being. 

Ok...

Did you not ask for links to articles? And the other paragraph was mentioning some things that excuse witnesses from certain criticisms IMO...

And yes, Satan could be spreading his false beliefs through JW's. But I do believe that as far as religions that base their beliefs on the bible and the god therein, Witnesses can back up their beliefs with scripture more soundly than any other. So its easier for me to believe that I would not be a tool of his