to jehovah's witnesses....how do you avoid the temptation while on the internet?

Question

while surfing around or answering questions on yahoo answers, to accually go to a web site that has blatent factual falsehoods. aren't you even a tad curious as to what outsiders have to say? and the proofs that they have regarding the WTBTS?
oh...and by the way, has any jw ever just googled jehovah's witnesses and accually researched the history of the religion you dedictated your life to? or is that a no no?

Answer 1

Prayer is an excellent tool against temptation.

(Matthew 6:9-13) “You must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our bread for this day; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’


Incidentally, this answerer does not have a 'Yahoo block' on any user, and reads and responds to each and every sincere email. The anti-Witness websites serve no purpose since anyone familiar with Jehovah's Witness beliefs can refute them in moments, typically without even pausing to research a response. For the most part, anti-Witnesses simply spread falsehood, rehash personality conflicts, and imply smarmy innuendo.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000608/diagram_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050922/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041208a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050522a/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Of course JWs have the temptation. If someone says something that sounds ridiculous, you automatically want to check it out. I did, and I wasted my time because the Watch Tower Society were right all along.

That's how opposers of the Jehovahs Witnesses work. They spread that much half truths and downright lies, that a weaker person will start to buy it. If you shout out that something is something when it's not, eventually people will start to believe....it's all psychology.

By the way, Jehovahs Witnesses follow the bible, not just a religion. Every Watchtower publication is based on the bible and encourage you to use it. At the JW churches (or Kingdom Halls) the audience HAVE to look up the scriptures to see that it is in line with the speaker.

Answer 3

I came from a religiously divided home... Hindu, Islam, Twelve Tribe, Pentecostal, Baptist with Roman Cotholic being the main religion.

I chose being a Jehovah Witness. I am the only witness in my entire family. Do you know why? No religion is perfect, but I have searched for years and Jehovah Witnesses is the only religion that from experience, teachings are concrete and closer to the truth.

My spirituality is not based on religion, but the truth. If the other religions that I was exposed to gave me concrete proof that their teachings were biblical then I would have chose them. Instead I chose being a Witness and I'm happy with my decision.

I'm not tempted by the internet. All these false doctrines about Jehovah Winesses were made available to the public even before the internet existed.

Answer 4

What temptation? Surely you don't mean sites like those put up by , say, Danny Hazsard do you? Or the CARM site? Seen it, laughed at it, left it behind.

There is nothing on those sites that I haven't seen or heard elsewhere.

"has any jw ever just googled jehovah's witnesses and accually researched the history of the religion you dedictated your life to? "
Okay first of all, my dedication is to Jehovah God not to a religion.

As for the "history" available on the Internet I wish ii were ACCURATE. Most of what is out there is misleading at best. I was fortunate enough to get to know many older Witnesses, those that have been so for 50 - 60 years or more. Their opinions and recollections are much more accurate.

Answer 5

As an ex witness, I would just like to say that attacking individuals is unfair and un-Christian. I have lost (sadly) many wonderful people by leaving this manipulative cult because I am now branded an 'apostate'. It is not the individuals who are at fault, mostly they are loving, kind people who have a genuine desire to follow Jehovah and Jesus. Unfortunatly, many of them are so desperate for the 'absolute truth' that they become blinded to anything other than what the WTBTS teaches; sadly, many are also weak willed and are easily misled. This is not intended as a personal criticism, after all I was one of them, I feel only sadness and pity for them. Add to these things the fact that from very early in the 'Bible Study' students are introduced to the idea that the WTBTS is the only voice of God on this planet and that by listening or reading so called apostate material is tantamount to adultery it may be understandable why many become afraid to challenge their beliefs by doing their own research. They are also told that the Governing Body, through wholm all material is produced are members of the 'anointed', those special people who will rule with God, sadly they are not, they are mostly members of the 'great crowd' .These ideas are then repeated over and over again, often so subtely that the JW haredly even notices anymore but with a massive impact. As for the people on here who say that they look at the 'apostate lies' and laugh, well I did that too. However, something clicked one day and I read a scripture that is not often used as one of the stock scriptures and it made me really think about things (1 Corinthians 15:35-44). I then prayed for help to really see the truth, and yes, I prayed to Jehovah, he was all I knew. The answers were a blinding revelation in that I saw the real truth, not the WTBTS truth. Since then my spirituality has been steadily growing. All I can say to my ex friends and brothers and sisters is to ask Jehovah to really reveal himself, then read the Bible without the aid of Watchtower material. One question for all those who say that everything so called apostates say, particularly in regard to the history of the organisation is this; why, if everything is a lie, do the organisation not take legal action for deformation of character? I appreciate that this is not always possible, however, I have just read 'Crisis of Conscience'and 'In Search of Christian Freedom' both by Raymond Franz, an ex member of the Governing Body. They are most enlightening books without a trace of bitterness or anger. If the things he says are untrue, then in law, and especially in the U.S. the society would have a very good case. Why don't they sue? Because they have no grounds because clearly what he says is true. I would ask all true Christians to pray for these misled, manipulated and often frightened souls, pray that they, like me, see the light and really come to know "The glorious good news about God and the one whom he sent forth, Jesus Christ."

Answer 6

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have dedicated my life to Jehovah God and NOT to a religion.

I assume you are referring to apostate websites. I don't feel any temptation to visit them now because I've been there, done that. What I found actually confirmed to me that Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth. Anyone that would stoop to spreading the lies I saw on those websites is contemptible. Any one of Jehovah's Witnesses would be able to see in a few seconds of reading that there is no truth to be found on apostate websites, just bitterness and lies. The accusations they raise are easily refuted by anyone familiar with the organization.

Answer 7

I read the lies many years before the internet existed. This is merely a new medium for it. They hold no attraction for me.

Of course it is not a no no to understand what came before us. It has always been out in the open. I have a 3 inch thick book om my bedside table now about it. I have met people who were kids near the beginning. There aren't any secrets. That just makes people like unsilenced lamb and exjw..144,001 cussing mad but so be it.

Coming out of false religion like they did back then, it is surprising the mistakes were not worse. Imagine all the baggage back then? What courage to step out of the comfort zone into new territory.

Answer 8

Have I done research?? Sure. However I am very careful as to who and what I believe. Often when I find "facts" on the web they are laughable, I prefer to research important things in the real world. In the case of spiritual beliefs it is simple for me.

Do I believe the Bible?? Yes. Do I wish to follow the Bible?? Yes. What faith have I found to follow the Bible closest?? Jehovah's Witnesses. So I am one.

Answer 9

Don't need these sites by sore loosers containing falsehoods in retaliation by diverting blame on the other party rather than accepting the truth pertaining to their own mistakes or decisions .Remembering how seeds of doubt can lead to accepting falsehoods when one is week or doubtful thus encountering a dangerous pit that one can fall into also,like the blind leading the blind.

Answer 10

Some of the so-called information I read on here is so funny it’s too laughable to be anything else. To wit: a responder above posted this: “Some Witnesses expected a dramatic event to occur in 1966-JUN (6/66) because the number 666 was referred to as the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:18.”

I read the mantras repeated over and over again ad nauseum. Every so often I read something new and ludicrous – as above.

What lover of truth would be tempted to deliberately visit a place that is known to spew lies and falsehood? Which of the apostles had meetings with Judas to find out the truth about Christianity? If there had been computers in the first century, how many of the disciples would have googled “Judas” to actually research the history of Jesus and Christianity?

No, I am not curious about what “outsiders” have to say. The computer, along with the Internet, is a wonderful invention of technology. But one of the downsides is that computers allow anybody, anywhere to post anything, anytime on the Internet. It is amazingly easy to manipulate information. And those who already take a negative stance concerning Witnesses are ever at the ready to swallow that manipulated information whole and then offer validation to the very one who posted it in the first place. We are so bombarded now by data that we suffer information overload. People are so inundated by “data”, “facts” and “factoids” from every quarter that it is exceedingly difficult to deal with it. So what happens? Many absorb the information and accept it as the gospel wrapped in gold without bothering to question or analyze it. It’s a foolish shortcut.

Detractors love these shortcuts; particularly when they short-circuit reason and rational thought. Add to that those who agitate the emotions, exploit insecurities and capitalize on the ambiguity of language and you’ve got a sure-fire recipe for slander and libel. Proverbs 14:15: Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word. But the shrewd one considers his steps.”

I have experienced being a Witness for over twenty years. I have considered their teachings, doctrines, faith, behavior and conduct in the light of all 66 books of God’s word the Bible. I am not tempted to deliberately eat garbage.

Hannah J Paul