More religion in Politics?

[JehovahsWitness]

Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote or run for political offices (they believe that religion should be primarily a spiritual matter and that religious organizations should not be involved in politics or the making of national or local law).

- Are the JWs wrong; there should be MORE religion in politics?
- Are the JWs right, religion and politics should be kept separate?

Opinions welcome.

J

[Erexsaur]

[Replying to post 30 by Clownboat]

Hello Clownboat,

Shall we get a better picture of who God really is?

In response to my statement, "I find myself with the impression that you are well satisfied to have turned off the God TV and have no intention to turn it back on. Am I right?", You said,

Incorrect. I am open to the gods or the god if there is/are any.

Thank you!

I enjoy debate and seeing if my thinking 'passes the test or not'. If you are talking about in life, then I enjoy all sorts of things.

Thanks again! You and I appear to be in agreement so far.

To live a long life enjoying my family and friends. To leave a positive impact on those around me.

That involves love of your neighbor as yourself doesn’t it? You are not tired of the originator of that command, are you?

You are offering me special pleading. If you have evidence of your preferred god, please present it.

Please be rest assured that the god that you think is God has no evidence for proof simply because it doesn’t exist. Are you encouraged? The God I know proves Himself to me daily with His gracious help that empowers.

I too have had wrong impressions of God and at many times had to realize that He is not like man acting out of adverse “holy� legalism. Similar false impressions almost drove me to the point of being sick and tired of God. This is one reason that droves of people especially youth leave the faith. Another faith killer is over-dependence on fallen self apart from God’s grace. But knowledge of God’s grace makes a huge difference!

Do you find the presence of your best friend burdensome and constantly desirous of appeasement or does his presence bring you a sense of relief that frees you to be your best? Do you trust him above others? It is unfortunate that too many too often tend to see Jesus as one that adds legalistic weight to ones shoulder instead of as a best friend that relieves of weights that are honestly confessed.

In response to my statement,"Do we accept? I do. Do you have a conscience? If yes, it’s a telephone between you and God (one bit of evidence). Do you care to converse? Are you listening?" you said,

Please don't patronize me. I know what a conscience is, what I don't know is why you are calling it a telephone. Please justify this odd use of the word and show that you speak the truth. If you are just informing us of your personal beliefs, then you should probably say so.
Being set free from my Christian beliefs was one of the hardest things I have done. Believe me, I wanted god to show himself as real. I was listening.

I can personally assure you that God is real. The gospel is characteristically not unnecessarily burdensome that one should run from it. I would advise holding on to it because it was promised that you shall find what you are looking for. Giving up is not worth it. Whatever burdened you that you should run was not of God. Didn't the disciples ask where would they go if they departed from the Lord? Where would you go?

My mention of the “telephone� in my statement above is what represents your prayer life. Are you able to enjoy your best friend without communicating with him? An effective prayer life is the primary means by which the believer overcomes.

I get your stance. My mother is like you.

I like to think of you making your mother happy.

In response to my statement, "I would be very happy to have you to watch and enjoy it with me." you said,

No thanks. I have gotten to know the producers and I find some of the main characters to act in repulsive ways.

What producers are you speaking of? The Biblical gospel cannot be carried out properly by repulsive characters unless it ends up badly corrupted.

We can. I use to watch your channel.

Did you stop watching because your receiver may have been full of interference that blocked your view of God's grace and mercy that builds up to empower you with your unique gift?

I'm not sure what you mean about treasure for sure, but I have many what I would call 'treasures' in my life (not talking monetary by the way).

Do you remember the treasure God gave to Solomon called wisdom that’s better than rubies? What about that which brightens your relationship with people?

I don't see how one follows the other.
I know I don't know everything. What does that have to do with becoming aware of some grave danger of erroneous judgment from a god though?

I explained part of the danger above. Doesn’t erroneous judgment lead to wrong decisions?

A-theism.
Being without theism.

But what general category would the group fall in?

Earl

[Clownboat]

That involves love of your neighbor as yourself doesn’t it? You are not tired of the originator of that command, are you?

Why would I tire of such a concept?
I appreciate the Egyptians and Hindu's for penning such a concept. Perhaps you were not aware of who actually originated such a concept as I get the feeling you are incorrectly trying to credit the Bible.

You are offering me special pleading. If you have evidence of your preferred god, please present it.

Please be rest assured that the god that you think is God has no evidence for proof simply because it doesn’t exist. Are you encouraged? The God I know proves Himself to me daily with His gracious help that empowers.

Your claim sounds delusional. Can you at least hint at why it shouldn't be? Can you allude to how this god empowers you? I assume you are talking about things you could not do on your own, but with being empowered by a god you are able. Please correct me if I'm understanding you wrong.

I too have had wrong impressions of God and at many times had to realize that He is not like man acting out of adverse “holy� legalism.

You also? Who are you accusing of having wrong impressions of a god and how could you possibly know? Do you have some knowledge about the gods that escapes the rest of us? It sounds like you are claiming to. If so, how did you acquire this knowledge?

Similar false impressions almost drove me to the point of being sick and tired of God. This is one reason that droves of people especially youth leave the faith. Another faith killer is over-dependence on fallen self apart from God’s grace. But knowledge of God’s grace makes a huge difference!

You know what else can cause Christians to question their faith? Reading the Bible.
What is this 'Grace of a god' you keep alluding to? Human sacrifice by chance?

Do you find the presence of your best friend burdensome and constantly desirous of appeasement or does his presence bring you a sense of relief that frees you to be your best? Do you trust him above others? It is unfortunate that too many too often tend to see Jesus as one that adds legalistic weight to ones shoulder instead of as a best friend that relieves of weights that are honestly confessed.

Please don't compare best friends with a Jesus character. My best friend spent almost every evening with me last week getting my rental property ready to sell. I can provide many examples of actual things my best friends have done. Can you do the same for Jesus? If not, perhaps when something good happens, you have just been conditioned to credit Jesus?

In response to my statement,"Do we accept? I do. Do you have a conscience? If yes, it’s a telephone between you and God (one bit of evidence). Do you care to converse?

Not to seem disrespectful, but this is an empty religious claim. It is not evidence. Perhaps you meant to use a different word?

I can personally assure you that God is real.

Your words are no more impressive then a Muslim saying that about Allah is, or a Mormon assuring me about the truth of Joseph Smith's claims.
Are you OK with having such weak (and this is hard to say) 'assurances'?
If your god concept was true, I would expect you to have better assurances.

The gospel is characteristically not unnecessarily burdensome that one should run from it. I would advise holding on to it because it was promised that you shall find what you are looking for. Giving up is not worth it. Whatever burdened you that you should run was not of God. Didn't the disciples ask where would they go if they departed from the Lord?

Your not just here to preach are you? Notice, nothing of what you just said here deserves a rebuttal.

Where would you go?

Are you suggesting I go to one of the tens of thousands of denominations of Christianity? I'm not sure how to answer your question.

My mention of the “telephone� in my statement above is what represents your prayer life. Are you able to enjoy your best friend without communicating with him? An effective prayer life is the primary means by which the believer overcomes.

If prayer is just a way to self indoctrinate yourself, then prayer is not what you claim it is. Prayer certainly is not a phone though. You ever went out of your way to buy a phone that only has one way communication? In the way you are using prayer... Prayer is a blow horn. People sure can witness you using it, but we all know that blow horns don't receive messages unlike telephones.

I like to think of you making your mother happy.

Uh... go ahead?

No thanks. I have gotten to know the producers and I find some of the main characters to act in repulsive ways.

What producers are you speaking of?

The ineffective, punishing, genocidal god of the Old Testament for one.

The Biblical gospel cannot be carried out properly by repulsive characters unless it ends up badly corrupted.

And here we agree. The Bible has been corrupted.

We can. I use to watch your channel.

Did you stop watching because your receiver may have been full of interference that blocked your view of God's grace and mercy that builds up to empower you with your unique gift?

Nope. What happened to this special knowledge you were trying to claim to have earlier?

Do you remember the treasure God gave to Solomon called wisdom that’s better than rubies? What about that which brightens your relationship with people?

I know the story. Will you attempt to make a point?

Code: Select all

I explained part of the danger above.  Doesn’t erroneous judgment lead to wrong decisions?

It can, sure. Who are you accusing of having erroneous judgment? What good is debate if I were to just say "you have erroneous judgment"?

Rev 12:10 the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.

Hmm.....

A-theism.
Being without theism.

But what general category would the group fall in?

It's in the name. Those without theism.