If you know what someone is doing is wrong, would you keep quiet about it or expose his wrongdoings?
If it was something that disturbed me enough to to say something, I would say something to the person doing it. I would approach them candidly and ask them if I might have a moment of their time. I would then tell them what I saw and how it made me feel. Finally, I would encourage them to correct their behavior because it might better serve them to come clean and ask for guidance, forgiveness, or whatever they might need to change their behavior. Then I would let them know that I had a deadline for them before I took matters into my own hands and reported the wrong doing myself. There are very few instances that would merit an exception to my rule. Some, I would not even consider giving them an option and some I might be satisfied with them at least acknowledging the err of their ways. In the end, I will never sit by and just watch someone f***ing up if I have to opportunity to show them a better way. After that it's up to them.
Jehovah's Witnesses, do you observe the 2 minute silence?
Former Jehovah's Witness here. No, they do not observe the two minute silence. There is a mistaken view that to do so would be "to celebrate" war. This is not so. The two minute silence is a mark of respect for all those persons who give up their lives so that we might be able to enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other such freedoms that people take so much for granted. To suggest it is "a celebration" of war is deeply offensive, highly insensitive. Perhaps they would have preferred it if everybody had just let Hitler over-run Europe and continue to murder millions of innocent people, just because he didn't like them or their religion. It's not unlike the Jehovah's Witness view that to stand up for the Queen when the National Anthem is played is to "worship" the Queen or to give her "allegiance" when, in reality, it is nothing more than a mark of respect for our Sovereign (who reigns by the grace of God). I wonder how many Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe would be enjoying freedom of speech and freedom of religion today if Hitler had not been stopped.
Can you remain silent on the witness stand when supoenaed?
My two friends and I were always interested in this abandoned hospital that people always rumored was haunted...there has always been stories about how late at night, you could hears screams or cries from inside, or see shadows moving. So we decided to see if we could catch some paranormal activities on our cameras, and broke in late at night. Long story short, the only notable activity I encountered was a sudden blinding flashlight in my face and a voice screaming for me to get on the floor. My other two friends ran out of the exit, but they were later caught out in the fields behind the hospital. In the meantime, I've pled guilty in exchange for a delay of sentence...however, my two friends are maintaining that since the police didn't physically apprehend them inside the hospital with me, that they can't be certain that they caught the right two people, and are taking it to trial. (Never said these two were exactly the brightest) Well, I just received a court supoena demanding for me to come to the trial and testify that they did break inside the hospital with me. Honestly...my moral code says that if your friends did something together and one of you got caught--YOU DON'T GO RAT OUT EVERYONE ELSE, and if the prosecution wants to build a case, they can do it without my help. Can I just sit on the witness stand and refuse to speak? I take responsibility for my own actions, but I'm not about snitching and pulling down other people along with me--I'm not a narc!
I am studying the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses?
Please do not attempt to answer this question if you do NOT study the bible or different religions, for you wont be able to understand what I am talking about. *****Educated and Christian views only. Thank you! I am studying the bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. The people that I study with are kind, giving, loving, generous, hospitable, and lover's of the good book. They are more than bible study partners; they are like family to me and my husband. The problem then? I really like a lot of things they have to say. I like how the JW's as a whole really try to live their lives as close to the bible as possible. But I sometimes feel like the things they believe in, and hold true are BS! For example: 1. Only people who believe they are one of the 144,000 can take communion. 2. Only JW will be in Paradise on Earth. 3. They are Gods chosen people (like how the Israelites were at one time). 4. Gods name is Jehovah (I agree with that), and if you don't call him that, you are not truly representing him, for there are many "Gods". And the list goes on.... My question's are: "What denomination of Christianity is accurate, and how so"? And: "Should I just remain silent about my concerns and become a JW"? I LOVE our bible studies, and I get a lot out of them. I also LOVE the people that I am studying with. I don't agree on some things they say/teach/preach though. Thank you SO much in advance!
Why do you announce that you are an atheist? What is wrong in keeping it to yourself?
Question: Why do you announce that you are an atheist? What is wrong in keeping it to yourself?You know, perhaps you should check the premises of your questions before asking such questions in the first place. Because I do not announce my atheism for no reason out of nowhere.When I am out dining with friends, the first thing I don’t think of discussing is religion. If I am advocating a major idea for people to give credence to, it is not my atheism. If I am asking a girl out and we are at a date, I don’t make it a point to tell her that I am an atheist.The only times I ever mention the fact that I am an atheist is for one of two reasons:Somebody directly asks me what my beliefs are or asks me a question regarding said beliefs or lack thereof (i.e. what is occurring right now).When I am being proselytized by another person or witness someone proselytizing to somebody who clearly does not wish to be proselytized or does not possess the mental capacity to respond to such intelligently (i.e. children).These are the only times my atheism will ever come up or anyone will hear me talking about it.And believe me, I would love for everybody to keep their personal beliefs out of the public and political sphere. It would be wondrous if everybody shut the hell up about their religious beliefs or lack thereof.But they don’t.I am constantly approached by people who want to convert me to their particular religion. One of my friends at college, despite being a kind guy, proselytizes endlessly. I was even once told that I was immoral by a Muslim girl who was one of my closest friends’s friends, and when I responded by telling her that such was a nasty thing to say, my friend demanded that I apologize to her because she saw nothing wrong with her statement.It is quite too often when religious faith is given a free pass. Religious people can preach all they want about how immoral atheists are and for the atheist to respond to such statements is the worst thing in the history of everything. I don’t keep my atheism to myself in these situations because I do not tolerate shallow ideas of religious superiority over others and as such I cannot stand proselytizers who feel the need to push their ideas on others. I see such behavior as both extremely disrespectful and even harmful to society, ergo I stand against it.But I wouldn’t have to do such if everybody kept their religious views to themselves. But they don’t.
Are women who accept money to remain silent about being sexually assaulted culpable?
Almost all of the women in the world live in cultures where, even if they report a sexual assault (as only about 25% of them do), they are unlikely to be believed, their personal sexual histories will be dragged through the mud, they will be subjected to brutal cross-examination, their reputations will be changed forever, and even if they endure all of that, there's roughly an even chance that their attackers will not be convicted (in Western countries; the situation is far more dire in other places).It's a miracle that so many women do report it. It seems entirely reasonable to me that a woman who has been attacked, desperate to reclaim a few shreds of her privacy, will agree to a payment in exchange for forgoing the dubious privilege of being a complainant in a rape case. This is especially true when the attacker is famous, wealthy, or powerful, or all of the above. Under those circumstances a woman (especially in the emotional aftermath of an attack) can very easily imagine that no one will believe her and she is better off taking the money, trying to heal herself privately, and telling no one. Putting it another way: if 75% of sexual assaults aren't reported anyway, how irrational is it for an assaulted woman to be swayed by an offer of money to follow her original inclination and just try to put the whole thing behind her?I like to think that if I were put into that position I'd be brave enough to report, but I certainly can't judge the women who don't. Rape statistics
Can saying nothing be a lie, and if so, what counts as a silent lie?
“Can saying nothing be a lie, and if so, what counts as a silent lie?”Sometimes when we talk about things we have done wrong, we talk about“Things done, and things left undone.”or things we did (when we should not have) and things we did not do (when we should have done them).I don’t think there is any justification for thinking that “speach” cannot be a “thing” in either category - a thing done, or a thing we failed to do.So yes, saying nothing can be a lie, in can be something we should have done, but failed to do. A thing left undone.But note that phrase “When we should have done them…”Not every refusal to speak is a lie, it is not always a failure to speak. Sometimes it is a neutral act, sometimes a helpful act, sometimes even a virtuous act to say nothing.“Who wants ice cream? (I may want it, but am trying to cut down)My grandson working on a math problem, when I could easily tell him the answer.“Which house is hiding the Jews?”If we restrict the word “lie” to only an un-virtuous witholding of truth (whether by speaking or by not-speaking) then we have to look at the motive and intended effect. Possibly even the actual effect, if it is different.Sometimes speaking a portion of truth may give -and be intended to give - a false impression that is a lie ( “but I ONLY told the truth!” or “but everything I said is true!” is no defense.)with my grandson’s math homework, my silence is intended to further the truth. With the Nazi, my silence is intended to further the protection of the vulnerable.With the ice cream, my intent is to further the comfort of my host.The wrong - lie - is not in speaking or not speaking.The wrong is in why we did it
Can a Jehovah Witness get disfellowshipped by dating a non witness?
At 15, being confused is understandable. You do not mention your parents. It might be good to discuss this with them. If you feel uncomfortable doing that, find someone older and mature to speak with. Do your research on the scriptures and find out how Jehovah feels about it. Last but not least, Pray to Jehovah to help you.