A gift from my Jehovah's Witness...

[Velo Princesse]

Yesturday, my Jehovah's Witness dropped by. I hadn't let her in for a few months so I figured I'd invite her to come in and chat. She's been coming around for about 2 years now. Anyway, she gave me a children's book, Learn From The Great Teacher. It has some Bible stories in it and other stories about why we shouldn't lie and being nice to people and stuff like that. I've only given it a cursory look, so I'm not reading it to my kids yet, if ever. So far, the only things I've noticed are that Jesus is refered to throughout the entire book as "the Great Teacher" and God is, of course, "Jehova". Those things are mildly annoying, but also accurate so no harm done....

Then, I flipped to the back and the last two chapters are taken from the book of Revelation. This book is for 6 year olds, mind you. There are full page pictures of people screaming as angels fly through the sky destroying cities. There is a chapter titled How we can tell Armageddon is near that is talking about people starving, pestulance and war. I couldn't believe it.... She told me it was a great book to use for bedtime stories! I'm suddenly very concerned about children who are in JW households...

Anyway, I just thought I'd share.

Randi

[cathromang]

wow...yeah read that to the kiddies...
and then buy the games DOOM and San Andreas Fault for them
to play.

I know they and the Morm's also used to have pics of Heaven of really white people
sitting under a tree eating from a picnic basket while much darker skinned people were in the background working in the fields....

[gtsecc]

This brings up a great example of what can happen if Scripture is not interpreted by the Church.

[Tetzel]

I think I've seen a webpage that has the kind of pictures you're talking about that JW's make.
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/pictures.htm
Here's a nice example
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/scans/1982_enjoy_life_28_large.jpg

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Like this, right?

http://quotes.watchtower.ca/scans/2003_learn_from_great_teacher_p243.jpg

[Velo Princesse]

wow...yeah read that to the kiddies...
and then buy the games DOOM and San Andreas Fault for them
to play.

I have issues w/ the Hell doctrine anyway... it certainly isn't a tale of God's love. I wouldn't dream of discussing the end times w/ my 6 year old!!! I'm just amazed that they would put that in a childrens book! The closest I've ever seen to it is something like "someday Jesus will come back and take us to Heaven." Even that opens the doors to a lot of questions that I wouldn't necessarily care to answer. I'd rather just talk about the love of God. I'm basically fascinated w/ this book!!!


I know they and the Morm's also used to have pics of Heaven of really white people
sitting under a tree eating from a picnic basket while much darker skinned people were in the background working in the fields....

Please tell me that was a really long time ago!!! PLEASE! Even if it's not true, just say it!

[Velo Princesse]

Like this, right?

http://quotes.watchtower.ca/scans/2003_learn_from_great_teacher_p243.jpg

That's the one! If you read the name of the page you got it from, you'll see that it is the book I'm talking about.

I don't see how that picture or the pictures Tetzel posted teach about the love of God... isn't that what we should be teaching our six year olds?

[Velo Princesse]

This brings up a great example of what can happen if Scripture is not interpreted by the Church.

That brings up the question of how the Church interprets Revelation. I guess that's a question for another thread, but if you've got the answer PM me... I'd be interested to hear it.

Randi

[gitlance]

That brings up the question of how the Church interprets Revelation. I guess that's a question for another thread, but if you've got the answer PM me... I'd be interested to hear it.

Randi

Revelation was metaphorically referring to the Roman persecutions of Christians under Nero, Domitian, etc... With the exception of the actual bodily coming of Christ for a 2nd time, and the Resurrection of the dead, most of Revelation has been fulfilled.

[Velo Princesse]

Revelation was metaphorically referring to the Roman persecutions of Christians under Nero, Domitian, etc... With the exception of the actual bodily coming of Christ for a 2nd time, and the Resurrection of the dead, most of Revelation has been fulfilled.

That is 'Historical End Times' right? Do you have any links on the subject? I always thought they were stories of what is to come. I'd be very interested to learn about another point of view.



Randi

[marciebaby]

I know a woman who always takes whatever literature the JW's are handing out, then throws it away. She feels it's her duty to try and deplete their supplies as much as possible.

I know another man who always says, "No thank you, I already have a religion. But I will pray for you that you will return to the kingdom of God."

I haven't seen any JW's in about 10 years, fortunately for me. The theological arguments get boring after a while.

[marciebaby]

That is 'Historical End Times' right? Do you have any links on the subject? I always thought they were stories of what is to come. I'd be very interested to learn about another point of view.



Randi

Yes, this is a good one, could we start another thread on this?

[Velo Princesse]

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE THE END TIMES DISCUSSION (http://www.christianforums.com/t2275297-end-times.html#post19644134)

Your right... it definately needs it's own thread!


Randi

[Velo Princesse]

I know a woman who always takes whatever literature the JW's are handing out, then throws it away. She feels it's her duty to try and deplete their supplies as much as possible.

I know another man who always says, "No thank you, I already have a religion. But I will pray for you that you will return to the kingdom of God."

I haven't seen any JW's in about 10 years, fortunately for me. The theological arguments get boring after a while.

I'm having a hard time w/ her visits actually. I'm torn between not wanting to talk to her and wanting to be nice. I guess I could see it as a service that everything she gives me she can't give to someone else...

:)

Randi

[svdbygrace]

Please don't read it to your children.

[Velo Princesse]

Please don't read it to your children.

I was thinking about reading through it and only using parts of it. I think I probably won't waste my time, though. :)

Randi

[svdbygrace]

I was thinking about reading through it and only using parts of it. I think I probably won't waste my time, though. :)

Randi

:thumbsup:

[romaneagle13]

I was thinking about reading through it and only using parts of it. I think I probably won't waste my time, though. :)

Randi

Good idea. I have a friend who grew up in a JW household. He was very lonely as a child and never learned to really socialize well since his parents forbade him to play with any children who weren't JW's. He has grown up bitter and disillusioned, been married and divorced, and has a great hatred towards organized religion. He doesn't even believe in God because of the "religious trauma" he went through as a child. So it's probably best not to expose your kids to the same.

[erin74]

I think it's great to teach that God is love, obviously. And I do not condone what the JW's are teaching their kids at all. But I do think we can't forget to teach about sin, and that being saved from the consequence of our sin is God's greatest act of love. I do think we need to have that balance.

Obviously not by showing picture books like that one, but it is possible to teach young children a balanced theology of sin and love. They probably need to know what right and wrong is somewhat first.... but it's not out of the question to do this sensitively.