'a moral duty to try to save people's souls'?They are acting out of fear and self-interest. They don't want to go to hell.
Witnesses believe there are a limited number of places available in heaven after the apocolypse. Places will be reserved for those who have committed good deeds, chief among which is spreading the message.
The irony is that for every successful conversion, there's greater competition for seats in heaven. In my opinion the best questions to ask Witnesses are: 1) how many people will be allowed into the heaven (the answer is 144,000 I think)... 2) Doesn't every person you convert decrease your chances of going there? ... 3) Your god's really done a number on you guys hasn't he?
(Witnesses believe there are a limited number of places available in heaven after the apocolypse. Places will be reserved for those who have committed good deeds, chief among which is spreading the message.
The irony is that for every successful conversion, there's greater competition for seats in heaven. In my opinion the best questions to ask Witnesses are: 1) how many people will be allowed into the heaven (the answer is 144,000 I think)... 2) Doesn't every person you convert decrease your chances of going there? ... 3) Your god's really done a number on you guys hasn't he?
mofaha ┐( ˘_˘)┌ ʅ(́◡◝)ʃ,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:35,
archived)
I remember them coming around before 2000ahhh that was fun
(
discomeats This canoe,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:38,
archived)
They don't believe in hell.Yes, 144,000 go to heaven, but after that's full up everyone else righteous gets to live on a future Paradise Earth after the judgment. And it's the first 144,000, so it's full already by their reckoning.
(
Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:39,
archived)
So I guess the question is:so all you can offer me is a second-class seat?
( mofaha ┐( ˘_˘)┌ ʅ(́◡◝)ʃ,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:42,
archived)
not really,heaven sounds like a lot of hard work if you ask me, they're going to be the ones who are going to have to run the place.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:44,
archived)
Yea but probably everyone who goes to heaven can do magiclike making mops and buckets come to life, as prophesised by Walt Disney in The Book Of Fantasia.
( mofaha ┐( ˘_˘)┌ ʅ(́◡◝)ʃ,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:48,
archived)
they also become completely sexless beings Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:51,
archived)
YesFear of death is the key.
Sadly, believing these superstitions may actually increase the fear of death rather than relieving it.
It is a little like alcoholism, a failed attempt to block pain.
(Sadly, believing these superstitions may actually increase the fear of death rather than relieving it.
It is a little like alcoholism, a failed attempt to block pain.
FeralCatMan Long ads need comments sections,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:41,
archived)
Nail more or less on head. Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:48,
archived)
Sadlylike alcoholics, they are terrified of admitting the problem.
Or facing the pain of sorting it out.
(Or facing the pain of sorting it out.
FeralCatMan Long ads need comments sections,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:52,
archived)
I don't know if it's quite that simple,but I'll admit it is their emphasis on selling the Everlasting Life in Paradise Earth for the Righteous is what concerns me most. If there's a reward for doing God's will, are you really doing it for God or for yourself?
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 14:57,
archived)
It isn't that simple, nothing is.Selling sounds like the key term here, a God franchise with merchandising rights?
I really don't know much about them specifically. However, using Occams razor, does a being that could create billions of galaxies really need a door to door sales force?
Does that (or any other coercive religion) seem realistic?
(I'm ignoring the cultural/historical contexts of major faiths - it's the interwebs)
(I really don't know much about them specifically. However, using Occams razor, does a being that could create billions of galaxies really need a door to door sales force?
Does that (or any other coercive religion) seem realistic?
(I'm ignoring the cultural/historical contexts of major faiths - it's the interwebs)
FeralCatMan Long ads need comments sections,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 15:05,
archived)
I say selling, it's a loaded word,which is why I hate it when people say I've got to "sell myself" to get a job... ugh...
We could get way too deep into theology/philosophy here, I don't personally see the need to go round people's doors like that but if free will is important God isn't going to "make" everyone believe, as simple as it might seem the world would become. If I, as a servant of God, believe it is right that such service should carry on, it makes sense to spread the idea around in some way or another.
(We could get way too deep into theology/philosophy here, I don't personally see the need to go round people's doors like that but if free will is important God isn't going to "make" everyone believe, as simple as it might seem the world would become. If I, as a servant of God, believe it is right that such service should carry on, it makes sense to spread the idea around in some way or another.
Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 15:17,
archived)
We're nearly off the page here.I still have yet to understand why an omnipotent being should need to have anyone believe in anything. If behaving well to other beings they have created is the issue why the need to pray.
(I'm enjoying this conversation)
((I'm enjoying this conversation)
FeralCatMan Long ads need comments sections,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 15:27,
archived)
Oh...I'm enjoying it too, but alas I have to go to the shops. For now I'm going to cite Job 35:6-10, because I want to.
Gaz me if you want to continue this.
(Gaz me if you want to continue this.
Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag,
Wed 15 Jul 2009, 15:40,
archived)