Jehova's Witnesses

"Living their lives according to God's will as outlined in the Bible" hardly equates to "living right".

 

They do believe that in order to go to heaven you have to live in a certain manner though? They believe it is something you can earn through certain behaviors or by not partaking in certain behaviours?

Most of christianity believes that you can not earn it by any means. You can only obtain it by accepting Christ.

 

How come they can't play organized sports?

 

Okay, that's pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks.

Discarding the Trinity and not equating Jesus with God is a significant departure from Biblical Christian theology.

I think in a lot of circles, it's getting to be one. Too many people are wearing the jewelry but not following the One who was nailed to it, IMO.

Interesting that they say Armageddon is Jehovah's war. Revelation says Jesus is Commander-In-Chief of that conflict.

What do they believe about hell, Muff?

 

it probably sucked to be one in elemenary school when someone mom brought cupcakes...we had two of them in my 2nd grade class ...they left all the time

 

They taught there is no hell, per se. When a person dies, they just 'go to sleep' and await resurrection, unless that person dies during Armegeddon. Then they are cast into the Abyss with Satan who will be released in 1000 years (? fuzzy on that) for the final challenge. After that, Satan and all his followers will be thrown into the Abyss for eternity.

Hell, or Hades, is more a state of being than a place.

 

Who says they can't? Look at Serena and Venus Williams. They are the most prominent Witnesses, but I'm sure there are others.

It is not encouraged to partake in unhealthy competition, but I think that's mostly true for everyone. And sports or any other curricular activity should not interfere with weekly study meetings. God comes first in all things.

 

Sure did. I never really understood or agreed with the whole birthday thing. To me they are harmless and I personally like my birthday day. It was embarrassing to not be able to partake in such things when I was young.

 

Same for them. To be Christian means to be Christlike in your actions. Not an easy task for humans. They don't believe you can earn salvation, but those that partake of the unleavened bread and wine at the Memorial (Easter for you guys) have received the Holy Spirit. As one who has never done so, I can't explain any further only to say that those that partake believe they are part of the 144,000. I have seen several partake that have since fallen away from the religion, so that is what it is I guess.

The Memorial is observed on the calendar day that coincides with Nissan 13 which is the date they believe is when Jesus was resurrected. At the "last supper", as Jesus broke bread and passed the wine, he told his apostles to 'keep doing this in remembrance of me', so the Witnesses call it the Memorial and break bread and pass wine around just as Christ did.

It's interesting to me the impression people have of Jehovah's Witnesses, that they are some sort of cult or have weird goings on at their meetings. All they do is have Bible study lead by congregation elders and sing hymns. Pretty much like Baptist sermons I have attended. The Witnesses do volunteer pioneer work which is equivalent to missionary work in other religions. They go door to door because it is commanded to them in the Bible to spread the word.

All in all, they are pretty cool, but very strict.

 

According to that description, the Abyss = hell (lake of fire, etc.).

The more I read about the afterlife (for lack of a better word), the more it seems to me like those who are going to be judged do fall into some sort of limbo, or "go to sleep" until Judgment Day. 1 Peter 3:19 calls it "prison".