2 Minutes silence. Refusual to part take on religious grounds?

[**streety**]

Hi all.
As we all know Monday was rememberance day and at work we all honoured the 2 mins silence.
However one person at work refused as they are a Jehovah Witness?

I've never come across this before and thought how absurd it was.  I can't understand what on earth religion has to do with standing and remebering those who fought for us.  Everyone not matter what religion or not have someone in their family tree who was directly affected by war

[****merlin*****]

so many things just like that streety, sadly

i was reading yesterday about a girl who got married

a beautiful vintage wedding (i dont like brides/big dresses but this was low key and beautiful) they looked SO content, and happy

her parents didnt support the marriage so didnt attend

the bride, married another girl

they shunned their daughter and her wedding, in the name of religion

what religion teaches you to turn your back on your child on the happiest day of her life?

its here if you want to see how lovely it was

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2506861/Lesbian-bride-25-wedding-shunned-religious-parents-f...

[chickengrandma-2008]

Good point merlin, it's the cessation of war that is remembered.

Surely showing respect for someone who has lost their life is not condoning HOW they died.  If I showed remorse for someone who died of cancer, would that be condoning cancer?

[2017clearout]

Oops, sorry - messed up that one: conscientous objectors also served and died in wars of the past, especially WWI - they didn't bear arms, but frequently served as as stretcher bearers, and had, generally speaking, horribly poor life expectancy at the front.  I hadn't realised JW's do not observe the silence (I'm a Quaker, many of whom served and died whilst being conscientous objectors, and we do, despite our really rather overt peace and conflict resolution agenda) - that is someone's right in this country, after all, that's why so many died, to keep us free.  But I do think it's awfully sad.

[****merlin*****]

seems almost anything can be excused in the name of religion, sex, war, medical, you name it

i dont understand it, genuinely no knowledge what makes a blind faith stronger than compassion

[chickengrandma-2008]

Changing the subject slighty (going sideways anyway)

I've nothing against gays, or gays getting married, but I just don't understand why, if a girl likes other girls, why does one usually dress and look girly and one dresses  and looks  more like a boy?

[****merlin*****]

am i going to have to explain the difference between male/female sex and female/female sex here??

[**streety**]

Because it's like a vegi burger or sausage.   They dont want the meat but want it to look like meat? 

[****merlin*****]

high fives streety

well done!

[chickengrandma-2008]

I didn't realise that.  I thought they didn't like anything to do with meat at all.

How silly, why would you want it to look like something you don't like????

I like REAL sausages and burgers!!

[chickengrandma-2008]

---

@****merlin***** wrote:

am i going to have to explain the difference between male/female sex and female/female sex here??

---

Go on then.  

[****merlin*****]

tempted here i really am

and then what happens when chickengrandpa uses your lappy and sees your viewing history??

[chickengrandma-2008]

I think it's you who's the chicken!  LOL  

[bankhaunter]

It has always seemed odd to me that a religion who purport to follow a supposedly loving god, would look forward with such eagerness to the destruction of all unbelievers leaving the earth free for them.

Seems a little hypocritical to profess to be against war when slaughter on a far greater scale than any war yet seen, is the basis of their belief.

We are the pure and chosen few
And all the rest are damned
There’s room enough in hell for you
We don’t want heaven crammed.

[ilove2patch]

Liking this thread. It's almost like the old days. I have no time for religion or religious beliefs but hold nothing against people with true faith but the stance JW's take is just hypocritical in my eyes. Bankhaunters point is a very good one. 

[**streety**]

Maybe golden*nugget would like to come back and clarify and discuss a  few of our points?

[merc1_clocks]

---

@bankhaunter wrote:

It has always seemed odd to me that a religion who purport to follow a supposedly loving god, would look forward with such eagerness to the destruction of all unbelievers leaving the earth free for them.

Seems a little hypocritical to profess to be against war when slaughter on a far greater scale than any war yet seen, is the basis of their belief.

We are the pure and chosen few
And all the rest are damned
There’s room enough in hell for you
We don’t want heaven crammed.

---

                          

[metrorock11]

I am a peace loving Wiccan. I do not feel the need to come a knocking on anyones door to try to change anyones beliefs. Religous or otherwise. I do, though respect our war veterans. Past & present. As a senior carer in a nursing home, I am honoured & so gratefull to hear their side of things. (the ones who are still able).  MAY THEIR GOD ALWAYS LOVE THEM. I do.

[**forum-decorum**]

Dear  Corporal Joe Bloggs and commrades

I know you can't hear me as you are sadly buried under six feet of soil. At least you are in a beautiful posh wooden coffin with lovely gold guilt carrying handles. The veiw from your burial location is absolutely stunning, I am so grateful to you for getting your legs and arms blown off so I can actually stand here with no worries in the world and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

I do wish there are no worries in the world, but you see although you perhaps were proud to go and do what you sincerely thought was your duty for your King and country and blow that fellow human beings head off and shot that German christian right between the eyes so he died where he fell, the war to end all wars just didn't do it's job. This world is still suffering war after war in one place after another. The nuclear threat still hasn't got any smaller and people still hate each other in other countries, so you see your death has been for nothing.

This countries monarchy and Government just hasn't got the ability and know how to solve the worlds problems, and you had been duped into thinking it had.

So Joe I stand here quietly for two minutes and think about how you lost your very young life of 18 years then I will go about my business and enjoying my life, eating drinking and being merry till the next 11th Novbember.

I really am sorry but that just doesn't sit well with me, because I am truly convinced that the Almighty God, Jehovah I put my faith and trust in and choose to be obedient to is the only one who can solve this worlds problems and end all wars. He is not picking and choosing between countries who is greatest, or which race is more entitled to live. Every single person on this earth is given the same choice as anyone else, and the promises he has made to mankind is the same for all because he made us all equal.

This is how I like to word things regarding any who have lost their lives, (also taking into account the living, ones who are suffering in many ways) more in the form of a personal heartfelt prayer, quielty at home where I don't disturb or force anything onto anyone else who perhaps doesn't like or agree with what is being conveyed.

Dear Heavenly father Jehovah, may I humbly approach you in the name of your dear son Jesus Christ to ask that your Kingdom comes quickly and your will to be done swiftly so that this suffering world can be restored back to how it was meant to be. Let all mankind accept that you are the Almighty God and sanctify your name.

So that you put an end to all suffering, death, starvation, world disasters and wars. Please remember all those that have already died and fulfill your promise that they will all be brought back to life to have the same chance as anyone else to live in a peaceful righteous abundantly beautiful world. With no more bloodshed, sickness and pain. Please help all our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are going through terrible trials of one sort or another, give everyone the strength to keep going and endure till you fulful all your promises.

Please help me to be a good obedient christian and love my neighbours.

Thank you Jehovah for the wonderful planet we live on, the birds and the trees, the oceans the food we eat the moon, the stars, the seasons. The spritual food we have in abundance. The knowledge of you and being able to come to know you and all your creation.

You see, it is not showing disrespect when I choose not to observe the two minute silence once every year. I choose not to because I truly believe freedom is not attained by a few young lives being given in war but down to God and his future promises. I accept that those who gave their lives were very brave and thought they were doing a good thing, but for me to honour that would be very hypocritical to do so considering what I have faith in. Quite frankly the silence is not going to bring back those lives that were cut short, The government cannot bring those lives back. I believe in something far more superior that can and will bring them back.

The two minutes silence is done in public places where I am frequenting as I have the right to do like everyone else. I really am not being disrespectful at all, my cares for the dead are prayed about, knowing my prayers will be answered.

I go on the ministry, because that is a requirement, commanded in the Bible (my Gods Word) to go and preach and give the good news to others so they can choose for themselves, life.

So as I see it to have other people who really don't want to know or accept why the two minute silence is not observed and have them mock or accuse and assume I/we don't care is really not very kind, loving, peaceable or respectful.

[bankhaunter]

I really am sorry but that just doesn't sit well with me, because I am truly convinced that the Almighty God, Jehovah I put my faith and trust in and choose to be obedient to is the only one who can solve this worlds problems and end all wars. He is not picking and choosing between countries who is greatest, or which race is more entitled to live Every single person on this earth is given the same choice as anyone else, and the promises he has made to mankind is the same for all because he made us all equal.

Though it would appear some are more equal than others

"There are billions of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in ignorance practice things that God's Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who perish during the great tribulation."

Watchtower 1993 Oct 1 p.19

Makes the great warmongers of the past look like pussycats.

However I don't put my faith and trust in a supernatural being for whose existence there is no evidence whatsoever, because, like Kate Smurthwaite, I too am not an idiot.

[**streety**]

Don't be so silly golden nugget.  Remembering those who died isn't about what you quoted above. Show some respect.  As Merlin pointed out, its about remembering when the great war ended too... 

I am a pagan too.  I like it because it allows me to be eclectic and also atheist and I'm thankful that I am not ruled. 

"Religion is like a blind man looking in a black room for a black cat that isn't there, and finding it!" Oscar Wilde