After a somewhat less than memorable day at work, I came home in need of sustenance, something to cheer me up and prepare me for what will be another less than memorable day at work tomorrow. An ice cold pint of Hop House 13 lager was certainly a start, but I had something even better. I’ve been invited to a convention in Cardiff. Yes, little old me. The invitation comes from the Jehovah’s Witnesses who are playing three successive nights at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, which just goes to show how popular they are.
I am not sure if my views are exactly the same as theirs in every department. They don’t mind their members having a beer or two so if I cut down a bit, I should be welcome. But the tricky bit for me is the God bit.
According to Wikipedia, they view God as the Father, an invisible spirit “person” separate from the Son, Jesus Christ. Now, I view God, certainly the one of the old testament, as being the most unpleasant man in all of fiction. This, I suspect, could cause me a problem or two if I turn up for one of the Cardiff shows.
But still, here is what the Jehovah’s say about the God character:
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that:
God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is “the only true God”.
Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God.
The Holy Spirit is not a person; it is God’s active force.
The Jehovah’s Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below.
God (the Father):
God is a single being whose personal name is Jehovah
they also accept the name Yahweh and other transliterations
Jehovah is alone, and above all other beings
Jehovah created everything that exists
Jehovah has a son called Jesus Christ
Jesus is not God
Jesus is not equal to God
Jesus was God’s first creation
Jehovah then created everything else through Jesus Christ
Jehovah’s outstanding qualities are love, justice, wisdom, and power.
I’m immediately a bit confused, here. Is Jehovah God’s first, or Christian name, and should be refer to him as Mr Jehovah God? It would certainly assist dead people as they reach St Peter’s Gates.
The message of the Witnesses is “Don’t Give Up”, which is exactly the advice we received many years ago from Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. And it’s good advice which I have followed ever since.
I don’t know which will be the best night of the run at the Motorpoint, but I shall give Sunday a miss on the grounds that Chip Alley could be closed down. I have found the Friday night atmosphere to be the best in Cardiff, so I might make an afternoon and evening of it. Some chips with curry sauce to start with, a large number of beers in a very short period of time and then a sing song with my new found friends. At least most of the day will be good.
Apart from their homophobia, anti-abortion views, their objections to blood transfusions and the fact they believe in a version of God, Cardiff could be a lot of fun!
