Why can't we choose where we are born?

[New World Explorer]

3 hours ago, Ishaya said:

But how do you mean its not random how we all got to where we are by birth?

Adam and Eve created by Jehovah (they did not have to win the race to the egg) 

Me (random) won the race 

 

Who has advantage? 

 

So really it's not important how we get here, but rather if we love or cherish relationship with Jehovah.

Philosophical questions often omit that aspect. 

Better is to focus on current reality, me and you are here, our choices matter greatly, and ...what if? questions are pointless, insignificant and sometimes waste of time. 

 

[Ishaya]

3 hours ago, New World Explorer said:

What if? questions are pointless, insignificant and sometimes waste of time. 

 

 

Its just  how you feel about it actually,the original question I raised is not to stimulate debate if you really took time to understand it.

Its to look for the wisdom  in Jehovah's approach in making distribution of humans all over the earth a random process.

 

It is a random process actually, we are  simply born where we find ourselves,anyone could have been born anywhere or any gender.

What can you learn about Jehovah with regard to this?

 

Do you call that a pointless philosophical question? In a sense are you suggesting there is nothing we can learn about Jehovah in this matter? I really don't see it that way.

 

[coolbrz731]

On 6/25/2022 at 3:49 PM, Ishaya said:

What is the wisedom in humans NOT having a chance to decide where or how they should be born? I mean like The family,the clan,the tribe,the race,the country etc.

We had a discussion about this very subject.  Lot would be the answer to that question.  Lot was given a choice of where to live, and his choice was not wise.  In fact, he made 2 unwise choices.  First, he went for the best fields, which turned out to be whitewashed graves, since those fields had him live in Sodom.  And even when he asked Jehovah to let him live in another town, he ended up running from that town.  So, most people would choose to live in the "best" place, which, as we see, could really be the worst place.  We'd also have the best place be hugely overcrowded because everyone wants to be born there.  So having humans choose where they would be born....that would be a disaster.

 

I'm glad I couldn't choose.  I was born in Greece, NY.  Circumstances worked out that I ended up in Compton, CA in the 80's and 90's.  Now, as a JW, many brothers would avoid that situation at all costs, but it was one of the best situations for me.  It solidified my relationship with Jehovah.  I saw His wisdom first hand.  I watched people fly against biblical wisdom.   Then I went to their funerals.  I watched brothers and sisters live double lives, and mock me for being such a "square", losing out on the opportunities that they had.  Then, because of our gang-ridden environment, I'd go to their funerals, which wasn't in the kingdom hall obviously.  It would hit me, "I may never see this person again!!  He/she may have gone to gehenna, because of their attitude."  I had zero desire to be in the world.  Being in the world meant literal death to me.  I had many close calls, and several times, my being a witness saved my life.  So looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better place to be born.

[Ishaya]

Brothers please,I am beginning to notice an unhealthy attitude in this forum recently, I'm not sure how recurring it has been before I joined this forum but I think it needs to stop because it is unchristian and if we want to make this forum a safe haven for all.
This attitude is the attitude of criticizing  questions raised by brothers or sisters and turning it into a debate.

 

In my opinion it is better to say nothing when a topic doesn't interest you than to use derisive and  undermining remarks about the question or topic.

like I said, it is unchristian to do that and it needs to stop.
no  matter how pointless we think a question seems,why not  try to imagine if its coming from a bible student in the field service. how will you react or respond to it?.

 

Where is our christian qualities brothers? do we only wear them on like costumes when its time for field service so as to impress bible students or is it what we truelly are on the inside.

 

The human mind is unfathomable,therefore I suggest that Learning to respect peoples questions and treating it with the seriousness they'd expect is very important no matter how unintelligible or pointless we think the question is.

 

[hatcheckgirl]

I guess, brother Ishaya, we don’t understand what you’re trying to say.

 

Jehovah always meant for humans to spread out over the earth. So it was meant to be a random thing where you were born.  No one can choose, or was ever going to be able to choose.

 

His eyes are roving around the earth to find those with good hearts. So we have faith that Jehovah sees our true disposition, and no matter where we live. Rom 8:35-39.

 

Its true that those who are born in lands that have bans on the preaching work will have less chance to hear the Good News.  But Jehovah is not limited by this, is he?  So we leave this to Jehovah and his mercy.

 

As for Jehovah’s wisdom in doing the witnessing work this way, I think the results speak for themselves. The little one has become a thousand, Jehovah’s congregations are thriving in this Satanic world, and millions of us give Satan a big slap by our faith and integrity every day, regardless of where we live. No miraculous conversion needed, and Jehovah has always drawn people into a relationship with him. This all shows his wisdom.

 

So I don’t think we are having a go at your opinion/ ideas. We are not rubbishing you as our brother. But, sometimes there is no point to the discussion. I have tried to understand your reasoning, but to me it goes against what Jehovah has revealed about why he is doing things this way, and who are we to question it?

[New World Explorer]

5 hours ago, Ishaya said:

Its just  how you feel about it actually,the original question I raised is not to stimulate debate if you really took time to understand it.

Original question: Why can't we choose where we are born?  I tried.... tried, still cannot grasp it, as it touches hugely philosophical areas.

 

Perhaps try to come from different angle or rephrase your question differently? 

But even then.. with rephrased option: Why we are born randomly? (place, area, era) it goes to back to the way Jehovah decided (yes, he made some choices in heaven how to carry out his purpose)  to populate the earth. 

It's simply impossible to answer this question, so please do not be upset, but I feel stuck, without way out to understand original question. 

 

We love you Ishaya, and nobody has a go at you, just different opinions. 

 

Edited: Lets say that we have a choice (referring to original question) 

How do you imagine that choice would work technically? 

Edited June 27, 2022 by New World Explorer

[Dages]

10 hours ago, New World Explorer said:

Why can't we choose where we are born?  I tried.... tried, still cannot grasp it, as it touches hugely philosophical areas.

I don't understand how it's difficult.

We can't because we do not exist. Period.  

 

If we existed before our birth, like an immaterial soul discussing with God about where we would like to be born... all the stuff about believing/conversion would be weird. Because we would already believe in God in our pre-human state.

Still, that's not how we were made. Not even Adam and Eve. Only Jesus was like this to correct the mess our first parents did.

 

In the end, Jehovah and Jesus will judge fairly, taking all data into account. So it isn't important where/how/when we were born. We all have opportunity to get to know him and choose to obey him. In this world or after resurrection (for the unrighteous).

[rbrown1205]

Because pre-born babies can't walk.

[Old]

I wanted to be born next to my mother but alas after three days she andoned me and left town. Might as well been born in an orphanage.

[rbrown1205]

I really believe that the thousand year period, where there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous, was designed to straighten out the "what if" s. All of the stuff in this system that makes it difficult to get Jehovah's message of salvation will be done away with then - the poverty, the sickness, the handicaps,the twisted religious ideas, the sinful philosophies, the wicked world leaders - all of the awfulness of this world - and not only that, Jehovah will arrange for all to be taught the truth with no obstacles, except the ones that we have in our hearts.  And we will be judged by how we respond. 

 

Still, reading how when Satan is doing to be let loose after the thousand years are over, and those who will be taken by him will be like the sand of the sea even then, tells us that we all need to examine and reexamine our hearts, and not fool ourselves into thinking that we are ok.

 

Look at Solomon - Jehovah gave him tremendous wisdom, and what did he do with it? At first, he built the most magnificent temple in the history of the nation, he raised the reputation of Israel among the royalty of the nations with his problem solving abilities, an we got three magnificent books of the Bible.  Then...oh, no...