Another "pinata" article? (embalming)

AlmostAtheist

On the Watchtower's site right now, there is yet another article that has arbitrarily decided that a pagan-originated, false-religious practice is okey-dokey for Christians. This time it is embalming.

The article is here: http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/3/15/article_01.htm

Watch the fun: (quotes from article above)

"Historians tend to agree that embalming began in Egypt but was also practiced by the ancient Assyrians, Persians, and Scythians."

Began in Egypt. Gotcha.

"The ancient Egyptians embalmed their dead mainly for religious reasons. Their concept of an afterlife was linked with a desire to stay in touch with the physical world. They believed that their bodies would be used throughout eternity and would be reinvigorated with life."

Those nutty Egyptians and their crazy pagan religious practices, such as embalming. What a bunch o' false-worshipping characters they were!

"Scripturally, then, there is no need for concern if local requirements mandate that the body be embalmed or family members desire that this take place."

WHAT?!?!?

This practice originated among pagans, for the express purpose of serving a false-religious purpose, and it's alrightly-dightly?

So, birthdays are ok, then? And Christmas? No? Why not?

"'Cause we said so, that's why! Now eat your spiritual food, don't you know there are spiritually starving people in China?"

Dave

skyman

interesting to say the least. thanks

misspeaches

"Scripturally, then, there is no need for concern if local requirements mandate that the body be embalmed or family members desire that this take place."

Um excuse me? Did I miss something here? Where is the Scriptures they are using to back up their 'Scriputurally' statement.

HELLO WTBTS... YOU ARE IDIOTS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER!!!!!

observador

Almost,
I like your analisys. Nice and funny!
Two thumbs up, then, for those freaking pagans, pot smokers, snake worshippers egyptians!!! :)
Long live Babylon, the great! :)
Thanks.

MerryMagdalene

I've got your "scripturally, then" right here (grabs Bible, conveniently laying across crotch)--and in one fell swoop can prove embalming is scripturally ok and birthdays are not: Ecclesiastes 7:1. It's a death thing, baby. Death is better than birth. Pagan death stuff ok, pagan birth stuff not ok. Got it

Except in the case of cross v stake, wherein although both may be considered pagan devices, the stake is still preferable to a cross, because...because...it has been scientifically proven by vampire hunters throughout the ages that stakes kill but crosses only wound and frighten

On a side note, it warms my heart to see, thanks to Scholar JW and PMJ, that Witnesses have taken the counsel in Ecc. 7:3 to heart as well, "Better is vexation than laughter, for by the crossness of the face the heart becomes better." Thanks for the vexing

~Merry

carla

Are you saying jw's never allowed embalming before? this is news to me. How did they get around this? I thought every state mandated this. Or are they just saying it's ok that all of you have embalmed your loved ones all this while you still have chance at the big A? what the heck?

DanTheMan

Brother Dave, you need to pray and get out in service more.

AlmostAtheist

Are you saying jw's never allowed embalming before? this is news to me. How did they get around this?

Hey Carla,

To my knowledge, Jw's have never forbidden embalming. Why they felt the need to pop up and offer their sage counsel on the subject I have no idea. But the point I'd like to draw from it is that embalming has pagan origins, is rooted in false religious practices, yet it is "scripturally" ok. But at the same time, birthday celebrations have all the same origins and are forbidden.

This is yet another example of how arbitrary the Watchtower is, forbidding things with excuses like pagan origins, while allowing other things that would qualify under those same excuses. JW's like to think they are following the Bible, but in truth they are completely following the Watchtower, regardless of what the Bible says.

Dave

Bonnie_Clyde

Don't have my Bible handy, but I thought one of the patriarchs (maybe Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Moses) was enbalmed. I'll check it later.

AlmostAtheist

>>I thought one of the patriarchs (maybe Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Moses) was enbalmed.

You're right, the article begins:

"JOSEPH honored his father's request by taking advantage of a custom that prevailed in Egypt at the time. He commanded "his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father." According to the account found in Genesis chapter 50, the physicians took the customary 40 days to prepare the corpse. The embalming of Jacob allowed for the large, slow-moving caravan of family members and Egyptian dignitaries to travel about 250 miles [400 km] to take Jacob's remains to Hebron for burial.—Genesis 50:1-14."

I'm guessing this is why they say it is scripturally ok. What they don't get is that they have now given us a Biblical example of a servant of God engaging in a practice with former pagan false-religious ties.

I'm lovin' this!

Dave

Another "pinata" article? (embalming)

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