Bible Study - what do you think of this? (page 2)

Sunspot

Has anyone else done an extensive study of the bible like this? and if you have, what conclusions did it help you reach?
I cant help dwelling on certain things such as Jesus's complete lack of prejudice towards people and I cant help thinking that many in the org are not following his example closely enough, and allow prejudices and personal appearance or stigmas of ill health, mental illness etc to cloud their judgement.

After I left the WTS I got on a forum where former JWs were on there arguing against JW beliefs and using scripture. THAT was when a whole new world opened up to me....I saw scriptures I had never "seen" or understood properly and felt that "WOW feeling" when I realized all that I had overlooked for 30 years as a JW!

I, too, favor the books of John and Romans : John for the true understanding of Christ, and Romans primarily for 8:38-39 that got me through one of the most difficult times of my life. You know how JWs like to cite Psalms 83:18 for "proof" of how they got their name...I have cited Romans 8:39-39, as proof that "no man's organization" can announce that God no longer loves anyone because they no longer put their faith and trust in the WTS and don't follow their peculiar teachings any longer! How presumptuous and arrogant is THAT, Watchtower?

Jesus was all about applying the "Golden Rule", love, forgiveness, compassion for others (focusing this on those in need), and caring from the heart, while offering everyone the gift of salvation and eternal life.

Under the trappings, we find that the WTS is a lying, cruel, controlling and vindictive organization that arrogantly claims that people need THEM to find salvation while making up their own rules and doctrines as they go along.

We also have to remember that the NWT was written so that the JWs could have and read a bible translation that reflects the WTS agenda. They have twisted ideas and inserted words to deliberately change the original meanings rather than supposedly "enhancing their understanding" as is claimed.

Anyone truly wishing to gain bible knowledge should not depend on the NWT to do so although I still "use it" to speak to JWs to support something in a bible discussion. They seem to "zone out" and stop listening when hearing scripture from any other bible.

Funny how Jesus had little use for the Pharisees with all their rules and regulations.....and yet the WTS is a carbon copy of them mimicking this very same behavior! Jesus has little use for the WTS either. It only comes in handy for examples of "before knowing Jesus" and "after knowing Jesus" after one has left the WTS.

Annie

sir82

I know that reading the entire bible is a prerequisite for becoming a JW

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

Where on eath did you get that idea?

The only prerequisite for becoming a JW is, "can you correctly repeat the Society's interpretation of these 120 or so questions which may or may not be somewhat loosely based on isolated bible texts?"

Absolutely no one in the organization ever gives a flying fig if you actually take the time to read the Bible...but if you happen to show up on Sunday without little underlinings in your Watchtower, you are viewed as "spiritually weak".

Bad Girl

Ooops I thought that it was something you were expected to have done before you would be allowed to be considerd for baptism?

Looks like Im having my eyes opened about a lot of things as well, I think this forum is an excellent idea because Ive noticed anyone can give their opinion freely without having to be worried about being silenced. Yay what a relief!

I can remember when I was studying once before, I spotted a trailer on TV for the program which dealt with children abused within the org and I felt sick to the core after watching it! I asked my study conductor what she thought of the program and I remember her saying she hadnt wanted to watch it as the Society had written some letter to the congregation regarding the program, seemingly explaining WT policy on the events and giving their damage limitation speech on child abuse issues. I asked if I could see the letter, and I was told she would show me it. Im still waiting all these years later.

megsmomma

I went on some web sites that gave study "talks" on different books of the bible...and the "sermon" that hit home with me most was on Eccl. I had always known the scripture where it reads that the dead are concious of nothing....(9:5,6) and I was not sure what I thought would happen to us when we died since that seemed so cut and dry...then the speaker pointed out chapter 10:19...which says money is the answer for everything....and explained how and why the book was written.(How things would be if there was no God and no hope) It was so enlightening to find that there is a way for a mere human to read the bible and understand without the society's help!

Wasanelder Once

The best book I ever reead by the society was The Commentary on the Letter of James. Interestingly, the guy who authored it was kicked out! Ed Dunlap. He did a verse by verse commentary on the letter and its the most practical information I've ever seen in a WT book. It truly teaches a great ethic and is so practical. Sure it has WT crap in it, but its easily overlooked due to the superior nature of the majority of the information.

It's out of print, imagine that. It's on the WT cd though.

W.Once

AK - Jeff

Also, Badgirl, there are a ton of Bible Commentaries out there. Some are doctrinally biased of course. But many are helpful in understanding what the writer had in mind in certain Scriptural passages. I have a flyer offering these on my desk right now.

www.Christianbook.com

Jeff

nicolaou

Just reading the Bible without the WTS publications, has opened the minds of many JWs to the point of leaving the WTS.

Good point Blondie, might it also be fair to rephrase your comments as;

Just reading informed scientific research without the Bible, has opened the minds of many christians to the point of leaving the Church.

PrimateDave

Personally, I found three study aids very helpful in my study of the Bible. But, before I point to them, I would emphasize the importance of using a very literal translation of the Bible, perhaps even an interlinear Bible with the Hebrew and Greek available for reference. In other words, don't trust the translation.

My study aids are:

Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Friedman (check out Amazon.com)
Is It God's Word? by Joseph Wheless - http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/joseph_wheless/is_it_gods_word/
Biblical Nonsense by Dr. Jason Long - http://www.biblicalnonsense.com/

I'll admit that Mr. Wheless' book is a bit dated, but a good read nontheless especially if you start at chapter 2.

Mr. Friedman's book is a good explanation of the Documentary Hypothesis. It can help one understand those confusing passages where the story being told seems to get mixed up. Noah's Flood is a good example of a confusing story that seems to have conflicting details. Mr. Friedman explains how two different flood stories were combined to form the one we know today. It's information that the Fundamentalists don't want you to know!

Dr. Long's book is a pretty up to date account of some of the problems with stories found in the Bible. So, just how did eight people manage to feed and water all those animals for a year on the ark of Noah, a task that requires modern zoos millions of dollars and hundreds of workers and professionals? And, just where did they put all the shit?

Dave

whyizit

Terrific idea!

What I found most amazing about reading the Bible in context, book by book, is that when you read the NT first, THEN the OT, you can see how the OT points to Jesus. You can also see how many prophecies from the OT came true with the arrival of Jesus. He was not a religious person. He was all about relationships. Notice how many times He called down the Pharisees for putting religion about the love of people. Notice also how many times He says that we should come directly to Him for eternal life and salvation. Not a religion, but HIM.

If you decide to start an on line Bible study some day, I hope you will include me. It is very interesting to see how each Scripture speaks to different people. It is saying the exact same thing, but how it reaches someone in a certain place of life shows how alive the Bible really is. It is definitely a personal Word to every one who reads it.

tijkmo

prerequisite...hmmm

it certainly is a condition of being a missionary or bethelite...new bethel members are given a schedule to complete the whole bible in a year ..and gilead invitees are directed to start reading from the moment of their invite so they can be completed by graduation...under a year later..this is regardless of whether they have read it all before.

not sure what the penalty for not doing this is...perhaps some ex or present gilead/bethelites can tell us if they did this or not.

personally...i figured i had read the whole bible simply because i used it all the time..in meetings fs etc..did the assigned reading for the week so thought that was enough...then i thought well i really should read it from cover to cover since i recommended others to and if we really were bible students then if we were asked if we had read the bible from cover to cover then we should be able to say yes..so perhaps not the noblest of motives but i must say i did enjoy it mostly...(except for the pages and pages of lineages)

i have no interest anymore in reading it at all now though.

Bible Study - what do you think of this?

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