Dear NN, Satan is dead but Evil lives on

by unclebruce 27 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  unclebruce

  thanks TJ,

  For people dedicated to teaching us accurate knowledge the watchtower society gave us sweet ****all knowledge about the origins of the bible and the culture of its people. In desperation and pig ignorance they remade the Jews and other ancient cultures to suit thier shallow world view.

  Sir Issac Newton became almost obsessed with the desire to purge Christianity of its mythical origins. He became convinced that many Catholic doctrines were the result of conspiracy and chicanery. It seems to me Zions Watchtower just helped carry that tradition forward.

  unc.
• 

  teejay

  Unk,

  I happen to agree that the WTS skillfully altered certain bits of Jewish history for their own selfish, materialistic reasons, but then, they were only following the example that the Jews themselves have employed in dressing up their own history.

  As for Isaac Newton's attempt to strip Christianity of its myths, half-truths, etc... I'm afraid that if he'd been successful, the religion would have long ago slipped through the fingers of history like so much ash. The person many now know as Jesus of Nazareth would evaporate into then air as well.

  So would demons, the Devil and probably Yahweh himself.

  Come to think of it, that Newton fella was an apostate's apostate. What in the hell was he thinking?

  tj
• 

  Nathan Natas

  Unclebruce,

  My thanks to you and those who joined with you in this thread. What a great read it was! I'm familiar in a superficial way with some of the subjects you all have covered, and I sincerely appreciate the seeds for further thought and research you have planted.
• 

  Satanus

  Uncle

  I'm w you guys, generally. Taoist techniques are helping me w some health issues. I'm licking some of my own demons, so to speak, thanx anyway thomass.

  I think i see the myth power to which you refer. Maybe it's similar to mysticism/spirituality. Anyone who disbelieves in its power mearly has to take note of the powerful concepts that are evoked in the persent conflict w the use of words such as: evil, crusade, infidel, civilization, homeland, and others.

  Thanks for listing the books.

  SS
• 

  Satanus

  Uncle

  I was wondering if you would say a bit more about newton. I understood that, as well as being a scientist, he was an alchemist. There are 2 types of alchemists: spiritualist and materialist. He would spent hours staring at a test tube in meditation. While my knowledge is really bare bones on him, it suggests that he was seriuosly spiritual, although he may have hidden it. In view of this, when you say he was taking myth out of christianity, were you thinking of fallacies as compared to the spiritual?

  SS
• 

  Bridgette

  Uncle bruce,
  I agree with you (especially when you call god she---sigh. To all angry hebrew male sky god worshippers--MY DIETY GAVE BIRTH TO YOURS!!NE-NE-NE-NE-BOO-BOO. Okay, I'm just kidding).
  So, can I add you to my pantheon? hehehe.
  Although, I'm not sure if you are espousing a dualistic approach, good/evil, which I do not subscribe to, necessarily. Anyway, you make some excellent points, and for the most part summarize most everything I beleive. Except for pure evil. I'm more of a nature observer/worshipper. A spider sucking the life force out of a creature it's lured into its web is highly distasteful. If I was the little bug, I'd say
  Ashtika, you bring up a valid point: "Obsession with the devil is synonomous with worship of him, don't you think, Tommy P?"

  It has been said that Satan was and is the best friend the church ever had. He's like a hired thug for Christianity. What better place to "hide" from and receive "protection" from this hideous creature of their own making than, well, the church, or the kingdom hall? Oh, and while you're there, drop a few bucks in the box, will ya? We don't want to give the devil an inch! hehehehe ;)
  Hmmm, Satan has never shown up to any witche's circle or Tarot reading, etc. I've ever been to. In fact, I hardly ever hear from/about "him" since I've left Christianity. JW's were literally OBSESSED with him and his demons, and would conjure and invoke them with their urban legends at every chance they got. They are literally STARVED for some mysticism. Do you recall or ever noticed how every ear in the car group/room would perk up, the energy would focus on the one re-telling the demonistic story?
  Peace,
  Bridgette
• 

  Thomas Poole

  Dear Fellows,

  I believe in the Word of the Bible. I believe it to be inspired and from "the" God. My beliefs are subject to change, but only as I can discern new and different things to facilitate the Bible and my conscience.

  I always enjoy and seek to learn and understand more about knowledge of any kind that rationally applies to the Bible. What is rational here means that which is acceptable to my conscience, along with the affects of the Counselor upon me in my reasoning.

  To go beyond the Bible into the affects of humanity and human history upon its beginnings and development is a very relative thing to me; for, again, I believe the Bible to be truly inspired and from God.

  I stop short of trying to "improve" the Bible to myself other than by comparative examinations of it to others translations, transliterations, and interpretations of original scripture wordings. I approve of non-canonical knowledge that allows me to get a sense of the context of the scriptures for a particular time.

  To view the Bible as just another form of secular rhyme and reason, as I perceive these comentaries hint upon, I reject. Your subject matters I find of interest, but only tokenly so. Your relativisms, probablities, conjectures, and discoveries are to me a disruption and competition against faith.

  By faith, I mean not blind faith without any regard to reason or without humility to accept other considerations of thought and knowledge, but rather that faith built upon and strengthened by knowledge and thought whose nature is homogeneous to existing truth, proved by the essence of its compatibility with existing good reasoning about the inspired scriptures.

  As before I perceive the use of the minds here to be about intertaining labyrinthine quests of unimportant things that lead neither to God or to Salvation.

  On the surface I believe Truth is for the most part simple, as it should be, such that every man can learn and believe. Below the surface is the wisdom of man with his independent self-worship. Above the surface are the divine mysteries of supernatural powers, justice, love, and mercy.

  I have merely touched upon the supernatural as to how it helps and protects me, and how it seeks to kill, steal, and destroy me.

  I open up my spirit, soul, and mind to all that is of God, that I might be given through his son Jesus Christ. Of course I do not understand or perceive the consequences of saying this, but this is done by my faith, not by discernment using belaboring inquiries about human wisdom.

  I think it rediculous to use man's secular wisdom to know God or to challenge the God of the Bible of his existence or authenticity. My anchor is much simpler; it is one of faith.

  By my faith, as in a twinkling of an eye, I have overcome even death.
• 

  DannyBear

  Thomas,

  Thank you for a much less judgemental response. I for one appreciated your effort to share what you believe. You did it without preaching or showing scorn for our views as well. Well done, thanks.

  After reading and rereading your comments, I can only offer one observation;

  It is very obvious you have complete and unreserved confidence, that the Bible is 'the word of God'. And your approach to studies of the Bible are predicated on that approach. In other words you study it to reaffirm your convictions, not to weaken or can I say dilute your faith in the same. Did I get your point?

  If so, please consider that there is another way of doing Bible research and study. It is one that actually represents a little bit of fear or trepidation, to anyone who has already declared his/her allegance to it being the actual 'words of God'. That method or way is the one some of have taken, very scary, but also very rewarding as is almost anything worthwhile.

  This method or way of looking at the Bible...is simply the reverse of your way. Meditating, reading, researching, from the exact opposite approach. In other words, viewing the Bible as just a work of man.

  When you decide to take this fearful leap, and read the words without any sacred conotation, it allows you a window or interpretation, you cannot allow yourself when reading to build 'faith'(assured of things unseen,understood)it demystifies the words. It is amazing the view you get from words read, when you are not always in your subconsience, making exuses for God. I remember reading the Bible the way you do, whenever something so outlandish, so absurd was presented I would immediately leap to God's defense. No matter how depraved, no matter how evil the deed, if God was behind it, I would find a way either provided by the WTBS, or my own excuses for what I was reading.

  You may not even be aware of the fact that you are doing just that. The next time you pick up the Bible to read....try to stop yourself everytime you appologize for God subconsience or not. I think it will be a real eye opener for you.

  If you can not even fathom what Iam saying, its ok. We are all different. I hope that you will see what Iam driving at, and allow us to continue our discussions, that is all they are, no one has all the answer's no matter how much we wish it so.

  Thanks again for taking a more reasonable tone.

  Danny