HOW LONG DO JWS BELIEVE ABORIGINES HAVE BEEN IN AUSTRALIA? (page 2)

Hortensia

you know, I think the average JW doesn't care. They don't worry about it - there must be some kind of answer and the WTS will let them know the answer one of these days. In the meantime, they feel superior because they aren't deceived by science.

sass_my_frass

This was a major wake-up for me. I couldn't work out how marsupials had made it to Australia, and now exist only in Australia, and that happened in only 4000 years. Then I was able to accept that radiocarbon dating is perfectly accurate for that timescale, thanks very much, and that yes, homo sapiens have in fact been in Australis for many tens of thousands of years. The only possible way was for the flood to be a complete fable. What else is a fable, then?

Helped a lot. Any time I talked to a witness about it, I came across The Wall.

IcingHeart

I found this interesting...

w57 1/15 p. 45
THE EVIDENCE FROM PRIMITIVE CULTURES
Scientists seek out the origins of religion by archaeological investigations of the mute remains of ancient peoples and by studying the religious beliefs of the most primitive cultures whose members still live on earth. Lincoln Barnett agrees with this and says that for this latter category the "prime representatives are the Aborigines of modern Australia." He states: "That their religion has its roots in the depths of prehistory cannot be questioned. And that a similar, if less complex, form of belief prevailed among Palaeolithic men 100,000 years ago is also an indubitable fact."

The rest of the article says nothing about the fact he said 100,000 years ago

R.Crusoe

And I thought the math of the WT was indisputable?

He who is faithful in small things (like this last century for example)....................

stillajwexelder

and in context

***

w571/15pp.44-45MonotheismPrecededPolytheism***

So it is speculated that from nature myths, star myths, magicism, totemism, fetishism, animism and polytheism man finally evolved the concept of one supreme Almighty God, called in the Bible "Jehovah." This is not proved. It is only speculation. It is based on another unproved speculation—the organic evolution of man. Since man’s body evolved his brain evolved, and as it evolved his thinking evolved, and from this evolving thinking religion evolved. The article, as is customary in evolutionary writings, cites an imposing list of scholarly authorities as proof of accuracy. This, of course, is no proof to anyone except those willing to follow men blindly.

Are there any facts to prove or disprove the speculation that polytheism preceded monotheism?

THE

EVIDENCEFROMPRIMITIVECULTURES

Scientists seek out the origins of religion by archaeological investigations of the mute remains of ancient peoples and by studying the religious beliefs of the most primitive cultures whose members still live on earth. Lincoln Barnett agrees with this and says that for this latter category the "prime representatives are the Aborigines of modern Australia." He states: "That their religion has its roots in the depths of prehistory cannot be questioned. And that a similar, if less complex, form of belief prevailed among Palaeolithic men 100,000 years ago is also an indubitable fact."

But when we go to the roots of these primitive religions we find, not polytheism, but monotheism, the belief in high gods, and the more crude and polytheistic elements of their worship are discovered to be later additions and indicate a degeneration from an original monotheism into polytheism. For example, among the Australian tribes those of the southeast are the oldest, and concerning their religion researcher W. Foy writes: "It is at first sight surprising to find, especially in South-East Australia, a belief in one god, known as ‘father’ or ‘grandfather,’ who is supposed to have created man and the principal phenomena of nature." Foy adds that this one high god has a son at his side, "acting as mediator between him and man." 1

One of the most prodigious laborers in this field is Professor Wilhelm Schmidt. After showing

yknot

Marsupials only in Australia?

Phish.......Also in South America, Europe, North Africa and Asia.....

badboy

BTTTT

Mr Ben

From Wikipedia:

There are about 334 species of marsupials, over 200 of them native to Australia and nearby islands to the north. There are also 100 extant American species, mostly in South America but also, as a result of the Great American Interchange, 13 species in Central America, and one (the Virginia Opossum) in North America.

doofdaddy

Well, my hazy memory jw life recalls their little interest in black Australians. Kinda gloved fist racism. Since leaving the cult, I have worked with Aboriginal communities and made genuine friends. Their deep spirituality and understanding of the planet make the jws and christians in general look like babes lost in the Universe.

Leolaia

Noah dropped them off there after the Flood with his GOPHER 3000, along with the kangaroos, koalas, emus, and other special creatures designated for "Australialis Prime".

HOW LONG DO JWS BELIEVE ABORIGINES HAVE BEEN IN AUSTRALIA?

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