by easyreader1970 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I can't seem to pin down the JW stance on it.
Adam was perfect until he went against Jehovah. Was that the sinful act?
Then Jehovah cursed Adam and his offspring with mortality and thus everyone is born into sin.
So, is sin what you do or is sin what you are?
good question!!!!
Both.
We DO sin.
We ARE sin.
We do because we are.
Romans 5 and 2 Corinthians 5 discuss that very thing.
Sylvia
Hi! If you only wanted to talk among theists on this, then I won't say anymore, esp if thats the purpose of your thread... (not meaning to hijack....) So I hope you will let me know....
Having said that, since I left JW's and (for labelling purposes) am agnostic, I have come to the conclusion that sin is a very powerful control mechanism used by organized religion. I do not believe in sin, as the premise involves believing that one's actions offend a heretofore invisible and unproveable deity.
Those are my thoughts, and I don't mind discussing them further. However, if this is a theist only thread, I will respect that. Thanks!
Of course, that brings up the next question.
We are sin because God made us sinful by nature as punishment for one man's sinful act. Then he sends his son to redeem us for something that he inflicted upon us in the first place. That seems like alot of needless deaths.
Having said that, since I left JW's and (for labelling purposes) am agnostic, I have come to the conclusion that sin is a very powerful control mechanism used by organized religion. I do not believe in sin, as the premise involves believing that one's actions offend a heretofore invisible and unproveable deity.
Those are my thoughts, and I don't mind discussing them further. However, if this is a theist only thread, I will respect that. Thanks!
No, this is more of my attempt to understand religious logic, if there is any. It doesn't have to be limited to JW beliefs per se; that is just the one I am intimately familiar with. I am assuming most Christian religions follow the same line of thinking.
It's tough for me to get my head around from a logical religious perspective. We are made this way as a punishment for a crime someone else committed and we are punished for failing to resist thoughts or actions that have been put there by God. And we are made to feel guilty for having these sinful desires.
The bible never said Adam was "perfect", only "very good". There's a big difference.
Also, Adam was created in "God's image". Considering God's conduct throughout the old testament, it's no surprise that Adam sinned. The poor bugger never had a chance!
Where's the greater sin? Eating someone else's fruit or or condemning countless unborn generations to misery and death because someone stole your fruit and you can't suck it up like a man?
W
The insight Book p962 says of Sin -
"Anything not in harmony with, hence contrary to, God’s personality, standards, ways, and will;
anything marring one’s relationship with God.
It may be in word --- in deed (doing wrong acts -- failing to do what should be done -- or in mind or heart attitude
Lack of faith in God is a major sin, showing, as it does, distrust of him or lack of confidence in his ability to perform. "
So they seem to have got us all ways, we commit sins, we are sinners ..
'We are made this way as a punishment for a crime someone else committed and we are punished for failing to resist thoughts or actions that have been put there by God. And we are made to feel guilty for having these sinful desires.'
In other words, we strike out, because god made us so that we can't hit the ball. But, it's our fault.
S
Adam made us sinful by his choice, not God.
Sylvia
