Regarding Quoting Scriptures All the Time (page 6)

BurnTheShips

Incidentally, regarding your enjoyment of Proverbs, you may also enjoy the book of Wisdom, commonly not present in Protestant Bibles.

Wisdom 4:9 Understanding, this is grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age.

BTS

AllTimeJeff

I love good quotes myself...

Andre Gide
Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.

or

Georg C. Lichtenberg
One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.

lurk3r

ATJ

when I had the Gilead assignment to read it all the way through in 4 months, I didn't. I tried, but was just too busy....

you see what happens when you don't follow instruction from the slave? You see?! You end up HERE!! LOL ;)

The twenty or so times you have read through the good book Jeff, did things or anything stand out any different when you read through a translation that wasnt the NWT? Having read a few books out of the NIV, its almost been a pleasure to read in comparison to the NWT in my experience.

Not to jump in and defend anyone either, there is a stark contrast(at least to myself) in Christians who accept Christ, and WT followers. I don't say this to offend you, but what you defend is an interpretation of who "god" is to you, from the same book that JW's interpret their god from .

In my experience, and in really taking into account what others have to say with that experience, accepting JC is much more of a personal journey, and actually having the whole JC experience made manifest to them. Unlike people who worship Jehovah through the WT, it's not based on "head worship". It's an actual, real ,heart moving experience. I can see where they are coming from, but still look at it with bided suspicion on some level.

I totally hear where your coming from though.

"Life is a hard teacher, she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards."

lurk3r

AllTimeJeff

lurk3r

I read the American Standard Version a couple of times. I tried the King James, then stopped and tried Shakespeare.

What stood out to me was the divinity of Jesus in non NWT versions of the bible, and how much of a prick YHWH was. My opinion of Paul continued to plummet the more I read. It continues to amaze me how the JW's walk that fine line of trying to get people to read the bible every day while not letting that reading affect their dogma. It's just nuts.

I follow what you are saying, I think "god" is best left at that personal level. I realize that there is a difference between how the GB puts god out there vs other Christian religions these days..

That doesn't make the source material, the bible, any more reliable, simply because it isn't a JW world view being espoused.

But I respect someone like Stephen who has made his own personal decisions without being under durress far more then indoctrinated JW's who practically parrot GB catch phrases to defend "Jehovah".

Just not the "one size fits all" approach. But I think I have covered that.

Again, to each their own on the "god" question. May all of your personal revelations bring you peace.

Awakened at Gilead

I understand the point you are making Jeff, although I can't lay claim to reading the Bible 20 times (more like 7 for myself).

In my undergrad, in one culture/communication class our professor asked us about our definitions of self and how culture had played a role in such definitions. I realized very quickly that my definition of self was entirely based on JW dogma, positions, and Bible thumping. I could not define myself without quoting scripture.

Thus, the class helped me to realize that I had no sense of self-identity outside of JWs, and that I needed to obtain a self-identity without using the Bible or spouting Bible texts.

I respect Reniaa and Chalam for their beliefs, but I am offended when they keep on spitting out scriptires that we no longer believe in as if we are condemned for not believing in them. As has been noted, should I quote from the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the Book of Mormon, they would think it ridiculous. Yet, that is how the Bible sounds to those who no longer believe in it.

As a boiled, not baptized, pastafarian, we believe that the holy spirit has nothing to do with enlightenment:

"We are of the belief that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the one living example of a giant squid to test who was a true believer" GotFSM, Enlightenment145:1

"I'd really rather you didn't use my existence as a means to oppress, subjugate, punish, eviscerate, and/or be mean to others. I don't require scarifices and purity is for drinking water" GotFSM, The Holy Noodle 78:2

Deputy Dog

ATJ

While I am sure that Deputy Dog can fight his own battles if he wishes to, I took his remark personally and responded to him in kind.

My remark was to those who mock passages that they don't understand. The fact that you took my remark personally, tells me that it must have applied to you.

Jehovah's Witnesses for one claim that no one can understand the bible without their peculiar brand of help.

I wouldn't make that claim except to say that it requires an act of the Holy Spirit for anyone to receive the word.

BabaYaga

AllTime said: I love good quotes myself...Andre Gide

Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.

Great quote, thank you.

AllTimeJeff

My remark was to those who mock passages that they don't understand. The fact that you took my remark personally, tells me that it must have applied to you.

This entire thread is not about mocking passages, but about the realiability of the bible as a whole, and quoting it all the time in that light. As I have already acknowledged how I took your remark, how you take me and my remarks in whole is entirely up to you as well. I felt your remark was out of place given the discussion going on at the time. Anyone can read my posts on this thread and see if I mocked a passage.

I wouldn't make that claim except to say that it requires an act of the Holy Spirit for anyone to receive the word.

Having already said my peace on the holy spirit and those who claim it, I can only say, more power to you.

AllTimeJeff

In my undergrad, in one culture/communication class our professor asked us about our definitions of self and how culture had played a role in such definitions. I realized very quickly that my definition of self was entirely based on JW dogma, positions, and Bible thumping. I could not define myself without quoting scripture.

I continue to learn this about myself, that I was a product of my past, culture and all, and that to claim ownership of myself in the future, I need to acknowledge how I got to where I am.

How I define myself, is a journey for me at the moment. I am not scared that I am still on the road. I worry sometimes about those who feel no more need to stay on it.

But, (and this is a cliche) to each, their own.

Yizuman

Does experience count?

Would a personal experience with God, such as sensing his presence in the same room with you count?

Problem is, for alot of people, those that have the attitude, "I won't believe it unless I actually see it, smell it, touch it and taste it."

For some, I guess, faith is useless for them because they're nothing substantial for them.

Yiz

Regarding Quoting Scriptures All the Time

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