Is the "torture stake" dogma a reverse idolatry in itself?

by JWoods 35 Replies latest jw friends

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  JWoods

  I don't think the WT lets something silly like "word definitions" dictate to them !!

  Like many cults, they have developed a whole lexicon of "Watchtower Speak" - and like most cults, they are constantly changing JW wordings so that you have to keep on your toes to know the latest terminology.

  And by the way, according to thr Epistle of Barnabas, the shape of the cross was the greek leter "Tau" = T

  There was a History Channel program about this - and they made a pretty strong case that the standard cross of the first half century A.D. may indeed have been a simple T shape without the small upright part. Maybe this will someday be acceptable to the JW world - after all one of their big objections was that the three arms might represent the trinity...(also JW B.S. as no ancient Roman was thinking about the trinity, of course).
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  drew sagan

  The denial of orthodoxy is the Watchtower's raison d'être, making the rejection of tradition a tradition itself.
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  Johnny

  It is interesting that the blood that was sprinkled before the mercy seat by the high priest was in the form of a cross. There are other items in the Bible and Judaism which point to a probable symbolic meaning to the form of the thing that Jesus died on.
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  Narkissos

  It is interesting that the blood that was sprinkled before the mercy seat by the high priest was in the form of a cross.

  Says who (and when)?

  A "cross" ( +, x ) being a very basic shape and graphism it is bound to be found practically everywhere as a sign or symbol in human cultures. Typically the name for the Hebrew letter taw which used to look like a X 'cross' is used in the generic sense of "sign" inEzekiel 9. Another interesting case is Job 31:35, hn-twy, "this is my taw": my mark, signature, or perhaps last word (as taw is the last letter in the alphabet like Greek ômega)?
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  Deputy Dog

  MrsJ

  I really don't think jws really understand the meaning of idolatry.

  The Watchtower is the meaning of the word. It is all that JWs worship.
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  Chalam

  The denial of orthodoxy is the Watchtower's raison d'être , making the rejection of tradition a tradition itself.

  Agreed! They reject not only the cross, but the gospel of Christ, Jesus as the sole Mediator, Saviour and way to the Father.

  Being different in itself is not a problem. If you reject the truth and create you own falsehood to be different then it is a huge problem.

  All the best,

  Stephen
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  designs

  I remember making the faux pas of speaking of the crucifixion at a Book Study one evening back in the early 80's, got the silent stare from the group, Ha!
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  teel

  designs, for whatever reason it's always crucifixion that comes to my mind first too. I only said it a couple of times to my wife only, not at the meetings though

  About "worshipping" the cross the Watchtower brought this example: if your friend was killed by a gunshot, would you carry that bullet in your pocket? This is oversimplification. The full story would be something like this: You are assaulted by a murderer. Just the moment the attacker pulls the trigger, your friend selflessly jumps in front of you, willing to die instead of you. Your friend is transported to the hospital, the bullet is taken out of him, and he recovers in time. So, would you keep that bullet, and carry it with you? I say yes, with all my heart, it would be a constant reminder of what loyal friend I have.
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  designs

  Hi teel,

  The dreaded C word! If a person wanted to wear a cross why not. Try using the other C word some time in a group of Witnesses- Calvary, yikes.
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  PSacramento

  Teel,

  Your answer was excellent.

  To answer any JW that brings up that silly "bullet" metaphor, one only needs to read Paul's view on Jesus's death on the cross," I BOAST in nothing other than the CROSS".

  ( Paraphrasing).