I don't really know what blaspheme against the Holy Spirit fully means.
Tec, do you not find this highly disconcerting? Not knowing how the ONLY unforgivable sin actually works?
-Sab
Unforgivable Sin vs the Parable of the Prodigal Son
by sabastious 32 Replies latest watchtower bible
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sabastious
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palmtree67
The JW definition of sinning against the spirit, the unforgivable sin is: "denying an evident manifestation of Holy Spirit."
I've never seen it really put into practical terms what that would entail.
Ideas??
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cameo-d
In the dictionary, you will find the word "blaspheme" only defined in religious context. For some, it may mean being irreverent toward "holy icons"...material things. For some it is speaking ill of the deities. But if you go deeper into the etymology, you will find it's root is "blame".
blame vb. XII. — OF. bla(s)mer (mod. blámer) = Pr. blasmar, Sp. lastimar :- popL. blastemare for ecclL. blasphemare revile, reproach (see BLASPHEME).
So blame sb. XIII. — (O)F. blame, f. the vb.It could be that people blame the Creator for what has actually been done by man himself, and often done in the name of "God". I do not equate the god of the bible with the Creator.
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"sinning against the spirit" is not the same thing. This is a different subject. As I said before the Spirit is within you. "Sinning" against it is going against what your conscience tells you is right. Often this happens when you succumb to peer pressure or dictates of man, or sometimes even deliberately when your ego is involved. You absolutely do know when you are "going against your better judgement".
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tec
Sab - Of course I do. But what can I do about it? I mean, I can pray, and wait for an answer or understanding - and until now I never thought about doing that actually.
But I've also never believed that believing means following a bunch of rules just for the sake of following rules to avoid punishment. If you have a heart that is right, if you have love and light within you, then your actions will reflect that. You won't commit any unforgivable sin, because you won't have it inside of you to do that in the first place.
Tammy
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sabastious
But I've also never believed that believing means following a bunch of rules just for the sake of following rules to avoid punishment. If you have a heart that is right, if you have love and light within you, then your actions will reflect that. You won't commit any unforgivable sin, because you won't have it inside of you to do that in the first place.
Then why even mention the existence of an unforgivable sin if not to raise awareness and help us not commit it?
-Sab
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GrandmaJones
If you ask different JW's you will get different answers. That's why I always laughed and said, "Nobody knows!"
Seriously, I think it takes full light, knowledge, and ability to commit the unforgiveable sin. That would pretty much put it in the realm of the angels. or Satan. Possibly Adam. I don't think anyone else can even do it. Certainly not the Watchtower. They don't have full light (old or new) or knowledge.
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sabastious
^ Good post GrandmaJones :)
-Sab
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tec
Yes, I agree with Grandma Jones. I think you'd have to have full knowledge of what you're doing. As for why mention it at all then, Sab... I imagine that those who wrote it knew what they were talking about. Two thousand years later, we've made things up about what we think they meant - and I doubt it means many of the things various people have interpreted it to mean - such as 'denying the evident manifestation of holy spirit?' What is that even supposed to mean?
Tammy
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sabastious
^ I don't really buy in the Bible writers having superior knowledge than anyone else in history. In fact, I think there is a better case that they knew less than average about the world around them.
The Bible isn't going to "suddenly make more sense" when humans become "more enlightened." That's the way I feel.
-Sab
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JimmyPage
I think the unforgivable sin was when King Cepheus disrespected Zeus who thus allowed his brother Hades to attack the city of Argos, if I recall the Bible correctly.