What is a false prophet? (page 9)

Listener

Pirata said More than a few Christian groups thoroughout history have tried to guess what a prophecy means, make up a "second fulfillment", or try to make it fit modern day events (an occurence among different Christian religions it seems, I remember a Christian studen''ts report in high school applying a prophecy in Isaiah where "arrows" were a prophesy of "rockets" in the Middle East conflicts.). In regards to the Watchtower Society, it seems that that after the 1975 incident, and with the change that the governing body must decide on any new or changes in official teachings, that we will not see any individuals guesses/predictions allowed to make it into official teachings. The organization now seems to be following the advice given that same year.:

I am wondering whether guessing or interpreting a prophecy could lead someone to be labelled a false prophet? One of the gifts that God gave his followers was the ability to interpret dreams, one of these persons (I think) was Daniel. His interpretations were 100% correct because he was inspired by God. As the JWs claim they are not inspired their interpretations would not be 100% correct. What they do do is claim they are speaking the truth and their current teachings must be believed and only their interpretation is right (until new light reveals otherwise).

Even though they claim they do not prophecy (fortell a future event) they make many interpretations of prophecy. They do not allow individual opinions or discussion of different views even when based on bible texts. They proclaim themselves as being right and don't qualify their interpretations as many bible scholars would. Surely at best they should be qualifying themselves by stating - this is our current view based on 'such and such' however 'this' should also be considered and although 'this' is being taught at the moment we are not dogmatic on this interpretation, we may gain deeper insight as we reflect and consider other facts, the bible and other viewpoints. In many cases they do not do this and expect their followers to accept interpretations as the truth and promote it to all others as such.

brotherdan

I apologize if I'm being dense, but doesn't that show that simple information comes from more complex information? There has to be a string FIRST before the output can order the string, correct?

Like I said, maybe I'm not intelligent enough for this. But in my simple way of thinking, there has to be instruction on HOW things are to work. I know that there are experiements with amino acids being duplicated when exposed to UV light (or something of the sort). But we then have to get in to life and consciousness. How does something evolve into a single cell and start "living"? At the molecular chemical level there are "instructions" that guide how chemicals react to other compounds.

Am I way off base with this? I just can't seem to comprehend a sudden appearance of information data randomly "working".

brotherdan

What they do do is claim they are speaking the truth and their current teachings must be believed and only their interpretation is right (until new light reveals otherwise).

And that is the whole point. They make a distinction without a difference. We are to TREAT them as infallible although they admit that they are NOT infallible. They are playing on both sides of the fence.

bohm

BD:

When I and other atheists make a destinction between abiogenesis and evolution its not just because we want to piss you guys off!

We have several balls in the air and i think you are asking a different question than what i answer. I understand this to be your question:

"How can evolution create information of no information"

I believe i have shown (with my examples) that evolution can create usefull things (ie. information but as i said, i dont like that word). So we need to be clear on that: Do you believe the principles of evolution can create novel, complicated solutions?

Then there is a second question - what got the ball rolling. How did evolution "start" so to speak. And i really see that as a different question than what we began with.

brotherdan

When I and other atheists make a destinction between abiogenesis and evolution its not just because we want to piss you guys off!

I am still a learner (and will ALWAYS be). So I'm not a "you guys". :-)

How did evolution "start" so to speak. And i really see that as a different question than what we began with.

That is one of the questions, and I know we are way off topic on this thread. But IF I believed in evolution at this point, I would say, "Yes, evolution COULD create useful things." I guess I'm going back to cause and effect. What was the "cause" to begin evolution? What existed before then? And before then? Also, what was the cause for matter behaving in a uniform and predictable pattern?

Spade

"And that is the whole point. They make a distinction without a difference. We are to TREAT them as infallible although they admit that they are NOT infallible. They are playing on both sides of the fence."

This sizes it up rather well.

je p. 26 Shepherding God’s Flock in Unity

The Governing Body consists of a group of anointed Christian men (13 in 1986), including 7 serving on the board of directors of the Watch Tower Society. These preside over the worldwide activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are not inspired by God and hence are not infallible, but they rely on God’s infallible Word as the highest authority on earth, and have a lifetime of experience in submitting to God’s will. Each has a record of more than 40 years in the full-time ministry with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Just about all organizations have some sort of administration for the purposes of remaining united. I haven't noticed that the administrative position has sidestepped their initial purpose or infringed on the freedoms of others. I don't submit to the governing body. I don't even know their names.

bohm

BD - you mean the question is: "How do i get from no-life to life?", you just focus on one aspect of life - the genetic code - and ask it this way: "How do i get from no information (the early earth) to information (in the genetic code)"?

brotherdan

I don't submit to the governing body. I don't even know their names.

I remember a certain girl that used to say the same thing. What was her name again? Oh...that's right!

ALICE!!!!

brotherdan

"How do i get from no information (the early earth) to information (in the genetic code)"?

Perfect way to sum it up. That's my question.

thetrueone

What is a false Spade ?

What is a false prophet?

Share this