Is anybody trying to learn the truth of the bible after leaving JW? (page 5)

N.drew

Incidentally . . . what exactly do you do with a piece of shit in the desert?

I think if you have enough shit you might make a little fertile ground. Enough to grow a tomato plant. That's what I'd do with it. If I had enough.

OnTheWayOut

I tried not to post this. I really thought about how wrong it would be.

Then I did it anyway. Here goes:

N.drew, you have enough.

still thinking

You could build one of these...built out of dried cow dung...but tomatoes are good too

N.drew

Yes It's hard to know sometimes, isn't it OTWO. If you only knew!

Even better still thinking!

sizemik

I think if you have enough shit you might make a little fertile ground.

Sounds like an evangelists motto . . .

Just plant the tomatoes next to an oasis . . . they need water.

Did I say oasis? . . . oh! . . . no need for tomatoes after all! No need to gather shit either!

The trouble with a house made of shit still thinking . . . you can't tell when someone farts.

still thinking

LOL sizemik...I see that as a positive...maybe I'm just a positive person at heart

finallysomepride

The trouble with a house made of shit still thinking . . . you can't tell when someone farts.

that's only in the wet season

AGuest

Greetings, dear EOM (and you, too, lilbluekitty)... and peace to you both!

Learning the truth ABOUT the Bible (i.e., what's in it!) can be fascinating; however, most "search through it because they want to KNOW the "truth." The truth, however, is not IN the Bible, per se. The Bible does speak about him, though.

May offer the following verses (NWT*)? If you can grasp what they're saying... hear... get the SENSE of them... and what they are "telling" you to DO... you'll find that you really don't need anything more [from the Bible] for yourself. You may need "more" so as to help others (because others have questions), but grasping what these few verses say should help you understand how to GET the answers (rather, from WHOM to get them):

John 17:17; 1:14; 14:6; Hebrews 13:12 John 8:32, 36; 14:6 John 5:39, 40; 7:37-39; 4:13, 14; Revelation 22:17 John 6:48-51, 53-58 John 15:1-7; 6:56 1 John 2:26, 27; Jeremiah 31:33, 34; Luke 11:5-13 John 10:1-5, 7-15, 27

Now, I get that, given the volume of what's "in the Bible" these few verses may not seem sufficient. Perhaps they're not, for some. But the truth is that they SHOULD be... and will... if one truly grasps their correlating message. Pretty much all you NEED to know is summed up in these few verses. Virtually ALL of the rest is... well, unnecessary... if you can "get" what these are saying (because they show you the "door" to truth).

Wait. I am reminded to say that "getting" them is not the same as putting FAITH in them... and so, I must also encourage you to do that, as well, if you can. If you TRULY want to know the Truth, that is.

I hope this helps and, again, peace to you, both!

YOUR servant, as I am servant to ALL those of the Household of God, Israel, and those who go with... and a slave of Christ,

SA

*[NOTE: I recommend using the NWT Ref. Bible... NOT because it's the "best" Bible out there; there is no "best" Bible version - all have some features that are "better" than the others, but ALL have errors, as well... but because that is the version used by the WTBTS and, in reading IT... and particularly these verses... one can also "see" almost immediately where they err in some of their MAJOR teachings and doctrines... and how truly false they are. Which is liberating in its own way....]

maksym

Dear EndofMysteries,

There is a way to approach the Bible in a scholarly kind of way that can lead to a well rounded sense of what it is saying. It is interesting to note that most Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox believe the same in theology by a large portion. It is only the fringe radical groups such as the Watchtower religion, Mormons, and other small groups that have a unusual and unique approach to scriptures that have deviated from the mainstream.

The following are ways that helped me after leaving the WT corporation

I bought three different Bible in different translations that had commentaries at the bottom that I could look up concerning the scriptures. Each commentary Bible was made from a different group. Some Bibles I had came from the Catholic church, another was the Orthodox church and a one or two others were from Protestant branches, such as Baptists, Lutherans, Prespyterian and so forth.

These comments they gave then I could cross reference with 99 percent of Christianity. Surprisingly the majority of the verses were commented on in the same way.

It does not surprise me that the Watchtower religion has not put out a commentary Bible because their theology changes almost as regularly as fresh magazines come out.

The next thing I did was research the history of what people thought on scriptures going back to the early writings just outside the Bible. These included key historical figures such as Luther, Augustine, St Ignacious, and others to the early history. Certain new understandings were a red flag for me.

You can find these documents such as the Didache and the writings of St. Ignatious online.

In this way you not only have a balanced understanding of what people believe today how the Bible is being translated but also how far back historically those views go.

Ironically the Watchtower has changed so much in the last 100 years it could be defined as a completely different religion by now. In contrast most of current beliefs of mainstream Christianity have held up for 2000 years. Some new beliefs for example are the rapture, which is about 100 years new.

There will be differences though.

I think these suggestions are the best place for a person to start after leaving the Corporation. We don't have to go at it alone but can rely on an exegesis developed by many learned peoples coupled with historicity to balance ourselves in getting a more clear understanding.

Thirdly, a bit of eductation on hermenutics and exegesis never hurt but I don't think that is necessary. Those are things WT members don't learn.

Last thought, I would stay away from commentary Bibles that were not written within a public peer reviewed commitee.

Also praying before starting to read is always a good thing.

Anyways, Hope that helps

Peace

Maksym