The Truth About Bible Principles: Chastity and Abstinence

by sabastious 83 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  myelaine

  dear EntirelyPossible...

  my whole statement was: this seems to suggest that in some religions chastity and abstinence is expected of the "priesthood" but the "principles" of chastity and abstinence are not expected of the laity...not so with christianity who's adherents make a personal choice to be set apart like their God.

  you said: "OK. But that doesn't mean that abstinence or celibacy are particular to Christianity."...

  do/did adherents of other religions practice this to be like their God, Holy and set apart? hinduism has many gods and buddhism doesn't have a definite god so I see the elements or reason for the christian practice as particular to christianity.

  love michelle
• 

  EntirelyPossible

  I see the elements or reason for the christian practice as particular to christianity.

  Christians may practice it for reasons related to religion, but that in no way means that celibacy and abstinence are related to Christianity in particular.
• 

  myelaine

  dear EntirelyPossible...

  "Christians may practice it for reasons related to religion, but that in no way means that celibacy and abstinence are related to Christianity in particular."...

  ...I don't recall saying that they were.

  love michelle
• 

  EntirelyPossible

  Myelaine, you wrote "the pursuit of chastity and abstinence is, at its core, a christian desire to be Holy and "set apart" like the God that is worshipped."

  I understood to mean that abstinence and celibacy are, at their core, Christian ideas.
• 

  Phizzy

  Sab, can I just slot in and say, good thread, you have got people thinking and addressing their prejudices, at least ,I hope so !

  My own position is that we live in the 21st century, the majority of society is mature enough to make up its own mind on morality, without reference to texts that are thousands of years old, or religious bigots who are stuck in past centuries.

  The truth about "Bible Principles" as far as the WT is concerned is that they made them up as they went along with no regard to truth, accuracy, the context of scriptures they used, or the effect of their blinkered ivory tower views on the members of the Cult.

  What right has the WT to enter the bedroom of any couple ?

  Other religions are just as bad, Islam in particular, when are we going to bury these benighted medieval views ? it is as I said the 21st Century !!

  What Muhammad , Paul , Jesus or Moses supposedly thought, (it is doubtful we have the real thoughts of any such people), has no relevance in the 21st Century.

  Get up to speed you anachronistic moralisers.
• 

  NewChapter

  Well I certainly found one prejudice to address----the prejudice that 'western civilization' is somehow superior and has the right to define the standards for the rest of the world. Very interesting.
• 

  sabastious

  Well I certainly found one prejudice to address----the prejudice that 'western civilization' is somehow superior and has the right to define the standards for the rest of the world. Very interesting.

  I would use the term "evolved" more so than the term "superior." Like I said before (twice I think) Western Civilization, as a large melting pot of earth cultures spanning thousands of years, can logically be considered an authority on the general benefits and detriments to society. The collective opinion of Western Society is a reliable moral compass just as the fossil record is a reliable record to base the theory of evolution from. Dr Michio Kaku, the co founder of the quantum theory, says that Western Culture is the endgame for the "type 1" planetary species humanity is evolving into. In fact he says that "terrorists" exist that seek out to hinder the natural momentum of society to a "blue jeans and rock and roll" world. Western Society has freedom of religion and speech which essentially means that it is the last frontier as it logically can encompass any conceivable outside ideal. Western Society serves freedom to earth on a silver platter, but many don't want it to happen so they start cults like the Watchtower in opposition of the natural ebb and flow of humanity.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67fPHOYqD3w

  -Sab
• 

  NewChapter

  I know. You're prejudice. You admit it, you support it, you embrace being ethnocentric---so it's no big deal. You think that one society should be held as an authority over other societies, and you have even spoken in favor of slavery, and also in terms of superieor and inferior people. So this is not a revelation, nor is it shocking. You are predjudice, and you judge your society's morals, and therefore your morals, as superior to others. You have also stated that Western society is a way to measure the entire world---prejudice. This is the standard, now let's see how other measure up to it!

  I find it repulsive, but some people are okay with it.
• 

  sabastious

  I find it repulsive, but some people are okay with it.

  Finding straw men repulsive is a curious pastime.

  -Sab
• 

  NewChapter

  Not a strawman---just an observation. No argument needed, cuz you don't deny it.