The PROBLEM of MONO theism: the rise of puritanical fanatics!

by Terry 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Terry

  

  The source of greatest conflict in our world today rests in two separate beliefs whose friction is unbearably incendiary.

  It is a matter of PRIORITY. Which is most important?

  1. The HERE and NOW (life from cradle to grave).

  OR

  2. The HEREAFTER (reward/punishment) after death.

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  Monotheism as the cause of the conflict. How and Why?

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  The Roman empire lasted almost two thousand years.

  Rome had 2 factors which made it practically foolproof as a workable social construct.

  1. Religious and Political plurality (it accepted any religion on its own terms and allowed local rulers to continue their rule.)

  2. It moved swiftly to put an end to conflicts which threatened to disrupt the Peace (Pax Romana).

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  MONOTHEISTIC religions (Judaism and Christianity) threatened Pax Romana and were confronted for two treacherous faults.

  1. Atheism (Rome considered DISbelief and intolerance of the religion of others the same as Atheism.)

  2. Insistence on purity rituals even at the expense of social disruption, disapproval by the state and under threat of mortal punishments.

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  1. The first conflict between Rome and Judaism came in 63 B.C.E. Fundamentalist Jews obsessed with ritual purity opposed first the Greek modernization caused by Alexander's conquests and then the attempts to quell rebellions by the Romans. General Pompey entered the Holy of holies much to the utter horror of the zealot priests.

  2. The second conflict between Rome and Judaism came almost 100 years later. By 66 C.E. fundamentalist Jews, (Zealots, Sicarii, etc.) were engaging in terrorism in a fanatical effort to toss "pagans" out of Palestine and surrounding territories--once again--to observe purity of religious observance. The Romans sent legions to destroy the ability of Jews to continue worship by razing the temple in Jerusalem.

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  Christianity began as a radicalization of Judaism when a messianic sect proclaiming Jesus as rightful/scripturally prescribed King began stirring up arguments and violent reactions among those concerned with religious purity: the Pharisees.

  As far as Rome was concerned, Christianity was just one more trouble-making sect. Jesus was arrested, tried and executed for crimes against the state.

  Followers of Jesus coalesced into a fanatical band of End of the World evangelists decrying society and Rome itself. The willingness to face torture and martyrdom marked the christians for completely disregarding the HERE and NOW in exchange for the HEREAFTER.

  Roman Emperor Constantine used the power of his rulership to convoke a council in Nicea for the purpose of codifying christian belief into one system of beliefs. According to historian Eusebius, until that time bloody internal battles between congregations and differing opinions were tearing the fabric of christian communities apart. Differing opinions ON WHAT, you may ask! CORRECT PURITY of fundamental beliefs!

  As was the Roman custom, Constantine sought to bring Pax (Peace) by agreement and ecumenical affirmations.

  Despite any efforts by subsequent catholic councils (universal church authority) the sectarian battle for PURITY of doctrine continued.

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  Rome (the Western empire) had fallen into chaos by the 5th Century C.E. Barbarian incursions had gnawed at the frontiers of the state until

  corruption and lack of solidarity brought about collapse. A new captial in Constantinople replace Rome as the official center of power until 1456 C.E.

  Into this vacuum of power a new force arose to dominate the western world!

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  In 570 C.E. Muhammed was born and became a radical reformer of pagan Semites who were neither Jews nor Christians.

  By in the year 622 that the message of Islam was explicitly defined as a return to the pure monotheism of Abraham, or the primordial monotheism (al-din al-?anif).

  Muhammed succeeded in fusing warring Arab tribes into a mighty army hellbent on wiping out opposition to MONOTHEISM as codified by Muhammed's Koran. (A book he claimed to dictate through inspiration directly from Allah.) External enemies replaced internal squabbles. A war of purification ensued.

  In a series of military expeditions whole societies were swallowed up as Islam spread to the West as far as Spain.

  After the death of Muhammed, internal struggles for leadership (purity) split the religion into sectarian claimants and warring rivals. Eventually, the great wave of Muhammed's new religion subsided into static communities.

  The "greatness" dimmed and the absolutists were marginalized. Moderate leaders helped birth a renaissance of SECULAR and SCIENTIFIC learning

  and modernization among the ignorant and superstitious until...

  fundamentalist zealots once again seized power and Islam was plunged back into the Dark Ages.

  WHY? Obsession with pure doctrine and practice!

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  From the small sketch of history concerning MONOTHEIST religious movements we have discovered 3 important facts.

  1. Black and White thinking leads to radical insistence on PURITY of core doctrines. Moderates are not tolerated. Opposers are demonized as the Enemy.

  2. PURISTS dominate absolutists by identifying the purpose of life as WAR with Satan until reward in the HEREAFTER is achieved.

  3. No criticism, questioning or disloyalty is allowed. Doubt is the worst crime imaginable. Loyalty is the highest virtue.

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  In the world today all major MONOTHEIST religions are at war with THEMSELVES!

  1.In Israel, fundamentalists seek the fulfillment of PROMISES they claim God has made to THEM ALONE to the exclusion of all others.

  2. In Christianity, fundamentalists proclaim Satan has polluted society and the world at large and only ARMAGEDDON will cleanse the planet and bring

  about reward for THEMSELVES alone!

  3.In Islam, fundamentalists seek to bring about Jihad against the West and the Jews to provoke the coming of the Hidden Imam (their Messianic version of the Advent of Christ). All who oppose the teachings of Muhammed are to be removed as obstacles. Demands that SHARIA law replace secular law further ignite conflict and reactionary incidents.

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  What is the nature of Monotheism that it leads to fanatics obsessed by PURITY of religion to the exclusion of all others???

  Life in the Here and Now is totally unimportant to them. Life on earth is merely a stepping-stone to the NEXT life: reward!

  Because daily life is unimportant as to the details of personal happiness, career, education, art, music, literature and recreations--the DISDAIN they experience for all others makes them OBJECTS of scorn and marginalizes their social skills.

  Being a loyalist fanatic robs them of their JOY and satisfaction with everyday living. It forces them to see all the rest of us as

  deluded dupes of Satan.

  Eventually, we are all standing in the way of THEIR GOALS.

  And then, the fun begins....

  Here is the surprise ending: Fundamentalists are not just weird radicals who MISinterpret holy texts.

  No.

  Fundamentalists are Purists who REALLY WANT TO ENFORCE the TRUE texts as written without watering them down!

  The PROBLEM--per se---is the HOLY TEXTS themselves.

  Modernization IS Satanic in the eyes of the Purist.

  Secular education is SATANIC in the eyes of the Purist.

  Social entanglements is SATANIC corruption in the eyes of the Purist.

  Why?

  THE HOLY TEXTS define it thus!

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  First Century christianity is a MYTH for evangelical christians because it never existed as a SOLIDARITY among the faithful.

  It only existed as arguments, debates, discord, name-calling and finger-pointing.

  Pure Judaism is a MYTH for orthodox Jews because there never was pure worship without sectarian factions with DIFFERENT interpretations.

  True ISLAM is a MYTH for so-called Radical Jihadists today because historical Muhammed was a warrior with questionable morals who cannot be reconciled in a modern society's acceptance of equal rights for women and a brotherhood of men of faith.

  Think of of the GAME called RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

  There are 6 chambers in the pistol.

  5 of the chambers are EMPTY.

  Only 1 bullet is inserted into the chamber and the chamber is spun.

  The pistol is pointed at your head.

  

  THE MAJORITY OF THE GUN'S CHAMBERS ARE PEACEFUL MODERNISTS BELIEVERS WHO ONLY WANT TO GET ALONG.

  The ONE chamber with the BULLET is the FUNDAMENTALIST who makes the "game" very dangerous for anyone to play.

  That game is PURITY OF TEXT in a HOLY BOOK and it is pointed at your head.

  
• 

  Terry

  Hmmmm, no comments at all......
• 

  Cold Steel

  Your report, above, is fraught with inaccuracies and generalities, especially as they pertained to first century Christianity and its expecations.

  The Romans sent legions to destroy the ability of Jews to continue worship by razing the temple in Jerusalem.

  Actually, it was important to both Titus and Vespasian that the temple be spared. The Romans were thus forbidden to torch the temple. Nevertheless, a Roman was witnessed throwing a firebrand into the temple. One of the Roman officers immediately ordered his soldiers to begin battling the blaze and it wasn't long before the Jews were assisting them. But it was too little too late. The temple was doomed, as Jesus had predicted.

  In Christianity, fundamentalists proclaim Satan has polluted society and the world at large and only ARMAGEDDON will cleanse the planet and bring about reward for THEMSELVES alone!

  In Judaism and fundamentalist Christianity, Armageddon is considered the last great battle of the age. It is to take place in northern Israel and will be an assault on Jerusalem. The Christian authorities knew that the Jews would engage the Romans and that many of them would be killed and that many more would be scattered to the four corners of the earth. They knew that after many years the Jews would return to the lands of their inheritance and reestablish the nation of Israel. The temple would be rebuilt and that the city would come under siege by "the Beast" (see Rev. 11). The Lord would send two prophets to defend them and after three and a half years, they would be killed. The battle would culminate with the return of Jesus, and all nations would behold it. The "cleansing," however, would come later, after the destruction of the Beast and his army, a sixth of which will be spared.

  First Century christianity is a MYTH for evangelical christians because it never existed as a SOLIDARITY among the faithful. It only existed as arguments, debates, discord, name-calling and finger-pointing.

  First century Christianity began quite well, actually, and there was a solidarity amongst them for awhile. But Jesus, during the 40 days following his resurrection, told the apostles that nothing lay ahead of them but death. The church would not survive, but not because of its enemies outside, but because of wolves entering in the fold not sparing the flock. In the extrabiblical Gospel of Thomas, Jesus tells this parable:

  “The kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking on the road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke, and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty.” [trans. Lambdin (1988)]

  The loss of spiritual gifts in the church would happen so slowly that eventually only the form of the church would be left. The substance itself would be gone. But it cannot be successfully argued that the church didn't teach solidarity among the faithful. Just as Moses had been taken from the Israelites, so, too, were the apostles, prophets and others who held the church together. Jesus warned the faithful that it would be the wolves on the inside who would destroy the integity of the church.
• 

  Terry

  Actually, it was important to both Titus and Vespasian that the temple be spared. The Romans were thus forbidden to torch the temple. Nevertheless, a Roman was witnessed throwing a firebrand into the temple. One of the Roman officers immediately ordered his soldiers to begin battling the blaze and it wasn't long before the Jews were assisting them. But it was too little too late. The temple was doomed, as Jesus had predicted.

  And one torch resulted in the entire temple being utterly destroyed? The stone structure was flammable? Then each and every stone fell away?

  It was all an accident? Really?.........really?
• 

  myelaine

  dear Terry...

  here are some notes on the destruction of the temple in 70 AD: The historian Josephus said that much of the exterior of the Temple was covered with gold that reflected the fiery rays of the sun. Moreover, he said that, from a distance, the Temple appeared like a mountain covered with snow. This was probably because those parts that were not covered with gold were made of white stone. luke 21:5

  During Jesus' time, many of the Jews were so awe struck and impressed with the grandeur of the Temple that they replaced the worship of God with respect and reverence for the Temple complex itself. luke 21:1

  The second temple treasury did benefit from a great influx of gold and silver from all lands contributed by worshippers. Cicero wrote of great influxes of gold to Jerusalem during his lifetime. Gifts other than gold or silver coins were sold and their value given to the treasury. Another large source of revenue was profit made from the sale of the meat offerings which were prepared by the Levites and sold every day to the offerers. By far the largest sum was probably derived from the half-shekel of temple tribute which was required of every male Israelite of age, including proselytes and slaves. The total sum of gold and silver contributed annually at the time of Jesus has been estimated to have been of the order of $500,000 per year. A large fraction of this wealth no doubt accumulated year after year over the lifetime of the second temple, (515 B. C. to 70 A. D.). There were numerous temple expenses but the evidence suggests that the bulk of the income was stored up year after year.
  
  Thus, the Roman plunder could well have been worth tens of millions of dollars. The pillaging of the temple, its total destruction and the burning of Jerusalem with terrible suffering and loss of life occurred in 70 AD under the Roman General Titus (Josephus, Wars of the Jews ). Tradition has it that the intense flames of the temple fire melted the gold and silver of the temple so that it ran between the cracks of the rocks. Roman soldiers then totally dismantled the temple stone by stone to extract the gold, (see Matthew 24:1-2). No one seems to know with certainty if any of the vessels or sacred objects from Herod's temple were hidden in subterranean passageways during the long siege of Titus. Most everything of value was most likely carried off to Rome. ~THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD by Lambert Dolphin~

  love michelle