by meadow77 740 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Gumby,
The important thing is what Jesus said and what he stood for (unfortunately of what we actually know he said is very little) not whether he was a triad god head or not. I think both the people that believe in the trinity and those that don't miss the whole picture of Jesus message of one of love. Maybe if the people put into practice what Jesus taught instead of arguing over trivial matters we would have less problems in this world.
Will
Gumby,
There's one teaching the JWs have right, mainly because they lifted it from the Bible: We become what we feed our minds. For example, persons don't become better people by filling their minds with pornography, violence, hate literature or soap operas. It usually takes study and diligent work at it in order to cultivate a better mind and to be able to exercise proper discernment in most matters of life.
I know what you mean about the attacks on the Bible that frequently appear in this forum. Those people have the right to be heard. But we also have the right to spend our time in the examination of much better stuff. The Bible has been attacked by people since before the days it was completed. Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees because of their lack of belief and for depending instead upon their own ideas and philosophies. As long as this world lasts there will be ridiculers and infidels. In the long run, however, the Bible always ends up being vindicated. Thousands if not millions of its enemies have yelled and shouted and screamed against it, but it's still thriving as the greatest book ever written.
Herk
Will,
The important thing is what Jesus said and what he stood
I agree. Some see more entertainment in winning an argument instead of focus on what he taught.
Also the important thing to me is.......was he diefied? I believe the evidence he existed as history confirms there was such a man. The problem is...there isn't much history. Very little. The church squashed all negativity about Christianity but there is some left.
Why would not historians have recorded such a man with his doings? He overturned an Empire that killed people at one time for beliving in him to an Empire that killed you if you DIDN'T believe in him. Where is the proof he did what the bible say's he did? Only Bible writters claim it......how odd!
Josephus mentioned there was a man with that name and had a following......bid deal!
Shall we not except ALL stories that have claimed to come from God? Why not believe Joseph Smith too? Why is it we HAVE to believe in Jesus when the only proof we have is of a book that was lost.......retold and rewritten by a bunch of men, or claimed this was the "real story".......just like the GB isn't it?
Sorry Herk, you may be sincere, but you're very, very wrong. And by advocating those worthless tomes, written largely by unknowns for who knows what, you hurt people. Please stop. You worship that book, but you should not.
fjtoth,
I do not know of other versions, so I suppose it's possible that other versions might have something different in Is 9:6. What's certain, however, is that the one I have does have the Tetragrammaton referring to Christ. I'd be interested in knowing which versions you have so I could better see what you're looking at, and compare it with what I have. You're right, one must be careful of anything they present to a JW (or anyone, really). Thanks for the kind word of advice.
In my presentation to my JW friends, I simply highlight the tetra along with its corresponding English, "The mighty God" and the print speaks for itself. It's not a claim I make at all, it's Isaiah's--right there on paper.
Gumby,
Isn't it a bit unfair, to say the least, to condemn the teachings of Jesus? Were those people really his genuine followers who persecuted one another in later centuries?
The framers of the American Constitution did a marvelous job in setting forth guidelines on how good government should function. Here we are a little over 200 years later, and it requires extreme vigilance on the part of decent people to protect those original and fundamental guidelines from being overruled and destroyed. It seems to me that in a less civilized society such as existed in the Roman empire, deterioration in Christian living and practice could and probably did occur a lot faster.
Wherever nations have had a high regard for the Bible, civilization has advanced. That is the clear record of history. Some see the current worldwide deterioration of society as a product of the Bible's abandonment in most so-called Christian nations. Other religions have done very little to uplift their people. History tells us that the greatest artists, musicians, scientists, writers and thinkers have arisen in countries where Christ has been respected and honoured. However, history also shows that religions that claim to follow the Bible but that actually disregard it have done great harm. Improved personal, family, community and national life are all the proof anyone should need that the Bible has power to make lives better.
Herk
however, the Bible always ends up being vindicated
Really? And how is that?
Muhhamed ali was the GREATEST fighter there was.
Houdni was the GREATEST magician there was.
Does the Bible being the #1 seller really make it true. The Catholics have survived the longest and are the most populous Christian religion......are they proof they are the truth?
How much study have you done my friend on the compilation of the Bible, ancient religion, the formation of Christianity and the SETTING it was in? Any? Or only Bible study?
Gumby,
Why the arrogance and sass all of a sudden? Do you slam all your so-called "friends" as ignorant?
How much study have you done my friend on the compilation of the Bible, ancient religion, the formation of Christianity and the SETTING it was in? Any? Or only Bible study?
Forgive me for thinking you were among those who know the etiquette of good discussion.
Herk
Gumby, it still amazes me how so many readily condemn the Catholics, yet it was they who compiled and declared the bible truth. Today, all the Bibles are virtually the same one they compiled, missing only the books of the Apocrypha in some. It was the early Catholics that came up with the trinty too, yet trintiarians cling to it and still condemn the Catholics. All Christian religions, whether they admit to it or not, are outgrowths of Catholicism.
This also gives me problems with todays translations and their bias's. I'm afraid there will be no real sorting it out until Judgement Day arrives, provided that is also truthful. Only then may we fnd out what was and wasn't truth. In the meantime, Jesus left us a very strong message to love one another. When I see actual love amongst the religions, I may feel inclined to return to them, but not until.
All the rest is little more than exercising the gray matter inside my head. In the meantime, we will always be faced by ones like SwedishChef, who come in with guns blazing and when he gets shot back at, whines about being mistreated. All I can do is offer him/her a little cheese to go with the whine
Lew W
Herk,
I'm sorry for being so bold. Didn't mean to offend but really think some are too narrow minded to consider the findings of others.
I don't condemn what Jesus taught. He taught nothing but good to his fellow man. I am mad of the fact that what he was and did could have been distorted. It causes a lot of anger to think once you got out of an Organisation that was bogus....you fell into something else that may not be authentic.
I am only asking if you have HONESTLY considered both sides in depth?
Sorry for any offense.
