by peacefulpete 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Pete ---
This site by Christian apologist Glen Miller has a very long two-part article on Jesus and the mystery religions.
Whether or not you are persuaded by his arguments, I think you will find much to think about. "Christian Thinktank" is a very appropriate name for Miller's site. It's the kind of response the WT should have sent you.
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/copycat.html
Marjorie
Alley..thanks for your concern but I have read the sites you posted. Hooberus also has made much noise about the defence made for the uniqueness and originality of Christianity. In fact the WT reply we received is very much the same twisted logic. "It's exaggerated, It's coicidence,It's the Devil".
I do not have a scanner, sorry. Other than more "encouragement" to stay away from the world and in the pen, that was the substance of the responce. They did say she could discuss this matter with the local elders if she needed more encouragement. We laughed. If we tried to discuss this matter frankly and honestly we would be labeled apostate (officially) and loose the limited contact we yet have with our families.
When I read that the WT wrote you "Christians do not need to make a study of mythology.", I immediately thought of how the Watchtower tries to prove the GLOBAL FLOOD by bringing up the flood mythologies throughout the world. So someone at Bethel has made a study of mythology! This appears to be a case of "Do as we say, not as we do!"
--VM44
The following is borrowed from 'Falling in Truth' by Steve McRoberts.
point #1: fear of information
When you understand something as true, you can't help but believe it. It's like the two terms: 'understanding as true' and 'believing' are the same thing. The problem JWs meet with at the doors in their witnessing work is not from people 'not wanting' to believe, but from not understanding. Otherwise their preaching work would be totally futile since no one wants to change beliefs. But to reach their understanding JWs have to overcome many obstacles. Non-JWs have lived all their lives with a certain world view which JWs try to change within five minutes or less with mere words. It's nearly impossible. There are only two ways in which JWs could possibly make a convert in this manner: either they'd have to have the truth and be able to demonstrate it within the allotted time to the householder's understanding; or else they'd have to meet up with a person on the verge of changing his way of life for whatever reason.
JWs think they have the truth and they carefully arrange their presentation of it so as to capture the attention of the people they preach to. Yet they hardly ever meet with success. Now, judging from that experience, what danger is there in allowing JWs to read opposing ideas? These, the Watchtower claims, are the empty deceptions of men; not the truth, and they are not carefully arranged so as to be easily understood. And further, JWs are not some naive householder, ready prey for every misleading writer. They're a Witness, fully indoctrinated in the Truth. If the clear-cut presentation of the Truth fails so often to convince an unwary householder, how can the Watchtower worry about some vague philosopher snaring a JW's truth-filled soul? If these 'worldly men' don't have the truth, JWs surely won't change their belief, will they? There's one very obvious answer: if JWs were to read such ideas, they'd believe in them because they are the truth. They couldn't help but change their belief once they understood the truth. Why else would the Watchtower restrict them?
A philosopher once said, 'Hatred of evil is itself a kind of bondage to evil.' If you only hate opposing ideas because of some third-hand, distorted account of it, you are in a bondage of fear to it. It really has the upper hand over you. But if you understand it, you are equal to it (if it is true) or superior to it (if it is false).
point #2: pagan practices
Jacob's pagan magic (the birth of spotted and speckled sheep) in Gen. chapter 35.
Moses cast the form of a serpent in bronze in order to stem the plague of serpents devouring his people.
Gen. chapter 15 Abram's oath. God has Abram cut up a heifer, a she-goat, and a ram, all three years old, and place each half-piece opposite the other at some distance. This superstitious act is explained in Jeremiah 34:18, 'The men who violated my covenant and did not observe the terms of the agreement which they made before me, I will make like the calf which they cut in two, between those two parts they passed.'
thinker...I appreciate your comment. I agree that no amount of persuasive words can alter a well informed decision. Being informed about the arguments and methods used by your misguided opponents side immunes a person to their attractiveness.
Would you ellaborate on the last part of your post? What do you "understand" the cutting in two of the animals to represent?
Hi Pete,
The superstition worked like this: to make a 'blood oath' you'd cut a dead animal in two and walk between the two halves. By doing so you were showing a willingness to accept the fate of the dead cut-up animal if you should break your oath. In Gen. 15, Abram sees God himself walk between the two halves as a sign of his oath.
If you'd like to read the whole book, this is the author's homepage:
http://members.aol.com/smcroberts
It VERY educational.thinker
thinker, interesting post, thanks.
Interesting reading Thinker.
(1) Reading "worldy" materials may actually educate people. Can't have that if we want to control everybody. It would be foolhardy, as well as a waste of valuable time, forour slavesWitnesses to expose themselves to educational materials. True Christians are commanded to shun anything not sanctioned by the WTS, as loyal followers allow us to brainwash them, feeding our minds on garbage other people came up with by taking liberties with the Bible, and holding appreciately and loyally to the channel from which we were first tricked.
LOL Hamster.
~Aztec
For those who want to see it from the bible, here it how to make a covenant with God; followed by the 'plain English' translation..
Ge15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Ge15:10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. Ge15:11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. Ge15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. Ge15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; Ge15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. Ge15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. Ge15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Ge15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. Ge15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram,...
Gen 15:9,10 God tells Abram how to make a blood oath ritual. Cut the critters in half and lay them close to each other.
Gen 15:11 Abram screws up by starting his blood ritual in the morning. By mid-day the buzzards are coming around the smelly, dead bodies; while Abram waits for God to show up.
Gen 15:12 Abram goes to sleep (or passes out from the smell).
Gen 15:13-16 God makes His oath in a vision or dream.
Gen 15:17 God seals this oath by walking between the carcass's in the form of 'a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces'. God DOES NOT like to get His feet dirty.
Gen 15:18 This is how you make a covenent.
WARNING: Despite these clear instructions on covenant-making, the Author, that is, God; will not come to your rescue if you should start chain-sawing livestock!!! You will rot in jail after having your head examined. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
have a scan of this letter?
