opusdei1972

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Posts by opusdei1972

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  6

  John Denham Parsons

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  "the non-christian cross" by john denham parsons, is a work that is still used by the watchtower society as a "proof" that the greek word stauros does not mean cross.

  here a portion of this work:.

  now the greek word which in latin versions of the new testament is translated as crux, and in english versions is rendered as cross, i.e., the word stauros, seems to have, at the beginning of our era, no more meant a cross than the english word stick means a crutch.

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  opusdei1972

  careful: many thanks!
  
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  6

  John Denham Parsons

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  "the non-christian cross" by john denham parsons, is a work that is still used by the watchtower society as a "proof" that the greek word stauros does not mean cross.

  here a portion of this work:.

  now the greek word which in latin versions of the new testament is translated as crux, and in english versions is rendered as cross, i.e., the word stauros, seems to have, at the beginning of our era, no more meant a cross than the english word stick means a crutch.

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  opusdei1972

  "The non-Christian cross" by John Denham Parsons, is a work that is still used by the Watchtower Society as a "proof" that the Greek word stauros does not mean cross. Here a portion of this work:
  

  Now the Greek word which in Latin versions of the New Testament is translated as crux, and in English versions is rendered as cross, i.e., the word stauros, seems to have, at the beginning of our era, no more meant a cross than the English word stick means a crutch.
  It is true that a stick may be in the shape of a crutch, and that the stauros to which Jesus was affixed may have been in the shape of a cross. But just as the former is not necessarily a crutch, so the latter was not necessarily a cross.
  What the ancients used to signify when they used the word stauros, can easily be seen by referring to either the Iliad or the Odyssey.1
  It will there be found to clearly signify an ordinary pole or stake without any cross-bar. And it is as thus signifying a single piece of wood that the word in question is used throughout the old Greek classics.2
  The stauros used as an instrument of execution was (1) a small pointed pole or stake used for thrusting through the body, so as to pin the latter to the earth, or otherwise render death inevitable; (2) a similar pole or stake fixed in the ground point upwards, upon which the condemned one was forced down till incapable of escaping; (3) a much longer and stouter pole or stake fixed point upwards, upon which the victim, with his hands tied behind him, was lodged in such a way that the point should enter his breast and the weight of the body cause every movement to hasten the end; and (4) a stout unpointed pole or stake set upright in the earth, from which the victim was suspended by a rope round his wrists, which were first tied behind him so that the position might become an agonising one; or to which the doomed one was bound, or, as in the case of Jesus, nailed.
  That this last named kind of stauros, which was admittedly that to which Jesus was affixed, had in every case a cross-bar attached, is untrue; that it had in most cases, is unlikely; that it had in the case of Jesus, is unproven.
  Even as late as the Middle Ages, the word stauros seems to have primarily signified a straight piece of wood without a cross-bar. For the famous Greek lexicographer, Suidas, expressly states, "Stauroi; ortha xula perpégota," and both Eustathius and Hesychius affirm that it meant a straight stake or pole.
  The side light thrown upon the question by Lucian is also worth noting. This writer, referring to Jesus, alludes to "That sophist of theirs who was fastened to a skolops;" which word signified a single piece of wood, and not two pieces joined together...

  However, Parsons misleads his readers by misusing quotes, not understanding that a word in Homer's age could have improved its meaning. Furthermore, Parsons omitted some quotes of the first and the second century where the writers clearly mentioned that stauros has the same shape as the greek letter Tau.
  
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  20

  The immorality of C Russell and J Rutherford founding members of the Watchtower Organization

  by Finkelstein in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something that gets little attention or not enough is the what kind of social behavioral people were the ones who started the watchtower corporation ?

  c t russell was someone who got divorced from it would appear a lack of love and attention to his wife and the supposed attention he gave to a younger woman who had lived at his home together with his wife .. j rutherford built a lavish home in sunny and warm san diego and lived with his mistress and personal assistant, separated from his wife.

  apparently hoarding and drinking alcohol as well when it was illegal by law to do so.. would either of these men qualify to be even elders in today's standards ?

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  opusdei1972

  Finkelstein: Yes, both, Russell and Rutherford wrote many times, implicitly, that they belonged to the 144000 class. Rutherford called it as "temple class".
  
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  20

  The immorality of C Russell and J Rutherford founding members of the Watchtower Organization

  by Finkelstein in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something that gets little attention or not enough is the what kind of social behavioral people were the ones who started the watchtower corporation ?

  c t russell was someone who got divorced from it would appear a lack of love and attention to his wife and the supposed attention he gave to a younger woman who had lived at his home together with his wife .. j rutherford built a lavish home in sunny and warm san diego and lived with his mistress and personal assistant, separated from his wife.

  apparently hoarding and drinking alcohol as well when it was illegal by law to do so.. would either of these men qualify to be even elders in today's standards ?

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  opusdei1972

  In Walter Salter's letter, which I knew by this forum, Salter reported that Rutherford used him to import (illegally) alcohol from Canada. If the US government had know it, Rutherford had gone back to prison.
  
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  20

  The immorality of C Russell and J Rutherford founding members of the Watchtower Organization

  by Finkelstein in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something that gets little attention or not enough is the what kind of social behavioral people were the ones who started the watchtower corporation ?

  c t russell was someone who got divorced from it would appear a lack of love and attention to his wife and the supposed attention he gave to a younger woman who had lived at his home together with his wife .. j rutherford built a lavish home in sunny and warm san diego and lived with his mistress and personal assistant, separated from his wife.

  apparently hoarding and drinking alcohol as well when it was illegal by law to do so.. would either of these men qualify to be even elders in today's standards ?

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  opusdei1972

  The Watchtower's answers to Walter Salter and Olin Moyle were interesting public documents in which Rutherford exposed himself.
  
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  22

  Is the reasoning book no longer in use ?

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i would like to know if witnesses are still using the reasoning book in the field service.

  i am asking about it, because i had read that it is currently out of print, doesn't it??

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  opusdei1972

  I was an active member in 2011, so I saw an elder using it in field service. So, I wonder if witnesses keep it for their door by door activity.
  
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  22

  Is the reasoning book no longer in use ?

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i would like to know if witnesses are still using the reasoning book in the field service.

  i am asking about it, because i had read that it is currently out of print, doesn't it??

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  opusdei1972

  I would like to know if Witnesses are still using the reasoning book in the field service. I am asking about it, because I had read that it is currently out of print, doesn't it??
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  30

  Original Sin / Salvation without a literal Adam and Eve?

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  something i've never understood is if adam and eve are just metaphorical where did "original sin" come from.

  and, if there was no original sin, what is the value of jesus sacrifice?.

  i know a lot of christians believe in evolution but i've never understood how such a belief is structured.

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  opusdei1972

  The theory entertains that the author's intention was to advance the idea that the Babylonian captivity was punishment from God due to failure to observe the Law, especially the Sabbath. Therefore, the theory concludes, the author's intent was to teach that obedience to the Mosaic Law was the intention of God from the beginning of creation, built into the Jewish culture.

  
  It sounds very logical. I did not think about it. But yes, seven literal days of creation were invented to justify the Sabbath. Thanks for sharing this information.
  
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  30

  Original Sin / Salvation without a literal Adam and Eve?

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  something i've never understood is if adam and eve are just metaphorical where did "original sin" come from.

  and, if there was no original sin, what is the value of jesus sacrifice?.

  i know a lot of christians believe in evolution but i've never understood how such a belief is structured.

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  opusdei1972

  David_Jay: It seems that the guy (one of many authors) who wrote in Genesis that the world was created in seven days took it from a Babylonian legend. So, may be there was a belief that the world was created literally in seven days. I think that the author wrote it with that intention, although not all the ancient readers understood it in that way. Who knows ?
  
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  30

  Original Sin / Salvation without a literal Adam and Eve?

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  something i've never understood is if adam and eve are just metaphorical where did "original sin" come from.

  and, if there was no original sin, what is the value of jesus sacrifice?.

  i know a lot of christians believe in evolution but i've never understood how such a belief is structured.

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  opusdei1972

  Irenaeus did believe that Adam was made conditionally immortal, as in certain sense Witnesses believe.