Mephis

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Posts by Mephis

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  4

  Jehovah`s Witnesses today & first Century Christianity

  by smiddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in the first century ,did not christians who took the lead , have to earn their own keep ?

  and provide for their own sustenance ?

  their are numerous texts that support that position are their not ?.

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  Mephis

  Earliest texts seem to suggest that those who travelled would stay a day or two at most and have basic needs provided for. Some texts (eg the Didache) seem to suggest they had a problem with imposters and people taking advantage and so set time limits for the hospitality to be provided. The non-Christian stuff which touches on the religion (eg Lucian's Passing of Peregrinus) also suggest they were seen as being somewhat gullible and could be taken advantage of. There were also communal meals held at the houses of the richer members in each area, with the suggestion that the richer helped provide for the poorer. Worth noting that the bible examples of people like Paul suggest they had trades to support themselves.
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  4

  what was the public reaction to elders enforcing child sex abuse policy.

  by joe134cd in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i was just watching this you tube video regarding the liability that elders put them selves under when handling child abuse matters.. https://youtu.be/3l25-mbvqyq.

  so my question is.

  dose anybody know what happened to the elders involved not just in this case but in all the cases wt finds itself getting embroiled in.

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  Mephis

  Elders, as trustees of charities as they more often than not are, here in the UK are responsible for their actions under charity law. Those of Moston,. Manchester are currently the subjects of a Charity Commission statutory inquiry, and those at Barry congregation, Wales are facing an operational compliance case. In the past, the Charity Commission has tried to work a little more behind the scenes over issues around abuse and cover-ups and individual congregations.

  Being a trustee of a charity carries legal obligations. If elders aren't aware of that when becoming a trustee, then they're demonstrating that they shouldn't be one in the first place.
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  26

  Does Bruce Jenner (Caitlyn) qualify for Baptism?

  by John Aquila in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  im not sure if bruce had a sex operation but lets say someone did have a sex operation and then studied with the witnesses and wanted to get baptized, would he qualify in todays jw world?

  could he have privileges?

  the bible says the past cant be held against you, once you accept the truth.

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  Mephis

  The answer I got, mid 90s, was that a reverse transition would be expected. I know of one person who was studying who was expected to stop their transition but eventually realised they needed to bail for their own sanity.
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  51

  Best Argument for Atheism - In your view.

  by LAWHFol in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if crisis of conscience is one of the top watchtower doctrine killers, what is the coc of theism?.

  i'd like to read a book, or other material that does the best job logically arguing for atheism.. i've not read any darwin, however it is my assumption that his focus is primarily on evolution, is this correct?

  if you were to recommend one book or a few pieces of reading material, which do the best job of defending atheism, what would they be?.

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  Mephis

  Russell's essays on religion, such as Why I Am Not A Christian, are worth reading.
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  28

  Education makes you leave God

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  quote from the watchtower, simplified edition, september 2015, "how can we show that we love jehovah?".

  higher education often makes them lose their love for god..

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  Mephis

  The fun thing would be to know whether that is cause or effect. It seems to be true so far as it goes as a general statement. The more education you get, the less likely you are to be a fundamentalist over religion - or even to be religious at all. But is that the effect of education, or that people who go through with education are more open to new experiences and so are more willing to throw aside beliefs which no longer make sense to them? My parents put the blame for me leaving on going to university, but the blunt truth is that I was never a believer and university just gave me the space to make choices. See enough of those who leave who then pursue a university degree to make me wonder whether the WT's assumption is too simplistic.
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  21

  New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.

  in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.

  what advice did paul give them?

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  Mephis

  When I was in, it wasn't uncommon for people in my congregation to read a rhetorical question over doctrinal matters as a rhetorical question. Yes, the GB can fulminate about education but it's a conscience matter. Yes, the GB may not like certain types of music, but it's a conscience matter to a certain degree. Same with books and tv. Conscience and a bit of freedom. This piece is them further trying to erode that. Some things are conscience matters but the only consciences which matter are those of the GB. The bit on blood at the beginning is classic WT backside covering language.
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  How EARLY CHURCH divisions destroyed HISTORY

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  can history really be destroyed?.

  would otherwise moral authorities participate in such destruction?.

  can we believe there is accuracy in historical documents pertaining to the early christian church?.

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  Mephis

  The Didache (c.100 but possibly a lot earlier or a bit later) also has the same kind of message. It effectively sets out shunning. "But to anyone that acts amiss against another, let no one speak, nor let him hear anything from you until he repents." (chapter 15) I'd be cautious about trying to imply too much doctrinal rigidity (eg Polycarp heading to Rome c.150), although clearly gnosticism and 'judaising' were pushing things too far for 'orthodoxy'.
  
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  where in london can i talk to someone/get help

  by chrism in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi my name is chris.

  im in a not good way and need to know where in london i can talk to someone/get help?

  im currently sleeping rough in london.

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  Mephis

  Hi Chris, the chances of people helping you out directly with money are slim sorry. As you're rough sleeping, I'm guessing that you are currently receiving benefits? If so £60 for the fortnight seems very low? Have you tried accessing a social fund loan? They can help with travel costs providing you have evidence of why you need to travel. As you're rough sleeping, Streetlink may be able to help you with finding options to get off the streets and maybe get some help with your addiction: http://www.streetlink.org.uk/ . All the best.
  
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  17

  How EARLY CHURCH divisions destroyed HISTORY

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  can history really be destroyed?.

  would otherwise moral authorities participate in such destruction?.

  can we believe there is accuracy in historical documents pertaining to the early christian church?.

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  Mephis

  Eusebius was on the other side of the divide which wasn't really resolved until Augustine a century and more later though Terry, so his viewpoint on someone who seemed to link the 'John' of Revelations with John the Apostle is understandable. He wasn't going to buy what Papias supposedly was selling at 2 centuries or so remove, but even so found merit in parts of what Papias wrote (presumably those bits which were not the literal interpretation of an earthly return for 1000 years). Religious related texts vanishing may not be anything suspicious involved beyond time and circumstance - Book of the Wars of the Lord sounds like it may be of great interest in Jewish history but that's well gone it seems beyond a passing reference in Numbers, likewise with Paul's letter to the Laodiceans. Much more recently there seems to be a play by Shakespeare missing. It's not rare for works to be lost, so one would really need some evidence to point towards deliberate destruction/suppression for the point to really stand up to scrutiny. I'm not aware of any, and circumstantial evidence here isn't pointing towards your conclusion for me sorry. Definitely will join with you in hoping for more Papias to turn up somewhere though!
  
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  17

  How EARLY CHURCH divisions destroyed HISTORY

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  can history really be destroyed?.

  would otherwise moral authorities participate in such destruction?.

  can we believe there is accuracy in historical documents pertaining to the early christian church?.

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  Mephis

  I don't think you can make the leap to Papias' works being suppressed or deliberately destroyed because they are lost? eg Tertullian's works survived, and he too was a premillenialist. Eusebius was sceptical of the claims that Papias knew John the apostle, and also of the traditions which Papias is supposed to have written, but Papias is cited long after Eusebius. (C7th at least for references to his work? Perhaps later in the Armenian tradition?).
  

  What we know of Papias does indicate a different tradition, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility for some of, or at least more quotes from, his writings to show up at some stage much as the Gnostic writings continue to.