AhHah

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Posts by AhHah

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  33

  The divinity of Jesus as the Christ

  by Theophilus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i have been curious why the jw's and other cults claim that the bible does not support the notion of the christ as divine (god).

  can anyone offer an explanation?

  my reading of the texts brings me to that conclusion.

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  AhHah

  Theo and SandGroper,

  One of the most glaring evidences of the non-trinitarian bias of the NW translation is their insistence on translating the Greek words "kyrios" (Lord) and "theos" (God) in the New Testament as the Hebrew name for God (Jehovah).

  There are only four New Testament references to the Hebrew name "Jehovah", where the Greek word "Allelouia" (Hallelujah) meaning "Praise Jah (or Yah)" is used (Rev. 19: 1,3,4, and 6). The NW translators' insistence on translating the Greek word "kyrios" 227 times and "theos" 10 times as "Jehovah" is based on a presumption that the original New Testament writings must have used the Hebrew tetragrammaton ('YHWH' or 'JHVH') instead of "kyrios" or "theos". This cannot be proven, of course. Because some early fragments of Greek Septuagint manuscripts of Hebrew (Old Testament) scripture preserved the tetragrammaton in a few places where it is found in the Old Testament, their presumption is that the original Greek scriptures must have been written using the Hebrew name for God, instead of Lord or God. Yet, none of the earliest copies of the apostolic writings in existence (such as the Chester Beatty Papyrus No. 2 - containing fragments of nine of the apostle Paul's letters) contain even one use of the Hebrew tetragrammaton, even when quoting Hebrew scriptures where the tetragrammaton was used.

  So why did the NW translators so brazenly dare to translate the name "Jehovah" without any direct evidence or justification for doing so?

  This is consistent with their insistence on de-emphasizing Christ in their doctrines and practices, and emphasizing the focus on Jehovah (Jehovah's Witnesses) and his dealings with the Israelites and the Mosaic Law Covenant. Their pseudo-Christian religion attempts to preserve the same kind of Jewish enslavement to their law code under their Pharisaical attempt to legislate Christian doctrines and practices.

  It is no wonder that the members of Jehovah's Witnesses do not enjoy the precious and refreshing sense of liberation and freedom from enslavement that Christ offered his followers. Instead, they suffer under it, just as did the Jews under the oppression of their Talmud and their inflexible and rigid attempts at piety.

  Edited by - AhHah on 17 November 2000 11:54:48
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  54

  Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. (psy) - JW insights

  by AhHah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this site also contains articles by ken raines, who seems to have developed the site.. url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/.

  url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/story.html (ken raines).

  url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html (j. bergman).

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  AhHah

  SandGroper,

  No arguments there!

  BTW, if you are interested, there is a thread entitled "Do you believe ...". It is a rather basic survey of beliefs of those who post on this forum. You may enjoy reading the responses and consider posting yours.

  Glad to have you with us!
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  54

  Jerry Bergman, Ph.D. (psy) - JW insights

  by AhHah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this site also contains articles by ken raines, who seems to have developed the site.. url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/.

  url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/story.html (ken raines).

  url http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html (j. bergman).

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  AhHah

  Welcome Sandgroper!

  I would agree that JW's have no corner on the "mentally disturbed" market.

  What I find concerning is the dysfunctional effects that can be caused or, at least exacerbated, by membership in a very controlling organization, such as the JW's. The effects may be on an unconscious level, and in the mind of the affected there may be no conscious connection between the religion and the personality disorder. In fact, there may not even be a conscious awareness of any dysfunction. The gulit and stress caused from an inablilty to measure up to the impossible demands that are placed (especially on those who are conscientious and devout) have definite effects -- something has to give. When the affected person cannot consciously allow himself to recognize the true cause, the psyche finds escape in a different way, often a dysfunctional way. Unfortunately, I speak from personal experience.

  It would be very naive for a person to pretend that this relationship does not exist in the JW org. Sadly, they are just one of many such organizations.

  Sorry to burst your bubble, but there have been notorious murders among the JW members. No massacres that they have committed yet. One could argue, however, that the massacre of JW's in African countries were at least partly caused by the unreasonable (and inconsistent) policies of the Governing Body. Most of the suffering that is caused by membership is endured in silence. Make no mistake, however -- many lives have been and are being ruined by JW membership.

  Hope I haven't scared you off. I look forward to hearing from you again.

  p.s. Does your name have any Aussie significance? Sounds like the name of a bird or something (or would that be sandpiper)? It doesn't have to do with dates on the beach, does it?
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  28

  God's People

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  gods people.

  this is in response to a question asked by martini on the thread reflections, page 4. for those who have not read it, the question is: is it true that the israelites were historically jehovah's chosen people...the israelites make the wts with all it's "warts" look like saints... or are we to deduce from this that jehovah is the kind of god that could accept and work with such wayward people today as he did in the past?

  my response was, in a nutshell: yes, the israelites were gods chosen people.

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  AhHah

  Red,

  While individuals within any organized religion may, indeed, be part of this covenant with God, I honestly don't believe that any particular creed can lay claim to the honor of being "God's people".

  I couldn't agree more.
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  28

  God's People

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  gods people.

  this is in response to a question asked by martini on the thread reflections, page 4. for those who have not read it, the question is: is it true that the israelites were historically jehovah's chosen people...the israelites make the wts with all it's "warts" look like saints... or are we to deduce from this that jehovah is the kind of god that could accept and work with such wayward people today as he did in the past?

  my response was, in a nutshell: yes, the israelites were gods chosen people.

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  AhHah

  Amen!

  Path,

  I have been wondering exactly the same thing for some time now. Of course, this position casts doubt upon the degree to which all of the books that are included in the Bible must be understood to reveal the mind and will of God, versus the mind of God-fearing men who were subject to their Jewish (and Pharaisaical) influences.

  I find it significant that the Gospel accounts themselves cannot be reasonably used to defend the authority of religious organizations. Christ intended to free his followers from those influences, not enslave them to yet another variation of them.
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  17

  Subliminal Adversting? LOL

  by Pathofthorns in

  1. social
  2. humour

  very funny simon.

  lol.

  path

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  AhHah

  Simon,

  Have you considered a banner for MYSIMON.COM?!
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  28

  God's People

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  gods people.

  this is in response to a question asked by martini on the thread reflections, page 4. for those who have not read it, the question is: is it true that the israelites were historically jehovah's chosen people...the israelites make the wts with all it's "warts" look like saints... or are we to deduce from this that jehovah is the kind of god that could accept and work with such wayward people today as he did in the past?

  my response was, in a nutshell: yes, the israelites were gods chosen people.

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  AhHah

  Amen!
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  28

  God's People

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  gods people.

  this is in response to a question asked by martini on the thread reflections, page 4. for those who have not read it, the question is: is it true that the israelites were historically jehovah's chosen people...the israelites make the wts with all it's "warts" look like saints... or are we to deduce from this that jehovah is the kind of god that could accept and work with such wayward people today as he did in the past?

  my response was, in a nutshell: yes, the israelites were gods chosen people.

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  AhHah

  Martini,

  I believe that Frenchy and Path gave you some excellent points to think about in answer to your question.

  Frenchy also raised a related question that I am sure that all of us have considered at one time or another:

  Jesus’ words at his evening meal:This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf.” Was this covenant going to be with a nation of people again? Was this going to be with a particular nationality or cultural group? Was it going to be with a religious organization?

  In spite of our JW indoctrination to believe that Christ taught that he would vest an earthly organization with authority over individual Christians, there is a lack of Scriptural basis for it. The entire emphasis of the Christian arrangement (as contrasted with the Law covenant arrangement with the Israelites as a nation) was on the individual Christian's covenant relationship.

  The fact that Christians formed congregations for spiritual brotherhood is not an endorsement of any power in an organization. Even those whose spiritual maturity allowed them to be properly looked to for shepherding as elders were to be servants as opposed to rulers -- there is only one leader in the Christian arrangement, and that is Christ himself.

  If you would like to read an exhaustive discussion on this subject I recommend the book "In Search of Christian Freedom" by Raymond Franz. The first five chapters and many following chapters deal with the question of a Christian organization with an authority structure, as contrasted with a brotherhood.

  Edited by - AhHAh on 16 November 2000 13:17:22
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  15

  Seven ?

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone heard from seven?.

  i've noticed she hasn't posted for a while.. let us know you're ok !

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  AhHah

  Seven,

  Sorry to hear of your loss. Don't stay away too long! I have lost friends and family members to death, and I would guess that most who post here have also (based on age). My heart goes out to you.

  When I come face to face with the death of someone close, it seems to "turn up the volume" inside of me about many of the threads that we have recently discussed on this forum. I realize more than ever that I cannot ignore vital questions about our nature and our existence.

  It makes me rethink my priorities, and reflect on the blessing of each precious day of life, and how I choose to use it.

  I also think about what is truly valuable in life and that we all have only a limited amount of time to devote to those things. Isn't it true that what we usually value the most are those things which we cannot buy? We value what we often do not seem to find time for in our busy lives. We all long for that which is meaningful, and yet we seem to have difficulty making those things a priority.

  Somehow, we always think that we will have time later to show others how much we care about them and share our heart with them -- tell them all those things that we are feeling. When they are gone, we wonder why we waited. We wonder if they really knew how much we cared and why we valued them so much.

  My father died unexpectedly at a young age. He had previously told my Mom that he didn't think that he was very well liked by most. At his JW memorial service, over 300 attended. Many drove in from other cities where we had lived. There was not enough seats, so they stood respectfully all around the KH during the service. Many later offered comments about how he helped them through difficult times in their life. How they felt that he had become a father to them. How much that they appreciated that he always let them know that he cared and that he proved it by being there for them. He was much more loved and respected than he ever knew. He was and is missed more than he could ever have imagined. I wish that he had known how much others cared, while he was alive.

  Seven, please share your thoughts with us when you are ready. You are missed.
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  16

  Starting a band

  by TR in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i've been toying with the thought of starting a band.

  so far it's a one-man band, for i know few in the music world where i live.

  what i want to do is purchase a mixer so i can edit my own bass, drum and guitar tracts.

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  AhHah

  Tom,

  What artists are most similar to the music you play? Do you write music/songs? Cool name. -- and would you spell it "Apostasy" or "Apostacy" -- any intended difference?

  I fool around with the guitar -- I am not any good, but it amuses me sometimes. I have a Taylor acoustic 810 dreadnought (spruce and Brazilian rosewood) -- it plays very loud and clear, very bright and sweet sounding. I wish that I had more musical talent. When I have tried to put together some chord progressions to come up with a song, my mind remembers ten other songs with the same progressions and I can't get past them mentally. Does that make any sense to you?

  How about you, Frenchy? Have you written many songs for guitar?

  Any other musicians out there? What instruments do you play? Do you write songs?