i was wondering about this question and wanted to ask: was sin inevitable?
also, i had thought about past watchtower articles or publications related to this topic and did some research and found this from our readers ask if adam was perfect, how was it possible for him to sin?.
well, then, did god create adam with a moral weakness, so that he lacked the ability to make sound decisions or to withstand temptation?
Imagine if Adam + Eve hadn’t sinned, the whole world would be full of perfect people living in paradise. (This is what witnesses hear on a weekly basis)
what are the odds out of millions of people, that someone eventually eats the fruit? It would be inevitable. So now you’ve got perfect people alongside imperfect?
In all watchtower books talking about the original sin, they never mention any other possibilities.
i sat in recently with some relatives for the sunday meeting.
the talk was given by a bethel speaker, who at one point quoted john 20:25.
“but he said to them: “unless i see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, i will never believe it.”.
If that’s your opinion, fine. But this category is called “bible research and study articles”.
If you think it’s a waste of time, don’t bother with this category then.
i sat in recently with some relatives for the sunday meeting.
the talk was given by a bethel speaker, who at one point quoted john 20:25.
“but he said to them: “unless i see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, i will never believe it.”.
I sat in recently with some relatives for the Sunday meeting. The talk was given by a bethel speaker, who at one point quoted John 20:25
“But he said to them: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will never believe it.”
Except he didn’t say “nails”, he paraphrased “nail” only.
Any picture portraying the torture stake always shows only one nail in Jesus’ hands. It seems pretty ironic since they always pride themselves on such attention to detail.
Maybe trying to fit the scriptures into a pre-conceived idea?
Similarly they always show the famous inscription above Jesus’ hands, not as recorded in Matt. 27:37
“They also posted above his head the charge against him, in writing: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”
Whether or not there was a stake or a cross, they’re more than ready to adjust the details to their beliefs.
a few years ago at one of the conventions, there was a talk on gods remarkable creation.
one of the slides showed a giant sequoia tree, approximately 5000 years old!.
later another talk was about noah etc.
Interesting info about sequoias. Maybe a better reference would be the pyramids, I remember Splane reasoning how they can’t be dated correctly.
Even if he was right, imagine how many centuries would have to pass until a civilization like that could develop?
a few years ago at one of the conventions, there was a talk on gods remarkable creation.
one of the slides showed a giant sequoia tree, approximately 5000 years old!.
later another talk was about noah etc.
A few years ago at one of the conventions, there was a talk on Gods remarkable creation. One of the slides showed a giant sequoia tree, approximately 5000 years old!
Later another talk was about Noah etc. I remember thinking, how did they miss this? How could the tree survive a worldwide flood 3500 years ago?
I know everyone here knows it’s ridiculous, and if I was writing the doctrine, I would make a change.
it would be quite easy I think, just by using this scripture. This was from a recent study article.
By the time the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, about 61 C.E., he could describe the good news as being preached “in all creation under heaven.” (Col 1:23) In Paul’s day, “all creation” meant the world as it was then known.
So the “world” doesn’t always mean the whole world. They could give the flood a little bit of believability, but of course they won’t.
you guys used to know me as ratboy back in the day.
it's been about ten years, how the hell is everyone?!
?.
Welcome back!
jw jubilee,.
believe it or not, the long wait: ~ 3000 years.
par.
Rutherford had lots to say about the jubilee. In one of his books (not sure which one) he came up with some prophetic fulfillment that led to the year 1925.
Somehow he reasoned a jubilee was 50 years, and there were supposed to be 70 of these, totalling 3500 years.
I think he had this starting from entering the promised land, and the 3500 years would end in 1925.
This is why he wanted that Beth-Sarim property, for Abraham and the rest to have a place to stay.
Of course they wouldn't bring all that history up in the current watchtower.
we got a local talk.
keep away from outside influences, and marginal witnesses(me?).
keep up prayer, study, all that.
Were we at the same talk? I guess it's a pretty common theme.
The brother said we must avoid all worldly association, listing things like company golf tournaments, graduations, school reunions, etc.
I go occasionally with the wife, but did have to laugh (silently) at all the rules.
I know of many in the audience who attend those functions, and I always hated to miss golfing with workmates.
i do it most years.
being in the uk, virtually every other country nearby drives on the right.
we drive on the left.
We rented a car to drive all over Ireland some years ago. (Glad we did, the best way to see what you want)
its a total game-changer with google maps, or some sort of gps.
it gives you total directions, what lane to be in, what's coming up ahead of you, etc.
I think we would have gotten lost multiple times without it, as the street signs in many cities are very small (sometimes just on the side of a building)
If you're renting a vehicle in the uk, be sure to get (and get familiar with) some type of navigation (they will rent them with the vehicle)
If you've got good insurance (might even be included with your credit card, ours was) with gps and someone helping you navigate, you'll be fine!
You've got to get used to the narrower lanes for sure, but once you're used to that it's no problem!
was visiting with some old friends a while ago, and got to hear some interesting updates about their congregation.. there is a new family moved in, from the ukraine, and are very zealous.
when giving their experience (they're quite new in the "truth") they feel strongly that the religion has changed their life.. they were ready to divorce, but from studying the bible, etc., they are now a happy family.. its really a yearbook type example that make a lot witnesses feel vindicated.. on the other extreme, in the same congregation, a teenager just graduating (an elders son) just up and left and moved in with a "worldly" family.
he told his parents he doesn't believe it's the truth, and actually believes in evolution.. he was being "encouraged" to get baptized, but he managed to avoid that.
From what was told he didn't want to have to go to the meetings any more, which his parents of course wouldn't allow.
It seems he made some close friends at school that let him move in.
