my husband's cousin just called to offer me a book on the trinity.
my husband had told her that i didn't believe in the trinity.. i'm having a really hard time being open to the trinity.
i have jehovah and jesus drilled in to my head as separate entities.
This brings up a question I have asked before, but have not gotten an answer for:
If Jesus is NOT God, then how is it possible that He performed an act of love (dying for our sins) that is GREATER than any act that God the Father performed? Wouldn't this make Jesus GREATER than God? That makes no sense, unless Jesus IS God. Right? If God loved us so much, why would He have sent someone else to perform this act of salvation?
the church has traditionally held to the resurrection of the flesh of jesus christ:.
ignatius (who according to ancient sources was a disciple of the apostle john).
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/anf-01/anf01-21.htm .
Here is a good test to determine if your religion is a cult:
Low High
Factors: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. INTERNAL CONTROL: Amount of
internal political power exercised
by leader(s) over members. 1. _____________________________
2. WISDOM CLAIMED by leader(s);
amount of infallibility declared
or implied about decisions or doc-
trinal/scriptural interpretations. 2. _____________________________
3. WISDOM CREDITED to leader(s)
by members; amount of trust in
decisions or doctrinal/scriptural
interpretations made by leader(s). 3. _____________________________
4. DOGMA: Rigidity of reality con-
cepts taught; amount of doctrinal
inflexibility or "fundamentalism." 4. _____________________________
5. RECRUITING: Emphasis put on
attracting new members; amount
of proselytizing. 5. _____________________________
6. FRONT GROUPS: Number of subsid-
iary groups using different names
from that of main group. 6. _____________________________
7. WEALTH: Amount of money and/or
property desired or obtained by group;
emphasis on members' donations;
economic lifestyle of leader(s)
compared to ordinary members. 7. _____________________________
8. POLITICAL POWER: Amount of
external political influence
desired or obtained; emphasis on
directing members' secular votes. 8. _____________________________
9. SEXUAL MANIPULATION: of members
by leader(s); amount of control
exercised over sexuality of members;
advancement dependent upon sexual
favors or specific lifestyle. 9. _____________________________
10. CENSORSHIP: Amount of control
over members' access to outside
opinions on group, its doctrines
or leader(s). 10. _____________________________
11. DROPOUT CONTROL: Intensity of
efforts directed at preventing or
returning dropouts. 11. _____________________________
12. VIOLENCE: amount of approval when
used by or for the group, its
doctrines or leader(s). 12. _____________________________
13. PARANOIA: amount of fear con-
cerning real or imagined enemies;
perceived power of opponents;
prevalence of conspiracy theories. 13. _____________________________
14. GRIMNESS: Amount of disapproval
concerning jokes about the group,
its doctrines or its leader(s). 14. _____________________________
15. SURRENDER OF WILL: Amount of
emphasis on members not having to
be responsible for personal deci-
sions; degree of individual dis-
empowerment created by the group,
its doctrines or its leader(s). 15. _____________________________
16. HYPOCRISY: amount of approval for
other actions (not included above)
which the group officially considers
immoral or unethical, when done by or
for the group, its doctrines or
leader(s); willingness to violate
group's declared principles for
political, psychological, economic,
or other gain. 16. _____________________________
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
anyone have any thoughts on american idol lately.. i was really dismayed when they voted jennifer off two weeks ago.
it looks like she will still have a career though.. john stevens is just so nice but he needs voice lessons, as paula suggested for him.. who do you think will win?.
at this point, i think it's between diana and latoya.
I thought the young red-haired kid did a wonderful job on the "King of the Road" song, but other than that, I think his voice needs some maturing.
Fantasia irritates me--both her voice (nasally) and her personality.
I am rooting for the Hawaiian girl (name?)
many people i have spoke to on this site have found that becoming part of a christian group since leaving the witnesses has been of benefit to them.
i must admit at times i have considered visiting other churches or religions, but have not acted upon it.
but i am curious as to what's out there.. can anyone enlighten me?.
CountryGirl,
Fantastic post!
as i learn more about the borg i am continually shocked by what i discover.
i knew early on that they were pacifists but i had no idea that this included not honouring (or dishonouring) those that have died under war conditions.
i find it so hypocritical that the dubs are quite happy to benefit from the principles (ie freedom, liberty, justice, etc) that these men & women fought for & yet refuse to pay tribute to them.
Being an American, I just have to ask:
What would you have us do after September 11? What are the alternatives to fighting terrorism?
.
a friend (and fellow scuba diver) brought me some fresh scallops, tonight - so fresh they were still in the shells.. i fried them with some mushrooms.. now i'm enjoying some fresh bread - boy do i love bread!.
what's your favourite fresh food?.
Fresh Raspberries! YUM!!! I think this is the world's most perfect food!!!
ron rhodes quotes paul g. weathers: .
since christ came as man, and since one of the proper duties of man is to worship, pray to, and adore [god], it was perfectly proper for jesus to call the father "my god" and to address him in prayer.
positionally speaking as a man, as a jew, and as our high priest ("made like his brothers in every way," heb.
Herk, why don't you SAY anything, instead of just posting those ridiculous graphics? OK, I understand you don't believe the Trinity doctrine.. Got that.
ron rhodes quotes paul g. weathers: .
since christ came as man, and since one of the proper duties of man is to worship, pray to, and adore [god], it was perfectly proper for jesus to call the father "my god" and to address him in prayer.
positionally speaking as a man, as a jew, and as our high priest ("made like his brothers in every way," heb.
"To further add to the confusion, they teach that Jesus found a simular body with holes in it that would match the body that Jesus died in."
You're kidding, right? And the JW's teach that the Trinity doctrine is confusing?
ron rhodes quotes paul g. weathers: .
since christ came as man, and since one of the proper duties of man is to worship, pray to, and adore [god], it was perfectly proper for jesus to call the father "my god" and to address him in prayer.
positionally speaking as a man, as a jew, and as our high priest ("made like his brothers in every way," heb.
Umm, that didn't answer my question. Are these graphics out of WTBTS literature?
ron rhodes quotes paul g. weathers: .
since christ came as man, and since one of the proper duties of man is to worship, pray to, and adore [god], it was perfectly proper for jesus to call the father "my god" and to address him in prayer.
positionally speaking as a man, as a jew, and as our high priest ("made like his brothers in every way," heb.
OK, can you explain to my WHY this is their teaching? The bible doesn't say this is what happened anywhere. Is this another twisting to support their teaching? What would the reasoning be to deny that Christ had a physical resurrection?
I'm sorry I'm getting off topic here, just trying to understand.
