Posts by exjdub

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

exjdub

Well, actually I have not spun anything. I presented my evidence and the conclusion based on that evidence. Contrast what I have done with your statement quoted above. In it you make an assertion with no backing premises.

Well, actually, what you presented is not evidence. Evidence would be something offered beyond a reasonable doubt and quoting scholars that lean a certain way is not evidence. It reminds me somewhat of the way the HoHo's explain "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise" vs. "Truly I tell you...today you will be with me in paradise." Nobody really knows what he said, really, now do they?

Whether Jesus wrote anything is not the issue. The issue is whether or not what we do have can be considered reliable. Having read many scholars from both sides of the issue, I believe that the evidence clearly sides with the manuscripts being an accurate account of either direct eyewitnesses or the testimony of eyewitnesses.

There is no whether, because he didn't write anything, at least anything that is recorded in scripture and nothing has showed up in manuscripts. It absolutely is the issue. We don't know what Jesus' thoughts were (unless it has been spelled out in scriptural accounts), why he chose certain parables, or what he meant by "turn the other cheek" (other than the literal interpretation that StoneWall pointed out).

exjdub

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

exjdub

If someone is righthanded, and they throw a right cross (since most people are righthanded, this is a logical presumption), what cheek are they going to hit? The left. If someone is righthanded, and strikes your right cheek, what have they done? A backhanded and insulting slap. The issue here is not about pacifism in the face of all violence, but pacifism in the case of violenece done to a believer as an insult to his beliefs.

The problem with people, like the ones that produced this video, is that they have no idea about context, and are reading the words in a wooden fashion that does not account for the historical and grammatical context.

And that's the problem with Christianity XJW. You have to put your own interpretation on what Jesus supposedly said, to make your construct work. The problem is that you can't presume anything and your spin is just that...your spin. By the way, if you, or anyone else for that matter, could please point to one scripture that Jesus wrote to inform his followers of his intent, please send it my way.

exjdub

28

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

by thetrueone in

top ten signs you're a fundamentalist christian.

1 - you vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.. .

2 - you feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the biblical claim that we were created from dirt.. .

exjdub

I rarely post anymore...but I couldn't stand by without commenting on the brilliance of thetrueone's top 10 list:

BRAVO!!! Excellent observations!

exjdub

51

What do Yankees know about the South?

by undercover in

jw
friends

1. what was the largest city in the south ( of the states that later made up the confederacy) in 1860?.

2. what was the worst maritime disaster in the south's (and america's) history?.

3. what city was the original capital of the confederacy?.

exjdub

I actually got in an argument with a Yankee friend of mine over which mayo was better...Dukes or Hellmans...LOL

Well...from a Yankee's perspective who has lived in the South for 10 years: I have had both (grew up on Hellmans in NH) and there is no comparison! Dukes is hands down better than Hellmans, by a long shot. LOL

exjdub

37

Dreaming of retiring in Florida?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

reconsider!

here is the low down on maintenance and costs.. first of all with a brand new air system by trane (2 years) our bill is still 400 a month for cooling a 1650 square foot house.

electricity down here is very, very expensive.. mold and mildew during the summer months will take over a pool, deck, or the side of your house with in days.

exjdub

The cool dry air, it's temperate......and has the seasons.....what I wouldn't give!!!!!!

restrangled,

I start feeling that way around July down here and crave the cool New England air every summer. But then we go up there for a visit and remember why we moved away in the first place.

Have you thought about moving from Seminole County to Volusia (New Smyrna Beach)? It made a difference to us when we left Orlando. 7 years in NSB has changed our outlook about Florida quite a bit. Orlando just has way too much traffic and noise now...

exjdub

67

My Weak Agnostic Testimony

by besty in

in terms of faith i have decided to give the invisible characters a rest for the time being.

the last set i had weren't really adding any value, and right now i'm happy with more rational answers to life's mysteries.. in my opinion religion was an early attempt to answer these mysteries and so inevitably we are accelerating towards a post-religious world.

when technology allows us to extend our lives as long as we wish, the need for salvation via invisible magic diminishes.it seems to me that religion is deeply influenced by parental authority and cultural norms.

exjdub

Or to put it another way Yadda Yadda 2:

Religion is ridiculous. Religious people are simply confusing the absence/remoteness of chance with non-existence of chance. They are like a 5 year old child that stamps its feet and refuses to believe the facts because it doesn't fit in with their fairy tale.

All that Religious people do is replace the word "chance" with "God". If you believe that this planet and all life on it resulted from a god you have even more faith than any athiest.

exjdub

178

Why is Jesus kept side stage ?

by iknowall558 in

john 5 :39 ' 40 "you study the scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life.

and these very scriptures speak about me!

yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life.

exjdub

HoboKen, Lurkr3, and iknowall558,

Unbelievable posts from "Newbies" (by the way I hate the term as it implies inexperience, which clearly does not apply to any of you). It is great to have new ones to the forum doing such a great job of telling the "truth about the Truth", so please keep up the good work!

A couple of comments about Renaiaa: I have seen thread after thread where people have asked direct questions of Renaiaa, only to have her either not answer the question at all or try to avoid the question by proposing answers that have nothing to do with the question that was asked of her. As frustrating as that is I still would not want her banned. The "truth about the Truth" comes out every time she avoids a direct question, or tries to sideline to another subject.

Oftentimes people watching and lurking will learn more from an interaction that is unsatisfactory, or clearly avoided, than they will from all of the wisdom that comes from JWN. This has happened many times on this board. There would be a lot fewer people on this forum if it was reserved only for die hard opposers to the WTB&TS. Let Renaiaa work her "magic" regardless of her motive because every time she plays the game she sends doubts out to those watching, as well as to herself.

exjdub

30

If its not the way. Which way is?

by maryacclaim in

jw
friends

i read a lot of the topics and subjects in this forum, and can't help but to ask, if the witnesses ideas are not the way, then which way is?.

i was a witness for over 25 years and have been out of the organization for over 3 years now.

yet, i have a hard time seeing anyone else's way as the right way to go.

exjdub

Mary,

Welcome to the forum! I found this response from Terri (welcome to you too Terri...nice first post) to be excellent:

mary, there are many people in this world who will try to convince you that there is only one way to worship god. if there is anything i've learned since i left the jw's it's that each of us has our own path to follow in this life and it is up to the individual to find what resonates as truth for them.

I find it interesting when someone, like yourself, asks a genuine question and some use this as an opportunity to push their particular brand of religion. I don't think that is right at all and I think your question deserves an answer without all of the preaching and bible quoting. Christianity may, or may not, be what "calls" you. If that is what calls you then you should work with it. However Christianity, despite what some here want to push, is not the only way. I personally find it to be the least desirable way...but that's just me.

I had the same questions as you when I left the JW's after being raised "in the truth" (did the whole pioneering and ministerial servant thing) and staying for 30+ years and I can tell you my thoughts are completely different now than what they were 10 years ago when I left. I too wondered who "had the truth" and I was looking for the same answers you are because of the way I was taught through the organization. I looked at other Christian religions and honestly I didn't feel they had the truth at all. I found too many things that did not add up and I saw a lot of the same traits and control tactics in other Christian religions that the JWs had.

I finally gave up trying to find a replacement for the JWs and started reading and exploring. I recommend that you read about and explore as many different types of philosophies and religions as you can. It won't hurt you and I can assure you it will open your mind to many possibilities. Freedom to explore is exhillarating and is exciting. It is wonderful to give yourself permission to learn without having to explain why. I guarantee that you will find answers to your questions. They may not always be answers you were expecting as they will open up many things, but they will be answers. Only you can decide what is right for you. I wish you well on your journey. The first step on a journey is questioning, which you have done. You are well on your way! Peace.

exjdub

7

Global Warming: Challenge

by Bubblie in

tom brokaw is doing a special on the discovery channel on wednesday march 18th at 10 pm est.

just in case any of you want to see something interesting that shows things they can do to help the situation.. kit.

exjdub

Priest,

Just out of curiosity...your reference to "Climate Change" and "New Light" sounds like you think the wording change is somehow deceptive. Would that be an accurate statement?

exjdub

10

Christian/Republican emails

by loosie in

i have a fundie/republican cousin who is way more annoying than the few jw's that email me.. just this morning i got one that calls obama an ego maniac and a jokester and how devastating his administration is.

so i replied back.

i know it will put me on her shit list.. then i got another one about this guy and his hunting dog that he named isiah 40:13. he was a little concern at first to be saying that his dog is gods dog but when the dog did so well at the hunting contests he knew he named him aptly.

exjdub

If you could delete whining threads you would have to start by deleting your own threads first BTS! Your political threads, which are most of what you write these days, are clearly desperate whining threads. Remove the rafter from your own eye dude...

exjdub