Posts by Bang

5

Bible Error: Jesus Cast as Dangerous Child

by JosephAlward in

the myth of the dangerous child was virtually universal in pre-biblical times: a child is born about whom certain prophecies have been made, and who represents a threat to a king or tyrant.

the child is removed from danger and later returns in triumph.

the story of one of the better-known dangerous children was told in the epic poem "mahabarata," written two centuries before jesus' birth.

Bang

Joseph writes:
<< Isn't this evidence that the murder of the innocents never happened, and that Matthew was wrong, and therefore the Bible is in serious error? If not, why not? >>

Well, it's the same argument if Jonah didn't actually get eaten by a whale or if God didn't take one week, six thousand years back, to create everything. Fact is, the Bible is a group of stories for teaching things about God, and not a history book for proving or disproving historical facts - particularly as a motive for whether or not we should give our belongings to the poor, or not.

Looking for historical proofs about worldly things, in writings intended for the spirit, places yourself in serious error, not the loving, teaching story.

And RunningMan writes:
<< If a book doesn't mean what it says, then it doesn't mean anything at all >>

But it does mean what it says - and not what someone else says.

Bang

7

What Path To Understanding?

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i have been looking for answers to life and death as has many of you.

i was wondering what is the best avenue to take.

do you just rely on intelligence, experience, some holy book, what others tell you, some miraculous heavenly voice, a dream, or are we up a creek without a paddle?.

Bang

Undecided:
<< I think I will just sit in my backyard swing and think of God as something or someone we just can't understand.>>

Don't be undecided, you know what He said, "do as the Samaritan". You'll find Him in the poor and needy, He's waiting.

"whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple", and with gladness, because, "no one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God"

The way is not such a mystery to us, but after dealing with one another it seems difficult to be trusting.

Bang

25

Reasons to Quit

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

-some of you might recognize that caption as the title to one of merle and willie's biggest hits but this is not about drugs and alcohol but about something many of us here hold in common.. i have read many reasons stated here for those who have left the organization either formally (through df'ing or da'ing) and those that are still technically in but mentally out.

some (quite a few as i expected) have left to pursue lifestyles inconsistent with teachings which they evidently once held dear (they were questioned about those beliefs prior to baptism) but have now abandoned.

that reasoning is absurd but it makes good sense to the rank and file.

Bang

Frenchy,
Not having been a witness I don't know all that it entails, certainly - but I have heard things they tell and it's on that basis that I know that they do not have, generate or provide teachings such as I posted above, otherwise the whole organisation would have been different by now. It's true I don't know that suffering. I read about the suffering and so I'm here, trying to dispel the myth and encourage those who have left.
I suppose what I'm trying to tell you is don't be sad.

"For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ"

Bang

25

Reasons to Quit

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

-some of you might recognize that caption as the title to one of merle and willie's biggest hits but this is not about drugs and alcohol but about something many of us here hold in common.. i have read many reasons stated here for those who have left the organization either formally (through df'ing or da'ing) and those that are still technically in but mentally out.

some (quite a few as i expected) have left to pursue lifestyles inconsistent with teachings which they evidently once held dear (they were questioned about those beliefs prior to baptism) but have now abandoned.

that reasoning is absurd but it makes good sense to the rank and file.

Bang

Frenchy,
The person that came from delighted in poverty and working with the poor, as did the others he was with, a long time back.

<< I haven't been there, but you just know, you know >>
I mean I haven't been to a kingdom hall, but it's not necessary to know that they don't teach that way.

<< He's meek and not haughty, and far more than the WT society would have you believe. >>
The Lord of course.

Bang

25

Reasons to Quit

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

-some of you might recognize that caption as the title to one of merle and willie's biggest hits but this is not about drugs and alcohol but about something many of us here hold in common.. i have read many reasons stated here for those who have left the organization either formally (through df'ing or da'ing) and those that are still technically in but mentally out.

some (quite a few as i expected) have left to pursue lifestyles inconsistent with teachings which they evidently once held dear (they were questioned about those beliefs prior to baptism) but have now abandoned.

that reasoning is absurd but it makes good sense to the rank and file.

Bang

Frenchy,
You aked: << Is it your own or did you read that somewhere else? >>

That's from someone else - they delighted in poverty and working with the poor, about a thousand years ago. I knew that you wouldn't have heard such things at kingdom hall, I haven't been there, but you just know, you know.

I'm not sure what else to say - He's meek and not haughty, and far more than the WT society would have you believe. Don't be sad anymore.

Bang

8

Paradise

by ItsJustMe in

how much scriptural evidence is there of a paradise earth in the future?

Bang

The kingdom of heaven is in the midst of you, the firmament - the command is have this kingdom within you - Let there be a firmament between the waters above (from Christ) and the waters below (the sea).
"And He called the firmament Heaven".

Bang

5

Bible Error: Jesus Cast as Dangerous Child

by JosephAlward in

the myth of the dangerous child was virtually universal in pre-biblical times: a child is born about whom certain prophecies have been made, and who represents a threat to a king or tyrant.

the child is removed from danger and later returns in triumph.

the story of one of the better-known dangerous children was told in the epic poem "mahabarata," written two centuries before jesus' birth.

Bang

Joseph writes:
<< a manifestly ridiculous story for two millennia has been promulgated as truth >>

Bang replies:
The Scriptures are known to have lots of historical inclusions, and so through the ages, in times when an accurate historical representation seemed plausible, that's what people thought. But if an event was never literal, it doesn't impact on the truth of a loving story - only on peoples perceptions and opinions.

Herod also inquired of Jesus and he was fascinated by Him. Whether or not he realised it at first, he sought to destroy the child - "envy slayeth the little one" [Job] Unable to find Him, he sought to kill the child in other 'houses', by killing any child similar.

I'm assuming you also understand about the 'house', how the Lord enters and 'binds the strong man', and the elder son in a huff wouldn't enter - when the wise men found Him they couldn't be going back to Herod again, ask a devout catholic.
"and entering the house they found the child with His mother Mary".

Bang

32

Was Jesus a False Prophet?

by JosephAlward in

the bible says that a prophet who predicts something that does not occur is speaking words that the lord did not speak, but that is exactly what jesus did, if you can believe the author of mark.

here are the relevant verses:.

"when a prophet speaks in the name of the lord, if the word does not come about or come true, that is a word which the lord did not speak;" (deuteronomy 18:22).

Bang

Joseph writes:
<< It's clear from the passage above that Mark is having Jesus speak of the physical harm >>

Bang replies:

It's not clear to me, and I'm not going to 'pluck' out my eye either.
Besides all that, He didn't say 'all' these signs will follow 'all' my disciples.
And who is both faithful and foolish?

Bang

7

Who should and who shouldn't?

by serenaj92 in

i should get alot of different oppinions here but that is what i want.

i was looking up who should partake of the bread and wine, and who should conduct bible studies.. in the bible, jesus does the last supper with his apostles.

some people call them saints now or annointed ones.

Bang

serenaj92 replies:
when they write out at the end of the month how much time in field service they spent in that month, going door to door as an example.

Bang asks:
What is the record of field service used for?

serenaj92 asks:
So you believe then that only the elders and annointed should recieve the emblems (bread and wine) and that they should also be the ones to conduct bible studies?

Bang replies:
I don't believe that the elders and 'annointed' of the WT society are disciples of Christ, so no, but being emblems it probably doesn't matter.

serenaj92 writes:
But making all members conduct their own bibles studies with people they meet at doors, even when they don't believe they should be, never seemed right to me.

Bang replies:
I'll have to agree with that.

Bang

32

Was Jesus a False Prophet?

by JosephAlward in

the bible says that a prophet who predicts something that does not occur is speaking words that the lord did not speak, but that is exactly what jesus did, if you can believe the author of mark.

here are the relevant verses:.

"when a prophet speaks in the name of the lord, if the word does not come about or come true, that is a word which the lord did not speak;" (deuteronomy 18:22).

Bang

Joseph writes:
<< It's clear from the passage above that Mark is having Jesus speak of the physical >>

Bang replies,
You seem very sure, considering you don't know it to be, can't prove it, and imply that you don't even believe the passage.
As I was asking, what did Jesus mean when He said, "..whoever drinks the water I give him..". I don't think He had a flask behind His back.

Considering also the lepers you mentioned - the hypocrits. A priest would check for a whiteness of skin (outward appearance of holiness) and the living flesh would appear (with a life of it's own, taking over).

I do also believe that these physical signs will follow His disciples, but not necessarily all the physical signs with one disciple.

Bang