Midget-Sasquatch

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Posts by Midget-Sasquatch

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  75

  Infallibility of Scripture

  by drew sagan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of this biggest teachings present in mostly all christian denominations is the idea that the bible is infallibile.

  my question is, where does the bible say this?

  i know of many scriptures that point to the idea that what was written was directed by god, but where does the idea that what written is totally without error originate?

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Terry,

  I think you're lumping in the business of teaching people how to have mystical experiences with other similarly dubious experiences of visions, dreams, channeling etc. The latter typically convey secret and exclusionary information. I agree that power mongers use these to establish authority and a following. Just because some gurus have managed to hook a group of followers peddling the way to attain these experiences, doesn't mean that the experiences themselves are enslaving.

  The message of many mystics (free from any of the businesses around it) is non sectarian and freeing from orthodoxy. Access to the reality beyond oneself is purportedly open to all so one doesn't need that dubious profit over there to get in touch with the divinity.

  The perspectives and motivations of the mystical experiencer are generally socially laudable. They are often times more interested in doing things for others or for the environment. Contrast that with the leeching profits who dole out purported communiques from Jehoober.
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  11

  Berean vs. Free Bible Study - a recent reversal?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the early group around russell studied the bible by reading it, discussing it and drawing conclusions.

  when russell reached firm conclusions on various matters he began to be a bit down on this method of bible study for his followers.

  instead the brethren should stick to reading the studies in the scriptures or wt studies (of questions with cited scriptures) rather than reading the bible alone.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  (Although I see a little practical problem: if the audience comments after the elder's "highlights," how can the latter adapt to the discussionr?)

  You're right. There's never any discussion of the material presented by the one on the platform. Most of the time the publishers comments vary. That latter segment is simply a free-for-all where the only direction being given, is to those handling the mics.

  Can the audience ask questions?

  I'll assume thats a rhetorical question. They're simply to make a comment on how one passage or other can "deepen their appreciation for Jehovah" or how some "principle" could be applied to their lives/ministry. All that and limited to 30 seconds.

  The problem of course is that most JWs still have little time for cursive Bible reading, do not feel allowed to consult non-WT reference books, and will naturally look to WT literature (either directly or through the elders) to explain the "difficult passages" which do not seem to fit their overall doctrinal structure.

  In fact the current wt mags, also have articles roughly in step with the bible books being considered in the school, that makes comments on specific verses. There's a section that covers questions some may have about certain passages and one on lessons we can learn from some verses. Most of the people doing the parts and commenting just parrot the info there. Much easier for all those hard pressed for time servants of the Borg...uhhh...I meant Jehovah.

  Its almost like the Borg realizes they have to virtually script every bloody part. Even the ones that supposedly encourage one's own thoughts.
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  49

  John 8:3-11

  by Zico in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  3the teachers of the law and the pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

  they made her stand before the group 4and said to jesus, "teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

  5in the law moses commanded us to stone such women.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  AK

  I agree with you that there are alot of christians that view the material in Brown's book as bogus and ridden with factual errors. The book is laughable as any real threat to mainstream christianity. My point with that example is that I heard quite a few of these same christians, discounting Brown's fiction, then go on to say that the NT gospels narratives are the historical reality. They apparently are not aware of the "fictional" elements of the gospels themselves.
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  49

  John 8:3-11

  by Zico in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  3the teachers of the law and the pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

  they made her stand before the group 4and said to jesus, "teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

  5in the law moses commanded us to stone such women.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Hi AK

  Some well meaning intelligent people, no one in particular, are of the opinion that all Christians do not know everything there is to know about Christianity, and if they did, they would leave that faith. Mainstream Christianity is nothing like the WTBTS.

  We are not all stupid.

  I definitely do not consider christians stupid. In fact I fancy certain heretical forms of it. In any case, I've got substantial experience with Roman Catholicism. How's that for mainstream?I've found that while many priests and nuns are well versed on bible criticism, very few of them actually share that info with the parish. I've had some wonderful teachers who tried to give us some exposure to this field but it was limited, far in between and they always tried to discuss it in a way that didn't call the faith into question. Almost like they were trying to use it to inoculate us against it. I'd say the majority of RC parisheners accept the gospel narratives as history. The whole stink with the DaVinci Code tells me that the situation is fairly the same in other denominations as well.
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  49

  John 8:3-11

  by Zico in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  3the teachers of the law and the pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

  they made her stand before the group 4and said to jesus, "teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

  5in the law moses commanded us to stone such women.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Hi lovelylily,

  Sorry for the tardy reply to your question. I'm agnostic and this has resulted in my having the following take on scripture. Alot of good arguments can be made that texts have been revised (not just G.John) to put forward one belief over another. Along with other kinds of variation or dependencies found in scripture, I now believe its wholely the work of people from beginning to end. However that doesn't mean to say I think its all worthless. People have come up with some powerful world chaning ideas/messages on their own. But then, whose to say that they didn't actually have some kind of spiritual interaction or experience and interpreted it and wrote it down as they did? So I try to access the value of the message. Some people are more insightful on some matters than others. I appreciate how some scripture may help us be more reflective on how we treat one another (why I love that passage from John and why I am fond of the personality of Jesus as found in the NT). Other material (alot of the OT for example) is morally inferior.

  Later.
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  49

  John 8:3-11

  by Zico in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  3the teachers of the law and the pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

  they made her stand before the group 4and said to jesus, "teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

  5in the law moses commanded us to stone such women.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Hi Lovelylilly

  Let me start off by saying that I'm most fond of this passage (8:3-11) and I have a strong affinity for how this gospel portrays human/divine interaction. At the same time, I find alot of interesting clues that this gospel may have been edited in several spots.

  I appreciate how you tried to posit an explanation for the two conclusions. You were clear and the individual points were reasonable, but I still think that the overall evidence is better explained by Chapter 21 being an addition. (By the way Leolaia, thank you for making us aware of that coptic manuscript evidence!). I can't offer any better and more solidly backed up examples than Leolaia's but here's some other interesting possibilities of editing:

  1:6-8 also 1:15 -- throwing in the bits about Johnny B interrupts the otherwise smooth flow of thought about the Word and the incarnation.

  6:51-56 -possibly an addition made by those in favour of the orthodox view of the eucharist, since it stresses the importance of the flesh and blood sacrifice but then what do we read in verse 63?

  7:15-24 - would really flow nicely if it was placed right after 5:47 And like this example, there are others but I don't have them marked off in my present copy of the NWT.
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  22

  Three tonnes of explosives and 17 terror suspect captured in Canada

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  three tonnes... that is three times the size of the device used in the 1995 bombing in oklahoma city.

  just imagine how many people would have been killed if the authorities did not catch these terror suspects!

  http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldnews&storyid=2006-06-03t152340z_01_n02209271_rtrukoc_0_us-crime-arrests.xml&src=rss&rpc=22.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  I agree that they need to be more wary of who they let into our country. But as the ages of those arrested shows, the real danger is the diffusion of the ideology. We need to pour more resources into CSIS.

  Have any of you fellow Canucks heard interviews of the Khadr family(used to be in Toronto)? If the government does (or did it???) let the rest of them back in, it would be a dire mistake. Their daughter is hard core. Abdul claims he's no longer part of the jihadi movement, but he's switched sides enough times that he can't be trusted.

  Also a bit closer to home for me, were the Jabarah brothers. They both even went to a Catholic school (Holy Cross Secondary). I wonder why they didn't choose the public school system? Maybe part of their cover? People who "knew" them, did realize they were concerned with the plight of muslims worldwide, but they raised funds in the guise of charity for the poor.

  I'm glad that this arrest shows how our agencies aren't sleeping on this matter.
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  19

  "Privileges"

  by Joe Grundy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yet another question (two actually), i'm afraid (but i am learning from all this, honestly!)..

  i've seen the term 'privileges' on here many times, and i think i now understand that it means 'being allowed to carry out tasks in the congregation' - which includes walking round with the microphone, operating the pa system, etc.

  in the services.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  I got to do souu-uunnd!, I got to do souu-uunnd!

  I also got to do grass cutting....by myself because no-one else would show

  I also got the priviledge of wasting my own gas driving outta town to pick up the literature from the drop-off depot -- not just for our own congregation but for all of them in the one kingdom hall....I'm a wee person and all of that can get #%^$ heavy.

  I also got to do more of the heavy work (landscaping etc) cuz the few elders who did show just "directed"

  Priviledges my @$$!!!!
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  21

  Are you pleased with or do you hate your job?

  by greendawn in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  are you pleased with your job or do you hate it, and if you don't like it then what would you prefer to do instead?

  .

  i work as a science teacher and i enjoy teaching so i am happy with it.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Well the remuneration for the actual time spent is sweet, but bottom line was horrible because I've been sporadicaly called this semester.

  Substitute teaching for me runs the spectrum of love and hate. There's one highschool that I enjoy going to and really feel fulfilled with what I could do with the students. Lately I've only been called to the inner city highschools, and I'm just glad they didn't swipe my wallet.
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  28

  My Real Birthday--5-28-01!

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it has been 5 years since a scared still-jw lurker signed on as blondie.

  my other birthday approaches but this is the real one.

  i have seen jwd grow and change and evolve, and some of it was painful.

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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Happy Re-birth Blondie!