the_classicist

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Posts by the_classicist

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  56

  It cannot be denied

  by logansrun in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  imagine in your mind any "evil" person: rapist, murderer, theif, addict, terrorist...etc.

  now, if you were born with that exact dna, had that same brain chemistry and went through the same enviornmental stimuli and life experiences as they did, you would do the exact same "evil" things.

  we only think we are "free.

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  the_classicist

  I think metatron is saying we should take responsibility for our actions: we all can choose whether we do something or not.

  "Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power." -- Seneca
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  18

  WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF.........EVIL? (Is there such a thing?)

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  uncharacteristically, i am not going to give my definition of evil at the outset.. i want your opinions and discussion of exactly what you think it is.. after a number of posts i'll weigh in.. 1.is evil an actual "thing" or a state of mind?.

  2.is evil a part of the universe or only a consequence of something having to do with mankind?.

  3.what causes evil?

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  the_classicist

  1.Is evil an actual "thing" or a state of mind?

  State of mind, I suppose, but it can be an evil action perpetuated by a person who does not have an "evil" state of mind.

  2.Is evil a part of the universe or only a consequence of something having to do with mankind?

  I would say the universe is wholly good as a physical entity.

  3.What causes evil? Or, do you regard it as causeless?

  All things have a mover, or a primary cause. Evil, after it's primary movement, usually becomes circular, though.

  4.Can you personally eliminate evil?

  No, unless I could brainwash the entire population into robots.
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  15

  Religious symbols

  by daystar in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since reading c.g.

  jung's man and his symbols many years ago (and really, before), i've been interested in the various symbols man has used in his religious practice, their history, and what they mean to him.. the cross, for example, is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world.

  it is a solar-phallic symbol representing the masculine forces of life.

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  the_classicist

  Good point, Sirona. There's nothing wrong with a syncretism when it comes to melding cultures (I would think melding doctrine would be more troublesome).
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  40

  What Motivates YOU to Post Here?

  by trevor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  defd has said he will leave and it caused me reflect on how he was treated.

  are we happy with the way we responded when he tried to defend his faith?

  this and comments about my own attitude have caused me to review my motive for the posts i make.. when i first started posting here i was thoughtful and sincere as were most of the posters back then.

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  the_classicist

  What motivates me? Procrastination.
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  15

  Religious symbols

  by daystar in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since reading c.g.

  jung's man and his symbols many years ago (and really, before), i've been interested in the various symbols man has used in his religious practice, their history, and what they mean to him.. the cross, for example, is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world.

  it is a solar-phallic symbol representing the masculine forces of life.

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  the_classicist

  It was more clearly a solar symbol until someone decided that Jesus was tortured and murdered upon it.

  So the Romans didn't have crucifixion? Wow, all those early Christians were really committed to the lie that was completely invented by other generations (just like the Vietnam vets, when we all know that Vietnam never happened).
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  15

  Religious symbols

  by daystar in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since reading c.g.

  jung's man and his symbols many years ago (and really, before), i've been interested in the various symbols man has used in his religious practice, their history, and what they mean to him.. the cross, for example, is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world.

  it is a solar-phallic symbol representing the masculine forces of life.

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  the_classicist

  That's assuming that the cross is a "pagan" symbol and not a representation of an intsrument of toture. Of course, a crucifix immediately clears up this mistake.

  Of course, the WT and many other Protestants like to use post hoc ergo propter hoc type of thinking.
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  6

  Dedication before Baptism

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many of you actually dedicated yourself in prayer before you got baptized?

  when i was studying, i took this very seriously.

  but it seemed as something was wrong.

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  the_classicist

  I was never "baptised" by the JWs, but I find it interesting that the Bible says nothing about "dedicating your life to Jehovah," it's kind of like "accepting Jesus and your personal Lord and Saviour."
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  12

  Some Sort of 10th Century BC Structure Found in Jerusalem

  by the_classicist in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/international/middleeast/05jerusalem.html?ex=1280894400&en=3c435bc7bd0cd531&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

  a fellow, a biblical researcher, was on the radio (adler online, for those who tune into it) a few weeks ago saying that king david never existed and at that time, jerusalem only had mud huts.

  apparently, he was wrong.

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  the_classicist

  What is remarkable is that the list of cities/villages conquered or subjegated by Shoshenq does not include Jerusalem yet countless commentators insist it proves Jerusalem was a powerful city in the 10th century.

  The link says that Shoshenq's (never heard of the guy until recently) inscriptions of conqeusts are partly destroyed so it may be in there.

  At present all available evidence tells a consistent story, Jerusalem at the reputed time of the legendary David was in fact not a city at all. ; It was a fortified post with no citizenry. ;Judah (or what would become Judah) was largely an unimportant scattering of very small city states and villages. ; Israel was on the other hand much more developed. ; ; ; ; ; ;OT writers used a blend of history and legend to recreate a propagandistic past that actually never happened as written. ; Naturally some elements reflect historical powers and conflict.

  I believe there is no archaeological evidence either way, until we found that building, which is believed to be a civic office. The problem about archaeological digs in Jerusalem is that the city is so built up. layer after layer, that it would be almost impossible to find anything. Take Troy as an example, we'd still be diggin at the top of Troy now (Troy IX or VIII) if we went by modern archaeological methods, but because Schleimann was reckless and dug a trench straight down, we know about all the other layers.

  The fact that most modernists consider David to be legendary is because no archaeological evidence has been found yet, and as I highlighted, it would be quite difficult to find such in a highly built up city (and plus, they aren't likely to destroy the older buildings already there just to look for archaeological evidence).
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  78

  "You guys are the most preachy atheists I've ever met!"

  by GetBusyLiving in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a christian friend of mine had a melt down this weekend and screamed at my roommate about both of us being "preachy atheists".

  he also said, in talking about me, that "i can see it in his eyes, he think's he's right!

  " it was after a bunch of drinks at a bar and my roommate said that he was nearly in tears.

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  the_classicist

  Certainly, many atheists DO support empirical methods of reasoning and support scientific inquiry...the difference between the 'faith' of a religionist and the 'faith' of a scientist is that the scientist has PHYSICAL, DEMONSTRABLE, EVIDENCE of the proposed theory or hypothesis and approaches the experimental problem without a pre-conceived notion of what the result of the experiment will yield. This is first necessity of scientific inquiry...all testable theories and hypotheses MUST be falsifiable. Unfortunately, those who believe in god believe A PRIORI that god most certainly exists and NO AMOUNT of evidence to the contrary (and despite the complete lack of any physical evidence to support its existence) will falsify this a priori assumption.

  One would argue, then, that religion is demonstrable and there is evidence: this evidence is not physical. Again, atheists belive that the totality of reality is contained within our physical and observable world: that requires faith.

  Atheists base their faith on a a priori assumption that the totality of reality is within the physical and observable world with contrary evidence, which is usually dismissed as an invention of the mind, group hallucination, or some other naturalistic explanation. Even when naturalism cannot explain something, it still dismisses supernatural explanations because of their a priori belief that the totality of reality is in the physical and observable world.
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  39

  Nun confronts Hanks over 'Da Vinci Code'

  by William Penwell in

  1. social
  2. current

  read this today on cnn.

  the other night there was some catholic scholar referring to the book as being fiction.

  i was confused as to whether he was referring to the "da vinci code" or the "bible"?

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  the_classicist

  I see you think you have done your research. Rabbi is used two differrednt way I think you better do alittle more reseach. And yes carpenty was a very high paying trade at Jesus time. Notice they could not find a better place to stay the night. The town I live in had Leanord Nemoy travel though this town about 25 years ago. GUESS WHAT he could not find a place to stay that night WOW a friend had to put him up for the night. Jesus was thought of as royal blood that is why the Jew's asked is he taking the king ship at this time. No every one could have done this only royal blood. When Jesus was a live the people were look for a King to lead them. Since Jesus was not only royalty on both sides of his family and of royal linage for Eygpt. To go back and comment on your post

  I think you need to provide sources, and preferebly not of the "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" type.