Hard to say really, everyone seems to have their own theory. Nevertheless, my granddad was born 1906 (died 10 ago) used to tell me that life was rather peaceful back then. He remembered 1st WW as a kid, apparently many of villagers went into war (even though drafted) with great sense of enthusiasm.
This alone would tell me that most of them didn't have even remotely any kind of the hindsight we have today.
On another note I think we have to move away from the notion of looking at that year with skepticism just because that year is pivotal point for WTBS. First and foremost, that was a turning point of our modern civilization. Hopefully we as humanity can learn something from it.
Besides, WTBS made many of their doctrines after events of that year have happened, which speaks enough for itself.
Posts by zagor
-
43Was it really so peaceful prior to 1914?
by ithinkisee inwas it really so peaceful before 1914?.
the society loves to claim there was an unprecedented amount of peace prior to 1914 and that wwi was a complete shock to the world when it began.
yet history claims otherwise:.
-
-
zagor
-
1
Interesting story -- Church for sale - one previous owner
by zagor inhttp://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1443017.html?menu=news.quirkies
a fire-damaged church has been put up for sale with the words "only one previous owner, would make a good mosque".. the protestant church in berlin's beusselstrasse has been unused since the blaze six months ago.. minister frieder breitkreuz-hamm said: "we need 2.5 million euros (1.6 million) immediately just to fix the most pressing problems, and we simply don't have that kind of money.. "we are now planning to sell it.
it would be totally suitable for a mosque.
-
-
zagor
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1443017.html?menu=news.quirkies
A fire-damaged church has been put up for sale with the words "only one previous owner, would make a good Mosque".
The Protestant church in Berlin's Beusselstrasse has been unused since the blaze six months ago.
Minister Frieder Breitkreuz-Hamm said: "We need 2.5 million euros (£1.6 million) immediately just to fix the most pressing problems, and we simply don't have that kind of money.
"We are now planning to sell it. It would be totally suitable for a Mosque."
-
92
Does Genesis 1:26 support Devine Trinity???
by zagor ini've seen several comments about trinity, so here goes another one: .
please read again genesis 1:26
this is very interesting paragraph and many times is being used as a proof of trinity as it says let us create .
-
-
zagor
Hi Hmike, LittleToe and whoever else is still reading this thread
I thought no one was interested in this thread anymore, in fact I told one person privately already that thread was closed. Apparently not
Just one request please if possible, I know that this is highly controversial subject and it is easy to get fired up emotionally so let just try discussing this academically. I personally do not hold any strong beliefs at the moment anyway, I’m just going by what I know or have studied. When I left WTBS I even stopped believing in god all together. It took me quite awhile to realize that the God is bigger than any human organization or any framework we as humans would like to put him in, he must be bigger than universe itself.
Along the same line of reasoning I’ve realized I had to let him talk through his word and not listen someone else’s interpretations (WTBS or other official "Christian doctrines").
I’ve come to realize that even when talking about spiritual realities that are far beyond our three-dimensional world he tries to bring it down to earth so that we small people can understand it. That was also a sole purpose of Jesus’ many illustrations – to make us understand better.I'm tired of typing, (I do that whole day as a part of my business ) So I'll just paste what other Hebrew experts are saying. Yes I’ll try to type as little as possible. So here it is ....
--------------------------------------------------"ECHAD" (Proof that YaHWeH is NOT a compound unity)
Unfortunately some who masquerade as Messianic Jews are promoting not the teachings of the historic Hebrew faith but rather a blend of truth intermingled with Roman paganism. One such erroneous teaching is that YAHWeH is a compound unity of three distinct persons (ika Trinity). These false-Messianic deceivers twist the Shema of Israel to prove their false assumptions. The Jewish Shema is the strongest statement of YaHWeH's absolute Oneness in the whole of Scripture. It is recited as: "Shema Israel YaHWeH Eloheinu YaHWeH Echad."
The last word "echad" literaly means one, however some have attempted to mislead others into thinking that "echad" means a compound unity. The word "echad" in Hebrew is translated as one, only, and alone in the Tanahk. It occurs 962 times in the Bible and is translated 903 times as the word one, five times as the word alone, and one time as the word only. Those who believe that "echad" refers to a compound unity, believe that since "elohim" is a uniplural noun describing three members of this supposed compound unity as the one YaHWeH, and "echad" is a uniplural adjective describing several items in one unit or group, that the Shema is a perfect description of a triune being. The triune interpretation results in Deut. 6:4 ceasing to be a verse supporting the onliness of YaHWeH; it becomes a verse supporting the characteristics of their triune god.
They interpret it to say: "Hear O Israel, our three distinct YaHWeH's, is one unit of YaHWeH." The triune god theorists will try and prove their usage of the term "echad" by alluding to a couple of Scriptures that the compound unity is truth. The first is Num. 13:23; "Then they came to the valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one (echad) cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs." The second verse is Gen. 1:5, which reads, "...and there was evening and there was morning, one (echad) day."
From these verses they contend, it is clear that the Hebrew word "echad" can only mean a fusion of a number of many things into one. Of course they neglect the other 909 times when "echad" is refering to a single unit. How convenient. Although this "proof" is as flawed as the doctrine it seeks to support, for those who lack an elemeterary knowledge of the Hebrew language, this argument can be puzzling. The word "echad" in the Hebrew language functions precisely the SAME manner as the word "one" does in the English language.
In the English language it can be said "these four chairs and the table constitute one dinette set," or alternatively, "There is one penny in my hand." Using these two examples, it is easy to see how the English word "one" can mean either many things in one, as in the case of the dinette set, or one alone, as in the case of the penny. Although the Hebrew word "echad" functions in the same manner, evangelical Christians will never offer Biblical examples where the word "echad" means one alone.Thus, by only presenting Scriptural verses where a compound unity is denoted, it creates the illusion that ther word "echad" is somehow synonymous with a compound unity. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. For example, Deut. 17:6 states; "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one (echad) witness he shall not be put to death." Ecclesiastes 4:8 reads; There is one (echad) alone, without a companion; yes he has neither son..." In the above two verses the exact same Hebrew word is used, and clearly the Hebrew word "echad" is refering to one alone, not a compound unity.
The question that immediately comes to mind is: "If "echad" can mean either a compound unity or one alone, how can one tell wich definition is operative when studying a verse?" The answer is: "In the exact same way the word "one" is used in the English language, that is from the CONTEXT." "Four chairs and a table make up one dinette set"- is a compound unity. "Hear O Isreal, YaHWeH our Elohim is ONE"- is unsullied monotheism. When studying any portion of Scripture- CONTEXT- is key to unlocking proper understanding. In the context of the Shema we can be assured that "echad" is refering to YaHWeH's aloneness by looking at other Scriptural descriptions of His existence: * "O YaHWeH of hosts, Elohim of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the Elohim, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth." (Isa. 37:16). * "I am YaHWeH, and there is none else, there is no Elohim beside me.... That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am YaHWeH and there is none else....For thus saith YaHWeH who created the heavens, Elohim himself who formed the earth and made it.... I am YaHWeH and there is none else....There is no Elohim else besides me; a just Elohim and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am Elohim, and there is none else." (Isa. 45:5-6, 18, 21-22). * "Elohim is One" (Mk 12:29).-------------------------------------------------
As I've demonstrated in my previous post words unity and one are very much related but it all really boils down to one thing, that is, what precedes what, is word one derived from word unity or word unity derived from word one. As I’ve already demonstrated it is word one that is the core. If word unity is ever used it is used in figurative and not literal sense. It is used to describe (often rather desired than real) compactness and synchronous cooperation of various part that work together on common task.
Hence, Adam and Eve have rightfully been joined in marriage union so that two of them can become “one flesh”. Here is a perfect example of figurative speech. In fact, it says that two of them will become “one flesh” or “one body” they will be so united and synchronized as different parts of the same body are in sync with one another.
Similarly in 1 Corinthians 12:12-17, Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth:
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
In Romans 12:3-8, Paul wrote this to the Christians in Rome:
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulnessHence Jesus appropriately prayed to God in John chapter 17
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. -
293
A newbie's impression on this board, pros and cons
by smelly onions incons.
i don't know who is scarier, the jw's or some people on this board.
man, r u guys bitter?
-
-
zagor
WTF?
Or as the Bear in the Big Blue House saysWhat's that smell? ...... Oh its YOU!
-
45
how many of you are considering boycotting tom cruise's 'war of the worlds'
by orbison11 innext week, due to his recently learned so called knowledge of psychiatry and medication??
and bashing of those that use it?.
orbi
-
-
zagor
I wasn't gonna watch it anyway. I'm glad someone started this thread. I just felt physically sick watching his bashing of something he hasn’t got a clue about. I mean, every year you watching him becoming bigger and bigger nuts.
Reminded me of many dubs and how presentable many of them really are with their “deep” insight of absolutely everything.
-
15
Paul Winchell, voice of Tigger, Dies
by Aude_Sapere ini remember watching him on tv back in the 60's.
turns out he live in the same town i've lived in for the past 18 years.
sure would have like to have met him... .
-
-
zagor
He was great,
Lately I've watched Disney channel (ok don't laugh) especially Winnie the pooh with my little niece. Tigger was definitely THE character. Loved him.
Sleep well old friend.
-
28
How hard would it be to twist witnesses in knots as an xjw?
by AK - Jeff ini mean we know how shallow the basic witness thinking is - we were there once ourselves.
do you think you could twist them into a pretzel?
what lines of reasoning would you use?
-
-
zagor
I was i sutuation several times while talking to "spiritually strong" where I had to stop asking question in order not to shake their faith. Some people can actually go nuts if they lose faith.
-
12
Some simple math no just kidding, really important issue please respond
by zagor intake any thread and see how many people have commented then see how many hits it had and subtract the two.
who are all these people, reading it really?
i mean everyone is welcome to read, but seriously.
-
-
zagor
But what do you suggest Zagor? Nothing really, I'm not bothered by it. At first I didn't even pay attention to it until today.Anyho, maybe in Writing Department they finally have Internet connection
-
24
I was wrong, CT Russell was something of a prophet after all...
by jaffacake ini am reading studies in the scriptures (1911) thy kingdom come..on page 145 ct russell describes what is wrong with religions of his day and their sunday schools & bible studies, ie people belong to earthly religions or organisations.
was he describing other sects of his day, or did he forsee what his bible students would eventually become?
methods hinder real growth in knowledge of truth...guarded, pointed questions, with prepared answers and no time left for the bible hungry student...bible study, skilfully directed, so that he may get no new ideas...brief sessions [one hour] more agreeable than bible study...they are led to feel they have performed a duty, and a sacrifice.
-
-
zagor
Methods hinder real growth in knowledge of truth...guarded, pointed questions, with prepared answers and no time left for the bible hungry student...Bible study, skilfully directed, so that he may get no new ideas...brief sessions [one hour] more agreeable than bible study...they are led to feel they have performed a duty, and a sacrifice.
Is that for real? Yay. Can I get a copy it turn it into pdf and email it?
-
12
Some simple math no just kidding, really important issue please respond
by zagor intake any thread and see how many people have commented then see how many hits it had and subtract the two.
who are all these people, reading it really?
i mean everyone is welcome to read, but seriously.
-
-
zagor
Right, 10 - 15 people responding all together and there's almost 700 hits, all members, just passing by!?! hmmmmm, maybe, maybeeee
